Hi Dad...sorta...not really (Arcis)

[Xavier Vi'dreya]

So one of the masters had finally claimed him, and it was just the one he wanted to meet. Darth Arcis, Kära's father, and by extension his step father sorta. Maybe it was his surname that caught the Sith Lord's eye, maybe it was his up and coming skills as a leader on the field, or maybe he just wanted an apprentice. His motives did not matter to the teenage Umbaran, all that mattered was that he was going to train Xavier, the boy finally had a teacher.

In the Sith Academy he sat in wait, studying over the details of the assault of Palpatine's Empire on the Rebel Alliance's Echo Base. The Empire had struck fast, but their scouts were detected and the element of surprised was lost, and there were unnecessary casualties from the Alliance's contingency plans as a result. Moral of the story was have better scouts. On the other hand the Rebellion demonstrated the importance of having contingencies along with tight, tight security. Both sides offered the boy a lesson.

He wondered what lesson's he would learn from Darth Arcis, his 501st Legion had brought death in excess to those who opposed the Sith Empire, all thanks to superb abilites as a commander. Xavier theorized if he had remained Emperor, the Empire would still be standing today. But based on his knowledge, the One Sith were a better alternative anyway. Still, he idolized the man about to train him, and he couldn't help but be a bit excited.

[member="Darth Arcis"]

 

[Judas of Vahl]

It was the surname that caught his eye, but even more so than this young child knew. The lingering presence of Kara Vi'dreya and that of Demaia could still be felt as though they permeated his very soul. That single spark of love that Dranok craved, he missed Demaia. The Forgotten One missed her more than anything he had in his entire life. More than the tens of thousands of soldiers that died upon his commands, more than the people of the worlds burning beneath him, and more than an empire and a kingdom that he had long since been exiled from.

In actuality, the exile was self-made. He needed nobody anymore and not many felt the same towards this aged and wizened warrior. Dranok Lussk had been born in the searing hot flames of war and battle and that would eventually be his demise. But for now, he had to give in to his primal desires for any traces that connected him to his past. Kara, Demaia, Xavier. Though the latter was not technically of his blood, Lord Arcis considered him worthy of being able to call him one of his family.

The robed and masked warlord made his way through the academy, no doubt attracting the terrified and greedy glares from instructors and students alike. It was the way of the Sith to crave power and power was what he had - he thought. To him, power was nothing anymore. No goals were in sight, the future was clouded and cloaked with a veil of uncertainty. Lest he befall a fate worse than death, he had plans to continue on his legacy as he always had.

Darkness could be felt from his presence. It lingered, it craved, it desired.

Nearing the door, Dranok spoke.

"Are you him?"

A simple question, but one that would alter this boy's future.

[member="Xavier Vi'dreya"]

 

[Xavier Vi'dreya]

"I am."

He knew the mask, he'd made one like it once, but it had been destroyed during his time in the CIS. Looking up from the holopad he looked up at Arcis with the same icy blue eyes as his sister, the only difference was within his there was the slightest spark of insanity. They were the eyes of a monster, one who felt no remorse about those he killed, all who stood in his way were subject to his wrath. Pain had made him this, but it had also gotten him here, and had kept him alive.

Placing the holopad down, he stood up looking into the slit of the mask with fascination, and respect. There was no lust for power in this situation, he held no grievances against this man, he saw him as something to strive to be. When Kara had disappeared from his life and he and Thyrian became distant, he spent his time studying Arcis, tactics, victories, defeats, everything he could find. He'd been waiting to learn from [member="Darth Arcis"] a long time.

 

[Judas of Vahl]

Dranok gave a tight grin from behind his mask as the young man answered him. It was short and curt, though there was a different tone in his voice. It was primal and it craved - no, needed - more of that power and strength than what Kara wanted. Already in an instant Dranok had sized up a few aspects of this boy's personality. He was more ambitious than the rest and he desired for more power than was necessary for a boy his age.

Darth Arcis would give it all to him, within due time. This was what he had been waiting for: a heir to his legacy. Dranok was all but forgotten in this galaxy of pain and strife and agony. He'd done things people had never even imagined doing, slain countless beings full of life, and had ultimately altered parts of galactic history. That was his purpose.

"I see you're studying Echo Base," the Sith Lord moved into the room, cape billowing, "what have you learned? What would've you done if you were Lord Vader?"

[member="Xavier Vi'dreya"]

 

[Xavier Vi'dreya]

"Utilize more efficient reconnaissance for one, the man had legions of scout troopers and operatives at his command, all of whom would've killed Han Solo upon detection thus ensuring the attack maintained the element of surprise." He began, before thinking through the other flaws in a relatively solid attack. "I'd have smaller craft attack the transports to avoid possible ion cannon strikes, and I'd have utilized close air support, TIE Fighters would've made short work of the rebel snowspeeders." Xavier finished. Besides what he'd stated he felt that Vader had done quite well, and was an overall admirable tactician, brash in his earlier days, but by the time of Hoth he largely had a handle on his temper.

Xavier would need to work on that as well.

He studied the robed figure before him and found himself wondering why Kara had ever left his side. Arcis offered so much, knowledge, skill, power, everything the he could imagine and the same could probably be said for her. At least he hoped so, she was smart after all.

[member="Darth Arcis"]

 

[Judas of Vahl]

The Sith Lord nodded approvingly. At such a young age he had already pinpointed Vader's flaws and had devised an even greater plan than the tool of the Emperor had. It was impressive indeed, but Vader was no master tactician. When it came to analyzing the better strategists, Dranok preferred to delve into the Emperor's inner workings and even some of Thrawns excursions in space. Naval combat was so much more difficult than ground warfare.

"Why," he started again, "Didn't Vader just orbitally bombard them? The entire High Command of the Rebel Alliance was there and he could've ended the entire conflict with a single strike. What was his fatal flaw?"

[member="Xavier Vi'dreya"]

 

[Xavier Vi'dreya]

"Luke Skywalker."

The response wasn't a concrete response, but Arcis would likely grasp Xavier's meaning. Vader had been looking for his son, looking to turn him to the dark side and to join him in crushing his master and taking power for himself and his son. Perhaps it would ease some of the torment Vader put himself through mentally, perhaps it truly was just a grab at power. Either way all associated parties were dead at this point.

Xavier had never tested his abilities in terms of fleet command, he had run small insurgencies on outer worlds for practice. If anything from outside the planet's atmosphere got involved, usually it was an orbital strike coming for the boy's rebels. And that spelled the end of that uprising, and his 'training session'.

[member="Darth Arcis"]

 

[Judas of Vahl]

The Sith Lord nodded with approval, golden orbs staring down at the boy with intense calculation. He was smart already, getting the hang of things regarding tactical awareness, military strategy, and might even have a little basic insight into policy making for both defensive and offensive campaigns. But knowledge and wisdom were only just a fraction of the equation.

"What," he spoke, "Is your purpose for existing?"

[member="Xavier Vi'dreya"]