Master and Apprentice

[Darth Atrox]

Mala Kulan's black cloak billowed out behind him as the Zabrak advanced up the stone staircase to the entrance of the Temple. He knew that [member="Darth Acarus"] would be waiting for him, and his pace quickened slightly.

Two grand doors opened at an entrance of a training room, and Mala hurried inside. "My Lord." he greeted, giving a slight bow.

 

[Sheff Zee]

Looking down upon the Zabrak, the Sith Pureblood didn't say anything while he looked upon the Acolyte.

What does he want?

Malphas himself had sure to never bow to anyone in the One Sith Empire, he was better than that, and so he had soon established mentally that others had to bow to him. Especially those who were not Purebloods like him.

But no one knew that he was a Sith Pureblood, he was always clad in his black cloak with a durasteel helmet atop his head and Vonduun Skerr Draxus Armour underneath it all as protection.

"Why are you here?"

[member="Mala Kulan"]

 

[Darth Atrox]

"You summoned me, My Lord." he questioned, hood draped over down his face. Mala looked up slightly at the Sith Pureblood, the fourteen year old's eyes meeting Acarus' own.

He took a step back. He lifted his hand to his chin, stroking it slightly, almost questioningly.

 

[Sheff Zee]

Malphas tilted his head to the side. He tried to remember doing such a thing and then shook his head. "No I didn't. Why are you here?"

If he expected Darth Acarus to simply be lied to, he was silly. Acarus didn't even know the child, never even saw him in his life. Why would he summon the boy here? Some would say because he reminded him of himself as an Acolyte.

But then his justified response would be, he has no similar features, and he's not a sith pureblood. In fact he was a Zabrak child. The only person Malphas summoned was his Apprentice, and he wasn't even here.

Darth Acarus summoned no one.

[member="Mala Kulan"]

 

[Darth Atrox]

"My name is Mala Kulan, my lord." he took a pause, scanning the Pureblood's face once more. He was quite annoyed, and was taking no liberties to hide it. The Zabrak's hand dropped from his face, clenching it.

A group of more Acolyte's walked in, making a line, with Mala in the centre of them. "Lord Acarus. Sorry for our lateness excuse us." they quietly murmured, all shorter and weaker than the Zabrak in the centre of them.

[member="Darth Acarus"]

 

[Sheff Zee]

When the Zabrak said his name, Malphas looked quite disinterested, but he couldn't see that. His face was concealed quite well by his own hood and durasteel helmet. He was also wearing his apparently favourite armour underneath all of that in the form of Vonduun Skerr Draxus armour.

Then more Acolytes just walked on in.

"Late for what? I didn't summon you here, leave."

What do they think this is?

Is he trying to impress me? He could only wonder as to the motives of [member="Mala Kulan"] when other Acolytes entered and went in a line around him. It was certainly sketchy. Had he forgotten of some class? Probably not, Acarus taught no one except his inexperienced Apprentice.

"Now." He finally finished, eyeing all of them.

 

[Darth Atrox]

"We were led to believe that you were to choose one of us." Mala announced, before shaking his head, slightly let down. "We shall leave; as you wish." The Acolytes left, merely heading into another training room nearby.

Mala hovered by the door. "If you do happen to change you mind, I'll be around to hear it." he finalised, leaving. The door closed with a thud.
[member="Darth Acarus"]

 

[Sheff Zee]

The next day was when the Sith Knight actually summoned the Zabrak to the training room.

He had thought about it, not that much and if he did then he wouldn't have been doing this. However, it was necessary to bring the One Sith to the power capable of destroying the Jedi with little effort. Not to mention the rest of the Galaxy.

Now he needed to actually wait. Today, he was expecting [member="Mala Kulan"] to come. If he didn't, then he'd better make a show of avoiding the Sith Pureblood.

 

[Darth Atrox]

"Lord Acarus." he greeted, announcing himself with confidence. He headed into the centre of the room, fixated on the Pureblood.

The Nightbrother's brow furrowed, quite unsure what the reason of this was. In the whole truth, he was expecting the Pureblood to crack, and eventually summon him, but not this soon. Clearly, he was wrong.

[member="Darth Acarus"]

 

[Sheff Zee]

"Whatever reason you think you have to be confident in your abilities, forget it. Or else I'll crush you and if you're lucky build you up again." It was said harshly. This Acolyte had no right to be so cocky, he was a child, unfit to be anything but a servant, better yet his household slave on Tantorus.

Instead, he was prancing around as if he deserved to be a Sith.

That had to be proven.

"Retrieve a blade and attack me."

[member="Mala Kulan"]

 

[Darth Atrox]

The Zabrak's eyes drifted towards the Pureblood, thoughts racing through his mind. Where? How? Mala unclipped his lightsaber from the utility belt stocked safely on his hips. He positioned himself quickly into a simple battle stance, lightsaber raised slightly above his head, but not as far that he couldn't swing it down to defend himself.

Finally, he thrusted his blade in a wide arc toward the Sith, singing small parts of the Pureblood's hair.

[member="Darth Acarus"]

 

[Sheff Zee]

He leaned backwards from the swing of the Zabrak, unfortunately the Sith Knight wore a hood, so no hair was cut off, nor was his slash close enough to do so, but that was just details.

"You're slow, and you don't deserve a weapon of such power."

The words came out of his hood as if he were some form of spectre, the sound of his voice didn't seem to match his stature.

It didn't matter though, he wouldn't hesitate to taunt the Acolyte.

[member="Mala Kulan"]

 

[Darth Atrox]

Anger coursed through his body, fueling his hatred and power, eyes wild. Pulling his weapon slowly backward, he realised his first attack was wild and messy, with no meaning. Leaping forward, he discarded his lightsaber onto his belt in a swift motion, bringing his fist to Lord Acarus' face, gritting his teeth.

"Slow?" he hissed, before unclipping his lightsaber again.

 

[Sheff Zee]

He caught the fist in a flash of black cloth, and black armour. The gauntlet tightened around the boy's fist, intending to crush it, but with a moment of clarity he instead spun [member="Mala Kulan"] away from his body and to the ground behind him.

Easy enough, right? He was larger, stronger, and faster than the halfwit trying to strike him.

"You'll never be cut out to be a Sith."

 

[Darth Atrox]

Slowly moving backward, Mala's anger at the remark had fuelled his power. Quickly, he pushed out both hands, sending the Sith backward. Without a word he stood, watching [member="Darth Acarus"].

"Let me prove myself." he uttered finally, pulling on his cloak, and folding his arms in finality.

 

[Sheff Zee]

No.

Malphas wasn't thrown backwards, split second responses were quite fast.

Force barriers were faster.

"You're little more than a savage, what makes you think you can become a Sith when you can't be civil?"

[member="Mala Kulan"]

 

[Darth Atrox]

"Savage?" the word echoed in his mind. He was no savage, but nor civil, for that matter. In short, he was a Zabrak, and 'civil' was not one of their best qualities. But, savage? No.

His gaze faltered, and moved to his feet in embarrassment.

 

[Sheff Zee]

The moment the questioning tone had left the mouth of the Zabrak, Malphas snapped.

"Did I stutter?"

There was no love for the Sith. He was no Pureblood. If he wanted to be respected he was going to have to be demanding it and be looked down upon even more, or simply accept the insults and supposedly learn to stop being a savage underneath Acarus's tutelage.

He sensed the uncertainty and embarrassment that had come with the Zabraki's question, and it warmed his heart from solely hurting him. Was he cruel? Yes. Was it necessary? Even more so. The Sith didn't breed weaklings.

"I will teach you the ways of the Sith."

There was a pause that took up a few seconds.

"As long as you follow this single rule..."

[member="Mala Kulan"]

 

[Darth Atrox]

"Yes. Master." he replied, his voice steady. Finally, he'd be a Sith. All he'd wanted to do since he'd found out his... Force Sensitivity. It'd finally begun.

He didn't speak. Mainly because he thought that if he did the Sith before him would instantly change his mind. Instead, he stood in silence, watching his Master before him with green, inquisitive eyes, eager to know what this 'rule' was.

[member="Darth Acarus"]

 

[Sheff Zee]

"You listen to everything and do everything I say without questioning me."

That was the only rule that he had, among other things that would be mentioned over time when he inevitably became irritated with the Zabrak.

"As my Apprentice, you will have to prove yourself through a number of trials. Namely consistent duels with my other Apprentices and missions that will take you cross the Galaxy. " He shrugged slightly, the armour he bore underneath would've made that shrug seem more emphasized than it actually was and probably awkward or odd maybe. If you enjoy travelling, it's good that you aspire to become a Sith.

[member="Mala Kulan"]