Freakshow is in Town

[Garza]

Sposia

Walking along the almost white washed halls of a medical center, I could see people laying on beds with tubes running out of their arms. A few had injuries that were being treated, while others seemed to be laying there. I noticed that there was a section for giving blood out to help those in need. However, as a Sith, I knew that not all of it would be going out to help those who got hurt. Some of it may be used for different rituals or Force Alchemy. Standing in this medical center, I adjusted my jacket as a shiver went up my spine. Not because of something weird, but medical centers always seemed colder than usual.

However, I was not here for a checkup. More so, to meet someone about my skills as a Sith Alchemist. I barely had anything to consider as a real alchemist. By my lonesome I could make a few trinkets, as sword or two, and manipulate bones and flesh to my desire. I needed to see this woman. Known for her uses as an Alchemist. I wanted to expand my abilities. To do that, I needed, wanted help.

Only, I didn't know where exactly to find her. I had a hunch she might be looking for blood, a person to test on, or even dead bodies. Perfect place to get all of that? Right here. A medical center in which would also have a morgue, and enough equipment to keep someone alive for a long time.

Perfect.

Now, just to find her.

[member="Darth Arcanix"],

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nickolas Imura"]

Taeli, known as Darth Arcanix amongst the Sith, was busy doing research in the main wing of the medical facility on Sposia. Dressed in a blue dress, but with a white lab coat over top it, she didn't look out of place among the researchers and doctors here. She had moved her project to this world so she could observe the effects of her crystal seeds and have access to far better equipment. She had yet to test them on a sentient being, wanting to use volunteers instead of captives or slaves, but they were fast moving towards that day.

In the mean time, she had been studying various Vong biots, just out of curiosity, and practicing a few things with her alchemy skills. She might need to establish herself here more, it was a great place to practice certain things with such an abundance of blood. Still there was . . .

She smiled as she sensed a dark presence had arrived in the facility, a fellow Sith she assumed. Snapping her fingers, a Sith familiar erupted out of her shadow and with a quick thought to it, she sent it to see who their guest was and to have them follow her shadowy raven back to where she was currently looking over coral seeds and other Vong biots.

 

[Garza]

I had to find her signature. I thought it may be something that was hidden considering that sometimes, even Sith didn't want others of their kind to follow them. So I had to be careful anyways. I had never met her before either. I looked around some more. Wondering where in the hell would she be. Sometimes people looked completely different than you imagined. Looking around, I could see some of the nurses staring at me. Wondering what I was doing. So I decided to simply take a seat.

I sat down in a bench in the hall. Watching as people would come by. Eventually the nurses would go back to work as I sat there, but I could feel eyes on me. That eerie feeling as though someone was watching you. Looking at the hall down to my right, I saw a Sith Familiar. I could tell by the way that it was almost a void of the force. Like someone had punched a hole into a paper. It was there. Standing up slowly, I had my hand on my hip just in case as I walked towards it. Wondering what I should do.

Instead, I tried to speak to it. Doubt it would do anything.

"Who are you, and what are you here for?"

[member="Darth Arcanix"],

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nickolas Imura"]

"I would think those should be my questions, wouldn't you say?' Taeli said aloud, her words traveling across the connection she had with her familiar and projecting them through it so her guest could hear them. "But as it is only polite, my name is Darth Arcanix, and I'm here doing some research to further my understanding of certain . . . fields."

She was curious if her guest ahd actually been looking for her, as she knew she had slowly been gaining a reputation in the Sith for being rather . . . quiet and studious. It wasn't her fault so many people sought her out for training or lessons, but still she was interested to see if he was here to meet her.

"If you came to see me, follow the familiar. It will lead you to my current location," she said, and she sent a thought to her familiar to fly back to her. Looking over the various biots on the table in front of her, she examined a pair of fighting claws for a moment.

 

[Garza]

The familiar talked, no correction, the person talked through the familiar. From the voice I could tell that they were a female, and after some words, she introduced herself as the woman I was looking for. Nonetheless, she offered for me to come back. I slowly began to walk after the familiar as it was walking away. Wondering why she would just invite me in like that? Was it a trap luring other sith to her so she can study them, or was it just because she was being polite? Kind of hard to tell when most sith tend to be setting a trap, and when the special few were actually wanting to help others become stronger.

Following past more bed and people lying down into the slow process of death, I could see why she chose here now. It was her personal little hell hole. Her domain. And I was walking right into it.

I prepared myself for what might come. I had a feeling that pain would be close.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nickolas Imura"]

Taeli busied herself by cleaning up some space for her visitor, and getting some tea onto boil. She had commandeered a rather large lab and established herself nicely inside, all sorts of monitors and desks and research instruments. She was a scholar and researcher at heart, she knew that and embraced the role. Maybe that was one reason for why she could grasp alchemy and magic so quickly, beyond natural aptitude to those crafts. Still, no need to have a messy lab when one was expecting company.

As her guest arrived and the raven familiar flew over to her shoulder, she said, "My apologies for the dying and screaming going on around here. My people have been trying to save their lives so they can actually be of use. I don't like using slaves or captives for such experiments, volunteers are much better suited, no?"

Taking the tea kettle off a hot plate, she poured herself a cup and then him one.

"So what I can help you with, Lord . . ." she would allow him to fill in his name as she wasn't entirely certain who she was dealing with.

 

[Garza]

A lab that was clearly filled for the scholar at heart, this pace would make any alchemist drool. And as an aspiring Alchemist, it was rather pleasant and felt somewhat like home. However, something was off. Walking in after the raven, I saw the woman. Raven black hair, eyes the unnatural influence of the darkside. However, I couldn't judge. My own red eyes seemed to almost always glow. I might have looked weirder than others. Nonetheless, I reached over for the tea that she had poured.

I was unsure if it was poisoned or not, but I decided to wait for her to take a drink first. Instead answering her question.

"Imura, Nickolas Imura."

Looking her over, I continued.

"Lady Arcanix, I thank you for your hospitality, and yes. Live specimens who volunteer are easier to work with."

I took a single sip of the tea. I was not one for tasting food, so I hardly knew what type of tea it was as it went down. Hot and almost soothing. I then sat the teacup down on the table that it had once been on.

"I am here for Alchemy services."

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nickolas Imura"]

"Ah I see," Taeli sipping at her tea and smiling as she allowed the warm liquid flowed down her throat. "And what exactly are you hoping to learn from me? I know a fair few things, but what specifically brought you here and not to some other alchemist?"

Taeli stroked the feathers of the familiar on her shoulder for a moment, looking around her lab and smiling. It had taken some time to acquire everything here, but it had been worth it in the end. Now, she had a premiere lab to work from, access to various ingredients and Vong biots for research, she had a lot most people didn't get the chance to have for their research and studies.

"And if I agree to help, what would I get in exchange, Lord Imura?" she asked, a smile on her lips to show no ill feelings behind the question, just general curiosity.

 

[Garza]

Her questions came after she had taken a drink. Speaking of her knowing a few things, I simply stood there. Staying silent as there was nothing for me to say at the moment. I knew everything came with a price, so I wanted until she asked what it was I could give to her back in return. As a Sith, I knew that nothing is free. Everything has a price tag on it. I picked up the cup once more and took a sip. Letting the warm liquid wet my lips.

"I came to you because of your studies in both Sith Alchemy, and the use of Vong Biots."

Sitting the cup down, I was not looking to her as I said what I wanted. However, I looked up, and in my right hand, a spark of a flame ignited.

"In return, I teach you what I know. Fire and Earth manipulation."

It was one hefty price, but so was what I was asking for. I was going for the big bucks now. So I needed to throw myself out there. As a Scholar, she might like to know a few shaper moves here or there. Something to study on. If you want to keep someone interested, give them just enough to sedate the price, but possibly come back later for more.

In essence, we would be trading lessons for a while.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nickolas Imura"]

It didn't take Taeli a long time to think about the offer. He was essentially offering her brand new knowledge on techniques she would kill for gladly. The answer was really simple then, and she took a sip of tea before she answered though.

"I accept," she answered with a smile. "What shall we start with, and since you sought me out, I feel the least I can do is be the first to teach something or do something in the beginning stages of this partnership. I can think of a few things, but I want to here what you want most to learn first. Only fair right?"

Setting her tea down, she opened up her satchel that was lying on her desk and brought it over to her with the Force. Pulling out a datapad and digital stylus, she smiled at him and waited to see what he wanted to do first.

 

[Garza]

She didn't seen phased by my offer, however she accepted it. I watched as she wanted to know what I wanted to learn and was even going to write it down. I thought for a moment about what I really wanted to learn. What I wanted to do. I was already good at Metallurgy to a level that I had created a Master level Sith Katana. But what I wanted now to work on is Biological Alchemy. Deciding that was what I wanted, I pointed to the vong fighting claws that were on the counter behind the woman.

"I want to learn more about Biological Alchemy. Including some Vong shaping if warranted."

I opened my right hand. Looking at it for a moment.

"As you said, you like a volunteer. So let me be one. Put those fighting claws in my hands."

It was something that was a tool, as well as a weapon, but most of all, it would prove that I am serious about getting this alchemy done. To get something, you need to make a commitment. To make a sacrifice so that you can achieve more from it. Hence the fighting claws.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nickolas Imura"]

"Fair warning, this is probably going to hurt . . . a lot, but we will take care of the Vong shaping process first so you can feed on the pain and get used to the claws as we go," she replied, going over to the sentient creatures that were the Vong fighting claws. "I should tell you, you'll experience pain every time you extend the claws, but they are a rather useful biot. Their blades can extend up to four times their normal length, and can take a hit from a lightsaber without stopping because they have a distant connection to amphistaves, at least that's my theory at least."

Laying both of his hands on a table, she selected a small scalpel and slid it along the top of his hands right where the bones would be closest.

"They have to be embedded right into the bone, so again this is going to hurt," she said, before pushing each biot into the incisions so they made contact with the bone. The parasites would immediately sense the bone, their source of forming a symbiotic relationship with the host, and they would begin the very painful process of bonding with him, while Taeli took mental notes.

 

[Garza]

Hurt? I had experienced and went through Blood Magic first hand. I had created a sword from the blood of the fallen, mixed with my own. I had a high pain tolerance anyways. So I had a feeling this would really hurt anyways. "I wouldn't doubt those you have just met my lady."

Placing my hands on the table, she cut into my knuckles. Telling me they would connect with the bones in my hand. As well, I remembered her telling me that the pain would come when pushing them out of my skin. She didn't know that I fed off of pain to fuel myself. I enjoyed pain. Hell, I had a tumble with Lexa and ended up with scars and marks from here that last up till now. I still had a few bite marks that were along my arms and legs. Even a few on the side of my neck. Lets also not forget I had an Aak wolf long ago. Those things bit hard too. Even if it was just the tip of their mouths on my hand.

As soon as she started to place them in my hand, I could feel it moving beneath my skin. My eyes opened wide as suddenly the pain came. I hissed and groaned at first, but then it flooded me. Little mouths biting through the fingers into my bone. Trying to imbed themselves into my knuckles. While there were none on the thumbs, All eight fingers were in pain.

Hissing and grimacing, I groaned a little. Biting down on what could have been a scream in pain. I grunted to try and release it a little. My arms and legs shook. Trying to do something, I wanted the pain to be over, but the biots kept sticking in deeper and deeper. Cursing to my self in both basic, and in Sith, trying to overcome this stupid pain.

"Goddamn it.... Ugh.... how much..... longer?"

Fighting to speak just a sentence through my grunts and curses of pain. I felt like my bones would shatter in my arms because I was constricting them so hard with the muscles. As well, I felt the bones in my hands were being broken over and over again. While I had broken bones before, this was very much pain filled. My skin started to burn red. The room might even heat up as I was trying to control the Fire shaping powers I had. Keeping my emotions in check. Eventually my skin started to darken to a deep brown look and then to a black. Trying to hold it in.

One of the shaping powers I had, a rare one among the Shapers, was the ability to not only manipulate flame to a great degree, but to manipulate heat and flame along the entirety of your body. Morna could do it enough that he could burn others, however, I almost turned into a volcano. And I really didn't feel like igniting this place on fire.

I kept my emotions in check. Clearing my head. Thinking of what may happen and come. I thought about my child. The one that was not yet born. My son who would become a better man than myself. I needed to fight through this for him.

Finally, I yelled out in pain.

[member="Darth Arcanix"],

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nickolas Imura"]

She could appreciate him trying to be all stoic and absorb the pain, but sometimes, it could be too much. She knew all too well from when she had implanted a coral seed in her chest to gain access to Vongsense and the ability to control their tech. Still, as he finally gave in to yelling about the pain, she quickly jotted a note or two down about the bonding process for the claws.

"Any moment and they should be done bonding with your bones and nerves," she replied to his grunted question. "I have to say, you took that all rather well considering how most people react to Vong biots, that is that aren't Vong. Most people pass out from the shock, die, or they reject the implant and it rages out of control and they become a mindless husk. Congrats on that, truly. I'll give you some time to get adjusted to the claws, oh and I suppose I should mention, they can cut through steel."

 

[Garza]

After I had been done yelling out, and the pain was subsiding to a very, very miniscule degree, She spoke about how it would only be a moment more for the claws to bond with my bones and nerves. I could still feel them moving within my hands. It wasn't filled with pain as much as it was in the beginning, however, I still cringed from it while the woman spoke.

Took that rather well? My chest was banging afraid that the vong biots might not want to stop at the hands and move their way up to my skull and take over my brain, but that was an unnecessary fear. When she said that I could cut steel with it, I looked at her with a look. The claws looked like bones. Bones that were somehow resistant to lightsabers, and could cut through steel, and whatever else that was not as strong.

Sure. Might as well be useful huh? I left the claws out. Retracting them would only hurt more at the moment, and I wanted to get used to having them out. They felt, in a word, weird.

"Alright, Since that's done, Do you want to move on to alchemy?"

I was very cautious of the claws as I wiped my face with my hand. Not wanting to cut my face open in the process.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Nickolas Imura"]

"Of course, what would you like to learn first?" she asked, moving away from the Vong biots and standing near a large open area that had arcane circles carved into the floor and books galore surrounding it. "I've got some experience in just about every aspect of Alchemy, but I'm not sure what you want to learn."

She did find his choice to keep his new claws extended rather amusing, but that was his choice. Still, she was curious what portion of alchemy he was interested in learning, whether it be for weapons, or creating creatures or other artifacts, she was fully prepared to show him whatever he wanted. He was an interesting specimen that was for certain, and he seemed to be rather stoic in his approach to most things.