Coincidences happen {Vengeance}

[Syss Rembala]

Syss had indeed predicted that her jab would be made little work of, easily blocked or avoided. Her initial plan had been to make use of this blocking and turn around. This would have located her behind [member="Vengeance"] and allowed her to aim a hit with the handle of the blade to the nape of the neck, where the skull unites with the spine. It would have been an intelligent move.

Unfortunately the Sith moved fast, something she should have had expected. Her plan was quickly hindered and in the meantime, she felt a hit in her back that destabilized her whole stance and shot a short but intense wave of pain she quickly ignored. Her fast working brain immediately caught up with the series of movements and knew she would be forced onto her knees. Given the fact that she was not in a favorable position, avoiding the kick that connected with her knee was not an option and she fell but what she did to counter this attack was indeed surprising.

She augmented the impulse of Vengeance's kick by letting her weight fall forward and instead of landing with her knees, Syss stopped her fall with her hands, leaving for a fraction of a second her body in a plank position. Without loosing any time she kicked upwards. Her feet connected with the male Sith's blade, not nearly enough as to break his grip on it but yes to get it out of a dangerous position so that she could complete her very agile movement. Her feet kept on travelling forward until her back was bent and she stood, her back facing the human. She turned her body to her right swiftly, lunging a powerful punch with the handle of her blade to the Sith's side, hoping to destabilize him.

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance smirked watching [member="Syss Rembala"] fall down into a full plank. Had he not taken a step back after attempting the punch the kick would have been a good counter. Instead all Vengeance did was lean back his right leg sliding back just a hair to maintain balance.

When she got to her feet and started to turn Vengeance simply shot in letting her hit land with the blow softened by not letting her get the full swing in. He shot his knee up aiming for her stomach as he brought the hilt of the sword down aiming for the spot just at the base of her neck where her clavicle met. With any luck he would break her clavicle making that arm useless for the rest of the fight. This time instead of disengaging Vengeance stayed in place limiting her counter attack options.

Still he spoke not a word to his Apprentice. There would be time to critique her actions once a winner had been established. All in all though he was sufficiently impressed with her adaptability.

 

[Syss Rembala]

Syss started feeling something sip through her system. Her white eyes starting to turn a dangerous shade of bright yellow. Sadly, the battle was armed combat and she wouldn't disobey the Lord Sith by using the Force. Still her ire did good in fueling her already big will to fight.

The pale skinned Acolyte expression showed her deep discontent when her hit was diminished so greatly by the forward movement of the Sith Lord. When she saw his knee come up once again, this time aimed at her stomach, she tried to move away. Saving her stomach what would have been a very painful hit, the side of her waist took it instead. This had not hurt so badly but instead didn't gave her time to avoid the second hit, the one that had been meant to crack her clavicle and which would have most certainly succeeded in doing so.

It instead landed over her shoulder, immediately ripping from depths of her throat a growl. She took a good step back, her yellow eyes piercing through those of the Sith, intense, determined....and furious. She looked at her shoulder for her arm had been dislocated. Guiding the hand of her healthy arm to her shoulder she grabbed it and, once more looking at the Sith, savagely pushed it backwards getting it back in place. Her nose scrunched upwards for a second when she did this and then she released held air through her nostrils.

The fight wasn't over, even if now her arm was weaker. She wasn't knocked out yet, right?

Syss stepped quickly forward for a third time, apparently seeking to stab [member="Vengeance"] . It was only in the last second that she stopped this action, with a speed and precision that would have surely confused most beings, and instead aim to kick the inner leg of the Sith. If this had succeeded, she would have shifted her pose only enough to bring down her elbow with full force once again, over the nape of the neck of the human male.

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance let his Apprentice disengage and pop her shoulder back into place. It would have been a good time to press the attack but he didn't. Instead he enjoyed the change in her. The shift from just fearless to fearless and aggressive. It was a good place for her to be............if she could use it to her advantage.

When [member="Syss Rembala"] thrust out in a jab Vengeance ignored it figuring she would not make the same mistake twice. His patience was reward when the stab halted as his Apprentice kicked. Vengeance simply lift his leg letting it harmless impact his shin before crouching and shooting forward. His goal to pass under the elbow using his shoulder to jam her arm and pin it in the air. His other arm would reach up and clamp down on her shoulder before his entire body explode up to lift her off the ground and slam her flat on her back on the ground. For good measure he would aim a kick at her rib cage before disengaging and putting some distance between them.

 

[Syss Rembala]

Her white eyes went wide when her previous attack failed. Her rage grew dangerously high but strangely, it was aimed at herself. Trying to use the same move... How could she be so thoughtless and...weak? The mere thought disgusted her, she felt unworthy and low. A mere nuisance that didn't deserve a place among the Force. Her self hatred was soon absorbed back into the depths of her being as she felt herself leave the ground under the grip of the Sith.

Like a rag doll she was slammed against the ground and this alone was enough to make her sight black out for a second, a ringing noise in her ears. Her light-weight did not do her well in this occasion. Just as she was trying to get out of her stunned and confused state, a kick connected to her side. For a moment it looked as though she would have doubled in pain but she stopped a millisecond after the movement had started. She concentrated on processing the pain and soon, made it fade greatly. Pain tolerance, one of the things her beloved father had taught her. She wanted to get up. Even the air around her filled with the energy, the passion she was trying to bring forth in order to dissipate the abashed state she had been put in for her bad choice of attack.

[member="Vengeance"]

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance watched [member="Syss Rembala"] for a minute. He knew what she herself was trying to fight from admitting. He pushed forward gently placing a hand on her chest. He pressed softly with just enough force to leave her in place on the floor.

"It's over Syss.................live to fight another day."

He hand moved over grazing her hair before his thumb caressed her cheek.

"I am proud of you my Apprentice." "You have fought harder than any other Sith I have met since I was an Acolyte."

Vengeance smiled scooping her up in his arms and moved towards the back of the ship.

"Come on let's get you cleaned up and rested." "You are going to feel that tomorrow."

There destination was one of the crew quarters Vengeance laying her down on one of the beds taking a seat near it.

"Pain is a good thing Syss." "It let's you know when something is wrong........it also let's you know you are still alive."

 

[Syss Rembala]

When she heard the first words of her Master, Syss felt disappointment. Failure. But she did not object, she did not contradict nor tried to keep on going. She had done her best, she had actually tried to win even when acknowledging the fact she would have required a couple of miracles to succeed. And still she felt unsatisfied with herself.

Those emotions where washed away like dirt when she felt [member="Vengeance"] caressing her hair and cheek. A warm sensation traveled through her body. And then she heard the word proud. The darkness within her coiled with pleasure at the knowledge that she had pleased her Master's expectations. It was all she needed to know to not give up that passionate nature of hers.

Then her lithe body was scooped up by the Sith. Had it been anyone else she probably would have done anything in her power to destroy the being trying to carry her but, in this case, she willingly and contentedly let her hurting body be moved. She was later laid down on a bed. Syss moved her head over to look at her Master. Realization reflected on the Umbaran's once again white eyes at her Master's comment on pain. It was something she, strangely, had never considered. She saw a new found and deep logic behind those words, even if they went against everything she was taught about pain. She did believe them.

"And what if pain stops me, Master?" She asked, keeping her body a still as possible.

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance smiled softly placing a hand on her leg just above her knee giving her a reassuring squeeze.

"Know your limitations Syss." "You will not win every fight......you will not win every battle."

He smiled to her.

"Even I have lost Syss.....against Jedi, against other Sith." "I once fought the former Jedi Grand Master and was not even able to land a single blow." "It is a fact of life there will always be somebody better.........somebody stronger."

He nodded to her as if to say yes I just told you that.

"The idea is to live to fight another day." "You are no use to anyone dead." "You fight as hard as you can for as long as you can." "However once the fight is lost the fight is lost." "It is what you do with that loss..........it is what you learn from that loss that matters."

He chuckled.

"My first day as an Acolyte in the One Sith a Lord tried to cut my in half with a sword twice as big as I am." "Then he tried to set me on fire." "Today I am a Knight that has fought and survive more battles than most see in their entire life time."

His expression turned serious.

"Being a Sith Syss is not about power for the sake of position or prestige." "It is not about being the descendant of this ancient Sith Lord." "It is about survival Syss." "Mercy is not weakness, fear is not weakness." "Weakness is letting these things defeat you." "I have a family, a woman I love and love openly with our reservation." "I have a soon to be sister in law.........two as a matter of fact that are Jedi." "I have even taught Jedi how to defeat Sith and Jedi have taught me how to defeat Jedi."

He looked her in the eyes.

"Not tell me something Syss does that make me weak...........do you think I am weak?

[member="Syss Rembala"]

 

[Syss Rembala]

Syss experimented for the first time in her life something she had never, not since she had learnt to verbally communicate, experienced. She was at a loss of words. Many of the things that Lord [member="Vengeance"] had just said to her would have made her think he was weak, those things were what she was taught to believe made someone weak.

And still she had in front of her the living representation of the contrary. She could feel the Dark-side inside of him, she could see it in his yellow eyes. The pain in her body seemed like an insignificance when compared to the things she was starting to realize. It was a completely new concept of what made a Sith. It was something that challenged her beliefs. And she simply had to accept it, the proof had been more than enough.

"You are not weak Master, not at all" She answered, not pulling her gaze away from that of the male human Sith as she answered. The fact tat she understood his words, that these words had clearly made an impact on her internally was clear in the serene look of her white eyes, for once devoid of coldness and instead filled with a look of admiration, as a kid who had just learnt something very important from a much more wise being. She felt the pull of the Dark-side strong in her chest now, as though it had simply grabbed an even firmer hold of her after the words of the human Sith.

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance chuckled.

"The Sith teach that it is the job of the Apprentice to one day rise up and slay their Master." "It is the philosophy the Sith like Darth Timoris follow and as much as I love my Fiancee it is a philosophy I have never subscribed to." "Then again I have never had a Master." "Kind of makes that little Philosophy pointless."

He left it hanging in the air to see how she reacted. He was actually curious to see what she would say in response.

"Are you familiar with the legend of the Sith'ari Syss?"

[member="Syss Rembala"]

 

[Syss Rembala]

The Umbaran slightly raised an eyebrow. She indeed knew of that tradition of the Sith. She had killed her father, her first "master" of sorts. But he was not a real Sith. When she joined the One Sith and saw for the first time the real Lords and Knights, the feeling had been exhilarating.

They were corrupted by the Dark-side, soaked in it and that only meant they were also important within the Dark-side of the Force. No, Syss wouldn't have killed her Master. That she though before, and that she knew now that she had finally gotten one. Syss was an apprentice and one blindly loyal, even if it meant ignoring a tradition that belonged to the creed she so fervently followed.

"I have not heard of it" She answered his question, curiosity gaining over her.

[member="Vengeance"]

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance smiled.

"It is a Legend among the sith that I personally find detrimental." "The short version is that a Sith will be born that is the pure embodiment of the Dark side." "That that Sith will rise up to slay all others.......blah blah blah." "The reason I bring it up is not because the legend itself is important but because of the effect it has." "Every Acolyte with any ability in the Dark Side fancies themselves the Sith'ari......the savior of the Sith.............and goes through their entire existence trying to kill every Sith they come across to prove their delusion."

He shook his head.

"In short trust no one Syss and take nothing for granted." "Eventually we will run into others." "Some Sith and some wanting to be Sith." "Odds are that at least one or two of them will believe at some point they are the legendary Sith'ari." "In my time I have met three so far.........one still bares the scar on his face from the last time he tried to beat me in a fight."

[member="Syss Rembala"]

 

[Syss Rembala]

The Umbaran listened with an unrestricted attention as her Master explained the legend of the Sith'ari. The idea of someone being enough of a fool to truly believe itself capable of harnessing that title was absurd, stupid and only possible product of an unsound and untrained mind. It was product of the blind and useless pride. And Syss was sure she would have been much more than...deeply annoyed by such a being.

She on the other hand knew that on the hypothetical case that the legend was indeed true and this Sith'ari revealed itself, she could only hope of meeting him and confronting him, die honorably in battle and conclude the plan the Dark-side had for her. That was a type of death that she wouldn't mind. Still, Syss could see what [member="Vengeance"] was trying to tell her with this legend before he said it himself.

She had to trust no one. She had to take nothing for granted. Her nature, though charming, was naturally distrustful and she knew she wouldn't fail on accomplishing this two lessons. She smiled ever so slightly at the thought of a delusional force sensitive proclaiming himself the Sith'ari and challenging her Master. For a second she imagined what a nasty scar the fool now wore on his face.

"I understand" She reassured, looking at Vengeance. The Umbaran then proceeded to speak once more, "Master, may I know where are we headed?" The way she asked, the tone in her voice clearly showed that she would have no problem if the answered was denied or unknown. Her obligation as an apprentice was to follow her Master, even if she did not know where. And Syss did not have even the slightest of problems with that.

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance smiled softly at her question.

"Truthfully I don't know." "The nature of being a wanted fugitive in half the known Galaxy is it leaves very few places to go and it is never a good idea to stay in one place for very long." "Every time I leave a planet the pilot chooses a random system away form the major Galactic Governments to pop out of hyper in."

He smirked.

"I could ask him if you really want to know or we can find out when we get there?"

Vengeance smiled leaning forward and planting a soft kiss on her forehead before standing up

"You need some rest Syss." "Get some sleep.........if you get hungry what passes for a kitchen on here is down the hall and to the left."

[member="Syss Rembala"]