Join Me, Or Die

[Kahlil Noble]

Bastion, capital of the Sith Empire. An impenetrable fortress of a planet, and home to one of many Sith Academies throughout their territory. This academy was the one Dubiety had spent all of his childhood in, growing and learning the ways of the Sith and their code. And it was here that he brought [member="Ryder Zeshatt"] .

The room he'd awake in was bland by appearance. A bed, on which he laid, a desk, a chair, a door. As an Acolyte, Kahlil had little he could call his own, not that it bothered the young Sorcerer. When the human hybrid would awake, he would find his captor sitting at the desk with a warm cup of caf at his side, thumbing through a black tome. He was devoid of his usual attire. There was something freeing about not needing to wear a mask when someone already knew the secret.

Without looking over his shoulder he would address Ryder, his voice calm and sane for once. "Good morning. I'm pleased I didn't kill you."

 

[Kev'vazulan]

Despite having gone through a hellish experience not long ago, the dream Ryder had experienced was... blissful. It was something about it that felt soothing, and it could have been due to the actions of the Jedi just before the two had vanished from the scene. It was as if the radiant warmth of the light had latched onto him, to keep him comforted during his rest. Not once did his malicious thoughts come into play in his dream, if anything his mind was focused upon some of the simpler times in his life. Back when he was a child without worries, ignorant to how reality really was. Before he knew the troubled circumstances of his household. Before he lost the people he held dear to himself. Where everything felt comforting.

The violetblue eyes of Ryder slowly opened, being met with a roof rather than the black sky of a cold night. Rather than stars attempting to breathe life into the darkness, he could see a chandelier spreading vibrant colors in the room. When he adjusted to the light, he could see the detailed patterns atop of the roof, the building constructed by people who have mastered the arts and crafts. His chest heaved, and sunk, as he gave himself a moment to relax. The innocent nature that he was just recently enveloped by escaped, and instead was reintroduced to what had happened at that city. His teeth gritted together and his palms spread themselves along the sheets, before heaving himself up to a seated position.

He looked down at his exposed bodily features, taking note that all of his wounds had healed up properly, although it still ached a bit as a result of the lightning that stung the muscles like millions of small needles. He could feel his heartbeat moving at a slow pace, and he didn't feel any droplets of sweat trailing down his back or forehead, putting Ryder at some ease. He hadn't gotten ill, at the very least.

Just as the thought entered his mind, he felt another heart in the room, one which he was completely oblivious to at first. It reminded him of the time at Zeltros, where someone was in a room where he'd expect to be alone. His eyes trailed from his torso and towards the vibrations that he felt, and his gaze thinned at the sight of Kahlil. He recognised the face immediately, and he felt an instant urge to send his right fist through his skull. But he kept himself composed, for he knew that this would be a bad time to pick a fight. His body was weaker than usual due to the force ability that knocked him out, and the man was certainly not alone in reality. He could imagine the entire building having capable fighters akin to Kahlil, and he knew he'd suffer more if he attempted an assault.

Ryder's voice had a completely opposite tone to Khalil's, as if he was Yin and the Sith was the Yang. It gave off a harsh masculinity, bordering on growly akin to a wolf. It had a low pitch to it aswell, and it certainly wasn't calm. "If only I could say the same." His right palm clenched into a fist, still resisting the urge. "I'd have been pleased if your head followed your mask." He eventually allowed himself to relax a tad, since he remembered one detail; whilst he was being tortured, he was also indirectly saved. The Prowler's Sith Lightning would have surely ended him if it wasn't for Khalil, since Ryder couldn't move. The hostility ceased - for now. "Why did you do all of this?"

---​

[member=Dubiety]

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"I truly thought my head was." Kahlil remained calm as [member="Ryder Zeshatt"] so blatantly wished for his death. It was to be expected. They were enemies on the battlefield of wanton death and murder. He an ally of a Jedi, Kahlil a Sith. But the Epicanthix could see the intelligence of his captive. Ryder wanted to strike out, that much was clear. But he didn't, clearly already making the connection between why he wasn't in chains and his Sith captor had no weaponry on his person.

Well, not that Dubiety needed weaponry.

"Do you know what you did? I assume you don't, for if you had I very well would have been dead by now. Statterpoint is a potent and unique ability few in this galaxy can say they can use. In a way, it's like the Sith Sorcerers in rarity, yet still far more uncommon. You instinctively used it when a human should be dead. You've even fully healed after all that damage in less then a day. You are an oddity, and as such I can't help but want to study you."

The man turned in his seat, his arms crossed over his chest as he spoke. All the while he was studying his prey's movements and reactions, ever curious on the man behind the rather impressive self healing flesh.

"We'll start with the basics. What is your name?"

 

[Kahlil Noble]

(MOI IMMERSIONS! Disregard)

 

[Kev'vazulan]

Ryder shifted his body so that his naked feet could touch the rug that covered the floor. He couldn't help but note that it was soft and welcoming, just like the rest of the room. He felt as if it was... ironic, in a sense. The man who brought him here didn't even hesitate to inflict pain on Ryder, yet he owned a room that was welcoming. Since when did the horrors of torture and the comforts of hospitality intertwine? He'd probably not get the answer anytime soon.

His mind focused on the words that came out of the Epicanthix, words that were impossible for Ryder to comprehend. His expression showed signs of confusion, with his right eyebrow arching up his forehead. The terminology was completely foreign to him. He barely even knew what the Sith were, having lived a life which mostly consisted of isolation on a farmland in Sacorria. To him, he was just a farmboy away from his home, and all he wanted was to get a hold of a ship he could call his own. Somehow, his attempts of acquiring one resulted in him getting abducted instead.

"You've... lost me entirely. Shatterpoints, Sith, Sorcerers..." his expression was one of disbelief, gazing upon his palms that had now clasped together between his knees. "Since when was magic real?" He shook his head as if trying to deny the possibility, letting his vibrant eyes return to his kidnapper. "Now you said something I understand - Yes, I'm resilient. I'm very hard to kill. I learned from experience." He thought back at a moment where a ship he was hitchhiking in was boarded by pirates. He suffered injuries that made him look like a mutilated war veteran. Only a few days after, his face showed no signs of injury, without any external sources to speed up the process. "I doubt you will gain anything from 'studying' me, you know. I'm nothing special."

His words were of sincerity, and Kahlil could feel that. Ryder never saw himself as exceptional in anything, if anything he saw himself as a failure. There's only been few moments where he felt like he wasn't branded a failure, whether it be protecting honest-working slicers or cheering up the people around of him. Right now, he felt like he normally would do, if not worse. How many died in that city whilst he was abducted, temporarily blinded by wrath?

".. The basics. Alright. Ryder."

---​

[member=Dubiety]

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Magic has been real for a while now. Lightning from your fingertips, dead walking among the living. You were just in the middle of a magic show." Kahlil chuckled a bit as he listened to [member="Ryder Zeshatt"] speak. The man truly didn't think he was anything special, and what's more he didn't seem to think magic was real. Which was half true. Magic in the way most assume it works is of course fake. But the Force can do much to those who know how to control it.

"We'll talk more about that later though. Ryder. Strong name. It's a pleasure to meet you." Kahlil stood then, stepping over to his captive and offered a hand as it to shake. He kept it out, waiting. "I am Kahlil Zambrano. You are the only one to know the face behind the mask. It's a secret I take very seriously."

 

[Kev'vazulan]

Ryder's gaze continued to look at the man with a hint of skepticism. Magic couldn't be real - right? Surely they were just making use of some high-tech weaponry which he had no understanding of? Technology can be used to clone entire entities and make perfectly functioning droids. Taking that into account, it's not impossible to perform those lightning-tricks in flashy color. The dead? Technology that can stimulate nerves of the recently-departed, making them move as if they were truly brought back from the dead. No way could this have been some otherworldly phenomenon, he couldn't believe it.

His eyes sealed shut when the man mentioned it was a discussion for later. His head dipped down as he heard the short evaluation of his name. Strong. Like his mother was. Opening up his gaze, he could see a shadow by his feet that reached for him. He looked up and noted the hand being raised. He was expecting a handshake? A handshake? After what Ryder had to experience? His facial expression returned to being one of hostility, his right hand moving up to grab a hold of Kahlil's. He could crush his hand right now. He could make this horrible person have to live with a bionic hand, one day wondering how his right hand once felt.

But he kept himself composed, and slowly shook it. The grip was firm, but it wasn't one that would hurt someone. Kahlil could no doubt feel the aura of resentment in the air, since Ryder was forced to shake hands with a man he'd prefer dead. "Kahlil." he said, giving off a brief, aggressive exhale through his nose. The eyes kept staring at the palm, as if expecting another surge.

He was constantly analyzing the body language of the Epicanthix, especially when he mentioned that Ryder was the first to see his face. If there was one thing Ryder could do, it was to detect if someone was lying. He could feel the slightest hesitation in a person's body, whether it be through a slight tension in a muscle, a brief change in pulse or an awkward movement of the eye. If it was the truth, Ryder would be... less cruel, finding empathy in hiding oneself from others. If it was a lie, the hostility would stay the same, if not amplify. Regardless, his response would be the same - one filled with sarcasm. "Oh, I'm truly honored to be the very first to see your face. You have the appearance of a guardian angel." It was followed by a second-long growl, partially muffled by sealed lips.

---​

[member=Dubiety]

 

[Kahlil Noble]

There was a faint twitch of a smile on Kahlil's lips as [member="Ryder Zeshatt"] thought of his mother. The anger the man felt had left him unbalanced, easy to read through the Force. Memories, thoughts, they were all available for the Epicanthix so long as he continued to feel all of this resentment. And it's just what the Sith wanted. There was no surge of electricity this time from Dubiety as he lowered his hand away from the shake, moving back to sit down in his chair.

To Ryder's discerning eye, he would see no trace of a lie. Dubiety had chosen to hide his face upon coming to the Sith for his own protection. As a Zambrano, he'd be a prime target for Sith looking to prove themselves. The strongest survived, and what better way to prove their strength then to defeat a child of the Emperor? Still, he wasn't here to reminisce on old memories.

Or at least, not his own.

"I appreciate the sentiment. It's truly liberating to let someone see me for me after all these years you know." He had turned back to his desk, thumbing through a black leather book. If Ryder payed close enough attention he could see faint runes of red glowing here and there as the pages turned. Kahlil began to mutter under his breath, as if studying aloud. It was then that a cold would begin to creep up on the Epicanthix's prey.

The Darkside was reaching for his very mind as Kahlil muttered out his spell. Memory Rub was a long and complex process, but more importantly for the young acolyte it was taking him a rather long time to cast the spell. He was, however, casting it. If Ryder wasn't able to resist it, the Sith would begin erasing the memories of his mother.

 

[Kev'vazulan]

Gaining some empathy doesn't remove one's sense of caution, especially when the statement was a half-truth. He could tell that he wasn't jesting or lying, but at the same time, it couldn't be right. Whilst he was mostly oblivious to the current situations in the galaxy, he wasn't completely unaware. Whilst he didn't know the specifics of the Jedi and the Sith, he's stumbled across plenty of people in the cantinas who have uttered the names before, and daren't speak of it further in case the words fell on wrong ears. He thought they were simply poor rumors spreading around, but after what he had seen, and what Kahlil was saying - it was all real.

Which is why the bloodline of Zambrano ringed a bell.

All he's ever heard is the fact that they're on the 'top of the food chain', and royalty in their own right. That presumably, the head of the family is some... Emperor. He thought it sounded pretentious at the time, but waking up in this room didn't make it seem so farfetched. It was fit for royalty. That's why, despite the fact that his eyes were telling him he wasn't lying...

... He couldn't believe in it being truly honest.

His family has seen his face, no doubt. There is no way that they haven't. It's family, after all. Even Ryder's father, who was adamant on not showing his face to his son, came to accept the fact that he couldn't keep hiding it from his son; that he wasn't human. That's why he couldn't believe Kahlil, and thats why he was keeping a cautious gaze as he made the peculiar decision to sit by the desk and indulge himself in reading.

How awkward.

Ryder got up from his seat and approached the desk, gazing at the streaks of red that surfaced on the pages. It reminded him of the electricity that the Prowler shot towards the two back at the city, the color close to identical. Whilst he could simply be overthinking it, it wasn't unexpected and unreasonable for him to be that way. He was cautious of the hand - and he was cautious over him suddenly reading. It didn't make sense for the conversation to suddenly be disconnected. Either Kahlil was as socially incompetent as a non-sentient, or there was something going on. He guessed the latter.

So, in the middle of the what-would-be incantation, Ryder placed both of his palms by the centre of the desk. He didn't do it in a cautious manner, rather he put force into it. Enough physical force to snap the desk and cause the props atop of it to sprawl onto the floor, including the book that was being used, interrupting him from 'finishing reading'. His voice was grittier than before, showing no signs of trying to play it off as an accident. "Deciding to read when you initiated a questioning?" His frame leant forward so that he would stare directly into the Epicanthix' eyes, revealing his first grin. It was sadistic, partially mocking this Zambrano-fellow, but the eyes still showed that Ryder was analyzing his every move, never lowering his guard. "Continue with the basics - Next question. Or do I have to say please?"

He just wanted to get to the point already, not trusting the sudden hospitality after being electrocuted twice.

---​

​

[member=Dubiety]

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Rather casually the Epicanthix pulled his book from the desk as [member="Ryder Zeshatt"] his hands down. He could sense the intended hostility and saved his little book before it could join the rest of his items as they were scattered around the room. Kahlil glanced up from the tome then, halting the muttered chant to raise a brow at his captive. Slowly he closed the book and rose from his seat, staring down at the human.

"You misunderstand your position here. You are my experiment. No one knows where you are. No one cares. I will ask my questions when I feel like it, not when you'd like me to. And more importantly." He turned for the door then, stepping away. "You are among many who would torture and kill you, if you can be killed."

 

[Kev'vazulan]

"Then what's with the empty formalities?" Ryder turned to face the exit of the room as Kahlil walked towards it. His palms were placed on his own hips, staring at him questioningly. It simply didn't make sense in his mind, to try and be kind towards one's experiment. Either this man was more unwise than Ryder initially thought - or maybe he was showing a hint of weakness. One manifested through a lack of social compatability. He had to hide his face, implying that he hasn't shared his real name and identity to anyone outside of his family. But he shared his name to someone he deemed as an experiment, someone who shouldn't matter. Someone who should be comparable to a lowly slave. His gaze wandered down to the floor when thinking that, showing an immediate sense of sympathy rather than empathy.

He could relate to being solitary and cautious, hiding as much about onself as possible.

His left palm went up to run through his own strands of hair whilst speaking. "I'm fine with being hurt again, if helping you accomplish your goals leads to me not being some experiment." There was a sincerity in his tone, the palm shifting to scratch his neck. Kahlil knew exactly how much Ryder suffered during that ordeal, which made the genuine response have some more weight to it. "Are you trying to figure out why my body works different? I can explain it. Do you need me to do some dirty work? Fine. Hiding your motives isn't going to make things go smooth."

Ryder's eyes looked back at Kahlil's face, the hint of sympathy being replaced with complete neutrality. It was probably a different experience for him, given his identity as a Zambrano. Whilst everyone would make a gigantic deal out of the fact that he is one of the Emperor's children, Ryder showed no care about his family name. If something was going to make Ryder show any signs of amazement, it would be through their personal accomplishments. Even if he had the perception of the average spacer, he barely knew anything about the Zambrano, therefor having little reason to try and act submissive or putting the man on a pedestal to soothe an ego.

He was probably the first one outside of Kahlil's family to treat him as an equal, even after knowing his name, and even after being harmed by him.

"... Sorry about your desk, by the way. I'll, er... Fix it or something, later."

---​

​

[member=Dubiety]

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Kahlil paused in the doorway as [member="Ryder Zeshatt"] spoke. Another thought passed through his mind. A thought about how the human truly viewed himself. He truly thought he was average, despite his rapid healing and power over such a unique skill as Shatterpoint. He laughed at the idea, openly cackling in the doorway as he pulled his mask back on. "You're an experiment for me to see if I can make a Sith out of you. Don't worry about the desk. Rest up, if you get the chance. You'll need the sleep for what will come next."

And with that he left, though not far. The window that lead to the outside was false, it's imagery a recording from the real world. It was a one way window, and as the Sith settled down at a similar desk on the other side, he watched and observed. The second Ryder fell asleep, he would begin the ritual anew, testing both himself and his captive on what would happen if his mother never existed.

 

[Kev'vazulan]

A Sith. That's what he wanted Ryder to become? He still didn't really understand what it meant, but he could determine two things; they were driven by emotion and they have abilities that far surpasses the utilisation of a blaster rifle. He figured out the emotion aspect through Kahlil. He remembered the expression of fear which exchanged into that of a grin, an exhilerating one which made his heart race. He seemed to have grown more powerful at that point, because the second wave of lightning felt worse. Ryder himself felt something grow within him at the exposure of fear, anger and pain. Maybe that's what made him think he could make a 'Sith' out of Ryder.

Maybe it wouldn't be too bad of an idea.

He watched Kahlil close the door. His eyes were tracing his motions down the hallway until he diverted his gaze towards the mess that he had made. He spent the next few minutes simply attempting to tidy it up, piling it off by a corner so that it could be thrown away easier later. Afterwards he grabbed a hold of the chair, moving it close to the windowframe. Sitting down, he palced his right elbow on the frame, the palm resting just below of his chin.

He looked at what would be the planetary fortress, or at least the recording of it. He was studying it for a long period of time, taking in as much detail as possible. He started imagining things. Maybe if he wasn't classified as some type of an experiment, maybe he could feel somewhat content with living in a place like this. Or maybe not - after all, if the Sith are what Ryder believes, they're bound to be causing internal struggles and torment.

---​

​

He let out a small sigh as it must've gone about an hour, simply brooding and gazing at the view. He was starting to get bored.

Bored of acting ignorant.

His eyes suddenly shifted from gazing down below to slightly above his direct line of sight. He had been feeling Kahlil's presence the entire time, as his heart was in close proximity for the entire duration. Having engraved the appearance of the man into his mind, Ryder could somewhat deduct where his eyes were located at in relation to the heart. He was gazing deep into his eyes - or so it seemed. In reality, Ryder couldn't see anything, he could simply feel him beyond the one-way mirror, revealing to 'Dubiety' that he was capable of sensing people aswell. Ryder let out a heavy sigh, leaning further into his own palm. "You make me feel like I'm supposed to be blissfully unaware of things."

He straightened up his posture, placing both of his elbows onto the frame. He leant further forward towards the mirror, keeping his gaze stuck on where Kahlil's body would be. "I've deducted a few things by now. One, direct confrontation is something you'd rather avoid, and would only do it through giving someone a false sense of security first." His left palm was holding up fingers for every pointer he made. "Two. You're experienced enough to fend off against strong opponents, but you haven't reached a point where you can do everything without a guiding tool - like mumbling, or making use of a book. I could be wrong about that, since I don't know how magic works." His eyes got more intense as he continued to speak. "Three. You're adamant of making use of the tool to perform some impressive phenomenon rather than adapting and picking a different method, which brings me to the biggest one."

At this point, Ryder's eyes were similar to when he was looking to crush the face of Kahlil, completely violet, and with a light grin plastered on his face. The pinky of his right hand was held up as the fourth finger, and it pointed right at the masked fellow. "You're trying to be noticed and accepted. You know you could make this work by simply talking, but you want to show that you can do something complicated, to prove that you are a good Sith. Maybe you'd take off that mask once you feel like your skills have been noticed and accepted by - maybe your mother?" He shook his head and let out a light chuckle, a sinister tone behind of it. "No, it must be the father. The Emperor, the one whose voice matters most, isn't it? Being worthy of his praise as his son is a dream of yours."

He stared for a solid minute before letting the expression fade. The grin changed into a faltering smile and his gaze fell down towards the windowframe, losing their ill intent. He let out a small sigh before the violetblue eyes looked back at the mirror. "Less is more. Like you said yourself at the beginning: Start with the basics."

---​

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[member=Dubiety]

 

[Kahlil Noble]

There was silence following [member="Ryder Zeshatt"] 's words, as if he had been talking to a window. But Kahlil knew better. He had been purposely moving himself behind the glass, watching as the human followed his movements perfectly. It was.. Surprising, to know that despite the fact Ryder looked like a human he had so many superhuman qualities. It only intrigued the Zambrano more, and eventually he settled in a seat and leaned on his hands, just watching in fascination at his deductions. For the most part, he was correct.

As a Sorcerer he wanted nothing more than to prove his skill, and be noticed by his father. But Sith Sorcery needed these tools, these mediums. With a wave of his hand he turned off the screen, letting Ryder see into the room Kahlil sat. Through a microphone he responded, still settling his chin on his clasped hands. "Mostly correct. Of course I strive for recognition. That is the forefront of any Sith. Well, most Sith. Some don't, preferring to use the Darkness as a guise for their actions. To become a stronger Sorcerer, I have to use these mediums. My book holds my spells. Once my skill increases, there will be a whole new avenue of spells and rituals I can do."

He then paused, still studying his experiment. No, this man wasn't going to end up being just an experiment. He was too smart, too aware of his surroundings and yet, calm. Most in this situation would have some trace of fear for their future, but there was no such sign from this man.

"You're an extraordinary human you know. So humble, so unassuming of your own strength. How many people do you know who can take as many bullets as you did and survive? How many do you think can see where someone is behind a one way mirror? On top of this, you have skill in the Force, and a unique one at that. You are powerful, and have so much potential. I was thinking about burning away the memories of your mother with my magic, but that's a pointless task now. I'll train you as a Sith should be trained, and together we'll both grow stronger."

 

[Kev'vazulan]

Ryder listened intently to what Kahlil had to say. His answer left Ryder satisfied with some of his assumptions, but it also allowed him to gain some insight as to the ambition of the man. Contrary to Ryder's original belief, Kahlil wasn't ashamed or insecure, believing those would be the reasons behind donning the mask. Instead, he got to understand that Kahlil was aiming to shine at the top of the hierarchy, known for being one of the best Sorcerers of his time. Any man could respect the ambitious trait of another, since it indirectly causes one of two emotions; inspiration or devotion. Ryder was feeling the former, since he had rather huge goals of his own.

he spoke during Kahlil's pause. "That makes a lot of sense. You Sith grow through emotions, and emotions exist both in the light and the dark. I also assume that spells and rituals are different from shooting lightning through your body. Guess I was wrong about the book - I thought it was a sign of insecurity." His arms raised as if a weapon was pointed at him, the smile widening slightly. "Sorry." The palms lowered to be placed on his laps, giving a nod to signal that he's finished.

The second batch of words weren't nearly as well-recieved as the first, and it was obvious. It went okay at first, glancing down at his palms as he was being praised for having qualities that were seen as beyond average. It was strange since he had to experience a large portion of his life in the shadows of others, where almost everything he did was seen as below average, not far from pure incompetence. His connection to the Force had been a handicap for his entire adult life.

Though his thoughts were averted at the mention of his mother. His eyes fell upon Kahlil, who he could now properly see, since he hadn't looked up ever since he suggested the basics. The eyes squinted and looked at him with quite a bit of tension. That was one of the two important people in his life that he was going to simply strip away from him, one of the two reasons behind his ambition. He licked his upper row of teeth before responding.

"Before I take up any type of offer, I do have to ask something.." His broad stature leant forward, closer towards the mirror, staring at the Sith with an expression akin to a judicator. "What did you think would possibly come out of removing a parental figure from someone's mind? Wouldn't that just make them less connected to their feelings? If you suddenly had no memories of your family members, do you still think you'd strive for all of this?"

He let out a heavy sigh, feeling a slight shiver down his spine at the idea of forgetting his own mother. "I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for those memories."

---​

​

[member=Dubiety]

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"In truth, it was to see if I could. It's a complicated spell, and your thoughts of your mother were the first I could see that had meaning. A challenge for my own skill. As I said, I was intending you to be naught but an experiment. Your resiliency would make you rather effective at testing my more damaging spells, regardless of your mental state. Personally, no. I doubt I'd strive for where I'm going as I am, though I'd definitely still push for being forward as a Sith." Dubiety kept his response calm. And truthful for once. [member="Ryder Zeshatt"] had sparked a whole different idea on what they could be together. What sort of Sith this human could be.

"But, I've no intention of doing that any longer. There is no taking things away, not if you're to be a true Sith. There's only learning, and controlling your emotions in a way that will give you power. I myself am young, still learning. But my offer still stands. I only ask what you think of the Sith. Those monstrous undead you saw before. That, is among the normal. That man for example was my ally. Still is, should he have survived his encounter with that Jedi. Can you handle such blatant evil?"

 

[Kev'vazulan]

Ryder didn't say a word during Kahlil's explanation. He simply nodded along and understood what he had to say. What his reasoning was. What he believes he would do if he was afflicted with a similar spell as he was about to use on Ryder. He understood, he was empathetic about it, and decided he shouldn't be holding a grudge against him for the attempt. Kahlil is born of royalty, son to one of the strongest people the galaxy has ever seen - it's only natural for him to underestimate someone that was raised on a farm, with little to no understanding of what the Force was. Now they both knew the intelligence of the other, and Ryder was certain that something like this would not occur a third time.

If it would ever happen again, he'd have to break a limb or two. Or kill him. That is how precious those memories are.

"Who says that emotions have to be a sign of evil?" He looked at Kahlil, scratching his own neck with his left hand. "I will have to say, I despise the idea of using the dead in order to accomplish one's tasks. It goes against..." The hand lowered itself down, showing a glimpse of his own resolve. "... It goes against the dream I am attempting to reach." Though it was just a glimpse, before he changed context. "My father performed actions that could be seen as evil. He tore dozens of people apart to the point where I witnessed intestines spreading along the grass when I was but a child. The action could be seen as evil, but he wasn't evil, not for a second." He couldn't help but grin thinking about it, showing a more innocent side of himself, even if it was just for a few seconds.

"Evil is doing things like that without good reason. Killing for the sake of killing is one without a resolve, one without a motivation, and one that is evil. If you kill for the sake of conquering and unifying a planet under your influence, that isn't evil. Don't you agree?" Ryder shrugged his shoulders, not sure how else he could further his point.

"That's why I'll murder that ally of yours, because he goes against what I'm attempting to reach, and because he just wanted to see things burn - Killing for the sake of killing. And I hope you don't stop me when I get the opportunity."

He stared at Kahlil, arms crossed below of his chest, being fully serious. He wasn't intending on letting that being exist, and he hoped that his answer was reasonable enough for the man to understand his opinion of the Sith.

---​

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[member=Dubiety]

​

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"That's a rather logical way to look at it. A good way, of course. Here, one moment." Kahlil got up from his desk, leaving [member="Ryder Zeshatt"] to himself for a moment as he left the room. Then, he'd come right back in the new recruits room. He removed his mask, tossing it onto the destroyed desk before sitting once again in the chair he had before. Lanky arms crossed over his chest as he sat in silence for a moment, taking in the later half of what he said.

To promote the idea of killing an ally wasn't against being Sith, but he wanted as strong a powerbase as possible. [member="The Prowler"] was a powerful ally, and while his wanton slaughter seemed needless, there was purpose. But that was for the Prowler to explain, if at all. A goal, especially one born from the desire to kill another, made for a good Sith.

"I won't, so long as you don't expect me to help. Of course, there is a saying for the Sith when it comes to such an act. Respect your betters and keep your head down, until you're strong enough to say otherwise. He's stronger than myself for example. Once I'm strong enough though, he'll bend the knee. And then you can choose what to do. For now, I'd focus on your training and learn more on The Prowler. He'll be your ally until you can take him out on your own."

 

[Kev'vazulan]

Ryder nodded as he listened thoroughly to what Kahlil had to say. It was clear that Ryder was looking to learn, since he's come to understand a grim reality; He knew extremely little about how to achieve his goals. The concept of the Force is like that of a stranger to him, yet it is extremely significant. Enough to make two men have enough impact to cause absolute terror in a city. He had to learn about it, and he felt that Kahlil was going to be good at doing just that. Ryder can learn about the galaxy and how to make use of the phenomenon, and in return he'll ensure his safety and the likes. He saw it as the opportunity to have a form of comraderie, not worrying about how long it would last.

He wasn't intending on opposing him anymore after gaining some clarity about who Kahlil was as a person. He even smiled a little when he decided to take off the mask, since it was an indirect sign of respect. He didn't even harbor any resentment for what happened in the city, in a weird way he was almost thankful for it. It gave him the opportunity to finally progress.

"That is fine by me, and it sounds reasonable. Once I figure out a means of dealing with him, I should say that it shouldn't come as a surprise that I am going to hunt him down." He hummed for a second, the gears in his mind already moving, coming up with different ideas. "I have a plan in regards to how I can accomplish it, but that's for a future discussion." He wafted with his left hand, brushing away the topic. "I have a question - what are we going to be up against? You already know I'm fairly ignorant towards what types of people roam in this galaxy, meaning I won't know who opposes you Sith... Or should I say us." He wasn't sure if he was using the moniker of Sith right. "Figured it'd be good to know who I'm going to need to kill to further your goal."

---​

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[member=Dubiety]

 

[Kahlil Noble]

"Anyone who would stand in the way of my research. Sith monstrosities used as guardians, Jedi who would impede my work and declare it as evil. And anyone the Empire deems a target. We help the Empire, they give us a place to learn and experiment. And should we get strong enough, we can decide our enemies for ourselves, hmm?" Kahlil gave [member="Ryder Zeshatt"] a genuine smile. There was something liberating about being up front with someone who just seemed to understand. Who wanted to know.

"We'll start with the basics of your training. Do you remember when you broke my mask? How it felt?"