Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold

[Kerstas]

[member="Daxton Bane"]

Usually, there was nothing.

Nothing at all. Well, until she strained to listen. Then she could perceive faint beeps, sometimes. Voices, too, though those tended to be infrequent.

Sometimes she would even open her eyes, but her vision was blurry, and so she inevitably closed them.

Or she would be assaulted with images, scenes, thinks that at first didn't make sense. These were harsh, and stark, and were it not for her vivid recollection of them, she wouldn't have even believed they were more than dreams.

For she did have dreams. At least, she thought they were dreams. They seemed...fuzzy. Distant. Hard to reach. But they were beautiful -- in the beginning, anyway. Great, towering trees, constantly reaching for the heavens. Graceful, willowy creatures, as lovely as a flower darting among the bases of the trunks. Sometimes, if she concentrated hard enough, she could smell it, too.

Then something bad would always happen. The same thing, over and over, that gave her such a profound feeling, she didn't know what to do. She never knew what was happening, she just knew it was bad. She also didn't know that the feeling stayed, just buried deep inside her.

But then, it would all go away, and she would sink back into the numbing warmth of...wherever she was, forgetting everything until it happened again.

Now, though, it seemed like something was happening outside of her bubble of safety. Not that she cared. She just wanted to sleep forever in this place of nothingness.

 

[Daxton Bane]

[member="Kerstas"]

With objective curiousity, Daxton stared at the creature floating in the cold soup of the life chamber. Records would indicate that this was specimen 9530649J, one of the thousands of experiments of the Sith in his quest to unlock the secret of genetics. Success or failure, it was far to early to tell, but he was patient and willing to wait to see if the seed would take root.

This story began nearly a decade ago, during me of his intermediate travels across the galaxy to places touched by the Dark Side. The planet was unremarkable, save for the wound in the Force centered on the center of the main continent. What little records there were showed that there used to be a massive forest peopled by an alien race many considered to ethereal. An incident occurred and the entire race was wiped from the Galaxy.

Daxton spent four months on the surface, meditating with the Dark Heart, trying to find the reason when the Force provided him with a priceless discovery. A blood sucking insect trapped in amber was the key he used to unlock the mystery. With the aid of his loyal servitors and scientists, they were able to successful extracts DNA sample and rp from that cloned a specimen growing in the life pod before him.

A complete blank slate for the Sith to enact his plans, one he fully intended to utilize when the time is right. Caressing the knotted surface of the life pod he whispered in a soft parental tone, "Rest and grow strong my child, your future holds much promise...."

 

[Kerstas]

[member="Daxton Bane"]

She awoke. Not the bleary-eyed, half asleep thing she normally did, but the full-on awake. She was alert.

She had been wrapped up in one of the dreams again, the nice dreams that always ended badly. She struggled to remember why she was awake, though. Had she been at the ending of the dream?

No.

Were the sharp, jumbled images being played?

No.

Was there a loud noise?

Not a loud one, no.

She floated there, in her bubble of safety, letting her eyes adjust even as she pondered her reason for waking up. In her mind waking up was useless, as there was nothing to do. Sleep was better.

At least, it used to be. A peculiar urge welled up inside her, different than the feeling she'd get from the dreams. Even as she identified it, her eyes focused on a figure, sharp yet distorted. Her hand reached, slowly, through the liquid that surrounded her and touched an invisible barrier. One thought, one real, true, precise thought filled her mind. Her first one, really. I want out.

 

[Daxton Bane]

[member="Kerstas"]

Sensing the conscious thought of the Sentient within, Daxton placed his hand against the the thin film membrane and projected this reassuring thought to the slumbering being.

Patience, my dear. Everything in good time. For now rest and grow strong. When the time is right, you will know and you will emerge and join me.

Humming softly a hymn, he lulled her back to sleep....

 

[Kerstas]

[member="Daxton Bane"]

A few years later...

Kerstas chittered angrily at her sketch pad. The Buro had spent hours attempting to accurately draw her subject, but it was not going well. She knew she needed to learn a non-military skill, but she didn't understand why. Clearly, if she could not simply sneak past everyone, then she was unworthy of carrying on the mission.

Frustration swelled up inside her, and, tearing out the page, Kerstas shredded it to pieces. I would much rather be practicing my whips, she thought angrily.

 

[Daxton Bane]

[member="Kerstas"]

From his hidden observation chamber, Daxton watched with patient eyes. When she emerged from the life pod, or as he liked to call it the birthing chamber, he could see so much potential in her eyes. True she had a temper but that could work to her advantage. Naming her Kerstas, Sith for Revenge, it was a most apt name considering that she would be vessel of her people's revenge on the Jedi.

Going to her chambers, he smiled warmly as he approached her, "What is wrong, my dear? I sense much anger from here even from across the compound. What seems to be the matter?"

 

[Kerstas]

[member="Daxton Bane"]

Kerstas looked up as Daxton entered her chambers. Letting out a sigh, she stood up and gestured towards the paper mess. In the language of the Sith that she favoured so much, she said to him, "«I am sorry, Father. I just cannot seem to get a grasp on this...sketching. It starts out fine, but then it all goes awry.»"

She picked up her stylus, twirling it a few times. "«Why must I learn this, Father? Surely it is easier to simply slip in and slip out, threatening those who would stand in my way? Why this need for a...»" Kerstas wrinkled her nose. "«For a cover?»"

 

[Daxton Bane]

[member="Kerstas"]

Sighing softly, he caressed her cheek softly with soft velvet clad hand, "Patience, my child. Look carefully in the lesson I am trying to teach you."

"Take for example he other students here in the academy. I am sure you would rather prefer to join them in martial games or games of stealth. Many of them are quick to anger, to reach out to the dark side. While useful, they are but hammers. Blunt instruments designed for one purpose alone, and in that nature our enemies would quickly respond. for they are the obvious enemy. The seen enemy upon which to put their strength. They have many defenses against such, which is why we are in a stalemate."

"However our hated foe has one weakness, that is their pride. Self righteous, they will justify any wrong in order for their benefit. This blinds them to the enemy within. For my dear, this is no mere cover, this is your method of revenge. Work your way among them, gather allies against the hated Jedi while smiling in their faces, and when the time is right, we will strike and purge their filth from the Galaxy. You are my hidden blade to stab into their dark hearts."

"Do you understand now, my beautiful childe? Come show me what you have made." With ever so infinite love, the Sith gathered the torn scraps with his creation and began reassemble the sketch that was torn...

 

[Kerstas]

[member="Daxton Bane"]

Kerstas sighed. She knew everything that her father said made sense; the records within the Academy attested to that. "<<Yes, Father, I understand.>>" Her father's words placated her emotions, and the anger that was welling up inside rose back to the depths where it first came.

But somedays, it was so, so tempting to just go after the Jedi like a hammer, especially on days when she recalled the dreams that had assaulted her in the tank.

Kneeling down beside him, she assisted in reassembling the picture. The pieces together depicted http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pbFYxVvbLAI/T_flTi4uRSI/AAAAAAAAAVM/bI6Gn_NUtas/s1600/100_5524.JPG"] a grove of trees[/url]. Kerstas gently touched one of the pieces. "<<It is one of the few clear pictures from my dreams that I had, when I was still growing. I was trying to get it right, but...>>" She trailed off, not knowing how to finish it.

 

[Daxton Bane]

[member="Kerstas"]

"But nothing my child. What you experiencing is the sense of loss for your home, the loss of your people. Where beauty and peace once reigned, now there is only turmoil. Dealt by the foul hands and deeds of the Jedi, what once was is now never more."

"Weep not my dear, for I refuse to let their ravages go unpunished. In time I will be able to awaken more of your kind and soon your people will walk free. But we have first to ensure that the Jedi will never have a chance to repeat their acts of genocide. We will secure a world for your people, where you can lead them as their queen. We will cripple the works and actions of our foe so that never again will their shadow stain your people. Can you handle that burden of responsibility?"

 

[Kerstas]

[member="Daxton Bane"]

Kerstas made a chittering noise, this one of uncertainty. Oh, how she would love to rain down on the Jedi, to utterly destroy those foul hypocrites.

But her Father's promise of bringing her people back... She had seen him do many things she thought impossible, and she had no doubt he could create more Buros. The only thing that Kerstas was unsure of was whether or not even he could create enough to keep the population thriving.

Nonetheless, she bowed her head. "Only with you by my side, Father." It pleased Kerstas, too, that he had enough trust in her that he would offer to make her a queen -- trust that she would not turn on him. And why would she? He was her Father, the one who not only created her but brought her species back from extinction -- Kerstas was forever indebted to him. None of the other students enjoy such faith, she realized, and she pitied them.