M E A T B A G
Intent: To create an alchemical terror to bond with Khonsu's flesh.
Image Source: Not Applicable.
Canon Link: Terentatek Hide.
Primary Source: Repurposed Canon Articles.
Manufacturer: Khonsu Amon - via Ancient Texts, Sith Holocrons and Genetic Manipulation.
Affiliation: Khonsu Amon.
Model: N/A - Not Applicable.
Modularity: Not Applicable.
Production: Unique - Khonsu Amon.
Material: Revitalized Terentatek Flesh, Alchemical Oils, Various Alchemical and Genetic Components.
Classification: Other; Anti-Force Biosuit.
Weight: Light - Bodysuit, or "Second-Skin."
Coverage: Near-Total Coverage, and Full Body Protection (Minus Neural Connection Nodes, and Facial Features.)
Resistances:
- Energy Weapons: Low.
- Kinetic Weapons: Low.
- Sonic Weapons: None.
- Melee and Shrapnel: Low.
- Lightsabres: None.
- Electronic Warfare (EMP/Ion): None.
- Environmental: Average.
- The Force: Extreme.
- Revitalized, and Xenografted Terentatek Flesh.
- Nigh-Force Immunity: While utilizing Terentatek Flesh as a protection against those who wielded the Force was nothing new, it was how the Sun Guard - known as Khonsu Amon - sought to use its protective graces that was deemed revolutionary; if not outright heretical in the eyes of the devout. Thus, through the arcane technologies that were made available to the Thyrsian, the man effectively made himself nigh-immune to the effects of the Force - save for those that altered the environment surrounding the Sunborn Warrior. With this new addition to Khonsu’s armoury, the Sun Guard would find themselves charging into the uncertainty of the future and claiming victory amongst the warring stars.
- Hunger for the Force: In a limited fashion, the Second Skin was capable of heightening the various faculties of Khonsu’s body to receive external stimuli; allowing the man to essentially see with predatory eyes. Due to the Force-resistant properties of the revitalized Terentatek, the Sun Guard’s own connection was greatly reduced - leaving him with little more than an enhanced grasp on his ethereal surroundings. With his vast potential as a promising Sith Apprentice seemingly wasted, the Sunborn Warrior would become an almost perfect hunter of Jedi and Sith alike as he seeks to reclaim a Legacy long-lost to the tides of history. Note: This Hunger becomes uncomfortable, or outright painful when immersed within a Ysalamiri's suppression bubble, and his senses revert back to their natural state.
- Xenotransplantation: Throughout the modern era; both from before the darkening of civilization’s light and the time that came after, Xenografts (or heterologous transplant) have been an ill-advised and nigh-impossible obstacle to surmount. However, through the unpublished and arcane technologies made available to Khonsu Amon - and those he brought into his confidence - such fantastical possibilities became reality. But, venturing through such uncharted waters brought with it a slew of drawbacks that were unforeseen. The first, and most notable of these complications - was that the suit could never be removed… it was and would forever be a part of the Sunborn Warrior until his dying day.
- Altered Physiology: Forced to undergo extensive sessions of Arkanian Gene Therapy, Khonsu’s pure-born Thyrsian physiology was altered at the cellular level - as to allow his flesh to accept the revitalized Xenografts, rather than outright reject them. With these changes, however, came with it the insatiable desire for Force-Enriched meat; something that was primarily found amongst the living Terentatek’s. This newfound change in the Thyrsian’s diet would ensure that his “Second Skin” would survive, but also posed the risk of Khonsu himself becoming more bestial in demeanour and appearance (depending entirely on how enriched the meat was that he consumed.)
- Sithspawn Manifestation: While the Terentatek itself was nigh-immune to the effects of the Force, save those powers that manipulated the world around the beast, it’s flesh would still fall prey to the plasmatic lethality of a Sith or Jedi’s weapon. In addition to this grave weakness, Khonsu Amon himself would become susceptible to the concentrated effects of Force Light - which would cause him discomfort, or extreme agony on a cellular level. By extension of that weakness, the Sunborn Warrior was incapable of entering any Force Nexus’ that were imbued with the ethereal tides of Ashla (Or Light) as the Nexus would seek to flense the “corrupted” flesh from his towering, muscular physique.
- Double-Edged Sword: While the Second Skin was capable of defending Khonsu from a majority of Force-based attacks, it also had the curious side-effect of stripping his aetheric potential; leaving him with nothing more than heightened senses. He was incapable of becoming a mighty Sith Lord, or Dark Jedi Master due to this life, and destiny altering decision, but despite his shortcomings in that regard - it made him all the more dangerous. Well, provided he was able to survive long enough to get into arm’s reach of his target, be they Jedi or Sith - or something in between. While it was a shame to see such potential, willingly discarded, it allowed for the Sunborn to continue with his martial studies, and perfect his physical form - rather than having to focus on shielding his mind and spending valuable concentration in battle on pointless endeavours like predicting an uncertain future.
"It's nearly been a year since this project started, and the results have been nothing less than extraordinary.
Xenografts have always been an issue, even with the versatility of the humanoid template. There was simply far too many variables for us to account for, and the situation always changed faster than we could predict, and eventually remedy. However, something was different this time around. At the behest of our Client, who paid a fortune to keep our silence, we subjected his body to countless treatments of Gene Therapy - utilizing the nebulous agents that he provided. It took him several treatments just to reveal what that substance was, and when he did? I was astounded, and outright horrified. That madman was seeking to alter his genetic code to become nothing short of a monster. He sought to make himself a more competent fighter, by eventually grafting live Terentatek flesh to his own; something about reducing the potency or the effectiveness of the Aether. I suppose that was his Culture's term for the Force, that ever-present and mystical energy field that bound all living beings together.
Nevertheless, things began to progress much smoother after we knew what we were dealing with. Well, as smoothly as they could when a man sought to make himself a monster. This procedure made the Xenograft seem all the more impossible - but the Thyrsian assured us that things would proceed according to plan, so long as we kept to our end of the bargain. I was tempted to renege on the contract and take the substantial sum that was paid up front, but this was bleeding-edge science. That Sun Guard played our vanity and hubris against ourselves, as we desired to do the impossible and be remembered throughout time immemorial as those that dared to defy the odds. Simply put, we were too far along now to go back now; therefore my team and I would see this through to the bitter end… whatever that may be.
As it stands, the Subject's flesh has taken the progressive treatments well and showcases little change in appearance. We suspected that his teeth would be the first to change, as the unannounced side project we began, without our client's approval, resulted in a myriad of wild augmentations on the animals we had in stock. One of the primates came into possession of talons, instead of fingers, and his fanged maw dripped a venomous Ichor. Suffice to say, that creature didn't survive much longer as it drowned in its own poison. While it was fortunate that the primary Subject has shown little change, I suspect this is because of the materials being tailored by mysterious off-site that accelerates the changes in other beings - but works just as intended with him. It seems, he thought of everything - even of how our curiosity would eventually get the better of us.
Regardless of his preparations, and his skill as a manipulator, we soldiered on; enticed by the new scientific discoveries this endeavour would reveal. If we were successful in bonding the hide of an ancient, and twisted creature to that of a man - imagine the possibilities! We could easily emulate the results of this test, and find ourselves rich beyond our wildest dreams; as more and more of these Sun Guard would seek such organic augmentations. I don't think there's been a military force in recent memory that could inspire such terrible, and enticing notions amongst the masses. Well, save for the Yuuzhan Vong, but since their integration into our Galaxy and rediscovered homeworld - they've become just another race that's kicking around the Universe. That's not including the small sect of abominations that ended up serving the One Sith during their galactic reign.
But, before we reach too far into the distant, unknowable future, we need to make sure this procedure’s successful first. It’d be pointless to try and market such a drastic change in genetics when the results weren’t even what was promised. So, when the Client arrives today, we’ll be subjecting him to one last injection, before the grafting can begin. The flesh was delivered this morning inside of a stasis module - including several litres of what looked like embalming fluid that was entombed within the flensed canvas. I wanted to touch the material, and see what it was like in its natural state - or I suppose unnatural would be more fitting, due to the mysterious origins of the parent creature. However, it was made abundantly clear to me that I could not remove the flesh from the module, as it would rapidly expire without its host in direct proximity, be it new or old. So, my hands are tied until the man arrives.
With that being said, however, I am looking forward to this operation. Hopefully, everything will turn out wonderfully in the end - so I can enjoy the generous sum of credits this contract will bequeath."
+++ Last Recording of Doctor Arkoh Reeshee, Director of the Adascorp Genetics Divison; Deep Space Facility. No Further Transmissions Available, as Spatial Installation has been Terminated will all-hands Lost.+++
- - -
The Second Skin was an advanced bio-suit secretly developed by Khonsu Amon that was specifically tailored to combat the deadly effects of the Force when it was twisted and used offensively by those who were capable of wielding it. As he was secretly taken under the wing of a prominent Sith Lord in the Sith Empire, the Sun Guard was able to access the darkest secrets that were available to him; this included dozens of holocrons regarding the use of Sith Magic and Alchemy. Having spent nearly a year studying the various materials, and learning all there was to know about the twinned religions, the Thyrsian surmised that the only way to best his Master - and any Jedi that sought to stand in his way - was to remove the Force entirely from the equation. While many believed that the best way to achieve this result was to Vongform themselves - essentially having their genetic code rewritten by those extragalactic invaders - it wouldn’t meet the desired goal. If he had gone that route, the Sun Guard would’ve still been susceptible to the varied effects of the Force - albeit at a reduced intensity. With the addition of a mobility deflector shield, presently installed into his armour - technology had already granted him that boon.
Thus, did the memory of his Battle on Onderon come to mind. It was upon that verdant world, that the Sun Guard was hired to cleanse the Jungles outside of the Capital of an infesting Terentatek - who recently roused itself from its ancient slumber. During the fight, as Sun Guard after Sun Guard fell prey to the mighty beast, Khonsu recalled a curious detail that stuck with him after all these years. The beast was nigh-immune to the effects of the Force, and one of their companions found himself entirely disarmed by the nature of the beast; as his attacks would simply be shrugged off. That was when the Sunborn Warrior elected to embark upon another hunt - this time seeking to capture a live beast and claim it’s flesh for his own. As that would be the easiest of his many labours - the now Twisuns Praetor set out into the stars, claiming one of these creatures as his own.
With the beast in tow, the Sun Guard began preparing the other facets he would need in order to see this task out. He imbued decanters of healing ichor - which were the liquefied remnants of the native Thyferrans and their precious Bacta - with portions of his soul; which was no easy feat for the Acolyte and took several weeks to perfect. It was during this period of time that Khonsu contracted out a radical group of Scientists and Researchers from Adascorp who considered themselves specialists when genetics were involved. As they were Arkanian, and according to the Historical Lore of his people, it was likely that they knew a great deal about the Thyrsians - which meant they were the perfect choice to begin the arcane heterologus transplantation. He subjected himself weekly injections to small doses of genetic material, freshly harvested from his captive Terentatek, over the course of a year - all the while finishing his ritual preparations; ensuring that none would learn of his endeavours until it was too late.
When the appointed hour arrived, Khonsu slew the captive beast and tore its flesh from the creature’s body - storing it within a stasis module for transport, alongside the gelatinous ichor that was imbued with portions of his aetheric soul. Not long after, the Sun Guard laid himself upon the operating table and allowed himself to be bonded with the creature’s flesh. As he had undergone a year’s worth of genetic therapy, the Terentatek flesh - which had been marinating in the agony-stricken bacta - greedily sucked at his form, seeking to bind itself to its new host and feed off its energy. Within a matter of hours, the Second Skin was successfully grafted, and what arose from that operating table was no longer - just Khonsu Amon. It was a creature that perfectly blended the primal ferocity and instincts of a killing machine, with the cold logic of a remorseless soldier.
He was now, until his dying days, a Monster of his own making.
