Private Now You Will Fall

[Darth Solipsis]

MUSTAFAR​

"Are you afraid?"

His voice whispered menacingly under the booming sound of hot magma bubbling up and the fiery hot debris of rock raining down around them.

The Sith Master's fingers twirled slightly, his arm stretched out as he held his apprentice in stasis, frozen midair. He stood over a scenic precipice, below the daunting cliffside laid an ocean of magma. Rivers of lava dumped out around them over the vast, horizon spanning rock shelf into the sea sized cauldron beneath. She floated there, over certain death, her master grinning with satisfaction.

"There is a discernible quality that separates a Dark Jedi from a Sith. Do you know what it is?.."

He paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in and let his apprentice further evaluate her situation. "A Sith has no fear..." Laevus smiled wickedly, his sulfuric eyes burning intensely into the form of his student. He allowed a momentary chuckle to escape his lips before he continued, "..and I sense much fear in you."

His walking stick rose upward slightly above the ground, with force he sent it crashing down. With a loud thud, the walking stick clashed with the earth. "You must free yourself of your fear. Mold it into anger, use that anger as fuel to strengthen yourself, to empower you." Laevus looked down, she would not survive the fall, at least not for what lied at the bottom.

"Now, my young apprentice.. you will fall." With those words he released the Twi'lek, her static form now free as gravity took control once more.


Maestus

 

[Maestus]

Maestus did indeed listen as her Master spoke.

Fear?

She asked herself as she hung over a fiery death below. What does he mean fear? She allowed her eyes, dark yellow, almost as if the sun was smoldering, moved rapidly around her. The lake of lava below. The jagged walls and outcroppings beneath her. Either she could slam into or land on and explode in a visceral shower.

Perhaps......Master was correct. She felt a stirring in her. Something she thought defeated by now. But now, she felt it digging to come out. TO rip asunder the box she thought she had internally put the feeling into. Had she only deluded herself? Did she lie to herself? If so, for how long? Or perhaps it was a truth she did not want to admit to herself. Had she ignored it? Not wanting to admit her weakness?

Perhaps.....Her fear was not of death. But to admit, even to herself, that she did indeed, have fear within her. A fear that she had, until this point, refused to acknowledge. She did hold onto fear. And it was not the fiery death awaited her.

She was afraid of failing. Of being found wanting in anything. Afraid of not fulfilling, and exceeding, the goals and standards set before her. She feared her Master would leave her. Worse, she was afraid she would die by his hand.

Death and his disappointment. Those were her final fears to face. Stare down And defeat. Her Master had given her the chance to face them both at once. Oh no, she did not mistake this for compassion on his behalf. Some sort of fondness for her. The very idea was laughable.She had never been under the allusion of him taking her as his apprentice was out of some fatherly affection. It was simple.

She had to prove her worth to him. By this exercise, she would either live and defeat the last fear that lay within her. Or she would die, and prove her unworthiness. This was training. Training of the mind and the body. But most of all, her mind and will. Would she succumb to her fear? Or would she be victorious.

She did love victory.

As his grip was released, she allowed her eyes to close for a nanosecond. It only took her half that time to touch and fuel the rage within. She opened her eyes. They went from smoldering yellow to fiery orange and red. She was pissed. How dare the walls, rock and lava dare think they could overtake her? Did they think her weak? Oh hell no.

With a slow groan of rage, she extended both arms straight out from her body. She kept her palms closed. The palm was tender. Vulnerable. Two terms that had not described her since time imemorable. Now she was harsh. Aggressive.

She gritted her teeth, and attempted to focus her will on the lava below. How naive was the lava to assume it could consume her. She focused her will downward. She let out a yell, a scream of defiance.

Her body began to shake. Her concentration split between stopping descent and how to return to her Master. She focused quickly. Many times had she been able to plan for contingencies. Possible complications. As well as giving orders while under attack. This time, she lost at her first attempt.

She was able to get her body under control through sheer usage of the Force. She bent it with a fury. At first she thought she failed. Then, almost impercetibly at first. She was slowing her descent. She looked down, quickly assessing the distance between her and the lava, factoring in her velocity. Her head snapped side to side. Looking for.......

The right spot. She saw it down below, on her left side. Her arms still outstretched, she swung her left to the right side. Silently counting to herself...

A blast of pure energy, full of anger and defiance, hit the rock face on her right side with such force, it cracked. Bits of stone began to run down. A side effect of the Force blast was the richochet blast that came back to slam into her. She was thrown back at a ridiculously high rate of speed. She crashed into that rock face with a massive crash and stone began tumbling out of the small crack she put into it.

Sliding down to the small outcropping she had hit just above, She fell to her hands and knees, head hung between them. Her arms quivered, threatening to drop her weight at any second. Which is exactly what her left leg did. She collapsed with a cry of pain, managing to coral her rage and slip slowly to her back.

Not what she needed right now. Her left shin was broken, she saw as she pulled her robes up to inspect. There was a large bump just below the knee. One of the tips from the broken shin was pressing hard. Working to pierce her skin. Not wanting to bleed to death, she willed the Force to her. She did not heal herself. A simple task to force the energy through her body.

No, she wanted to harness this pain. Allow it to fuel her. She pulled herself up on the rock wall. Her left foot held up so only a toe touched the ground. Looking up, she studied for the best and quickest route up to her Master. Yes, pain and rage were her allies. The Force, her servant. She bid her servant do its job. She leaned her arms up, and began her ascent.

She was slow to climb. Painstakingly slow. One could look for several minutes and think her unmoved. She moved though. Putting into practice another lesson of her Master's. Patience. With a broken leg, she knew she did not have the ability to make the climb at her normal rate of speed. So she moved as she could. She moved her body as fast as it could move given its current state.

So patience she would practice. She conserved her strength on the climb up. She had learned long ago to take nothing for granted. Assume an attack could come from anywhere, anytime and from anyone. She did know her Master would not permit her to forget that lesson. So she moved slowly, but steadily.

Finally, after what could have been hours, a hand slid over the cliff edge where her Master stood. A moment later came the other hand. With sheer brute strength, and strength of will to not disappoint the Sith before her, she pulled her body onto the ground. Her chest heaving, gulping down air. Arms shaking, hands raw and bleeding from fingertips to below her wrists. Her robes were destroyed, having been ripped and torn away. Gaping holes showed the red flesh. She cared not.

She lifted herself to her right side, to face him. With her entire body shaking and her left leg screaming in pain, she raised her head. Her eyes still a blaze of red, she looked at her Master. Eyes meet. Not with defiance but with confidence. She put both hands back down on the ground. Grunting, she pushed her arms straight and lifted her torso off the ground.

She slowly gathered her right leg under her. With an unshakable resolve, she planted that foot firmly into the ground. With a deep, guteral growl, she pushed up with arms and one leg. When she had raised her arms off the ground, she grabbed her right knee. Through the pain, she moved one hand over the other. Up her body, until she stood upright. She balanced on one foot once more, and met his gaze briefly. Then she bowed her head.

My Master.


Darth Solipsis

 

[Darth Solipsis]

The old man snickered as the Lethan Twi'lek fell along the precipice into the depths toward the lake of fire. He moved to the very edge with a casual stride, planting his walking stick to his side as he reached the end. The Elder gazed downward, he studied the apprentice and waited. There would be no intervention, no safety, and most of all no mercy. She would learn as a true Sith should, no Academy or Overseer, no false teachings to mislead her or hold her hand.

The student had realized this, she knew what had to be done and acted when it mattered most. Lord Solipsis gave a slight nod of approval and turned away, he witnessed her save her own life and turn her fear into power. Now she would have to make the climb, no trivial task. The hellish world was pitted against her, the environment was harsh and unfair. The heat, jagged rock, and dangerous fumes were only some of the many elements thrown at her.

The Sith Master positioned himself a few meters away from the cliffside and sat down atop a large boulder. It was there he waited, there that he would see if the Lethan would emerge from the chasm or not. He closed his eyes, exhaling deeply he opened himself to the currents of the Force and expanded his senses outward. Entering a deep trance, he sat motionless, frozen in place.

Indeed it seemed as if hours passed by. His static form remained unchanged, locked into place until her hand appeared over the ledge. Maestus lived. His eyes opened, he gazed upon the returned form of his apprentice and nodded once more. Rising to his feet, he stepped forward up to his student. "Good."

She greeted him, and in turn he studied her. "You have done well, Maestus. I presume your injury will not hold you back?"

He turned away and looked off in the distance, he gazed off in the direction of the Corvax Fen, and above it the ruins of Fortress Vader. "Come, there is something I wish to show you."


Maestus

 

[Maestus]

She allowed no happiness to show at his one word of approval. Yes, those acknowledgements of her victories were few and far between. And they only when came when she had truly earned them.

Perhaps she viewed their relationship as Master and apprentice differently than most. He, her Master, was going to teach her what he knew, as she earned it. And she, as his apprentice, would ask no questions. Never second guess him. He demanded absolute obedience, and she was obedient. There was no sharing of anything. Should she desire power, she must fight and earn it. After all, is that not the Sith tradition?

No, my Master, it will not slow me.

She pulled the Force to her. Reaching out with anger and pain. She drew strength as her feelings extended out. She closed her eyes a second and leaned her head back. With a slow deep breath, the pain was gone from her leg. But it was still broke. The sharp bone still threatened to rupture.

But the pain was gone.

She moved after her Master. Heart still racing from her ordeal. Breath a little shaky. She would not allow something as petty as physical tiredness to stop her. Her will was stronger than her body. So she used it and ordered her body to work. It, having no option, complied.

She clasped her hands behind her back, nodding as he informed her he had something to show her. Her eyes followed his gaze. They widened. In surprise, not fear. She could feel the power of the Force radiating from the structure above. It's master long since dead, his presence was still felt. Such was the effect he had.

She stood one step behind her Master, and on his right side. She said nothing, instead taking in the surroundings. The atmosphere. The history. She continued to study, until his harsh voice cut through her thoughts.

Darth Solipsis

 

[Darth Solipsis]

Master and Apprentice. Side by side, they steadily made way for the ancient abode of the long dead Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader. The Elder studied his student as they traveled, watching for weakness in her movements. Even wounded she pressed on, without the slightest hint of anguish, she was doing well. A broken bone was no laughing matter, if she made the wrong move or let her control over the wound falter she could worsen the leg to the point of no return. There was only so much stress the body could take, yet the Force sustained her. This was good, she would need to know this pain, this anguish and in turn continue to use it to strengthen her body, and her mind.

The environment was harsh and treacherous, rivers of lava surrounded them, jagged rock and lack of level ground threatened to throw them off balance into the fire. Ash rained down on the two of them as they moved forward among the rock steadily, they traveled by foot for hours until the ground began to level. Black smoke eased from the air around them, the sight of lava was farther off now, and most of all the sight of iron trees meant only one thing. "We have entered the Corvax Fen," Solipsis snared.

His right hand rose from his side and extended along with his arm as he swept it from one side to the other. "These iron trees were planted by the Alazmec of Winsit long ago. It was here that they all perished, all of them, at the hands of Kylo Ren." The old man continued onward, returning to his previous pace as the two entered the forest further. "The Alazmec of Winsit was a Sith Cult that venerated the deceased, mighty Lord Vader, they took refuge here and inside the towering Fortress Vader. Zealots to the end. Alien creatures, they knew nothing of the Dark Side, yet creatures such as those, they yearn for purpose. They are attracted to strength and power, Darth Vader was the epitome of such notions, it was only natural that they clung to him. Let this be a lesson, use everything including the masses to attain power, even in the end the weak will serve you, long after you expire as long as you give them purpose."

Small bushels of fire appeared from time to time, pockets of flame among the iron trees as they went deeper into the Fen. "The Dark Side still permeates this place, feel it's energy, it's power. This is nothing in comparison to what lies atop that ridge, Fortress Vader and below, the Sith Cave." A grin spread along his face, a wicked smile from ear to ear. "You will need your strength for what is to come. For that you must heal." Laevus turned his gaze to face his apprentice, his eyes meeting hers. The Elder chuckled under his breath, "You must center yourself, focus on mending your injured form, but beware. The effects of such an ability are temporary in nature, twisted by the power of the Dark Side."

His burning gaze moved onward, his hand twisting and turning in a dismissive manner. "It is an art, one that takes time to master. Draw from your anger, your pain. Use those emotions that you carry from the climb, the fall, and more.. pour all that bent up power into your wound and feel it's pull." He waited and watched, judging her as he stood by. An impromptu lesson on healing, one that would have to be continued at a time later and longer. For now, his apprentice would have to make due with the little time they had. "The Force will sustain you, your wound will heal.. for a time. Your hatred and will of stone shall hold you together, alas.. it will not fully regenerate in such a manner. Only time and treatment can fully restore your leg. That is, if you do not ruin it before then. Focus, feel the binding, the pain, embrace it!"

His eyes moved away from his apprentice, locked on a shape in the distant shadow. A shape attacted to a giant's head cast adrift in a small pond, one within eyesight now.

"The Eye of Webbish Bog."​

Maestus

 

[Maestus]

She moved in step with her Master. Her eyes slid across their surroundings. The heat felt good. It was reassuring, and intriguing. Reassuring in the fact that it restored her strength. Forged in fire she had become. Now, she would draw strength from the heat from this day forward.

The heat was then intriguing in the fact of just -how- she was able to draw strength from the heat. True, it was a primal power. Energy. Raw energy. Was it part of the Force then? It would make sense. Power is attracted to power.

She suddenly stopped walking and began moving closer towards one of the rivers flowing. She felt drawn to it, as if it was pulling at what little soul she had left. Enticing her towards it. She stood over it and outstretched her arms beside her. She leaned her head back, and let her power over the Force explode out from her. She reached out to the river of lava, yes. But not just one. She reached forth to all the rivers around her.

Slowly, and quite shakily, she willed the power from the primal source towards her. At first, she felt nothing. Her teeth gnashed together, and she could feel the rage welling within her, as it often did when she was thwarted. Beads of sweat formed and rapidly fell down her face. It stung her eyes but she made no motion to wipe them away.

Her rage needed controlling. It needed to be reigned in. If she could not control even that, she was no Sith. And she knew, she was Sith. So she let another ring of power flow forth. This time, controlled, not just brashly and forcefully. She manipulated the Force to go where she wished. Ahh, more patience she was learning.

Slowly, she could feel it tremble. An unseen force. It rippled forth from the rivers, which started to churn faster, even more violent than before. The balls of expelled gasses were numerous, each bursting and showering lava everywhere.

Then she felt a break. A giving in to her will. The power from the heat sources started flowing finally. Steadily and fluidly, she directed it into herself. She threw her head back as the power from the heat flowed into her.

After a few seconds, she closed her hands into tight fists, and cut off the heat from flowing into her. She felt completely renewed and invigorated. She turned and moved back to her Master's side. She was deep in her thoughts, attempting to understand what just happened.

His voice cut right through her introspection. She looked where his arm swept and took it all in.

Master, is there any data left behind by the Alazmec that I may study? I will learn either to repeat history, or improve upon it. Inspiring such zealotry in a large mass...Very useful indeed.

She stood silent and learned, taking what her Master said to heart and committing it to memory.

Healing? She had never considered that application of the Force. She learned daily new aspects of the Force. Knowledge of the Force is the path to controlling the Force. She commanded already considering power over the Force. But she knew sheer strength of will alone would not suffice forever.

She turned to face her Master. She listened as he instructed her in how to heal. With a silent nod, she began. Scanning teh area, she found a large rock. Big enough to sit on. Taking a position on it, she outstretched her left leg.

Her robes, already tattered, were now beyond the point of salvation. Or modesty. She cared not for such things though. She had been tasked by her Master, and she would obey. Sweeping aside a stray strand of robe, she laid both hands on the much larger swollen area.

She closed her eyes and began to channel her rage. That took no effort, as it was always simmering just below the surface. As she did, she felt something else stir within her. Another source of power. Hot and growing hotter.

She collected it, and focused it. She directed it outward and through her arms. Her hands felt as if she had just plunged them into a river of lava. Though her breath was pained and her body shaking from the effort she was exerting, she made no move to stop or seek comfort. She was a Sith dammit. If she wanted to have her hand held, she would have found a place amongst the "others".

Her eyes closed, power being forced through her hands. Slowly her broken shin began to pull back into the skin. It no longer threatened to violently rip through her skin. The swelling dissipated, but not completely. A lump remained, half the size of what it had been before.

When she felt she had wrung all the healing she could for the time being, she released the Force from her direction. She stood, gingerly putting weight on her left foot, slowly. Maestus found she could bear more weight now, though not her entire body. Yes, she had managed to heal part of the damage, but not all. As her Master said. More time and training.

For now, she returned to his side. She had a small limp, but she would not allow it to hinder her. She followed his gaze, making out the same giant's head in a pond. With a quizzical gaze, she looked her Master, and waited.

Darth Solipsis

 

[Darth Solipsis]

"The Eye of Webbish Bog."

The Elder's gaze remained fixated on the spiderling atop the partially submerged head of the giant. "Interesting. I've heard legends, rumor. To imagine such a creature still alive after so long." He turned to face his apprentice, he observed her posture and form. It seemed she had managed to partially mend herself, this was good. If she was to inherit his legacy and become a true Sith in her own right, she could not let something as trivial as heights or broken bones defeat her.

"They called it the Oracle. It has served many, including Lord Vader. It is wise beyond words. There are records of the Cult yes, yet only meters away lies a living record." His eyes moved back to the creature in the bog, without further notice the Sith Master approached. The image of Solipsis steadily walked alongside the iron trees of the Fen, the small pockets of fire illuminating the way to the body of water. As he neared a voice cried out,

Solipsis retorted, stopping just short of the bog he spoke. "Kaigann Fossk is dead. I killed him." The Oracle chuckled, his attention shifting to only for a moment to study the one in tow.

The eyes of the creature blinked vertically in lue of horizontally with an odd alien look to it. The old man snipped, "You are not the Eye." He began to encircle the body of water, his eyes fixed on the creature like a predator. "Who are you?"

Maestus

 

[Maestus]

She nodded as her Master spoke and explained what the...Thing in the water was. An Oracle, hmm? And it held the lore and history of Lord Vader's fortress and the events that transpired? This much intrigued her.

She followed her Master, though she approached more slowly. Taking the time to intently study the creature. Her approach was soft and quiet. Her ability to move in absolute silence was a constant irritation for her. She was almost there, but not yet.

When a name she hadn't known herself by in years was spoken, her back stiffened and eyes narrowed. And then when he named her slave, she summoned her saber to her hand. She held it tight. Her entire body was shaking from the rage the creature's words had called forth in her.

It was a battle between instinct and patient control. Were she to lose control and strike the being, her Master would strike her down with but a wave of his hand. And she did enjoy living. She had plans. Ambitions. Goals set for herself. She would not allow something like her own anger to be her downfall.

She looked at her Master as she worked to gain control. As she fought, her eyes turned from their usual smoldering yellow, to a fiery red. This was something new in the young Sith, and she did not even know it happened.

With heaving shoulders and chest, she forced her rage down. Her hand with the saber inched it closer to her belt. Finally, she placed it back where it belonged. Eyes still on her Master, she walked to him and came to a knee before him.

Master, I have failed. Once more, I let my rage and hatred of my past try and take control of me. I am unworthy until I can conquer this. I have let it fuel me. My ability to dominate the Force at times has benefited from such rage. But I fight it constantly. I refuse to let it win. I will accept your word as you see fit.

She did not raise her eyes to him as she spoke. And she wouldn't until he addressed her and gave her leave to rise. When the spiderling spoke again of questions and answers, she filed that knowledge away for future use. If she still had a future. As it was, she remained knelt at her Master's feet. Awaiting his pronouncement.

Darth Solipsis

 

[Darth Solipsis]

The purple lightsaber flickered to life, in return the terrible glare moved onto her and her alone as she seethed in her rage. The old man scowled, he waited to see what she would do, ever ready to spring into action. The Oracle was correct, he had questions that needed answers, yet was such a lowly creature truly capable of answering them? He had developed a very powerful farsight, one from which had served him well in calculating moves and seeing the shatterpoints as they approached him

So here he stood, debating the pros and cons to himself of whether saving such a pathetic creature was worth it's grain of salt. The act of striking this wretched creature would inspire passion and pride, capturing the essence of Sith teachings. She wanted to destroy it, she was free to do so. The creature knew their identities, that alone merited death but to flaunt it? A fool's gambit.

The Oracle's eyes opened wide, the spiderling froze up with an expression filled with fear and shock. So it knew fear, this was good. It must have been trying to play out what was to come over and over but could not see past this one moment, this shatterpoint in the Force. It had not predicted this, and to that the Sith Master smiled.

He decided to let events unfold as they were, between the Oracle and the Apprentice, even as the blind giant revealed it's only unsubmerged eye opening. Bubbles slowly rose to the surface as it exhaled from it's mouth. The forces of destiny were at play and tension was at an all time high. He enjoyed this moment, in fact he basked in the fear and anger that saturated the air around them. Let it be done, the Force willed it so.

The tension evaporated in a great moment of relief for the creature, the purple beam retreated into the hilt of her lightsaber in a moment of clarity. She tamed her rage, tempered it and turned away toward her Sith Master. Solipsis moved his gaze to her as she approached, he stood now with dissatisfaction and disinterest. As if he had been cheated of some great spectacle, his face formed a frown. The apprentice kneeled before him and apologized for the transgression, and more. She claimed she was unworthy and had allowed her past life to claim control over her.

Her past? Unworthy?

His eyes burned into her with an intensity only matched by his newfound anger as he made his decision on her punishment. The air grew immensely cold, and darkness seemingly crept in like a sentient shadow. "Unworthy? Is that what you believe now? You let your past control you?"

He turned away from his apprentice with a scowl, the air around them filled with a dread chill. The Elder's robe fell from his shoulders to the rough earth beneath his feet. His scarred, and twisted form was revealed to her as he slowly turned around to face her.

​

With a sudden burst of speed, the Sith Lord reached out in anger. His teeth gritted, his eyes burning with a fire of their own. He lashed out with the Force to raise her into the air and probe her mind as painfully as he could. There would be no mercy, no end to this pain until the lesson stuck. He would dig into her mind relentlessly, attempting to force out her darkest secrets and lay them bare. The past was gone, Via was dead, only Maestus would remain if she wanted to survive. The pressure would build upon itself for as long as he continued, threatening to rupture like a broken damn ready to collapse.

​

"Give. Me. Everything."


Maestus

 

[Maestus]

She remained knelt at his feet. Head bowed in utter submission to his will. She did not see, but heard the relief in the creatures exhale. She had felt the fear radiating outward from it. That empowered her. Something feared HER. Perhaps she was on the right path. Perhaps this taught her something about herself. Perhaps the fear of destruction was more powerful than destruction itself.

And then it happened. The air cooled. Robbing her of the strength she gained from the heat and fire that surrounded them. Once again, she did not see his anger, but she felt it. It slammed into her with such a force, she wavered in her kneel. She wobbled slightly.

The air grew colder still. All her strength weakened further. She began to shiver. His words about her worth seemed more a question than blanket statement. Did he perhaps differ in that viewpoint. If he did not, surely she would have been dead long ago.

She considered this quickly but strongly. Was she truly worthy of being Sith? If her Master let her live this long, then she had to dig deep within herself. Find those remaining vestiges of what she hated, even feared most.

With absolute surprise, she found herself hoisted up and held in midair. Her eyes flashed open. At first, she felt her rage ignite. Her eyes turned from smoldering yellow to a blazing red. Was this to be her end? Crushed by his will as if she were nothing. As if she were unworthy of a Sith's death? No, it would not.

But still, she felt the crushing pressure around her throat. Then she felt something even worse. A probing force she did not understand. That she was unsure she could withstand. She had never met anyone or anything that could penetrate her mind. She was ALWAYS able to resist such attacks. But this....This tore at the very fabric of her being.

She screamed out as the pain only intensified. Her head felt as if it would explode. Then, somehow and unbidden, a thought surfaced. He was disappointed now. If she gave in without fighting back, she would assure her demise. She knew she could not match his will. his mastery of the Force. Yet she would not go down weakly.

And so she brought her own will to bear. Her hands rolled into fists. She called the heat to her to strengthen her resolve. It did not come. His power, the coldness he commanded, was far too strong. She felt her will weakening, though she tried to fight back. She tried to force him from her soul. She would....not....give....in.

And then he won. He reached deep. So deep he could see what doubts of herself remained. What vestiges of her past still haunted her.

A scene flashed before him. Young Via, barely at an age to understand what was happening. Her parents in chains. Iron bands encircled their necks. They looked at her with despondent eyes. Their shoulders sagged in defeat. There was a welling within her, but she did not understand what it was then. In a sudden burst of insight, Maestus understand it now.

Disgust. Disgust for their weakness. Another feeling surfaced in young Via, and Maestus as well. It was a sadness. A longing for her parents. They were her family. And still she longed for that. Her Master could feel shame welling up within her at this realization.

That faded and another took its place. Via, in the struggle to understand the Force within her. VIa, with a decision to make that would change her future forever. She held the former captain of her ship in a vice grip with sheer force of will. Her hand upraised and fingers clenched. The captain sputtered and begged for his life. Solipsis could sense something in Via and Maestus once more. Self doubt. Confusion. Were she to continue, and kill him, she doubted her path and her ability to pursue it.

She struggled, back and forth within herself. Kill him, or let him live. She could not decide what to do. The struggle played out in her eyes plainly. Then, her eyes became resolute. He would die. Now, another decision faced her. In what manner would he perish? She could continue her use of the Force and crush him. It would require little expenditure of effort on her part. The Force ran strongly through her. She felt it at all times. But again, the doubt and indecision flooded back. She could always send him out the air lock.

A few moments and she had her decision. She would see if the man could survive the pressure around his throat while she moved him and herself to the airlock. And so they did. THe man gasped and sputtered. His hands clawed at the invisible force encircling his neck.

Via felt remorse. A sudden shame within herself of what she was doing. She released the man from her will, and he crumpled to the floor. She strode over and looked down, considering the options. She felt no pity or fondness for him. he had merely been a means to an end. And that end had been achieved.

Yes, he would die. But not by the Force she did not yet understand. A glance at the doors they stood before, then to the control panel. She pressed a few buttons, and the doors opened. She grabbed the man's ankles and hauled him inside. Behind her was another set of doors. THe man lay helpless as Via walked out, and back to the control panel. She closed the doors, and pressed one more button.

The outer doors pulled back. With no warning, the man was sucked out, into the abyss that was space. With no remorse, Via closed the doors, and strode away.

Now, Maestus in her current predicament appeared. The only thing feeling she felt was to fight. Fight for her life. Fight for the privilege to remain his apprentice and learn. Fight for her destiny.

Using the last vestiges of her will, she looked at him, straight in the eyes.

I. Am. Worthy. My Master.

Her fate rest in his hands. He would determine what became of her. She maintained the locked eyes.

Darth Solipsis​

​

 

[Darth Solipsis]

Her thoughts flowed through his mind, her memories played out at his very beck and call. She put up an admirable, if not futile, and hard fought struggle against his crushing willpower. The scenes unfolded like a holovid before his very eyes, it was if he had been there firsthand. Spectating in the dark, an unseen predator watching, waiting. "Your secrets, they are mine. I will strip away everything that made you who you were."

The pressure magnified, the intensity of the pain even more so. Yet, she no longer screamed in anguish. No, as the last vestige of the scene played out, she brought forth the will to resist once more. She stared the Sith Master down, locking eyes with his own and declared to him her worth. Darth Solipsis grinned from ear to ear with the most sinister of smiles, "Good."

His palm opened wide, his hold over her released and his forced presence within her psyche gone. She came down as gravity took effect once more, he nodded in approval. "Via is dead, let the past die with her. You were not taken on to grovel at my side, I see futures in you. Futures of great merit and renown. Hence forth this is your official day of rebirth, let today be the day you deal the final blow to Via, the slave girl. Long live Maestus! Long live the Sith!"

His attention shifted back to the Offspring of Bog as it called itself, the Oracle merely watched and waited. It's eyes studying them, dissecting all that unfolded like a cadaver. The Elder frowned, he took a few steps forward and spoke to the wretched spiderling, "Tell me, creature. Where?.." He lashed out, the air grew thick and heavy. The cold chill intensified and saturated the area in a miasma of Dark Side energy. Sweat beads rolled down the creature's face, it struggled to breathe.

Solipsis chuckled aloud, the cold chill vanished simultaneously as he released his hold over the Oracle mentally. "Good insect. Now you will answer her questions, do this and I will release you from our service. We will leave you be."


Maestus

 

[Maestus]

​

She found her feet and rose. Her eyes studied his. As if she could read his thoughts...HAH! No, his thougts were his and his alone. She dipped her head as he spoke and weighed his words heavily. He was right. This was the day VIa died. Now that her Master knew what remained within her, now that she been ripped open, she had also faced it. As if it was the first time she lived through the memories, as if she had been there once more.

She considered what had been relived. She saw in herself the weakness, the doubts, the indecision. And she was utterly disgusted. So much so that she could not keep her lips from curling into a sneer of revulsion.

She now waged an internal war. Who she was now against who she had been. Maestus versus Via. Each vying for supremacy and control of her. Her head tilted side to side. Her teeth ground together. The intense pain came in waves. In her mindseye, she could see it happen.

Maestus, unarmed, looked upon Via, armed with a vibroblade. As Via raised the blade, poised to strike, Maestus glared up from her position on the ground. With scream of defiance, she called the Force to her. With a burst of power she not experienced since, she lifted a hand and Via was hoisted into the air. That hand slammed closed with such ferocity and twisted. In an instant, Via's neck was broken.

Masestus felt the hatred and rage well within her. She lifted both hands now, holding them together at first. They sprang apart rapidly and suddenly Via's came was ripped unceremoniously from her body.

Maestus stood victorious. She controlled an d slowed her breathing. Then nodded to her Master.

Indeed, my Master. She is dead.

Finally bearing a wholeness for the first time, she shifted to observe the creature, her eyes narrowed.

Tell me all you know of the Alazmec. Tell all, tell true.

​

Darth Solipsis [/div]​

 

[Darth Solipsis]

The Oracle did as he was told, all he knew of the Alazmec of Winsit was laid before Maestus. It started with the beginnings of the Sith cult that took shape here on Mustafar, shortly after the death of the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader. The Alazmec colonized the grounds near the abandoned Fortress Vader and tenaciously tried in vain to bring the ecosystem back to life. They planted iron trees in the bog of the Corvax Fen and fiercely guarded the area from interlopers. It was well known that the Alazmec of Winsit venerated the grounds of the Dark Lord, from whom they believed was the true father and master of the galaxy. The Oracle pointed out to Maestus that the zealots studied the mythology of the Fen from which they believed was saturated in the tears of the ancient Lady Corvax. She learned of the construction of the abode of Vader through the aid of the long dead Sith Lord Momin, as it was also a focal point of study for the cult.

It was not long before they uncovered a relic of great significance from the depths of the Dark Lord's dwelling, Vader's Sith wayfinder. The wayfinder was an artifact created by the ancient Sith to help navigate the stars to the legendary hidden redoubt of the Sith, Exegol. The way was treacherous and the path unknown to all but those with access to the wayfinders that Vader and Palpatine possessed. It was this possession of the wayfinder that led to the cult's demise at the hands of the First Order, at the hands of their Supreme Leader Kylo Ren. Their influence was shattered, and the bodies of the cult were left to rot amongst the iron trees of the Corvax Fen. The site of their defeat, the site of their annihilation.

The Oracle chuckled at the fate of the Alazmec, before going further to recent times. It spoke to her of the resurgent First Order, not the current incarnations but the one under the reign of Sieger Ren. It mentioned the Knights of Ren and their final holdout against the Outer Planets Alliance and the events that took place then.

Solipsis rose his hand dismissively, "That is enough. It is time we moved forward. Goodbye, Oracle." The Elder turned his gaze off toward the cliffside abode of Lord Vader and pressed on. There was still much to do, much for her to learn and experience while they were on Mustafar. The spiderling could always be revisited, he was certain that there would be a day he would have questions. On the day he no longer saw worth in the creature however, that would be the day it suffered a death deserving the wretched creature. Such would truly safeguard any knowledge the Offspring of Bog may have possessed of his plans from leaking out to forces unseen.


Maestus

 

[Maestus]

Maeustus listened very intently. The history here was of paramount importance to her. Though she wasn't entirely sure why. The whole of Mustafar had beckoned her. Intrigued her. Challenged her. Yes, she listened carefully.

A relic. A wayfinder at that. Something such as that could be put to good use. She must find it. When her Master called an end to the questions and answers, she simply nodded her head. She simply turned and began walking with him.

For the duration of the walk, Maestus fixed her eyes on Fortress Vader. It cast a dark and cold shadow over them. Unbidden, a chill went down Maestus spine. She shook it off without breaking stride. She had many questions about Fortress Vader. But she knew better than to press her Master. In his time, she reminded herself once more. Still, she did glance at him once or twice. Curious to see if he cared to offer her more about the abandoned abode above them.

Her Master was not the only one who had their ambitions and plans running through their heads. Considering options, movements and prudence. Yes, she had her own ambitions. She was a Sith. She would fight and earn or she would submit and die. She would accept nothing less.

Another glance at her Master. Wondering what the next step in her training held. It was more a cursory glance. She knew she had no chance of actually reading his mind. Were they anywhere else, doing anything else, she would have pushed and attempted to invade his mind. As it stood, they were focused. Master had plans for her. She was to learn, nothing else.

So she steadied and readied her mind for what may come. A nod, more to herself than her Master. A nod of readiness, fulfilled preparation.

Darth Solipsis ​

 

[Darth Solipsis]

They left behind the Oracle and the bog, through the forest of iron trees, and beyond the barren wastes of blackened earth they traveled. Her master offered no words of wisdom, no lesson of guidance as they made their way to the Dark Lord's ancient hold. The way was silent and the terrain was rough, they reached the cliffside from which the dreaded lair rested upon. Solipsis halted before the climb ahead, frozen for but a moment or two. His sulfuric eyes drifted from the rock wall to the apprentice at his flank, fueled by anger and malice. The air grew thick, the sense of an ice cold chill ran through the veins of the apprentice as he looked upon her.

"I would not suggest that course of action in the immediate future, my young, naive apprentice." The fires illuminated his form, his ever so twisted body that had withered away from the corruption nature of the Dark Side of the Force. "The mind is so easily broken, you wouldn't like what goes on in mine." His face formed a devilish smile that spread from ear to ear, and in satisfaction of his own words he turned back to the climb ahead. Truth be told, he was satisfied in actuality by his apprentice and her thoughts of ambition. To think of invading his mind and risk destruction was brave, brash, and foolish. Yet, it was a badge of worth, she showed him she was not blindly following him and was truly absorbing his teachings. This was good. She wanted to test him for weakness, such was the Sith way.

His mind went back to the task at hand, his eyes studied the climb up to the top of the cliffside. No easy feat in truth, especially for one such as him who's body was failing him and had become frail. Such was the corrosive, corrupting nature of the Dark Side of the Force. He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, drawing from the deepest of memories he felt his hatred build. The pressure built upon itself like a dam ready to break at the slightest fracture or crack at it's integrity. He fed from it, it nourished his body like a sponge to water. The Force empowered him, he augmented his body and strength through his hatred and anger, he felt his frailty slip away and old strength somewhat return to him as his eyes opened.

"Ah." He basked in the feeling of strength, the minor rejuvenation of his body, not visibly mind you, but in augmentation of the Force. He outstretched his arms wide, slowly he turned his head and cracked his neck. Returning his arms to his side, he lowered his form and bent his knees. With great speed and force, his body was cast into the air, high into the cliffside. His lifted form was met upon by the cliffside rock face, his wicked hands latched onto the nearest edge as he grasped hold. Like something out of a nightmare, the Elder gazed down at his apprentice, his eyes glowing in the distance. He stared at her for the briefest of moments and hissed before turning his gaze upward and ascended the rock face swiftly.

Maestus

 

[Maestus]

She looked around as they walked. The iron trees drawing as much studying as she could without stopping. The iron trees caused her intense curiosity. The scorched wasteland did not cause her any pause.

As they neared the jagged cracks and sharp shards sticking out of the wall before them, she slowed beside her Master. Her eyes traveled upwards. She was prepared for another climb, so she was looking for the best way up.

Imagine her surprise as he gathered the Force to himself. She had seen and felt him do this before, but usually when he was preparing for something that required more physical strength than was the norm now.

She was expecting him to begin climbing. When he hissed at her and leapt into the air, she took a step back. She had not learned how to leap, strengthened by the Force. So she was determined to learn it now. She knew he expected to rise or fall. She, as well, would be challenged for weakness. Simply because she had conquered fears, doesn't mean he would stop. No, if she were to remain worthy of his teaching, she could not be found weak.

So she thought over all his teachings, looking for something that would aid her in figuring this out. A memory sprung to mind. The first time she learned to gather the Force to herself. She remembered he had taught her to center herself. Then she began to call, not verbally but by force of will, the dark side of the Force. It did not come at first. This frustrated Maestus to no end. Her rage welling, she channeled that from her mind, this almost liquid extension of her will, and let the full fury of it unleash.

And it came. It came with such a ferocity and strength, she was unprepared to absorb so much raw energy, she dropped to one knee. A mental battle of wills was taking place inside of her. Would the Force make her bend? Or would she focus the strength of her will, and demand the strength she wanted?

The battle raged for what could have been seconds or hours, time was irrelevant right now. She fought and fought. Never before had she come up against such a guard before. one that she struggled to control.

Slowly, she struggled to her knees, the battle now showing on her face. Sweat poured. Her brow was furrowed tightly. Lips pressed together into a thin, almost white line. Her whole body shook for the raw Force and the strength of will she was exerting. Finally, a calmness overtook her. A few very deep breaths, and she was able to open her eyes and face her Master.

Her eyes were not their usual smoldering yellow. Instead, for the first time, they were a shining blood red. She looked at Darth Solipsis in his eyes.

The Force will now bend to My will, my Master.

That memory showed her the way. She called out in a silent voice. Demanding the Force come to her. Strengthen her body. Hoist her into the air, she commanded. Augmented as she had made herself, she bent her knees then propelled herself into the air. Higher than she had ever jumped before.

She had leapt a great distance. And as she grabbed hold of a cluster of rocks that stuck out, she looked not to see how far she had come. She instead turned her attention upwards for what lie ahead. Her Master hissed. She did not jump as high as he did. She jumped about 3/4 what he had. More pratice and she would reach his heights, in jumping for now.

She began, hand over fist. Foot over foot. She made steady progress up the mountain. Never overtaking her Master, but always at his side.

​

 

[Darth Solipsis]

"We shall see."

She had done well. The trials and tribulations at hand were far from over however, it was the way of the Sith to continually be tested, and in turn strengthened through adversity. Maestus was proving her worth as his apprentice and in the process molding into the Sith she was destined to become, for we rise to the occasion and seize our destiny or fall. The climb was long and rough, the Force flowed through them and empowered their bodies to accomplish the physical demands of the ascent. Jagged rock, poor leverage, and blistering heat were only a few of the many negative factors that were set against them, yet the two pressed on. Reaching the top of the cliffside, the Elder pulled his body over the stone ledge and rose to his feet.

His eyes rose to meet the form of the massive obsidian structure before him, the ruins of the dreaded Fortress Vader. The black spire cast a dark shadow over the Corvax Fen and surrounding areas, it's Dark Side energies still saturated the area with it's taint. Yes, he could feel the power that dwelt here, that still dwells here. Perhaps this was why the last incarnation of the Knights of Ren laired here, in this ancient place. If only they knew the true power of the Dark Side, the power that only a Sith could wield. Power that was rightfully his, and if she was worthy would one day pass on to his apprentice who rose forth alongside him.

"..and so it is that we stand here before the towering Fortress Vader, abode to the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader." He remained motionless, still looking upon the majesty of the dark tower as he spoke. "Abuse and misguided Dark Side Adepts have blemished the once great fortress. It now sits empty, you will find no relics here. Only the screams of the dead within your skull, and only in the depths of this mighty testament to Sith supremacy..." The master turned, taking a step as he now faced his apprentice and gazed upon her with his dreaded eyes, "..the source of true power."

Solipsis positioned his body away once more, his gaze passing her by as he returned to look upon the form of the spire. "Inside, deep below there is a cave. In you must go, do not tresspass too far and wander the areas long abandoned by Lady Corvax and her errant followers. It is the Sith Cave where you must tread."



Maestus

 

[Maestus]

Ragged breath and heaving shoulders. That's how she pulled herself over the cliff. Strengthened as she was by the Force, it was still a physically taxing climb. Until she met her Master, she had never trained in such a way. She was very strong mentally, but physically.....She had neglected that area.

And now she felt it in many places all over her body. A chorus of pained voices going up inside her head. With a grunt, she ignored the desire to just lay there. Rolled to her feet, and gave her right shin a gingerly flex. Still very tender. And aching from overuse.

Standing up, she shifted to follow her Master's gaze. Fortress Vader. She didn't need a warning or a hint. The Dark Side pulsated, almost visibly. It surged all around them. In and out of them. She tipped her head back, closed her eyes and basked in the power flowing. 2 deep inhales, and she turned her attention back to her Master. Listening carefully as he spoke.

The Sith cave, Master? I've heard only tales and rumors.

She studied the fortress once morem through analytical eyes this time. Her eyes washed over the fort. Searching for anything that would give her a sign or guide her. Tight lipped smirk. She knew no such things would be here. She would have been insulted if there had been.

What would you have of me once I am in the Cave, Master?

Darth Solipsis

​

 

[Darth Solipsis]

The Sith Master looked over his apprentice and studied her words, moving his gaze away only when she finished her last question. His amber eyes scanned the horizon until they came upon the sight of the massive black spire. He let the memories of his recent, and long past excursions here replay in his head. One one moment truly mattered to him, truly defined him. His initial journey to the Sith Cave, the very cave he was sending his apprentice to find and conquer. It was there in the depths of this dark edifice that he truly became who he was, and now it was time for her to do the same. Solipsis turned his sight back toward his apprentice and anwered her question cryptically,

"Fulfill your destiny."

His right hand reached back, disappearing from view behind his back as he retrieved a lightsaber from his sash. Bringing his hand forward, he activated the lightsaber and held it to his side as the blade sprung to life and hissed forth. The lightsaber sat in his hand motionless, the hilt was made of alloy metal and carbon composites. It couldn't have been more than twenty-seven centimeters long from the bottom rubber grips to the top emitter ring but emitted a deep blue blade that illuminated the area around them in it's light. "This is a dead Jedi's weapon." Solipsis formed a scowl across his face, "You must change it into the weapon of a Sith."

The lightsaber returned to it's home, retreating from whence it came. The Sith Lord gave it one last look over and paused for a brief moment before surrendering the weapon over to his apprentice and waited, studying her reaction. "This weapon like many others.. is powered by a Kyber Crystal that chose it's former master. You must force your will upon the crystal, upon the Force. Make it bleed."


Maestus

 

[Maestus]

She listened as her Master spoke. She, too, allowed her gaze to travel and really take in her surroundings. She didn't need to reach out. The Dark Side was so thick, she merely had to sense and it was there.

Her fiery red eyes lifted upwards. Fortress Vader. A foreboding monument. Impressive in its silent dominance. What she saw and felt sparked questions within her. Such as any current inhabitants of the planet. Anyone taking up residence in Fortress Vader itself?

The Dark Side called to her as her thoughts formed. It threatened to overtake her. It was luring her deeper into thoughts of power and command. Control and dominance. The Dark Side knew her well. It knew what she sought for. What she trained for. And only the Dark Side knew her destiny. For now. One day, she would wrest that knowledge from the Force itself.

A deep, centering breath, and she looked upon her Master once more. As he brought the Jedi saber into view, she studied it. A small handle, made for a smaller person's hand. Such as a woman. A slight sneer and she gripped it, pulling it towards her. In both hands, she studied it up close. Tilted it, holds it out in one hand for balance. She slides back one step and ignites the blade. Gives the blue a passing glance, then deactivates it.

One less lightsaber in the hands of the Jedi. Yes Master, it shall bleed.

She nodded a last time. No further words need spoken. She had a task before her, and she set out for it. No look over the shoulder of apprehension or longing. Those things had long since been stripped away. She longed for no person or place. Nor companionship or love. No, such things were beneath her notice now.

Striding towards the cave, she focused her mind once more, and began deciding how to go about making the crystal bleed. This would require an incredible feat of personal will. She thought, but could not come up with an incidence where she had drawn so much power before. She would need to make preparations. She must bolster herself with the fire here, the Dark Side itself. That would be the beginning of the Dark Side being broken to her will.

She squared her shoulders as her tattered robes hung in ruins, flapping as the air whips around her. The Jedi saber in her hand, she made her way to the mouth of the Cave.

Darth Solipsis​

​