Sifting Through Ashes and Lava For My Precious

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Darth Timoris"]


Illusions, if applied properly, were a beautiful thing. The greatest masters of this art could entrap even a Master in their deepest fears, summon legions of illusionary copies so realistic that if they struck you, it felt like you were really hurting, and cloak entire fleets. Of course, they were not the be-and-end-all. For one, they had to be realistic, to a degree.


For the sake of comparison, if Sumiko had been on Hoth or Alderaan and tried to make a couple soldiers believe that they were drowning in lava, that would have probably made at least a few of them wonder whether it might be all a dream. With enough willpower, focus and intelligence, an illusion could be deconstructed. However, here the environment was perfect. It was a volcanic planet and their enemies were beasts. While not entirely mindless, they would not be able to escape the web that had entangled their minds.


And so while Timoris fought and put both her skill with the blade and martial arts on display, using both skillfully, Sumiko cast her spell. Words slipped from her tongue that were ancient and dark. Her voice sounded not like her own, but like that of someone else...someone far older, almost alien. For it was the tongue of the ancient Sith, in which the purest of dark spells were written. Her eyes were wells of blackness and sweat dripped down her face, dark side energies radiating from her.


Her breathing became heavier, but then it was done. Loud, terrified screeches were heard as the net was cast and, in the eyes of the beetles, they were drowning lava. They struggled and tried to escape, but in their own mind it was to no avail as they were cooked alive, and so movement ceased. To the unitiated outsider it would look like they were suffering from violent seizures. The Atrisian dropped down to her knees, beholding her handiwork. Killing the beetles would be quite easy now.

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori's Master was accomplished at mental Sith magic. Despite some teaching, the blonde knew she had a limited capability for learning and so she focused on the martial side of her trade.

But you don't have to be a genius to recognise it, and Melori admired her companions handiwork as she clearly worked her magic (pun intended) on the beetles. What she was doing, Melori had no idea but one by one they seemed to be thrashing with their legs as if running for their lives - despite not moving. And then they were still. Not dead, just still.

And not one to miss an opportunity, Melori got to work, killing one after another with a single blow of her saber, picking them off from her side as Sumiko worked her way in from the other flank. And when they were all gone, she gave a nod of appreciation to her fellow Sister. Team-work. Worth its weight in cortosis.

"It would be ideal if this was the extent of our challenge, but I fear they were the aperitif, not the main course. And as long as we're not dessert, I suspect we'll end the day with something appropriate to show for our efforts."

She continued in the direction of travel. "So...unless it's a professional secret...what did you do?"

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Darth Timoris"]


And so the scorched grounds of Mustafar were soon strewn with the cadavres of big beetles. Great the slaughter had been. Hopefully this Galaxy's version of PETA, assuming militant animal rights activits are a thing in this universe, would not show up. Then again, in all likelihood Sith would just dismiss their claims via Force Choke.


Soulddrinker was slick with the blood of the...well, they weren't innocent, but also not wicked! So much for this writer trying to say something 'witty' or 'poetic'. Still the Sith blade had tasted the blood of creatures and helped its wielder unleash vile Sith magicks, so it was happy, for now at least. "Agreed. I suppose these were the 'level one' opponents," Sumiko said dryly. This one wonders whether she played MMOs. Presumably if she did, her character would be a warlock.


"As for what I did, I made their fragile minds believe they're drowning in lava and burning. Conveniently this is a volcano planet and simple beasts aren't equipped to see through an illusion," she spoke as she walked down the pathway that was laid out of them. "And my considerable power and expertise bolstered you." The Sword chimed in because apparently it wanted to make a point and be smug as well. Ahead of them was some sort of bridge that led over a lake of fiery lava. Hopefully it would not collapse right after someone set foot on it. Presumably there would be more beasts to kill. Or ancient droids.

 

[Kendrix]

Kendrix brow furrowed at the thought of being a murder of a simple creature. If that was the case she should be considered a mass murderer. Her father and she hunted many creatures on Retalik. As part of adhering to the laws of the Theowei, the lives of their prey were considered sacred. All parts were to be used despite the fact that Theowei and Theowen are vegetarians. The pelts were sold to leathersmiths. Bones made into arrows and used for making charms and trinkets by her father. The meat sold to foreigners or used to bait traps. The main reason Kendrix didn’t wish to murder Blistmoks this day was for that reason. As part of her heritage, she couldn’t leave behind the body of a creature she chose to kill that she could have spared.

Next the woman handed Kendrix one of the lightsabers she drew from her belt. Kendrix took it reluctantly after being told to keep it. The shape alone made kendrix detest it. Why was it that all of the sith so far have such a weird curved cylinder? Kendrix didn’t see the use of it being dipped. She frowned at it, “This one is yours. Limbthír tells me when I’m ready I will make one of my own. When I have mine, I will return yours.”

Kendrix looked at how Zarrah had the saber on her belt then did the same with the one in her possession attaching it to her belt on her left hip. In her pause, Kendrix allowed the togruta back in front of her. She didn’t have to be the lead in this exploration.

Her mind went to her father however, “The one you call Avreet didn’t teach me respect for all life. My father did.”

Kendrix remained quiet watching the woman walk, and the way she carried herself. Kendrix cocked her head to the side. She could feel the calm signature of the woman and how it seemed to radiate. Kendrix smiled lightly, “The way Limbthír looks at you… It’s the same way my father looked at my mother. You don’t look at him like my mother did however. That’s good, but I wonder… Will you doom him to my father’s fate?”

[member="Darth Zarrah"]

 

[Grima Volitu]

Zarrah knew how her old Apprentice looked at her. She knew that he harboured strong feelings for her. She also knew that love twinkled in his eyes when he stared at her. Love was something she didn't know if she could reciprocate. Nothing against Avreet. She just didn't know how to love someone. She did suspect that her feelings for him could one day inflame her spirit and she could love him. For now there was much that needed to be fixed in the galaxy first.

"You speak highly of your Father." Zarrah had learned little from her Father before he and her brothers were stripped unceremoniously from her life. Just as her Mother and sisters were destined to face a similar fate. A lifetime ago that was. Revenge had been sought and pleasantly achieved. "He seems like a wise man. I would have enjoyed speaking with him."

Zarrah was unsure what the girl had meant by 'doom him to my Father's fate.' Did her Mother betray and kill her Father? Did her Mother capture his heart wholly and in doing so robbed the young girl of a more connected Father and Daughter bond? "Your Father's fate? The comparison to Avreet and the fate of your Father? You seem to have lost me child. What happened to your Father? I assume he has moved on."

She hoped she didn't cross any boundaries or open closed wounds by her inquiries. Zarrah always believed the best way to understand someone was to get the whole picture. If this Kendrix did not wish to speak on the subject then the matter would be dropped. Zarrah herself had an interesting life growing up. Zarrah was an open book.

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori stood almost knee deep in beetles. Never a pleasant experience – but necessary. She was ever the pragmatist. Her role with the One Sith and with the Sisterhood testament to that approach.

She was not without ambition but saw herself as a cog in a machine. Well oiled and with much larger cogs. She would not get to be one of the big boys if she didn’t pay her dues. That was her approach. Flashy kills were one thing – but pounding out Dominions and Invasions? Necessary and she was dutiful enough to comply.

The prospect of greater opponents did not faze her, but one, just once it would be good to turn up, grab the loot and leave. Maybe even grab a coffee en route?

But for now she simply nodded art Sumiko. “Nice work.” And she took the lead over the bridge, stepping as softly as her ballet training allowed.

As she did so, she recalled what she knew of the planet and what nasties they’d yet to encounter – for often it was like a tick-list. Xandanks, Tulrus’ and her personal favourites – Blistmoks and Sher Kar. The latter was certainly at the pinnacle of the food chain. Other than the present company fo course.

It was said the Blackguards would have to kill one to advance in rank. But given the biggest of the species could wipe out entire mining colonies, she suspected the Sith wannabes picked on the young of the species to be on the safe side.

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Darth Timoris"]


The cadavres of dead, decapacitated beetles were left behind them as they crossed over the bridge, surrounded by red lakes of lava. Gasses rose into the air, along with what seemed to be spires and ruins. Or rather the ruins of them. Perhaps these were what remained of the enclave that was their destination, though they could had quite a bit to walk.Clouds of smoke billowed of out of tree-like rock chimneys, a sign that they were within the general area of the so-called Smoking Forest. It sure lived up to its name because smoke permeated the air to such a degree that it was almost choking.


Still, these were minor inconveniences for an adept of the Dark Side. Or so the party went line went at least. Sumiko's mind had likewise drifted to the beasts that called this inhospitable, hellish hothouse of a planet their home. One might as well call it a check-list of predators whose main purpose seemed to be to impede scavengers, treasure hunters and Jedi on their more or less noble quest.


No, this writer is not yet done with breaking the fourth wall. So her senses were alert as she made her way across the bridge, crunches being heard here and there as her boots trode upon rocks or, as it often turned out, skeletons, for obviously they were not the first to walk along this path.


Speaking of senses, they went into overdrive as she felt a prickling through the Force. Then suddenly the ground beneath her turned, you might have guessed it by now, dear reader, unstable. Perhaps it was the will of the Force, perhaps the age-old bridge was simply not that stable anymore these days since it's not like anyone was bothering to repair it once in a while, but abruptly the ground beneath her feet gave in and gave way for a fiery chasm.


Sumiko was almost pulled down into the waves of fiery lava that crashed against the bridge, but was lucky enough to gather the Force inside her muscles and propel herself to the other side before she could fall into the lake of doom. She hit the ground as she leapt, rolling and jumping to her feet.


She looked around for Timoris to see how she had fared, but there was no time to think as the beasts were upon them. In this particular case they were Xandanks. Large, dangerous, vaguely insectoid creatures. Somehow they also happened to have both an exo-and endoskeleton. Well, this sucked!


A whole pack was coming at them. Two were moving to leap other from the side of the bridge they had just crossed. Reacting quickly Sumiko dove into the Force, trying to harness her power of mentalism to warp their minds and bend them but then found that she was being...blocked. Somehow a wall had been created inside their minds. In time she would be able to penetrate it, but not quickly enough. Naturally the animals would not have such a resistance, but they bore the imprint of darkside magicks.


Somehow must have conditioned these creatures, perhaps so they could serve as guardians. Probably the Blackguard. I'll just have to do this the old fashioned way then, Sumiko thought, feeling slightly annoyed. As a beast came at her, she was forced to rapidly roll aside from a slash that might have torn her in half. Vicious claws sought to slice and tear at her, her sword fended them off as best as she could before, gathering the Force inside her, she hurled the beast across the bridge with somewhat excessive force into a mountain wall. It hit the scorched ground with a loud thud, then her will crunched down upon its heart.

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Darth Venefica reared her head back and began to laugh hysterically. The imagination of young ones was a fresh perspective on life, one she herself was robbed of as a child, that sent shivers of cold delight through her body. Dragons that breathed fire? Well, in all honesty that would be a sight she would enjoy watching. Mythical beasts or beast thought long extinct that still lived would be interesting to find, and ride on their backs as Master and Apprentice screamed with joy.​

​

"There is no limitations to what mischief....or fun we can find."​

​

Then she did think of something cool. Not far from where they were was an ancient lab that was used once by the CSI, a lab rumoured to be filled with all manners of interesting and cool things; things a young girl like her Apprentice would find amusement playing with.​

​

"Come little one....let us seek out a lab where you and I can create something.....that breathes fire."​

​

[member="Bundori"]​

 

[Bundori]

[member="Darth Venefica"]

Make something that breathes fire.... Oh that sounded exciting and she was looking at her master while she was moving.with her feet skipping over the rocks looking around. "We're going on a dragon hunt, gonna make a big one. Oh we're going on a monster hunt and going to have a lot of fun." She was excited and traveling with her master around the world they had things to find and things to kill. Actually now that she was thinking about it with all of her sweets and the sugar high she'd really be abel to stay up all night if they needed to yep yep. All night long just her and the sweet delicious embrace of her sugar. "Lets go and find that lab master."

 

[Komo]

The duo had began to traverse the fiery landscape of Mustafar, and they were quite the unlikely pair indeed. A Human and a Mon Calamari. Come to think of it, anything paired with a Calamari would be quite an amusing pair to watch. But that was just judging a book on its cover as this one was a Sith Lord with an abundance of knowledge and skill that would shock most. The cracking sound of gravel beneath boots was all that was heard as the unlikely duo trekked on without much to talk about.

That would change soon however, as the Sith Lord had decided to speak up indicating that finding treasures and relics were not within his area of expertise as well. Darth Noxia guessed that the two of them would just have to try their luck at seeing what they could find with whatever they had at their disposal. After all, they were doing it for the good of the One Sith.

As [member="Darth Veles"] was the Lord among the pair, Noxia has elected to follow the more senior sith, letting him lead the way, as he made his way across the rocky and barren landscape, keeping a keen eye out for anything interesting, but all she saw with her eyes were rocks, lava and more lava. The Calamari's speech went on, before a smile from him interrupted him. He smiled. She had never seen one of his kind smile before, and it was a rather peculiar sight for the knight to see. What an interesting sight! She would reply to his statement, asking him what that asset was. "And what assets might that be?"

It was then that the duo was treated to a sight of a large lava lake sprawled in front of them, and Noxia could feel her armour's atmosphere control re-calibrating for the sudden change of temperature. As it slowly readjusted to a more comfortable temperature, it was as if she could feel the intense heat through her suit. Glancing over to unarmoured sith, Noxia had respect for his ability to withstand such intense heat. It must have taken quite the training. Her eyes then landed on the jagged outline of a structure, the same object that had captured her partner's attention in the first place.

 

[Darth Veles]

[member="Darth Noxia"]’s question earned the young woman a smirk playing with the corners of his mouth and a glance before the large eyes of the Mon Cal moved away from their destination and the large mass of lava under it. He searched for something, considering the best route for the two. A few steps on the shore carried him a bit further away from the intense heat that would have claimed any other Mon Cal’s life or consciousness. Only a Sith stood any chance of surviving this – and this particular cybernetically augmented Sith focused on the discomfort he felt, using it as fuel to keep going. He was physically perfect, after all – or dangerously close to it, much more powerful than he appeared on the outside. Darth Veles was far from a poor amphibian baking alive on a lava planet. Still, to try his luck needlessly would be foolish, and therefore keeping his distance from the lake was the wisest thing to do. As his search continued, the amphibian finally offered an answer despite not looking at his female companion at all.

“In this case, the asset is an exceptional individual that will greatly help the Sith Order,” the Sith stated matter-of-factly.

This, even when combined with his previous statement of this particular asset being beautiful, powerful, and intelligent, did not help much and Avreet chose not to pursue the topic further, his only answer being a mysterious smile that signed the Knight was free to come to her own conclusions of whom he meant, be it the armoured woman herself, the old Togruta, or any other woman allied to the Black Rose and treading Mustafar as of right now. Perhaps it was for the best that the true meaning of Avreet’s purposely vague yet all-revealing answer remained shrouded under a veil of mystery – Noxia wouldn’t have liked what he actually meant one bit.

A broken road appeared under his feet, as if inviting the two to stumble on it on their way to the structure. It offered several reasonable metres away from the burning lava though, so the amphibious Sith Assassin accepted the invitation and took the way leading him in the right direction. Given the road’s state of disrepair, he could imagine what the actual building looked like, its dangers – setting a swift pace, Avreet’s eyes finally paid attention to the woman again, more words leaving his mouth to fill the silence before the Sith duo reached the abandoned mining facility.

“Aren’t you hot in the armour, lady Noxia?” he inquired, the tone of his staying on a neutral level to make discovering whether he just teased or was genuinely concerned for her well-being more challenging for the Sith Knight. Even if the woman's gaze fell upon his face, the Sith Lord's expression matched the intonation.

 

[Kendrix]

Kendrix lowered her head slightly yet a small minuet smile graced her face as she remembered the good about her father, “He was great. Wise. Honorable. Just. Limbthír reminds me of him sometime. On occasion.”

“Sorry if my words are vague. Your language has too many choices. It’s easier to say what I mean in my own language,” Kendrix paused to gather her thoughts. “When I say you do not look at him like my mother. That really is good. My father loved my mother. His eyes told her every time he looked at her. But She did not love him back. Never. I believe she could not. That was his fate. Loving her even when he knew she would never love him back. That is fine however. She was never meant to be his true love… Now he is gone however.”

Kendrix paused again. She was bizarrely calm despite feeling shattered on the inside, “You admire Limbthír at least? Your eyes they… see him. Not like his for you but… similar I guess. I’m not sure. That is why I wonder if you will doom his fate.”

[member="Darth Zarrah"]

 

[Via Dolorosa]

The dynamic duo walked over hot rocks, lept over small streams of lava, and even ducked a few ashed ridden boulders on their way to the lab. Darth Venefica was seeing this more of an adventure rather than a scavenger hunt. The young girl had rekindled the flames of youth in her again. At this very moment, everything thing she had done up to this pointe in her life, the killings, the wars, the skirmishes, the everything meant nothing to her. She was having fun and a small part of her wished this day would never end.​

​

The journey to the lab had concluded, as the dynamic duo stood before a building that once saw better days. Cracks ran North and South of the building, and in some spots the walls that were once a whitish colour was not an ashy black. All the windows, somehow, were broken and looked like menacing jagged little teeth. Darth Venefica looked around for any signs of blaster scarring or signs of any kind of battle; and saw none.​

​

"Droids," she muttered.​

​

Not just any droids either, frenzied droids with corrupted programming. Darth Venefica looked over at her ageless Apprentice and flashed a smile. She, personally, hated dealing with droids. Droids never posed much of a challenge to her then and they still did not now.​

​

"Let's go evict some droids then plunder the lab's secrets."​

​

​

[member="Bundori"]​

 

[Darth Timoris]

Xandanks!

No sooner had she avoided the bridge’s demise than they were set upon by the insectoid creatures.

Surrendering thought and emotion, Melori settled into the Force. She trusted that the Force would oversee her actions so long as she executed them with determination but above all anger.

Her training had honed her instincts and turned her body into an instrument of tremendous speed and power. The Force guided her to the areas of greatest threat, the crimson blade of her lightsaber cleaving the thick air. Moments expanded, allowing her to perceive each individual attack, each movement of the creatures. Unfaltering intention gave her ample time to see to every danger, and to carry out her task.

Her opponents fell to her clean slashes, as she evaded a whirling storm limbs attacking her — they were relying on their generous armour to protect them as they pursued the Sith up close and personal.

Tumbling out of the reach of a well aimed slash, her breathing and heartbeat were loud in her ears but under control. Thought, however, intruded on her vigilance, and she lowered his guard before she should have.

The shivering stab of a xandank’s claw barely missed her. Spinning on her heel, he swept it’s feet out from under it. It screeched and its efforts to attack her only intensified as it righted itself.

She managed to hold it at bay with well-placed kicks, even while she dodged others. Her only thought was…this had better be worth it!

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Darth Timoris"]



Xandanks! Xandanks everywhere! Within a short amount of time our heroines had apparently become the most edible things on Mustafar as far as the beasties were concerned. The insectoid creatures charged them as if they had been starved all this time until the two ladies popped up. Nothing better than happy meals on legs.


It seemed mental trickery would not work well on them, so Sumiko likewise settled into the Force. The cold embrace of the Dark Side welcomed her and she let it grip her, accepting the fuel it offered. The Force guided her hand and directed her to where the threat lay, and so she gave herself over to it.


Timoris was taking the fight directly to the beasts with her lightsabre, which took a bit of the heat off Sumiko. Evading a whirling storm of limbs and claws, the Atrisian gripped her bolt pistol and fired. Boom. It impacted upon the beast that Timoris had been holding at bay with plenty of kicks. Nothing like having heavy firepower when it came to exploring death worlds. As tough as the armour of the beasts was, APEB rounds still punched through them.


Short range was not a problem, but the limited magazine capacity was. She was lucky enough to escape the strong wing of a beast's tail by leaping into the air and twisting. Landing upon a beast she rammed Souldrinker into the back of its head, where it was vulnerable.


Yet Xandank seemed to take offence at its brethren being sliced up like that and charged her, leaping. Sumiko managed to roll away, but the stab of its claws sliced across her face and shoulder, drawing blood. Feeling rather annoyed as pain shot through her she retreated, evading the storm of claws or holding limbs at bay with her blade, before she managed to levitate a boulder that smashed into the beast, blood splattering all over the massive rock. As the strongly injured beast tried to wiggle its way out of the rock she stabbed it through its chest.

 

[Darth Timoris]

The giant insects had now earned Melori’s wrath. The last minute had her holding them at bay whilst she expected her companion to work her mental Sith magic and so far it had not transpired.

What had happened was that Melori’s robes were now slashed in many places and blood seeped into the black fabric from many claw cuts.

She fixed the creatures with her piercing gaze, then pounced. Her lightsaber tore through one, cutting it in half. She’d called on Force Rage. It would tire her soon but she figured that being alive and exhausted beat dead and fully fresh.

In passing through the creature, her blade instantly cauterised its wounds, and only a drop of the black blood hit the floor.

The second grabbed at Melori, but the Sith Lord easily dodged it. It extended all its claws and lunged. But Melori brought her lightsaber up fast and gave it a neat spin, slicing the claws off with the first turn, and then lopping off its head with the second. Even though the skull was protected by its exoskeleton armour, its head hit the floor with an ugly noise.

[member="Sumiko Tanaka"]

 

[Darth Libertas]

[member="Darth Timoris"]


Alas, Sumiko's writer had decided to be a troll and decided that the black mages from the Blackguard had imprinted some sort of space voodoo on the beasties making them more resistant to trickery. Through the power of sheer handwavium. Why had this writer done this? Mainly to annoy Sumiko a bit and get her to use other powers. Yep, this one is such a troll.


Anyhow, now that this writer has spent a couple sentences breaking the 4th wall, we can move on with the actual plot, for this post has one. In any event, the young Raaf's ill mood was matched by Sumiko's. Sufficed to say by now she was quite pissed. Her clothes were sliced in many places and blood was dripping out of open wounds from where claws had sliced, though she was in a somewhat better shape than Timoris.


Strong pain shot through her left leg as a vicious claw sliced across her knee. She could feel the familiar warmth and tug of blood seeping out of it. Sumiko tumbled but managed to roll out of the way as the creature and lunged at her. As it grabbed at her with claws and a storm of whirling limbs the Atrisian lashed out with her power, as she likewise gave in to her rage. It would be tiring, but worth it.


Her eyes turned obsidian and the blood leaking out of her wounds darkened. A concentrated blast of pure dark side energy shot from her hand, which looked like it was burning for a moment. As strong as the exoskeleton armour of the beast was, it could not withstand the blast and was incinerated in a shower of gore and violence.


The last surviving creature stormed forward her in an animalistic rage, perhaps spurred on to avenge its pack since she and the Sith had butchered them all. An onslaught of rocks shooting towards it at super speed and velocity sliced through its natural armour, producing deep wounds and gashes, then orange tendrils of dark side energy leapt from her hand and she began leeching its life force.

 

[Komo]

She listened as [member="Darth Veles"] explained on what the asset might be, in this case being an exceptional individual that would be of great use to the Sith order. Darth Noxia had no clue as to who he might be referring to, but as long as it benefited the empire, it can't be all that bad. She wouldn't want to come to conclusions now, would she? He may have meant her, but she doubted it as it was probably just her vanity speaking.

Noxia finally came to a conclusion in her mind that he was referring to the old Togruta that was once his master, as she was one that was dearly reverred to him. All this while, she would remain silent, and only the sounds of their boots on the rocky ground.

When Noxia saw the Mon Calamari taking the broken road to the mysterious structure that lay ahead, she gladly followed, glad to be away from the blistering heat of the lava. It was threatening to fry up her armour's electronic systems. As the bulbous eyes of Darth Veles once again turned upon her, words again left his mouth as he posed her yet another question, this time about the heat and her armour.

She would gladly reply, glad at any chance to talk about her beloved armour. "When worn together with the helmet, it comes with a function that seals the suit, locking in as it readjusts the temperature of the internal environment, ensuring that the user stays comfortable in a wide variety of situations and environments. Such a life-saving feature it is." As she finished, her mouth would spread out in a wide beaming smile that the Mon Calamari would not be able to see, due to the unfortunate concealment of her helmet's mask.

"I'm the one who should be surprised you're not hot."

 

[Darth Veles]

​

“Yes, it does sound very useful,” the Sith Lord commented on the armour’s functions, keeping it in mind for later.

Large eyes continued to study the armour his companion sported, its sharp edges and smooth curves alike, and he couldn’t help but wonder just how tough the woman was underneath the metal plating. Way too many Sith relied on technological toys covering their bodies from head to toe, being utter and complete weaklings underneath. Would the blonde woman survive on Mustafar if someone were to strip her down? Would she live through bloody battles raging between the Sith and the Republic without the protective gear? What if the Mon Cal used one of his powers to temporarily disable the suit’s systems? It really depended if her body’s been honed into perfection through brutal Sith training. That, Avreet could not know for sure, leaving him with hopes of answering that question sooner or later. The train of thought and his female companion’s subsequent question cast a kind smile upon his face, an expression he just could not hold back. His eyes gave the woman a somewhat surprised and questioning stare, obviously faked given the grin playing in the corners of his lips.

“You shouldn’t be surprised, lady Noxia,” the amphibious Sith Lord pointed out gently, “It may appear I am not hot, but my body would definitely appreciate a vastly different environment, I assure you.”

The large structure neared, the road under their feet less and less broken as they came closer. Even from afar, Veles could see abandoned machinery silently left outside of the factory to collect dust and ashes, hovercraft that did not hover and touched the rocky road instead. As expected, landing pads on a small island nearby were devoid of any transport ships, connected to the main structure by a long bridge. Raising his flipper-like hand to cut off Noxia if she wished to reply, the amphibian let out a chuckle.

“But I am a Sith, my lady! I have trained and survived amongst the burning red dunes of Korriban, just as the endless frozen plains of Ziost. I am a Sith from the old Sith Empire, the predecessor of the One Sith.”

If he appeared proud of originating in the Empire of old and not this new pretender - he was.

Passing by the few machines parked in front of the facility’s depot, the Sith approached the main entrance. Robust metal door prevented unwanted visitors from entering even after the facility no longer functioned. As discovered after tapping into the control panel right next to the door, the power’s been cut off as well, further showing the mine’s been completely deserved for years and allowed to fall into disrepair – and collapse into the lava below one day. The cybernetic hand left the buttons be, its owner spun on his heel and turned to [member="Darth Noxia"].

"My lady, would you like us to make our entrance or look for another way in?" asked the cute Sith, big eyes looking at the armoured blonde first before darting towards the closed depot. Aside from searching and cutting their way in, there was the wonderful ability to jump higher. The Sith due certainly did not lack options!

 

[Grima Volitu]

"Admire him? Greatly." Zarrah had admired Avreet from almost day one when she took him under her wing. She had seen something different in him that was lacking in the other Acolytes at the time. Upon taking him as her Apprentice she was unsure what it is was. Over time she saw that he was like her. Not an exact copy because no two Sith should ever be the same but his beliefs and philosophies mirrored that of her own. He listened when others argued. He questioned only when he need personal clarification from her lessons. He never done anything that required punishment except for bowing to her. Zarrah hated that gesture. He understood where others remained ignorant.

"I assure you child, Avreet will never come to harm by my hands. I don't wish to doom him to any fate but I know is heart yearns for me," Zarrah said with sparkles in her eyes. "Young lust or foolish love? It is not my place to encourage or discourage his feelings." Love and feelings was foreign to her. She didn't know how to love someone but she did know how to love the galaxy. She didn't know how to express positive feelings toward another but she did know how to exert her negative feelings and emotions into power.

"Come child," Zarrah told her. "I believe we have reached our destination."


[member="Kendrix"]