NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC:

While this takes place entirely within the Star Wars Galaxy (GE), the addition of Destiny Point to the Thread allows characters access from other galaxies as a plot device.



IC:



Floating in T-Space, the massive ship continued along an undetermined path. Aboard the ship, the crew worked tirelessly as the commander followed the orders of its true owner.

“Inform the Advisor we have arrived at the next position.”

“Yes Sir.” The Comm officer sent the message and a few minutes later Ba’El arrived. He was in his normal appearance, a tall grey-robed figure that was customary for any of the eight Advisors the Warlord kept. The face was one of his favorite he liked to wear. He had left his body behind, not needing it among the Ta’Nar. He usually only used the form of Atrox when dealing with “fleshies” or “meat-bags” as the corporeal populations were referred to within the carefully concealed private thoughts of the Ta’Nar.

“Go ahead with the probe. I’ll wait for the results.”

From the launch bay, a single drone took off and flew a short distance away from the mothership. It halted and held position and waited for the crew of The Abomination to open a fissure for it to slip into Real Space. After a few moments a fissure began to open, ones marked by frightful energy discharges from the violet mists and energy manifestations of T-Space. If the drone was not still within the bubble shields of The Abomination, it would have easily been incinerated within a fraction of a second. Dimensional Space was not kind to those who intruded within it unprotected. The Drone slid into the fissure, Emerging into Real Space.

The solitary probe began to take readings of the area, trying to find a match to a vague profile uploaded into it by the Shipmind before leaving the vessel. After looking around for a while, it signaled its return and another fissure appeared. The Drone Uplifted back into T-Space and rejoined The Abomination.

While the Probe was doing its work, recent memories of what had just happened a few days ago on Coruscant filled Ba’El’s thoughts. Darth Atrox had told his Master, Emperor Vader, he was not worthy of being his instructor any more. The departure was at best described as “messy” and he knew the next time Vader and Ba’El/Atrox met, one of the two would be lucky to escape with their life.

A beep brought Ba’El out of his revelry as the ship completed the diagnostic of the retrieved data. He looked hopefully at the display as the readings began to fill the holo-screen. He had been searching the back-waters and outlands of the GE for days trying to find a particular planet, a world he had envisioned while standing upon The Ares minutes before the ship was sabotaged a galaxy away. The distant world had called out to him, demanding he locate it so Fate could be appeased and he could finally start fulfilling his destiny.

So far it has not been easy trying to avoid any possible detection from the warrant he was sure the Emperor had issued against him. It did not bother him that he was now considered a Heretic and a Traitor; he was following his Destiny to better the GE, not work against it like the lies and rumors which were undoubtedly being spread to discredit him already.

“Advisor, the parameters do not match the ones you gave.”

“I see that. Please continue to the nest survey point and inform me when we arrive.”

“Yes Advisor.”

Ba’El left the bridge and returned to his quarters.



The Abomination (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/beldragos/Atrox3.jpg)
Side View (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/beldragos/Atrox2.jpg)

Ba’El entered his suite of rooms. They were dark and warm, the way he liked them. It wasn’t that he could feel the heat, it just left a “comfortable” feeling for him, probably due to the golden tint the objects in the room possessed as the ambient temperature shifted the blackbody radiation. It seemed to allow him to enter deeper states of meditation, something most certainly helpful when he was looking for a place he was only able to glimpse once in a vision.

Ba’El walked from the audience chamber where he would meet important visitors through a door into his personal lab. The room was littered with various machines and stasis pods, the larger still holding the towering insect form of Atrox. It made no sense to use the form when he was only among fellow Ta’Nar and putting it in stasis would allow it to last longer. Nearby were other pods containing forms he would use if the current Atrox became too damaged.

Grand Admiral Ga’Ton was very good at manipulating lifeforms, a talent the Ta’Nar already had in abundance. His skills were beyond good or even great, probably the best the Ta’Nar has had in millennia. He was the one responsible for the Kythons and now Ba’El was wearing his latest handiwork as his body when he was dealing with the other bodied races in the galaxy. If they were to lose Ga’Ton, it would set back the weapons research projects years, not to mention Bio-Manipulation. It was a good thing he rarely left the Heart, the place was defended better than most throneworlds. His latest additions to the Ta’Nar fleet would allow them to enter a whole new level of combat, making their old battles seem childish in comparison. Ba’El couldn’t wait to “lockdown” an enemy fleet or even use the Uplift Beams on them.

Ba’El checked the progress to several of his own experiments and once satisfied; he left the lab and entered another room, this one decorated sparsely. The sole bit of furniture was a set of shelves set into one wall made out of some dark wood. There were brackets seemingly arranged at random but if used in a certain order several different lightsabers would be held.

Right now there were only five upon the shelves, the original two he had constructed shortly after he was taken under Vader’s tutelage. They were well used but not his favorite. There was a single saber he had taken from Jedi Master Sakir when he had captured him on Caprica some time ago. While it was an excellent sample of a Master’s Saber, he had made several alterations to it. The weapon now derived energy from those who were unfortunate enough to feel it’s blade, consuming the lifeforce of the victim much the same way a vampire from legend did. This meant there would be no lifeshell left to pass to any afterlife the unlucky target of his aggression; they were dead for good, consumed by the saber itself. In retrospect, it was very similar to what happened if you were slain on Kobol. Ba’El briefly wondered if the cursed place had given him a subliminal suggestion as what to do with the blade. The other two were his newest creations. The first projected a blade of pure darkness, a shadow blade so to speak. The blade absorbed light instead of emitting it. That made it very hard to counter blows delivered by the blade unless you were attuned to the weapon and knew exactly where the blade was and how large it was set. The second saber appeared to emit no blade whatsoever. Ba’El had fine-tuned the emission so greatly there was no energy bleed whatsoever. This meant the efficiency was well into decimal places of being a 100% efficient. This meant it would appear as if he was trying to use a disabled saber to block blows but the blade would show up when it contacted another or any other energy force like fields and similar constructs. Even the familiar hum of blade activation was silenced. There would have been a sixth saber present but he had returned Jessyka’s to her when he had set the tortured Abh free after rescuing her from the Brig.

After gazing up on his sabers for a while, Ba’El turned away and sat in the center of the room. He centered his being and concentrated deeply upon the vision he had received a week earlier. The Ta’Nar had tried this many times since but each only yielded failure. Perhaps this time things would be different. Visions could never be forced, but you can sometimes coax them into the light.

Ba’El slowly sunk within himself, entering the realm of the mind leaving the physical world behind. He at first saw nothing, a featureless blackness that he had become so accustomed to over the past few days but didn’t not get discouraged. He continued forward remaining relaxed and attuned to those feelings he had felt a week before. There, at the edge of his awareness he thought he felt something. With all his being, he reached out for the phantom, willing himself to travel to where it was. The presence seemed to remain a distant flicker, forever out of his reach when it seemed to slowly, very slowly approached.

help me

who are you

help me

i cannot if you do not tell me who you are or where you are

i cant i don’t know

how can i help you

i don’t know

you make it hard

i cant help it i need your help find me

i am trying

find meeee…..

The presence faded into nothingness and Ba’El was left with the familiar glimpses of a rubble strewn planet glowing an azure blue in the sunlight of the local star. The whole place seemed to feel “right” to him as if it were calling out to him. The first vision was just glimpses; this one was much stronger so he was getting closer. He could feel it was closer, now who was the entity he had spoken to?

As the fist vision was fading, Ba’El felt something else. It first started as a coldness perceived on the back of his neck. Quite a trick seeing as he didn’t have any. Ba’El turned to face the coldness and could envision darkness, a cold blackness that seemed to be behind him. It was far off in the distance but it seemed to be searching for him. In the distance he could hear the baying of hounds as the trackers were being released.

Within that cold darkness, there was a source of corruption, a nucleus of Evil. It was searching for Darth Atrox by casting out Hounds to trail him. It was trying to use its power to peer through the distance to see him. It was seeking any sign of his passage. It was driven by the fires of Vengeance, powered by Rage, and spurned forward by Anger.

Ba’El could feel it would not stop until it had found him. He began to feel despair as the distant foe cast about for his presence, causing the Ta’Nar to freeze still, like a doe caught in the headlights on an oncoming car. The Fear paralyzed him, making the Sith Lord feel as if he either wanted to bolt and run off like a terrified rabbit or to hide within a shell like a mollusk. It made him feel like there was nothing he could do to escape, no way to survive.

As the distant gaze shifted elsewhere, the feeling faded and Ba’El understood what had happened. It was trying to force him to make a mistake, showing his position by causing the Ta’Nar to panic and expose himself to the far off glare. Fortunately the trick didn’t work and it was too distant to really have any power. If he had been a normal Apprentice, he would have fallen for the ploy.

Ba’El had many things going for him. He was first and foremost a Ta’Nar. They had their communal mind to fall back upon to give them strength and resolve. When you have six million kindred showing you support, it created a feeling of invulnerability with that many voices in the back of your mind lending strength.

Another thing that was in his favor is The Abomination was not entering Real Space. It would open a portal and send a probe through while the mother ship remained safely in the 7th dimension, or T-Space as it was called by the Ta’Nar. The reason this worked in his favor is there was no life forms native to T-Space, meaning there was no access to the extra-dimensional space for Force abilities. Space Minus would have absorbed any attempts, effectively blocking any from passing through. Psionics and specially tuned sensors were the only thing the Ta’Nar have discovered would pass through that barrier unaffected without a Drive to open a way.

Suddenly, Shipmind interrupted his thoughts with a message from the bridge.

“Advisor Ba’El, we are arriving on position for the next probe.”

After three more weeks of searching, Ba’El was far from giving up on his quest. Several more visions from the entity calling out to him assured the Ta’Nar his destination existed. He would find it no matter how many probes he had to send out. It was nearing the time The Abomination would make another stop in T-Space and send a probe again into Real Space. He was sure the crew was really wondering if he had led them out here on a wild goose chase but that didn’t matter. Ba’El was an Advisor and they were required to follow his orders. Only the Grand Admirals, the Seneschals or Nhur-Galladu himself had authority over his. Of course, the Childer and the Kythons were pre-conditioned to accept and follow Ta’Nar commands but that was something completely different and the co-dependency programmed into their psyche had kept them in line for centuries.

A subtle beep sounded, signaling Ba’El the dreadnaught had arrived at its destination. He left his suite and began to walk to the bridge. While on his way, Shipmind spoke to Ba’El.

Advisor, the Captain wishes to inform you he has deployed the probe as ordered.

Excellent, inform him I am on my way to the bridge.

With that, Shipmind retreated out of his mind to deliver the message. The Ta’Nar was grateful for the expertise in which Shipmind executed its duty, another testament to the Ta’Nar quality. Grand Admiral Ga’Ton had been the Ta’Nar in charge of the Kython project so many centuries ago, one that was still ongoing for the little engines of constant evolution were always improving themselves. Whenever they absorbed an unknown weapon, it was added to their arsenal. They were designed to be living mimics, taking the form of anything they devoured, acquiring the schematics needed to reform themselves into the object. They would even form entire colonies, merging their metallic bodies into a single organism. Their minds also formed into a single entity and would preside over the newly formed ship or station, acting like the computer running the facility, that was what a Shipmind was, the sum total of all the minds of the Kythons constructing the vessel.

Ba’El found himself outside the bridge and entered. It was just as he left it, stations crewed with efficient Childer and Ta’Nar who manipulated the ship using their psionics. Ba’El walked over next to where the Captain was examining the holo-display of the incoming data.

“Adviser, the scan does not show anything following the parameters you submitted. It looks like another dead end. We will keep searching as long as you wish.”

“I know, I bet this seems slightly bizarre from your point of view. Us leaving Coruscant in such a hurry and then never leaving T-Space since. The endless probes searching for a planet in a system that doesn’t want to be found. The hiding from …”

Ba’El stopped as something caught his attention on the screen. There was a star in the upper quadrant that seemed to draw his eye.

“Navigation, what is that star?”

“Um, well, I don’t know. It doesn’t read as existing. I even cross referenced it with the latest copy of the Imperial Nav records we uploaded when we were at Coruscant. According to the Empire, that doesn’t exist.”

“What do our sensors read?”

“The same thing, it doesn’t exist. We cannot get a reading upon the star. For all we know it is just a ghost, a reflection nebula, or an image from a gravity lens which we cannot get a solid contact upon due to it not being there but in the far background.”

“Leave the probe for now and move us laterally about three light years. Drop a second probe and get a triangulation visually. Obtain coordinates from them and then retrieve the probes. We don’t want to leave any trace of our passage. Then head straight to the system.”

“Yes Sir, executing sideways maneuver. Forty five seconds until in position.”

Ba’El waited patiently with several different thoughts running through his mind. Was this finally what he was looking for? Was it just a stellar oddity? Ba’El felt like he was bubbling with anticipation. This was the closest he has been to finding the object of his visions for over a month.

“Ship arrived and dropping probe. Triangulation being processed and coordinates obtained. Retrieving probe. Proceeding to original probe for retrieval.”

He listened to the officer calling out the progress and waited patiently for his orders to be carried out. After making sure both probes were safely on board, The Abomination accelerated toward the distant coordinates.



-----



A short time later, The Abomination was again holding position deep within T-Space while viewing Real Space through their probe. The system contained only a single planet circling around the primary star. In orbit around the water world floated two moons, one significantly closer than the distant other. The brilliant blue world shone in the pale sunlight appearing as if it were a sapphire caught in the morning rays of a rising sun. To complete the metaphor of a jeweled ring, a band of debris trailed behind the planet in perpetual orbit around the star as if it were the band and the planet the set sapphire. The debris field was not restricted to the orbit of the planet; the whole system appeared as if a huge battle had taken place. The whole system was a graveyard that appeared to be as ancient as the planet.

“Have the probe scan all the debris. Is there ant power signatures among the wreckage?”

“Negative Sir, the whole place is dead. No sign of life within range of the probe.”

“Circle the system and periodically drop probes so we have the entire place under surveillance.”

“Moving the ship to comply.”

Ba’El felt the ship change course and circle the system. From the advantage point of T-Space it really took no time to circle the system. The time consuming task was stopping and dropping the probes into Real Space. A short time later a full comprehensive scan of the system was being undertaken.

“Scans shows the debris has degenerated over time placing the newest as being millennia old. The absence of other planets or even asteroids suggests the place was home to an ancient civilization that completely mined all the orbital resources. It also suggests the possible presence of other planets in the past but they have since been completely processed. The planet shows extensive debris littering the surface. There are many islands but otherwise the entire place is water, about 98% of the surface. The atmosphere is rich in basic gaseous compounds with a slightly higher than usual oxygen content but otherwise breathable for humanoids.”

Ba’El could not take his eyes off the display. The planet was exactly as he saw it in the first vision on The Ares over a month ago. The deep blue of the oceans seemed to draw him toward the planet itself. Making up his mind, he issued an order to the crew.

“Take The Abomination to a low orbit. Send out swarms of Kythons to infect and absorb the debris. We can extrapolate the ships they came from over time. Set up defensive measures and keep an eye out for anyone arriving. If anyone does, inform be immediately. I will be on the surface.”

Amid several “Yes Sir’s” Ba’El left the bridge and willed himself to the flight deck after a quick stop in his quarters. After retrieving the form of Atrox from the status pod where it had rested and recharged full of Force energy over the past month, he entered the still form and animated it with his thoughts. Still dripping from the nutrient bath, he stepped toward his suit. The ebon mechanical insect melted and formed three Kythons. After scurrying to their master, they climbed upon the insect and liquefied, shaping themselves into his environmental suit around the Sith Lord. Pleased with the feel, Atrox walked toward the door. A red circle materialized and he stepped into it without hesitation. Moments later the Sith stepped out another crimson aperture onto the black metal of the flight deck. A short distance away his shuttle powered up and the door opened. Stepping into the ship, the door sealed behind Atrox and he moved to the pilot’s seat. The shuttle faded away as it shifted and jumped into orbit ahead of the dreadnaught.


-----


The shuttle soared through the thick atmosphere and broke through a thunderhead amid flashes of lightning. Thunder shook the tiny craft as it dropped toward the undulating surface below. The pull Atrox was feeling directed him toward one of the many islands. The rocky outcropping was covered with dark green vegetation as the thunder from his passing shook creatures covered in both fur and feathers from their dry hiding places. The ebon shuttle sped along just above tree level. Ahead upon a high peak stood what appeared to be a structure. As he drew closer, the shape resolved into a low dome with four vanes sticking out of the top. One side had a protrusion where the entrance could be. The Ta’Nar circled the structure and brought it to a gentle landing within meters of the doors. After disembarking, the shuttle sealed itself against the weather and Atrox walked up to the structure alone.

The Entrance archway lay in ruins as if it was pulled in upon itself to seal it from intrusion. Darth Atrox glanced around at the rubble, judging the size and weight of the stone. Using his telekinetics, he simply began to pick up pieces, reassembling the archway. He quickly found the stones were too weak and muddy so he tossed them aside, clearing the entrance of the blocking debris. Once the way was clear, he walked unhesitating into the darkness.


-----


In Orbit The Abomination was belching forth black swarms of Kythons who were going wild infecting all the debris in orbit around the star. The initial 100 Kythons quickly tackled the nearest debris, going into full combat mode and initializing Infection Protocols. The wrecked Hammerhead ship became a blackened mass, which soon spawned more Kythons. In this way a hundred became a thousand. A thousand became ten thousand. Ten thousand became a hundred thousand. The blackness swept outward from the planet in an ever expanding ring of ebon, erasing the debris.

Within the Kython Overmind, the possessed structures were imprinted in the collective memory as wiring, battle plating, and even the bolt pattern on the landing struts of a fragmented fighter craft was impressed as basic patterns. Overmind sorted through the millions of pieces assembling them like a massive jigsaw puzzle. Completed schematics were saved and copies were erased. By this method, the forgotten schematics of millennia-old ships were brought back from the dead. Ancient secrets were regained. One such secret proved to be the largest puzzle of them all. A massive structure slowly took shape within Overmind.


-----


Atrox walked through the unlit temple until he stood within a massive chamber. This is where he felt the presence strongest so he halted. The voice synthesizer built into the suit broadcast his thoughts in a clear and understood voice, nothing as cheesy as his old master used but an actual voice that sounded normal. He found a normal sounding voice was more menacing coming from his form because it initially threw off expectations of what he was able to do.

“I have found you. I have heeded your call and finally located where you lay. Why have you sent these visions to me?”

His voice echoed, seemingly muffled by the oppressive vastness of the chamber he was standing within. Nothing answered him but the distant drip-drip caused by the storm raging outside the ruined temple. Slowly within the center of that great hall, energy began to coalesce and form intricate structures and patterns. At first it seemed to be geometric shapes and then it graduated to forms that mutated and shape-shifted before the Sith’s eyes. Slowly a definite form began to take shape and black hollow eyes stared at him from a neon blue form of a floating fetus.

You have arrived

“Yes I have.”

Finally, salvation and release

“From what?”

Death

“Death? “

I am to be reborn anew. You are my salvation and the instrument for my release.

“Salvation?”

Atrox subtly began to prepare his defenses in case he was attacked. He had seen too many vids where the next thing the hero knew was an attack. Fortunately it never came.

Salvation and rebirth

“In what form, might I ask?”

The same I wore before

“How am I to recreate it if I don’t know what it was?”

You have already started


-----


The Kython Overmind was partially completed with the massive structure. The parts recovered through infection were widely scattered, as if the structure was blown up. The wreckage surround the star might have been caused by a war over the structure. The corresponding pieces only showed minor damage that could be caused from weapons fire. The majority of the damage was from a tearing from within as if the structure was detonated. A number of the pieces were completely missing, probably tumbled into the star long ago but the gaps would be filled in when possible.

Some of the pieces could have fallen onto the planet so Overmind directed squads to selectively harvest the wreckage from the oceans below. It was important to note they were commanded to harvest the wreckage and nothing else by The Masters. They would do their best to follow those orders to the letter.

Swarms darkened the sky as they entered the planet’s atmosphere in search for wreckage. The ones on the islands and shallow costal areas were the first to be located, even with thick vegetation grown over them. It was as if the Kythons knew where the fragmented hulls were located and flew straight to them. A few parts was discovered that fit into the large puzzle and a couple new ships were harvested. The large structure became more complete. When Overmind was certain as many pieces as possible, even after triple checking extras left over without any match, it began to extrapolate the missing sections, actually testing each virtually before deciding upon the final estimate.


-----


Atrox was puzzled by the comment made by the fetus. He could only stand there and look at the azure being and wonder. Using the suit, he accessed the Kython Link to communicate with Shipmind intending to see if there was any change detectable from orbit. Instead, he discovered immense feelings of curiosity and puzzlement from the Kython Overmind itself.

What is the problem?

Oh, I wasn’t aware you were here. I am trying to reconstruct something out of the debris.

A few ships would have you so engrossed?

No Master, it is not a ship. It is something else entirely.

Show me.

Within his mind’s eye, a line drawing began to assemble. The first thing he noticed was the roof of the temple resembled the structure. It was beyond uncanny so the two had to be connected in some manner.

How large was it?

It was immense; you could easily maneuver dreadnaughts between the upper pylons with room to spare.

What did it do?

That is the funny part, there was very little space set aside for habitation, only three or four decks at the top, the rest of the structure was either specialized in matter collection or assembly.

Atrox thought he understood what the entity meant now, he only wanted to verify it first and to gain some guarantees.

Begin plans on reconstructing the structure but do not begin until I tell you.

Yes Master.

Returning his mind to the being in front of him, he carefully though of what to say and how to word it.

“Tell me what happened.”

A war was fought over me and in the end both sides destroyed me. My spirit fled my ruined body and I sought sanctuary within the temple. The bio-field of the planet helped sustain me over the millennia but I wasn’t strong enough to reconstruct my body. I felt guided to you and sought you out in that distant place. I brought you here to fulfill the prophecy of my return.

“Pardon me for asking but what do I get in return for this? I mean you get to live again. What is in it for me?”

My service

“What do you mean?”

The prophesy stated you would help me and I would help you

“What is this prophesy you spoke of twice already?”

A man who is not a man shall arrive wearing a body that is not his own. He will resurrect the slain one and together they will restore the Lost Order of Old

Atrox discovered he was holding his breath when he felt the true power behind the words. The entity was speaking the truth. He could feel the power of the Fates and his visions within the vowels of the words the fetus spoke. He knew they were true with his own being.

“I understand, what must I do first?”

Atop this temple is a room. The lift stopped working millennia ago but I have done my best to maintain the upper room. You must first activate the defense field. It will keep us safe from attack. It was disable when I was betrayed long ago, otherwise history would have been different. After that, I will be free to inhabit my body once you rebuilt it.

“I will do so immediately. Show me the way.”

A faint glow drifted off toward one of the far walls. Atrox followed it and the willowisp lead him to an ancient door. The portal long ago welded itself to the doorframe so Atrox used Shadow to cut the door out, producing a loud rumbling thud as the metal panel fell to the floor raising a cloud of dust. Atrox stepped through the now empty doorway and found himself in a small elevator car. Again employing his saber, he removed a portion of the ceiling and let that too fall to the floor. He levitated to the top of the shaft and held himself in place as he opened a second door. This time he did not have to employ the use of his saber, the willowisp seemed to activate the door for him, or perhaps it was his presence, he wasn’t sure and it didn’t matter at the moment. He stepped onto the floor of what could only be called a control center.

Dim lights still flickered upon the alien panels, gleaming through the darkness of the room. The willowisp entered, followed by Atrox. The lights came to life and illumination flooded the room. A careful study of the machinery using his CyberPsi ability determined the system was powered by a Core Tap and it controlled the projection of some sort of disruptor field that would encase the system and cause ships navigation systems to fail and crash. That explained the massive amount of wreckage in the system and littering the planet. Without any way to control the ship, a person was bound to hit something, be it other ships, the star, or even the planet and moons themselves. Atrox wondered how many ships simply fell into the sun. Finding the operating instructions within the main core deep below the island, he set himself a couple passwords and locked out all other access to the system. He then used one of those passwords he created to initiate the system.

At first nothing happened. One by one, panels lit up and readouts steadied as the ancient system came online. He sent a message to Overmind to begin reconstruction of the structure he had been carefully reassembling virtually.

The ebon swarms lifted from the planet and flew toward a common point as if that were all being directed, which they were. As the first arrived, it lost its shape and merged with others as they arrived forming a mass that resembled blackened mercury. As more of the Kythons added their bodies to the mass, a large shame began to arise from the cloud of Kythons. A sphere formed and three massive pylons slowly grew upwards until they towered over the sphere. Three even more massive pylons grew downward that was easily the same size as the entire structure. As the last of the Kythons merged with the newly formed structure, the reconstruction was finalized with only one thing left to complete the project.

In the temple below, Atrox returned to the fetus only to see the fetus began to flicker and lose its shape. Energies unraveled and tore themselves apart and flowed towards reminding Atrox of hairs gently floating skyward, only these hairs were made of life-force instead of cellular tissue. The energy flowed skyward until they were absorbed by the reconstructed structure. Several changes began to be made as the internal structures reformed themselves, correcting mistakes Overmind made in guessing how missing parts would have been placed. The entire artifact began to move toward the star and as the lower sections neared, a white sphere of light began to glow and draw raw plasma from the star into itself. The automated factories began to work after several millennia of silence churning out black drones which began to fill many of the massive empty hangers.



The Star Forge was again fully operational.



Unfortunately some things had changed.

The Forge found it was not alone inside its new body. The presence of a Shipmind shocked the Forge. It has never had to deal with a possessing entity within its own body. The Forge tried to force the intruder out of its body and found the collective minds of the Kythons possessed far more willpower than it had ever possessed. It then tried to throw a tantrum and when it realized nothing was happening, it forced itself to calm down. Still pissed, the entity tried to contact Atrox.

Where are you?

Right here within your own mind.

What have you done to me?

The same thing I knew you would do to me the first chance you could.

But the Prophesy…

It still holds true. I am the mind and you are my body. Together we will restore the glory of the Order from the Ancient times. It is simple; you only have to accept your place in the matter. I will protect you as long as you protect me and mine. The Prophesy is coming to its fruition. Now all we need to do is wait for my new Apprentices to arrive. The New Order will arise from the ashes of this world.

The Forge could only agree, it inhabited a body it could control only if Atrox allowed. At least it was alive again.


-----


Darth Atrox exited the temple. He stopped and without turning, the stone blocks rose into the air and piled themselves over the entrance, sealing the temple once again. He continued walking to his shuttle and stopped. The Sith Lord turned around and watched the sunrise, symbolizing the dawn of a new era. The beginning of The New Order. The crowning of a new Dark Lord of the Sith.

Darth Atrox turned back to the shuttle and climbed aboard to ascend to his rightful place.

Atrox supervised the construction of the Academy on the largest island of the unnamed planet. He often wondered what to call it but finally decided Fate would indicate the name at some point. He had other matters to consider.

How would new Apprentices locate him?? How would he attract followers without drawing Vader to his little paradise? How would they make it past the disruption field?

The Ta’Nar figured the first question would be answered by the Apprentices themselves. If Fate called out to them and they were able to hear, they would be drawn here. Each would have their own particular savant moment when they figured out their destiny led them somewhere else. Atrox did not have to actively call for them; they would get the message themselves.

An idea for the second problem was starting to form within his mind. Perhaps some kind of test, one that would reset itself and mold itself for each individual applicant. Perhaps something that was wondering about, driven by Improbability Drives that would allow them to go where they were needed. A point each could find when it was time to seek their Destiny. A Destiny Point. That sounded quite nice, Destiny Point. A station created to locate those who would be drawn to him and then cast out into the seas of improbability for Fate to deliver to their doorstep. That would keep Vader off his own doorstep.

The big problem is how to get them here. If they took a ship here, the Disruption Field would cause them to crash, either onto the planet or into the sun. Those two gravity wells would fight it out between the two to see who would get to eat the vessel. One thing that was interesting was the fact the Kython ships seemed to not be affected by the field. Perhaps it was because they were living entities. Perhaps they were somehow attuned to the field because of the StarForge. Who knew, it allowed his ships to operate but messed with others. Well, at least that is what it was supposed to do, according to the link he had with the computer running the thing when he initiated its restart a couple days ago. No wandering vessels have found the place to accurately test it. It was unlikely there would be any way out here in the Unknown Regions of the galaxy. Still it would be nice to test the thing before one hung his shingle out.

Perhaps a way to get them here would be to transport them through the testing process. The final chamber could be set up with a gateway or portal that would link Destiny Point with the Academy. That sounds like a good idea. Now, to make sure there isn’t any way to send a tracker through the gate, perhaps a strong EMP right before it to scramble anything that might be able to be used to track the location of the Academy. He would also need other barriers that would prevent Force, Psionic, and even magical tracking. It would be incorporated into the door frame they would have to pass through to enter the Gate Room.

Atrox stopped what he was doing and searched through his Link with the communal mind to see if there was a way to accomplish what he was thinking about. It took a while but he eventually was able to find a way. He then contacted Overmind through the suit and gave him specific instructions on what to design. He knew Overmind was more capable of an architect than he would ever be. He would also do it much faster than Ba’El could. He then asked Overmind to contact him when he had the best design.

Atrox went back to working upon the Academy directing the teams of Kythons as they disintegrated chambers and tunnels in the bedrock for the lower chambers. The converted matter was used to create more Kythons which would eventually form the walls of the chambers and halls resulting in a smooth black metallic surface that would just look too cool. He incorporated the design of the original temple he had discovered and placed three towers rising over the entire structure. He would take one as his own, leaving the other two empty for now, something told him he would find two more Sith that would assist him in his dream. It was the same “something” that he assumed would draw them here in time. The Master’s Towers would remain empty until they arrived.

The Ta’Nar incorporated as much of the natural beauty the island had to offer into the Academy itself, producing wondrous views for contemplation, artesian springs powering serene falls, green vegetation everywhere, and even a grotto he discovered that was lit from above, producing a natural amphitheater that you could only get to by using a boat following a slow but deep channel. An access hall was built to allow spectators to approach and view proceedings from a seating area which would occur on the other side of the underground pool. The entire island would be bit by bit incorporated into the Academy but for now this was a good start.

The Ta’Nar received a message from Overmind sometime later

Master, I have finished and I believe you will like it

Show me

Within his mind’s eye, a simple asteroid was conjured. Atop the asteroid, a simple black pyramid rose from the surface, apparently starting somewhere under the surface. Near the peak, a band of blue energy encircled the structure with a single glowing “eye” on each of the four faces looked out into the depths of space. Extending from the side of the asteroid was a docking mechanism suitable for direct docking of medium-sized or smaller ships. Inset into the massive docking arm was a shuttle hanger for smaller ships. After turning the image to look at it from several angles, the Ta’Nar began to strip away the layers of the structure to view the Labyrinth, the Drives, and the Gate Chamber. The Shipmind in charge of the structure would be able to scan arrivals for their intentions and to set up their test in the Labyrinth. After passing, they would find the Archway which would lead to the Gateway. Passing through the Archway would disable the ability to track the applicant. Stepping into the white light at the center would send them to the Reception Chamber in the Academy.

I like it; it is a very good design. Start construction immediately

At once Master

Overmind left to go about his duty. Atrox looked around himself at the way everything was beginning to come together. It looked good. It looked right.


Destiny Point Image (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/beldragos/DestanyPoint.jpg)

OOC:


If you wish to send a character, write up an RP where Destiny Point finds you and your Trials in the Labyrinth right up to where you step through the Gate. Note: the trial in question is to determine that you are a student and not a spy or infiltrator. It need not be too elaborate but should filter out almost all those. If you wish to sneak someone in that is not a student, please TG me first so it can be RPed correctly. The station appears to be Force Dead (No MIDIs in it) but the black material is very Psionic.

Destiny Point will travel wherever it is needed so it doen't matter where you live, it is a Plot Device to allow you to get to the Academy if you want to join The New Order.

Disclaimer: All Coredians played in this post were done so with the express permission and were reviewed by CW.

The room was dark, and cold, the only source of light came from luminescence of the resurrection pod, the only noise, the gentle sweeping of the draidus. It was beautiful, how the stars shined outside, the purity of space. She always loved it out here, as the young woman sat on the floor of the Raptor in meditation.

Her legs were crossed, and her arms stretched out. In her right arm, a silver cord, shoved through the palm of her hand, with a small needle that ran into her veins. Her eyes laid closed, as she concentrated, searching for her target.

“Do not worry, you will find it.” she heard, in the depth of space. Her eyes laid closed, but she could see, everything. She could see the space dust outside, as the draidus swept across it. She could hear the silence, as the ship continued to pulse against the black. Unlike the others, she was one with the ship, and it was beautiful to her. It felt invigorating to her, as she swam naked through the stars.

“Come find me.” she heard in the distance. “Come find me.” Whispered to her again.

Hera did not reply, as she listened to the voice. “Come find me.”

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Two weeks earlier.

Miranda

A child laughed. Happiness filled the air, as Hera picked up Athena. She embraced her younger sister, whom she had been separated from for some time. “How are you.” Hera asked the young infant, who just learned to hold it’s own neck up. The baby smiled.

“It is so good to see you.” a voice said from behind her. Hera turned to look at the voice, the voice of her surrogate mother, and her friend. Emily walked up and hugged the young knight. “How is it possible?” Emily asked, “you were dead.” the old Jedi Master asked Hera, as her eyes filled with tears of joy.

“I came back.” Hera replied. “In a tub, born anew, I am back.” she said

Emily was used to Hera’s odd speech at times, “It does not matter.” she said as a tear rolled down her face, “I am just glad you are alright.” Emily smiled at Hera, and the new infant that she seemed to have adopted. “I will leave the two of you alone.” Emily said.

“No!” Hera said. “Do not go please.”

Emily stopped, “Ok.” she replied as she smiled.

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One Week Later

Emily stood at the holo transmitter. Before her, a table was spread out, as the Jedi Council, on Issus sat in their comfortable chairs. Emily missed it, as she looked at the council all sitting together, except for her. It was only human, although she truly believed what she was doing was correct, still how could she not long to be with her friends.

In the background, Emily heard Athena’s soft crying, and the singing of Hera. Emily looked down. “This is a mistake.” Emily replied, her usually kind voice having a strength of determination to it, that was usually missing. “She just got back, she just came home, and now you want her to do this?” Emily objected.

“We understand your objections.” Tsunade replied. “But this is an opportunity that we can not pass up. She met Atrox, she knows him, and above all else she is a living weapon. If she was killed, she would just wake up and would be able to try again. We can not pass up such a gift bestowed upon us.” Tsunade replied. As she spoke many on the council nodded in agreement.

“She is not a weapon, she is...” Emily paused for a moment, “A troubled girl.” as the expression on her face clearly showed how conflicted she was. “Do you know how hard we have been trying to keep her in the light. The constant war and struggles. She died already, and now you think that because she can download, that she is just a tool to be used for your own purposes.” Emily replied, sounding even more concerned.

Tsunade looked at the image of Emily. “How many lives will she save, by going? How many knights might die by trying to face the Dark Lord of the Sith?” Tsunade replied.

“She is not even a knight.” Emily objected to the council. “It would be the same as if you sent Travis. She does not have full control of her emotions, or even her mind. She might have made great progress, but she is no match for a sith lord.” Emily objected almost sounding aggitated.

“She is a knight of the Raven Council” Tsunade retorted.

“All she knows is how to kill and Track.” Emily replied. “The Ossus Council is not up to our standards. Hera can barely meditate without killing herself.” Emily retorted. “Why not send Travis, he has as much potential as Hera, and a lot more knowledge of the force?”

“Travis is not a part of this discussion.” Katrina replied immediately. “Besides she proved she can handle herself when she took out that demon, that Jukassa, and Travis could barely scratch.” Katrina continued.

Master Lowbacca began to growl, I concur, I believe she is ready. We understand your misgivings, given your close relationship to the hybrid, but she can handle this.

Daniel nodded, “She is the best we have for this mission, to bring back Atrox.”

Emily put her hands up to her neck. She was clearly outnumbered, and out gunned, but she still had one more ace up her sleeve. “She is not a member of our council. None of you accepted her into the Coredian Order. You have no authority to make her go.” Emily protested.

Tsunade replied, “No we do not until she can prove to be a knight in our order. However it is our consensus that you will ask her to go. We can not make her, but she cares for you. She will go if you ask her to.”

“She is just a girl.” Emily replied.

“She is our best choice, to take out Bane’s order.” Master Elendril. “Is that not worth the risk, especially with an knight that can download. How many have died to end that line. It can stop here and now. Have you yourself not fought and sacrificed to end that line?” he asked.

Emily knew the debate was settled before it began. “I will ask her, but I want my objections on record.” she replied defeated. They were right, so many died for that cause, so many lives lost. It needed to end, now.

With her consent, she placed her hand on a button and shut off the holo transmitter. With a long and sad face she walked into Hera’s room. She found her daughter, standing by her bed, wearing a long white robe, and a red sash. The colt laid on the bed, along with her sabers, and her Rapier.

“Hera.” Emily said her voice sounding very sad.

Hera turned to Emily. “I know, I have to go.”

Emily nodded sadly, “Make every preparation, and be safe.” she told Hera, as she walked up and hugged her. “Come back.” she whispered to Hera.

Hera just smiled as she felt the warm embrace of Emily. Hera held her tight for a moment, then let her go. “I will.” she replied, as she walked over to a computer, and opened up a file “ATROX”.

For the next four days she studied the target. All that Coredia had, she learned. Ba’el once a warrior of the light, before the fall of asfaltum. He blames Daniel Masaki for leaving him behind. He was a good relationship with the cylons, which was evident over Konoha, as well as a personal relationship with Admiral Cain. He holds honor as the highest of virtues. Spy reports indicate a split with Darth Vader recently.

Hera just read for days, before she finally departed.

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Present Day.

In the distance, Hera felt space, though the raptor. Then she saw it, a small orb in the distance. She looked out, and could feel it, it was her target. “Jump” she said, as her body quivered. The computer, plugged into her body, gave her an extremely pleasurable feeling that she never had before, as her body tensed up then relaxed. The raptor vanished in a blinding light.

Instantly, her ship appeared, over a small island on the planet, before the world went black. “What the frak is going on?” Hera asked herself, as she grabbed the wire on her arm, and pulled it out. As her mind unplugged, her senses and sight came to her. The raptor was in a free fall. She frantically ran up the cockpit, as she pulled back on the controls. Luckily for her Colonial Vessels were designed to use as little computers as possible, as the jets held sway for a moment, but she still had to land, without any sensors or navigation. Slowly she tried to land. Moments later the entire ship shook, as she hit the ground hard. A loud snap was heard, as the raptor hit the ground.

The Force flared within Atrox and the ebon warrior stopped what he was doing and looked to the sky. Among the thin wispy clouds that foretold one of the quick moving T’Shang, or flash hurricanes a streak of black smoke wafted, marring the pale white of the oncoming storm. The Sith lord set down the datapad he was holding as he directed several Kythons in the final preparations of the outdoor training arena. The stone blocks surrounding the open field were three meters tall but scattered throughout the field were several smaller blocks placed for cover. Set into the surrounding hillsides were several seating areas and the natural amphitheater allowed those in the center to be seen by those on the hull. By a trick of the acoustics even the sounds carried to the watchers so anything said below could be heard easily enough above.

The Ta’Nar walked over to the edge of the playing field and made a simple leap to the edge of the blocks three meters above while watching the trail of black smoke as it disappeared over the edge of the canopy. The object, undoubtedly a ship with someone inside due to the feeling he felt, seemed to either crash on the other side of the island or the next one to the east. He connected with the Kython Overmind and sent a message requesting several Kythons fly over to search for the downed craft.

The Sith then walked into the main structure of the school and entered his tower. He would wait in meditation for the student to find their way to him. If they did, then he would test them. If it was someone else other than a student, the meditation would prove useful for the encounter.

Atrox entered a meditative state and slowly became one with the tower and then the rest of the island.

Hera slowly woke up, as her head ached from the landing. As she opened her eyes, the panel in front of her, shorted out. Sparks flew, as she raised her hand to her eyes, trying to shield herself from the electrical sparks. Slowly she got up, moving her body very gently, testing herself to see if anything was broken. Nothing was.

She walked towards the back of the Raptor, and tried to turn on the resurrection pod. As she pushed the on button, nothing happened. “Well frak.” Hera exclaimed, as she reached down and grabbed her weapons. “Isn’t this just great.”

Overhead a strange sound began to grow, it sounded like insects, thousand and thousands of insects. She did not have time to try to repair the pod, or the ship, she had to go and now. Equiping herself with her toys, she opened the hatch to the raptor, and jumped out. As she stepped outside, she looked around. The jungle here was thick, tall green trees. She looked down to the white sand of the ground below. Then she listened, as the bugs seemed to be getting closer.

Hera closed her eyes for a moment, “I am not here.” she said as she cloaked herself in the force. Her seal, would keep anyone using the force from sensing her, though normal methods, and her cloak prevented sight. She was truly gone.

As she vanished, she could see in her mind’s eye a stony temple, covered in black rock. She slowly opened them, as a yellow brick road appeared before her.

She then began to run, and as fast as she could. Above her the noise deafened her. She looked up, to see the sky turning black from the kythons. “Come back to me.” was all she could hear, the last words of Emily. “I will.” Hera exclaimed, as she continued forward, towards the black temple.

OOC: Taggage for possible future post. Preferable MSN contact before I post though. I think it's time Atrox met Lord Vorman.

A squad of Kythons lifted off the ground in the courtyard where they were busy leveling the terrain to make it smooth. They gathered and then flew to the east. A few minutes later the dozen Kythons were patrolling the area Overmind predicted the crash site of the falling ship would be while even more were gathering to join them in their hunt.

The Kythons first circled the area looking for traces of people passing through the thick jungle below them while two landed and approached the downed ship. The two drones settled lightly upon the ground with their four legs and slowly approached the partially buried craft. One approached the front of the Raptor while the other located the doorway. After noting the hatch was left open, it proceeded to investigate the shuttle by peering into the shuttle’s interior. A quick scan easily enough revealed no life signs within the capsule and it uploaded the information to the Kython Link.

The second Kython seemed to be looking around the area for signs of footprints other than the holes left behind by the leg-spikes of the ebon creatures. A distinctive pattern of oblong depressions could be seen leading away from the open hatch of the Raptor in the white sand. The tracks headed west and disappeared at the edge of the clearing the Raptor settled in when it impacted with the jungle before finally coming to a rest.

The ebon servant communicated with the rest of the now arriving swarm its discovery and several more settled down and began to track the fleeing footsteps into the jungle. Several more searched for movement in the dense vegetation that might indicate someone crawling in the underbrush. Two dozen settled upon the broken Raptor and began to work at the removal of the trees and vegetation that covered the ship so it could be retrieved and taken to the hidden flight bay. When the quarry returned, there would be nothing to repair, just an empty hole in the jungle floor. It’s not like the ship would ever work again as long as it was still within the Disruption Field.

The bugs filled the sky, as Hera ran, past the brush, and the vines, past even a few strange looking small creatures, she ran as fast as she could go. Through miles of seemingly dense jungle, it ‘s canopy so large that it nearly blocked out the sun, she ran. Soon the yellow brick road showed her the emerald city.

The jungle began to clear, as Hera peered out from behind the tree line. Trees thousands of years old, with trunks so large it dwarfed the California redwoods. The branches were so large, that they appeared to easily be able to hold a small shuttle.

Then the buzzing came again. She heard it, could feel the unnatural insects, in her bones. She knew she had to get off the ground. She looked up into one of the trees, and began to climb. One hand over the other, as she climbed and jumped from large branch to large branch. The noise seemed to grow louder, as the kython swarms surrounded the area. “What the hell was she to do?” she asked herself, as she settled on a branch about sixty feet in the air.

She gazed at the black temple. It was a beautiful and horrific sight to behold. The kythons were crawling all over it, and to make matters worse there was no sign of people. No one to blend in with.

Hera, curled up her legs underneath her. “There must be a way in.” she thought to herself, as she closed her eyes and began to focus on the force, to focus in on the target. Her perceptions grew, as she reached out. She could feel the kythons, and the trees. She could feel the birds and the Rancors. The rock became known to her, the walls became one with her, then she found it. Her target.

Hera focused on him, as he appeared to be meditating as well. Past the walls, down a main entrance, into a giant courtyard. Past the courtyard, into another large structure, her prey waited. And only a few thousand kythons and a lot of open spaces in between her and Atrox. She opened her eyes and smiled. “Found you.”

Atrox was in his Tower, one of the three rising above the massive jungle floor. The glassteal windows let the grey light in from the overcast sky. The wind had picked up and the storm was about to hit the island. The first huge splatters of the rain began to pound the sturdy transparent material.

Shipmind, the controlling entity that composed of all the Thur’Tahg of the Temple began to seal the entrances as the storm began to pick up. It would not be good to let the place get flooded by the upcoming storm that seemed to be only minutes away.

Across the place, several yellow lights began to flash warning as the doors began to shut one by one as the place sealed itself water tight.

Above, the waiting Lord watched to see what the intruder would do.

She felt alive, as her senses grew. She continued to feel the building, as her senses extended well past the area. Her sense of smell began to pick up something, feint... The smell of sea salt and rain. The wind began to pick up. She listened to the waves of energy, then she could feel it. A Class five hurricane, coming towards her. Hera knew that she was in danger. Of all the times for a hurricane to show up, it had to come right now...

She continued to feel the island, looking for her Raptor to weather the storm, but it was gone. There was only one option, she had to go inside. Hera climbed down the tree, cloaked in the force, and began to walk on the stone courtyard not fifty yards from her tree. She was searching for anyway to get inside...

In Atrox’s Tower, the wind slightly picked up. Behind Atrox, a young woman appeared. She wore a red dress, form fitting. Her back and sides were exposed, as her sleeveless arms were also exposed. The dress clung to her skin, as it ended around her knees.

“Hello.” the woman replied, as she stood behind the Dark Lord of the Sith.

The apparition, slowly walked around the room, “Love what you have done with the place. She said as she touched the walls. So medieval, and very goth.” the woman in red replied.

As Atrox meditated, his awareness picked up a surge in the Force, centered in his chamber. He could tell it was not an attack so he only monitored it. As the apparition took shape behind the entranced figure, the Sith Lord chuckled to himself.

“Hello.” the woman replied, as she stood behind the Dark Lord of the Sith.

Keeping one metaphysical eye upon the distant form of the visitor, he slowly rotated to face his visitor. She appeared much like the way she had aboard The Ares. There were some differences but they were more subtle and hard to differentiate through a controlled projection but they were there. She seemed more confident in her abilities for one.

“Welcome, I see you have been progressing in your abilities.”

The girl, no, the woman walked over to a wall and touched the Thur’Tahg with her fingertips.

The apparition, slowly walked around the room, “Love what you have done with the place. She said as she touched the walls. So medieval, and very goth.” the woman in red replied.

“Well, form does fit function. The shape of the structure helps divert the stress from the many T’Shang that sweep through the tropics this time of the year. They are caused by the heating of the ocean waters much like the hurricanes of Earth. You better find a way in before it arrives. Look to the lee of the structure, it will seal itself last.”

“When you finally stand before me in person I will ask you a simple question. Why did you seek me out? I am giving you some time to think the question out so you can answer with your heart.”

The rain began to pound the young woman. Her white robes, becoming heavy with the saturation of the water falling from the sky, combined with the fact that the wind began to pick up. The rain, began to feel as if it was a thousand needles piercing her skin. It was annoying, and painful, as she began to run. She continued her search, an entrance free of kythons, that she could slip into. Finally she saw one. Yellow lights flashed in a blinding light, as the doors began to seal. It was her only chance. She began to run, calling the force to her to continue to move her faster. If she was visible, she would have become a blur, as she bolted inside.

The doors slammed shut with a metallic clanging sound. She looked down at herself, catching her breath for a second. Her robe was clinging to herself, as the water still dripped on the floor. She could clearly see herself under the robes. However it was not the time for modesty, it was the time to complete her mission.

Hera had to move, she knew it would not be long before the Kythons would notice the small drips of water falling from no where. She put her hand on the door, and began to run again, as she ran to the tower where her target was hiding.

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In the tower, the woman smiled at him. “I am here for you.” she said, as her bare feet walked across the floor. “You should know that I do not desire to harm you, if you were the enemy then I would have killed you by now, but you are not truly a sith as the galaxy knows them to be. Thus you interest me.” the material apparition responded to Atrox.

“I am aware you do not intend to harm me, if I had detected otherwise, you would have felt lightening strike that tree you were in, they tend to draw them when static builds up after all.”

Atrox’s metaphysical eye watched the figure run from the tree line and just barely dive through one of the last remaining weather doors as it shut. Overhead the rain was falling horizontal, driven by the gale force winds ahead of the main storm. Lightning was beginning to fill the clouds with liquid fire and thunder began to roll across the island.

“You are drip, drip, dripping on the floor. I can feel it and so can the Academy. You are attracting attention.”

The woman in red suddenly vanished before Atrox, as a huge blow to her ego had hit her. Hera sighed, as she looked at the black ebony walls that lined the floor, the ceiling, and the walls. “Kythons.” Hera whispered, as she took another step towards the tower.

Well what was the use, she knew that he had the advantage. Hera let the light hit her, as the cloak dropped. Instead of running, she decided to walk, one hand on the colt, the other on her rapier. She walked seemingly free from the kythons, although now she knew that she never had a chance to slip in undetected. She needed a new strategy.

She continued to walk, as she saw nothing but torches. The long hallway eventually lead up the tower. Hera stood at the door, as she released the rapier. Balling her hand up in a fist, she began to knock on the door.

The double doors swung slowly open, their black surfaces gleaming in the light. Outside the tower, the wind was howling something fierce, filling the tower with a screaming that seemed to permeate everywhere. It was still low enough to talk over but you could not ignore its presence.

“You may enter. I believe you know the way.”

The hall led to a great chamber. At the far end, a grand set of stairs ascended into the darkness as it wound around a corner into the shadows caused by the lights. Outside the storm continued to build it’s fury.

The lightning filled the background of the room, as the echoing scream filled the room. The white light flashed outside, as the lightning hit an adjacent tower. Hera knew she had to be cautious, even though the very floor was alive with a potential foe. She gripped her rapier once more.

Her robes still clung tightly to her thin frame, as she began to walk up the staircase. It was beautiful in a strange way. So dark, so cold, so haunting, yet still a work of art. She had to admire it, as she made her way to the top of the case, where another large room was. At the end, the ebon warrior, whom she had briefly met on the Ares stood, staring out the window.

“Afternoon.” Hera told the man who helped to save her once, from the fires of the man in white. "Lovely resort you have made for yourself. Are you planning on making it a chain?" she asked him, not out of scarcasm but in a sincere voice.

“I think it will be a place people will want to visit, perhaps stay a bit. It drew you here after all, didn’t it?”

Atrox watched the fire pour from the sky in sheets of lightening as a massive wave of thunder shook the entire tower.

“The T’Shang is a particularly strong one for this time of the year. It is actually quite impressive to watch it from here, although before long the rain will make it impossible to see out the glassteal dome.”

The Sith turned to Hera and walked toward her. The metallic steps were completely muffled by the roar of the storm so Hera watched him approach soundlessly. She could barely hear him over the roar of the storm and the frequent thunder made both wait to talk between episodes.

“Now, why did you seek me out?”

Just in case, he was prepared to raise a telekinetic barrier.

She watched the grand showmanship of Atrox with keen interest. He was not openly hostile, but cautious. He slowly walked on the floor towards her, trying to show his dominance. His heavy boots made no sound, as if to show his worth as a warrior and deadly prowess. It was quite theatrical, especially with the lightning and thunder that enclosed the room. Hera slowly cocked her head to the left, as she removed her hand from the colt.

“I am here for you.” Hera replied. “The council sent me to bring you before them, however it was never specified dead or alive.” she stated. Slowly Hera mimicked the dark lord before her. Her rain soaked white robe clung to her flesh as she walked closer, one hand free, one on her rapier.

As she got close, the pair began to encircle each other, like two predators, looking for a weakness in the other, looking for the perfect oppritunity to strike. “You are an enigma.” Hera said to the Dark Lord. “You carry the title Sith, but you are not. Vader is alive, you did not kill him.” Hera stated to Atrox. “The Ares, you acted with honor, and saved more of the crew, including my mind from the trap of the man in white.” Hera replied

She then smiled at him, “Now you are here, not truly a sith, and not truly changed. You hate Daniel, but you are still Ba’el. You do not even try to hide it, and still no one can see that but me.”

“Hawkins thinks I should have killed you, he thinks I still should. Tell me, Ba’el are you a sith?” Hera rhetorically asked Atrox.

“The Jedi council wishes to speak to me? They could have just called. It would have saved you a lot of trouble and a good wetting. What do they wish of me?”

Atrox matched his opponent’s circling dance with a grace that seemed impossible for a mechanical being, or even one encase within a suit. It was very alien in the ways the figure moved. So far, he had not tried to reach for the two sabers plainly hanging upon his belt but they were easily obtainable and positioned correctly for easy access. Curiously, there were only two sabers present but Atrox possessed four limbs. Would he use those in a fight? What would he wield with them?

She then smiled at him, “Now you are here, not truly a sith, and not truly changed. You hate Daniel, but you are still Ba’el. You do not even try to hide it, and still no one can see that but me.”

“Hawkins thinks I should have killed you, he thinks I still should. Tell me, Ba’el are you a sith?” Hera rhetorically asked Atrox.

“I am simply me. I am not Vader. I am not Daniel.”

Atrox held two arms out sideways in a gesture, the ones that were not positioned for an easy draw of the blades. “The Sith are a part of me, not myself being a part of the Sith. I am the sum total of my parts. I am not this part, that part; I am the creation of it all.”

“Have you yet figured out what you are?”

The two continued the dance that might end up being the death of one of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRTGMwZslX4

This dance was quite amusing, I had to admit. He was so cautious, as was I. I did begin to feel somewhat disappointed though, as we walked around in circles. This was nothing like in the Ice Palace, where he held me close, his cold metallic hand around my waist, as we danced and laughed.

This was nothing like the Opera house, where we smiled and talked. Is he breaking up with me? He watched me, as I looked back at him. He does not understand, I know this. His words, are not poison, nor are they deceit, they are hollow. It pains me to see him like this.

After all what else should I feel. When I last saw him, he was so noble, so honorable, so full of life. Look at him now, alone in his tower, without long lots of hair to throw down to the passing prince. What was he to do, but stare at the window. Princes usually are not smart enough to bring a ladder after all.

Although I was sad, I could see in him the small spark of life. What had Vader done to him to make him like this? Then again do I really want to know? Nah... We all know Vader is a perv. After all he sits on a large chair wishing for his hands to caress everything it sees, from the smallest asteroid to the largest planet. I just hope Vader did not attempt the bad touch on Atrox, in his lust for overcompensation.

So here we are, without the music, it is so quiet in here all of the lightning and thunder, but there is no song, no life, just the dance.

Then he spoke, as if he did not want me anymore. I must admit it hurt my feelings, when he would have preferred a phone call. What was I to say, not that it mattered, but the words fell from my lips. I could not help but to smirk at him, “ Your number is unlisted, and you know how the Masaki’s are about paying their bills. Not that it mattered, after all if they had your numbers, they ran out of force minutes.” I continued to walk around him, as he walked around me. Was he going to play, or just stare at my cold wet white robes. Mental Note, I need to kill Athena.

“What he wants is to talk with you. You are to be brought to the jedi council unarmed, and preferably unharmed.” I spoke to him as confidence began to fill inside my chest. “Then you shall have a chat, and some tea. That is of course, if you are brave enough.”

I knew that would taunt him just slightly, but maybe that is what he needs. Look how depressed he is, wearing all black, hiding out in this gothic paradise. It may be eerily beautiful, but it needs some color.

Then as I spoke it happened, the stone slowly grew bark and began to turn to leaves. Ebony began to fill in with soil as dandelions and grass began to grow. I could hear the birds in the sky, as the warm sun shined on my cold flesh. The breeze was euphoric as it carried a stiff warm wind. “So much better.”

Then he spoke of Vader and Daniel. What is his obsession with these two. I mean seriously, it is like he is just getting over a bad marriage. I could not help but to laugh, as he then asked who I am. Did my name tag not give it away? I pointed my left hand up to my chest, “I am Hera, I am a name and an idea, but a person too. Who are you?”

“So, what is the REAL reason you came here?”

Atrox stepped back a few paces showing he was not about to attack but it would be foolish to drop his guard at the moment.

“You and I both know it was not to be a ‘messenger boy’. The Lightning Master has sacrificed the lives of many a youth in the recent past to carry out his plans. The reason they gave you is not sound. You came here for a different reason. I can feel it.”

Darth Atrox looked up at the sunshine Hera created. Somehow she had transformed the entire area into a sunlit meadow. It was not illusion; he could feel from the academy Shipmind the truth. Accessing scans from The Abomination in orbit also backed up what he was seeing.

“The sooner you realize the truth of the matter, the sooner we can continue on, dancing around in circles will only make you dizzy. The sooner you open your eyes to what must come, the better your chances to obtain them. I have already envisioned this, you must come to the Truth that lay within your hear upon your own, I cannot tell you what lies there. You must seek it out yourself and only you can discover what lies there.”

Atrox led the girl, no, the woman over to a tree that had appeared. It resembled the tree he had found the bird nest containing Hera’s hair. It was one she obviously sought in times of solitude for comfort in the past. If it wasn’t, why did Hera create it in her dreamscape?

Hera was slightly taken back by the Dark Lords words. She came here for a simple mission, for a simple purpose, and Atrox continued to speak philosophy to her. Philosophy, not exactly Hera’s strong suit, as she began to become some what agitated.

“I know the truth, and that truth is perception. Perception is reality, and is the very make up of our core being. Ideas and senses, all intertwine in such things, but I did not come here to speak of ultimate truth, and hidden enlightenment.” Hera replied. She walked along side Atrox to the tree, that she did so enjoy.

“I came here for a simple purpose, to complete a mission.” she said, her words beaming with confidence. “I came here to judge you Atrox. I came here to see if you are the man of honor I met on the Ares, or if you twist your words to force others into your service. I came to see if you are a true sith, or another of Bane’s line.” she replied, even though most people would never really know the distinction between the two.

She then turned her gaze to Atrox, her eyes fixed on him, as she focused on her target. “I came here, Lord Atrox, to discover if I should Advocate for you or damn you. I came to decide if I should bring you to the Jedi, alive and well, or to bring them your head on a platter.” She said coldly. “I came to find out, if you have honor, or just lust.” she replied. “I know myself, it is you that I do not know.” she said with conviction, and sincerity.

Atrox reached up and picked an apple from the tree, which was strange since it was not an apple tree. He then took a small blade from his belt and proceeded to peel the apple while he spoke.

“Truth is perception? That is a problem because of your abilities, perceptions change as you change. My wondrous training facility I built was changed into a sunny meadow at your whim. This is a water world with rocky projections of land covered with jungles; there is nowhere on the entire planet that could support the ecology of this meadow. There was a typhoon passing through the area a few minutes ago, if you look, your clothes are still wet from the rain yet here the sun is shining as if it has been doing the same thing for the past month. Around you, everyone’s perceptions change as your subconscious changes. That does not mean it is really True.”

Atrox sliced the apple in twain and then deftly removed the cores out of each, setting them carefully aside where he sat. He then cut the apple into wedges and began to feed them into his mouth, supplementing his diet with the pulp and glucose of the delicious fruit. He offered some to Hera.

“But if you are just projecting illusions, why can they be felt and even tasted. By the way, that apple was delicious, thank you.”

Atrox picked up the core and then easily removed the seeds and collected them in a compartment.

“I hope you don’t mind, I wish to plant them in the gardens because apples are not native here and I do miss them.”

Atrox cleaned his blade properly and returned it to his belt. He looked around and made a comment, “I could really use some tea now. A nice Jasmine blend would go so well with that apple.”

“As far as you being my Judge, if you decide I am Honorless, then you should take my head for I would not wish to live without Honor. Before you decide, I would ask you to consider their motives. Are they asking you to bring me back to talk or are they asking you to assist in my assassination? They could have sent anybody to be a messenger; even open broadcasts would have delivered the message to one of the Kython ships and then to me through the Kython Link. Hell, Daniel could have told it to one of his Kython enhanced ships in his Black Fleet, they did not need you to deliver a message.”

“You can consider the weight of those Truths when you determine where everything sets. Your ship should be resting in the Hanger, provided you didn’t overwrite it with meadow. It should be repaired by now so there is nothing holding you here if you wish to leave. I will not stop you. I will not even try for I will make you do nothing you do not wish as long as it is the Truth of the matter. I will not let you live a lie, it would dishonor both you and I if I were to let you do so.”

“Bane? That miscreant? His teachings are what caused Vader and I to part company. I do not believe in them for they are wrong. You cannot properly teach your student to survive if you have to fear being struck down by them after you are done. If you hold back Knowledge to keep that edge over your apprentice then you are not teaching them but playing a game with their and your lives. There is no Honor in that; you are deliberately creating flaws in them to allow you to survive. That is wrong and the reason I came here, to start this academy in order to teach the Old Ways again to those who would see the Truth. I was shown a glimpse of what I needed to do back on The Ares before I met you. I was led here to create this New Order. I am here to bring back the Old Ways again. The proper ways.”

Atrox commanded his suit to release his helm. With a hiss of escaping air, the black metallic head jerked upwards a fraction of an inch and Atrox lifted it off his head. The twin antennae flexed in the slight breeze whispering through the sunlit meadow as if they were alive with a mind of their own. He set his helm in the grass beside him and looked at Hera with golden compound eyes.

“If that answer is wrong, then take my head here and now for a future under the Ways of Bane is something I do not wish to experience.”

He leaned his head forward exposing the back of his neck. Just in case, he prepared to remove his consciousness from the Atrox form, he had more stashed away in the Academy and in The Abomination.

Laughter erupted from her, like a volcano releasing the pressure of it’s magma, at the dramatic display of Atrox. As he kneeled before her, his antennas twitching, she could not help herself.

She slowly took her right hand off her rapier for a moment, and signaled for Atrox to stand. “Please.” she said trying to hold back her giggling, as if she were a school girl, “No need for a drama queen, that is my job.” she replied to the Dark Lord of the Sith, as a smile cracked her face.

She reached out her hand to the dark lord, offering it to him to help him up. “I do not wish to harm you.” she said, as her voice and expressions became serious once more. “I was sent to complete my mission, which is to bring you before the Jedi, to face their judgement. Death would only be necessary assuming you resist.” she said, as her eyes locked on her target. “Personally, I believe you.” Hera responded. “Your actions are consistent with your words, something that most humans, including the Jedi can not state.”

“Could they have sent anyone yes, but not anyone has a nack for survival the way I do. I know the Councils intentions, I know their hearts. Some are pure, others darker than Vader.” she said, as she motioned for Atrox to walk along side her. The air began to stir, a warm breeze began to blow, accelerating the cloth robes evaporation process, allowing her robes to dry off.

As the pair walked, Hera turned her gaze to Atrox. “I am glad to see that you do not follow the misguided ways of Bane, but I am curious, what do you know of the Old Sith Order. What do you believe it was, and what it stood for? What in fact was it, and how is it the proper way?”

Atrox stood from where he crouched. His foot touched his helm and the discarded piece of equipment melted and was absorbed into the Suit.

“I am sorry, the request was genuine, not drama. I do not wish to remain in a galaxy ruled by the disgrace called the Rule of Two. It only creates predators that kill each other, not a society that acts together.”

The Dark Lord walked with Hera and spoke as he kept pace with the young hybrid.

“Orders where a Teacher only looks after itself and creates weaknesses within its students can only devolve over time. If I were to only teach you 90 percent of what I know and keep the last bit as leverage to keep you in control, you can only do the same. Eventually you will have a teacher who cannot teach because they know nothing. The current system started by Bane only breeds weakness. Each generation of masters and apprentices weakens the whole Order. It cannot survive, even with access to forgotten teachings and Holocrons, the Teacher will not show his student all. If he did, the student would kill him and take over.”

“The current breed of Sith are only after one single thing, the quest to live forever. Look where it led Palpatine, he is a mindless raging forcestorm at Asfaltum, betrayed by his own General. Ever since that mistake named Bane took power, the Sith have gone downhill and they only prey upon each other. The loyalties of the Sith should be only to the Order itself. The Order should come first. They should do everything in their power to advance the Order and work together. Imagine what can be done if all the Sith were taught this way instead of taught to hunt each other, we would be the single most effective order in history. Now imagine if they all placed Honor, Dedication, Knowledge, and The Order ahead of their own personal gain. My god, it would make a definite change in the way things are done.”

“We can learn from the mistakes the others before us have made instead of following blindly like the Children of Bane have done.”

Atrox stopped and turned to Hera. “That is why I have built all this, to create a better vision.”

All of my life, I obeyed and listened. All of my life, I was forged of fire, as the hammer slammed on me, pounding out the impurities, forging a sword. All I have done for the light is kill, it is all I know. I am like an angel. One wing in heaven, and the other covered in the blood of those I have killed. I have watched my father die. I have seen my people die. Their screams still echo in my mind, their voices scarred in my brain. Even the most beautiful of the angels can fall.
-Darth Sunshine, Revelations of the Mother Volume I

The Darkness of the Sun (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-yfG8pqto8)

“The dream is beautiful, filled with warm fluffy thoughts. It had it’s field of gold, cities with streets of silver, but a dream is all it is.” Hera replied, as she walked next to Atrox, through the golden dreamscape of her mind. The tall field, with it’s golden wheat knee high, seemed to part for the two as they walked.

Hera then began to quiet her mind, to listen to the words of Atrox, on the wind. His voice entered her ears, as she began to listen. “What were the words?” she asked herself as she listened to his. She could hear the truth, or what was permitted. She could hear the tales of his heart, the sadness of his voice but above all she could hear the truth. He was telling the truth.

She reached her arm out and touched his shoulder. “You hold hate, but it is tempered. We have both suffered, from the light and from the dark. Your goal is noble, your words filled with wisdom, but words without actions are meaningless.” Hera replied. “Your temple is great, but it is just stone, just rock. Your intentions are pure, and I believe you. Then again, I am not your true judge. I am a girl." Hera spoke as the stoic words left her lips.

The wind began to pick up, as Hera’s long brown hair began to blow gently across her face. Her eyes slightly obfuscated by the dark strands, she looked at him. “Come with me and prove your words. Let the Jedi be your judge. Let you be their judge. Stand before them cloaked in honor, and I shall be your advocate. Do this, and I will help your dream become a reality.” Hera said to the dark lord.

Atrox thought for a few moments, weighing several options before speaking.

“Agreed. I will accompany you and appear before this Jedi Council but only if they will give a fair and unprejudiced chance. It is only fair, since I will be giving them the same. We will leave upon the morrow. We can use my ship since it will get us there faster. I will have your ship readied and we will use it to get into orbit.”

Atrox hesitated before speaking.

“Follow this Childer, they will lead you to suitable quarters where you can dry and warm yourself. You will catch your death in you remain soaked to the bone, and if that happens, who will protect me from the Jedi? I have arrangements to make tonight so this will not remain unattended while I am gone. Someone might arrive seeking instruction while we are away.”

Hera turned and noticed one of the Childer standing a short distance away, waiting to lead her to one of the guest suites, and hopefully a steaming warm bath. The cold from her damp clothing was starting to make her shiver.

Although the cold of the room existed, Hera could only feel the warmth of the plane. She turned to Atrox as a slight grin crossed her face. “I will make every arrangement possible to make sure the Council is fair, but taking your ship will not be faster nor will it have the proper appearance.”

She turned and pointed to the blue sky, “How would you feel if Vader was arrested, but was brought here with the death star?” she asked. “If you truly feel safer with your ship, then have it come along, however my jump drive is nearly instantaneous, unlike your wormhole technology. It will go better for you, if the Abomination remains in T-Space.” she replied.

As she finished speaking the meadow vanished, and they stood in Atrox’s tower once more. “I will see you tomorrow, meet me at the raptor.” Hera replied. As she walked out, Atrox looked down into his black metallic hand. The apple seeds were still there.

Atrox wandered the grounds. The brief storm had already left, leaving a wet dripping landscape behind. The pathways through the gardens had easily drained away the torrential downpour without any erosion damage. Without a doubt the grotto would be full and the lower training grounds would be draining from the storm runoff.

The Dark Lord kneeled and begins to dig a hole in the rich soil. After depositing one of the seeds, he moved on to the next spot he had chosen. After planting all the seeds he had taken from the apple, he stood up and examined his work. The trees would line the path and were carefully spread far enough their root system would not impede upon any of the other nearby trees. Reaching out a hand, Atrox concentrated his psionics and began to accelerate the seeds. After a minute, green shoots poked out of the black soil reaching for the sky. As the Ta’Nar concentrated, the seedlings continued to grow, climbing in the sunlight until they stood a few feet tall. When he was sure they were large enough to resist any of the storms, he stopped manipulating their growth. It would take a little for them to completely take but he was sure they were now big enough to continue naturally.

Returning to the complex, Atrox went to his quarters in one of the three towers. He carefully secured the door and then walked over to one wall. Accessing a hidden lab by triggering a mechanism keyed to his psionic signature, he entered the secret complex. Atrox placed his weapons upon a side table and he activated the security system, creating barriers of anti-magic, anti-psi, and force inhibitors to ensure his privacy. He then went over to one of several stasis pods and unlocked it with his psi again. As it opened, he commanded his armor to leave him and the black suit melted off the Sith. The insect form stepped into the stasis pod and closed. As the rich fluids began to circulate around the form, Ba’El stepped out of the form of Atrox. The rejuvenation process had begun, replenishing the body encased within.

The next morning, Atrox joined Hera after Breakfast.

“Your ship awaits us by the front door, I already sent The Abomination ahead. We can leave whenever you are ready.”


To be continued in Atrox's Stand (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=554294)


-----



As the ship rose into the air, a shrouded being watched them leave from the security of the tower. Now, to wait for students to arrive throught he Destiny Gate...

With Atrox's absence, some things began to be put into motion. With a flicker of pseudo-motion, two ships came into the system with Destiny Point at the same time. Both were of different design. One was an interceptor from the Kelauan Dominion, a soldier and pilot known as D'thas, whom had been cut off from his squadron during a fight with some pirates and fell into a wormhole. Suddenly, he found himself here and staring right at a large ship which was looking at him. The cruiser was the personal ship of Darian, de-facto leader of the Ascension Remnant, the shattered pieces of the now defunct Ascendancy which had been wiped out by an unknown foe. He had come here as he had a dream of a large station which had been whispering to him, urging him to come find it. To find the way to protect his people, which was his utmost desire right now. Upon arriving, he found his sensors locked onto a small fighter of an unknown design.

Opening a channel, he spoke. "Unknown fighter, this is Darian of the Ascension Remnant. Who are you and what are you doing here?"

D'thas, shocked into silence by the channel, managed to shake himself awake. <"I am D'thas, pilot in Warfleet Armageddon. I was battling pirates with my squadron when I fell into a wormhole and came here. Why are you here?">

"I do not know. I came here to find out. I am going into that station. I cannot take you aboard, as I have no room, but if you wish, you can follow me into that station."

<"Seeing the situation I'm in, Darian, I don't have much of a choice."> Darian sent an acknowledgment and then cut the channel. Was he here by chance, or did the station bring him here? A random wormhole taking him here, that was oddly suspicious.... He moved close to the station, and then went to the airlock, where he jumped out. Although he couldn't phase through anymore, he still had his psionics, and could hide his energy form with them. So he descended using his powers and walked inside, to find D'thas there. A tall being, he had dark green skin and blood-red eyes. He merely raised an eyebrow and nodded at him. Then continued on his way. The place was massive, and had a hot, tense atmosphere. The air was thick with tension and a sense of being watched. D'thas twitched nervously behind him, walking around with his pistol, checking corners and the like. Darian didn't bother; he had his psionic powers, he had no need for weapons.

Soon enough they came to an area, that was a long hallway. Darian looked around, something felt odd about this hallway.

"You've come...." He whirled around, expecting something to stand there. But there was nothing. He heard the sound of booted feet behind him as he realized D'thas was nowhere to be seen. The feeling of immense corruption assailed his senses and he turned and was face to face with the smiling visage of Remiel. His face visibly whitened and he took a step back in fear. Remiel spread his arms out wide, a hurt look on his face.

"Darian, whatever is the problem? Aren't you happy to see me, your old friend Remiel?" Darian clenched his hands and teeth, anger and fear rising within him. The Warmaster smiled. "Ah yes, I forgot. You hate me, don't you? You hate my people. Chaos is not such a bad thing, you know. It grants you power beyond your dreams, Darian. The power to, say, save your declining people." Darian froze, eyes staring into Remiel's skull.

"You're lying. Chaos leads to nothing but death and destruction. You've proven that with Naboo and Jurai."

A dark chuckle. "Now. now Darian. You know as well as I that it was part of war. I was fighting an enemy, and not holding back as many nations choose to do so. It was a way of ensuring my victory, nothing more. Besides, Chaos is not just destruction, but creation. The Chaos Gods can give you the power to rebuild your people, overcome the barriers you inherited with your immortality, and making you stronger. Your people can rebuild, become powerful once more. They will be able to defend themselves, slaughter any enemy that comes into contact with them, and even hunt down those who did this to you. You can ensure no one stands in your way again." Remiel held out a hand.

"All you have to do is take my hand, kneel and give your allegiance to Chaos, and you will be given all these things." Darian stood there, torn from within. His racial hatred of Chaos and Chronosia was tearing at him to kill, or try to kill, this being in front of him. But his heart ached for his people's return, to see them happy once more. To revenge himself on those who did this to them. However, he heard a voice in his mind, small one, almost drowned out between these opposing forces. Pushing away his divided mind, he listened to it. It was his thirst for knowledge, his knowledge and experiences. After several moments, he looked at Remiel, and shook his head.

"No, Remiel. Chaos is nothing but a path of ruin, and the Chaos Gods would only ruin my people, not help them. I do not want revenge, war, or death. I want peace, knowledge, and a place to find a viable and control-free way of helping my people. You are not those things." Remiel looked at him and chuckled.

Your loss, my friend, your loss..." With that he suddenly vanished, and Darian gasped, finding himself in front of a massive gate. Glancing around, he saw D'thas who was standing by a pillar, thinking. He noticed Darian. <"Ah, hello. I wondered when you would get here."> The Ascendant glanced at him.

"Where did you go?"

<"Ah, thats quite a story. You see....">

-flashback-

D'thas walked around a corner and saw Darian had vanished. His eyes narrowed. That's odd. He was just here. He took a step forward to start looking for him, and he found himself on a battlefield. Craters everywhere, with many of his brethren dead on the ground, with formless enemies dead amongst them. A shade stood before him, cloaked and menacing. "So you have come. Come to the home you always desire. Why not rush out and fulfill the desire in your heart, the desire for battle. To die doing what you love most, Kelauan. Fighting. Why do you tarry in a quiet place of learning that you do not belong in."

D'thas took a step forward; he could not deny his heart yearned for the fight that was going on ahead, with the screams and sounds of battle. However, he shook his head and pulled the foot back. <"No. I may enjoy fighting, but I will not succumb to being an addict to war.">

"But you already are. Your people pick fights with anyone who gets in their way. Admit it, your people will consume themselves in war. You love to kill, you love to fight. To feel the blood of your enemies on your hand, to hear their dying screams. Why not fulfill what your heart desires, instead of simply following someone you do not know?"

D'thas glared at the shade. <"Listen to me, you shit-head. My people have developed a liking for war, but that is partly caused by the genetic modifications we have given ourselves. We are excited by battle and the concept of testing our strength against others. However, we do not succumb as much as you think; we only fight if we have to, and those who provoke us. I am here to find the strength to calm the rage in my heart, that I inherited, and to find a way to bring it to my people. Now, begone, I'll hear no more!">

Surprisingly, it did and he found himself before a large gate...

-end flashblack-

Darian nodded. "I see we both got tested, but why, I do not know."

D'thas pointed a thumb at the door. <"Only one way to find out.">

They both nodded, new respect for the other in their eyes, as Darian told his story as well, and made to go through the gate. They both wobbled, however, when they got incredibly dizzy and fell forward. After a bout of unconsciousness, they woke up to find themselves in a large stone hall, filled with cool air and banners that showed ancient symbols. The place emanated quiet power and knowledge. A step was heard, and they turned, preparing to fight if necessary.

The two applicants stood upon the gate pad dazzled and unsteady from the effects of the transfer. They would not be able to tell exactly where they were but the definite black walls with black relief carvings of various mystical symbols would tell them they have found something.

The footfall they heard belonged to a single person dressed in black robes covering them from head to toe, it was impossible to even determine the species of the wearer much less the gender. The figure waited, unmoving until the two were finally confidant it was not about to attack. It then gestured for them to follow and then turned to leave without checking to make sure they would. The figure led them through a number of great halls with only their footsteps echoing in the vaulted chambers. The figure appeared to float across the floor as it passed.

As they entered a large room, it’s every surface the same black metal everywhere else; the figure came to a halt. A voice came from somewhere deep within the darkness of the hood, more of a whisper than a voice.

“Wait here for the Master. It will not be long.”

D'thas and Darian gazed at the figure for a bit before relaxing, and when they did, it motioned for them to follow. Glancing at each other, they followed it through the endless hallways of the place they were in. Darian was gazing all around, taking in the atmosphere. He felt...something calling out to him, like in his dream. But the face was faint, only murmurs, he could not hear it. D'thas thought he was simply nervous and his mind was making him hear stuff, so he was shaking his head and smacking it to try and make it stop, only succeeding in a headache.

The figure stopped in a room with black metal. Darian's eyes narrowed; that metal looked very familiar....When he told them to wait, Darian nodded and proceeded to investigate the black metal as they waited.

The Abomination emerged from T-Space, fading into existence as it entered Real Space. It had left behind the series of wormholes and used its Dimensional Drives for the rest of the way Home.

As the massive ship settled into orbit, a black figure stood on the bridge watching the planet as it began to fill the screen. The Dreadnaught settled into the upper atmosphere and maintained orbit using its gravity drives. A single shuttle sped from the landing bay to the surface.

Minutes later, the two waiting Applicants were looking around the ebon room. A split in the wall above was covered by either glass or an energy field but the bright sunshine entering illuminated the entire room so everything could be seen clearly.

As Darian was peering very closely at the wall, he heard the approach of an individual, his heavy footsteps preceding his arrival. Darian, who was looking at the wall to determine what the stuff was made of turned to see a being about his height but composed completely out of black metal. The giant insect shape was very familiar and he recognized him from somewhere just a few weeks ago, on the Ares when she was attacked.

Darian heard the footsteps and turned as D'thas started from his pose at Darian's movement. The Ascendant gazed at the insect form and his eyes widened. This was the Balroggan who had been on the Ares and helped to reduce the casualties taken there. "A-Atrox? What are you doing here?"

The Balroggan glanced at him, his eyes oddly intense. "I could ask you the same thing. You could not find this place by accident. Why are you here, Darian?" The Ascendant looked hard at the Balroggan, suspicion and confusion rising within him. "The truth...Darian, the truth..."

The Ascendant looked around, before returning to Atrox and he felt almost as if the Balroggan was...smiling.

"I...am...here because I have been having...dreams. Something calling to me, wanting to show me the way I can help save my people from extinction. And to get the knowledge to do so. It led me to a station, where D'thas here joined me, and then after some strange....trials, we came...here."

He looked at Atrox. "Now, why are you here? What is this place? And what is this voice that keeps calling to me?"

“This is my new Home, I made it to allow me to shape the future. I designed this place to act as a conduit to Knowledge. I created this place to allow those that seek it out to understand themselves better, to allow them to control their own Destinies.”

“This is the home to The New Order. Here I will teach Darksiders to allow them to control their abilities and their powers. Here I will teach them to fight with Honor. I will teach them to act together in harmony.”

“I will teach them to use the Force.”

Seeing a look of confusion on the Ascendant’s face Atrox began to explain about the Force.

“The Force is an energy field that is generated by every living being in the galaxy. There are those who are Force Sensitive and can sense it. There are even others that can use the energy to shape and manipulate their environment. While it sounds like Magic or even Psionics, it is neither. The voice you have been hearing sounds like it is the Force calling out to you.”

Darian listened as he explained the Force to him, and he had a skeptical look on his face when Atrox was done. "Even if I am hearing this, how can I be taught it? The only power I can call upon is that of my mind, and I should have sensed this other power in my a long time ago."

Atrox turned to D'thas, who had been quiet. "Tell me, why are you here?"

The Kelauan glanced at him, and sighed. <"Again with that question? I am here to master the lust for battle my people have developed from the change we underwent to survive and from the war we fought. I do not wish to succumb as many of my people have, and to find a way to control it. Then bring it to my people. That is why I am here.">

For Fate to look over the Abh Empire and pluck out an individual of importance with greater powers than normal, the pickings would be slim. Four in total actually. If a mind's eye were to look over these four, they would stand out like blazing fires in the darkness. But who would be the best choice for something of this nature?

The first of which might be considered the weakest at the time being as the young man still found himself in the apprentice stage. Young Erickson was one of the last Force Users to be recruited within the Abh Empire and found himself in the temples constructed by the GFFA for training of Jedi and other special ability persons. His skills lay heavily on the use of his lightsaber as he continued to learn the intricacies of the art and study more ways of the Force under his teachers.

A second candidate is probably the most known outside of the Abh Empire among the circles of the Force though whether it was a good or bad image was still a debatable topic. An Abriel of some renown, he had originally been trained as a Sith and given the name Darth Vicious but was later turned away from such teachings and took on his family name of Abriel Nei Dobrusk Paryunu Doron. Doron's teachers came in the forms of Richard Rahl while he was still within the Empire before being captured during the ESUS-GFFA war. During his absence Doron was left virtually alone to his own ways until a recent debacle on the Colonies of Kobol that involved the Coredians and could have brought the Abh into another war that they were not looking for. Due to his actions, Imperial Admiral Gaf'ton later submitted him to the laws of the Empire and has had a strict control over all Force Users within the Abh Empire ever sense.

Ever since then, Doron has been serving as a guard in the Imperial capital to keep out all potential threats of his kind. Doron himself is head strong and unflinching in his methods but has the tendency of being right as often as he is wrong while sharing many attributes of the Abh race that most people have come to not like.

Perhaps the greatest of the four would be Richard Rahl himself, Emperor of D'Hara and the first human to ever be considered a candidate for the Jade Throne. His powers far surpass any combination of the Force Users within the Abh Empire and has garnered a great deal of respect and fear among the admirality of Star Forces. Ever since he has returned from his imprisonment, his stay has been quiet which leads many Abh to only wonder what his intentions are. Bearing a spirit and mind that is indominatible, the likelihood of someone of his character being called would drop dramatically.

The last of these characters is a unique Abh. Jessyka was one of the few ordered into Colonial space under Force User Doron's command though no knowledge of any of their pressence was known to the greater public. Merely posing as observers, she was the only Abh to be left behind and subsequently captured by Darth Atrox as she and Master Sakir allowed the rest of their team to leave to safety. Since then, she had experienced the worst of existances with continued rape and torture from the crew of the Warstar Ares under the command of Admiral Cain.

Only by a slight chance of Fate had allow her to escape her miserable existance and find her way back home. Rescuer turned savior as Atrox became. Perhaps all Kythons were not bad but her trust of anyone that was not Abh had greatly diminished as she secluded herself from all else. She, above all the rest, would make the finest addition to a new order.

------------------------

Jessyka moved lightly through the open floor as she squared herself against her opponent. Her heart beat steadied between her breasts as she held her open palms out before her, ready for any sudden movements. The human across from her wielded a small knife in one hand and leared at her with a lewd grin.

The Abh brought the Force within herself and listened to her surroundings and heightened her senses. Everything around her grew calm as she closed her eyes and waited. Seconds were as long as a life time to the Abh as she waited for the perfect moment.

Then it came as she sensed a change in the air from the man's movements. He came on with a thrust, the predictable attack of someone using a knife. Jessyka let the man's hand come right past her chest as she turned behind the thrust. Her open palm shot out like a bullet to the man's elbow joint, snapping the bone and bending his arm back in an unnatural pose. Her heel kicked out next to his knee joint and shattered the knee cap sending the man to the ground in a heap.

Jessyka calmly walked behind her prey and grabbed a fistful of his black hair and pulled his head back. Tears stung at his eyes from the pain as he looked into her eyes, pleading to let him go. With no emotion once so ever, Jessyka stiffened her index and middle finger and jabbed them into the man's throat. She could feel his carroded artery as well as his esophagus pushing oxygen down to his longs. Her fingers were as hard as steel as the connected to his skin while her thumb clamped down on the other side of this throat.

Despite the man's efforts at struggling, Jessyka was in complete control of him. She would never have a situation any other way. The only type of scenario that she could tolerate, was her being in complete control. Her fingers pinched together, crushing the man's throat and cutting of his air supply. She released him from her grasp and let the man kick around on the floor until he finally ceased his spasms and passed from existance.

Their was a clap from the background that brought Jessyka out of her trance-like state. Imperial Admiral Gaf'ton walked out into the light of the training floor just as the holographic image of thug faded away. The slightest of smiles tugged at his mouth as he remembered bringing her back to the Empire. Jessyka had barely been clothed at the time and she had fallen into his arms crying. It was the last time she would ever cry about anything.

Gaf'ton had temporarily sedated her and put her through a rigorous medical examination to ensure that she was healthy with no diseases transmitted from the crew. What disgusted him the most aside from the barbaric behavior of the humans, was the fact that one of them managed to impregnate her. He had momentarily toyed with the idea of letting it live but quickly dismissed the thought and ordered the doctors to destroy it. It was doubtful that he would ever tell Jessyka that she had been pregnant. To an Abh, sharing genes was the most sacred of things in love and was not done merely on a whim or for pleasure. The fact that these humans did so without respect, only furthered his belief that they had to be dealt with. And they would as he had promised her revenge.

"Well done." Gaf'ton had trained her long and hard as soon as she was coherent enough to begin. Jessyka had studied the anatomy of the human form and learned every weakness, learned had to become proffecient at killing humans. The one eyed Admiral smiled at the perfect weapon that he had helped create.

She no longer carried a lightsabers as she had destroyed hers as soon as it was returned. Jessyka now preferred to rely on her own strength and that on the Force that surrounded her. No more would she ever be left helpless but now she would be stronger than ever before. Vulnerability was longer an option for her.

Gaf'ton appraised his apprentice in her full covering. Ever since she awoke from the hospital, Jessyka had covered every inch of her body. She wore a full body dark brown cloak that closed around her neck and stretched all the way down to her ankles. Long black boots reached all the way up to her calf while a dark cloak was wrapped around her shoulders doing its best to cover her womanly features though failing in the attempt. Her long blue hair had been cut short and was now covered by a brown hood with a shawl to cover the rest of her face. Even her hands were wrapped in gloves leaving her violet eyes the only thing visible of her body.

Jessyka bowed at his praise. It was the final exam to her graduation from his tutelage. The Abh owed much to his care especially since she had no wants ever since she returned to the Empire's realms. Gaf'ton had looked after every aspect of her life and for that she was grateful. "Your Highness is too kind. I have only succeeded because of your guidance."

"Nonsense. You succeed because of your own determination. You have vowed to never let events in your past happen again. Because of this, you are shaping your own future and who you are becoming."

There was little Jessyka could say to it all but simply nod. Seeing that his pupil had finally grown to all that he had hoped, the Imperial Admiral nodded with approval. "You have learned all that I can teach you and the knowledge that the Empire contains for your kind. For you to continue your growth, you will have to look elsewhere and for that I release you."

Jessyka was stunned. Was she no longer a citizen of the Empire? As much as she wanted to continue gaining knowledge and power in the Force, she didn't want to lose the protection of her own kind. "Majesty I don-"

Gaf'ton held up his hand. "The Empire will always be your home and you will always be a citizen of its realms. If you should ever need anything, I will be at the capitol for you to find. I have left a number of items in your quarters, be sure to collect them before you leave."

With his work finished, the Imperial Admiral took his leave leaving behind Jessyka and one other shadowy figure. As the pressure doors to the training ground closed, Doron stepped out from the shadows and probably the only one in the room that did not like this transformation. The Abriel could sympathize with her but was uncertain of Gaf'ton's means in creating a new Force User. Doron pulled back the hood of his cloak as he stepped into the light.

"So you're leaving?"

Jessyka silently nodded as she readjusted her gloves and hood.

"Where will you go?"

The Abh looked up into the artificial light for a moment before returning her gaze to Doron. "I have felt a calling across space. Something out there contains a great power that promises to make me even stronger in the Force."

Doron frowned slightly. "Do not be consumed totally with your quest for power. The Sith hunger for power so much that it consumes them and burns everything down around them."

"And the Jedi are self-sacrificing and care not about themselves are ultimately a futile order and leave a meaningless existance." Jessyka had not forgotten the other end of the philosophy.

A small smile returned to the Abriel's face. "The Twilights are the only ones that do not let ideology blind them and use the Force what it is. The Force."

There was a moment of silence that passed between the two. A silence between friends that didn't have the words to say good-bye to one another. It was only until Jessyka spoke up that the silence was broken. "Master?"

"I am not your Master, Jessyka. We three are equals so there is no reason to use the title of master with me. What is it?"

Jessyka felt slightly ashamed as she averted her eyes, not meaning to offend him. "Yes, well I was wondering if there was something you could do for me. You are the only one that can."

Doron smiled. "You only have to but name it and I will do whatever you like. Why only me though?"

"You were the only one that was originally a Sith before changing. It is foolish for me to pretend to be a Twilight any longer. Too much has happened for me to carry on that name. I want you to give me the title of a Sith."

Doron's expression dropped at her words. It was the last thing he wanted to do for her. "You know what you ask right? Many people that once called you friend will now hunt you for simply taking on a different name."

"Then they are not friends. And they will find me a difficult target to kill should they try."

The Abriel nodded solemnly. "Kneel."

Jessyka did as she was instructed, sweeping her cloak out to the side. Doron drew one of his lightsabers and ignited the crimson blade. "As Darth Vicious I knight a new Sith. From this moment forward you shall be known as Darth. . . . Twilight."

A perfect name to fit once such as Jessyka and she looked up to Doron with a smile. "Thank you."

Doron extinguished the saber and returned it to his side. "Now Darth Twilight, go and create your own legend that will remembered forever in the archives. May both the Sith and Jedi fear you."

Jessyka scooped up the ends of her cloak and rose from the floor. She gave Doron her final farewells and headed out the door towards her own destiny. Doron stood silent in the middle of the chamber as the light darkened. He felt very much alone in these days as the Empire changed more everyday and his friends grew fewer.

------------------

Blue light surrounded the small black craft as it travelled through Space-Time. Gaf'ton had gifted Darth Twilight with her own Gunstar which was the smallest craft equipped with a space-time bubble generator allowing her to travel wherever she pleased. Jessyka had gathered up her belongings and cleared out her modest quarters and took the gifts from the Imperial Admiral.

There were communication devices, computer splices, adrenaline stimulus, medical packs, and a cloaking device. All of the items she knew would come in handy as she continued her long voyage. For hours now she had travelled through Space-Time looking for the power source that called her out.

A small beep sounded throughout the cockpit that could seat two but only carried her. Sord exit vector was coming up. It normally took a massive crew on exploration vessels to map out unknown Sords and find where they terminated. Darth Twilight had struck out alone through the Force to track down what she was looking for. She hoped her hunches paid off as a bright flash appeared at the nose of the fighter as it exited the Sord.

Computer systems ran the examinations determining the probability of what side of the Sord she had exited as well as scanning the sytem around her. There was not much to speak of. Darth Twilight turned off her computer systems and reached out with the Force. Computers had their uses but she could find more out in space through the combination of frochaj and the Force. In essence, she could scan light years of the galaxy with a single glance.

Something in the distance drew her thoughts. Jessyka angled the Gunstar towards a rather large asteroid and made her approach. Her instincts lead her on to land on the large rock. Now her journey truly began.

Destiny Point:

As Darth Twilight approached the distant speck of light that was only an asteroid from so far away, details would grow as she got closer. The rock would appear to have an ebon black pyramid embedded within it. There were power emissions easily detectable by her sensors and as she neared, the ship would receive a transmission from the automated navigation and docking control. The computerized system would direct her ship to a docking arm jutting from the side of the large asteroid where big vessels could simply dock with the structure and embedded within the docking structure was a landing bay for smaller craft. The ship was directed to the appropriate destination. While Jessyka approached, it would feel like the place was watching her.

Picture of Destiny Point (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/beldragos/DestanyPointlightshower.jpg)



-----


The New Order:

Atrox watched the two students that had arrived days ago. They were making good progress in each their own way. The Avatar had his own problem. He had to have a body somehow that contained Midi-chlorians. Atrox had solved that problem by possessing a life form mutated from insects by the Force Storm caused by the late Emperor Paplatine’s death. He still possessed that original insect form but has added many more created by Grand Admiral Ga’Ton over the many years. His first one is still his favorite and he had several created in case this one died on him.

Darian had been able to form his own body but it was without the microscopic life forms that were needed so he had been working together with him to develop one. Meanwhile, there were control issues to be learned. The Ascendant had taken to the meditative procedures like a fish to water, probably the extreme training he already possessed from being a Psionic. Without control of one’s mind a Psion cannot shape his thoughts and will into reality. That is the first thing one learns becoming a Psion and it was not different for being a Sith.

D’thas was another matter, the opposite side of the coin so to speak. He seemed to have a body that was rated quite nicely as far as the Midi-Chlorian blood test could determine. His problem was an intense internal rage that seemed to take control of his mind. Atrox had seen it before and his people called it Battle Rage. The Kelauan had to learn to control his Rage and the only way was to know his internal self. Atrox spent many hours linked mind to mind with the gruff warrior trying to help him learn to control himself. It seemed he was making small advances but that center of his mind remained a seething mass of Chaos waiting to be released in battle. If he could gain control, D’thas could possibly become a potent Sith Warrior and then if he was willing, the Blademaster for the New Order. The only one that could decide that was D’thas. He would have to first achieve the level of control needed to proceed with his training.

Jessyka navigated her small fighter closer to the asteroind. The essence of the Force seemed to eminate from the place though whether it was from the pyramid itself or someone from within, she could not be sure. Yet there was something omniprescent about it all. Almost as if the structure was sentient.

Guiding her fighter towards the destined coordinants set out by an automated computer, she brought the Gunstar down lightly in the landing bay. Her scans did a quick sweep of the area in case there was anything in the air toxic as it checked the atmosphere. Seeing that everything was clear, she hopped out of the cockpit to have a look around the impressive structure.

As the small craft approached, one of the landing bay doors opened and a brightly lit bay greeted the Sith. The fighter easily cleared the opening which could accommodate much larger craft and gently touched down on the deck. A blue energy field snapped into place and the space flooded with an atmosphere as the great outer doors began to close with a rumble. As air filled the bay, the rumble became more apparent until it finally thundered into place with the sounds of several magnetic locks activating to ensure it didn’t accidently open.

Then silence.

Jessyka, climbed out of the fighter and took off her helmet after verifying the air was breathable. She looked around at the black walls, ceiling, and floor. The metal looked somewhat familiar but she could not place it, perhaps from a dream or something. She was not sure.

A door opened at the far end of the bay but nobody appeared. She could see a lighted hallway leading away from the bay deeper into the asteroid. Perhaps the feelings she was detecting came from there.

Animal She Has Become (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEc-NQi7NGo)
OOC: Just replace Anakin with a blue haired woman -_^

IC:

Jessyka tossed her helmet back into the cockpit and pulled up the shawl that covered the lower portion of her face. A hood floated down over her head effectively covering the rest of her facial appearance while the rest of her body was covered in clothing. Black boots came up mid-calf and black gloves covered the sensitive skin of her hands. Completely covering herself is all she could do to keep her sanity and ward off the mental images of leering man as they took advantage of her weakened state.

Things were different now. She was different now.

As a door on the other end of the docking bay opened, Jessyka called upon the only weapon she would ever need again. The Force shrouded her in a protective covering so that she was immune to any threat from another Force user. At the same time, she called upon all the raw hate and anger she carried for the human race, particularly the male species and allowed it to feed the dark side of the Force until it became a storm within her being.

Jessyka walked like a coiled spring following the lighted to path to whatever fate had set out for her. She would relax a moment if she could only remember where she had seen metal walls from.

New Sith Order:
The Sith Academy

Through the world, a single ray of flame slowly descended down towards the planet. Dark ebony streaked down through the blue sky as past the white clouds of the planet. As the flames died, the Kython shuttle, that was borrowed previously slowly descended towards the hanger deck. Lady Sunshine was home.

As the ship touched down, Darth Sunshine, dressed in the very bleak and God awful robes of a Sith Lord sighed in relief. Her mission was a success. She reached around and pulled off the metallic ebony gloves and placed them down on the ship console.

“Thank you so much for the ride.” she said warmly to the ship. “You have been a true joy to work with.” she said praising the shuttle.

“And you as well Lady.” the ship mind replied

Darth Sunshine laughed. “Until the next time.” Slowly the walls melted away into a walking platform, as the Lady of the New Sith departed the ship. As she looked out, she noticed that Atrox was not there.

She turned back to the ship, somewhat concerned. The ship ever mindful and respectful immediately spoke up. ‘Is there something wrong Lady?”

Darth Sunshine sighed, “Is there anything wrong at the Academy?”

“No Lady.” the shuttle responded.

“Strange, usually Atrox is here, especially after a mission. He us usually most anxious to hear the outcome of such things.” she said somewhat puzzled.

“Darth Atrox is currently walking towards the gate. It would seem a new Arrival has come.”

Sunshine mused to herself for a moment. “It would seem then that our little movement is gaining momentum. Please inform Darth Atrox, that the mission was a success.”

“Of course Lady. As you wish.”

“Thank you old friend.” she said to the ship mind.

Slowly she walked back down the ramp, and walked to her tower. She needed a bath, and to get out of her funeral attire.

The New Order
The Sith Academy



Atrox was studying one of the Holocrons trying to find a way for one of his students to overcome his battlerage when he was contacted by Destiny Point’s Shipmind.

Sire, someone approaches. It is a single person in a small fighter

Follow procedures and let them land unless they take any hostile posturing

Of course

It appears to be an Abh ship

What the hell would one of them wish with me, the nation as a whole hates anything to do with the Ta’Nar

It is a single person, female and full of hate

I understand, it must be Jessyka

Shall I bypass her through the Labyrinth

No, she will have to enter the same way as any of the others

I see

We have to determine her purpose first and perhaps later you will be seeing her a lot

I hope so, she feels nice

Excuse me, she what

I mean under all that hate there is something I feel is her core that will make or break her and I like that

You do

Yes, she feels like a Kython

What do you mean

She has so much potential yet others fear she is only a weapon but those that know her knows her true worth

I truly understand your words, keep me informed and welcome her in

Thank you Sire

You are welcome, I will meet her at the Portal

Atrox felt the Shipmind leave his awareness and go back to greet her new guest. Atrox closed the library connection and secured the Lord’s Collection. While the Library was easily accessible for students based upon level of training, the Lords like Hera and Atrox had their own copy which contained all the knowledge the New Order possessed, even the powers that were too dangerous for the students to learn until after they have mastered their inner selves.

He closed his chambers and secured it from intrusion. There was nobody here that could enter those rooms but you never knew. It always paid to take precautions.

As he was walking down the stairs he received another communication, this time through the Order Shipmind.

Sire

Yes

Darth Sunshine has returned and reported her mission was a success

Did she

Yes, she said “It would seem then that our little movement is gaining momentum”

Please ask her to meet me when she gets the chance, we have company expected soon

With that, the Shipmind left his awareness and went about its duty. Atrox knew he had some time so he stood in front of the Gateway waiting for Jessyka to make it through the Labyrinth and step through the Gateway to the Reception Hall where he was waiting. While he stood there, he was working upon the mechanics of a new saber he thought of as he walked down the stairs.

Jessyka wandered the halls of the massive structure trying to find some way to meet and end to its endless winding halls. She reached out with the Force to probe the area, trying to gather her bearings but for some reason or another her powers were incumberred. The power of her connection of the Force was still there but it somehow seemed alterred or skewed in this place.

No lightsaber was at her side, only the weapon of the Force and her own body hardened by constant martial training. Jessyka continued to march through the halls while her mind tried to put in prospective where she had seen the metal before. So distracted was she that she did not even realize that her feet had left metal plating for green grass.

Caught off guard by the change in scenery, the Abh dropped to a low crouch and assumed a defensive position. By now the endlass halls had transformed to an open grassland. Not a single tree dotted the landscape nor was there a sound of bird or insect. All that was was grass and two lone figures standing above a hill.

Jessyka crept slowly closer to try and get a glimpse of the shadows. The air still smelled fresh and tasted free of any pollutants. A woman finally came into view as Jessyka reached the bottom of the hill and made out the figure of a woman being embraced by a male Abh, her father. It was strange but if this was an image of his father, then that meant the woman must have been her mother or a lover that his father had.

Darth Twilight never knew who her mother was, never knew the other side of her genetic makeup, nor had her father ever confirmed if she was a daughter of love. She had simply given up on it and figured she was created from his genes and other relatives. Now she was curious though because Jessyka was the only natural born Abh with an affinity for the Force. Every other Abh was genetically unaffected by such things.

Trying to see who this mysterious woman was, thoughts of a Force senstive mother flowed through her minds causing her to wonder if she had been a daughter of love and her mother was an ancient Jedi or Sith. She couldn't make out anything other than the woman's face who wore a smile colored by long lochs of brown hair and green eyes that stared up at her tall thin framed father.

Then it dawned on Jessyka. If any of this was true, then this must be a scene at least a hundred years ago when her ancestors had worked on creating a habitable planet by crashing a small ice world into a suitable atmospheric rock. The process was long and arduous but Abh were typically patient and would go centuries to create a profitable world. Her father had been among the first to see the planet take on an ecosystem as it was determined to be another harvesting world for the Empire's realm. So many questions flooded her mind as she tried to piece everything together and most dominating her mind was who this woman was.

While Jessyka delved into a history she had no recollection of, another pressence was in her mind watching and observing. Abh were not typically open to the influence of the Kython Screams except for the annoying twitch that they got, but the mind probed could peek into Jesska's mind with relative ease while she was so distracted. In the most inner workings of her mind it would find her true loyalties. First and foremost there was the pressence of the Abh Empire and undenying current that she would always remain loyalty to the Empire and her own race. Particular one Abriel of Imperial Admiral Gaf'ton. Otherwise this Darth Twilight was loyal to herself with no intention of betraying anything that might be contained in this temple. As long as she was respected and had a means to further her own agenda, she was as loyal as any Abh is to an ally.

Satisfied with her loyalties, Jessyka's images faded leaving her standing infront of a white portal. The open grassy plain was gone along with her father and possible mother. Haunted by the dream but also determined to move on, Jessyka entered the gateway. She had changed since the last time anyone had seen her out of the Empire's realm. Her body had gained muscle from the constant training under Gaf'ton's tutelage. She was also completely covered save for the two violet eyes peeking out from a canopy of cloth.

There was no lightsaber to announce her as Sith or Jedi. There was only the Force.

As Jessyka stepped through the glowing white gate, the glare blinded her, leaving white spots in her eyes. After stepping through she blinked her violet eyes several times to clear them. When the after image finally disappeared, she sat more black metallic walls. The ebon metal looked so familiar, almost like she had been here before but she knew she hadn’t. The gravity was slightly more than standard so it was a larger planet. She stepped in a few more paces and through an arch she saw a lone figure waiting for her. With the figure came her realization where she had seen these walls. Understandably she knew why she had not recognized them immediately, she wasn’t in the best frame of mind at the time.

Lord Atrox looked up and say Jessyka step into the room. His mechanical exosuit stirred into motion. The two meter ebon bug bowed deeply in respect for his guest and his familiar voice spoke.

“Greeting Jessyka. I am glad you have been able to come. I knew eventually you would be stirred by Destiny but not this soon.”

Atrox executed another deep bow of respect to the Abh who he has not seen for some time.

“I welcome you the The New Order as my personal guest. You will be housed and fed while you remain. You have nothing to fear for as Host I am bound by the customs of civilization to protect you and to provide a safe place to stay.”

He executed a third bow as custom dictated and reached for her hand, allowing the Abh woman to complete the gesture or to deny it, depending upon her choice to accept his offering of hospitality.

The realization of where she had seen the walls before had struck her like a hammer. The only Abh to ever set foot on a Kython vessel without the intent of destroying it, Jessyka remembered a few blurry images of the inside of the Abomination. Mostly just the medical wards.

She took a moment to scan the new area and could feel the extra gravity settle on her frame. Being a race specifically engineered for life in space, any fluxuations in planetary gravity were easily picked up by her. Running her hands absently over a hidden pouch, she was grateful his Highness had gifted her with a series of adrenaline shots for life on a planet.

Everything seemed new to her now as she came fully into Atrox's pressence but only barely understood what was unfolding here. "It was not difficult to feel the draw of this place though I am not entirely sure what it is."

Still baring her Abh heritage and the military background, Jessyka snapped to a quick salute as the Balroggan bowed. "By the laws of the Empire, all diplomats are respected and protected so long as they remember themselves. Likewise, no Abh abuses the hospitality given to them by another."

Unsure of what to make a gesture, handshakes not being a traditional Abh custom and physical contact repulsive to Jessyka, she hesitated at Atrox's hand. Finally she mustered the courage to grasp his hand in the glove of her own. "I am afraid the name 'Jessyka' only serves as a name amongst my people. She also lost herself, and died long ago."

“Yes, those who belong here will feel its call. That is why I constructed Destiny Point, to allow those who feel the need to travel here to have a means to safely reach it. It is also to keep the Children of Bane out and those who wish to harm this place.”

As Atrox watch Jessyka salute in a military manner, he held back a chuckle. He was not the type that liked others to salute him; he would rather get the formalities out of the way so work could be done. She also had it wrong.

“You are mistaken, this place has no ties with any national government enough to warrant a diplomat. This is just a dream I am trying to build. I extended you the Customs of Courtesy and Hospitality because I am a friend. As a matter of fact, I am probably one of your only ones outside your own nation. It does not matter to me if you are an Abh, Coredian, or even Human. I will protect all my friends who come here and accept my offer of Hospitality. You are safely among friends here.”

When Jessyka allowed her hand to be taken, Atrox calmly took it and raised it to his forehead, as was his custom. The Honorific given, he gently released her gloved hand and listened to her patiently talk.

“The name Jessyka is lost and dead? Then who stands before me and what shall I call you? Please tell me while we walk. I have a wondrous jasmine tea being brewed for us as we speak. There will also be some yummy apples we grew right here from some seeds given to me as a gift from another dear friend. I planted them and encouraged their growth.”

As they walked, Atrox made small talk but was the most polite gentleman Jessyka has seen in some time. The funny thing is he had nothing to gain from it, which puzzled her most. She could only feel warmth and sincerity from the supposed Dark Lord of the Sith beside her. Surely the storied she had heard about him over the past 14 years were true or they would not persist. Even her capture had been gentlemanly and honorable. He had never raised a weapon to her or Master Sakir. He only spoke of Honor and deeds back then. (I did not reread the RP, only going on memory here.) The mechanical alien was truly a puzzle to her.

Jessyka walked along with the Balroggan and listened to his ideas and dreams about what this fascinating place should and will become. It was all a new world to the Abh that had not spent much time conversing with other races as she found a kindness and a sense of honor within the creature that walked beside her. Atrox was greatly different than anything she would have expected from the Kython ilk where he actually showed a sense of rationality and humility. Clearly he represented the better half and Jessyka felt a sense of calm, or as much as could be expected from her, in his pressence.

"Before I left, I was given the title of Sith by the only other Force User among our order that was once trained as a Sith. Darth Twilight is what I am called now."

Atrox and his guest approached a wondrous little glade after exiting through a sliding door. The glade led into a natural grotto with a waiting boat gently bobbing upon the water.

"So, among everyone in the Universe you are to be forever known as Darth Twilight. What would you have your friends and close acquaintances call you in private? Titles are good for ceremonious activities but they are cumbersome when really trying to speak together. If you wish you may address me as Atrox, or even Ba’El if you so desire. Technically this shell is truly Atrox but the being within is Ba’El. I answer to both from friends. Watch your step, here take my hand so I may properly assist you.”

After assisting the Lady, Atrox himself stepped aboard. Somehow the boat did not sink any from his extra weight and drifted across the clear water. Deep within the depth Darth Twilight could see what appeared to be either living jewels or fireflies of multiple hues flashing near the bottom. Their eerie glow tinted the waters with a never-ending rainbow of color almost as if the water was a Black Opal.

“This is the Grotto, the most beautiful spot on this island. I took great care to be sure to preserve the serene atmosphere. There is a table set up over there on the other side where the view is breathtaking. We will have our tea there.”

The boat lightly touched the opposite shore of the ten meter pool of living colors. Atrox stepped out and again offered his assistance to his guest. After wards they walked up three steps to a simple table set up upon the stage of a small natural amphitheater. An ornate teapot was set on the table along with some fresh apples, silverware, and tea implements. There were three fine saucers each with their own delicate cup setting upon them. The tiny cups appeared to be made out of ivory with wonderfully painted designs upon them.

Holding the chair for her, Atrox assisted Twilight in sitting as was proper and took his own seat. The third chair remained empty for the moment. After noticing the glance at the vacant chair, Atrox spoke.

“That chair is for the third guest. She should be along soon. While we wait, may I pour you a cup of tea? Also, I am certain you must have a million questions by now. I will answer some while we sit.




OOC:


The tea cups are real tea cups, the ones without handles you see in tea shops.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KooqGnAjI4M

A glass of wine sat at the edge of the tub, as steam rose from the water. It was warm and soothing, unlike the planet where she had just come. Darth Sunshine held in her hand, the warm red Chianti, as she took a small sip. It was dry yet full of flavor.

Her pale hand extended to her temple, as she stared at the wall in front of her. She breathed in deeply, and slowly exhaled, as she let the water run over her, trying to get the dirt and grime of Tenetia off of her.

She took another sip of wine, trying to wash away the depression and fear of the population. She felt their anguish, she tasted the darkness of Tenetia and it was truly bitter. She could not believe the barbaric nature of Lady Nightshade, nor of the Order of Bane. “Slaves of all things, people who were owned by another. Such a lack of potential, so cruel and uncivilized. It was amazing to think that these “Coredians” believed themselves more cultured than anyone else.”

Lady Sunshine thought to herself as she felt the warmth of the tub surrounding her. “Let’s just hope that she comes to her senses one day.” Lady Sunshine thought once more. “To rule by fear is a fragile thing, but to rule by love, to have your people truly love you would bring the greatest loyalty of them all.” she whispered to herself, barely remembering the Kythons that could be listening in, thinking only of the travesty of the Order of Bane.

Darth Sunshine turned her head and stared out the giant window in her tower. The sky was clear, and she saw a light breeze blowing the trees gently. This place, this “New Sith Order.” seemed to have it right. “There is no peace only emotion.” She thought to herself once more. She in this moment knew the truth of the first line of the Sith Code. “We have emotions, and emotions are like the storms, turbulent, but necessary for life. Without storms, there is no rain. Without rain there is no life. But listening to your emotions does not mean to limit yourself to have and depression. It is to allow yourself to feel all emotions. Happiness, Sadness, Hate, Love, Joy and Misery.” She thought once more to herself as she pushed herself out of the tub, and grabbed a towel and stared out the window.

She smiled as she looked out over her new home. “I might have been assigned here, but now I know this is where I belong.” she said to herself as she smiled out at the jungle, and at the beach. This planet, was the only planet so far where she felt as close to peace as she ever has. This place was very much unlike Issus, where the bustle of people ran rampant, and the plots of the Jedi ran ever deep. It was the opposite of Tenetia, and Konoha, where people wanted you to act in their wishes. Here, and only here was the truth of the Sith Code, “I am free.”

“Lady Sunshine.” a voice behind her spoke loud and clearly, breaking her moment of introspection.

She jumped startled for a moment, as she reached behind her out of instinct, for a weapon that was not there. Quietly, she scanned the room, her hand holding tightly onto her towel.

It slowly dawned on her, it was not anyone in the room, it was the frakking room. Slowly she relaxed her guard. “Can you not do that, maybe chime or something, you about gave me a heart attack” she told it agitated at the intrusion.

“A thousand apologies, my lady. I have been requested to inform you that Lord Atrox wishes for you to meet him, and his guest at the Grotto for tea.” the calm soothing voice of the Kython Overmind said to her.

She looked around the room, not exactly knowing where to look. “Thank you, inform him that I will be at the meeting in fifteen minutes.”

“By your command my lady”

Darth Sunshine walked over to her closet, and flipped through the clothing in it. There was the God awful funeral attire of the Emo Bane sith. “No.” she said quickly. She looked at the brown robe of the Jedi, “Oh hell no.” She then looked at the pants and t-shirts, “Ehh, not formal enough for the Grotto.” Finally she came to her favorite uniform. The White robes, the leather pants that were underneath it and the red sash. “Perfect.” she said.

After getting dressed she slipped on her Rapier, and her Lavaraks. She attached, the colt to her other side, as well as a short metal saber. She reached up and pulled her hood over her head. “Will the boat be available?” she asked the room before leaving.

“It is on it’s way Lady Sunshine.” the room replied to her. She smiled, “Thank you very much.”

“You are welcome, it is always a pleasure.”

With that she departed to the boat. Fifteen minutes later, the boat landed at the dock of the Grotto. As she approached, she could feel something that was not normal. She could feel hate, pain and death. It felt... like Tenetia. Sunshine lowered her head for a moment, as she approached the table. “Lord Atrox, you asked for me?” she said, her eyes averting his and that of his ‘guest.’, almost like a servant and very unlike that of a sith.

Jessyka thought for a moment on what Atrox had said. Darth Twilight was a rather ceremonial title that was far too inconvenient for close conversations. She walked along absently trying to think of a suitable response. Jessyka was the name that her people knew her as and these were not her people, at least not truly. The woman flitted from idea to idea then finally settled on a word used in the language of her own race, Baronh.

"I see your point. I suppose you and the rest may call me Nosh."

The Abh looked around at the majestic scenery as she was helped onto a boat that glided across the water. A number of odd lights danced in the watery depths that the Abh could not guess at their identity. While the Abh did have a tendency of domesticating a number of wildlife species for use in their orbital cities, the variety was quite limited. The lights themself were a strangeness to her.

When Atrox offered the tea, she smiled politely though it could not be seen beneath her layers of clothing. "Yes thank you."

Jessyka took the cup nodding her thanks while pulling the cloth covering the lower portion of her face slightly lower. The tea tasted good enough to her but was still on the warm side so she set off to the side. "For starters, I am curious as to where I am. This place seems so foreign."

Before she could get her answer, she picked up on a force approaching. Even a scent drifted on a breeze crossed under her nostrils. It was familiar then finally dawned on her what it was.

"A human." Her words dripped with disgust as she spoke them but she knew it was more than a human. It was someone that was strongly touched with the Force which was obvious for her to see. She held the rest of her words though obviously not happy to be in the company of a human. At least it was of the female gender of their species. Anything less might have resulted in a disastorous meeting while the power of the darkside of the Force continued to build within her as memories of her rapings and beatings feed her power.

“Please stay your hand, she means you no harm. Also, you are only half correct. She is not completely human. She comes from a line that probably despises humans more than you do, the Cylons.”

Atrox stood and properly took Hera’s hand and seated her, completing the motion by sliding her chair in afterwards.

“This is Darth Sunshine, one of the other Sith here to teach at the Academy. She will give you the name she wishes to be called in close personal conversation away from the students. She will also have to tell you her own secrets, that is not my place to speak of.”

Atrox turned to face his guest and gestured to her while addressing Hera.

“I would wish to introduce you to Darth Twilight. In closer circles she is to be referred to as Nosh. I am sure if Fate is kind, we will be working in one of those closer circles.”

“This is the Academy of the New Sith Order. We are on a planet that does not exist on any of the Imperial maps. The place is not named and I call it simply Home. I was led here by Visions and Dreams. An ancient force using race dwelled here many millennia ago and I have claimed it for my purposes. I have had my Kythons construct an academy on the largest island, designed to my specifications. They also see to the defense and we are currently safe from just about any intrusion.”

“The New Order is set to focus on the Order being the One force we all revere. We have abandoned the Rule of Two set up by Bane and carried forward by his misguided Children like Vader and Palpy. We oppose the Bane Order for it is destined to produce nothing but ignorance and intolerance. They don’t even know how to control their own emotions. Imagine that, you get power and strength from part of you for which you cannot even control. That is like using an incendiary grenade to light a candle, uncontrolled and completely inefficient.”

“We value Knowledge as it truly should be. We share it freely unless it is too dangerous. I fully agree there are some things new students or even unbalanced older ones should not know until we can be sure of their ability. We maintain a library where we combine every Holocron we locate, both Jedi and Sith. Most of the knowledge is freely accessible by others as long as it is not too advanced for them. Currently we have two students but as Fate delivers us more through Destiny Point, the ranks will grow.”

Atrox hesitated for a couple moments before continuing.

“When we last met, I asked you to meet with me once more. I told you I would be able to make you an offer but in return for saving your life you only had to listen. You have honored your agreement with me and I am pleased you have come. I am pleased you sit here. I had first thought to ask you to hunt these Holocrons down for a bounty. You would travel where you wished and you could borrow or buy them and return what you find so we could enlarge the Library. In light of the recent changes we have decided that…”

Atrox looked over at Sunshine and stopped.

OOC: This post is rated R. and contains scenes of brutal violence. Reader disgression is advised.


"A human." Her words dripped with disgust as she spoke them but she knew it was more than a human. It was someone that was strongly touched with the Force which was obvious for her to see. She held the rest of her words though obviously not happy to be in the company of a human. At least it was of the female gender of their species. Anything less might have resulted in a disastorous meeting while the power of the darkside of the Force continued to build within her as memories of her rapings and beatings feed her power.

Atrox’s words, his eloquent and beautiful defense was not heard, as the world vanished to Sunshine alone. She laid trapped chained to the floor. Her body ached, her back sore as her eyes laid nearly swollen shut. All she could see was a few strands of her blue hair.

Her head spun, as she was helpless. Sunshine tried to scream, but her voice was silent. Her back began to be torn, as she felt the few rags she had on being ripped from her body. She was helpless.

She tried to look, tried to open her eyes, to see who was doing this to her. She could only feel, the soap in the towel smashing against her abdomen, and the violation that was occurring. Her body was forfeit, her mind destroyed. All she could see, was a blue Colonial uniform.

“Looks like she is worn out.” the voice of a man said. She could not see his face, but instead could only hear his words. Others, many others in the background began to laugh, as she felt her legs being torn apart, as something like a whip cracked across her back. She tried to scream, but instead could do nothing. Only a single tear rolled down her face.

The memories of the now dead Jessyka filled her mind, as Atrox and Twilight saw Sunshine seemingly fall screaming in torment. She grabbed her breasts, she tried to fight off the phantoms of Twilight, the memories of the Abh. After a few moments, the woman in white laid on the ground, huddled into the fetal position, saying nothing, just lying there, in silent horror.

The memories were real as they filled her mind. The horrors Jessyka lived through on the Ares each and everyone of them filled her body, her mind, her soul. She laid on the ground, twisting, turning, slowly absorbing the horrors and crimes of the Ares. This torment was worse than anything Twilight could have done to her. Sunshine silently begged to die.

The memories past, until the time the ship rocked. Explosions and death filled the air as some Colonial tapped his hand on the glass. Sunshine rolled over, just hoping he would be done quickly, until she felt the force through her. She stood up, and anger filled her, as she began to summon a force storm, tearing through the colonial men and women. She saw through Jessyka’s eyes, she was Jessyka.

The last thing this poor woman saw.... was Atrox. When the memories vanished, all that was left, of the brutal six month treatment of Jessyka, the pain of this Abh, that inflicted Sunshine in a span of thirty seconds. Sunshine was broken, as she silently whimpered on the ground. She now knew Hate.

As she fell onto the ground, Atrox moved into action. The world seemed to slow to a blur as he shifted his movement into super speed. This was not a Force Ability he used but a natural ability of the insect species he occupied that had developed when it was mutated from a normal bug into the man-sized form known as Atrox. In a literal flash, he was at her side, his mechanical form melting off him to allow personal contact with her fallen form. The contact would allow the Ta’Nar to better aid her and to help figure out what was striking her down.

Not waiting for an invitation, Atrox entered her mind in the same manner he did back upon the Ares when she was under attack by Calamity. Easily slipping through the familiar defenses, he entered her tortured mind and was appalled at what he was experiencing.

I am here friend. I will not desert you. Take my strength and use it to help. Push this away and let me take the pain from you.

Ba’El felt the torture, the rape, the beatings, the degradation, the laughter, the humiliation, everything. The Ta’Nar took it all from her, trying to spare his friend any more of the experience that Twilight had to live with. Metaphysically he reached out and grasped Hera and tried to pull her from the vision she was reliving. He pulled her towards himself and out of the vision.

Jesskya heeded the Balroggan's plead to remember her manners and allowed the Force storm building up within her to fade. The light reprieve lasted only for a short while though. Screams from Hera's mouth and her mind assaulted Jessyka as she looked over to see the Cylon rolling around on the floor.

Being consumed with powers from the dark side of the Force, Jessyka lacked any ability to command healing attributes. Still, that did not mean she was unable to lend some sort of assistance. The Abh lifted a fold of her cloak while Atrox saught to her mind and pulled a syringe from a series of loops in her belt.

Kneeling down beside the prone woman, Jessyka calmly inserted the needle in a vein running through her arm. The liquid contents rushed from the phial and into her blood stream. "It will help with the visions."

Once emptied, the Abh returned the syringe to her belt loop. While most races tended to drink excessively to help forget bad memories, it was physically impossible for pure breed Abhs to get drunk. In instances where an Abh needed to forget, they took a pill that would help them sleep. What some did not know was that the pills didn't always work on dreams. The contents in the syringe would help remove the phantoms from her mind while Atrox brought her back to reality.

Sunshine’s last memory, her last sight, as the memories of Jessyka faded, was that of Atrox. He grabbed her, held her like a father does his infant, holding and protecting her. His insect arms held on tightly, as he uttered words she could barely comprehend.

As this happened, Twilight did the most unexpected thing. She did not revel in the memories, instead seemingly shutting them down, as she focused on the hybrid flinging about in pain, the pain of Twilight’s own mind. Slowly the injection worked, as Atrox dragged her out of the vision.

As she opened her eyes, her yellow eyes opening to this new world, with her new out look. Twilight could easily see herself in the young Sunshine. Sunshine looked down at her arm, to see a needle in it. She wanted to get up, she wanted to utterly destroy this woman who had brought the pain and devastation to her. Sunshine was innocent, and Twilight was inflicted upon this hell upon her.

But the drugs worked, keeping her calm, keeping her nearly sedated.

As Sunshine stared at Twilight with a slight crackle of lightning gracing her fingers, her eyes as yellow as the sun, her body filled with torment and hate, she could hear in the back of her mind. “Do not blame her, Twilight is like you. She did not deserve what happened to her. Twilight was innocent, like you are. She can not control her memories, she can not control her hate, anymore than you can control what you see and feel. Both of you need to learn control."

Sunshine sighed, as she summoned the force to her, to give her the strength to stand up, as she began to feel the very thought of a man touching her became a grotesque idea.. She slowly grabbed the chair, as she tried to pull herself into it, trying to pull away. Jessyka could see in her actions, the very actions she herself first took.

“I am sorry.” she stated to the group. As she placed her hands on the table. “I do not want to be a distraction.” she said once more as she stared at Jessyka. “Please continue.” As she spoke her head fell into her upright hands.

Ba’El summoned his strength and forced his emotions to remain under control. He forced the images, no, not images but memories he had experienced within Hera’s mind behind him. He forced the experiences he lived through with Hear into his past. He forced himself to control the emotions he felt, locking them away as was his training. He practiced his utter emotional control to make them remain buried and restrained.

Taking a breath, he stood and helped Hera stand and make it to her chair. The insect form of Atrox stood without his armor, without any protection other than what it possessed naturally. He was too concerned about his friend to care.

Using his telekinesis, he poured Hera a cup of the tea and made it the way she likes so it was waiting for her when she sat down. Behind her head, he held one hand, its fingers spread wide and holding an orb of golden energy. The healing energy would help Hera calm herself and lend to her being able to heal her mind.

“Here, drink this, it will help steady yourself. Take the energy I am feeding you and use it for your own healing.”

Atrox took his hand away and the globe remained, gently pulsating and alive. He took his own seat after Twilight sat.

“Don’t be alarmed, she is a reader and apparently through her, we both relived your experience aboard the Ares. She is working on controlling that aspect of her powers but it still remains out of her grasp. I am trying to help her but she is the one who has to learn.”

Twilight’s cup was refilled by a floating teapot which gently set itself back upon the table.

“I thank you greatly for your assistance, you saved her some pain and I am aware that I owe you for that. Let’s sit and calm ourselves down for a couple minutes before we continue, please.”

As the three New Sith Lords met in the inner sanctum of Destiny Point, yet another Force User appeared on the asteroid home of the New Sith Order. A dark black fighter eased into the system and headed for the large station. Darth Lucien, or as some others would know him, Kane of the Brotherhood of Nod, stared at the data coming in from the fighters advanced sensor suits and looked at the intimidating structure. He could feel the pure power and immensity of the Force emanating from that thing. He would have to be careful; while he knew this structure had not been made by any in the Order of Bane, that didn't mean he could trust it.

The Order of Bane. Nightshade's Order, the order which Vader supposedly ruled over as Emperor of the Galactic Empire. While he was glad he was able to learn all those lessons and get a hold on his power, now being a full-fledged Sith Lord, he could not stay within that order. Nor could he introduce its teachings to the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood was all about Unity, working together for a better future. The Order of Bane was more like the GDI fascists, with their individualistic natures and selfish desires. Such things would tear his people and any Order he tried to build apart. Fortunately, he recalled the speech of Darth Sunshine and had followed the emanations he had felt in his dreams.

Taking a deep breath, he activated the fighters engines and headed for what looked to be a hangar bay. He swiftly closed the distance and landed within the hangar bay, noting that another fighter of a strange design was also sitting within the large confines of the hangar. After landing, he shut down the craft and activated the anti-theft protocols. If anyone tried to unlock it, they would be stumped by the genetic coding required and the laser cannons inside the ship. He jumped out of the cockpit and landed on the ground, his robes (http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k308/Nirokasa/Shadow_of_Arglin_by_elvenfall.jpg) flowing about him. His hood ensured his identity would be kept secret from all but Sunshine, whom he was sure would recognize his Force presence. Looking around, he only saw one way out of the hangar bay and he headed for it.

After going through a series of doors, he made his way into the main hallway of the facility. It was quite large and intricate. It had been a long time, since he had seen something like this. Nothing like this since....

"Since the halls of your so invincible fortress, eh my friend?"

Kane whirled around, his lightsaber called into his right hand by a mere thought, the curved, ebony handle of the blade fitting into his hand perfectly. A blade of pure silver energy burst forth and he held it at his side as was part of the Makashi style he had learned. What stood before him shocked him, enough to make his sword arm move an inch down from its former position. Sitting on a chair, calming sipping wine from a glass in his former sanctum on the moon of Kane Prime, the planetoid rendered lifeless by the GDI in the Fourth Tiberium War, was himself (http://www.tiberiumweb.com/images/Kane2.jpg). Gazing at him with the same smile as he commonly used, his double set down his glass and stood up, his arms held out wide.

"My my, what's this, no welcoming words? No hugs? I *am* shocked."

Kane narrowed his eyes. "Who are you? You cannot be me, there can only be one form of a being at one time in the universe."

His avatar smirked. "Now now, my brother, you know as well as I that is a lie. Or is that facility CABAL watches over not running anymore?" He clapped his hands as Kane narrowed his eyes under his hood, his sword arm moving up again. His double saw the motion and made a dismissive wave at it. "Oh put that toy away. You can't harm me anyways. To answer your question, I am not totally you. Simply a part of you given form so to as to....prove your intentions for coming here as real."

Kane paused for a few moments and then put his saber away, the blade hissing back into the metal hilt. Hooking it back to his belt, he looked at his double, whom waved at a chair. Suspicious still, his manners dictated him that he sit down and accept the offer. His clone smiled. "Ah, I forgot, we can be quite the charmer. Now....as we both know, you have a goal in mind, mmm yes? I am sure you would have gotten yourself trained by the good Lady Nightshade in order to protect yourself. After all, you won't have to rely on your soldiers as much now that you are a Sith Lord. But, yet, you are here at the base of the New Sith Order, one entirely opposed to the Order of Bane. Why should they trust one so eager to betray the Order of Bane so easily?"

Kane made an indelicate sound. "Oh please, if you know me so well, you know I'd never consider the Order of Bane as stable enough to be worth spreading to the Brotherhood, nor of being the only thing I learn in my quest to realize my new power." His other nodded.

"True, true. So, you seek to come here to this place to....refine your abilities, spread your knowledge and be better suited for your final plan....but tell me, are you up to fulfilling the Order's expectations? Are you willing to suborn yourself to help an Order instead of furthering your own desires? Can you do that, Kane, when you have always sought with a passion your will and the goal of realizing your dream? Can you sacrifice that to be part of this Order....my brother?"

Kane gazed at his clone for a long time, stunned by his words. That is what the situation was. By coming here, he was agreeing to follow whatever rules the New Sith Order held, even if it interfered with his own desires. He closed his eyes and thought on this, drawing upon the Force as he meditated. His double chuckled. "Not so easy, is it Kane? For one who has fought so hard for his vision in the world, it is not so easy to forgo it as a price of continuing it. What shall it be, Kane? Can you make that personal sacrifice? Or shall you find another path to walk?"

There was a moment of silence as Kane continued to think, his Force-enhanced mind considering. Then, he let his control of the Force go and he gazed at his avatar. "I will do what is necessary. My children are in need of me and I will go to what lengths I need to see their, and my, dream realized." His double smiled and clapped his hands, causing the room to twist and writhe into the form of a black hallway with a series of rooms down both sides. Standing there, it put its hands behind its back.

"Very well, you have passed. Enjoy the fruits of your work, my brother, but remember....you have chosen this path. You cannot leave it now, nor ignore its costs." It smiled and then turned, vanishing into thin air. Glancing about, slightly confused on what to do, he shrugged and then started walking down the hallway. One problem was solved, it was time to move onto the next.

Where was this Atrox Darth Sunshine spoke of? He wanted to speak with the leader of this Order. Picking a door, he opened it and felt himself being carried away by some strange power until his foot hit hard floor again. Looking back, he saw the door he had gone through was gone. Eyes narrowing, he moved down the hallway he was in, even more determined to find answers.

Jessyka fixed the folds of her clothing and returned the face covering up over her mouth. It wasn't difficult for the Abh to surmise what the little cylon was going through though it was uncomparible to what Jessyka lived with everyday. If reliving six months of rape and torture in 30 seconds was intense, try the experience everynight when you wanted to sleep.

Taking her seat, the Abh set the tea off to the side no longer interested in the cup's contents. She held up her hand after the tea cup was refilled by Atrox showing that she would not need anymore or need any thanks.

"You owe me nothing for that. I merely gave of what I myself require."

She recalled the look the little girl had given her as she removed the syringe from Hera's arm. The Abh almost wished she had started a fight. At least that way Jessyka could work out some pint up energy. And if there were no humans to torture for a little bit, then at least their clone would do for a while. Still, it would be rude to fight in Atrox's home and abuse his company. The thought was dismissed as soon as it came.

The healing energy of the Ta’Nar began it’s “magic” very quickly. It did not take that long considering it was very evident that Sunshine had few defenses to keep people out of her mind, assuming she actually desired to keep the Dark Lord and his aid out. She reached out to the cup, her hands shaking in the horror as she took a sip from the cup.

As she drank the warm tea, with such a great taste, the orb began to file away the memories she had taken from Jessyka into a nice neat file in her mind, as well as slowly releasing the chemicals in her mind that caused the feeling of peace and serenity.

Only because of the orb, did Sunshine calm down, and was nearly back to her old self. She rested her head back and smiled as her emotions reached a “pre Jessyka” level state. When the final repair was made, the orb vanished.

She turned to Atrox, “Thank you my friend.” she told the giant insect, and she cocked her head slightly to the left. “I am ready now lets continue.”

As she did, she heard slightly the dismissed thought. Hera smiled at Jessyka, saying nothing doing nothing. She only adorned a smile.

Patiently she awaited Darth Atrox to continue his speech. He was the public face of the New Sith, and Sunshine would never intrude upon that.

“You are welcome.”

Seeing that everyone was ready to continue, Atrox thought back to see where he had left off.

“As I was saying, I had originally intended to ask you to consider being, for the lack of a better term, in charge of acquisitions for the Order. You would travel about where you wished and obtain both Jedi and Sith Holocrons for the Library. Things have changes a little since then.”

Atrox paused to take a sip of the jasmine tea before continuing. The sight of a giant insect taking a sip of tea would have been comical in another setting but the seriousness of the situation stifled the humor.

“It seems you have progressed greatly from the last time we have met. You have grown in both ability and in wisdom. You have become a Sith Lord in your own right. Sunshine and I have spoken together about this and we have decided you would make a great addition to the Order. You would perhaps be the perfect third Sith Lord in our Triad. Sunshine is our Eye and you would be our Hand.”



-----



While he was sitting in the Grotto Atrox felt another enter Destiny Point. This was a busy day.

Atrox created another Avatar of himself so he could easily be in more than one place at a time. The avatar took one of Atrox's spare bodies out of the cryrogenic stasis chamber and inhabited it. Drawing three Kythons to make the ebon armor, he headed down to the Audience Chamber and was soon waiting at the Entrance Hall for the latest addition to find the Gateway and step through. If Destiny Point found the person undesirable, they would either find themselves back at the hanger or open a door leading to the Void of Space.

Jessyka sat in silence for a time, not sure exactly what to say. She looked from one figure to the next wondering how long this had been in the making and just when these two had come to the conclusion. The Abh-Sith could not recall a time she had met the little cylon and the last time she encountered Atrox, Jessyka had not been in the best frame of mind.

Still, being mostly taken by the dark side of the Force; she could not turn down a proposal to gain more power. "I am what I have become not only because of the circumstances surrounding me but also because of the teachers I have had. Now that I have learned all that I can from them, I must find my own way to gain more knowledge and power in the Force.

Darth Atrox, I would be honored to take on this role for the Order. Provide a list of any and all artifacts along with their loctaion, and they shall be yours. I merely have one request. I will need something else to pilot, I will not have my actions in anyway harming the Empire."

It was true. While Imperial Admiral Gaf'ton had gifted her with a black Gunstar, it was still undeniably from the Abh Empire. The markings were written in Baronh and it was equipped with a space-time bubble generator. Anyone who had remotely heard of the Abh, would be able to pick up on some of the obvious features like the ship's markings.

Soon enough, Atrox was not to be disappointed, as Lucien opened another door and made his way through the Gateway. He cut an impressive, if not atypical Sith figure with his black robes and large hood. His hand had twitched, seeking to call his lightsaber to his hand when the sight of the being before him and the memories of Darth Sunshine he had seen at Tenetia kicked in. This was Darth Atrox, former apprentice to Vader himself, now rebel against the Order of Bane and what the Empire had become. Lord of the New Sith Order and one of the mighty Ta'Nar. This was a being no one messed with lightly. Putting his hand at his side, he first bowed to him, a sign of deep respect and the only one he felt he could come up with and not seem like a sycophant seeking power. He then lowered his hood to reveal his face, goatee and all.

"Greetings Lord Atrox. I am Kane, now known as Darth Lucien to those upon Tenetia. I have come to seek learning at your order and become more immersed in the Force, rather than my anger and rage as Nightshade had taught me. The one you know as Darth Sunshine has told me that your order seeks knowledge rather than power as its primary objective, yes?"

Darth Sunshine listened patiently as Atrox and Twilight spoke. His idea was bold, especially since she knew preciously where the largest known collection of holocrons was.

Sunshine reached down and touched her hand on the table, extending her index finger as she drew a small circle on the surface. Atrox’s plan was bold, but it also came with great risk. Issus, held the largest collection of Sith and Jedi Holocrons. Issus was a human world, one that she was very loyal to. And Sunshine knew that Twilight had no tolerance for humans.

She sighed for a moment, knowing that this could soon start the end of the Jedi / Sith alliance. She looked down, slightly bothered, as the realization dawned on her. “You can not have two masters at once.” she thought to herself. “Sooner or later the day will come when you have to choose.”

The thought scared her. Rydo, Athena, Atrox. How could she choose, if the inevitable occurs. She said nothing though, as she glanced up to this woman who’s mind and soul could only be described as a Tempest. The only thing Sunshine hoped for was that Twilight had somehow missed the holonet and the very well known fact of the massive artifact collection on Issus. It was her only true hope.

As these thoughts rushed through her mind, and her soul cringed in fear of what might happen, Sunshine knew she still had a duty to preform. As the new member of this “Triad” accepted Atrox’s offer, she then asked for a ship.

Sunshine turned her head towards the Abh. “If you need a ship, we have plenty of designs available. The Computer here carried a lot of detailed plans, as well as every design the Kythons have ever infected are available for us to construct. However if I may.” she asked, waiting for Lord Atrox to approve with a gentle nod in which he did.

She closed her eyes, and reached into her pocket. Slowly she pulled out a black stone. She gently pressed the on button as a ship (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Scimitar) appeared. “This is my personal favorite, and one I believe you would find very versatile. It has a basic cloak, as well as six cannons. She is agile, and also is very stealthy. I had mine modified however, by removing the cockpit, and placing in it’s stead a meditation chamber. The ship interacts and obeys your commands when you enter meditation, and from your perspective becomes part of you. It allows for instant reaction. It also has enough room for six passenger and what ever equipment you may need. If this design suits you, we can have one issued to you immediately.” she said, cautiously as the woman in white continued to avoid eye contact with the Sith before her.

Sunshine gently reached across the table, and turned the image off. She still could not help but to feel, something was very wrong here. Twilight had such potential.... to become the next Bane, although she kept these reservations to herself.

Jessyka paid little attention the new Sith that had arrived who she deemed inferior to her. Being human, he deserved little more than being under the heel of her boot. And that was being generous. Instead, she focused her attention on the ship design that Darth Sunshine had provided.

The Abh approved of the overall design though it would need some modifications to fit her own needs. "A Scimitar. Interesting but I like it. I will have to make a few adjustments before it fits the designs of an Abh. Mostly I will need to change the cockpit to that of Abh specifications so my frochaj will work appropriately. Otherwise I approve.

How long would it take to make the adjustments?"

Atrox seemed distracted for a moment as he contacted the Shipmind of the Academy. After asking it a brief question and setting up some basic permissions for Twilight he returned his gaze to the Abh.

“I have just made arrangements to grant you permissions as your new position. I am not sure if you have the ability to connect your thoughts to another but the Academy Shipmind does possess some telepathy. With your permission I would like to show you how to properly link your mind with it. After you do so, you can give the Academy the modifications needed for your ship which it will pass along to the Forge. Your ship should be ready by the time you arrive at the Forge.”

After Twilight gave the permission he so desired, Atrox used his own abilities to enter her surface thoughts, being careful not to intrude, only to instruct. He showed her the “feel” of the Shipmind and how to send her thoughts and mental images to the entity. As she made her connection, Atrox backed out and allowed her to experience the closeness of the connection. She would be able to then show Shipmind what she needed done.

“If you need access to an area, just reach out with your mind and contact Shipmind. This will allow you to open doors and even access the Kython defenses that protect this entire system.”

Atrox picked up one of the apples from the bowl and looked at it with a gleam in his eye. He really loved them and taking a small knife from the place setting, he began to carve off chunks which he fed individually into his mouth. While Nosh set up the designs for her ship, Atrox enjoyed one of the simpler pleasures in life, a good apple.

The experience with connecting to the Shipmind was a new sensation for the Abh to be sure. However, she couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that connecting with a Kython based entity in a nonviolent way was somehow sacreligious or heresy of sorts. It would definantly be one of the things she would have to neglect to mention to the Imperial Admiral when she saw him again. Pushing those thoughts aside, Jessyka focused her attention onto redisgning the ship.

Being an Abh, she was able to alter the specifications so that the ship was more agile and able to travel at greater speeds since she was not limited to forces of acceleration like some creatures were. Never a fan of the hyperspace that other races used, she transformed the hyperdrive that was dimensional based like the Abh tended to use in most of their ships.

Using the Force to have her mind communicate with another being was a new experience for her and she had to hold onto the chair she was seated in if she did not want to fall over. Regaining some composure, Jessyka pushed on with the more complicated task at hand. Designing the command area required that she have a comfortable enough seat that was accompanied by two froch ports. Frochaj was a unique trait to the Abh alone but Jessyka was not star ship engineer so had no real blue prints for the Shipmind to go off of. Instead she offered up the general idea of what it was supposed to accomplish and permission for it to use her black Gunstar as a model.

Lastly, she changed the controls for the ship into the glove unit that most Star Forces vessels utilized for controlling the ship. It was a different means of flying but it worked well for those accustomed to it.

Finished with the modifications, Jessyka opened her eyes. "I think I have finished. How will I know when it is complete?"

“How soon would your ship be ready? Figuring in any possible delays? Let’s see, about the time you arrive at the Forge to pick it up.”

Atrox looked over at Hera to make sure she was doing OK before continuing.

“You have free reign to go about your duties as you see fit. The Order can contact you through your shuttle and at most you are a ten minute wormhole trip away. You can also merge with the Shipmind and use it to send your thoughts to us here and to attend your duties. The Academy can project a hologram of your likeness or one you construct within your mind. You will be given the third Tower as your residence, Sunshine and myself having the other two.”

Atrox offered her one of the apples.

Jessyka was pleased to know that such a ship would require little difficulty in being completed. Most likely, it was already well on its way to finishing.

"Very good. I'll attend to it soon enough."

The Abh thought about all of the belongings she had brought with her on this adventure. Ironically her life seemed to be condensed down to one small duffle bag which only contained a change of clothing, some adrenaline shots, her clyuno, and her tiara. She sat there sort of sheepishly.

"Ah...yes...thank you. I'll have to move my things up there when I can."

Jessyka politely declined one of the apples. "If there is nothing else, I should see to my new duties."

Atrox shrugged at her refusal of the fruit and ate it himself, slicing it into neat chunks like before.

“Well, if you wish to get about your duties, we have three students here of which one has just arrived. The other two are learning combat techniques and the ability to control their emotions. If you wished to take one for a lesson, that would be fine but since you have just agreed, that can wait.”

Atrox assisted both Nosh and Hera out of their chairs and they boarded the waiting boat. As they walked, Atrox continued talking to the new Lady of the Sith.

“If you need directions or anything, just contact Shipmind the same way you did when you gave direction to construct your ship. It can allow you to access even the Library from anywhere in the Academy and…”


-----


Darth Atrox stepped forward.

“Greetings Kane. Welcome to the New Order. Please walk with me and tell me about yourself. I need to know what Nightshade has taught you so I can repair possible damage.”

Atrox carefully listened while Kane spoke. They walked through hallways and out two large glass doors. The humidity hit Kane like a wet glove but the breath-taking scenery struck him even harder. He was surrounded by lush vegetation and the constant chatter of birds calling out. It was overall a relaxing environment; quite the opposite of Nightshade’s or even the Jedi.

As they approached a small orchard of apple trees, Kane could see at the other end another Atrox walking toward him and his Atrox. The other one was walking with two figures, one wearing a white robe accented with red and the other covered head to toe in black.

Kane nodded and relaxed, falling into step alongside the other Sith Lord. As they walked through the absolute beauty of all that was around. The humidity of the air hit him hard, especially with the robes he wore but he ignored it. Due to his own force of will and training under Nightshade, things such as pain and discomfort meant little, more so than before. He let out a sigh and began to speak.

"Well, as you might imagine within the Order of Bane, I learned how to tap into the dark side, to funnel power from my emotions. Anger, hatred, fear, all of it. I was told to immerse myself in them and in doing so, immerse myself in the dark side. I was taught how to wield the Force, along with many abilities, some universal, many in the annals of the dark side. I can overwhelm minds, destroy the bodies and minds of my enemies, torture them with lightning, and more. The usual, as I am sure you encountered under Vader. I learned lightsaber combat under her as well, and have come to encounter that Form II, known as 'Makashi' fits me quite well. Mostly, however, the damage is simply that I only know to immerse myself in my anger and rage and then try to direct it. Not exactly a fine tune thing, nor a lasting one. I cannot teach this to my people and have them not be consumed as is the inevitable fate of all whom go down this path. So I have come here to learn how you are able to walk the path of the Dark Side but not be consumed by it as those in the Order of Bane are."

Kane, as he was talking, saw the other Atrox coming towards them with two figures, one in white and one in black. He recognized the one in white with the red accents, both his sharp eyesight and the Force presence identified her as Darth Sunshine. The other....he was unsure, but she was a tumult of dark side power, her emotions of anger and rage not fully there but hinting at their power beneath the surface. He was taken aback by the two Atroxes, but he then shrugged it off. Having learned about the Force, he had come to realize pretty much anything was possible. He looked at the Atrox he was with and pointed at the group heading towards them. "I recognize the Lady Sunshine, but whom is this clone of yours and the other guest?"

“I see I will have to unteach you several things including the way you draw power from the Force. We do not do things so hap hazardous as Nightshade does. She is a powder keg just waiting to explode. One cannot tap into a nuclear explosion to power a generator; one must control the entire process to make it work the most efficiently. A surfer can ride a wave but if you control the water itself you can make a much greater wave in a single spot.”

Kane, as he was talking, saw the other Atrox coming towards them with two figures, one in white and one in black. He recognized the one in white with the red accents, both his sharp eyesight and the Force presence identified her as Darth Sunshine. The other....he was unsure, but she was a tumult of dark side power, her emotions of anger and rage not fully there but hinting at their power beneath the surface. He was taken aback by the two Atroxes, but he then shrugged it off. Having learned about the Force, he had come to realize pretty much anything was possible. He looked at the Atrox he was with and pointed at the group heading towards them. "I recognize the Lady Sunshine, but whom is this clone of yours and the other guest?"

"They are the other two members of The Triad, the leadership of The New Order. The "clone" you spoke of is myself. I am simply in two places at once. That is how I was able to participate in the Attack on Jurai and be at the Colonies simultaneously.”

Darth Sunshine walked next to Lord Atrox, and his new friend Darth Twilight. She was still unsure of his decision, but it was not her place to openly disagree with his assessment. The woman who Sunshine originally thought would be taking this position, the woman she had heard about seemed truly dead, hidden behind the visage of this cloaked anger filled body before her. She kept her opinion silent, as she walked with her friend Atrox.

Everything seemed to be going, alright for the moment, until they approached the orchard. She felt something... fimiliar. As she gazed out she could see A clone of Atrox, walking next to someone. "Who was this person?" she thought to herself.

As the moments passed, she recalled Nightshade's new apprentice. She gasped for a moment, to see that he actually took Sunshine up on her offer, but to make it worse, she could see Jessyka noticing him. Time seemed to slow down for her, like she was witnessing a car crash about to occur...

Jessyka walked silently along with the other two Sith. Perhaps if she had lived on a ground world at one time, she might have been able to appreciate the effort that went into keeping something so pristinely beautiful. Trees trimmed to a refine state, the work into keeping the water clear and clean, all of it almost lost on an Abh that had lived her entire life in an orbital city. Only the few Abh that had visited the terrans or lived in some of the more refined space palaces, could understand the true beauty behind it all.

Darth Twilight simply walked on only vaguely aware that it looked pleasing to the eyes. She was more concerned with the worlds she would have to visit in order to begin acquiring the artifacts that Atrox would need for his library. Eventually the Dark Lord looked up to see a second Atrox approaching with a bald human in his wake. The mere sight of a human male disgusted her, that one would dare to step foot in her pressence was an afront to her very being.

Unfortunately, the woman was restrained by Atrox's house rules and she would not dishonor him or the Abh by breaking such rules. But that didn't mean that she was without options. As they neared one another, Darth Twilight struck out with the Force without warning. It wasn't something as flashy as Force Lightning or Choke. Instead, she picked Kane up with the Force and sent him flying for the water. Twilight was careful to avoid Atrox's trees while she slammed Kane down into the water to hold him there for a good minute as she walked passed.

Kane had been listening to Atrox explain the other female's identity and had walked by her when he was caught by a burst of Force power and slammed into the water. He was shocked at first, and caught off guard. But if she thought he was going to be held there and for no reason, she had another thing coming. He focused himself and then exerted himself, breaking her hold on him, and then jumping out of the water and flipped to land near the group. He sat there, looking at his clothes and sighed.

"Now that wasn't very nice, Twilight. I didn't even do anything and you went and ruined my robes." He had a look of basically "Oh man" when his control hardened and Twilight then felt what could be equaled to a large fist of Force power slam into her and push her into a tree for several moments before letting her drop. Kane stood up, his eyes hard and voice soft.

"I don't know what inspired that little stunt back there, but take heed to never do so again. I will not do anything further out of respect for Darth Sunshine and Atrox, but I will not restrain myself again. I am not a simple apprentice to be slammed about, for whatever injustice you think I have incurred on you. I am Kane and if you try that again, I will be forced to defend myself. I hope I have made myself clear." He turned to Atrox as he shook himself out of his robes, showing a set of wet tunic, pants and boots.

"I do not understand why your companion has chosen to welcome me this way, but I ask that you ensure this does not happen again."

“And here it was, the first real test of the New Sith Order. Unity was but a dream to the sith, truly at best the past has ever offered was an alliance of hate, an alliance that always faltered and broke much like that on board games like Risk. This Order was different, it would be different or else there was no point to it.” Darth Sunshine thought to herself, as the two sith lords shoved each other like children on the playground.

She turned to the pair, the soaking wet Kane, and the now shoved aside Twilight. Her eyes grew yellow as her anger built up. “Stop this crap now!” she yelled. As she did she held her hands up to each of them.

Twilight soon found herself sitting on the floor of the Ares once more. She was naked and bruised, but unlike before, she had no chains she was free, as well as no force inhibitors. She could see in the room several Colonial soldiers laughing and mocking her, as she laid on the floor once more.

Kane soon found himself on a desolate world. He could see his mighty fortress lying broken like an ancient ruin. His flags torn asunder. The air was hot, as the dust scorched his skin. As he looked around, he could see the GDI, and their massive armies, drinking and toasting. “The bastard is finally dead.” one soldier shouted.

“About damn time.” another said. “To Kane.” another rose his glass, “May you burn in hell you mother fucker.” The soldiers cheered and toasted. As Kane looked down he could see his limp broken body at his feet...

As they both lived their personal hells, Each of them heard a voice. “We are about Unity, not division. This may be Atrox’s Academy, but this is my orchard.” the voice of Darth Sunshine resounded in their heads. “We are Sith, not the order of Bane. Personal vendettas will not be tolerated within these halls against our own. We have students here, and our actions will teach them more than any words you will ever speak. Are you Sith, or are you of the Order of Bane?” the voice scolded the two.”

“If you want to fight, then go to the frakking arena. But if you two choose to act like children then I will treat you like one. You have five minutes in time out. Enjoy.” the voice said in a cynical tone. As the voice left them, they sat looking on at their own personal hells, free to reveal in the terror of their own minds and do whatever, for five minutes.

Lady Sunshine then turned to Darth Atrox. She was shaking with anger, something he was not used to seeing in her. “We will not be divided, otherwise what is the point of this place?"

After the two came out of their “time outs”, they were to face someone that was even worse.

Atrox.

Not the Atrox they both knew was kind and generous as well as courteous.

The Atrox that was the Lord of the Sith who was able to found his own Order.





Darth Twilight:



The voice ringing in her head was thunderous. Atrox was dressing her down like she was a child while he was seeing to her possible injuries from the throw, hands glowing with white power as bruises were banished before they would get the chance to form. He even applied his healing energy with one of this other hands to the tree she had hit.

“How dare you abuse one of the guests here. They are under my protection as well as your responsibility. We are not Banites. If you think you are here to enact your personal revenge upon any human or male you encounter then you better start thinking what it means to be hunted for we will not tolerate anyone who cannot keep control over their emotions. I know you have suffered greatly at the hands of others but you are not to take it out against anyone here.”

“Remember Sunshine’s words, memorize them. We are all about Unity here. It is not about you. It is not about me. It is not about her. It is all about THE ORDER. That is the Rule of One”





Kane:



It was worse for Kane than it was for Twilight. Kane awoke from his induced dream held in the air by what could only be described as a pair of invisible iron hands. Before him stood Darth Atrox who was staring calmly at the soaked Sith. In the background he could see the other Atrox tending to the tree and Twilight. Around both there was an immense feeling of Power, yet both were absolutely calm in appearance.

“I see you are kind enough to join us in the waking world finally. We have more work to do with you than I expected.”

“The first is you are not to ever attack any of your Instructors. If you have a grievance against them, beg them to meet you in the Arena or see another Instructor or one of the Triad. The arena is the only place you will ever be able to lay hand upon a Superior without having that offending hand stripped away from you.”

“Second. Kane does not exist within the Order. Darth Lucien does not exist to the Order. You are an Apprentice at best, a Rager to be put down at worse. Tenetia is an offshoot of Bane and thus Banites. If you let your foolish pride cause you to actually claim those titles here then you should be put out of your misery immediately. If you cannot learn humility then you best leave for you will need to learn that before you begin any of the other lessons.”

“Third, you disgrace my hospitality by acting without permission. That Lady you assaulted is in charge of warrior training as well as the defense of this whole system. She is the one you have to rely upon for passing.”

“Fourth. The New Order is not about you, it is about The Order. The Order comes first in everything. IF The Order will benefit from you sacrificing yourself, you will gleefully sacrifice yourself. If The Order will benefit from you invading Earth, then you will invade Earth. Right now the Order will benefit from you acting like an adult. You WILL get along with everyone else. It is beneficial to the Order that you do so. We live by the Rule of One here and don’t you forget it or I will have to speak to you about this again. Next time will not be so pleasant.”

Atrox started to turn away but stopped and turned back.

“One more thing, I did not appreciate you delivering a veiled threat to me, insinuating something would happen if she did this to you again. That was rude and unforgivable. I should throw you into orbit for that alone but I believe in giving second chances. Remember this though, I don’t give thirds.”

Kane suddenly felt himself being lowered to the ground and the iron grip of the invisible hands disappeared.

“Follow me.”

Atrox turned and walked back to the other three without checking to see if Kane was following.




Both:


Atrox walked up to where Atrox was kneeling. The kneeling one could be seen with two glowing hands, one on the Abh robes and one on the tree.

“We have decided both you should apologize to each other and forgive each other. The only other option is to take it to the Arena. We nor Darth Sunshine will allow any strife to cause problems in the New Order. If you must act like Children, you will have to make up like Children. Apologize to each other."

After seeing neither wanted to, Atrox put a little Power into his next word. Both could feel the force behind the word. It was not Power used to compel, it was just a demonstration of what could be used if they opposed Atrox, and he wasn’t even showing anger.

“Now!”

If Kane had believed her to be a simple Acolyte to be tossed around lightly, he had thought wrong. The moment of surprise was already lost after she had tossed him into the water. If he had not retaliated against her, she would have been severely disappointed which would only have spelled more torture for the man in the long run.

While she had tried in all her effort to avoid the trees when she threw Kane, it seemed that the man had no same respect for Atrox's house when he retaliated. A pity. It was a nice specimen of the species. A Force shield came up around the Sith Lord as she collided with the tree leaving her virtually unharmed but the tree looking a little worse for ware.

Being far away from the group now, Kane's words were rather pointless since she couldn't hear him. Not that it would matter. Jessyka stood up and brushed herself off and straightened our her robes. She would have a few bruises on her shoulders, but otherwise she was fine.

The mental assault by Atrox and Sunshine came on all of a sudden as she righted herself and prepared to go on with her original task. “How dare you abuse one of the guests here. They are under my protection as well as your responsibility. We are not Banites. If you think you are here to enact your personal revenge upon any human or male you encounter then you better start thinking what it means to be hunted for we will not tolerate anyone who cannot keep control over their emotions. I know you have suffered greatly at the hands of others but you are not to take it out against anyone here.”

“Remember Sunshine’s words, memorize them. We are all about Unity here. It is not about you. It is not about me. It is not about her. It is all about THE ORDER. That is the Rule of One.”

Darth Twilight didn't back down in the least though as the vision of her back aboard the Ares only served the purpose of fueling her rage. "He was in my way."

As the visions faded and she found herself back in the courtyard, the Abh sighed as she looked at the tree. "I will have it replaced."

When everyone was finally gathered together again, the idea of apologizing was wholly unappealing to her. If anything, she would prefer letting words pass for actions in the Arena.

As Twilight stood resolute in her actions against this male, and Kane was sure to follow in her footsteps, Sunshine felt something was wrong, very wrong. She could see Darth Atrox, his pride and honor feeling smirched, as the pride of the Abh and human also grew.

She looked down wondering what to do. Before her she could clearly see two paths. One, where the Sith would grow unified and strong, and the other, the death of the New Sith Order before it even began. She sighed, as she thought to herself, “So this is what Rydo called a shatter point.”

“You knew this was going to be a failure.” a voice spoke in the back of her mind. “The darkside is about power, and domination. One can not be equals.” the voice of the man in white spoke to her.

“No, history will not repeat itself.” she spoke the voice in her head.

“Ah... foolish young girl.” the voice replied of her old dead master. “Of course it will. It is only natural. Why do you think Bane set up the rule of two?” the voice replied to her taking pleasure in her strife.

“Because he was a weak coward.” Hera spoke outloud again.

“No” the voice replied only to her, “It is because he knew the nature of the darkside, where you are nothing more than a hopeful little child.” the man in white spoke to her in her mind once more.

As he spoke, Sunshine began to fear that he was right. Fear gripped her, as she suddenly came to realize, that without some release, some other way, this new order would die today, in the same way that the original did. By one persons pride, and arrogance.

“Lord Atrox.” she interrupted the Sith lord. “If we may, Darth Twlight and myself have some business to discuss in private. If we may, resolve this at a later time. It would seem we should instruct Nightshade’s apprentice on the proper traditions of the Sith after all.” she said to him trying to defuse the situation.

After she spoke, she motioned for Twilight to come with her.

Shortly before Kane could even prepare himself for the rebuke he expected to come, he was sucked into another strange realm, like he had with that other half whom had spoken to him and saw his dead body on the ground, with GDI celebrating. His forces were destroyed, their vehicles and bodies littering the ground. They toasted to his death and to their victory. Kane gripped his fists, and growled as his anger grew. He would not be defeated like this! He would not see his children destroyed so and his work laid low. No, he would ensure it was the GDI whom fell. He heard the voice of Sunshine and then realized this was her memory technique she had shown at Tenetia. Sighing resignedly, he sat back to deal with this punishment and then see what happened next.

What did happen was something Kane had not expected...fully. He knew Atrox would be angry, but not at this magnitude. He immediately felt iron hands clamp around him, but they were unseen and a large aura of power emanated from Atrox, whom was standing before him. He grimaced; this was going to be bad. He endured the Sith Lord's rant as best as his pride and patience would allow. Atrox and Sunshine were right, he supposed, in that he shouldn't have attacked her, and that he was acting like those of Bane in his actions. However, as he thought, he wasn't going to let her attack him for no reason. If this was how she greeted people, he shuddered to think of her lessons.

Soon enough he was released and followed Atrox, caution in his step. He was met by Twilight, whom he expected had some of the same he had. When Atrox demanded he apologize, his eyes narrowed slightly. He was wrong in some ways, but he was not sorry for replying to her attack. He was going to defend himself, no matter what. Then Atrox let forth more power and was more forceful in his command.

Kane focused all his willpower, and did something he had not yet done in his life. Pushed aside his pride and did what needed to be done. "I....am sorry for attacking you at the improper time and for being rude to our...hosts."

Twilight was already lost in the storm of thoughts that clouded her mind and the nightmares that seemed to follow her everywhere. Rage and self-loathing were her constant companions as she kept who she was concealed but layers of black fabric. Only the form fitting clothing that was necessary for someone trained in martial arts or the rare whisp of blue hair ever gave away the possibility of her gender and perhaps her race. Still, there was more than physical appearance that was covered by the black fabric.

She was in little mood for debates or conversation now so she simply followed Sunshine to whereever she wished to go. No doubt it would leave the rest wondering about her or at least speculating but politeness was not in her creed in this point in time. All that mattered to her now was the rage that consumed her, the quest for more power, and her overall hatred of the human race. Especially the male gender of the species.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUiVV8wQo4s

Much to Lady Sunshine’s surprise, Darth Lucion consented as he apologized. He relinquished his hate, his anger, to become humble. He broke the code of Bane, and consented to his first real lesson of the New Sith Order, the Rule of One.

She nodded to the leader of NoD, as she somewhat relaxed. She looked up to the man, as she let a approving smile crease her mouth. “Thank you Lucion.” she spoke, as the fear of all she had worked for being lost lifted like the fog in the sun. “You have shown great wisdom today, and have begun a path that will be far more fruitful than that you have learned.” she said beaming with pride about this man she had found on Tenetia.

She then nodded to the two Atrox’s. “If you will excuse us, we have some business to attend to, and I am sure that Darth Lucion is anxious to begin is training, and learn the truth, over the lies he had found on Tenetia.” She spoke to the three people. With that, she turned and began to walk down the beach with Lady Twilight in tow.

They walked for a while, ten fifteen minutes easily, and not a word was spoken as the woman in white walked next to the woman in black. The Silence said it all, there was no words that really needed to be said, until they came to their destination.

Lady Sunshine stopped at one spot, with the white sand of the beach pressed in between her toes. The water was calm, and crystal clear, as the waves pounded the barrier reef odd in the distance. She looked into the water and could clearly see the numerous colored fish swimming and nearly dancing with one another in the water. The Sun was beginning to set, casting it’s orange gaze across the water, as the air smelled of fresh flowers.

Lady Sunshine then turned to Twilight, her voice sounding not angry but more sympathetic.

“Lady Twilight.” Sunshine began. “I know what you have been through, I know the pain that the humans have put you through. I have felt the same, and in different respects have been equally tortured by them.” she said to her not trying to scold but to be more of a friend. “My mind was destroyed by the sith, by soul torn out by the Coredians, and above all else, I have lost everything just as you have.” she said as she turned her head to the ground, looking at the small wisps of sand slowly blowing off the beach towards the open water.

“Now I am not here to feel bad for you, Pity is not in our job description, and I doubt you want it anyway. However training students and doing our job what we do. How in the hell can you aquire the objects for Atrox, or teach others to do what is needed to be done if you desire to kill every male human you see? How in the hell can you return home knowing that a large human population lives in your Empire?” she asked Lady Twilight.

Lady Sunshine then turned her gaze directly to the only part of Twilight that was visible, her violet eyes. “Next time you feel this rage, build up, the next time you believe you can not control yourself, find me.” she nearly ordered the Dark Lady of the New Sith. As she spoke Sunshine raised her hand to the beach. She concentrated for a moment, and them several small mounds began to form. Twilight watched as hands began to protrude from the beach, and three human males began to climb out of the sand. “I have my ways of releasing your stress. Now have fun with them.” she said kindly to Lady Twilight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrnZtytsJFQ
Twilight walked along the sandy beach beside Sunshine. It would probably be comical to see two women dressed in white and black in such a scene but it was doubtful anyone would laugh in their pressence. One woman had a power that was restrained but powerful nonetheless when the time came while the other made no intentions of hiding her power or contempt with others.

There was little to discuss between the two as they walked along in silence. They were relatively unfamiliar with one another and no one could call them friends but they still managed to share a bond of sorts.

“Now I am not here to feel bad for you, Pity is not in our job description, and I doubt you want it anyway. However training students and doing our job what we do. How in the hell can you aquire the objects for Atrox, or teach others to do what is needed to be done if you desire to kill every male human you see? How in the hell can you return home knowing that a large human population lives in your Empire?” she asked Lady Twilight.

Jessyka was less than perturbed by her questioning though. "If I had desired to kill the human back there, then what soiled his clothes would not have been mere water. I can imagine killing someone in much more...interesting ways than a mere throw with the Force. And I live in the Empire peacefully because the human population is subjugate the way it should be. The Abh rule and the humans obey as they should. They are beneath us."

Perhaps unbeknownst to Sunshine, the last part was not only figuritively but also fact. While Twilight personified rage unbridled, she was slightly more controlled than someone who was out for the kill. Throwing Kane across the yard was merely her way of saying "hello". "If our students cannot handle the training, then they are not worth being a part of the New Order. We are not the Jedi afterall, here to coddle everyone that comes our way."

She was about to continue on when she saw creatures crawling out of the sand. Creatures that turned into humans. Twilight turned to stare down at Sunshine. "What is this? What games are you playing here?"

The men rose out of the ground, their bodies covered in the wet sand of the beach. Twilight could smell their stench, that which only a human could make. As she stared down Darth Sunshine, Sunshine did nothing but make a small smile towards the only person here with the title “DARK Lady.”

“Jess.” Hera said simply and plainly, “You are right. If the student can not survive, then they should not be here. We are the New Sith Order, not the “other jedi”. However until any student comes under your faction it is not our call. Atrox is the one that will allow them to determine their own destiny. Once they come to your branch, then they are yours to do with as you please.” Darth Sunshine spoke to her not irratated but simply explaining the situation.

She then turned to the three people, as the sand blew off their bodies. One wore the dress of a Jedi, another from the memories of Jessyka a Star Empire uniform, and the third, that of a colonial. Twilight could see clearly each of them were armed, one with a lightsaber, and the other two with a standard pistol from their nations, all of which were perfectly human.

“This game?” Sunshine then said as she mused to herself. “It is a fun game, one which you should know the rules. There is no out of bounds, no foul. It is a fun game, a game of survival of the fittest. Go on, and play, you will feel much better when you do. That is unless you are too scared?” Sunshine said as she tried to taunt Twilight into playing.

Twilight growled at the accusation of being considered a coward. She spun on her toes in the sand to look at the three sand humans. Each one had a representation in her own mind being Jedi, Abh, and Colonial. Power crackled through her fingertips as she unleashed a blast of Force Storm dead center into the Colonial.

Sand flew up everywhere as the man was blown apart from the sheer volume of energy pumped into one attack. The next man, Jedi, was lifted off of the ground as Darth Twilight's left hand rose higher. Eventually she stopped and began to cup her fingers, slowly squeezing. The Jedi visually choked as he clawed at his own throat trying to tear away the invisible fingers. It was no good of course as Twilight continued to close her hands around the man's neck until he went limp from a lack of oxygen. That was not enough for her though, fingers still closeing until the Jedi's neck broke and his head popped clean off. Sand floated back down to the beach where the Jedi had been born.

All that remained now was the Star Forces officer. Jessyka was still fiercely loyal to her own Empire and it didn't sit well with her to see one before her now to use as a toy. She never showed the internal battle on what little of her face that could be seen. Instead she only paused in her attacks. "What to do with you..."

In the end she came up with the most human death she could think of. She reached out with the Force to remove Sunshine's sword from her belt and sent it spinning towards the officer. It was a clean cut as the sword took the man's head clean off. Sand fell to the ground again just like all the others before only this one would have suffered far less had it actually been alive.

Twilight heaved a deep sigh as the beach calmed down once more. "So what is it that you want then?"

Her voice was calmer and quieter. At least some of the anger ever present in her voice had subsided for a time.

Twilight heaved a deep sigh as the beach calmed down once more. "So what is it that you want then?"

Her voice was calmer and quieter. At least some of the anger ever present in her voice had subsided for a time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6F3g0ybM8I

Lady Sunshine scowled for a moment, as her rapier left her belt and dispatched the third human on the beach. Her sword, her pride and joy forged from the stolen metals on Coredia, forged in her own hate and desires laid on the sandy beach like some sort of piece of drift wood, used for a dog to play fetch with.

As she walked over to it, she gently picked up the glistening hilt from the sun in the distance. Taking her white robe, she gently brushed off each and every piece of sand on her blade.

With her back turned to Twilight, Twilight asked her question. Sunshine turned to her, as she put her sword back in it’s sheath. Her ever present smile vanished, leaving nothing more than the lingering serious look. “What do I want?” she asked Lady Twilight. “I thought it was obvious what I wanted, although you are the first to directly ask me that question. World peace, a pina colida, and a puppy. Puppies are very cute after all.” she quickly retorted the Dark Lady.

Sunshine then walked closer to Twilight, her back directly to the sun, giving a strange orange glow to the woman in white. “What I really want is to help you and myself. You see Lord Atrox has placed you in a high position. One where your rage can cause great damage to the New Sith Order, an organization I truly believe in. I want the New Sith Order to survive. I want it to prosper, and I want you to be a part of that, which is greater than both of us, greater than our pride, greater than our very being.”

“You and I are similar in a few respects. We both have our pasts, the pain and the joy of it. We both are tortured in many respects, but that torture does not need to define us. I want to help you, so that the New Sith can prosper, and in some deluded way I can help myself. What do you want? There has to be more to life for you than gaining power and decapitating humans?”

"I do not intend to abuse my position of power or the Order's resources to settle personal vendettas. That will be handled in other ways and in all due time. I have that much assurance."

Twilight stood on the sandy beach with little much else to say while Sunshine collected her rapier. It seemed as if even the wind had died down to an overall calmness. If Sunshine was expecting some great philosophical response or deep emotional outburst to her question, she was about to be sorely dissapointed.

The Abh Force user stood there silently for a moment as she closed her eyes and took a breath. "No. Other than my loyalties, not really."

Her eyes drifted over to Sunshine who she figured would not be too approving. "Not what you hoped for is it? Sorry, I have no idea what you would be expecting?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMZJEx9jxsE

The Lady in white showed no signs of disapproval, no signs of contempt for the shallowness and bluntness of the Dark Lady before her. She just stared into Twilight’s violet eyes, the only part she could see with her naked eye. Looking up to the woman before her, Sunshine remained resolute before this “Sith.”

“Well at least you know where you stand, and where you are in life.” the Lady in White said to her, not in disdain, but in a more neutral term. She walked closer to Jessyka, standing exactly three paces from the dark robed woman. “Although you keep mentioning your other loyalties. This does cause me some concern. Who ultimately are you loyal to the Abh, who sent you to Caprica or the New Sith Order, whom freed you from Caprica?” she asked again, less antagonistically, but more like she was interviewing Twilight for a job.

Sunshine reached around to her backside, standing at an at ease position taught by most militaries. “After all, the day may come when the NSO and the Abh are at odds. I need to know in that event, are you an asset, or a liability?” she asked plainly the dark lady of the sith. “After all one can not serve two masters.”

Twilight was unmoving against the questions posed by Sunshine. There was little confusion in her mind about most matters which only caused her to stand firmer in this. "The Abh did not send me to Caprica. Do not confuse the nation and my people with one person and what he has done. Nor do I forget the one that turned me over to the Colonials."

Jessyka paused for a moment, her voice not raising in anger but simply staying matter-of-factly. "Choose between the Abh Empire and the New Sith Order if they ever come at odds with one another? Pray that day never comes."

Lady Sunshine was stumped. How could she retort that, Jessyka, this Darth Twilight was quite sure of herself, sure of her destiny, wished for nothing but the present state. No words could dissuade her, no sentence could insure her loyalty to the New Sith Order. Hera slowly lowered her head, and looked towards the beach below.

Gently, with a gaze of an angel, and the smile to match she looked back up to Twilight. "I see, well I do hope then that it never occurs." she said in a quiet peaceful tone of voice. "I also wish you the best in your quest for revengance and power. However I do need to go, that tree you and Kane scuffled needs attending to, and I only have a few more hours of light left. I had planned to have several Coconut, Orange and Lemon trees planted before the end of the day, and time is ticking away."

She began to walk away for a moment, leaving Jessyka to herself but something seemed to stop her. She turned back around, "By the way, you may call me Hera. If you want you are more than welcome to join me, I could use the help."

Twilight watched as Sunshine started to leave. Jessyka did not know honestly what to make of the strange woman quite yet though that was not a problem for her. There was plenty of time to sort everything out especially when time for an Abh was irrelevant.

Still, this woman did not seem to be threatening to the Sith lady or anyone else for that manner. Not that the thought was to diminish her power in anyway, she just seemed to have the quality of appearing harmless which only heightened Twilight's senses when Sunshine was around her.

"You may call me Nosh then. It would be only proper to give you a name if you give me yours."

Jessyka followed after Hera then as they walked back from the beach. "I'll carry the trees and you can do the digging."

“It is true, there is a silver lining...” Sunshine thought to herself as she lowered her eyes downward from her counterpart, Darth Twilight. Her voice full of humility, humble, the very characteristics that were considered NOT SITH, she smiled sweetly at Jessyka. “Thank you.”

The pair then walked back down the beach. Not a word was spoken, as the two Ladies of the Sith walked back towards the scene of Calamity and violence not thirty minutes before hand. When they arrived at the orchard, Sunshine pointed at some of the potted plants. She gently reached around herself and took off her white robe, revealing a purple t-shirt, and a pair of blue jeans with flowery embroidery sewn into the outer pockets.

Sunshine gently folded the robe, and placed it on the cobble side walk. “If you could please.” Hera said to Jessyka, “I have several spots marked, each in the color of the fruit tree. Yellow for Lemon, Orange for Orange, well you get the idea.” she said quietly.

Sunshine, as Twilight was moving everything walked over to the tree that was so badly damaged in the fight. She placed her small, slightly tan hand on the bark. It was rough, and somewhat sticky, as the sap the blood of the tree ran freely down the outer portion of the tree. “You poor thing.” she said whispering to the tree. “You did nothing wrong, and look what they did to you.”

She placed her other hand on the tree. “You deserve more respect than that.” She slowly shut her eyes as she focused on the tree. “What is broken shall be mended, what has died shall return.” she spoke to the tree. As she did, the tree began to heal up, the sap returned and the bark regrew. Within minutes, it was healed, as if it had never been injured.

When the apple tree was fully recovered, Sunshine placed her hand on the large plant. “Of course.” she said to the tree. “You are very welcome, just do me a favor. Can you make me an apple please, a very tasty one. Ok, I will look for the apple with a slight green tint to it.” She then hugged the tree. “You too, have a great evening.”

She stood up and turned to a probably very bewildered Twilight who had moved all the plants to their area. She ignored the puzzled look in her eyes, and probably very critical thoughts. She was used to it. “If you will excuse me a minute.” she said as she waved off Jessyka for a moment. Ten minutes later, she came back with a shovel, and began to dig a hole for the first lemon tree.

The walk back to the orchard was silent which left Twilight looking at what had been learned from today's events. There was great power and responsibility in this place and much of that had been placed on her shoulders. If she was to remain in such a position to gain from that advantage, then she would have to walk a tighter line with her actions in the days to come. While she would be gone from the planet on great stretches of time, she still had a responsibility to teach new recruits. Most likely that would mean she would not be allowed to kill any of them unless she desired to meet with Atrox and Sunshine's disapproval.

Her actions would have to be much more controlled while in their pressence and it would start by helping to plant some of the trees. Trees in which she had no personal feelings towards. Instead, Jessyka reached out with the Force and lifted up the trees as Hera gave out the instructions.

There was not just one or two or even three trees lifted up at a time, but all were lifted at once and placed in their proper destination as Hera healed the damaged tree. She had finished just in time to see the young girl with her arms wrapped around the tree. Jessyka couldn't tell if that was part of the spell or if she was one of those tree huggers she had heard about that seem to inhabit every planet with an ecosystem. Probably it was best to not ask questions and just move on with the work.

When Jessyka turned and saw Hera digging with a shovel, she let out an inaudible sigh. Most likely they would be out all night with all these trees if Hera insisted on doing it by hand. "Would you like some help with that?"

“I would love some help.” Hera beamed as she heard Twilight speak up. Hera knew that Twilight was wanting to hurry this up, and she even had a good idea of how she was going to do it. She raised her hand towards the shed. “In that shed over there Jess.” Hera pointed, using her real name not the fake one that she mentioned earlier. “Is a shovel. You are more than welcome to help me if you like.” she said her smile in the dwindling sunlight radiated like that of an innocent child.

She knew that Darth Twilight was not happy about her response, as Hera pushed the shovel in the rich topsoil on this part of the island. With sweat coming off her brow, she picked up a load of dirt.

“You know.” the other Lady of the Sith said, as she let out a tiny err from the physical activity, “Patience is the key. We could just lift the dirt out with the force but what good would that do. The force is a blunt instrument, but it is not who we are. The force is unreliable. It plays with people’s fates, putting them through hell and back, for it’s own twisted pleasure.” Hera said as she shoveled another dirt pile out.

“It is not who we are, our bodies are. I once had a master, a very wise yet totally disturbed man. He told me something once. ‘The Jedi and the Sith are almost identical in every respect, even in their quest for greater power.’ Patience was the key. Sure the force could speed this up but at what cost. It would not be as controlled." She then let out a coy chuckle, "And how else would we keep up our figure if we used the force to do this."

She then let out another err... as she placed the shovel in the ground. “We should use our bodies and ourselves first, then if that is not good enough use the force to enhance that. After all what would you do if you were not a sith but a normal Abh? You would be using a shovel. If you are around Ysalimari, then you would be even at a greater loss. Trust in yourself, and seek self improvement in all ways.” Sunshine told the Dark Lady of the Sith Order. She then paused for a moment. "I am sorry if I sound preachy.

With that the hole was dug. Sunshine walked over and pushed the tree gently into the ground. She then scraped the dirt into the hole. "May you grow big and strong, and be full of fruit." As she spoke the words, the Tree grew, much bigger, and the lemons began to grow rapidly, until the Lemon tree looked like the apple trees, about fifty years in age, full of fresh ripe fruit. She then reached for her shovel, and began to dig another hole, for another tree. "It has just been a strange week for me, so if I annoy you, just forgive me, or tell me to shut the frak up." she said as she wiped the sweat off her forehead.

Twilight ignored the response that Hera gave with the inculsion of her real name being used. Instead she simply walked over to the shed and retrieved the only shovel left. Once she was back, Twilight put the shovel to use as she used the Force to carry the shovel and allow it to do the digging.

"So some might say. You have your philosophy of the Force, and I have mine."

The shovel continued to work piling up a decent size mound of dirt. "If I were a normal Abh, I would not be where I am today or with the history I have and we would not be having this conversation."

Finished digging, Twilight lifted a tree from the ground and settled it into the hole. She did her best to try and ignore Hera's tree hugging habbits. If there was any progress in trying to breakthrough to Twilight or become closer, it seemed like that was as far as they were getting for the day.

The sun fell over the horizon, as darkness crept over the orchard. The beauty of the night, thousands of points of stars, and the full moon that slowly rose over the water, it’s light dancing like sprites over the calm sea washed over the pair of sith.

Sunshine made no comment about Twilight’s love of the force. Her philosophy was her own, and it was her right to believe what she wished.

Sunshine left the dark lady in her solitude as she continued to finish planting the last of the trees for the evening. When she was done, she turned to Twilight. “Thank you.” she said to the Dark Lady. “You were a great help.” The Lady of the sith said, humbly to Darth Twilight. With a simple “human” gesture, she lightly touched Jessyka on the shoulder. With that, Lady Sunshine walked over to the shed and put away her tools.

She then alone walked back to the beach, and began to watch the moon rise over the water. She showed no signs of being tired, and the young hybrid sat on the beach, her legs crossed under the white sand. Hera closed her eyes and just began to meditate, she knew that Twilight wanted to be alone, yet still wanted someone to talk to. Such a paradox of desires. Hera gave her final test of the new member of the Triad. She could do what she wanted.

Jessyka slightly tensed at the touch. The gesture itself was something she had grown disassociated from in the months since the Ares. Gender no longer mattered but anything physical was all that brought her into seclusion. She simply nodded her understanding and stood still and alone as Hera went on her way.

Twilight remained in among the trees for a time debating on what to do. Her quarters waited for her as well as her duty to the new order, but at the same time the strange company she had been keeping was somewhat comforting. It reminded her that she was still alive along with other living entities. She no longer knew what she should do at that moment. By no means was she a conversationalist and neither her or Hera saw things in the same light.

Despite it all, she was in no hurry to venture to her new lodgings. Torn between what to do, Jessyka kicked a clot of dirt sending fragments spraying everywhere. With no real focus on which direction to go, Darth Twilight plopped down in the dirt in the middle of the orchard and meditated.

The sea danced, as the light of the moon streaked across the water covered all in it’s pale white glow. The small ripples in the ocean seemed to move in euphoric glee, while the ocean lapped the beach with it’s small waves. The night was calm, peaceful, the complete opposite of anything that people thought of the sith.

Lady Sunshine sat on the beach, her legs pulled up to her chest, as her bare feet touches the small waves of the ocean. The ocean teased her slightly touching her feet. If there was any doubt before that she loved this place, that this is truly where she belonged, it soon vanished. Here things were quiet.

There were few people around to fill her thoughts with their desires, there memories, their thoughts. It was just her, and the spirits of the ocean and the near by trees. Here, Hera was truly herself. There were no pretenses, no illusions, no one to cast judgement on her. This was heaven, and she loved it.

The wind wrapped itself around her, holding her in it’s warm salty essence. She closed her brown eyes, and let the environment consume her. She felt at one with the planet, with the beach with the trees. Here she learned the lesson of Master Rydo, she learned the lesson of peace.

Nothing could disturb this moment, or so she thought. As she looked across the ocean, a small dot appeared in the back ground, a spot of darkness that broke the light of the moon. Hera watched it for a moment, as it seemed to be getting closer. Startled, she stood up, as the dark figure continued to move closer. Her right hand reached for her rapier as her eyes focused on the object before her. It moved like a human, and she was begining to see the outline of arms, and legs... “Who in the world would be out there?” she asked her self, as her grip tightened around the hilt of her sword, “And who can walk on water?”

She watched as the figure made it’s way to the beach. The person seemed somewhat fimiliar, as it approached. In the pale moonlight, she finally was able to see her face.

“Master Rydo?” Hera asked.

“Hello Hera.” the figure that resembled her Jedi Master, and mother figure.

“What are you doing here?” she asked as she released her grip on her sword.

“You have become so lost in yourself, you are losing sight of what is important?”

Hera was confused, she looked to the ground, on the white sandy beach. “What do you mean?”

“Look behind you.” The jedi master said, her voice unusually calm, as her hand pointed toward the orchard.

Hera turned quickly to see Jessyka in turmoil. Like a child, she threw a tantrum, kicking dirt, spinning around and flopping on the ground.

“How did you know?” Hera asked as she turned around. No one was there, just her and the beach, the ocean and the moon.

She reached over, and picked up her shoes. With her shoes in her left hand, she began the trek back to the orchard. The wet sand turned to warm sand, as she walked, until she hit the rich black topsoil of the orchard. Hera cocked her head to the left as she watched Twilight meditate. She slowly sat down in front of Twilight, about three feet away. Crossing her legs, she placed her hands on her knees and began to meditate with her. As she did, peace came over her. Her eyes closed, only the voice of Jessyka and hers filled her mind, she came to a revelation. "She is why I am here. She has the spirit of Bane, and I will not let her remain feral. Not if I can help it."

Sunshine remained quiet, trying not to disturb her meditation. She was just there for her.

Twilight sat in the comfort of darkness as everything around her thrived with the Force. She did not draw on something so simple an idea as the light side or the dark side of the Force, for Darth Twilight the Force itself was her tool to wield. Some would call her consumed by the dark side considering what powers she wielded over others but in her mind, the Force was simply the Force. A tool to be used at her desire whenever she commanded it.

People would be back at their living quarters and she did not want to deal with any more of them today. Three other living species in one day was enough for her. She could feel everything around her from the trees that were just planted to the insects crawling along the ground. It wasn't long before she felt the pressence of Hera walking back towards her.

For a time, Jessyka wondered if she would go on back to the others but Hera sat down in front of her. A couple minutes passed as Jessyka ignored her pressence, hoping that she would get up and just leave her to her solitude. To her annoyance, Hera remained sitting before her.

Letting out a sigh, Darth Twilight sat up a little straighter now one with the darkness in her black drab. "Was there something you needed? I thought you were going to the beach."

Her eyes opened, as the dark mass that was Twilight’s back straightened up. It did not take the force to see the internal storm in this sith before Sunshine. She seemed confused about her desires, lashing out at one side or the other. Sunshine watched Twilight, as one watches a fierce lightning storm. The lightning bolts had power but no real direction, as they streak across the sky or hit the ground.

Hera cocked her head slightly to the side as this storm before her sounded ever annoyed, yet still something inside her seemed grateful. “Such a paradox.” Hera thought to herself, as she began to stand up.

“I was on the beach. It was quite beautiful to be honest, the full moon over the water was quite breath taking.” Hera said as she stood up fully before Darth Twilight. “However while I was on the beach a little birdie told me that you might want some company. You seem alone.” Hera said as her eyes averted the direct gaze of the Lady before her.

“I am very sorry if I was wrong, and if my presence interrupted your mediation. If you desire I will leave you be. It is just after everything, I thought you might want someone to sit with you.”

Hera slowly took in a deep breath, then let out a small sigh. “I am very sorry again, I guess I will leave you be.” she said as she turned around and took her first step away from Lady Twilight.

Atrox led Kane away toward the Academy and out of the Gardens. The second Atrox remained to make sure there was no lasting damage and to place a surprise for Hera discretely while she was away with Twilight at the beach.

Walking to the secluded center of the Gardens, he pulled out a seed pod he collected from Konoha and prepared the proper place for it. Kneeling, he dug a hole and poured a special mixture of fertilizers and growth hormones specially designed for use in terraforming. They would allow the seedling to get the proper nourishments for what he was going to do next.

Atrox then stood back up and spread all four of his arms wide. He reached deeply into himself to access his powerful Psionics and outwards to tap into the Force. Channeling both simultaneously, he wove the two alien powers into one, combining both into a single purpose and directing it into the seedling he just placed into the hole at his feet. Dropping one of the hairs he gathered from the bird nest back on Konoha, he added a little bit of Hera into the mixture.

Now, Atrox reached inside him once more for a third ingredient. He accessed his connection forced long ago as a member of the Ta’Nar. He accessed his Conduit and channeled mystical energy of their Meta-Magics into the already gathered power, creating a Triad of Energies, symbolic of the New Sith Order itself, three working together as one to perform an impossible.
At his feet, a green shoot began to curl skyward reaching for the rich sunlight. Roots curled and burrowed deep into the ground forming an anchor that not even one of the wild mega storms of a water world could topple. Branches spread upward and sprouted green leaves creating a large shaded canopy for those who would find rest and meditation below their protection.

Atrox turned and saw the two girls were about to head back to the garden so he activated his armor and levitated back to his tower. He would watch Hera’s reaction through Shipmind.



-----


Kane and Atrox walked through the sliding doors into the shade and coolness of the Academy. Their footsteps echoed through the black but well lit hallways of the dwelling.

“You have indeed come a long way in apologizing. I thank you for that. The lessen does stand and I was not being overly harsh with you, while here, you are not a Sith Lord. You have much to unlearn and damages in your teaching repaired. I will start you first in self control.”

Kane and Atrox walked into a meditation room where two other students were meditating.

“These students have been here longer and you could probably learn from them. At this point you are an Applicant and will be until you prove you have what it takes to be a member of the New Sith Order, something both these students have already proven months ago. If you wish their assistance you may ask them.”

Turning to the Ascended and the Kelauan students Atrox addressed all three.

“Greetings to all. This is Darian and D’thas. This is Kane. He is an Applicant here and wishes to prove himself worthy. He is to follow the same rules as you two have. He needs to learn inner control first.”

With that, Atrox walked away. This would be a test for all three and he would observe them through the Shipmind from elsewhere.

Twilight kept her hands on her knees as she listened to Sunshine speak. She was unsure what she wanted at the time but it was somewhat soothing to have someone near by. Jessyka didn't exactly like Hera's tree hugging tendancies or her light heartedness or the fact that she always smiled. Despite all that, something about the girl drew the Abh to her.

"It no longer really matters now. Leaving won't change the fact that meditation was disturbed so you might as well stay. I can go back to my meditation just as easily with you here or you gone.

Sit if you like."

She suddenly stopped at the words of Darth Twilight, as with her back turned, she let a slight grin break her young face, as she whipped around. Walking cautiously towards the Abh, she slowly sat down in front of Twilight. Sunshine gently crossed her legs, as she sat down across from the Abh Sith.

Twilight was not really one for conversations, hell she was not even the friendliest of people, but still there was something in her that Sunshine saw, although she could not put her finger on it. She cocked her head slightly as she picked up the dirt on the ground, and rubbed it in-between her fingers.

“You know what I love about this place?” she asked the Dark Lady in reference to the orchard. “It is not the trees, it is the quiet. The smells, the tastes, the general feeling in this place. It is nothing yet everything you need it to be. The smell of the sea, and the fresh fruit and herbs, the lack of noise here, except the birds. The over all feeling of peace and life.” she confided in the dark lady. Then her face lost it’s happy smile, as if something terrible just happened. Like a switch, she went from happy and bubbly as her face grew colder. “Not that you really care.” With that she closed her eyes again.

The energy around Twilight was dark, and cold. It was hate, and vengeance. Malice and entropy. Sunshine just sat in the middle of it, as the dark energy of death surrounded the pair. It flowed form Jessyka with ease, like a waterfall splashing over the cliff. Even in this place of peace, the dark side was ever present around the Abh, as it saturated the young sunshine. She said nothing, as the dark feelings over whelmed her. The light that surrounded her began to set, like the sun over the horizion, giving way to the night.

Little was heard from the Abh as she sat silently. Her chest rose and fell almost unnoticeablly with the only sound coming from Jessyka was her slow steady breathing. She listened as Hera went on about her love for the orchards but made no act of acknowledging anything she said.

“Not that you really care.”

Jessyka lightly shrugged her shoulders at the statement. "My opinion does not matter on the subject. If this place pleases you, then the opinion of others is irrelevant. All you should be concerned with is what makes you happy and achieve it."

Twilight took a moment to pause and sigh. "I prefer this place because it is quiet and no one will bother me while I meditate. Unfortunately it seems you have proven me wrong on the last issue. Well we can't be right every moment of our lives."

It was at this moment that Darth Sunshine began to understand this Darth Twilight. Twilight was alone, and in her mind the self was the most important aspect. With her hands on her knees, Darth Sunshine began to breathe in deeply. She closed her eyes, but meditation was always hard for her. Her eyes, hidden inside her eye lids, she tried to extend herself to her surroundings, but again as every time before failed to achieve the peace or clarity that others described.

She just sat there, surrounded by the darkness of her eye lids, she could not connect to what the others described. Minutes past as the young sith finally began to get frustrated. She opened her eyes, and looked around. The orchard was gone, and instead she sat alone in a ancient forest. The white light from the moon still ever present, she looked around for Darth Twilight.

“Jess?” she called out, but there was no response. Just the empty and dense forest. It was quiet, there were no birds chirping, no crickets singing their songs, not even the rustle of small bugs in the leaves on the floor of the forest.

Slowly Darth Sunshine stood up. “Ok Twilight stop frakking around!” she called out, somewhat nervous. She reached down and grabbed the hilt of her sword. There was no cries out, no thoughts, nothing. It was truly empty.

She decided to walk, her footsteps causing a slight rattle from the fallen leaves in the forest floor. She seemed to walk for what seemed to be hours, and each step seemed to get her no where. She was still surrounded by the trees, and emptiness. Even the force had seemed to have left her as she could feel nothing of her surroundings. Well at least that came out of the situation.

Then she heard a slight noise in the back ground. Hera turned around quickly, as she heard a small rustle in the leaves behind her. It was dark, even with the full moon, but she peered out into the distance to try to see what it was. She stayed quiet, as her eyes focused on what was coming. All she could see was a glowing pair of red eyes. Quickly she grasped her rapier, as the large dog like creature slowly walked out. The smell was horrible, it smelled like dirt, and rotting flesh. She watched the wolf walk out slowly, it’s teeth bearing, as it sniffed the air. The dog stared at her, as it began to circle her. Hera followed it around in the circle, keeping her eye on the wolf. As she did, she heard further rustling from behind her. She turned quickly to see another wolf charging her.

She thrust her rapier at the charging dog, as the dog seemed to avoid the shot with preternatural speed, dodging to the left. Then another dog came out on the right. She slashed at the second one, using all of her speed and strength, but it was like the wolves could sense her movements, and avoided them with ease. Without the force, she knew she could not throw them off.

Then the original wolf began to charge. She only had one option. She waited, until it got to close, then lunged at it with her rapier. The rapier slid into the original wolf. The wound grew yellow, as several shots of lighting exited the body of the wolf. The glow in it’s eyes began to fade away.

Then she turned to her left and right, to see the other two wolves attacking. She reached down to her colt and pulled it out with all of the speed her hybrid body could muster. With one well placed shot, she hit the second wolf in the head. Unfortunately the third came at her. She spun around trying to slash at it with her rapier, cutting a large wound across it’s side. With one swift motion, the third wolf’s tail slashed at Hera, hitting her left hand, with the small razor tip ending at the tail. It hurt like hell, as she really pissed off took out her sword and shoved it into the body of the third wolf

Small orange lighting shot from the bullet wound in the second wolf, as well across the side of the third. It danced around the two, dancing in the energy of the soul.

Hera took a deep breath, as she closed her eyes. Then when she reopened them she could see the orchard once more. Hera felt something strange, as she looked down. Somehow her hand was cut, although her colt and rapier were still on her side. The blood slowly began to drip from her hand.

Hera slowly stood up, and looked at the beach. “I know what I have to do now” she said to herself quietly.

Atrox walked into his office, seeing another incarnation of himself busy linked to the computer core buried deep within the crust. He was going through the Ratakan files and the ones left by later Jedi and Sith to access and use them.

He had locked off all the terminals other than this one and coded in his own personal passwords to make sure nobody had complete access to the knowledge of the Builders. Of course, he had set up accounts for the other two Sith Lords but they only had partial access, they actually connected to a file in the Shipmind called The Archive that gave access to any of the Holocrons in the Library and access to Forbidden knowledge the students were not able to access due to dangers to themselves and general public safety. The Avatar was rummaging through the original Ratakan servers left behind to run the defensive field and to store their knowledge.

The Avatars, being of a single mind, were able to pass along information to each other without trying. What one knew, they all knew. It was not only unavoidable but actually desirable. It allowed each and every Avatar in the Academy to work together without missing a beat. Currently there were four. Two were in his office, one was just leaving the Garden after planting the tree for Hera, and the fourth was leaving the training area where he had left Kane to be taught by the other two students. He was nearby to intervene if they clashed too much.

Atrox walked into his meditation chamber and retrieved his prototype saber he was building. He made sure all the pieces were present; the only thing missing was the Foci Crystals and he was going to see if he can get what he wanted. He remember an invitation given to him on Konoha to visit and the weapon the lady escorting the elderly gentleman had a jewel he thought would be ideal. If they had one, there would be more to find and purchase or trade for. It is dishonorable to steal when you can get things other ways.

Returning to the door, he turned to himself and told the Avatar, “Let me know if you find anything interesting.” The ancient Sith Assassin ability he had located last week was going to be very interesting indeed, especially if Vader shows up.

Heading out the door and hearing it lock behind him; he went down to the hanger level deep underground. He climbed into his shuttle and greeted the Shipmind.

Hello

Sire, you are going someplace

Yes, I want you to take me to Mythrandir

May I ask why

You may, I seek parts for my new saber, besides, I was given an invitation a while back and I think it is time we made friends there

I understand

How soon before we are ready

I have just taken off, we are underway

Atrox looked to the view screen in time to see the craft dive into the water at the end of the launch bay and make the short trip out into the open ocean. From there the ship rose into the air, bursting out of the water sending a spray of sea foam high into the air and scaring several seabirds feeding upon the rich life in the waters. The ship sailed higher and higher until it left the atmosphere and slid into orbit. Nearby was his flagship, The Abomination gleaming in the sunlight. He knew that sunlight hid the Forge from sight but to his vision he could pick out the silhouette of the mammoth construction facility as it drew in plasma to be used by the factories to form the intricate machines needed by the NSO. The shuttle turned away from the sun and a wormhole opened. The shuttle inserted itself into the vortex and disappeared into the wormhole and it closed.

Atrox held the parrying blade as his student swung at him. Part of the training was to teach combat and even with his heavy suit on, the blows was deceptively easy to predict. Kane telegraphed his blows mentally as well as with his body language. He was not sure what Nightshade was teaching at her so called school but it certainly was not swordsmanship.

Kane gripped his hilt and made a simple feint to the right and spun Jedi-style to strike from the opposite direction. He found the practice sword waiting for him as he completed his turn and stumbled backwards in surprise that his blade did not strike true. Atrox stepped forward closing the space between the two not allowing him to detach from the duel. This placed Kane at a further disadvantage and his eyes widened at the descending wooden blade as it stopped bare millimeters from impact.

“You are good but you need to throw away all Nightshade taught you. She has installed weaknesses in your thoughts and your actions. I want you to forget these weaknesses and learn the proper way to…”

Atrox stopped speaking and looked to the east as if he heard something distant…



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In another place deep within the Academy, another Avatar of Atrox was teaching the fine points of meditation to the two students which arrived at the same time. The Ascendant had to learn control of a new form to allow it to use its Force abilities and the other needed to control his own battlerage. He was attempting to show both how to concentrate their minds and control their emotions, a basic ability needed in the New Sith Order.

“… you need to concentrate upon the object in question. Once you find it you gather all your emotion and lock it under your Control. You don’t let it out, you secure so it cannot escape. When you have that, the energy you are able to draw the energy you need from this, much like a battery. A car only uses the fuel it needs and does not burn it all at once. Your emotions are the same way. Use only what you need to power your abilities. You…”

Atrox stopped speaking and looked away from the students as if he heard something they could not…



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Deep within the garden, the Avatar was applying more energy to the Tree. He had went to Konoha for a seedpod and returned with his prize safely in hand. He had planted the seed and applied Force, Psionics, and even Magic to make the thing grow. He had included a couple hairs from Hera in with the pod so she would feel more at peace while resting under the safety of its branches.
He picked up the canister of specially mixed fertilizer he had created for the tree to recover from its initially enhanced growth spurt. He turned to begin walking away when he felt it.

“This can’t be good.”

Atrox hurried into the Academy.



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Several minutes later a single shuttle broke the surface of the ocean a short ways away from the Academy as it left the underwater launch bay. The ship rose quietly through the air and left the planet. Once in orbit, a wormhole opened and the ship disappeared.



NOTE: This Arc to be continued here:

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=568337