Adored Ancients

[Tendra Daklan]

The large AP-300 Asteroid Prospector loomed above orbit of the planet Korriban, having dispatched an old Mandalorian transport to the surface. The ship was cleared for landing, having to go through atmospheric traffic control before proceeding any further. Nothing unusual was on board, simply an old man and a small team of archaeologists. The red sands stretched far to the horizon as the transport descended, swinging through the air as it traveled towards a specific set of coordinates.

It was far out in the desolate desert, away from developed civilization on the planet. Abandoned structures jutted out from the depths of the land, the ship landing not too far away from the site of the ruins. The loading ramp dropped, allowing the men and women to exit and head towards their new discovery. With equipment in hand, they began to scan the area, taking samples from the structures while others brushed through the sand for hidden artifacts.

All but one was engaged in these activities, having become too old and wealthy to bother with them anymore. Yet, his fascination with the unknown would never cease to exist, for knowledge was indeed power. Pulling his thick armorweave cape around his body, Thetan lifted the hood as to keep stray sand particles from getting in his hair. "Lord Garonnin, I believe we may have found something," called a voice, after hours of searching.

[member="Dzuhol"]

 

[Dzuhol]

Dzuhol strained to hear the sands of Korriban sing. There was a legend among the students that you could hear the cries of those lost in battle when searching through ruins. He strode through what he made out to be some tomb. The stone slab seemed as if it had been carved out of a mountain side, and the mastery of detail so refined, it appeared as malleable as clay. A fearsome pair of vacant eyes stared back at him,it was as menacing as the gaze of a rancor as it poised to attack. A single bead of sweat arched its way from his brow and around his nose. He broke another glow-stick and it ignited in a thin burst of red incandescence. "A fools mistake." It was not a tomb, but was actually one of the many elaborate traps the engineers made to kill the unworthy. Though improbable, he expected a Peklo swarm to emerge from its depths. "What's this?" A collage of images assailed his young mind, that of many men and...... He makes his way to the surface. The eddies of the force moved in a way that he just knew company was around the corner. He silently cursed himself for having nothing more than a training saber to defend him with. Luckily, if it was a rival, they too would have the same weapon. Ironic. He felt this was of all days he wouldn't need to use it. [member="Thetan"]

 

[Tendra Daklan]

Standing over the crowd of awed scientists, Thetan's thick gray brow arched in curiosity, as one of the men carefully held an ancient item out to him. "It looks to be an old Sith-made lightsaber," one of them said, knowing the idea would please Thetan greatly. The hilt was dark and rusted, a jagged and ominous design that was most definitely hundreds of years old. "Take it on to the ship, immediately. Make sure it is not damaged," the old man replied quickly, believing there to be some truth to what had been said.

Out of the ten archaeologists, five of them withdrew to the large Mandalorian transport, quickly taking the hilt into the science-bay to secure it. The others began to theorize wildly about the origins of the weapon, and how it had ended up deep in the sands of the ruin site. Thetan's mind was elsewhere however, for something felt out of place. Something in the distance, over the nearby dunes that rose high to obscure the horizon. Instructing the team to stay put, Thetan ordered some security droids to watch over the site, as he departed across the vast terrain. Unsure of [member="Dzuhol"]'s exact location, he would continue until he felt he was closest, examining the area keenly.

 

[Dzuhol]

Dzuhol slowly makes his way towards the entrance of the structure.. Lesser men would've lost their composure here, the darkness seemed infinite and threatened to engulf the finite source of lighting he carried with him. It mattered little, Dzuhol's erected a wall of indomitable will that dared any being to catch him unawares, man or beast.
No such thing appeared.
He is now standing in what was once the grand entrance. The supporting pillars were so jagged and torn they gave off the impression that this structure was held together by nothing more than stalagmites. It was impossible, as it would mean there was a gap between the ground and ceiling, but in some places the gray columns had deteriorated so much that the pillars had simply slumped away from the base of the building.

One day it would fall.
A few paces forward and the unbidden fury of Korribans sun blasted him with a wave of heat. The ground appeared uneven, and objects lost their depth through the field of visible distortion caused by the blaze. But in the distance. . . A gathering of men and women were moving quickly in what he could only assume was excavation. Their movements were precise and professional. While admirable, Dzuhol was still wary of such a group, for now he'd simply observe them in the midst of their work. [member="Thetan"]

 

[Tendra Daklan]

"Strange, aren't they?" Thetan called out, looking down at [member="Dzuhol"] from a distance on a higher ground. The old man had developed the ability to suppress his force signature for certain amounts of time, and had managed to make his way around to the Pureblood's blindside. Even so, he hadn't showed any signs of obvious hostility. "The way they scramble to and fro, trying to salvage what was left of your ancient culture," the old man mused, smirking almost to himself as he looked away from the crimson youth.

"I used to be like them, before I came to a realization." He stated vaguely, glancing back towards Dzuhol from beneath his hood. His cape still clung to his physique, as the wind blew waves of sand about the remnants of ancient architecture. Slabs and pillars of stone jutting out from the sand, jagged and worn, truly a rare sight weathered by time itself. However, Thetan's attention was now entirely with the Pureblood, who he quickly deduced to be a new student of the Sith Academy. A truly lucky individual, for not even Thetan had trained in such an institute.

 

[Dzuhol]

Dzuohl was bamboozled at first. He hadn't even sensed Thetans approach, but this man's presence was no less real. He had to admit, [member="Thetan"] was good.. "They have been taught well; I assume all of this is your doing." Dzuhol could tell this was a man of nobility, these people moved for him, lived for him. Dzuhol turned to face Thetan, his face was wrinkled, and he did not so much as contrast the antiquity of these ruins but mirrored them.

A relic.

"Despite your appearance, you're a dangerous man. Tell me of this realization." The Sith Pure-Blood's attire was of a black academy uniform with armorweave integrated in its design. The obsidian chest-plate cast Thetan's reflection back at him in a field of distortion that matched the heat threading between them. Super-heated air pawed at the robes of the two imposing figures as they sized each-other up. The youths sulfuric gaze was ambitious, the human male would be able to sense that much.

 

[Tendra Daklan]

Thetan straightened his posture, making sure that he faced [member="Dzuhol"] as the Pureblood spoke. He had half expected the red Sith to begin spouting an ancient language, before attacking of course. This widened the smirk upon his face. "I realized that clinging to the ways of the past was a fool's endeavor, when I could embrace them in the now," Thetan explained, now acknowledging what the savage thought to be a smart quip. He would soon learn his place.

Pressing a button on his wrist communicator, the noble continued, "Ready the ship for launch, secure the cargo hold for a new specimen," Thetan then fell quiet, looking passed the Pureblood as a pair of IG-RM security droids appeared from across the sands. Lifting their agrinium plated arms, the droids began to access their weapons systems, targeting Dzuhol and opening fire with the built in wrist blasters at their disposable. They aimed for non-vital areas, attempting to cripple the academy student.

 

[Dzuhol]

Dzuhol fell into the same trap again and again. Underestimation. Now he stood face to face with a man that exploited his deficiencies, not once, but twice. Crimson bolts tore through the air and slammed into the Pure-Bloods armored torso. He groaned on the ground as his consciousness left him. He was lucky, if the shots had scored an unarmored portion of his body, he very well could have died.

He should've attacked when he had the chance. Now the crimson Pure-Blood was left with a few broken ribs and a nasty laceration on the side of his head.

He was at the mercy of [member="Thetan"] 's devices.

 

[Tendra Daklan]

As Thetan returned to the transport, the two droids approached [member="Dzuhol"], scooping him up from the ground and dragging him across the sands. The group would soon arrive back at the excavation site, where the last of the equipment was being brought on-board. The scientists were more than intrigued, watching in silent awe as the Pureblood was taken through the corridors of the ship. Placed in the cargo hold, the engines of the transport roared to life, ferrying the unconscious Sith off of his home-world in a matter of minutes. Once awake, the Sith found himself in a small holding cell, a energy screen barricading his path to freedom. On the other side was Thetan, who had just overseen the quick application of bacta to Dzuhol's wounds.

They were not as bad as he had expected them to be, the uniform he wore was as sturdy as Thetan's own cape. Nearby was an armed guard, stationed by the console that controlled the flow of power to the holding cells. It was impossible to tell how long he had been in the cell, or where he even was. "Soon, I will discover the secret your species possesses. I will leave you alone for now, for I have business to attend to in the science lab." With that, Thetan turned away, the door automatically sliding open to reveal a long corridor that led to many other rooms, with a turbolift at the end of the hall. Before the doors shut, Thetan could be seen taken an immediate right turn.

 

[Dzuhol]

Dzuhol felt nothing in his artificial stasis. He was simply a wanderer in an abyss of nothingness. Voices threatened to break him out of the clutches of oblivion but he wanted nothing to do with them. Fortunately for him, reality cared little for his wants and brought him to the land of the living. He glared at the human who had dared to attack him. Dzuhol was to be dismantled for Thetan 's benefit. He watched as the male had left him with those departing words, only to step off to deal with other matters which he surmised was also unpleasant.

An armed sentry stood his ground by what he surmised was the control array. Perhaps [member="Thetan"] had underestimated him as well, for he too could dabbled in the art of deception. "Peace is a lie, there is only passion." He thought. Soon he spoke, the language of the Sith was a harsh, guttural language, and the incantation he recited presaged disaster, if only the guard knew the meaning behind his words. Luckily, the crimson pure-blood muttered these words in a whisper, but the effect still managed to be the same.

He left his emotions feed him, this unrivaled fury he possessed for being caged like an animal was soon directed to the guard.
Timing was key.
It had to be impeccable.
He gestures with his right hand and an invisible force materializes around the crew-man, potentially. He aimed to throttle him against the control array, but made careful note of where the apparatus would release him. It was a simple matter, one dial would serve to break his captivity. If his attempt was successful, he'd attempt to take a few steps forward in order to finish the stunned ingrate.

 

[Tendra Daklan]

It had been a day since they left Korriban, the five hundred meter long mining cruiser on a journey towards a distant planet at lightspeed. Thetan had always enjoyed jumping to hyperspace, for there was an almost serene nature to traveling faster than anyone could see. Now, he could not wait for it to be over, eager to arrive at his destination. Stepping around a small gathering of scientists in the laboratory of the ship, Thetan examined the sealed display case which currently held the ancient lightsaber they had discovered within.

"It's now operational, Lord Garonnin. Though, I wonder why we did not leave it in its authentic st-' the man was cut short, as Thetan turned sharply to face him. "It is not your place nor your concern to know of my reasoning, doctor. Bring it to me after running one more series of tests." The room fell silent, the air of disappointment within thickening as the old noble stepped out. Heading towards the turbolift, he exited onto the command bridge, stopping by the viewport to watch the stretched stars go by.

Meanwhile in the detention block, the guard at the console was suddenly seized by an invisible force, slamming him against the terminal and accidentally triggering the release of the force fields. Pushing himself from against the wall, the guard did his best to turn quickly, only to do so right into [member="Dzuhol"]'s fist, which rendered him unconscious as he slumped onto the ground. Seven other individuals crept out from their cells, confused and unsure as to what had happened.

They wore dirty and ragged uniforms, their faces and hair covered in soot and dust. These miners had shown signs of defiance in the ore processing plant, confined to the holding cells for days at a time. Most were broken, though some showed a desire to instead break free. If the Pureblood were to leave the detention block, he would notice markings along the corridor walls that would guide him to key locations on the current level. There was the science bay, armory, barracks, the closest being the main security station.

 

[Dzuhol]

<Through passion, I gain strength.> Dzuhol's mind echoed the tenets of the Sith. He had no choice but surrender himself to the Dark-Side, for it would allow him to achieve his ultimate goal. "I've freed you.." The Sith-Pure blood stooped over to claim the blaster from the fallen guard. "Call it a second chance at life. . Obey my commands and you will make it out of here, potentially. Disobey me and you will know pain beyond your wildest imagination, but not by me." There was an unmistakable edge to the youth's voice, surely they knew the fate that would befall them now. They were merely guilty by association and something told him that Thetan wasn't very forgiving.

Dzuhol did not know how to operate the device beyond firing, but that was all he needed to know. He surmised that the safety was disabled because of the guards reaction to his approach. "Indeed." He only had a few shots before he had to reload, he thought about reaching into the guards possessions to steal his items and did just that. "Hmmm.." Heading to the barracks wasn't feasible because he knew there was nothing of use there besides a gathering of bodies. The science bay was also scratched off his list because he knew his captor was currently stationed there; Dzuhol was not ready to do battle with [member="Thetan"] just yet.

"The armory." He let his consciousness expand beyond the walls of the cargo bay in the attempt to assess the danger of that route. He knew those security Droids were on this ship, and a run in with them would prove to be most disadvantageous.

 

[Tendra Daklan]

Many of the miners were fed up with their pathetic lives, having signed a contract long ago that would never truly be fulfilled. House Garonnin was despicable, and they had been unfortunate victims of their cruelty. What little wages they earned were spent on the ship for survival, unable to be sent back to their families that were in need. Life from this point on was suffering, and so they decided it was no life at all. "We will follow you." With a new glint of determination in their previously broken eyes, the miners accepted [member="Dzuhol"]'s leadership, following him down the corridors and towards the armory. A small storage compartment in the detention block contained a spare blaster pistol and some ammunition, which one of the prisoners took before leaving.

The group began to make their way down the corridors, trying to cover as much distance as possible before they were seen. There were seven following the Pureblood, the one with the blaster making his way to the front. Once they reached the armory, a guard happened to be exiting, having just reported in to obtain a replacement blaster rifle. His eyes widened in terror as he spotted the crowd barreling towards him, a scream escaping his mouth as a red blaster bolt sailed through the air. He slumped to the ground, leaving two more guards within to be dealt with. After hearing the blaster shot they sprang into action, taking cover behind a few crates as another prisoner scooped up the rifle, opening fire.

 

[Dzuhol]

<Through strength, I gain power.> The prisoner leading the charge was mowed down by blaster fire which was all the same. If anything, his demise shielded the Pure-Blood from a mortal wound.

"Blast!" One of the prisoners shouted. "He wasn' meant to go like this."
"Quiet, fool." Dzuhol's hands were already on the move, but not for his blaster that fell to the ground, which he kicked in the direction of the supporting miners. His will encapsulated the containers, which he tried to influence so that they would topple on the firing assailants.

After this, Dzuhol dropped into a forward advancing roll whilst extending his arm forth to snap the blaster in his own possession from his fallen guard. A few bolts of suppressing fire would probably dissuade any return fire, but this was an armory. He didn't want to set off anything volatile.

"Kill them now, and watch our backs so we don't get pinned down."
[member="Thetan"]

 

[Tendra Daklan]

The head of security sat behind his desk, drinking a hot cup of caf while monitoring the several screens. He was exhausted, but Lord Garonnin paid him better than most on the ship. A horde of prisoners barreling down the hallways certainly brought him to attention, as he scrambled to identify the camera and any that might have a visual on the escapees location. Thetan was generous with the security chief, but a failure like this would get him thrown in the ore processing plants for good. Tapping a button on the console, the man spoke, "I want a security team to the armory, immediately! Prisoners have escaped the detention block, they are armed and dangerous!"

As long as he was able to keep the incident from reaching the command bridge, his skin would be safe. The stack of full metallic crates began to waver, toppling onto the guards that had taken cover behind them. The mere impact alone knocked them unconscious as the crates burst open ,scattering blaster pistols and carbines across the floor. Apparently a new shipment of weaponry had just arrived and had yet been processed into storage. Lucky for the group, for the main inventory of armor and blasters was locked down tightly. The men scooped up the firearms, finding another crate of power packs that they quickly loaded their weapons with. Two shots were fired into the unconscious guards, before two of the prisoners went to stand outside of the armory.

A team of five armored security officers strode through one end of the corridor, caught off guard by the sudden volley of blaster bolts sent their way. One of them were dropped as soon as they stepped through the archway, the others quickly taking cover behind the support beams that stuck out from the walls. "We've got company!" The miner called into the armory, a shriek of pain being heard shortly after as he fell. They would have to go around to reach the turbolifts, or fight passed the opposition with the limited equipment they had. The corridor opposite to the enemy forces led to the science lab and the main security station. A strange sensation emanated from the laboratory, like a presence that beckoned for him to approach. [member="Dzuhol"] would have to choose.

 

[Dzuhol]

Dzuhol had to follow the path of least resistance. A prolonged fire-fight would not end well for him, they were of a finite number whereas [member="Thetan"] had more people and technology at his disposal. With two men down, he had to think fast. Leaving them there would free him up to escaping on his own, but he risked being overcome by sheer numbers if he was detected. The second choice was to have his men come with him, but they would ultimately bring him down as they could not keep up with him.

<Through power, I gain victory.> "Hold them down, I'll return with more fire-power to assist." A lie, but that was simply the nature of his being. The strong devoured the weak, they were expendable, as they would soon find out.

"Two of you are to come with me."
He rounded the corner, the exchange of carbine fire echoing the sounds of destruction in his ears. The symphony of carnage was magnificent, he would feed from their anguish - a burst of speed allowed him to clear the distance fairly quickly, his back-up nearly failed to keep up.

He would have to seek out the lab.

 

[Tendra Daklan]

With their blasters in hand, the five miners followed [member="Dzuhol"] out of the armory, three taking up positions as they providing suppressing fire. Bolts of deadly energy soared through the corridors as fire was exchanged, the Pureblood and his two escorts successfully making it away from the battle. Death was all that could bring the prisoners freedom now, and they gladly accepted the chance to go down fighting. It was long before they were eliminated, thinning the security team to only two members. "We're going to need backup, he's headed towards the science lab."

Unarmed personnel and officials shrieked in terror as the trio sped down the corridors, being blasted into silence as they were passed. The metallic doors to the science laboratory slid open, those who worked within looking up to notice the out of place individuals. "You're not supposed to be here," one of the scientists spoke up, his false sense of authority propelling him to step forward and confront those who had barged in. A large station in the back of the lab could be seen, its transparisteel seal revealing the repaired lightsaber hilt within. It continued to beckon the Pureblood, dark energy leaking from it's new energy source.

 

[Dzuhol]

Dzuhol smiled menacingly. "Forgive me, I seem to have taken a wrong turn." His right hand rocketed forth in that of a back-hand strike. He aimed to knock the male unconscious for getting in his way. "Fear not, you are all men of science." The Sith-Pure-Blood took a step further, he could feel the dark side call out to him. Dark tendrils of invisible energy corralled his being in an embrace of power. He was drawn like a moth to a flame. "I will not kill you .. . " His cold eyes breach the transparisteel seal -- his gloved hand extends to pry the obstacle free. In mere seconds, he would have a genuine light-saber in his possession.

"I cannot say the same for my compatriots."
He would let the miners do what they wished, they had earned that right.

"Through victory, my chains will be broken. The Force will set me free."

He ignited the blade and the crimson synthetic crystal that powered the device hummed to life. The hissing energy would be sure to captivate everyone in the room. For once, the tides have changed; Dzuhol broke out in a fit of laughter over how things have swung in his favor.

It was time to go. His rage was like a spigot with pressurized water screaming to get through. He would have to save it, he needed all the strength possible to survive the next few moments. He'd take time to analyze the science wing. "Belay that order. . . One of these fortunate fools will tell me how to get off this wretched ship -- I might even let you live if you can disable this ships weapons grid." [member="Thetan"] would no doubt feel the ripples of disturbance in the force, it was only a matter of time . . . .

 

[Tendra Daklan]

The lead scientist who had challenged [member="Dzuhol"] was promptly smacked to the ground, the situation they were in donning on the team as they slowly backed away. A wave of relief washed over them as they listened to the Pureblood's words, before waves of blaster bolt fire ripped through their bodies in a matter of seconds. The miners sought only revenge, the hatred in their hearts great for those who had kept them captive. Only one was left standing, as per Dzuhol's order. The woman trembled in the face of fear, trying to gather her words in hopes that they would spare her from death.

"T-The hangar bay is on the lowest level, you can only disable the weapons system from the command bridge or main engineering," she began, knowing that what she had said probably wasn't enough. "There are also escape pods! Please!" A flash of red light filled the room, the miner lowering his weapon as the scientist crumpled to the ground. Still behind his desk, the security chief's mouth hung agape as he watched the scene unfold, another team already on their way towards the science lab. They then split up, regrouping with the other security officers in order to bolster their numbers and box the Sith in.

On the command bridge, Thetan turned his head to look over his shoulder, a brief wave of fear running through his being. He half expected to be cut down in that instant, snapping back to reality as he realized what was going on. Leaving the deck, Thetan descended down the turbolift, exiting on the level of the detention cell. A few bodies were littered here and there, confirming his suspicion as he headed towards the security station.

 

[Dzuhol]

Dzuhol had all the information he needed. Fortunately, the female would live for but a few more minutes. "Thank you for your cooperation. You will come with us just in case I have further need of your services. If things are not you say, we will all die together. " These fear tactics would serve the him well, he tested the female scientists allegiance with his words. He planned to bring her with them to ensure that every possible precaution was taken to secure their escape. It would be a mistake to leave her alive, even more of a mistake to leave her here now that she knew his plan.


"We must move swiftly." The Sith pulled his midnight black hood over his head. The only thing visible behind the shroud of darkness were his smoldering yellow eyes. The red line of a saber positioned itself into a frontal guard, he knew he they would be swarmed if he did not act quickly. "Shoot her left leg and then carry her. Do not kill her. We need this woman if we are to survive."

Thus they embark for the main engineering room.
[member="Thetan"]