Gaining Greater Power

[Matreya]

"All right guys, when we drop I want Fenrir, Nuke, Dozer, and Duke on me. The rest, watch your backs, and take the package to its destination." Damien called, while with a deep focus, he withdrew his Shadow. Ahead of the now mobile unit, was a massive hole in the ground. Having paused to take an ethereal look within, Damien had deduced that this was the point recently referred to by Ergast:

"An ancient Rakata Machine lays housed on Belsavis, moved long ago by Nox's men to a separate point so it would be believed off world. Go there, power the machine, let it enhance your Force Walk abilities, and you will be able to subdue any Spirit whose real form you may see. Any number."

While the others paused to hook harnesses, and grapple gear alike, Damien never paused his pace and simply plummeted off the edge straight down. As he had previously seen, the hole was deep, leading to a platform roughly a mile down where a massive door lay. When he was roughly half down, D upheld an outstretched hand and summoned his control over the Force.

Instantly his decent could be felt lessening, for a massive burst of wind was created from the bottom leading upward towards himself. Thus when the time came, and he ceased the call of power, his feet touched down with a soft tap. Looking upward, his enhanced vision easily spotted his crew working their way downward towards himself. So with that, he turned his attentions towards the door he needed to breach.

Stepping closer, he placed a hand on the massive 20 foot tall double door. At first glance he thought Durasteel, but then upon closer examination found it likely held inert layers of Impervium as well. Nox didnt want anyone finding the machine, that much was clear. As well, a massive nexus of Force energy emanated from within, notably dark side.

"Whats the plan?" Fenrir asked, detaching herself from the cable that led upward. Clad in her lavender Beskar'gam, she stood out little in the shadows, like her ally. Not far behind, Duke and Nuke were unhooking, while Dozer was already done and raising his homemade .50 cal Gatling gun.

"Nuke, you got anything big enough to take this?" Dozer called as he neared the door as well.

"Bad idea, the pressure will take us all out." Nuke claimed.

"Our best bet is to cut out the hinges, then kick down the door." Duke said, his trusty single-triple shot 40 caliber rifle laying loosely in an arm.

"Damien was already thinking the same." Fen stated, a humorous smirk spreading across her lips. Their natural mental link having opened up to his own amusement at his allies deducing the same line of sight.

"I think Fen and myself should take the left, you all hit the right with whatever you can. Remember, Nuke was right, explosives are likely to take us out as much take it down. Shoot the hinges." Damien called, already starting a slight jog backwards. Pausing and taking a deep breath, his Czar enhanced Anzat lungs dispersed oxygen swiftly, and he took off like a bullet towards the wall.

Fen simply took a step to the side, directly into his path...

At the last second she raised her forearms together above her head, so to be used as a platform he could launch straight upward. Soaring to the top hinge with ease, Damien paused in sheer shock for already a loud thump was heard.

Dukes sharp shooting. Damn. In 2 accurately deduced then placed shots, the top hinge was popped open.

Drawing Nox's saber, Damien spun the handle in his palm, placed its end against the metal and ignited its crimson blade. Instantly the pop sounded for his own as well. Kicking backwards, he let his feet carry the momentum loosely so he landed a nicely placed backflip, feet in front of Fenrir. Smiling, then offering a wink, he reached out an opened hand, and closed it slightly. With this, the Force grabbed the petite woman as well, and then Damien raised her upward in a swift launch. Her saber ignited for one second along the journey, slashing clean through the hinge.

Stopping her ascent, he softly set her back on the ground next to him. Sensing that Dozer took out the other block as well, D closed his eyes, slowly submersing deeply into the Dark Side. Pooling his reserves with Ergast, he through a swift punch forward in the same likeness of a Super Shadow Strike. The doors both exploded inward, bouncing and ricocheting around the massive hallway that led to a dark chamber far in.

Releasing his hold on Ergast, Damien groaned for a moment and wobbled but held his footing. His eyes slowly returned to normal, his breathing deepening. Each time he used Ergast's abilities it drove him to near destruction now..

To much power and struggle.

Hurling a massive gust of wind down the long hall, Damien smiled, for there at the end was the very same machine used by Nox to rid himself of all down sides of Force Walking.

"I did not lie. You know how to use it as well. Release me. Never come for me again."

"You will indeed hear from me again Ergast. But for now, be gone." Daemos called to the invisible man, releasing the binding energies and sending the spirit away from himself. Instantly there was a noticeable change, and he began to feel healthier than he had in months now. Only loving and caring energies from his friendly spirits flowed to him, and though the overflow of power was still a lot, it was no where near enough to kill though.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~​

Hours later, guarded by his crew while the machine did its work, Damien stepped free and smiled. No longer did the pull of energy harm him, for their energies were now wholly his and his alone.

Time to cause some chaos.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~​

Standing midst the deep dark of spaces of Tatooine, hidden by massive shadows driven by a massive moon filled night, Damien waited once again for his crew to ready themselves. In front of them lay a moderate sized estate, surrounded by a thick duracrete wall, and patrolling guards.

Placing his helmet atop his head, he awaited the click-hiss that sounded air lock, and spoke, "Plan Shadow Theft is ago."

Watching his HUD monitor, he spotted Fenrir moving silent as a ghost near to a duo unit where she ignited her saber staff directly into both skulls simultaneous.

At the same instant, across the walls length, were another two being dropped silently, Dozer having made quick measure of them with bare fists alone.

Striding to the smooth feel of the wall, Damien stared for a moment choosing which best option to choose for scaling and simply turned to his crew, "Scale 331."

The plan chosen was simple, and one by one each of his crew charged at him, using him and his air currents to easily leap over the wall. Everyone of them, having practiced the jump before, touched down with no issues.

Following suit, Damien landed atop the wall and paused for the reason of saying, "Voice, do me a favor and resend the message to Darth Ayra and Pandiema for me." Before landing, he had already sent a copy of his plan to Ayra hoping she would come.

It would read simply:
"Academy on Tatooine, made by Zaiden James, teaches Force Users for JAC. Taking it, and embracing their power. Come if possible."

With that, he dropped down into a crouch and began heading closer to the building.

[member="Alicia Drey"] [member="Enigma"]

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Lord Daemos"] | [member="Enigma"] |

Mos Eisley's was certainly an interesting city to be walking in. A hive of debauchery and criminality only seen on Nal Hutta. Famous for it's pod racing, spice trade and moisture farms, it just so happened that a descendant of the being responsible for bringing the former to Tatooine roamed the streets of it's most infamous city. Darth Ayra wore a Sith robe, concealing her features from view. She was meeting with Northstar, the Mandalorian Force-user that she fought during the United Clans of Mandlore's invasion of Dromund Kaas in the fading days of the Sith Empire and most recently, a valued ally that she intended to move into the position of Mand'alor.

Presumably, this business on Tatooine had to do with the contents of their last meeting. The datacron that Northstar provided in the cantina on Dantooine was tucked safely inside the fortress she had resurrected on Sojourn. She understood the theory behind Darth Nox's technique but had yet to execute such a maneuver. Darth Ayra was a careful woman and wouldn't allow the behaviour that she witnessed on Dantooine to affect the work she was putting into play and whatever or whoever it was that was affect Northstar then had a serious effect on his mental health, based on what she had seen.

Understanding and then master Nox's technique was important to her, as she wished to retain as much knowledge of the dark side as she could. While she and Pandeima had a master plan to convert every Force-user in the galaxy to the dark side of the force, Ayra accepted that there was a possibility that she wouldn't see the galaxy be brought under the guise of the New Order in her life time. In the Baneite era of the Order of Sith Lords it had taken a thousand years before Darth Tenebrous took Darth Plagueis as his Sith Apprentice and the Sith imperative was coming into frutition. Without Tenebrous, there wouldn't of been the wealth of contacts or wealth itself for Plagueis to use; and then for Darth Sidious to execute when he became Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. Knowledge such as this could be lost to the annuals time if they wasn't careful and the legacy that she and Darth Pandeima were creating would follow for another thousand years. With a little hope, they could avoid a Vectivus incident which set the Sith Grand Plan by a couple of centuries.

She selected the Raxor I on her person and made contact with Northstar. "I am here." Folding it back closed, she waited for Northstar to make contact.

 

[Matreya]

Offering a silent smile, Damien called telepathically now, as proximity might alert sensors to sent messages, Ayra, my pleasure to have you come to my call. My crew and myself are taking the front. Feel free to join, or take the back. Silent though, and remain unseen until my word is given. Damien hoped the same respect he gave her during her times in charge would be returned.

As he responded, D never slowed, placing his mind forward through the door to look inside. Using his physical mouth, he spoke while ethereal eyes saw, "2 dozen guards in the first several halls. Watch out though, most were trained by Penumbra himself, so they are probably lower knight tier. Motion sensors, and a few modified Rex Droids. Those I can take out without damage though, always beneficial to have a kill switch."

Stepping back, he paused as Duke instinctively took his position, leaning down next to the door panel. Pulling it free of its housing, he began checking wires loosely for a moment then clipped one with his sharpened nails.

Instantly both doors began their quick retreat inside the walls. Drawing the hood of his Warden Cloak upward, he ducked inside the building. While the average warrior would be slowed, encumbered, or some like term, by heavy Beskar'gam he in fact was hardly effected. Czar Augmentations enhanced already grand strengths.

Sticking near the shadows, Damien moved behind one of the guards as his gaze swept the opposite wall, wrapped an arm around his opponents neck, and in one swift flex of his muscles, knocked the man unconscious thanks to asphyxiation. Turning his gaze, he held up two fingers and gestured forward, to the instant response of his crew whom began their forward march. Leveling their arms, they readied to perform the mission.

The entirety of the next few steps were fairly simple, not overly difficult in anyway. Get into the main bed chambers of the grounds, then prepare the ritual to bind spirits, lastly kill everyone in the building and bind them. All in all, a few dozen mid Knight, a few dozen more low Knight, and several dozen Acolytes, would find themselves bound this evening.

If any dared not call him Master at that point, well it would be their mistake.

Watching out of the corner of his eye, Damien spotted Fenrir leaping into the air in a drop kick style. Her powerful leap left her feet to impact a large womans skull that slammed into the wall instantly felling her.

She smiled and offered a wink as she rose. Chuckling softly, Damien called telepathically to his crew, Lets take this place already.

As always, in case of an emergency, his power was kept near infinitely to insignificant to sense, thanks to the Art of the Small, and his ever present Cloak of Nuun was near ready to be used if needed as well.

But little did preparation matter if execution was handled poorly. For already Dozer was spotted, and Damien sensed an alarm was nearly raised, had his saber not already activated and hurled across the room to dig into the shoulder of his new found enemy. Calling for the blade to deactivate, Damien was already across the room by this time to catch it. Pounding the hilt into the mans skull, he watched him fall finally.

Tough bastard. My apologies. Dozer thought loudly, a method of communication found effective for mentalists. Dozer could not hear Damien, but simply knew him to be reading the others to keep up.

Turning about once more, Damien continued on his previous trajectory by moving down the hall. Once far enough in they would come to a triple break in the hall, according to the hidden maps found - received being the proper term, as Zaiden left them hidden in his weaponry - the furthest right would be the optimum choice. The only problem was the main cluster of guards stood at this point.

As they neared, Damien began channeling his 3 friends' spirits energies, accelerating his own power and speed as he charged into the group head on.

Slamming his forearm into one mans neck, he spun, literally carrying the man by his throat with the momentum, and slammed him into one of his allies. Furthering his spin, he dropped and swept his leg underneath 3 more men at once. Igniting his saber as he stood up, Damien blocked a powerful blow as it came his way. Deactivating the blade after shoving the opponents, he reached upward and grabbed the hilt of Tantibus. Drawing it, and its scabbard, over his shoulder he readied himself.

Blocking the saber once more, he let the pressure force the scabbard downward before righting the massive blade. While many would find such a blade immensely difficult to utilize, Damien did not thanks to his many assets.

Slicing the man whom attacked clean in half, Damien showered himself in the spray of crimson wet. Spinning swiftly, he brought the blade down through a mans saber - deactivating it to the mans utter terror - then through him as well.

Pausing he stared at the rest of the men whom also fell seemingly simultaneously, thanks to Duke lighting them up with silenced rifle shots. None were kill shots however thankfully, as the more live bodies, the better.

He wondered where his Darth allies would be at this moment.

[member="Alicia Drey"] [member="Enigma"]

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Lord Daemos"] |

Darth Ayra did not know where her Sith Master was currently, but she was not on Tatooine to her knowledge and was unlikely to be involving herself in Daemos's exploits. Busy in a court case involved Seinar and Subach-Innes, Circe Savan was otherwise occupied. Her apprentice, however, was not and because of this had involved herself in Daemos's shenanigans because of the knowledge he presented. As the Order of Sith Lords was rebuilt by master and apprentice, everything and all belonging to the dark side of the force should be cultivated and passed on in case their time failed to bring about the Sith imperative set forth by Darth Bane thousands of years ago.

The hooded Sith Lord was sat on a rampart overlooking the room when Daemos and his team burst in. Concealing within the force, which disrupted their own equipment from detecting her, Ayra's yellow predatory eyes watched on as Daemos took out the rooms occupants. She had gained access through other means, by bypassing security teams through stealth and subterfuge via their vent systems. Petite, small and nimble, she hadn't found it difficult to do this.

When the last man was taken out by her ally, Ayra made herself known to him. She had watched the entire thing and had done nothing to help him. Typical Sith. "Well done. You executed that with the ease and precision a future Mand'alor deserves, Northstar."

 

[Matreya]

Strictly showing off, Damien kicked the end of his scabbard, which sent it flipping through the air where he allowed it to slide protectively over the ancient longsword. Staring at Ayra he offered a slight bow, Oh beautiful, yet evil, lady so wonderful to have you. He offered with a chuckle, removing his helmet for a moment to truly show respect.

Then, replacing Tantibus against his spine, he continued, As said, I will not show my ace in my sleeve until trust has been earned. However, by showing up you give something not normally found among Sith, hope for an ally. I will bind some of these spirits to yourself.

Finished now, he turned back to Duke once more and gestured to the right wing door, where the man ran to begin. As simply as before, he plucked a wire, snipped, and they were moving again. His crew was efficient as always. Even Fen, who was new to the team, got along great with everyone.

Ayra, how good are your skills over fire and ice? If above novice, I could use your help. Up coming there will be a door, protecting Zaidens vaults in the building, we may find artifacts or just a crap load of creds. Either way, the whole of the vault can be useful to both of our ends. But its protected by a thick layer of Durasteel, to thick to simply cut through. I'll need a Masters level strength heating the metal, then freezing it so it can bust easily. Damien said as he moved through the recently opened door.

Pointing for a moment, he nodded, Thats the door. But he didnt slow, rather continued with more determination. There was now a powerful Sith Lord working alongside his own actions. Two powers were always better than one.

[member="Alicia Drey"]

 

[Matreya]

Caught off guard, Damien felt himself struck against his side by what felt like a full on Starfighter. Trying to push himself away from the wall, Damien was surprised to feel another strong pressure pound into his back this time, knocking the air clean from his lungs. Stars lasted a second before a quick inhale righted the oxygen count in his blood, and he spun swiftly to see what attacked him.

A massive Wookie drew back its arms again, swinging them like jackhammers at Damien. Throwing his arms upward, the Sith Knight caught both arms, and stopped them instantly - to the sheer amazement of the wookiee.

Thinking quickly the Ancient spun the wookiee, where he swept his leg towards the opposites ankle, knocking it to the ground with a powerful thud. Igniting Nox's scarlet saber with a flourish, he flipped the weightless blade, then brought it down in a slash that cleaved the monstrous beasts neck in half.

As a secondary surprise, Damien lifted his gaze and let a mental curse resound to his crew, Feth. For there before himself, all armed to the teeth, lay several other fully grown brutes like the previous.

Just as the frontal went to lunge for Damien, he would be in for a surprise, as over his shoulder came 3 swift shots - each meeting their targets left eye socket.

Deactivating his saber, Damien bounded easily over a massive body, where his heel came in for a powerful kick against the beings head. Landing lightly, Damien quickly brought a guard arm up, blocking a blow that knocked him back into the falling body. Bouncing off he blocked another blow from the black furred dominant, moved his arm in along the hand until he gripped the mans elbow, where he pulled upward then threw a powerful palm blow. Smiling at the roar of pain, and echoing snap, Damien pushed his elbow into the beings Adam apple, which silenced said cry.

Drawing an arm back, Damien threw another punch, this one at plain air, which translated into the Force to knock anothers head back.

"Guys, alarms sounded, hurry it up." Damien said into his comm, seeing that indeed in the distance came a group of reinforcements whom likely had heard the yells of pain.

Moving beneath a left hook that came his way, Damien lifted a leg and stomped outward. The contact shattered the beings ankle and dropped it to the ground.

When it came to sheer power, Wookiees were the closest Damien had ever come to having his strength matched as a youngling. Now he was Czar as well, and these warriors would all remember what that meant - pain for anyone whom thought they could best it.

Pausing for a second, Damien looked around, inhaling deep, deeper than his lungs should allow...

"AAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!" With the release of his scream, Damien to sent a great burst of force energies from his body to enhance it. In a three-sixty degree danger zone, the pressure swept outward, lifting all bodies and people to hurl them with sickening crunches against the walls. If they didnt know, they do now, Damien thought silently as he reached out to the dead wookiee warriors, gathering all 12 into his harem.

Feeling the surge of power amplify, Damien was exhilarated, his mind reaching out further than ever before. For this reason he caught a few stray thoughts:

That was foolish. Shouldn't have shown off like that.

Did he have to let everyone know we were here??

These sunk deep, striking at cords he didnt know existed in his emotional harp. He had betrayed his friends positions, and now they could possibly fall for it.

I wont let them... Damien thought. From now on, gotta be more thoughtful.

With a total of 15 spirits now powering his speed, Damien charged so fast down the hall, he nearly slammed into the wall at the end.

"Northstar, the Maalraas is ready to strike." Came into his com, and Damien smiled.

"Keep the Maalraas hungry for a bit longer. Have one thing left to finish." Damien replied to the other team, then clicking back to his own he said, "All right guys, let's wrap this up. Gather the supplies." He sensed with his mental peripheral that the men all split up, save for Fenrir who ran light footed to keep up with himself.

"They will get the daggers easy. What about the Cloak?" Fen asked as she slowed, a few feet away now, her lavender Beskar'gam catching the moon light filtered through a window for a bare second.

"The Cloak of Shadows.." Damien paused, thinking to the other reason's they had come. A massive cache of Shadow Daggers, and Zaidens most used cloak when he found the height of his Umbrakinetic abilities, which Damien believed was now imbued with its creators stealth abilities. "Its likely to be here, as said, as this is Zaidens prime academy, and also another little known fact, the original grounds for his familial home. If I know him as I believe I do, for he was so like Max, he stored it in his old child hood room, in the wall where an accident happened when he was a child."

"How do you know him so well? And who is Max?"

"Maximus Garren James, Zaiden Orion James-Greyson's father, was a close friend of mine that I happened to save from slavers as a child."

Leaving it as it was, Damien stepped into the office that once held the Master of Shadows. Reaching his shadow outward, he literally began poking its arm through walls to feel for open space..

When he finished, he gestured to a plain wall, "Behind that."

Stepping forward, he drew back his leg and gave a mighty kick forward. Drawing his foot free from the deep dent, he waited for a second, then slowly the wall rose to show many of Zaidens grandest artifacts. In the center, wrapped around a post lay a dark cloak, so pitch black it seemed to dim all light around it.

Moments later, with arms wrapped about a bundles of goodies, Fenrir and Damien stood near the exit, "Hows it going Dozer?"

"Were finishing up. Set the beast loose."

Switching frequencies once again, he spoke, "Time to feed the den. Pounce."

"Meow." Came the smart ass response to which Fen and Damien both chuckled, moving through the doors with a much quicker pace.

Now at the basement level of this complex, primed for detonation, was a one ton nuclear explosive.

When all crew members were accounted for, the ship lifted off, veering for a higher altitude. Once roughly a dozen miles upward, with Damien standing in his crimson silk cloak - which as always lay drug behind him, signifying it was to long - with both hands spread open and ready.

For a brief second, Damien pondered Ayra, but figured she must have simply stopped caring and left long ago.

But then the explosion came. Even at such a distance he felt his ship rocking in place, but he didnt care in the slightest. Reaching out with the Dark side, Damien gripped all of the wailing, sobbing, burning souls as they thought they would get their passage to the after life. Instead they were bound, forced to power Damien as more and more were caught in the vortex.

Before long the dust settled, a calm spreading where life just had been.

Damien turned from the glass, his voice vibrating with power as he began, "One step done..."

Fenrir stood nearby, eyes as big as dinner plates, "What is he becoming...?" She asked herself.

 

[Matreya]

"How many is that now Damien?" Dozer asked with a curious expression.

"Around 60." Damien said, forcing the connection he held with the Spirits to its minimum, "Gods, the voices, they just wont cease. So many..." He said, placing a hand on his forehead. They could no longer physically harm him, but that didnt mean the spirits wouldnt drive him insane.

Fenrir stared longer, biting her tongue.

"Speak Des. You know your opinion matters most to me." The Knight said to his ally and lover.

She stepped closer, raising her arms to cross against her chest, "We all can feel it Damien...this is turning you. You will just continue to bind more spirits to yourself until the power eats you as you are."

"Destiny...I wont let myself get lost. As long as I have you all, you will save me from myself." Damien murmured, his crimson eyes softening as he moved to embrace the woman he loved.

Turning an eye towards his crew he spoke, "Alright guys. Phase two starts now."

Grunting at the fact he continued to ignore her pleas to cease, Destiny pushed herself away and left the room swiftly.