Rebirth

[Allana S'hadar]

Allana couldn't help but laugh. Here she found herself with the Sith, meeting them not as enemies as she had always pictured such a scenario, but instead as allies and comrades; if they even knew the meaning of the word. As she explored the now Sith temple on Coruscant, she couldn't help but notice the similarities between Jedi and Sith routines. She had been led to believe that the Sith and all dark-side users were an abomination to the galaxy, yet here she was proving all her old mentors wrong.

Like as it was in the Jedi, she was to be given a Sith mentor, one who would hopefully help her tap into her power and allow her to embrace the dark side of the Force, which she now believed to be stronger than those who wielded the light. With her new Master, she would become an unstoppable force, one who bring about the destruction of the Jedi and the pitiful Order on Voss. Her parents would die knowing that they had raised the perfect child, a being of pure destruction, the embodiment of the dark side.

All that was needed now was someone to guide her down this path. A Sith Lord. One who was hopefully on her way to begin the acolyte's training.

[member="Darth Azurea"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

It had been awhile since Darth Azurea had taken on an Acolyte. Her firrerreo student, Acolyte Torture, had disappeared, which wasn’t unusual for fledgling Sith. The darkside could be cruel and powerful – madness early on was always a possibility especially if one was prone to experimentation. Luckily, Azurea was much more cautious than that. For her, the One Sith was a way of life, not a place to dabble in black magic and study ancient Sith spells and scrolls. Even as a Sith Lord, she had a healthy fear of the darkside and just how dangerous it could be. She had once used so much darkside healing that she lost her vision for a while and feared she'd become permanently blind. After training and battle, she had ended up lying in a bacta tank more times than she could count.

Furthermore, Azurea would be very careful with this new student, and although female Acolytes could be even more dangerous than males, the Sith Lord had picked the young Shi’ido hybrid because of the simple fact that she was pregnant and did not want to take a chance, even in training, that the growing embryo inside her would be harmed. She was finally showing, but it was just a small curve in her belly, which, for now, was hidden behind the long folds of her dark robe.

Another reason Azurea wanted to train the near-human was because she had once been a Jedi as had the Sith Lord herself. Perhaps she could make it an easier transition for the green-skinned teenager. Although nothing in Sith training could be considered “easy.”

Finding her student wandering the temple, Darth Azurea said, “Acolyte S’hadar, come with me. It’s time to begin your training.” Aside from the vibrant, yellow eyes, glittering like jewels, Azurea was a pretty, slightly pale, brunette human, quite young herself. Her cheeks and lips had a rosy glow, most likely from the pregnancy. The first thing she noticed about Allana was how pretty the Shi’ido was. All the more reason to keep her sequestered in training, thought the Sith Lord, and away from the wanton, lustful advances of the older Sith Lords who thought nothing of taking a beautiful, young Acolyte as a mistress, jeopardizing her training with all of those heady distractions.

“Tell me. What is it that you wish to learn from me?” she asked, heading to one of the training rooms in the temple.

[member="Allana S'hadar"]

 

[Allana S'hadar]

Allana had sensed the presence just as the woman spoke. Turning to gaze at her new master, the Shi'ido felt a small chill trickle down her back. The Sith Lord radiated dark side energy, so much so that it made the hairs on the young woman's neck stand on end. However the acolyte did well to mask her fear, offering a gracious bow in respect of her superior. She was not one to ignore the hierarchical structure of the One Sith. She would respect her master as she would have as a Jedi, however knowing that such a relationship would have it's differing aspects. Allana could be cast aside like a leaf blown by the wind.

As she looked into the Sith's yellow eyes, she sensed a second presence. One weaker yet stronger in the Force as if it's power waxed and waned with each passing second. She's pregnant! Hiding her surprise, Allana looked to the ground, making it appear as though she was thinking about her masters question.

"Master, I want to learn the mysteries of the dark side. I want proof that the dark is far superior to the light. Can you show me this?" She responded, walking beside the woman as the journeyed further through the temple. Allana believed she had all the techniques needed to accomplish her revenge on the light-aligned Silver Jedi, however Allana was far from reaching that goal. She would need basic training in Sith techniques and lore, hopefully something that her new Master could supply.

[member="Darth Azurea"]

#HappyNewYear

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Acolyte S'hadar bowed respectfully, and then suddenly looked away, her orange gaze downward. Darth Azurea didn't interpret this as anything but shyness from the green-skinned Shi'ido.

"The mysteries of the darkside," repeated Azurea, smiling. "Obviously the darkside is far superior to the light. But aside from proof, what is it that you wish to do with your powers, my student?" she asked.

As she waited for her answer, she would lead Allana into a large training room filled with various weapons, training sabers, daggers, even practice droids. It was important to know how Acolyte S'hadar planned to use the Darkside of the Force - both in helping Darth Azurea figure out her curriculum and to decide what to introduce her to first. Esoteria and lore were vital to the young Acolyte's path; Azurea wouldn't deny that. But she wanted to know a little more about the girl's hopes, dreams, and eventually, the practical application of her skill.

And perhaps they had even more in common than she would know for Darth Azurea held a huge grudge - almost to the point of obsession - against the Silver Jedi. But that would be revealed in time.

[member="Allana S'hadar"]

 

[Allana S'hadar]

Allana smiled at her master's reply, satisfied with the woman's answer. Unwilling at first to embrace her true nature, Allana had become a rogue agent of the Silver Jedi, ignoring their principles and following an altered creed of her own design. She had not fully supported the Sith nor the Jedi however as her mind was opened to the greater galaxy and the greater powers of the Force, she knew that her Jedi training would not be sufficient if she was to enact her revenge on the light siders. She had thought long and hard on her skill set and of the skills that was a common sight in her family. She wanted to shed the inheritance that had been forced upon her. Casting aside the warrior-like lifestyles of her parents, Allana had opted for more of a mentalist path. Knowing that this was within the forte of her current teacher, the Shi'ido hoped to gain all if not her full potential after the completion of her training with the dark lord.

"I no longer desire the path of a bladesman master. That was the strength of my family. Picking such a path would leave me weak, like them." she began, thinking back to the lessons both her mother and father had given her. She couldn't help but smile as she pictured their pain and sorrow at her defection. "I desire the path to power, a power such as yours Master. Teach me to control my enemies, to encase them within their own fear. I wish to become a mentalist, much like yourself." Choosing to speak no more, she let the Sith ponder over what she had said, turning away to gaze at the array of weaponry that filled the room.

[member="Darth Azurea"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

"Very well," said Azurea. "When you face an enemy alone, coercsion, illusions, mentalism... these are extremely powerful tools. But when you face a number of foes, the sorceress can become the hunted. I will teach you how to use your mind, but beware of your positioning and your enemies. And once your power wanes and fatigue sets in, you will need to know how to defend yourself with a blade." The girl was not going to get off that easily. Darth Azurea had a series of lightsaber practice drills for Shii-Cho that the alien would need to perform daily. But all in time.

Suddenly, Allana would see a figure enter the room, a frightening, half-human creature. Clearly the being was female, but the flesh of her mouth was torn and distorted, her jaw slack. She shambled in as though deaf, dumb and blind, moving very slowly.

"Stop," commanded Darth Azurea. "Acolyte S'hadar, this is the Xilsaga, the daughter of sorrow. Today you will practice mentalism on her. Her mind is spongy and malleable. It will be easy at first, but don't underestimate her. She is my alchemical creation, borne of endless grief," Azurea finished proudly. "She is very powerful, despite appearing slightly lobotimized."

"It's your turn to give her orders."

[member="Allana S'hadar"]

 

[Allana S'hadar]

Allana absorbed all her master had to say, remembering each word as if each were a precious gift that one might not ever receive again. She felt excitement swell within her as her desires slowly became reality; her wants rather than needs reaching fruition. The young woman could not help but smile, allowing her master to bare witness to her emotions, however Allana did not care. This would be a pivotal moment for her and one she wanted to remember.

All thought vanished as the creature entered the room.

Towering above the Shi'ido, Allana's smile shrunk into that of a tight frown as the Sithspawn stopped only a few meters from the apprentice. Turning to her master as she spoke, Allana welcomed the chance to look away from the ghastly creature, listening as the Sith Lord issued her student with her first task. Is she serious? Allana thought, hiding her disbelief and obvious fear from the Sith. Forcing a short nod towards Darth Azurea, Allana turned back to face the Xilsaga. Knowing that there was no escaping the task without punishment, Allana opened herself to the flow of the Force and approached the Xilsaga.

Her mind become tendrils of the Force attempting to gain entry to the locked conscious of the Sithspawn. Allana pushed the tendrils forward, prodding at several areas of the creatures mental defense. Finding that multiple weak attacks were not achieving anything, the acolyte pressed further, using more focused attacks on the Xilsaga. As her attack bore down upon the defenses, she felt the pressure give way and with renewed hope, continued her onslaught, repeating her brutal attacks until she found her tendrils of thought within the Xilsaga conscious. "SIT!" Her command echoed throughout the Xilsaga's mind as she continued to feed the order into the creatures head. Pulling back from the Sithspawn, she opened her eyes to find the Xilsaga sitting cross-legged on the ground, awkwardly but still sitting. Allana too found herself on the floor, having collapsed with fatigue. It had taken a lot of effort to complete her task, but she had accomplished what had been set for her.

"It is done Master." she said, finding that her breathing had become heavy. She had succeeded but at what cost?

[member="Darth Azurea"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Darth Azurea could tell that Acolyte S'hadar was going to be a very willing student. The genuine smile, eyes absorbing every piece of information, ears keen to hear every word - these were all signs that the girl was going to be an eager recipient.

As her student faced off against the Xilsaga, Azurea said, "Through passion, you will gain strength. Channel that your readiness into passion. Temptation will be there at every turn. As a Sith you are free to give into it, as well as your deepest, darkest passions." The Sith Lord herself was living proof, and hopefully line two of the Sith Code also resonated with Allana as a former Jedi.

Once Acolyte S'hadar began to control the Sithspawn's mind, the brunette Lord merely watched her struggle with her task. She forced the Xilsaga to sit, which should not have been so herculean. The spawn's mind was fairly weak on the whole. But she had another power, which Azurea was about to tap into.

"Very good," she said, watching Allana out of breath on the floor. "The next test is to see how much you can withstand her own mental onslaught." She paused and faced the Xilsaga.

"Sorus nuri tu'iyia warniki zûtauha!" Darth Azurea sharply intoned.

What Acolyte S'hadar would experience next was the sudden fear and horror that the Sithspawn was able to inflict on an individual. The beast's Force Fear was directed upon the green-skinned alien now, and she would need to use all of her mental powers or another attack to protect herself from being stricken by an overwhelming feeling of terror and dread. If she was unsuccessful, the Acolyte would experience her deepest fears, bombarding her mind and seemingly as real as all three women in the room.

[member="Allana S'hadar"]

 

[Allana S'hadar]

Allana hardly had the time to process the words of her Master before she felt the pressure of the Xilsaga. In her weakened state the Shi'ido found the task a challenge, leaving the mental showdown in a stalemate as she attempted to defend herself. Withdrawing into the recesses of her mind, Allana fought hard to stop the Xilsaga from shattering her mental defense, adding pressure to the barriers that kept her mind safe.

She remained in this helpless state, too weak from her previous assault to fight back. She grew tired, wishing the ordeal to be over. It sickened her. She was not weak, she was not one to cower against a such a pitiful attack. Embarrassed, she could sense the prying eye of the Sith Lord, no doubt infuriated at the weak state of her student. However the task itself seemed impossible for Allana in the state she was in. Her Master had set her up to fail.

Anger began to swell within her alongside those of her fear and embarrassment. She opened herself to the Force and let it consume her. Immediately she felt a shift in her strength yet it was a power she had never witnessed before. As the dark side channeled through her, she lashed out at the Xilsaga, pushing it back so that she was once again battering at its defenses instead of her own. Finding the task easier than her previous attempt, she shattered the creatures barriers, drawing deeply upon the dark side. Within seconds she was issuing her command within the beast's mind. However the creature would not accept its command. She continued to echo the order to no avail.

Danger sense prickled down her spine as she opened her eyes. Darth Azurea lay slain, blood seeping from a wound in her chest. The Xilsaga was nowhere to be seen. Two glowing lightsabers hummed before her, their wielders stepping out of the shadows to reveal their identities. "Allana, we've come to take you home." Blasterfire echoed around her as the members of the Silver Sanctum burst into the training hall. Rasu Gan stood before her, offering a harsh hand as support.

"This can't be?" Allana thought.

Unaware that she had been caught within the Xilsaga's trap, Allana was forced to face the fears that her mind had created. She had been left helpless to the attack of the Sithspawn and its master.

[member="Darth Azurea"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Darth Azurea's gaze was intense now, watching her Acolyte carefully. She walked around the pair of them, her mind whirring like clockwork. Did she feel disappointment that Acolyte S'hadar appearred so cowed by the Xilsaga? Yes, but only at first.

As the brunette Sith Lord kept her attention on the two, she noticed that when the Shi'ido was pushed to her limit, only then she began to fight back. Azurea could tell there was a battle of wills happening between alien and creature. A thin smile crept to her face.

Until Acolyte S'hadar remained still again, frozen in fear. "Anas buti gana, Chastity!" Azurea barked, coming over to the horrifically deformed Sithspawn. She gently stroked the creature's face which made it moan an unearthly greeting to her mistress. The Shi'ido would feel her terror retreating as the tentacles of the Xilsaga retreated from her mind, allowing her to think freely and for herself again.

"Xilsaga is Sith for Chastity," said Azurea, still caressing the creature's discolored skin, running her fingers through her hair. "Chastity is my dead sister," she said. Darth Azurea explained no further. Was the Xilsaga actually her flesh-and-blood sibling? Or just a doppleganger? She would not elaborate, but merely said, "Some Sith Lords, the mightiest of them all, would say that failure is not an option. But there is no other way to learn but to fail."

Releasing her loving grip on the Sithspawn, Darth Azurea continued, "But this time I expect you to not to fail. Again, Acolyte S'hadar, try to resist Chastity's mental attack. If you succeed, wrestle control back and teach her another trick like how you made her sit before."

The Sith Lord did not elaborate on what would happen if Allana broke down again, but the Acolyte would get the sense it would not be an enjoyable punishment.

[member="Allana S'hadar"]

 

[Allana S'hadar]

The Shi'ido's mind remained dazed as it came to terms with reality. Fixed in her sitting position, Allana heeded her masters warning. The woman seemed forgiving however it would be wise to follow orders. She would do well to remember that the woman was Sith and like many within her culture, lacked the act of mercy.

With fear now guiding her actions, Allana felt renewed, having called on the dark side to replenish her used up strength. Preparing herself for the inevitable attack, the apprentice focused on reinforcing her barriers not wanting to be overwhelmed yet again. With her preparations complete, the creature began her onslaught. With experience behind her, the Sith swiftly overpowered the monster, pushing the tendrils of thought back into it's den. Battering at her enemies own defences, Allana fought with a ferocity that she had never witnessed within herself. Realising that it was fear that drove her forward, she found herself smiling at her new powers. Seconds had passed before she found her own tendrils wrapped within the Xilsaga's consciousness, preparing to issue her order.

The Xilsaga collapsed to the ground. Allana stood over the creature, appearing drained but nose her near as exhausted as she was in her last duel. Her eyes glowed yellow as she kneeled before Darth Azurea. A smile was plastered on her face as she kept her eyes focused on the ground.

"The task is done my lord."

[member="Darth Azurea"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Darth Azurea could be merciful at times, and especially as compared to her companion, Darth Pyrrhus, out of the two of them, the Daughter of Agony was known to show great mercy versus his intense and unforgiving wrath. Lower ranking Sith sought her council occasionally rather than face the rigid judgement of the Togruta Sith Lord she lived and taught with on Glee Anselm.

But that didn’t mean she wasn’t immune to occasionally cruel whims of her own. She had lapses of judgment and loyalty as most mortal beings did. But if Acolyte S’hadar failed this task, she would not punish her out of spite. Allana needed to succeed to survive in the One Sith. Like it or not, as a female she would be immediately penalized. Darth Azurea had not been immune to hostile sexism within the Sith ranks and an attractive being, easy on the eyes as Allana was, it would be doubly worse for her.

The Sith Lord could feel fear radiating from the Acolyte, but was impressed as she channeled that into a dark rage and mental concentration she did not have before. The Xilsaga collapsed in a heap after the Shi’ido forced her to submit to her will. Darth Azurea smiled and knelt down by her sithspawn, caressing it again tenderly.

“Good,” she said, situating herself on her knees now. “Acolyte S’hadar, where are you from? Did you have humble beginnings? Or did you have a charmed childhood? Do you have siblings?" Azurea’s tone was very neutral, almost as though she were a friend, sitting across from the Shi’do having a conversation over a cup of stimcaf. As she asked the question, the Sith Lord began her own mental assault on S’hadar, testing her to see if the green-skinned female could deceive her with banter while Azurea raided and manipulated her inner most sensations. The brunette Sith could not read her thoughts, but using Mind Twist, Azurea would make the Acolyte feel tingling within her fingertips and toes, almost as if her extremities were slowly falling asleep. Eventually that would be replaced with pain, the pain of loss which was the Sith Lord’s favorite type of distress to both cherish and inflict upon others.

But for now she just watched what Allana would do. Would the girl act as if nothing was happening or if she would show signs of confusion, or better yet, even counter Azurea’s intrusion into her mind?

[member="Allana S'hadar"]

 

[Allana S'hadar]

While her Master appeared more merciful than what Sith stereotypes led one to believe, Allana refused to lower her guard. The woman's previous threat only amplified her concern as she awaited the next task. Sith training excelled over that of the Jedi, pushing their members past their own bodily limits. Allana had to rely on her emotions and her strength and control over the Force if she was going to survive her lessons under [member="Darth Azurea"].

The acolyte had obviously impressed the Sith Lord, having sensed her pleasure in the Force; one of the very few emotions that were revealed to the student. For that, Allana's fear eased slightly, hoping that the physical tasks had been put to the side for a brief moment of rest.

Following the woman, muscles tensed in preparation for another attack as her Master knelt beside the defeated creature. She caressed the creature as Allana watched in fascination as the Xilsaga's deformed face radiated content as its creator offered comfort. Allana admired the relationship between Sith and monster, marveling in the power and control within her master to maintain the loyalty of the Sith spawn.

"No, I'm an only child. Whether there are other siblings roaming the galaxy, I have not yet discovered their identity." she said, replying to the woman. "I was raised on Voss as a Jedi like my mother and father. I didn't receive any special treatment because of my parents and I didn't really want any." She thought back to all the people she had left, people and friends she had betrayed. Allana had been pushed into this situation, she had disagreed with so many of the mantras of her old Order, with their rules over the governing of the Force. "There were so many rules and restrictions. I just wanted to be free, and now I have the chance to achieve freedom," looking into the Sith's eyes, "with you Master. You can show me true freedom."

[member="Darth Azurea"]