Reunited.

[Darth Ferus]

[member="Ballen-Ist"]

Alabash. A volcanic world. There was no better place for the Zabrak to find himself meeting with an apprentice he long thought gone. A boy taught to walk in flame, by being thrown in it. A boy taught to be a Sith in the early days of Ferus, who was thought lost under the collapse of the New Order. Yet he was found, they both were.

In the lava fields the red man walked, dressed in his leathers. He could feel the boy, and the boy could certainly feel him. It was a challenge, made to force him to come to the Zabrak. Would the Pureblood answer?

 

[Ballen-Ist]

Of course he would. From the control center of his droid production facility, the Sith Knight had already been gazing into the distance, an unforgettable presence having made itself known. The things he had felt in that moment were indescribable, the memories of his rise and fall that rushed back inspired nothing but the greatest of anger, causing the previously composed Pureblood to nearly snap in front of his employees. The disguise he wore would not be suitable for battle, and so Ballen-Ist immediately pivoted on his heel, departing for the lower levels of his facility, specifically his personal hangar bay. Everything he needed was there, and within minutes his shuttle took off, soaring across the ashen skies of Alabash.

Possessed by a mindless uncharacteristic rage, Ballen-Ist attempted to sharpen his wits as he sat patiently, jolting upright and to his feet as the boarding ramp lowered. The craft was still in the process of landing, the Sith having paused upon the ramp in an almost anxious matter. He did not like to dwell on the fact that he was nervous, and began to focus that emotion into anger, spiteful of [member="Krest"] for having induced such thing. The black sand would crunch loudly beneath the booted feet of the Pureblood, his light armor shrouded by the dark cloak he wore. With renewed purpose he began to march straight for the Zabrak, and would be within earshot in seconds.

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Yo."

The Zabrak had turned to where the ship was landing, his blue eyes seeming happy and his arms behind his back. He could feel the anger from [member="Ballen-Ist"] , and despite his lax appearance he was more than ready for a fight. Perhaps a bit more than the other. As Ballen closed in, the Force would swell around the Lord. Darkness was prevalent, and the blue eyes began to take the shade of red, something all too familiar to the young Sith.

"It's been a real long time, my apprentice."

 

[Ballen-Ist]

Those eyes. All they reminded him of was the two-faced nature of [member="Krest"], and how he had wronged him long ago. Even mere association had gotten him in trouble with the One Sith, though in hindsight he realized how lucky he had been, all things considered. Ballen-Ist was sure that there was another Sith Order brewing in the galaxy, he could feel it in the dark side of the force, just as he felt his old master. "Are you done switching bodies, master?" the Pureblood hissed, referring to the multiple identities the being had possessed over the years. He knew not of what it took to accomplish such a feat, and that only hardened his resolve for caution. If he were to lose his cool, it would be over in an instant.

From within the shuttle two more figures appeared, an IG-86 sentinel droid, along with an IG-100 MagnaGuard. The former began to slowly approach, locking onto the Zabrak target as its blaster rifle aimed and released multiple bolts with deadly accuracy. The latter moved with agility, sprinting along the black sands with its electrostaff leveled at the torso. If it were to reach Krest it would engage him in combat, attempting to render him unconscious with the powerful electricity of its weapon. All the while the Sith remained still, blaster shots whizzing by him as he seemed to focus.

 

[Darth Ferus]

Switching bodies? Ah, right. Lucifer, another of Krest's apprentices, had taken the Zabrak's memories of Ferus and took the name for himself, switching bodies to and fro in a quest to become a god. [member="Ballen-Ist"] didn't seem to know that, and there was no reason to explain it. This body of Krest was the one and only, the real deal. Not some pretender. His now burning red eyes turned to the twin droids stepping down from the platform, and a grin formed.

A battle. So be it.

The Sith remained still as the Manga Guard came his way, and the blaster fire came flying towards his body and head. All kill shots. The droid clearly had some good programming, but that wouldn't be enough. In his hands behind his back the snap hiss of a saber coming to life and in a single fluid motion the red blade came around, slamming into the shots coming his way. With almost grace the blaster fire found it's way not only to the Sith apprentice, but the charging Magnaguard, ripping into it's form.

It was with one hand he blocked the shots, and it was with the other his hand would raise. The Force that had been built up was focused upon the IG-86. His form was lifted into the air, his limbs immobilized. A quick close of his fist, and the body would crumple upon itself, the sound of screeching metal overwhelming. The crumpled body would be dropped, and the Zabrak would lower his hand, smiling.

"Is that any way to great your master?"

 

[Ballen-Ist]

While the MagnaGuard would usually have been capable of deflecting the blaster fire, it was a lot more difficult seeing as it was not coming from a blaster rifle wherein the trajectory could be calculated. Ballen-Ist watched with silent disregard as the droid leaped to the side, throwing its disposable self in the way of the shots that had been redirected towards his position. With that, the MagnaGuard was eliminated from the equation, along with the IG-86 who was currently being crushed mid-air. The attack did not stop there, for Ballen-Ist acted immediately, lifting his arm slightly as he aligned his hand in [member="Krest"]'s direction. He didn't intend on even letting the Zabrak speak. Stretching out a single digit, the Sith Knight began to draw on the surrounding heat and dark side energy, allowing it to fuel the stream of fire that was summoned from his fingertip.

It pierced straight through the MagnaGuard, turning its insides to molten metal as it proceeded on its path towards the Sith Lord. The tendril of flame carried the droids body with its momentum, before suddenly taking a nosedive. The volatile stream of fire exploded upon impact with the black sand, sending debris and burning hot shrapnel flying towards Krest. With his control over the dark side and the application of telekinesis, Ballen-Ist made sure that the blast was widespread, not wanting to make the process of dodging easy for his old master. Even if he only managed to get something stuck in the Zabrak's treacherous eyes, the Pureblood would be satisfied.

 

[Darth Ferus]

As the Zabrak opened his mouth to speak, the Force whispered it's warning. His red eyes narrowed as he stared at [member="Ballen-Ist"] as he moved the droid to deflect the shots, but not because of the defense. The smell of molten metal gave away what was to come next. His brow furrowed as he chose to run forward, his blade in hand. As he ran, the blast of heat came. He was too far forward to deal with the widespread blast, but the burning beam was hard to avoid.

The burning beam cut across his side, filling the air with the smell of burning flesh. His teeth gritted in pain, but this wasn't a new sensation. Pain was power for a Zabrak, and he used it. His blade lunged forward, thrusting for the chest of the droid to puncture through to the Pureblood. Yet even this was a feint, as the Force filled his free hand to launch a blast meant to send Ballen back.

 

[Ballen-Ist]

The stream of fire had carried the metallic carcass of the MagnaGuard closer to [member="Krest"]'s position, curving towards the ground to explode upon impact once the Zabrak made his move. The shrapnel-launching explosion was unsuccessful, for the Sith Lord instead dodged the stream and punctured the droid. His attempt to stab through and into Ballen-Ist however was also unsuccessful, for there was still a small amount of distance between the two of them. The burst of force energy met its mark, the Pureblood barely managing to erect a force barrier with the dark side power he had gathered earlier.

Even with his defense the push was effective, casting black glass sand into the air as Ballen-Ist skidded backwards on his booted feet. He began to pace from side to side after regaining balance, carefully observing his old master's movements before igniting the crimson beam of his own lightsaber. "What exactly compelled you to come here?" The Knight questioned, sounding almost baffled. He had some ideas of his own, but was still curious as to what the Zabrak's true purpose here was.

 

[Darth Ferus]

With a quick swipe upward the Lord split the upper portion of the droid in two, and simply watched [member="Ballen-Ist"] . There was no rushing in to continue as the Zabrak was known for, no hint at aggression. Asides from the thrust into the droid to try and attack the Pureblood, Krest didn't seem to be here to kill his old apprentice. In fact, once an actual dialogue stared with the Knight's question, a smile formed on the Zabrak's face and his red saber shut down.

"I am here simply to finish your training. It has been far too long since your last lesson, and I can't have a prized student of mine lacking."

 

[Ballen-Ist]

A shrill laugh escaped the Pureblood's mouth, as he began to draw closer to [member='Krest']. The Sith Lord had deactivated his lightsaber, a foolish mistake most likely wrought from the compassion and understanding the Zabrak had spoken of years ago. "You've simply come here to die, old fool," Ballen-Ist corrected in response to his master's insinuations. While it was true that he had become a bit rusty in his saber skills, the dark side of the force oozed off the Knight like it never had before, circling around his being in an infinite loop. Krest would be a fool to underestimate his old apprentice, as would be Ballen-Ist if he were to let his guard down.

"This planet will be your grave!" The Sith shouted, immediately lifting the hand opposite to his blade arm and aiming it towards Krest. While outnumbering and overwhelming his old master was certainly an option given the droid factory nearby, the Pureblood wanted to test himself and see how far his limits had been pushed. For now, at least. Violet tendrils of electricity lurched from Ballen-Ist's fingertips, arcing through the air wildly before homing in on the Zabrak, attempting to collide with his robotic limbs.

 

[Darth Ferus]

With a wave of his hand the Zabrak would absorb the lightning. This wasn't a trick, but a feat of the metal armband on his flesh arm. The hidden blade absorbed the lightning, leaving Krest unharmed by the electricity. The smile on the Lord's face would begin to fade as he glared at [member="Ballen-Ist"] through narrow red eyes. So the Knight was planning to throw himself against the odds to test himself?

"Very well."

The Force swelled as the Zabrak's anger grew. It was focused, controlled, and it bent the Force to the will of the Sith who would use it. The Force would condense and squeeze around the Pureblood's throat, and quickly it would become clear that Krest was attempting to cut off the boy's airflow. Yet as he did so, the swordsman rushed forward, his saber coming to life. He closed the distance, aiming to thrust his blade through his former apprentice.

 

[Ballen-Ist]

Regardless of how powerful it had been, the lightning was useless. Ballen-Ist should have known better, for he had once tried the same attack on his master years ago. Another familiar tactic began to bear down on the Pureblood as well, as [member="Krest"] extended his presence in a telekinetic grip that aimed for the Knight's throat. This, however, was something he had prepared for, gathering the dark power in which he had conjured earlier to create a fortified defense. Instead of extending a widespread barrier, the Sith employed a more refined manner of protection, focusing the force energy within himself and creating a barrier that expanded outward from his neck. As fast as the grip had attempted to assail him, it was stopped in its tracks, thanks to Ballen-Ist's mastery of the force that had only continued to grow as time passed.

Unfortunately, he could never hope to match the Zabrak in swordsmanship, for Krest appeared before the Pureblood in a matter of moments. Lurching backwards in an attempt to avoid a fatal blow, Ballen-Ist's eyes widened in shock as the crimson saber of his master instead pierced directly through his sword-wielding shoulder, causing his open weapon to drop as his arm went numb. The pain was excruciating, but that was the last thing on the Knight's mind. Collapsing upon the black sands, Ballen-Ist began to kick the ground and propel himself backwards, in order to get as far away from Ferus as possible. That was who he saw now, the one that had inspired fear in him all those years ago.

"Mercy, master! I beg of you!" He pleaded, lifting his functioning arm towards the Zabrak as if to fend off his ruthlessness. "I serve only you, master! Together, we can unlock the holocron's secrets! Please!" Though his words were filled with fear, only rage coursed through the Pureblood's mind. To think he would be reduced to this, after all the time that had passed. After all he had attempted to accomplish, to think it could all end here. It was only another page in the book of Ballen-Ist's humiliations, one that would serve to empower him if he made it out alive.

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Groveling?" The Sith Lord stared down at [member="Ballen-Ist"] as he scooted back, and anger flashed through his mind. Groveling, from one of Krest's own apprentices? So beneath him. He spat out his next words as his red saber shut down and he loomed over the Pureblood. "You should know better than to grovel beneath me. I said I was here to work with you, and you chose to fight instead. And now that you've lost, you're groveling? And whats this about a Sith holocron? I don't care about any holocron. I should kill you for this weakness."

But he did not. Instead, he took a deep breath and the Darkness faded from his body, allowing him to focus again. Red eyes turned to blue as he stared down at the Knight. "Stop groveling and stand already. You're stronger than this, and you know it. So get off the ground."

 

[Ballen-Ist]

Listening to [member="Krest"]'s words, Ballen-Ist could not help but grow even more enraged. Everything the Pureblood saw as bad that had happened during his Sith training was the fault of the Zabrak before him. He had been held back, and now he was on his own he had accomplished more than he ever had by Darth Ferus' side. The black sand shifted beneath the Knight as he pushed himself onto his booted feet, the arm opposite still hanging motionless. He did not clutch his wound in pain, for that pain furthered his own strength.

However, as Krest suppressed the darkness around him, Ballen-Ist felt his power drain even more now he was unable to leech off another as his species was so proficient at. Having dodged being struck down with a pathetic display, the Sith's attitude shifted immediately, as his face contorted into one of rage. "You have nothing to offer me, why would I want to work with you?!" He screeched in disbelief, hardly interested in an actual answer.

"I left your apprenticeship after you wasted my time, pitting me against that failure you coveted so much," he continued, in reference to Ferus' fixation on Maleus. He saw them both in the same light, two who walked the dark path but wavered. If only he had killed Maleus when he had the chance, Ballen-Ist could have rose to power with ease. The shuttle in the background began to power up, its engine roaring as it started to hover once more.

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Maleus? I focused on him to make you both stronger. Your pride, determination, anger. All I did was manipulate you. Your hate for Maelus made you stronger, but now your hate is blocking your advancement." Rather casually the man crossed his arms and continued to stare down at [member="Ballen-Ist"] even as he stood up. "Lords of the Sith aren't like you. You're nothing but a tool. A weapon to be cast aside when your use is up. Lords of the Sith use their emotions. Control them. You give in."

The Zabrak's eyes turned back to red as the Dark burned through his body, his glare turning even more menacing. "So tell me. Will you stay a weapon? Or become Sith? I'll kill you here and now if all you're going to do is be a weapon."

 

[Ballen-Ist]

"No," he muttered quietly at first, his expression calming as he narrowed his vision upon @Krest. "No! I took control of my own path, while you remained chained," he responded, not wanting to see what truth there was in the Zabrak's statement. He knew from the very start that it had all been a game to Ferus, but that didn't change how the Pureblood viewed the Sith Lord and his twisted beliefs.

"I am no mere weapon, certainly not that of a failed Lord," he spat in spite, remembering the things he had learned of his old master years ago. "The dark side has been mine to control since birth, you cannot say the same." the Pureblood laughed briefly under his breath, seeing the humor in the lecture he had been given. Surely, the Zabrak spoke from his pitiful experience.

"I am Sith, and have no reason to listen to someone so easily corrupted. I wield the weapons, and unlike you I can control them," he spoke, a hint of pride in his voice. Ballen-Ist had done well in his own manipulative endeavors, and didn't need Krest to validate them for him. "Now, are you going to drop your beloved vague Jedi-isms, or keep wasting my time as you have from the beginning?" The shuttle nearby began to ascend slightly, inching closer to the duo as they exchanged words.

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Must I put you in the ground?" It was a simple question, but a deep rumble began to sound as the Zabrak stalked over to [member="Ballen-Ist"] , his eyes full of malice. The Force once again began to crush down for the purebloods throat, and Krest let his anger flow out. "You are nothing but a failure of a Sith. Blinded by your ego. Blinded by your pride. You are nothing in this galaxy without someone to command you and keep that pride in check. You think yourself free of your chains? Look at you, how much anger you hold onto as you speak of your own false superiority." The ship would be his next target. Whether or not Ballen was held by the grasp of the Lord the ship would become his primary target. The rumble from before deepened and soon the sound of screeching metal accompanied the rumble as a symphony of destruction.

"You are nothing." The Zabrak spat the words as his hand closed into a fist, and one of the wings of the ship crumbled onto itself. With it's wing broke the ship could not stay in the air and spun out of control, crashing into the lava beside them with a slash of the molten rock. The lava landed around Krest, but not a drop landed on him as he glared at his apprentice. "And I will make you realize it."

 

[Ballen-Ist]

Ballen-Ist couldn't help but smirk widely at [member="Krest"]'s first comment. He distinctly remembered the Zabrak himself literally being put in the ground by another Sith Lord on one occasion. The Pureblood didn't care about any other words the man had to say, for they came from a heretic's mouth. Once more drawing from the power that ebbed off of the Zabrak, Ballen-Ist was able to solidify his force defense, a barrier empowered greatly by his dark will in order to stave off the telekinetic pressure that threatened to crush him. It would hold up for the time being, but the less distance between the two of them, the worse it was for the Knight. "You mistake me for yourself, no doubt you're still leashed to another group of Sith doomed to fail-" Ballen-Ist would have continued, able to go on all day considering what he knew of his old master.

The fact remained that the Pureblood had accomplished far more on his own than beside his master, and so the Zabrak's baseless taunts meant nothing in his eyes. Power was all that mattered, the only thing Ballen-Ist respected Krest for, even as the metallic crunch of the bent shuttle wing became apparent. The ship began to spin rapidly, the one intact and extended wing tearing right through the black sand hills as it crashed. Already with a plan in mind, the Sith Knight performed a swift and precise backwards flip, timing his landing perfectly with the wing that had torn through the terrain with its momentum. Though his arm was injured, that pain served only to fuel his passions, which at the moment was only to see his old master dead.

With a single gloved grip on the edge of the durasteel wing, Ballen-Ist rode the crashing shuttle as it spun, releasing his ironclad grip only once the shuttle was about to collide with the lava. Pushing off with great strength, the Sith landed with a thud on the other side of the river, casting a dismissive glance to the craft that was now submerged and liquefying. Krest had spoiled his plan, but not all was lost. His lightsaber certainly was, for it had been left behind after the Pureblood sustained his injury. While engaging in a duel was not the wisest of decisions, he still had his sheathed blade tucked within his cloak. For now Ballen-Ist began to focus, seething with hatred as he drew upon all he had been taught as a youth. Those emotions turned in to dark power, in which he was the master of.

 

[Darth Ferus]

Krest was there with [member="Ballen-Ist"] as he jumped onto the ship. Rage filled the Zabrak's mind as he closed in on his once apprentice, but it was controlled, focused. As the boy would jump to the other bank, so would the Lord. There we would lash out with his own saber, the red blade burning through the air again and again as he would go to overpower the Pureblood with sheer strength. There would be no break for the young Sith, he had crossed the line and punishment was due.

"You were correct. I was a weapon once, but no longer, and you will see how truly free I am." It was needless words, but even Krest had pride, pride and a reason to prove Ballen, a man who had seen Krest at his weakest as a Sith, wrong here and now. If he would not accept mercy, he would accept pain, and the Zabrak was more than willing to give it out.

 

[Ballen-Ist]

[member="Krest"] was too fast. It was only a matter of seconds before the Zabrak was on the other side of the lava river bank, saber raised and ready to strike at Ballen-Ist. The Pureblood had little options left, the sheathed blade at his hip the last physical weapon on his person. Reaching across his torso and down to his waist, the Knight drew the Sith sword that Ferus and he had made so long ago, it's length glowing intensely as bolts of lightning danced upon it. Rage surged through the Sith's mind and body, empowering his movements as he lunged forward to meet his old master in another exchange of swordsmanship.

Utilizing the teachings he had nearly perfected long ago, Ballen-Ist's mind too was sharp and focused, allowing his one-handed movements to be guided with sense rather than uncontrollable anger. Soresu was the only applicable form in this situation, for the Zabrak's strike were too quick to overcome immediately. It took everything the Knight had just to dodge and redirect the Sith Lord's blows, just barely withstanding his strength with only a single arm.

Red streaks of plasma flowed wildly around the two for a few seconds, flashes of light emanating from where the beams met. This time, Krest's saber found its mark along the Pureblood's opposite shoulder, shallowly slicing across his upper torso and to its mark. Grunting in pain, Ballen-Ist tried to back off, leaping away while trying to maintain a grip on his weapon. He couldn't believe it was over, not like this. Why? Had it all been true, what he said?