My Dearest...

[Darth Veles]

Grima wasn’t easy to please, therefore this evening’s celebration that vaguely hinted towards a romantic dinner had to be perfect in every way, no mistakes allowed. One might have found Avreet’s concerns humorous; Darth Veles, a Sith Assassin and veteran of many battles, found this task to be vastly harder than the majority of missions he had carried out in the past. To make the love of his life happy promised to be quite a challenging task considering the woman in question was a powerful and wise Sith Lady, also known as Darth Zarrah, or, as Veles had dubbed her, Zarrah the Wisest. His queen, his empress, his goddess. Their initial distaste for each other eventually progressed to friendship, forming a strong bond between the two Sith, which blossomed into love. The amount of affection Avreet felt towards the red-skinned Togruta has positively crossed the line between simple love and utter obsession. The future of Sith and well-being of his friends still mattered to the Imperial Mon Calamari, but it was safe to say Lady Zarrah’s happiness and joy simply reigned over all other priorities at the moment. How to please her? What would she actually like? Questions like that raced inside the large head of the Sith Lord, yet the more he thought about it, the more he found himself having no solid idea of how to successfully accomplish this “mission”. This drove Avreet to Coruscant’s markets, his large bulbous eyes searching for anything of interest his beloved lady might enjoy and appreciate. That, and he needed to buy high quality ingredients for the dinner. Being of carnivorous species, Lady Zarrah loved meat, making Avreet’s task a bit easier.

Most markets on the upper levels bustled with activity. The one Avreet graced with his masked presence in particular, having made a name for itself as a place offering high quality products for prices equivalent to the goods made in the Republic. That is, very expensive. Still, men and women of all ages and species searched through the numerous stores and stalls, all vendors presenting their merchandise as best as possible, trying to get attention and customers. Avreet would have found it humorous considering the Republic propaganda portrayed the citizens as less than slaves that suffered terribly under the rule of Sith, but alas, he had much more pressing matters on his mind right now as he strode from one store to another, inspecting anything his heavenly might like. Flowers? Definitely not, Grima had no appreciation for the ages old classic. Turning away from the stall, his gaze fell upon a large display window that projected his own reflection, a Mon Calamari in black cloak that hid his robe and lightsabers alike. The large eyes of the amphibian travelled across the smooth surface of the glass and observed what lied in there. Clothes. Would the Sith Lady like more fancy apparel? Avreet certainly wouldn’t mind if the Togruta dressed as the goddess she were, but she liked something practical when it came to clothing, preferring skin tight bodysuits that showed nothing, yet revealed the perfect womanly curves in her possession.

Before getting lost in thought, the Sith Lord visited the local butcher and soon carried several packages filled with fresh meat. Probably too much for one simple dinner, but then again, the event was supposed to be a celebration as well. Many things had to be celebrated; the fact the two still lived in good health, as well as the great news that several high-ranked Silver Jedi have been killed. Both gave much reason for joy and Avreet could hardly wait to open up a bottle of wine or whiskey with the Sith Lady and cheer.

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Kendrix]

Kendrix watched and glared at all of the species that passed her. They were those that didn't deserve what they had. No one deserves wealth after all. Kendrix herself didn't deem it necessary. On Retalik trading was more important than credits.You offered yourself and your service for meal. The sight in front of her made her sick. Just by flashing credits, people could buy the such items that Kendrix deemed to expensive. She couldn't understand how so many were willing to pay so much, but then again her concept of money was based on trade.

Her eyes followed the wealth but that was not all she saw. There was much more hidden in plain sight. Beggars being escorted out by peacekeepers. The market place was too pristine for them to be scattered about. Not that anyone was kind enough to place a meal in their lap. Pickpockets. Some trying to remain as silent in the wave of people. Others talk to their victims only a moment before the theft is made asking them directions or even going as far as to knock their items out of their hands as an accomplice stepped past. It was odd how almost immediately after the act some would make I contact with Kendrix. She would draw her hand across her mouth to let them know she was silent and wouldn't be telling anyone.

Her heart hurt for what she noticed the most. Children with out shoes running through the crowd. Orphans. They would be walked out by peacekeepers only to come right back into the market as soon as the law turned a blind eye. Vendors treated the children like filth rushing them away like stray animals. At this particular moment, two in particular asked a fruit vendor for a piece of fruit. Answering the vendor drew a reed and snapped it against the stand nearly hitting the children. Kendrix clinched her fists at the sight. It was truely sickening.

She moved from her perch stepping front of some hideous bulbous creature that reminded her of fish it's arms full of meats. She felt queazy at the sight. After shooting him a quick glare, she said something quickly in her native tongue. Her voice was calm very gentle laced only slightly with a hint of venom for the creature that clearly nearly walked into her. The words on the other hand that might be assumed as an apology were much worse. A mother would have gasped and covered her child's ears if she had understand it.

After that minor run in with such an ugly creature, Kendrix proceeded to where the children fled to. The younger sat and cried as the other tried to comfort him. Kendrix kneeled in front of them and petted both of them letting them know to wait and watch. She planed to get them fruit. A smile graced her face as the two children grinned at her. She stood again surveying the market place and the crowd for something... aha! She slipped her way into the crowd toward a human with a pocket watch in his hands. Conveniently enough he was just a few stands over from the fruit vendor. As he put it way in his pocket with a pat, Kendrix fixed her hair to cover up her shaved and tattoo side then dropped her pace so that she intersects just behind him. Her hand snaked out slightly using the force to call the pocket watch to her hand and then crossed behind him. After as short distance she turned back around and then headed for the fruit stand placing the stolen watch on the fruit stand before smacking the corner of it to get the vendor's attention. As if on cue, the vendor picked up the watch. Kendrix brought her thumb and forefinger to her mouth to make a sharp loud whistle. A good question to ask would be who didn't turn to look? The owner of the watch was one of the first and immediately he noticed the fruit vendor holding his precious watch.

Kendrix motioned for the children as the two men fought over the watch and how it ended up on the stand. When the kids made it over to her she instructed them to hold their shirts out. Kendrix then began to fill them as full as they could carry when finished she turned her attention back to the two arguing as the kids escaped with their treasure. Kendrix picked up a piece of fruit for herself tossing it back and forth between her hands.

"Dôl gîn lost," Kendrix told the men very loudly before taking a bite of the fruit in her hand. Juice trickled down her chin. The two stared out her dumbfounded before the vendor finally decided to get angry. Kendrix threw the fruit in her hand as his face then spit the fruit at both of them before finally running.

[member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

[SIZE=9pt]His hands were mostly full with all those packages containing high-quality meat, something hard to find outside of the One Sith space – or so Avreet believed. Before taking the material to his ship, a strange feeling in his gut prompted him to stay for a bit longer, keep looking for more. What else would his former Master appreciate, what would make her smile? Both of his large bulbous eyes focused on the large signs aggressively screaming in all sorts of colours and massive windows showcasing branded goods. Nothing in particular caught his eye as the ultimate gift, forcing the Sith to focus harder, his brain fully devoted to chewing through everything he knew about Grima in an attempt to figure this riddle out and come up with an idea of how to amaze the red-skinned Togruta and conquer her heart. Sighting yet another jewellery story, the Sith Lord noted the fancy rings. He wished to get one for her, but it was way too soon for this step that would eternally tie them together. The distractions and many thoughts swirling within his mind proved to be too much for him to pay enough attention to the way, resulting in Avreet almost bumping into another, a girl with hard-to-miss hairstyle that left half of her skull shaved, revealing a green tattoo on the young woman’s fair skin. Despite the not very symmetrical hair, she certainly did not stand out in the crowd as one might think; many people sported robes and tunics similar to the Jedi fashion – inspired by the majority, after all, although Jedi apparel shined in brown and beige, while the same kind of clothing on the market played in all sorts of colours and patterns.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“I am sorry,” he quickly apologized in soft, imperial-accented voice that was so typical for him. One more glance towards the young woman, an apologetic smile, and he continued walking, his strides firm and automatic. He did not know if she actually heard the apology; the chatter and rustle coming from all around could have overpowered the sound of the Mon Cal’s voice. Despite that, nothing could eliminate the sharp whistle that appeared a few minutes later when the Sith Lord stopped glaring around and finally decided to return. The alien sound originated somewhere near the stands with exotic fruit – Avreet’s head instinctively turned in the direction of the whistle, just most of those who heard did the same. From this distance, he could not understand the problem concerning the finely-crafted watch. What he did notice was the girl from before and he could safely say she was involved in the scene. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]The amphibian wanted to ignore it – it wasn’t his problem – and he would have continued walking if not for two children with no parents in sight, two little kids swimming through the sea of adults, their shirts full of fruit that used to be proudly displayed on the stall. Thieves. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Avreet felt ashamed. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Not because of letting the children go, no. He felt ashamed for being a part of society that allowed this to happen, let two children be parentless and without anything to eat. Worse yet, the children had to steal to eat. On the other hand, the One Sith handled orphans much better than the Republic – by building orphanages that housed children from the streets and provided them with food and education, the Sith rulers have partially solved the problem of abandoned kids, though the ongoing war ensured there were always new orphans in the streets, poor beings with no place to call home. Avreet hated it. As the two children disappeared in the crowd, he headed in the opposite direction, marching straight towards the stall just as the tattooed girl made her escape. Avreet did not give chase. He carefully moved the packages to have all in one hand and reached under the cloak. When his webbed hand returned, he placed several credit chips worth hundreds of credits each on the stall.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“I’ll pay,” he said calmly with no further explanation, ignoring the angry vendor further as his large eyes shifted towards the direction the girl ran. Catching a glimpse of her shadow vanishing behind a corner was all that offered some sort of lead. Her intentions were good and noble; the execution itself less so. Perhaps it was worth having a talk. Smiling mysteriously, the Sith Lord followed into the alleyways, his relaxed pace starkly contrasting the young woman’s rush. He couldn’t exactly run with his hands full of meat, least he risked the goods falling from his embrace.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Two security officers, their dark uniforms bearing insignia clearly distinguishing them as the police force of Coruscant, couldn’t help but notice the commotion caused by the auburn-haired woman. The pair of dark masks covering looked at each other, red visors that covered their eyes and gave off an intimidating glow met in an unspoken message that was understood by both. The two ran after the young rebel, tailing her through the confusing maze of narrow alleyways.[/SIZE]

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Kendrix]

Kendrix wasn't foreign to the city landscape. She preferred being prepared. Thanks to her new sister, she now affiliated herself with these beings called sith after all. It seemed like no one could tell her if the faction was actually good or bad. To her, it didn't matter however. She didn't hold the same beliefs of good and bad as others did. In this moment, running from the law enforcement of Coruscant, She didn't question if she was really good or bad. It didn't matter.

She ducked and slipped thought the ally ways and across busy streets. She wasn't as fast as one might assume but she was agile and nimble. Darting quickly down the different paths slipping through the groups of people. The officers didn't seem to be rattled however. The distance between them only slightly shorter. She purposely picked narrow passage ways. Hoping to make the most of her small size. Another glance behind her showed that she now only had one pursuer. She grinned at the thought of losing one running faster down another ally way. Instinctively, she ducked and slid when she reached the next street. Her head going under the arm of the lost officer. They were smarter than she realized, but she had the force to guide her.

She darted across the busy street dodging the incoming speeders. She ducked into a building on the other side of the street. She couldn't tell what the building was for but she didn't bother with admiring the design. She surveyed her surroundings finding the door to the stairs and quickly making her way up. Her plan being to duck into one of the other floors and hide out. She took off in a sprint again as the officers joined her in the stairwell. Kendrix rushed up the stairs staying a few flights in front of them but she didn't have enough space to duck into a floor without being seen so she headed to the roof sprinting across to the edge glancing over at the speeders below then the building forty feet away.

"HALT!" Kendrix turned to see the men wielding batons. She raised her hands slowly then proceed to walk to them in surrender. They relaxed one putting up his baton to grab stun cuffs from his belt.

"Avon!" She yelled then turned back to the edge she was just at and sprinting for it using the force to leap from the lip of the roof. For a moment she felt as though she was flying and then she tucked her legs forward landing on her feet on the other roof before tumbling to the ground with a loud thud. She should have used the force to brace her impact. She stood watching the Officers stare dumbfounded before finally deciding to pursue again. Kendrix planned to be long gone. She stayed on the roof running between that one and the next before finally finding a place to climb down the building. She stuck to side alleys walking at a quick yet leisurely pace. Her mind went back to the children. A small smile gracing her face as she thought of them enjoying their bounty.

[member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

[SIZE=9pt]Veles would have caught the little thief right then and there were it not for his hands full of dinner, forcing the Sith Lord into taking a slower approach that consisted of swiftly walking into the alley where his prey’s shadow had vanished. There was no sign of her or her pursuers by now, nothing but a sound of rushing footsteps that would have been impossible to hear and distinguish from all the other sounds in the bustling district for an ordinary being. Fortunately for the amphibious Sith, his augmented senses once again proved their value. For a brief moment, Avreet stopped in tracks and listened, his large head sharply turning to the right to face the noise ricocheting back and forth between the walls of another alleyway. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Veles followed the sound for a while, pushing deeper into the web of dirty passages and alleyways before realizing the futility of his attempts; the Mon Cal had little knowledge of these tiny, narrow ways usually avoided by the majority. There was little point in trying to go after the trio now given their speed that further increased their distance from the Sith with each passing second, further reducing the chance of the Sith Lord catching the girl with strange hairstyle. It seemed the swift disappearance of the young woman in the jungle of a city was not his problem anymore, if it ever were his problem to begin with. He wanted to stop her, but not at the cost of ruining the wonderful evening with his dearest Sith Lady. The security forces after going the young thief were more than capable of chasing her down… right?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Emerging on a street actively used by both traffic and pedestrians, the Sith Lord would have made his way towards his ship, letting the matter with the thief go if not for the Force guiding his head to look up. There he spotted her again, the strange and curious hairstyle unmistakable, as she soared through the air almost like a bird and moved from one rooftop to another. Needless to say, the few onlookers have stopped to witness her jumps that were beyond natural limits of the majority. To the Sith Lord, this display of skill screamed something that forced him to take action again; the young woman was a Force sensitive, undoubtedly using the Force to enhance her jumps. Whether she was a trained Force user or not remained to be seen, but this interesting turn of events certainly commanded Avreet to take action, as another possibility was a Jedi infiltrating the planet, something that could not be tolerated.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]The packages in his arms started to dangerously shake as he ran across the street, his quick pace not dying even after getting to the other side, one bulbous eye searching for the runner. The girl’s been spotted immediately after Avreet rounded another corner; almost bumping into her, the second time today. Only now he reached out through the Force and observed the girl’s signature, her presence, memorizing it in case another chase was imminent. Large amber eyes burned holes into the woman’s skull, the unforgiving gaze staring her down. Despite that, after Avreet spoke, his tone remained calm, friendly, almost as if meeting an old friend.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Greetings, young lady,” he offered the woman a polite smile, “Perhaps you might want to reconsider your next course of action; outrunning security guards is one thing, being chased by a Sith Lord another. If you’d please be of the kindness to follow me and explain your abilities, it’d be greatly appreciated.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]The security guards were surprisingly competent that day; after Avreet finished his sentence, two of them appeared in the alley. Glancing at them, the Sith Lord nodded and moved his cloak slightly to reveal the curved hilt of a lightsaber underneath.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Thank you for your assistance, gentlebeing. I’ll take it from here.”[/SIZE]

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Kendrix]

Her thoughts were interrupted by a bulbous figure that stepped in her way. She jerked as she stopped just in time to avoid bumping into him. The hideous creature from before. Kendrix scowled at the being in front of her. Her thoughts mentioning how odd it was for the man to now be here despite running into him on at the market place. She glared at him just as intently as he did. She lifted her chin slightly as her eyes shouted their defiance. She didn't understand the look he gave her but neither did she care. Sith. She heard this word a lot lately. She didn't fear the half-sister of hers that claimed to be one. She held no fear for the freakish creature. Be of kindness? Kendrix felt queasy just staring at him. She wasn't going to walk or talk with him unless he had a bag over his head.

She wouldn't have admitted fear for the security officers either, but her feet thought to run the second she saw the security officers breach the ally way. She moved herself behind the bulbous creature pausing as the 'sith' spoke to the guards showing them a similar device to the one her sister carried. It held the same shape as well. Curved. Kendrix didn't see the practicality of such a bend in a handle. She nearly scoffed out loud when the man told them he would take it from here. Take what? Her? Surely the security officers weren't going to let her go just because his ugly mug told them to.

She stared in awe as the guards walked back the way they came. She couldn't wrap her head around it. She needed one of those strange metal tubes of light. If that was all it took to make security turn a blind eye then she would definitely need one. It would give her so much more power. She glanced between the creature and the guards a few times before finally deciding her retreat. She didn't run. Instead she turned slowly then walked softly in the opposite direction of the guards.

[member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

The look in her eyes, the entire girl’s posture and the way she held her body, everything about her radiated defiance. The trait would have been quite admirable if not bordering on stubbornness and complete disregard of authorities, . It needed to be shaped and refined, not an easy task, but Sith had their ways. Naturally, the young woman paid little attention to the Mon Cal, as if declining her Force sensitivity and the fate of becoming a Sith herself. How much did she actually know about the order? One of Avreet’s eyes followed her movements as she passed next to him, continuing her journey towards Force knows what, but definitely something that spelled more trouble. She lacked direction. Purpose. Sith would solve all of her problems, set her on the right path and lead her towards greatness. How to make her see the opportunity they presented though? Was it even possible? Either way, she would be taken to the Sith Academy, whether she liked it or not. Untrained Force sensitives with no code to restrain them could not be allowed to roam free as they liked; the lack of training and experience made them too dangerous for that.

His gaze accompanied the duo of guards as they turned and walked away, letting the Sith handle the situation just as he wanted. Turning on his heels, the amphibious Sith Lord watched the female figure move away. Swiftly embracing a brisk pace, the Mon Cal caught up with the girl, walking alongside her through the alleyway. Their pace became perfectly synchronized after a few steps, making the two look like a couple or old friends who have decided to stroll through filthy bowels of Coruscant, perhaps rushing to the market, which did not explain what Avreet carried in his hand.

“Your actions in the market were noble, young lady, but you might want to consider obtaining food for yourself and street urchins through more legal means, such as buying it,” Avreet pointed out gently and politely, immediately continuing, “Of course, it is entirely possible you don’t have enough credits to do so, which is completely understandable in these hard times. You have a gift though, and it is wasted on the life you live right now. Whether it’s wealth, power, or general betterment of everyone’s life you’re after, I am sure there is a better path for you to walk. Tell me, young lady, why do you live like this instead of exploring exotic worlds and enjoying life?”

The cybernetic orb of his watched her the entire time as he spoke, observing her reaction to see if the defiant streak remained. She naturally wanted to appear strong, but as his time with Sith taught him, everyone could be broken. The duo soon emerged from the maze of alleyways, appearing on a busier and much larger street - prompting Avreet to continue watching her in case the girl decided to run and try to vanish in the sea of sentients walking around.

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Kendrix]

In her mind she cursed the fish faced man. Her thoughts going to how he wouldn't give up. She didn't know what he expected but she knew it might be hard to shake him since he was waiting in front of her unlike the guards. He matched her footsteps and Kendrix looked down at his feet oddly. She wasn't sure what he was trying to do but so far he was only managing to annoy her her.

He ignored him not planning to speak. She didn't have much to say not until he finished, "I would never live here is this..." She couldn't think of the word in basic. "Cúma. And that man did not deserve that many credits for such terrible tasting fruit."

She paused as they reached the street. She was tired of running unlike the man who didn't seem to be tired at all. She didn't have a plan to take off but she still planned to leave him. She didn't need the melon head to follow her back.

"You tell me I have a gift?" she faced him and looked curious then furrowed her brow. "It wasn't a shock the first time I was told. Do not think I am stupid. I know what true power I hold." With this she turned on her heels and began to walk away from him. She didn't have a set path at the moment that she planned to walk right now she just planned to get away from him.

[member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

The Mon Cal did not understand the language she had used to replace the desired word with one she knew. Veles only guessed what she meant by the word “Cúma”, albeit he realized the meaning was far from a compliment. Shamefully, Avreet had to admit he could not quite categorize the unknown language – despite the many years of serving in the Sith Intelligence and learning exotic languages as well as accents. Had the young woman not known Basic, communication with her would have proven to be impossible. It was good the language of masses was so widespread, reaching all worlds, no matter how backwater. Still, Avreet found himself intrigued by this guessing game. The way she talked, her hairstyle, the tattoo on her head, the unknown language on her lips – all of that should have screamed the correct answer at him, yet it only added on the pile of questions Avreet carried in his large head. His bulbous eyes continued to cautiously observe her, almost studying her as an unknown book holding many secrets. The Force stated her signature as neither Light nor Dark, but as Veles knew better than anybody, it could have been a trick.

When she turned and started pacing away, obviously not interested in having a conversation, she remained a mystery to Avreet still. Unfortunately for her, the amphibious Sith was not going to let her escape. Not because of his curiosity; Veles could live without ever discovering the girl’s origins. What he could not do was to let this young woman cause more trouble. The incident with fruit might have been trivial until her Force sensitivity’s been revealed – and having a rogue Force user running around was almost as bad as having a Jedi on Coruscant. The Mon Calamari turned around similarly to the woman, but he had not followed her example completely; standing still, the Sith remained stationary, following the woman only with his gaze. His apparent lack of action did not mean he just let her go, though; the empty air in front of Kendrix started to shift and move in a curious fashion as light itself bent to Avreet’s will, swiftly gaining colour and shape. Materializing right in front of the poor kid, Avreet stood there, silently staring at her. The Mon Calamari behind her did not disappear though. If she turned around, she could see him just as clearly as the one in front of her.

“Such thought had never crossed my mind, my lady,” the Sith in front of her spoke, “What many Force sensitives lack is proper training. Wisdom. Experience. Sith can give them all of it as long as they find it in their heart to embrace our teachings. As such, I offer you to join our ranks and unlock your true potential.”

“You will have power. Riches. Respect,” Avreet’s voice whispered into her ear, although neither Mon Calamari opened his mouth to say the words, almost as if these were carried to her by wind, “The orphans you have helped; they will starve again. Stealing fruit every day and giving it to them isn’t a solution. With the power and influence I offer, however, you’ll be able to help the children in a permanent way. Sith orphanages offer both shelter and warm food every day, plus free education. And if that’s not good enough for you, perhaps we could find them a new family.”

Both Avreets vanished as if they were never there, yet another apparition took their place. An exact copy of Kendrix with the exception of her clothes; what the projection wore was a dark uniform commonly found among new students of the Sith Academy. On her hip – a curved lightsaber, shaped similarly to that of Veles.

“Join the Sith and know what true freedom tastes like; meet gentlebeings just like yourself, my lady, and realize the true power of the Force.” The fake Kendrix smiled at the real one, extending her empty hand as a way of sealing the offer.

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Kendrix]

Kendrix froze in her place as the sith now appeared in front of her. She thought at first her eyes were playing tricks on her. That was until she turned to see the fish faced man hadn't moved, and yet he was standing on the other side of her as well. The force. Ingóle. As the figure spoke she studied it looking it over. She took her hand and placed her fingers through it's chest. An illusion. Kendrix stared and as she did she also listened to what he had to say. Riches? Power? Respect? Those all meant nothing to her. She didn't leave her home for these things. She wasn't fueled by them.

Kendrix couldn't deny the next part however. She gave a temporary fix to a long term problem. Sure the children would have food tonight but then they would go hungry again. Kendrix felt almost sick at the thought. She wanted to help them, but the only thing she managed to do was prolong their suffering. She lowered her head as a scowl of disdain appeared on her face. Anger for herself. She glanced at the figures legs watching it as it transforms into a smaller figure. Kendrix lead her eyes up to the face. Her own. It couldn't be mistaken. She stared into her own eyes. The colors were even correct. One yellow. One Violet. The resemblance was uncanny.

The voice... wasn't hers. She glared now at her reflection. The man attempted her accent but he wasn't as exact as he thought he was. Kendrix didn't waiver in her stance and when the doppelganger offered her hand Kendrix turned up her nose, "You offer me true power? A place with these sith?"

Kendrix laughed and grinned from amusement, "Maybe you should ask if I am a sith? I know of your kind. I might already have agreed to be your kind. However... I will join your ranks as you ask but I will fight my own agenda. I will not be someone's pet to command at will."

Kendrix shook her head then her hand went to back hand her own copy. A gesture she meant as defiance to all siths who wish to make her something she's not.

[member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

Her answer wasn’t all that surprising. She wanted to appear fearless, fierce, independent, almost as if daring the Sith to try and make her their tool. The look in her eyes told it all, revealing she wasn’t one of the many students who jump at the first opportunity to learn secrets of the Sith, removing their own spine for the sake of pleasing their teachers with an act of servitude. Veles did not have to probe her, verbally or mentally, to know she was not a Sith, no matter what she said. The rebellious nature started to border on arrogance, a bad sign showing the woman had to be trained yet, moulded into an apprentice.

The girl’s hand moved forward, but instead of accepting the offer and sealing the deal with the Sith, it flicked to where the fake Kendrix’ face was to slap it. It immediately became obvious the illusion’s never been real as the young woman’s act of defiance didn’t quite connect; the hand sunk into the projection’s head, fingers moving right through where the fake’s brain was supposed to be with no resistance whatsoever. At first it almost looked like the slap would meet nothing but empty air right until it brushed against something that couldn’t be seen and definitely did not match what Kendrix’ eyes saw in front of her and what she touched.

The backhand did not have enough time to move further across Avreet’s chest and possibly knock his dinner out of his grasp; something invisible grabbed the young woman’s wrist, an iron grip of a cybernetic hand that stopped the ongoing motion and held it in place. The illusion dispersed; what used to be Kendrix’ perfect copy became Avreet again as he yanked the woman’s hand closer to himself, leaning forward as he did. The smile on his face seemingly mirrored the one that appeared on Kendrix when she laughed; yet, unlike her expression that was a result of the woman being amused, Avreet’s smile meant little more than a polite gesture that stood in stark contrast with his words and actions.

“Wrong move, young lady,” the Mon Cal hissed through his teeth as if repeatedly scolding a mischievous child, strengthening the grip on her wrist without making it hurt too much; and yet his intonation remained calm. “You have seen Sith in official materials. Maybe you’ve seen the Republic propaganda showing their crimes. You may have even met other Sith in person. Yet… you know nothing about us.”

The cybernetic hand finally let go.

“Your concern is understandable, but know that all Sith follow their own agenda. Each Sith is free to do whatever they wish. All are housed under the One Sith, even if they drastically differ. I am not asking you to become an unthinking pawn in this game; all I ask of you is to open yourself to the path we show you, the path of achieving anything you desire. Whether or how you follow this path… that is up to you.”

His flippered hand moved forward again, repeating the same gesture the illusion did.

“Please, give me your hand and follow me, young lady. I’ll take you to the Academy. Show me you’re willing to learn.”

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Kendrix]

Kendrix stared stunned as an invisible force held her arm in place. She jerked at it and tried to use her other hand to pry it off. Only then did the fish man reappear in her field of vision. Kendrix grit and bared her teeth at him as his fingers dug into her arm. Her He wasn't one to mess around or take things lightly. Kendrix was starting to get that lesson. Her previous relaxed thoughts left her. She finally started to take the man seriously.

When he let her go, she drew her arm away and held it to her chest to like she was trying to protect it from him. Her eyes still shot hatred at him for hurting her. He might have proved he meant business, but she was still stubborn and headstrong. When his hand reached out for her again, Kendrix took a step back. Her stare still burrowing into him.

"You really think I will behave myself in this 'academy?' No, I will not," she paused taking a second to think about what had just happened and what the future would hold. "You insist however? You want me to be this good sith? Then you teach me. Prove that this is what the future holds."

[member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

The woman’s refusal to take his hand was another gesture that clearly meant she desired to keep her independence, possibly a sign that teaching her promised to be quite different from teaching most other students who bent their knees and licked boots for just a bit of power. Or perhaps she didn’t want to touch the webbed claws and moist skin of the Mon Calamari? Whatever the case, this attitude wouldn’t last for very long… or perhaps it would, given she wanted this moderate Sith as he teacher. Avreet, unlike many of his colleagues, didn’t punish his students for any imaginable reason a sentient mind could come up with, only if his apprentices proved to be too incompetent or displaying undesired traits, such as cruelty or kneeling. This stubborn streak of his newest find had yet to colour itself as a strength or weakness; and would be dealt with accordingly. The girl’s strangely coloured eyes had yet to open to the ways of Sith, to prove she truly wanted to learn. All in due time though, the two had to learn more about each other first.

“Hmmph,” the Mon Cal grumbled under his breath and let his hand fall down, “Very well. But you should know death is a real possibility; not everyone is strong enough to become a Sith. Under my guidance, you will either become a perfect Sith, or you will die. Prove yourself worthy of my time and the power I offer and you will be rewarded. Fail and you will suffer. I will train you if you insist; do not make me regret my decision though, as you would find yourself regretting it even more.”

Avreet smiled at her encouragingly before turning around, a soft motion of his hand beckoning her to follow. The large eyes of his continued watching the young woman though, wary of her pickpocketing ability she had displayed at the market. The Sith Lord had no intention of getting robbed; in fact, his experience and sensitivity to the Force made the task of stealing from his person exceptionally hard. Whether she knew that or not was an entirely different matter, therefore his piercing gaze was more of a way of discouraging her from even attempting to snatch his belongings. He didn’t want to deal with such nuisance so soon, nor Avreet wanted to discourage her from training under him. Too many students have left the Mon Cal, believing him to be too harsh; and ended up dead under another teacher.

The Sith temple was not far from here, therefore the Sith had made a split decision to travel on foot. Interestingly enough, the streets were emptier and cleaner the closer the two got to their destination. Sith had a different reputation from Jedi, and not many thieves dared to operate so close to a place members of the Order lived. Attracting too much attention meant attracting the Sith and risking fate worse than death. Not all training dummies Acolytes practiced their powers on were captured Republic soldiers… and there existed many rumours of pickpockets and thugs disappearing without a trace after picking the wrong target. Unsurprisingly, this mostly painted the Sith in positive light among the locals who believed the new rulers have permanently decreased the criminality on Coruscant. Kendrix was truly lucky to not have been caught yet.

“I am Darth Veles, by the way. Publically, you will call me either master or master Veles. In private… you may call me Avreet if you wish,” the Sith Lord informed his new student, "You'll be expected to do as Knights and Lords say, though you do not necessarily need to follow their words if you find their order to be detrimental to the Sith cause or harmful to you. If any of them wants to punish you... remind them you are not their student, not their responsibility. Unless you are in their class or directly under their command during a mission, they have no right to harm you in any way. Sadly, not all Sith are reasonable or sane, therefore if any Knight or Lord gives you trouble, inform me immediately. There's not many things I love more than purifying our Order from these cruel... imbeciles."

The chuckle that followed was hearty and safely shattered the serious expression on the Mon Cal's face. Not for long though, the stone mask swiftly returned to its place. There was some time to talk before they arrived.

"If that is understood, my apprentice, I'll have your name and any questions you might have."

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Kendrix]

Under my guidance, you will either become a perfect Sith, or you will die.

Kendrix smirked lightly. She gave such a small smirk that the gesture was almost unseen. She wanted to see if this man could kill her. She for one wouldn't die with out a fight. Martyrs are held in great light in her culture. She wasn't afraid to meet her end, but that didn't mean that she would go searching to embrace the force. Nor did she plan to bend over backwards to prove herself to the fish faced Sith. She wasn't still tending to him just so she could be his pet to follow him and take orders. No, he might hold the title of her master but she would gain more from this agreement than he would. At least that was how she saw it.

And when he motioned for her to follow, she did. She would let him feel like he was the one in charge. Kendrix's plan was to simply play along and learn his skills. After that, he would be nothing more than a worn out piece of cloth that she would toss aside. She would walk with him now though, and play her part. Surely he would want to 'chat' with her on the way and get to know his new apprentice. She didn't know where exactly they were going but she assumed it would be the academy. She would express her protest when they arrive.

Darth Veles. Master Veles. No one has ever been her master before. She didn't want him to have the satisfaction now but that was something that couldn't be avoided.

"Súrë túla cendeletyallo, Limbthír Veles. Your words are understandable, Master Veles," she answered and bowed her head slightly before pausing in her speech. She didn't want to give her name but then again she didn't want the fish face to call her 'young lady' anymore. "My name is Kendrix, Limbthír."

[member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

That unknown tongue made an appearance again as she said something in her native language. Understanding nothing but his title, the Sith Lord gave her a stare, one hard enough to crush stone and cut through metal. Given her rebellions streaks from earlier, he had every reason to believe she had just cursed him, or called him by the worst imaginable names ever created by her people. He did not care. Still watching her cautiously, the Mon Cal offered his usual stone cold expression and hardened gaze, one that threatened to peek into the girl’s very soul if she stared back. At least her identity was known to him now, though he had to wonder if whatever she’d presented him with was even her real name or if she purposely chose to not reveal her surname or simply lacked one.

“Excellent, apprentice Kendrix.”

Some time later, after ascending the steps to the massive, imposing structure of the Sith Academy that was even more majestic up close and made people feel small and insignificant, Avreet passed through the main entrance with his new apprentice in heels made his way through the hallways and chambers, their boots gently clapping against the marble and metal floor as he led her towards the girl’s new “home”. The Dark Side embraced the duo, welcoming them, drowning the newcomer who was not used to its intoxicating and heavy presence yet. Whether Kendrix actually lived in the Temple or not, he cared little, but it served as a primary location for training and studies, particularly useful due to the massive library that contained a large number of data, so much knowledge and wisdom stored in one place.

Many sentients, Acolytes mostly, diligently studied within, eager to soak up the knowledge presented to them, be it history books about the Sith Empire of old or biographies. Not one of them tore their hungry gaze from the text as Kendrix and her amphibious master passed by, now headed through dormitories. Surprisingly enough, everything looked prepared for the woman; Avreet knew which door to open and reveal the small room within connected to a bathroom. There wasn’t much inside other than a bed, one chair with a table and a chest silently standing by the bed, one that already contained a fresh set of clothing for the apprentice.

“And so your journey begins, apprentice,” Avreet commented, “You are free to do however you please today – I recommend visiting the library or the gym. You’ll find it all by following the signs – and I will be expecting you tomorrow, somewhere within the Temple exactly at 8. You will have to find me by using the Force, your first task. You are also expected to wear the clothes that are stored in your personal chest for as long as you stay within these walls.” There was also the matter of getting food, signing for classes and missions, but all was expected from the woman to find out on her own.

The Sith Lord smiled at the young woman, taking one step back to get out of the doorframe and allow the door automatically close, though not before saying his goodbye.

“Please, enjoy the evening.”

Enjoy your last hours of freedom, [member="Kendrix"]!