Summer Nights

[Mordecai Zambrano]

But in my life​

I never meant to cause no harm​

Never hurt nobody​

Just wanna take this chance to fly​

(Here)​

​

Sith Academy of Bastion
Headmaster's Office

"Yes, yes, I underst-"

"No you don't understand me." Mordecai spat. "This had better be the last time I have to come here to explain how you're supposed to do your job. I can't have your students traipsing about the frakking capital like they own the place." The man grumbled, "Makes me and my men look like we're not doing our jobs out there.

"And continued behavior like this will not look well for you - and I'm not the one you should be afraid of."

The Headmaster had stopped abruptly, cut off once more by the towering man before him. This had been the second time the Emperor's brother had decided to stop by for a pleasant visit to his wholesome, studious establishment. Unfortunately, the circumstances for both meetings had been rather unsavory. Apprentices and acolytes alike had been caught around the capital, out past their curfew hours, causing mayhem with their newfound powers.

It never looked well for an orderly empire when their brightest pupils were making a mockery of the city. Some had been expelled outright, and some had been caught by the Judicial Enforcement Corps. They had been charged with disturbing the peace, civil disobedience, refusal to cooperate with imperial authorities, and even an assault on a peace officer charge.

Mordecai had made haste after the last one. Executions made his skin crawl, especially ones that occurred on the spot.

"I pray that I do not find myself here again. Not for your sake, but for that of your pupils." The Sith Lord let his glowering emerald gaze rest upon the man for a few more moments before he straightened himself, turning and leaving without a sound.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

“And now, young Jedi,” her lips curled in a cruel sneer and the pink terror eyed the latest victims of her monstrous rampage. “You will die.”

Strawberry-flavored syrup splashed all over the ceramic plate as she brought her hand down, spoon digging into soft batter. Six pancakes suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. There was no mercy or hesitation as the Sithling stuffed her face, munching vigorously. The sweet flavor exploded in her mouth yet her senses craved more, more, always more. Another spoonful went into the Lady of Hunger’s gaping maw where sharp teeth ruthlessly crushed soft pancake flesh. An eager swallow and the gnawing hunger in her stomach had been appeased for now. It was a delicious way to start her training on Bastion. In fact, so delicious the child felt like ordering more.

Eating late at night was a terrible habit. Even the Lady of Hunger knew that. Funami blamed the Sith Empire though. Told to travel to Bastion and participate in some sort of Sith training, there was no time for lunch or dinner left. With such unexpected violations of her daily routine came strange, bizarre habits. Unlike the majority of Sith who spent their days sitting about their cozy office, Funami actually had several obligations besides her Sith hobby. Like going to school! In the fifth grade of elementary school, combining her school and Sith duty had been a nightmare that often left her psychically and mentally exhausted.

Reaching Bastion pretty late by local time, the pink-haired Sithling had proceeded to the nearest café and ordered everything her sweet tooth desired. Straight from school, she sported Atrisian school uniform with a blood-red cape draped over it, hiding most of her body beneath the fine red silk. Tiny and childlike, the girl appeared nothing like traditional Sith.

After licking the plate clean of syrup and placing it down on the table, the child produced a handkerchief and wiped her mouth. Looking about revealed zero witnesses of the deed. It really was awfully late and a worried frown pulled at her eyebrows. Getting up, smoothing out the creases on her little cape, the child stretched her arms and left the café’s terrace. A jolly tune softly hummed into the night accompanied her skip toward the academy as the cool air danced with her pink pig-tails.

[member="Mordecai Zambrano"]​

 

[Mordecai Zambrano]

Frowning that long had made him sore. It'd been far too long since the academy had screwed something up, and only recently had their students' behavior became an issue - and not just a small one. Acolytes didn't typically make fools of themselves and get each other killed. Kids their age didn't deserve that, but that was hardly his call. It hadn't been the first time either.

An exasperated sigh escaped his lips as Mordecai quickly left the academy. Acolytes and younger apprentices alike sent wary glances his way as he shouldered himself through its corridors. Dark robes fluttered behind him in a flurry as he quickened his pace, ever thankful that he'd never had to attend the academy as a young man. All of his training had been in-house with either family or private tutors, well respected in their fields of expertise. Guess that was the perk of being a Zambrano.

Not that there were many to begin with.

Before he could raise his wrist-comlink to his lips, a flash of pink caught his eye. A tiny girl, skipping happily towards the academy without a care in the world. Surely not a Sith. Surely not. Mordecai toggled the comlink.

"I'm ready, you can come pick me up." His eyes never left the young child. Cheerfulness never seemed to be something the acolytes had in spades.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

Her playful skip made for a rhythmical tap of her shoes against the empty streets. Most of the capital had gone to sleep, leaving the Sithling all alone. She did not mind the darkness. With the power of the Force coursing through her veins, there was precious little capable of doing her harm. Except for Sith. Peering through the night’s shadowy cloak illuminated by street lamps, she spied a cloaked figure and noted his eyes stared right back.

Oops.

Still she edged closer. In stark contrast to her casual and outrageously un-Sith-like apparel, the towering Sith sported traditional Sith robes that immediately hinted at his allegiance. Funami deemed him of high rank based on his height alone. All powerful Sith lords she had met were ridiculously tall, especially from her vertically challenged perspective.

“Hellooo~!” The child whooped, waving a hand. Albeit he struck an intimidating sight, the girl was far from scared. After meeting the Emperor himself, training under his son and encountering countless big bad Sith lords and ladies, the child thought herself one of them. Without a hint of fear, the girl sauntered right in front of the Sith and lifted her chin, casting her violet gaze up.

“My lord!” And there she stood, putting on the sweet smile of a child, eyes wide open and watching the Sith lord with unconcealed curiosity. Offering an elegant curtsy, the girl bowed her head, bent the knees outward and swept her right foot behind her while holding her cape out ever so slightly. “Could you please tell me where the Sith academy is? I’m supposed to continue my training there.”

She pulled her best puppy-dog eyes on him and pouted. It was the most adorable, heart-wrenching thing the galaxy had ever seen.

“Sorry, I’m new to Bastion!” The Sithling chirped in apology.

[member="Mordecai Zambrano"]​

 

[Mordecai Zambrano]

The pink-haired menace had noticed him casually watching her. A bright smile and an angle in her step sent her on a direct collision course with the Sith Lord. Mordecai's frown deepened, tearing his gaze from the bright monstrosity to absentmindedly thumb away at his comlink. Still, there was that movement in the corner of his eye - and it kept growing larger and larger until it obscured his vision entirely.

Oh, sweet Force above.

A childlike, shrill voice greeted his ears like a grav-train screeching to a halt. The man paused for a moment to rub his eyes, an exasperated sigh begging to be released. Yet he held it, taking a single moment of silence to collect himself and turn on the intrusion. Normally he would've greeted her similarly, but recent events had turned his mood quite sour.

Mordecai opened his eyes, emerald hues locking upon the schoolgirl before him. He was proven wrong again today: she actually was a student of the Sith way. Despite her appearances and mannerisms, the Sith Lord felt it within her. The growing darkness and corruption. He shivered internally and finally opened his mouth to respond.

"Oh," he remarked placidly and gestured behind him, "Back that away just a bit. Can't miss it. Goons in dark robes and Sith-y stuff everywhere."

The puppy eyes had very little effect on him. They were gleaming with mirth, with expectation.

He glanced at his chrono and whispered a silent prayer to his pick-up driver.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

Adopting an attentive expression, the little creature intently listened to the Sith lord. Or pretended to. One could never tell for certain with the little girl, though those very few who knew her true face understood the ruthlessness and intelligence hiding behind the façade of silliness.

Mischief gleamed in those large violet eyes of hers and once the man gave the brief, strict direction to where she wanted to go, Funami gave a nod. Her eyes shut closed and Funami relished another great victory of her adorable, innocent appearance. When they fluttered open again, the serious face was gone, erased by a happy grin so commonly found adorning the girl’s appearance.

“Thanks, my lord!” The pink-haired Sithling squealed with a sharp salute, standing at attention. “You’re the best!” Posing soldierly did not suit her childlike image, but destroyed absolutely nothing of the girl’s cute appearance.

Breaking the uniform pose and giving him the thumbs-up, grinning wildly, Funami swept past the man. Little shoes tapped along the pavement as she turned about, raising a hand and waving.

“Ta ta!”

[member="Mordecai Zambrano"]​

 

[Mordecai Zambrano]

What he was seeing before him was out of this world. Bright pink, all smiles, good manners, and a disposition that seemed to define the word "cheerful." It was a strange thing indeed, especially around these parts of Bastion. Where everything was Imperial gray from the marching soldiers to the buildings and propaganda posters that littered the alleyways.

The small girl squealed with delight the moment he even acknowledged her existence and offered directions. Peculiar, he thought. There was always much more to the eye when it came to their newest apprentices. Most either wimped out of the training curriculum or they were hiding something. All had ambition and those that rose to the top simply had more than the rest. She looked like one from the latter category - one who would fail quickly.

Mordecai cleared his throat as she stepped past him, starting her gleeful skip towards the academy.

"You're one of the apprentices here?" The Lord raised a brow, "Who is your master?"

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

The authority in his voice could not be denied. A sudden stop ceased her skip through the sleeping city. Funami spun about, crimson cape fluttering wildly in the motion, and faced the Sith lord once more at his voice’s command. He suddenly struck a more intimidating sight, though the pink-haired Sithling concealed any expression of fear or worry.

“Lord Vaulkhar is my master, my lord!” The child revealed with a deliberate twinge of sadness in her voice, cocking her head to the side. “He is currently, um,…”

Missing? Captured? Dead?

The little girl had no idea and bashfully lowered her eyes. Whatever the case, her training had suffered in his absence. The same went for the girl’s social standing among the acolytes, which admittedly bothered her even more. An apprentice with no master was no good, lacking the influence and guiding hand of their superior. A terrible weakness to suffer from when surrounded by opportunistic hounds trained to catch the scent of weakness and smother it.

“Indisposed. That is why I’m here to get a new master!”

Nevertheless, the idea of switching the Emperor’s son for some third-grade Sith offended her greatly. Someone with her potential surely deserved better.

“I was lord Vaulkhar’s best student,” she quickly added as if it mattered and her violet eyes cracked wide open. “And that is why I need to find a reeeally powerful teacher who can unlock my limitless potential! Or something. Fufufu~”

Funami shrugged with a playful giggle and tucked her arms beneath the silky fabric of her cape, giving her an even stronger doll-like appearance. Every single acolyte she had met claimed the same. Top of their class, untapped potential, raw power. All unfounded boasts proven rubbish when she floored them with her telekinetic might.

[member="Mordecai Zambrano"]​

 

[Mordecai Zambrano]

Perhaps his initial assessment of the pink-clad Sithling was wrong. Mordecai saw whatever sadness there might've been. Sure, many acolytes cared very little for their masters themselves rather than the lessons they taught, and this little girl was no different than the rest of her ambitious peers. This child was more of a Sith than he was, strangely enough.

A grin framed his features for a moment. "Oh, my nephew was your master? I'm told he was good at what he did, though I've hardly ever spoken to him. I was unaware of his... disposition though."

Mordecai frowned once again, placing the little girl beneath his demanding gaze. "What do you know of his disappearance?"

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

A nephew?

The revelation piqued Funami’s interest and cast the Sith lord’s importance in an entirely new light. An opportunist through and through, the child instinctively knew she wanted to be the man’s new friend.

A tap of shoes delivered her straight in front of the towering Sith lord. Pouting again and raising her perfectly manicured eyebrows, the Sithling set all cute features on full power, for she had decided to wrap him around her soft little fingers like the previous instructor.

“N-nothing! Absolutely nothing, m-my lord!” A stuttering squeak declared and Funami’s lip appeared to quiver slightly. “He just poofed one day without a trace! A great tragedy for all of us, really.” The small Sith shook her head with false regret and gave a weary sigh, averting her gaze for a moment as if lost in nostalgic thought.

It was a tragedy and she suffered most of all, losing her ticket to the Empire’s elite.

“Um, I know you are a busy man and all, but are you looking for a student? Because I am the best student there is! I can make breakfast for you every other, um, Zhellday! The galaxy’s best pancakes! And cupcakes! And cookies! And cakes!” The child clasped her hands and targeted the Sith lord with those large puppy-dog eyes of hers.

[member="Mordecai Zambrano"]​

 

[Mordecai Zambrano]

He saw the gleam in her eyes the moment he revealed his identity. His face was not known to many, but the mere namesake that was in every history book spelled it out clearly. The brother of the Emperor was likely the best candidate for an ascent to power, simply because of the bloodline and birth-rite many Zambranos had inherited. It grafted in their soul, power was, and he was always one stuck in the shadows beneath Kaine's limelight.

Not that he minded. Less people pestering him for things and favors and more time spent elsewhere. Like home with his wife, or with his current and only student. Evelynn had been a chore in the beginning but her abrupt change in mindset and spirit was refreshing, like a whiff of fresh air after a day spent in a dungeon. That, and she was family too. His dear niece that occupied as much of his time as did taking care of his wife and literal pet dragon.

What was one more?

Mordecai slowly brought himself to a crouch before the pink-haired Sithling. He let the awkward silence linger for a moment as he searched her eyes for sincerity, and found very little.

"You're going to have to impress me a lot better than this for me to take another student. Cookies and cake will not cut it, little one." A frown appeared once again, shattering those cutesy looks with a single motion. "What is your goal? What drives you? What do you think my goal is and how can you help me?"

There was always a rule of two, but perhaps another could spark competition. One to hold the power, two to crave and yearn for it.

"I'm sure you're already aware of who I am, so answering truthfully to your possible new master would be wise. Very wise." Finally, he let sour look on his face collapse and form an appreciative smile. "I appreciate the kind gestures, but I am looking for students and not servants."

His chrono beeped once, signalling that his pick-up driver was nearby. Mordecai tapped on it twice absentmindedly, signing for his driver to hold for a few more minutes.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

Everyone loved cookies and cakes. The Sith lord’s casual disregard of both felt like a stab in the heart, having the small Sith know Vaulkhar’s uncle was a heartless monster. As he dropped into a crouch, a little hand reached out and patted his head a few times. Always on the receiving side in the past, Funami felt like striking first was the only way to stop it from happening again. That, and she simply wanted to see his reaction, keen on testing the boundaries.

“Very well,” Funami raised a finger and cocked an eyebrow after retracting her grabby little hand. “I want to become the strongest psychokinetic in the galaxy. That is my goal. To have power and the freedom to use it. That is why I have joined the Sith. The stronger the Empire, the greater my position in the galaxy. It benefits everyone.”

Sliding both arms beneath her child-sized cape again, she regarded him with a playful frown and shrugged as if explaining the most trivial fact in the galaxy. Alas, he had asked for the truth and she had relayed it in its barest form, not bothering with the lie about needing a new hobby.

“I’ll be whatever you want me to be, my lord, fufufu~,” the pink-haired Sith’s giggle was laced in venom and mischief flared in her violet gaze as she took a deep, exaggerated bow in front of the crouching figure. “I’ll be an asset to you and you’ll be an asset to me. That’s how Sith work, right? I get to learn from an experienced Sith lord and grow in power while you receive a trained Force user to do your bidding and advance whatever goals you have. It’s a mutually beneficial partnership.”

It was all business in the little devious head of hers.

[member="Mordecai Zambrano"]​

 

[Mordecai Zambrano]

The moment her hand was touching his head, he was matching her movements easily. It was unnerving and surprisingly comforting to say the very least. Soft, little hands patted down his dark hair gently as his rough, war-lived hands curled through pink locks. Just as quickly as it began, their little moment of simultaneous headpatting had ended. Mordecai wondered what passerby and onlookers might've seen - the Emperor's brother and a small child patting each other's head.

It was as terrifying as it was adorable.

"Good girl," the man mused as the Sithling spewed her intentions and goals out in the open, for only his ears to behold. "That's what I like to hear, very much so. Though I assume Lord Vaulkhar trained you fairly well in telekinesis and other abilities, yes? Did he ever touch on your physical abilities or anything else?"

The urge to pat her head again came back. The Sith Lord held his composure for the time being.

"And was it your name, little one? Are you in school as well as training at the academy? If so, what grade?"

If he assumed her age correctly, she was no older than twelve or so. Maybe even younger. Girls her age were normally interested in dance lessons and dresses, not planning an ascent to power via telekinetic abilities. He'd have to take her to the park to play or something, or maybe even buy her a teddy bear or two. A childhood shouldn't be wasted like this, oh no.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

The thought of using lies to answer his questions had crossed her mind. Children often lied to hide their imperfections and Funami was very much a child in that regard. A particularly deceitful child, which came with being Sith. On the other hand, she was just an acolyte. Nobody expected the pink-haired Sithling to be a master of all forms of lightsaber combat, nobody assumed her well-versed in all secrets of the Force.

In the end, the little girl had decided to spill her guts and answer truthfully, revealing that despite the bold claims earlier, she did not have much going for her. Outside of her area of expertise the kid was painfully average or worse, further pushing her into using telekinesis as a crutch to solve every single problem Sith training had in store for her.

“Ma-makashi, my lord. Master Vaulkhar taught me Makashi,” the Sithling revealed, embarrassment flushing her cheeks red as she remembered the lessons. Young and physically indisposed, the pink-haired girl was likely the worst lightsaber duelist to ever walk Korriban’s red sands. She’d have perished without her overwhelming degree of skill at telekinesis.

Cocking an eyebrow, the child explained further, speaking with that singsong voice of a child, occasionally hesitating with uncertainty. “I know how to swing the Makashi salute really well! It’s a great deterrent. When other acolytes see the Makashi salute and my curved lightsaber, they think twice about picking on me.”

Without a shadow of doubt the smallest, youngest and most adorable Sith student, Funami appeared a scared little rabbit among a society of predators. Appearing as un-Sith-like as possible and the exact opposite of intimidating, the small child had defeated mighty rivals who should have, by all means, killed her without difficulty.

Appearances could be deceiving and underestimating the small child with the pink hair was a stumble that had sent many into an early grave.

“My name is Funami! Funami Teriyaki, currently in the fifth grade of elementary school.” Funami blurted out, eager to race through that little detail and change the topic as soon as possible. Blinking, her wide, violet gaze sunk directly into the crouched Sith lord’s eyes.

“Papa said it is important to start cultivating and grooming my talent early! Learn how to control the Force, gain valuable experience and make powerful friends! Don’t you agree, my lord?”

[member="Mordecai Zambrano"]​

 

[Mordecai Zambrano]

The fact that she was a child, a mere acolyte, and even the fact that she'd lied to him earlier didn't matter much to the Sith Lord. Truthfulness was something hard to come by when congregating with Sith, so it was rather refreshing to see the girl consider the dusty ground before spilling the beans. Nothing was perfect with her, what Makashi skills she had wouldn't even fare well with a wheelchair-bound opponent, and her telekinetic abilities pretty much made her a one trick pony.

That was alright. Mordecai was that way too, albeit quite the opposite. Telekinesis had probably been the only smidgen of Force training that he had ever taken the time to learn, preferring to turn his own body into a weapon instead. An absolutely terrifying pairing of a rough, wizened warrior and a pink-haired doll that could pick things up with her mind. And she was only in fifth grade too, very commendable for a girl her age.

He still needed to take her somewhere to play later, though.

"That's quite alright. If anything, a deterrent works a lot better than not having one at all. If things other than swordplay happen to be your forte, then that's what we'll focus on. Jacks of all trades get killed and those that specialize rise to the top." The sourness of his mood was finally falling away, being replaced by a warm smile.

The Lord extended his hand as the itty bitty Sith introduced herself. "Mordecai Zambrano. It's very nice to meet you, Funami. I have a feeling we'll get along very well."

His comlink blinked once, again signalling that his driver was there for him.

"Are you busy with class at the moment, Funami? Would you like to take a ride with me?"

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

Funami gave a happy nod in agreement. She, truly, desired to specialize. Within her soft, weak hands so unaccustomed to strife and hard work, the lightsaber presented as much a threat to her as to others. For that reason, it made perfect sense to focus on the Force. Being so tiny had but a single advantage, albeit a major one - others tended to fatally underestimate the girl’s grip on the Force, unaware the child’s tiny body hid a terrible engine of destruction within. Whenever the child’s Sith side had been revealed, the unstoppable rush of dark power spewed forth to crush bone and sinew to bloody pulp.

Even the tricky art of Makashi would yield to her in time, though that she considered secondary to achieving mastery over telekinesis. Rare talents such as hers had to be nurtured to blossom into something wonderful and terrifying, after all.

Another curtsy and polite smile greeted the Sith lord as he gave his name, cementing Funami’s need to get under his tutelage. Lord Zambrano - rough on the tongue, the surname carried the Emperor’s power and authority with it. Funami definitely wanted a piece of that, as it also guaranteed the man’s qualities as a Sith. “It is a privilege to meet you, lord Zambrano, fufu!” The child’s pink eyebrows curled into a frown that only added smugness to her overall expression.

A violet gaze settled upon the comlink as it relayed its beeping signal.

“No, my lord,” her childish voice squeaked like a toy and her frail body started to gently rock back and forth on her heels. Joy raised her eyebrows and pulled at the corners of her mouth as Funami glanced about. “I will be honored to accompany you, fufufu~. Um, where are we going?”

Cocking an eyebrow, she set her questioning gaze upon him, eyes relaying her craving for answers.

[member="Mordecai Zambrano"]​

 

[Mordecai Zambrano]

The Sith Lord smiled once more at her confirmation. He lifted his hand once more to gently pat her head again, despite willing himself to resist the temptation, and gave in to his desires. Soft, he thought. Nothing like taking a killer fifth grader under your wing, that wanted to do nothing more than bake cupcakes and then shatter her enemies into bonedust all in the same day. For any other Sith Lord, she was the ideal apprentice in her willingness to serve.

For Mordecai, it was a bit much. Enthusiasm and cheerfulness on this level was unheard of. If he considered himself a friendly and amiable Sith, then she was on another level.

"We're going to see if you can back up your claims on the spot. I've a personal training area in the Citadel, so we'll be heading there." The man responded evenly, glancing around for his ride. "And I needed to train a little bit as well. I would rather sweat now so I bleed less later, and it would be smart of you to share the same mindset."

Something beeped behind him. Mordecai stood and turned to see an airspeeder waiting, its uniformed driver stepping out to open the rear doors.

"Let's go, little one. You can tell me about school and your friends on the way."

And with that, he was striding to the speeder to slide himself within.

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

“Fufufu~,” the girl lifted a finger gave that signature giggle of hers. “I would rather not sweat or bleed at all! Gross, gross.” While exaggerating in a girlishly innocent way, Funami did dislike bleeding and sweating, for it greatly impacted the adorable image she wished to convey. If she were to lose this charming innocence of a child, the Sithling would admittedly make a sub-par Sith whose almighty telekinesis was the only distinguishing quality. And she definitely did not want that, actively grooming her appearance to always appear sweet and nice.

A beep from behind Mordecai’s back demanded Funami’s attention. A crown of pink hair peeked from behind the tall Sith lord as she watched the appearance of the posh speeder and its sharply dressed driver. Greed gleamed in her eyes as she watched it. The Sithling, too, enjoyed many such luxuries outside of her Sith life. The sight only served as a reminder the Zambrano lived the life of nobility.

“Ah, there’s our ride,” Funami stated the obvious and rushed for the open door after Mordecai had entered. The cushioned seat accepted her small body and she leaned into it, clearly enjoying the fact she had avoided walking on foot. The doors thudded closed, separating the duo from the night. A breath of filtered air hit her nose, eradicating the city’s numerous smells. If anything, it fully gave away the little Sith used strawberry-scented shampoos to wash the fluffy pride sitting atop her head.

“I go to school because I have to,” she revealed flatly while turning her head to the man. “School’s boring when you can move things with your mind! Being Sith is much more fun and develops my most valued talents.” Her eyebrow curled up. “My friends at school actually don’t know anything about my Sith allegiance. It’s a secret!”

A smug grin widened on her face as the world outside rushed past in a blurry flicker of street lamps. Sleepiness came over the Sithling as she watched it and she had to resist giving in. Then came a sudden stop, indicating they had arrived. A small hand eagerly reached for the door and opened it, allowing Funami to hop outside and embrace the darkness again, now faced with a large, looming shadow towering against the sky. Before her stood one of those scary majestic castles often used in propaganda. Seeing the gargantuan structure made the little child gasp. “Wow,” she uttered with excitement clearly audible in her gasp.

Was someone of her station even allowed to enter? She stuck close to Mordecai, latching onto his status to silence any questions and stares.

[member="Mordecai Zambrano"]​

 

[Mordecai Zambrano]

The ride back to the Citadel reminded him of his own as a child. When close relatives, never his mother or father, would pick him up to take him home. Questions about how the military academy went, how training with his lightsaber instructors was, and other small talk. Nostalgia filled him as he glanced over to see his newest companion, heavy-lidded as she recalled her day. The Sith Lord next to her nodded knowingly - that was exactly how he was as a kid too.

Although she was fortunate to have friends. He never had many unless he gave a fake last name. The ones that knew who he really was always wanted something from him.

However, what the little girl said resounded deep within him. As their speeder slowly came to a halt before the Citadel grounds, he stepped out of the vehicle and swung around it. Mordecai came close to his newest apprentice, planting his index finger right against her forehead.

"Your strongest power is here." He stated simply, zero emotion. "There will be times when you will lose the Force or when you lose yourself. All you'll have are your wits, your intelligence, and your own strength to make it out alive somewhere. Force nullifying resin? Ysalamiri? Yuuzhan Vong?"

The man gave a short chuckle. "You will be killed later in life if you underestimate your normal schooling now. This is my first lesson."

He pulled his finger away gently and started for the Citadel.

"Come, Funami, there's much to take care of."

[member="Funami Teriyaki"]

 

[Funami Teriyaki]

She blinked rapidly and assumed a confused frown as his finger landed on her brow. He was right, of course, and she knew it. For all the destructive power of the Dark, Funami’s main strength still lied within her art of deceit, cunning, trickery. Education played a role in it as well, albeit ordinary kids would not be taught how to wield the Force and survive. In that essence, she considered normal schooling secondary to her Sith education.

Of all the ways of disabling the Force he had listed, Funami was only familiar with the infamous ysalamiri. Fortunately enough, she had not encountered the Force-disabling lizard in battle, rather coming into contact with one that served as papa’s pet. The Force was paramount to Funami, her entire life centered about it, and without it she was very much just an ordinary girl. So far she had not experienced the loss of the Force safe for a short-lived incident on Cloud City, a result of being careless. It would not happen again.

“Coming, my lord!” The child chirped enthusiastically and scuttled after Mordecai, following into the Citadel. For every step he took, she took three, turning the simple task into quite an exercise. Catching up, she matched her pace with his and jovially skipped beside the Sith lord, making the height difference between them even more apparent. They made a strange duo to witness.

Her gaze rotated to meet his face. “I hope you don’t mind me asking,” she started. “But is it necessary to eat vegetables to grow so big and strong?”

[member="Mordecai Zambrano"]​