New Master, New Acolyte

[Lord Eclipsion]

Lord Eclipsion absent-mindedly drummed her fingers against the cold steel of the desk beside her. Today she was supposed to be training a promising young Acolyte, [member="Elian Sarcos"]. She had been reading up on his file earlier that day, and found him to be quite skilled for merely an apprentice. While that endeared him to Eclipsion, it also helped that he was a Chiss, which Eclipsion did not see regularly.

The Chiss heard the steady rhythm of footsteps down the hall, as a smile crossed her face. Eclipsion straightened her posture, and awaited for her new apprentice's arrival.

 

[Kamon's OOC]

Elian was indeed a Chiss, and that was the very reason that he wore the strange armor and garb that he did when he was out and about. If he was in Chiss space it would be much different, but he wasn't likely to be in Chiss space anytime soon. Here, within the halls of Imperial strength, the only thing befitting was for him to be an imposing figure upon the people around him. That was one reason that he wore the armor. The other was because he wanted to keep people second guessing about what he was as much as possible, as that would inevitably leave him with an advantage.

He stepped into the office space of the woman that was going to be giving him some training. Though he hadn't met her personally, he did know of her. Chiss outside of the Ascendancy were few and far between. Chiss that were also Sith were even rarer. Still, Elian wasn't even sure he could call himself a Sith anymore.

"Lord Eclipsion," he said, bowing to her before straightening and removing his helm. "You wanted to see me?"

[member="Lord Eclipsion"]

 

[Lord Eclipsion]

"Indeed. Now, before we start actually training, I am required to start with basics. Recite the Qotsisajak, or as it is commonly known, the Code of the Sith, and explain it's meaning." Eclipsion instructed. She grabbed a small, crimson book of a nearby shelf and placed upon her desk. It was strange to be encountering another Chiss here. While many of her species often served with the Sith, it was rare to see not only a force-using Chiss, but one who was a Sith. Perhaps that was the reason Sarcos wore that mask, but Eclipsion wasn't sure.

"I must ask, why do you wear that helm?" She inquired, while gesturing at his mask.

[member="Elian Sarcos"]

 

[Kamon's OOC]

He frowned. It was like beginning all over again and he felt it entirely unnecessary to engage in such a practice. Still, he decided that he would indulge her request with a dignified response that, well, most likely would not be all that becoming of a Sith. Then again, Elian wasn't anything like the Sith that masqueraded throughout the galaxy these days.

"Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Passion, emotion, is chaotic and uncontrollable. Where there is passion, peace can never prosper because someone will always have a passion for more. Peace is an ideal which can never be obtained.

"Through passion, I gain strength. The belief is that stronger emotions make you stronger in the Force. Again, a lie. Passion itself cannot grant strength. In truth, no one is stronger than another in the Force, one can only be more knowledgeable.

"Through strength, I gain power. The stronger you are, the more you can take. The more you take, the more power you have. It only applies to power in the material sense of the word. Only knowledge can grant access to powers beyond the measure of other Sith.

"Through power, I gain victory. The more powerful you are, the easier it is to crush your enemies. This is, sometimes, true, but as we know from history, even the powerful can fall. The Force dictates a balance and flow, and we are within it. The more we push on one side, the more we are destined to be defeated.

"Through victory, my chains are broken. This line has never made sense to me. There are no chains attached to us, only stigmata applied by those who cannot comprehend the power we wield. Even Jedi are subject to that stigmata. Victory brings only more power, and it doesn't always do that, either.

"The Force shall free me. Again, this makes little sense as I am already free to be what I wish, where I wish, and with whom I wish. I suppose it could apply to a slave who finds power, but otherwise this is wasted breath. In truth I find much to be desired in the code of the Sith. It is hollow and filled with weakness, praising things which make little difference in the long run. It is no better than the code of the Jedi. A code is a waste. One should live as they see fit."

Of course this was likely to be unpopular, but Elian wasn't one for caring. He didn't like the Sith, anyway. They were dominating his people and he hated them for it. He would see the Ascendancy freed of their corruption someway, somehow. Then he would see all of the other major players in the galaxy crushed, as they were all of them warmongers bent on nothing else but taking control of the galaxy. In truth, the whole galaxy were Sith. They all craved power. Elian did not. Elian wanted peace.

"I wear the mask and armor to keep my enemies guessing as to who, and what, they face. It's a battle tactic that works well. In addition, it, coupled with my actions, is a way of instilling fear in my enemies, which makes them easier to beat. The mask and armor are nothing more than a tactical application to create advantages for me in combat and interpersonal relations."

[member="Lord Eclipsion"]

 

[Lord Eclipsion]

Lord Eclipsion was...intrigued by Elian's response. Not many Acolyte's would have the intelligence to think about the Code in other ways than what was instructed by common Sith practices. "Fantastic! You surprised me Acolye-Or should I say Elian. Not many students, or even Sith in general, would have the gall to question their teachings. You are right about the nature of power. When the common man becomes powerful, natural instinct instructs him to flaunt and abuse it. However, a smart man knows that to truly use power, one must use it discreetly. If you abuse your strength, people will desire to control or end that strength. A smart man uses others as puppets, figureheads to direct all the emotions common people feel. It appears Elian that you are a smart man. You even already put some of this to practice, with your mask."

Lord Eclipsion grabbed the book off her desk, and placed it in front of Elian.

"While many teachers would strictly abide by what they were taught, I plan to change that. I, personally, am a practioner of Ataru, one of the most offensive lightsaber forms. However, I will teach you both Ataru and one of the most defensive lightsaber forms, Soresu. Not only that, but I will instruct you upon the 6 basic Body Target Zones, the Three Rings of Defense, alternative modes of combat besides the traditional lightsaber forms, and some of my own knowledge I have garnered over the years."


The Chiss opened a small drawer in her desk, and grabbed two training blades. She tossed one to Elian, and activated her own.

"But first, we will participate in basic sparring. Are you up to the task?"

[member="Elian Sarcos"]

 

[Kamon's OOC]

"On the contrary. A smart man is out and open with who he is, but in a false face. Care must be taken to preserve multiple identities, but in so doing, no one really knows who the powerful one is. This is where Sidious failed. Once he openly became Emperor, he signed his own death warrant, but even before, when he manipulated others, the puppet ultimately became his downfall."

Indeed, it was the puppet, Anakin Skywalker, that Sidious had used to conquer the galaxy in ancient times. The result of that? Skywalker through him down a shaft in the Death Star, killing him, and then Skywalkers son later put a permanent end to Sidious. The Emperor had failed to live up to what was needed because he HAD chosen a puppet. If, instead, he'd used a false persona to play the part of the puppet, there would not have been someone there, later, to kill him. Sidious was a fool.

When the saber was tossed to him, he caught it lightly and activated it deftly. He paid little attention to the blade, holding it one handed and at the ready. His helm he decided to set upon her desk since it seemed they wouldn't be moving on for the moment. Behind him he made sure the door was sealed with a deft flick of the Force. Elian wasn't that much of a novice.

"The question is not whether I am ready, but whether you can defeat me."

[member="Lord Eclipsion"]

 

[Lord Eclipsion]

Lord Eclipsion carefully listened to every single word that came out of Elian's mouth. She thought it over, while balancing her blade, and came up with a response. "Intriguing thought acolyte. However, as you acknowledged, Sidious made a terrible mistake by openly taking control. To prevent history from repeating itself, make the puppet think he makes all the descisions,that he has all the power. While doing this, one must also make sure to use a disguise to both fool the common people, and trick both their allies and the puppet."

Forgoing any more philosophical responses, Eclipsion took up her regular stance and waited for Elian to make the first move. "Don't get too confident acolyte. While you may be adept, over-estimating ones skills as led to the downfall of many leaders."

[member="Elian Sarcos"]

 

[Kamon's OOC]

Elian shook his head.

"Better to use no puppet, and rely only on yourself. It is always those closest to you that destroy you in the end."

Sidies, Caedus, etc. All of them were killed by close acquaintances or family members. It was a common trend and Elian was not unaware of it. He chose not to make friends, to alienate himself from the other Sith, in part because he viewed them as enemies to his goals, but also because anyone of them could be the downfall of whatever plans he came up with. Everyone, even Eclipsion, was an enemy to be manipulated in some way, shape or form. Even the useful ones were just tools; a means to an end.

"It is not overconfidence if it is backed up with action."

In this case, a lack of action. Elian made a point of never striking first. In fact, he believed himself to be a most frustrating opponent. No doubt most thought him weak, and that's the way he preferred it. Amongst Sith, a lack of action was a sign of cowardice. He was alright with that moniker. Even now he did not move to strike. Instead, he stood perfectly still, watching her, waiting.

Check.

[member="Lord Eclipsion"]

 

[Lord Eclipsion]

Eclipsion pitifully shook her head as she took in Elian's response to her statement. "Is this really how we're going to start off this battle? It truly is a shame that this has to begin like this." She mournfully told her apprentice. She swiftly lifted up the book she showed Elian earlier and sent hurtling at a high speed towards his head. While this happened, Eclipsion quickly rushed the Acolyte and stabbed at his torso, which she hoped was left vulnerable due to him most likely reacting to the book. After that, she sweeped her legs, trying to knock Sarcos down to the cold, metallic floor.

"Check." The Chiss coldly stated while staring at Elian.

[member="Elian Sarcos"]