A Blood Trail

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Joon"]

The difficulty of being a Sith really came down to one simple thing; trust.

As a Sith, Pureblood or otherwise, you had power. Strength in the force, influence in politics, half a dozen different aspects of power that allowed you to do things Jedi could not. Yet there was one component missing from all of that, trust. A Sith did not know loyalty, did not know friendship or love.

Anyone could be an enemy at any time. That was the simple fact of being a Sith, how they worked. Even his closest allies, Sera and Neesa, could turn on him tomorrow.

The only assurance that one had was the idea of being useful. As long as you were useful to someone, as long as they could get something out of you, then they wouldn't kill you. That was the assumption Vrak had worked under for all his life, and it would work here. Slowly he turned away from the girl, a smile pulling at his lips.

”Who ever said I was alone?” Vrak smiled as he turned and began to walk away, motioning for the girl to follow.

He had an Empire of his own to build after all.

 

[Connor Harrison]

As the Sith walked away, Joon deliberated. She looked down at the lifeless corpse, and then back to the evident confidence of the red-skin, and smiled as she followed.

”My apologies, I am sure you have a whole army of followers.”

She ambled behind, one foot over the other, arms crossed; feeling much more accepted she could be there even following his little outburst.

”So what name do you go under. Or is that as secret as your motives too?”

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Joon"]

She may have said the words sarcastically, but it was more or less true.

Though Vrak knew his forces did not match some, he did have a considerable following, or rather, network of allies that would allow him to fulfill his plans. Most of them were well trained and educated, though a few lacked certain...more desirable qualities. He frowned for a moment, realizing that it did not matter.

"You may call me Vrak." The Pureblood said as he wandered through the archway of the door, Rain dripping along the broken edges of the roof above them.

He didn't ask for her name.

"The spike." He began as they headed deeper into the ruins. "Is an artifact from my homeworld. A device that acts similar to Sith Poison."

That was the easiest way to describe it. "It weakens those of the light, not corrupting them, but simply sapping their strength."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Joon stayed behind Vrak, but close enough to his side for their conversation to be respectful of each other.

”I see. So what are you, an alchemist of sorts or a scientist? My old Master was into that sort of practice; using tools and weapons to devastating effect without going for the kill.”

She looked ahead into the fortress and noted the decay of it all, but also how strong it still looked regardless.

”If you ask me it’s not worth it when you can simply take a life and be done with it. Cut down your enemies, not play tricks with them and waste your time.”

Joon looked at Vrak side-on, taking in his features and how she’d never seen a creature – person? – like him before. And away from the bravado, she was as curious as ever.

”May I ask where you are from, Vrak? I’ve never seen someone like you before. In looks I mean.”

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Joon"]

"My people are rare." There was a reason for that of course, Purebloods had been driven right to the edge of extinction by the Jedi thousands of years ago. His people had been utterly decimated in a genocide of untold proportions. There had been good reason for it of course, Purebloods had a more natural connection to the darkside, and that alone made them more dangerous than most. Extreme measures had been called for, and eventually taken.

"I am Sith." He told her. "True Sith."

Whether or not she knew of Purebloods didn't really matter all that much, she would learn in time. The rain continued to drip down from the broken edges of the roof, pooling into puddles along the edges of the hall and all around them as they walked.

"The Spike isn't for torture." Vrak had a distaste for that sort of thing. Sometimes it was necessary, but most of the time it was a simple waste.

"It's to weaken." An important distinction. "It allows one to breach the mind of the victim more easily."

 

[Connor Harrison]

She sidestepped a large puddle as Vrak spoke.

”I understand the reason to weaken, and draw from them – that makes sense. Pull them apart bit by bit to weaken their resolve and remind them of just what they are in the grand scheme of things, making it easy to get what you need.”

A few droplets of rain ran down over her head, matting strands of her hair, but she didn’t falter as she was now side by side with the Sith.

”What do you mean a true Sith? And your people? What sort of people are you? Are you one born from the Dark Side itself?”

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Joon"]

They wandered down the winding halls, his eyes slowly moving over the stone faces of nearby statues. He was searching for something in particular, looking for one of the great Marble Carvings that he had seen within the mind of the Jedi. He frowned slightly as they kept walking, only half focusing on her. The Spike was still in his hand, crusted with the slowly drying blood of the man whose very mind he had torn into pieces. They turned once more as Vrak explained himself.

"We are Purebloods." He told her.

She hadn't ever heard of them. That fact wasn't too surprising. His people were rare enough in the galaxy, he only had four confirmed reports of Purebloods not from Athiss and most of them were now either dead or disappeared.

"The first Sith." He told her. "The first to use the darkside, the first to Master it, and the only ones who truly understand it."

Vrak stopped, looking down at the young woman. "Our relationship with the darkside is symbiotic. It nurtures us, strengthens us, sustains us. From birth to death."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Joon was looking around with him, for what, however, she didn’t know. But the architecture of the temple was pleasing. Mixed with the erosion and decay, it added a great amount of history to where they were, which meant this was a place of importance for sure. But now Vrak was after something, and she was eager to find out what and why.

”Pureblood.”

With a curious frown, she turned to him, as he was looking around.

”Natural or genetically created? I mean, if you are the first Sith, where did you come from? Your parents were not Sith then, or were you harvested from Sith genetics. I am.” There was pride in her voice. ”Jedi and Sith genetics which have left me nothing but unstable, which I embrace and use to push me to achieving my goal and supporting the Dark SIde.”

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Joon"]

He rounded on the girl, an angry snarl pulling on his lips. ”We were not made.”

It was a point of Pride for Purebloods that they had pure Sith ancestry. Most had some Human in them of course from centuries of interbreeding, but some, like Vrak, were almost entirely Pureblood. It came from simple planning, ensuring that the offspring always came from Pure Sith, the others being cast aside as little more than waste.

Vrak had lost many siblings that way.

”We are Sith.” His voice was even now, though anger still flared through him. ”Born thousands of years ago in the sands of Korriban. We were not experiments. We were not made.”

Again that pride. ”We are a natural embodiment of the darkside. A piece of it made whole and given thought.”

That was what the ancient texts claimed anyway.

”We are Sith by nature, born for power and understanding.” It was the best way to explain it really. Vrak wasn't some kind of experiment, he was one of the last real Sith left.

 

[Connor Harrison]

The tone in his voice and snarl crossing his face wasn’t welcome, and Joon stood tall and puffed herself out as he made his point. Her chest out, head a little high, eyes tight. While what he said made sense, she already saw some cracks.

”True Sith with short tempers,” she scoffed. ”If a question like that gets you so defensive, it sounds like you are worried your line of Sith are dying out. You need all the allies you can get.”

Walking past him without looking, she continued to gaze at the patterns and imagery etched into the walls, hand trailing across it, but not really caring about the décor.

”I am an experiment. I am made for one thing – to destroy the Jedi, and so I can do that for you if you give me your knowledge. I have no desire for anything but that, because it’s what I was made for.” She glanced to him. ”I’m the last of my kind.”

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Joon"]

The sad truth of it was of course that Purebloods were dying out.

There wasn't really any stopping it at this point. The population was too small to ever really regrow, and although there was yet chance for a few to rule, Vrak knew his people would never be quite as dominant as they once were. It was simple logistics, facts that even the most narcissistic of his kind could not ignore. The Sith frowned for a moment, then turned away as he walked past her.

”Understand that betrayal will end in a fate worse than death.” A few had already experienced this, more would before the end.

Vrak didnt give Her a chance to reply however.

”Knowledge is the most important thing to fighting Jedi.” This was an obvious truth. ”Not strength in the force, not guile or stealth. Knowledge. It is far more valuable to know your enemy and his allies than to meet them in battle.”

He glanced at her. ”True victory is won by never lifting a finger.”

 

[Connor Harrison]

The clone nodded. Sometimes, it paid in taking a risk here or there. Ayra had done it, so why shouldn’t she.

”Don’t lift a finger then. I’ll do that. I’m really not adverse to taking a life or ruining someone’s life. I’ll cut them down if they stand before us or question the power of the Dark Side and the Sith – and not the Sith who base their values on nothingness. Sith who, like you, understand the Dark Side and the truth behind real power.”

She walked around him, enjoying the fact she hadn’t balked or come across, as she once feared, useless.

”You can uncover the knowledge, I won’t stand in your way. But if you can do all that with just this,” she pointed down to the spike in his hand and smiled, ”then think what you can do with my support, and the support of others. I don’t want to take anything from you. I simply have a job to do, and need to guide to do it for.”

Joon stepped back, side on to Vrak and looked him up and down.

”Well?”

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Joon"]

He considered for a moment more.

Trust did not come easily for Vrak, it didn't come easily for any Sith, much less a Pureblood. The very nature of the darkside of the force was based around betrayal. Taking in the knowledge that you could and then destroying the source so that no one else could benefit from it. That was one of the reasons why the Sith so often fell, infighting and hoarding of knowledge. He frowned for a moment more and then regarded the girl, a decision finally being made.

"Very well." There would be much to teach, much to give.

A part of him thought this decision might have been foolish, but if the girl betrayed him he could always just kill her.

"Follow me." He still needed what he came for after all. "When the Jedi was weakened I tore his memories from his mind."

A cruel act that would have left him a blithering idiot on the best of days. "His Order was responsible for keeping something hidden here. I have an interest in that something. It will benefit you in the long run if I can attain it."

Now that she was learning from him.

 

[Connor Harrison]

With a smile, feeling like she had taken her first step, Joon nodded to the Pureblood.

”I am not Sith. I will not betray you. Loyalty is in my blood, and I know more than anyone what it stands for.”

She fell in beside him.

”You have my word. So, please share what you are looking for? And what did you see ripping out that man's mind.”

The power to do that must have been marvelous; to feel and have that control over the mind of another and taking what you wanted.

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Joon"]

Vrak didn't say whether he believed her, mostly because he didn't.

Either she would betray him in the end or she would not, it hardly mattered to him. Vrak would be prepared for either outcome, just as he was with Neesa, just as he was with Seraphina. A man surrounded by Assassins had to take care after all.

"They are schematics." He told her simply. "Designs imprinted upon a datacron."

Long ago his people had been famed for the creation of Artifacts, powerful and unique devices that could aid a warrior in a fight. Many of those techniques had been lost over the centuries, and although Vrak himself was no alchemist he had plenty of those who were. "I wish to craft what is upon those designs."

The greater advantage his servants had the better.

"The Jedi hid them, that is what I took from the boys mind." He turned down a hallway that seemingly ended just a few meters later.

 

[Connor Harrison]

”I see,” Joon said as she followed. ”I’m betting some piece of technology or vehicle?”

As they turned, the pair slowed and it looked like there were no more places to go. She looked around, and felt a pang of anger hit – what if he was leading her away to attack her. Joon turned to Vrak.

”Well, now what?”

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Joon"]

"Not technology." That was an incorrect way of describing SIth artifacts. The devices were more...mystical in nature than they were technological. They didn't work with electronics, batteries, or even wires. They were something else entirely.

"Something similar." He told the girl as he stepped forward. For a second he observed the wall, his eyes slowly rounding over the odd runes carved deep into the rock. He smiled slightly and slowly reached up, his finger pressing against the runes. He rotated one of them, slowly turning it to the right. "Artifacts of the Sith. Devices meant to enhance and shield the wearer."

He turned another one of the symbols, the images slowly beginning to line up.

"Patience." Vrak said to her as he turned the last symbol.

There was a slight rumble, and then the wall before them simply began to fade away.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Joon looked from Vrak to the runes and back again, as he worked his magic.

She had heard about items that didn't rely on technology to work or function, some sort of relics and tools that were created and fused directly by the Force. However, she had never seen one.

As the wall began to fade away before her eyes, she had to blink as it looked like a disorientating illusion. Eyes wide open, she adjusted to the shift, a little bit of soil and stone crumbling away as the wall seemed to melt into the fortess.

Curiously, she took a step forward and glanced around where the wall had been, and then she felt a cool air wrap around her. She didn't know if it was the allure of the Force or simply wind from below, but it was soothing.

[member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

[member="Joon"]

There were many aspects of the force that most would have thought impossible. Illusions, great shows of strength, bending the minds of others, all of these techniques could be achieved with a small amount of training, but of course even the most learned non force user would be startled by what some of the old Masters could achieve.

Vrak stepped forward, following after Joon.

The room beyond the wall was, as he had expected, mostly bare. There was nothing of any real note hidden behind the illusion, nothing save for another long and winding corridor. Annoyance flashed Across the Sith Lord's face but slowly he shook his head and stepped forward.

His Ancestors always liked to play these games.

"Watch for traps." He told her quietly as they journeyed forward into the dark.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Joon drew her hand across the wall, but as Vrak spoke, she froze. Her eyes moved first, then her head, turning to him.

”Traps?”

Looking around the empty room, she took slow steps forward, one over the other, watching her footing.

As she stepped over a slab, part of it depressed. Her eyes went wide, and she froze.

”The floor,” she hissed, eyes wide, ”it's dropped! The floor! Look!!”

She waggled her hand towards where her right boot was slightly angled down in the stone floor, body frozen.

Trap, or simply corrosive flooring? She was too scared to move.

[member="Vrak Nashar"]