[Brink Of Destruction]

[Maleus]

Tzzzzzzz. ​The crackling of sizzled flesh made a distinct noise, like meat being dropped into a pan filled with oil.... That raspy crackle was in itself to scare animals away for even they knew of the heats scorn...

But that did not help Maleus, the medical team worked with adept swiftness to recover his vitals. Sadly, there was no time for sedatives and so they continued to to cauterize the wound that rested above his heart... "AHH!!" He writhed in pain as they sent their tools into his body, insertion here, laceration there..

Soon it became impossible to differentiate the levels of pain he was going through, he simply let it happen. "Hold him still..." A drill bore into his chest cavity, he screamed as they attempted to implant an artificial pace maker onto the first heart.. A tiny jolt of electricity ran through the organ causing it to pulsate to life, sadly it was momentary.

"Again!" His body rocked in loose spams as they continued to energize his body with hundreds of volts of electricity. A high pitched whine emanated from the conductors of his pacemaker as they continued yet again to administer another charge.

"AGAIN"

"Beep...Beep....Beep...Beep...Beep.." The machine that was used to monitor his heart picked jumped to life as it got numerous readings.
There was a ten second pause between intervals which was not good.. The organ had seen irreparable damage, it was highly unlikely it would become fully functional ever again.. Still, it was good to breathe the essence of life back into ones damaged tissues...

[member="Darth Ferus"] . "Mi-Lord... We were successful in reviving the young Sith. Though we are still not certain how much damage has actually been done to his body.. Only time will tell what becomes of him.."

 

[Darth Ferus]

The icy blue gaze of Ferus watched on, unblinking. The images of [member="Maleus"] choosing to take his own life rather then fail still played through his head. While commendable, the Darth still had use for the boy. Yet, there was a punishment needed. He waved over a droid, his own personal droid who tended his mechanics, and pointed directly for the prone figure.

"Remove that pace maker. Leave the hole open. We're going to replace his two hearts with one artificial one. The hole will serve as a reminder, that he chooses to live in fear." This was far from the first time Ferus had chosen to modify his students for their failure. Not a single soldier spoke up to defend the boy, but they all knew what was going to happen. No sedation, mind numbing pain. He would be forced through an extreme, if only to make him stronger.

The soldiers held the boys figure down as the droid loomed over him, clawed hands slowly reaching down to begin. Ferus would watch on, even as the soldiers turned their gaze, adverting the grotesque display of medicinal practice.

 

[Maleus]

"No... Wait..!!! PLEASE!!!!" His plea fell upon deaf ears. Man and woman would strap the already weakened Zabrak into place. They would have to open his entire chest cavity so they could insert the artificial heart into his body. It would be a most unpleasant experience.

One of the medical staff produced a sterile scalpel, he'd slide the blade around in a circle blood seeped from the orifices of his chest. He'd foam at the mouth as they forced his dermis open to reveal his ribs skeletal structure. Various portions of his heart throbbed as his atrium was severed under the watchful guise of the surgeon. His hands moved swiftly, his unflinching face was focused on the task at hand, he cared not what kind of pain Maleus would undergo.. Rather him than me. He thought to himself...

With a slight tug, they'd pull his beating heart from his body, bodily fluids saturated the floor, saturated him, the pain was insurmountable , he'd cry, he'd beg.... There would be no solace, no relief, nothing...

Next, they would attend to his other heart that remained unscathed. "I'll kill you! I'll kill you ALL!!!!" They'd slash at his rib cavity with an energy saw, the bone came away easy enough.... "Wait... We have to implant the other heart before we remove this one, otherwise he could fall into a coma and never recover."

"No, there isn't enough time, we must continue with the procedure."
They'd root into his insides reaching for the branch of veins that connected freely throughout his circulatory system. They'd sever the ties, he'd cease trashing shortly thereafter. Men worked in theatrical unison as they worked feverishly to implant the artificial heart. The base of the emitter was connected to his branching arteries, a blue radiance stood in the place of the hearts center..

Maleus was dead but his heart wasn't, it would revive him...

The conductors at it's base buzzed as a viscous jolt rocked his body, he remained unresponsive... "WORK! WORK!" The staff would exclaim. Again the artificial heart hummed with a purpose as it began to push blood throughout his circular system..

​He woke, the pain unfathomable, his rage tangible, his mind livid, his body weak.. His future bleak.. He'd open those stormy eyes and the ship would rock...

"AHH!!!"

The staff were sent flying as a wave of kinetic energy bounded from the enraged conduit, the medical apparatus that were connected to his person were ripped off....
And for a second he'd look to his master with anger..... Soon, he passed out, and the staff would attend to the task of sewing his wound shut. It was a success.

Unfortunately this device would mark the day when his master had let his genuine displeasure about his actions press him into administering consequences. That steel cast that burned with a tempest under his breast would be a reminder of his failure... His fear....
[member="Darth Ferus"]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6bEs3dxjPg

 

[Darth Ferus]

There was a blast, made of pure hate. One could almost call it a Force Scream. Almost. Ferus would stand still, even as the blast of the force washed over his form. His dark cloak would billow around him, forced to move from the raw energy coursing outwards. But as soon as it began, it ended. [member="Maleus"] 's angry glare would not go unnoticed however, but before it could be addressed the boy had fallen.

"Be sure he's able to stand by the time we make it back to the academy. I have much to teach him." The Darth would leave the room, leaving the medics to tend to the boy. They would do so with earnest, not wanting to face the consequences should they be unable to. And there wasn't much time for them to succeed.

 

[Maleus]

With tissues mended and bones reforged the medical staff heaved a sigh of relief... There was one problem, it was in fact temporary, but he had to take medication... At first everything seemed alright but slowly and surely his body started to reject the organ. This foreign mass was attacked by his white blood cells, to no avail, it would not fall for it was metal... Nonetheless this weakened him, his breaths were but laborious wisps.

That was before he was able to come around.. He pictured his masters still form, his cloak flapped violently from his body.... He robbed him.... He stole his heart, literally....


Day by day they repaired him.. Day by day he would seethe...
Darth Ferus

 

[Darth Ferus]

The trip back to the temple would take almost a week. Not because of any malfunction, but because the pilots wanted to make sure [member="Maleus"] would be functioning before then. Ferus was deep in a meditation, having locked his conscious away, waiting for the ship to descend. It was then the ship actually did, landing once more in the Sith temple itself. The icy blue yes of the Darth's would open then, and he would stand, moving his way back into the other room.

"Tell me. Can he stand?"

 

[Maleus]

"......" Was the response of the medical staff.. "Yes... But something is different, he's.. Well, perhaps you should see for yourself.." The man ushered [member="Darth Ferus"] into the room...
​There stood the Acolyte in meditation, his body remained still as if he was not aware of their presence, but he was in fact aware. "You ripped my heart from my body.." He'd force himself to his feet, his eyes defiant, rebellious, suddenly though his gaze grew soft... Knowing their difference in power, he could do nothing but submit.

"M-Master..."
He grit his teeth with such arid potency that his gums bled, the capillaries in his eyes burst, the rich sanguine ran down his eyes and mouth coming to a stop at his chin...
"I am at your command.." He'd whisper.


Darth Ferus

 

[Darth Ferus]

"No different then my master had done to me. And look at how powerful I am now." He waved the boy over, to follow him. [member="Maleus"]'s change was interesting, but it wasn't enough. Still the boy needed to learn how to turn fear into a weapon, not cower under it. And Ferus would teach the boy. He stepped away then, moving through the ship and off, right into the Sith hanger. The troopers and deckhands stationed there would stop what ever it was they were doing, offering the New Order salute to not only Ferus, but the boy as well.

There was respect for those chosen by Darth Ferus. For those who became his apprentice, no matter weak they seemed to be. Whats more, there was an air of dread, of fear. Ferus was unforgiving, and more often then not those who learned under him died, forced through many similar medical processes that Maleus himself was put through. The boy was not allowed to wear a shirt, instead he would have to bare the scares and the mechanical device in his chest just like Ferus had to do.

Murmurs around the dock could be heard once they left it. They were soft, yet easily heard by those who were listening.

"Did you see the hole in his chest?"
"That boy, he was chosen wasn't he?"
"The fact he survived.."

Comments continued on, even as they went through the temple. Other acolytes would step away, none braving either Ferus or Maleus. The comments would linger until Ferus entered an empty training room, and the door would only close behind Maleus, leaving them both in silence.

"You are a monster now, my apprentice. Those in the New Order will never look at you the same again. You have been marked, chosen. You will become stronger then the others. Stronger until you will become a perfect weapon. None will be able to stand in your way."

​Ferus turned then, clasping his hands behind his back as he watched his apprentice. He was quiet for a time, simply studying the boy before speaking up.

"I had made a weapon for Ballen-ist, a.. Friend of yours. I shall make you the same if you wish. Choose your weaponry, and we shall begin your teachings."

 

[Maleus]

"Friend..." Maleus chuckled... "He would rather see my body impaled on a stake for others to see. He drew his form upright, he'd scan the array of weapons that lay at his feet. He was a man of basic taste, he wanted something sturdy, and strong. He did not enjoy weapons with a fanciful allure or aesthetic glow, no, he enjoyed the most basic weapons.

"Master.. Give me the most basic of items and I shall use it to kill a thousand men.." Tough words from someone who just recently tried to end his life while in battle. But he did seem genuine. He reached for a standard light-saber.

His eyes turned to his master as he said this, his bare chest having drifted forward to reveal the radiant beauty of his artificial heart. "A blade may break a thousand times, but strength will remain forever.

Darth Ferus

 

[Darth Ferus]

There was a grin now on Ferus's face as he watched [member="Maleus"] lift his blade of choosing. A basic saber, yes, but even the most basic of an item can kill. Just as the boy said. But his skills weren't at that level yet, so for now, he would leave him with the saber. Soon he would test his promise.

"You have already learned how to harness your aggression without it controlling you, now I will teach you a form to play off of it. A form to harness that raw strength and play perfectly to the fact you can still think. Juyo, the aggression form."

 

[Maleus]

Eyes widened in surprise as his master speak of Juyo, it was the standard of the Sith, the user had learned this form as a rite of passage. A trial by fire, many had fallen victim to it's power, for the user needed finesse, strength.... Ability... Anger...
He'd nod to his teacher, he knew what would come next... There would be battle...
"I understand my master.."
He readied his body, this would be one of the hardest things he had done yet... There would no room for weakness, for failure, he could already see in his masters eyes.. He would not given a second chance should he fail..
[member="Darth Ferus"]


Darth Ferus

 

[Ballen-Ist]

After waiting for several minutes, the docking bay door's would open with a wheeze, it's air tight lock disengaging to open with a mechanical hum. A strange feeling would run through the boy as he stood still, his gazed directed towards the transport that began to lower towards the landing pad. The ship would touch down, it's landing gears buckling under the ship's weight. Standing still, the young Sith could not help but feel angry. His hatred flowed through out him, as if it were his own blood. It was strange, but it were as if he could sense the darkness that eminated from on board the ship, it most likely being [member="Darth Ferus"]. A twinge in the back of his mind told him otherwise, though. Turning swiftly, the boy would walk away from the ship, deciding not to greet his "master." Walking away from the ship, the young boy would begin to attempt and blend in with the crowds, his academy uniform being simply one out of the hundreds. Whispers would begin to fill the air as all of the attention within the area was directed towards the Zabrakian duo. Clenching his gloved hands, Ballen-Ist's fists would remain still at his side, trembling in anger. He was chosen? So what if he survived? [member="Maleus"] was weak, unworthy of being Ferus' apprentice. Watching the two stroll out of the hangar area, a large scowl would be adorned on the red skinned boy's face as he turned, storming off.

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Then begin." Deus came free of it's sheath, held lightly in both hands of the elder Zabrak. One foot slid slightly to the side, and with a slight bending of his knees Ferus adopted his defense stance. The icy globs that were his eyes would never leave the form of [member="Maleus"] , simply waiting for the boy to make the first move. This was his test after all.

 

[Maleus]

Determination clung to the edges of his visage, his muscles tightened as he readied his blade. A line of crimson slid from the opening of his hilt, the crackling plasma stirred with a reckoning. Channeling his rage into his body, he moved, his strikes were filled with anger... His heart... His failures.. All of them stored into the confines of his soul, bottled up, until.... Until he would need them, and it was that time..
He would of course need this in order to use the swift and demanding blows that Juyo employed. This would not be easy.


Darth Ferus

 

[Darth Ferus]

A hand would slip from the hilt of Deus and Ferus would opt to defend with his one hand. The robotic limb clapped down along the hilt, holding it in a tight grip. This was the test, could [member="Maleus"] disarm him? There were others that could, but the Darth was weaker then. Now, now was different. But the boy had an advantage the others didn't, the ability to channel his rage into his attacks, and still focus, aim. Quickly the elder Zabrak found himself sliding backwards, having t put in much more effort then he expected to knock the strikes away, evade the ones he couldn't.

Yet all the while he had a smile. A grin to symbolize his enjoyment. Maleus was becoming a much better apprentice then he himself might even understand. And the concept thrilled Ferus.

 

[Maleus]

Watched as his master literally wove through his onslaught. A wave of crimson lines were left in the air due to the speed that he was moving. "AH!" His grip tightened around the base of his hilt, then as he drove his weight into the balls of his feet he'd drive down with his arms. It was reminiscent of a man who was attempting to bash through someones defenses. The entirety of his blows were directed towards over-head strikes.

Just as quickly he'd weave the blade in a loop over his body, as the blade picked up momentum he'd use it to swing the tip of the blade towards his masters torso. His muscles burned defiantly with each thrust, each swing.. But he fight through it, he'd turn fatigue into anger, and then he'd use that anger and channel into his strikes. He showed no signs of slowing down anytime soon, that is unless [member="Darth Ferus"] decided to counter strike, in which case he'd be in trouble.

 

[Darth Ferus]

[member="Maleus"] would find Ferus slowly working his way back more, still catching his attacks. But he was off balance, it becoming harder and harder to deflect the rage full aspirants attacks. With a grit of his teeth he would press on, determined to fully test the boy as best as he could, and then it happened. A horizontal strike would tear the purple burning blade free from his metallic grasp, causing the blade itself to soar through the air and embed itself into a wall.

With a click up his tongue the elder Zabrak lept backwards, away from the boy, a single hand held up.

"Enough. You have proven your understanding.

 

[Maleus]

The rise and fall of his chest displayed the strain of the staccato barrages he had directed towards his master. The crimson cylinder slowly retracted into itself, should it be needed to called on another day it would be ready.
His body was without clothing, he could feel the barren hole in his chest, it was a reminder of his failure. Sweat coiled down over the opening, it slowly trickled down to the blue sphere that remained visible under his breast.
"Juyo.."
[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

The Zabrak nodded once before turning on a heel, already reaching out through the Force to call his blade back to his hand. In the same motion as him catching it, he flipped it around once, sheathing the burning blade and ceasing the purple glow. Without looking back he would leave, his voice calling out once more.

"Practice on some droids if you must. You have proven a basic understanding, and that is all I will show you. For now." And with that the Darth left his apprentice, not so much bothering to look behind him. [member="Maleus"] would have to fend for himself for a bit, if only to learn more about Juyo.

 

[Maleus]

Having given a slight nod knowing his master had already turned his back he would venture deeper into the branching nexus of rooms and corridors until he reached the training room. It stood in the place of an octagon. Padded walls and artificial men stood erect. They both had a purpose and should he need them, they would aid him in his training. Calling on the saber that was adhered to his metallic strips that rested on his hips it would fly into his hand..

His grip tightened, the hilt bore a chrome finish which was cast in a vivid red as his blade was ignited. Extending it at arms length he'd await for the robotic sentinels to pulse to life. And came they did, they bore energized electro-rods, they contained enough energy to knock out a grown man, even a simple scratch could do the trick.

He'd breathe in through his flared nostrils, his sulfuric eyes opened and then he let loose. The first two came from behind, he'd accelerate himself forward towards the wall, soon he was at the walls surface, he'd kick off it's surface and then turn a full one hundred and eighty degrees, all the while he extended his blade in their direction. Electricity crackled from their heads as they were diffused with ease.

Two more droids would come straight towards him, it'd feign right causing him to him to move towards his left. The robot twirled the staff towards his current direction, a shroud of electricity smashed into his person. The energy traversed into his chest, his artificial heart worked viciously to compensate for the over-charge. A disturbance in the electromagnetic field caused him to gasp.

The blade revolved around his hand quickly as he slashed the first droid, knowing he wouldn't have enough time to attack the second, he'd shoot off into the sky above, extending his free hand towards the second, it was pulled into his embrace, as it neared his person he'd drive his saber into it's head. An explosion washed through the area sending him farther into the air. Two more jumped from the shadows, this time they wielded standard light-sabers. This was getting dangerous, he would have to be on his game.

Their programming gave them an edge in terms of the task at hand, they would not hesitate, and they would not fear getting hit. They would throw their bodies into a strike, as long as they would be guaranteed a hit they would sacrifice themselves willingly.

It was then Maleus realized one of the short-comings of Juyo, it employed a series of aggressive and acrobatic strikes meant to shred it's target to pieces. It was a purely offensive form, when it came to defense it was poor. He drew his blade towards the robot in the hopes of surmising a reflexive parry, instead the robot attacked his blade with so much force it was ripped from his hand. The second robot attack from behind, he'd drop into a duck causing the second robot to smash into the first.

Once again he'd call upon his saber and jab the blade at it's legs, the right leg fissures under it's own weight and exploded into bits. He'd break into a spin which gave him enough momentum to send the robots head flying.

"Tired..."
These things just kept coming, it seemed as if there was no end. Again and again they would attack, he would strike them down but only more would come.. The nerve, these droids didn't know when to stay down.. The fact of the matter was he was in a pretty precarious situation, he was subject to injury and or tiring. These robots were not tied down under the same rules of morality and imperfection. The only way they would be defeated was by damaging them to the point where they would cease to function.

A jet of air exploded from the floor-boards causing him to fly into the air, two more droids popped up from their cover with blasters in tote. An intense burning struck the edge of his shoulder as he noticed he had been grazed. Whilst in the air, it left him vulnerable, especially to blaster fire. All the while the second droid was starting to line it's sight with his form. He would act, extending his hand towards the robot the gun was stripped from it's hand. At the same time he'd throw his saber towards it's shell, the blade revolved with fury and soon it found it's way lodged into it's chest.

With the robots defeated he'd call upon his saber once more, he'd sheathe it and continue to meditate. He would need to regain his strength before he continued with the task at hand.
[member="Darth Ferus"]