The Living Horror (Darth Venefica)

[Zion Mirtis]

Science. Both a benefactor in a specie's expansion in the galaxy as well as a weapon of war and destruction. Science is never truly good or evil, but within the right hands it can be seen as a catalyst for the actions of either. Throughout time and history there have been great achievements in both. From warp drives and lightsabers to battle droids and a space station that could obliterate an entire planet. For the Sith they would claim their actions were for the good of all, even when considered evil. Today such a feat would be achieved again and the galaxy would learn of the nightmare spawned.​

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Within a research facility on Cislla, the home world of the chiss and recently claimed territory of the One Sith, Darth Raven had been awaiting the arrival of one of her sisterhood members of the sub-faction known as the Covenant of the Black Rose. [member="Darth Venefica"] , a powerful Sith lord and founder member of the Covenant, had busied both herself and her fellow sisters into further advancing their power and that of the One Sith. While Raven had originally helped with a number of creations she had soon found herself interested in creating something of her own.​

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Using what credits and "persuasion" needed for the resources she had the brightest biological minds from both the Sith and the Chiss working on her newest creation. She had been there from the start of it's conception and frequently saw to the contuiation of her little project, It's official title was Codename: symbiote.​

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For over a month the initial projects had failed to meet Darth Raven's standards. When asked what she wanted the scientists would be surprised to learn the thing in question had to be "durable, enhancing, and above all loyal to only the Sith". Such a thing seemed beyond expectations but whenever anyone asked where she came up with such an idea she merely answered "I read it in a book" and would leave it at that.​

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It was only now that Raven had sent word to Venefica. Over a month and a half of nothing and now she had sent a message, begging her to arrive as soon as possible. On the day she was meant to arrive Raven awaited her outside the facility, a heavy coat over herself to keep from the cold of Csilla. Along with that she wore a very confident smile on her face.​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

Her small transport shuttle, flanked on either side by what some would call slave transports, landed in tandem in the snow covered surface of Csilla. Darth Venefica had read the initial reports of Darth Raven, electing not to ignore them but to give the girl time to facilitate her resources so that success would override failure. Though in her eyes, failure was not a punishable crime but a stepping stone that eventually led to success. However, most Sith didn't share her outlook, then again Darth Venefica was not like most Sith.​

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Equality was a curse that plagued individualism. Yet, that was a lesson for another time.​

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The booted feet of Darth Venefica, a plague in itself since she walked through the galaxy bare-footed, stepped into the snow crusted landscape; her head swiveling from right to left as she cursed this planet. She hated it the first time she was here, and she she hated it now. She was a swamp girl and as old sayings go, 'Once a swamp girl, always a swamp girl.'​

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Her black and red-flecked eyes fell on the Sith girl, who seemed to be handling the frigid weather better than her, gave a cold smile to her. There where few among the Order that could drag her into such unwelcoming conditions such as this; but Darth Raven had earned the right to drag her here. The Sith girl had proved herself in the eyes of the Sith Lady; respect begat respect.​

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As the Dagobah Sith moved toward the waiting girl, the slave transports that housed criminals and other unsavory characters began to usher it's cargo from it's belly; the test subjects flanked by the Black Rose's Sisterhood Troopers.​

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"What wonderful weather we have today," she said mocking the planet's dominate season. "As you can see....I brought along a gift."​

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[member="Darth Raven"]​

 

[Zion Mirtis]

Upon her approach Raven had giving a small bow to [member="Darth Venefica"] , as she always showed respect to a Sith Lord with authority over her. Respect beget respect and all. As she noticed before she's arrived within a slave ship and, to her bemused surprise, she'd come with a "present" that Raven had nodded at. "Thank you." she said, looking between both Venefica and the prisoners. "I think you'll see I'll put them to good use once you've seen what I've achieved." ​

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On her orders Raven had the troops take the prisoners to one of the cargo entrances in the back where they would reach the labs faster. From there she offered Venefica to enter into the facility first in order to warm her feet. Once she was inside she would find it far more suitable and, surprisingly, lightly humid. A droid awaited at the doorway to take their coats while a pair of armed Chiss guards stood by them the entire time.​

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Once she was ready Darth Raven gestured for Venefica to follow as she began walking down a sloped corridor into the facility. "You'll be pleased to know our resources have not gone to waste. But I did have to pull a few more credits in the last week than needed. In truth I was not sure how much more pull we needed to fully synthesize our little project." They'd come to a large door before Raven stopped and asked "Tell em, Lady Venefica, do you know the behavioral instincts of a symbiote?"​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

The warmth inside the facility was a welcoming feeling compared to the rudeness of the cold outside. She simply didn't play well in the cold and it wasn't just the cold either that annoyed her, but the snow covered landscape that did it's part to freeze her out of her own skin. With her coat, crusted over with both ice and snow already, being taken by the droid, Darth Venefica was glad to be rid of such a burden. She didn't fancy bulky clothing or armour. She preferred the freedom of restrictions allowing her to move swiftly and quickly.​

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Following the young girl, she listened intently to the words that were being spoken. Mainly obtaining enough credits to continuously fund the project. Funds would not be an issue, she would see to that herself. To her own credit, the Dagobah Sith had researched how symbiosis, or in this case symbiotes, worked. Though much of what she discovered appeared to be mere rumours or speculations due to some research facilities outlawing the study. Still, she was intelligent enough to piece it together, but not completely.​

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"First....I shall lay your concerns of funds to rest. I am the sole owner of a company which means I can easily obtain any amount of credits needed," she replied feeling the last wisps of cold evaporate from her body.​

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"As for the behavioral instincts....I only know what I looked into...which isn't much," she added with a small frown but quickly continued, "However, I do know that both parties must be in close physical contact to reap the benefits. The host, for example obtaining the rewards from the combination of the two....while the other, let's say organism....must require a living host to survive. If the host dies, then the organism must seek out a new host or risk dying itself."​

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[member="Darth Raven"]​

 

[Zion Mirtis]

"Exactly." Darth Raven said, punching in the codes to open the door. "And in most cases the parasite tries to keep the host alive for as long as possible." The door finally began to open as she finished with "My theory was: what if we could take such a natural behavior, and weaponize it?"​

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She had a confident smile on her face as the door opened to reveal a hallway with glass walls. They were, in fact, looking into smaller labs throughout the base that were on the other side. The scientists working were a mix of human, chiss, and a few familiar races within the Sith itself. While the rooms were only a door apart from the hallway what stood out were the large glass containers that were front and center as they two walked by. Each one had what looked like a preserved piece of some sort of dense liquid. But as they walked further the fluid became more jelly-like to finally looking like some sort of horrific blob.​

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"These are the first initial subjects." Raven explained as they walked. "Subject one was not the best start. Any host it latched to was put into a violent rage before being killed within five minutes. Apparently it tried to defend itself from anything too different, even it's host. Subjects 2 and 3 suffered the same problem of dying out to fast because either they could not sustain themselves for long or because they were unable to fully gain the needed energy from their hosts. Subject 4 started to show promise, but it had eaten energy far too fast for the needed requirements. Subject five had eventually dug it's "roots" too far into the hosts body which actually made it incapable of moving." ​

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As they moved further the class containers now held what looked like animals but with the odd goo from the jars on them. Though this one was different. It was darker and seemed to form makeshift eyes around the faces of the hosts. What was even more odd was the sudden growth of teeth, or things resembling teeth and claws, that grew around the body. It started small with womprats and the like, but then came larger jars with things like gundarks and eopie.​

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It was here Raven said "Finally we had a success. [member="Darth Venefica"] , I'd like you to meet Subject 6." ​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

"Weaponize it," her own voice mirroring what the Knight had just said. This was indeed and interesting concept. A new weapon would mean a change in how battles were fought, granting the Sith an advantage of their enemies. A super-soldier came to the forefront of her mind, deadly and efficient. A weapon that could think for itself and make changes on the fly without the need for direct orders. Simply, pointe and kill.​

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Now walking through the hall that contained several labs behind glass dotting it's side, she listened as Darth Raven spoke of the previous tests. Like all scientific pursuits, there was to be some failures but it was from the knowledge of failings that eventually would lead to success. As was the case when they stopped in front of lab which housed animals of varying species.​

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Darth Venefica stared at them through the glass, a small smile emerging on her face. She registered the word success from the lips of the Sith Knight and turned to face the girl.​

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"And what can test subject six do," she inquired, hoping to be shown a demonstration.​

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[member="Darth Raven"]​

 

[Zion Mirtis]

Instead of answering with words Raven decided to show [member="Darth Venefica"] instead; as she was practically building up to. Upon entering into yet another lab this one was far different. There was a large glass cage int eh center with a number of scientists looking around it or fiddling with environmental controls or simple security procedures. On the inside of the cage itself was Subject Six. Or rather what subject six was currently attached to. It was humanoid in appearance and the outline suggested something closer to a twi'lek. The entire body was covered in a living black substance. The form seemed female yet that could barley be told given how the face looked. The twi'lek's face was augmented by the same large eye-like patterns and the giant maw of jagged teeth. It was squatting on the ground but kept looking up and sniffing around. It gurgled and grumbled as it would tend to move, sniffing around the area before resting in a corner.​

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Raven walked around the cage while telling Darth Venefica "A perfect bond between the host and subject six. Total motor and sensory controls. The roots have fused into the hosts muscle systems and reinforced them. Making the host both faster and stronger. The only fallback is, of course, the host is no longer in control. Subject Six continues to feed on the hosts internal energy in the process. So for as long as their are bodies to provide it can maintain control before wearing down for at least a week." ​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

The black and red-flecked eyes of the Dagobah Sith starred at Subject Six, taking close observation and mental notes to what she was looking at. The host, what was left of it, resembled a Twi'lek but the gender was unknown since the host had gone through an incredible metamorphosis into something deadly; and beautiful. She watched with a cold smile as Subject Six flashed it's razor sharp teeth while it constantly sniffed the air, perhaps looking for food or victims; or as she began to think victims were it's food. Her smile broadened.​

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"This is simply amazing," she said watching the creature huddle into a corner.​

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Darth Venefica crouched down a few feet away from the cage to examine Subject Six closer listening as the girl began to outline the success of Subject Six. When the girl finished, Darth Venefica remaind crouched and silent while letting the words to take root in her mind. There was so much potential here.​

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"Is it possible to see Subject Six in action?"​

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[member="Darth Raven"]​

 

[Zion Mirtis]

As [member="Darth Venefica"] had crouched down the the subject inside seemed to react before leaping from it's corner at her. It banged against the glass and growled before it's tongue lashed out and slithered around the side. There was no need to worry about it's escape but it was clear it had reacted to the presence of "fresher meat". When Venefica asked to see Subject Six in action she asked her to follow as they left the room, heading for the right hallway. As they walked the host inside the cage seemed to watch as they left, sniffing the air as it did.​

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"You'll be pleased to know that Subject Six was only the first in the new living weapons we developed." Raven explained. From it we've managed to spawn more of the same creatures that carry out the same natural instinct to hunt and feast." As she finished they came to the end of the hall where she opened the door and said "As you'll soon see."​

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The room opened to what seemed like an ever larger laboratory than the first. Instead of one cage there were many, even some that were more like pens or firing ranges. There were plenty of guards and scientists around, the former of which armed with flamethrowers along with their usual firearms. As Raven toured the areas with her each cage held a different version of Subject Six, some in different colors. A Green Subject, attached to what seemed to be a human, was being shot at by conventional blasters and proving to be durable to them. Another cage held a red subject attached to a wookie, chained against the wall while tendrils reached out for the placed tray of meat in front of it. Finally there was a pool of water where a blue subject, attached to what seemed to be a female torguta, swam around with the scientists timing it as over five minutes, the sign of artificially made gills an indication of adaptation.​

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Raven stopped and turned to Venefica while saying "As you can see the other Subject are only as strong as their siblings. They do have a basic weakness to fire it seems. As well as supersonic sound waves. We've discovered it is the only true way to remove the symbiote from the host without damaging them. Another odd side effect is the reaction in cold, where they enter a hibernation state. That is why Csilla has proven the ideal base of operations in case any were to escape. Until they are introduced into a more temperate environment they remain in stasis while remaining preserved." ​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

"And their loyalties," she began looking out at the various subjects being put through rounds of testing. "Lie where? In other words, can they decipher between ally and foe on the battlefield.....or do they need to be separated from the rank and file troops?"​

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This wasn't so much a concern for her but a important question she felt needed to be addressed. Other than Vong legions, the Sisterhood troopers, and her own personal guardsmen, the Dagobah Knights and the Nightshaders, most soldiers that fought under the banner of the Sith were not as well mentally trained to fight alongside such horrors as she was looking at. What she was concerned about was the Sith soldier's fear factor. Could they fight alongside these creations knowing they could turn on them on a whim if happened? And if so, would they stand and fight or flee? Or would these living horrors be bred to serve the Sith and all those that supported their cause with absolute loyalty?​

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Regardless of the outcome, she was confident that these newly created war-machines would install fear in the hearts and minds of the enemy. Everyday the galaxy was being fought over, with every group seeking an advantage of their enemies and the Sith were no different. The Republic, she had witnessed on numerous occasions, sought to create weapons of metal to hold back the growing threat of the Sith and Primeval. Here, moving about their tanks was a new and upgraded form of weapons that could be utilized to strike down their enemies.​

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[member="Darth Raven"]​

 

[Zion Mirtis]

When [member="Darth Venefica"] asked the obvious question of loyalty Raven was about to answer before something caught her attention. In one cage a subject attached to a humanoid host seemed as though it was dying. The host itself looked skinnier than the others, obviously at the end of the week long connection to the symbiote that had claimed it. Darth Raven smirked at the opportunity to demonstrate to her guest how these weapons would be kept in line. She gestured for her to watch before approaching the cage where the subject was. She ordered it open despite the rejection by the scientist tending to it.​

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As the door opened into the cage Raven stepped in, closing it behind her. The subject fell to it's knees before the symbiote began to peel off; revealing a male chiss underneath. His body was a withered husk. His eyes were rolled up into his head and his skin was leathery and dull that the bones could be seen. The symbiote itself was now a slithering black goo that almost seemed to sniff the air before seeing Raven. The Sith knight dropped to her knee and held out a hand, her eyes burning with the darkside. The symbiote lashed out and attached to her arm, Raven gasping for a moment, but it did not fully consume her.​

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Raven held another hand over it and began to stroke the symboite as it rested on her. It gave an odd sound, almost like a gurgling purr, before she stood. She turned, her eyes still a blaze of yellow, as she smirked at Venefica and the others.​

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"As you can see, my dear, the subjects respond well to a force presence." She held out her arm and allowed it to crawl over her shoulders, slithering about but never attacking her. "A connection needs to be maintained as to keep it's mind, as it were, in check. Of course this is a small means of control." ​

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A moment later guards had brought a new host for the subject. A whimpering rodian girl was pushed into the cage. Raven smiled before holding her hand out, the symbiote sniffing new food before jumping out and attaching to her face. As it began to consume around her Raven casually exited the cage before it was locked.​

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"We've been thinking the use of nanites or inhibitors for the hosts will keep the symbiotes in check when non-force users are around. But thinking of the prospect. Unleash these things against our enemies, were they will turn their own soldiers against them! We'll be winning on two fronts. Ha!"​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

The desecrated husk left behind when the black goo literally peeled itself from the host was something the Sith Lady was not expecting. Still, she simply discarded the vision away chalking it up to scientific pursuits. Back in her lab on Anaxes, she witnessed first hand what transformations, both good and ill, could happen on test subjects. In some circles they would call her a monster for some of the experiments she was either directly or indirectly involved in. Monster or not, it was all about science.​

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Her black and red-flecked eyes watched in amazement when the younger girl, Darth Raven, not only entered the cage but knelt in front of the black goo. She watched as it sniffed, or tasted, the air around it before gripping the Lady's arm. But it did not try to consume but instead allowed itself to be treated like some pet. A loyal pet. Fascinating!​

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Before she could reply, a girl from the Rodian spieces at been ushered into the cage, and the symbiote at once infused itself to the girl. The process was both swift and efficient. In times of war, the symbiote would indeed be the trump card that brought victory.​

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"One final question. What would happen if one of these symbiotes indeed latched onto a Force user," she was saying still looking at the former Rodian girl. "Is it possible for that to occur even?"​

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[member="Darth Raven"]​

 

[Zion Mirtis]

The question was, indeed, a fascinating one. Raven gave a hum of interest as she rubbed her chin and said "Interesting idea. We've never actually tried it before. We've been lacking Force Sensitive subjects, you see. But you should know that, as a force sensitive, their minds are very fragile. Which means they are easily controlled. Even more so once they're without a host and just slithering blob. Although one thing we've found is that once they've attached to a host they are the ones in full control. You would never be able to sense the hosts mind while the symbiote is attached to them. But a force user controlled by it.....an interesting idea." She snapped her fingers to one of the scientists who hurried over before she said "We've had an interesting development. I want you to ready another specimen for the next symbiote that's finished feed." He nodded and hurried off before Raven looked back to [member="Darth Venefica"] and said "Hopefully we'll be able to answer that question sooner than later."​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

A force sensitive engulfed in the black goo to form a symbiote was something she was eager to witness. The concept could produce both negative and positive results in her honest opinion. As a testimony to the enchanted bone jewelry she wore in her nose, the Force could at times be not only difficult to work with or predict, but had the intelligence to rebel. Even after the completion of her enchanted nose ring, she continued to pursue the idea of having dead Force users that were raised to maintain their command of the Force. But alas, all experiments had proved failures.​

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The doors to the lab hissed open and another specimen was ushered in. The male human was tall and well defined in terms of muscular structure. Darth Venefica had no desires of flesh; especially after the disappearance of her beloved female Twi'lek. What she did take notice, however, was that the male was exhibiting a Force signature, which meant only one thing; he could command the Force. The Force binders on his wrist was also a dead give away, as well as the Force shock collar that encircled his neck.​

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"Now we shall see the results it has on a Force sensitive," she said to her fellow Sister and Sith Lady. "Regardless of the results....we will at least get an idea of how to move forward."​

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[member="Darth Raven"]​

 

[Zion Mirtis]

The next xubject had been brought in. Raven had watched as the man was pushed into the cell while hearing [member="Darth Venefica"] comment about what they would see unfold next. Raven watched with anticpation as the man looked nervously around. There was no sign of any symbiote, at first, but the moment he looked to the top right corner of the cell he realized he'd been dopped. The symbiote was hiding, waiting for the right moment to strike. He lashed out and stuck to his face before slowly engulfing him. More and more it slithered around, entering and taking control. Finally it was finished and the symbiote was now fully attached.​

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The first thing it did was try to break out of the bonds around it's wrists. The whole time monitors kept an eye on it while Raven stood by, trying to sense what was going on in it's mind. Something was off though. She could not sense him the same way anymore, even with the symbiote on even the other subjects still had the same presence with the force.​

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"Ah." Raven said as it dawned on her. "Of course. It has full motor control, but not the Force control." Pointing it out to Venefica she explained "The symbiote has taken root on the subject's brain, which allows full control. But it's likely sacrificed for the sake of total control. In other words the force signature has been practially cut out. The subject is now, offically, a mindless force-dead host."​

 

[Via Dolorosa]

The symbiote struck like a mighty apex predator quickly engulfing it's host. Darth Venefica watched with satisfaction as the male was slowly transformed into something better; and more powerful. The whole process took less than thirty seconds to complete. As she had foreseen, the male host was no longer 'visable' through the Force. His signature and everything associated with the Force was apparently absent. ​

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Even before Lady Raven had spoke, the Dagobah Sith had come to the same conclusions. The symbiote attacked the brain and in turn overrode the host's motor controls; claiming dominance for itself. This was remarkable, despite the negative side-effect on Force hosts. But as an advent practitioner of the science arts, she understood wholly that there was no such concept of perfection; only results one was given to work with.​

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"This is good," she chimed in. "With the symbiote's grip on a Force user and practically cancelling it out....enemies such as Jedi and rogue Sith will not be able to detect their presence through the Force."​

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Darth Venefica began clapping her hands together. In the back of her haunted mind, she knew that this beautiful creation was just one step in a long line that would be forthcoming who would change the strategic way of how battles where fought.​

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[member="Darth Raven"]​

 

[Zion Mirtis]

"And there's a greater advantage to something like this." Raven said, tapping the glass and bending foward to have a better look at the subject inside. "With a beast like this we strike out two enemies. The one who's cosumed by the host, and the friend who can't bare to kill them." She turned, giving a devious smile, and finished with "The perfect weapon." When she finished she stood stright, ordering for more observations to be kept on the current subject before pulling [member="Darth Venefica"] to the side. "I'm so glad you approve. There still need to be some final tests done, but hopefully we can have the first batch out and into battle within the next month. I'll be sure to bring this up with the other sisters of course. Just so the understand what this little beauty can do."​