The Weaver of Nightmares

[Athena Heron]

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

Byss - Sith Academy

She sat in the crude waiting area of the disciplinary office. She could over hear snippets of the angry headmaster's voice coming through the cracked doorway. "...can't get anything done with all the interruptions. The other acolytes say they see things. They interrupt the lessons. I say we put her in solitary confinement for a week - this time without food. See how well she does at interrupted lessons half-starved."

"That's all good and well but we've got a visiting sith lord coming. We don't have time to discuss punishment for insubordinates. Take care of this Athena Heron before Lord Centurion arrives."

"Another sith lord? We just had Lord Adekos. You'd think they'd let us do our jobs and stop micromanaging so much."

The young Omwati had heard enough. Uncurling her legs, she stood, and began to back out of the waiting area, leaving the illusion of herself still seated, behind for the guards. There was no way in the nine hells of frigid Hoth she was going into solitary confinement for a week.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron wanted to be at the Sith Academy probably even less than the various pedagogical members of the One Sith wanted him to be. The entire organization was...a curiosity for the Sith Lord. He'd served in several Empires and Sith Orders before, certainly, but they all had their own flair. When the One Sith had originally swept across the galaxy, he'd been content to ignore their existence wholly, busying himself with the momentarily amusing prospect of being a God. Naturally, it was all an illusion...a powerful one that stirred the hearts of men and women alike, rolling them into a fervor that had, at one point, taken over a good portion of the galaxy's more untamed territories.

It was the knowledge of the Aing-Tii that had interested him most during his arrival - though he'd not admitted that to anyone. In fact he'd made little more than passing mention of it to [member="Amorella Mae"], a woman he'd positioned himself to get close to for access to the planet. Developing a strong emotional connection to the woman, however, hadn't been part of the plan. The slight wrinkle to an otherwise exquisite plan had been managed well enough, and he could say beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was content with where life had directed him. No...the Sith Lord was in fact...happy.

The stern visage of Cameron's cold, silver-green gaze told an entirely different story. It didn't necessarily speak of exasperation or superiority. Even apathy was too colorful and constrictive to describe the Sith Lord's general demeanor. He was merely...observant, analytical. The sights and sense that passed through his body were all processed individually and quickly judged by his brain. Generally, they fell into two categories...things deserving little to no attention and things that were of relative importance.

Arriving just outside the waiting area for the disciplinary office, the large Sith Lord paused as he watched a tall feminine figure with blue skin initiate what he could only perceive to be an attempt to sneak away from trouble. Given her attire, Cameron surmised that she was one of the many Acolytes that walked the surface of Byss...aspiring to be of use to the many Sith Lords of the One Sith. Though even some of them were undoubtedly less than useful themselves. That was something he needed to work on...after all he would need to play the part of devout One Sith follower to ultimately achieve that which he desired.

Clasping his large arms behind his dark blue and gray cloak, Cameron's deep voice traveled the short distance between him and [member="Athena Heron"]. "It is a far better course of action to embrace punishment for your actions. It will help you to see the error of your ways...if your convictions are so easily unraveled. Otherwise..." A thin smile spread across Cameron's lips. "...it helps to spur your effort towards success the next time around."

 

[Athena Heron]

Her shoulder blades bumped lightly against something solid in her retreat. Feathers mixed with hair the color of a raven's wing glinting in the afternoon sun ruffled on her head as the man's words met her ears. Eyes met his seemingly cold, calculating gaze unflinchingly. The illusion of her double disappeared from the waiting room chair across the room.

Surreptitiously, or foolishly, she snatched the man's name from the outer edge of his mind.

"Cameron Centurion. Lord Centurion." Coal-eyes widened in surprise, heart quickening a beat in partial fear and curiosity. The temptation to crack into his mind was there but she held herself back. One, he was more powerful. Two, he was more powerful. Three, he smelled nice.

The Omwatti-hybrid spared a glance over her shoulder. The twits still hadn't noticed that their very special honored guest had arrived and was speaking to one of their most challenging, least favorite students. "I can accept punishment but I will not be caged for idiocy. What will you do with me, Lord?"

It was a simple question to the sith lord that stood in her path.

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron gave the woman before him a single, slow appraisal before allowing his silver-green orbs to lock onto her own eyes. If she'd in any way invaded his mind to discover his name, the Sith Lord either did not notice or was simply not concerned. His lack of discernible reaction only served to highlight the ambiguity of that reality. [member="Athena Heron"]'s comments, however, did draw a thin smile to Cameron's dark features. "Caged..."

Briefly, the Sith Lord permitted his gaze to drift towards the room where the overseers were meeting. Without looking back at Athena, the Sith Lord stepped past here. "Remain here." Following a flurry of rushed reactions to his sudden presence, Cameron engaged in a brief dialogue with the individuals attempting to determine the appropriate punishment for Athena. Moments later, he returned to where he'd left Athena. "You are no longer bound to the confines of this Academy. I'm curious to see if it is foolishness or potential that drifts around you like an enigmatic aura. You have fifteen minutes to gather whatever you hold in your possession. Meet me at the landing pads when you are ready."

Abruptly, Cameron initiated a casual pace that carried him quickly thanks to his large stature. He'd taken no more than three steps before he called over his shoulder in the direction of Athena. "You needn't worry about a cage for idiocy under my tutelage, Acolyte. Only your life."

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

She blinked. Deep charcoal-pools widened as she followed the lord's retreating form. Those in the headmaster's office spoke in hushed tones.

She ignored them.

"You have my life," she whispered in a hushed tone. With a sinister curl of her lips, she flitted quickly in the opposite direction. She was to the landing platform in less than 8 minutes with a backpack slung over her narrow-shoulders and a pillow clutched tightly against her side.

The girl preferred to sleep like her head was floating on air and this special pillow did that - duh.

The thrill of the unknown and the power that radiated off the sith lord was almost enough to put the acolyte into an addictive stupor. But her gaze remained sharp and alert. She approached the ship without hesitation.

"Lord Centurion. I am ready." If she was intimidated by his larger form, she didn't show it. "Where will we begin?"

She didn't know what he knew, if anything, about her background or what his expectations were. And unless she dared to pluck at his mind again, she knew very little about the towering sith lord beyond her connection in the darkside.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron gave no outward response to [member="Athena Heron"]'s soft comment regarding her life, but he filed away the quick conveyance of devotion as 'interesting'. It wasn't an usual sentiment, really. There were many Acolytes eager to pledge themselves to the cause of the One Sith and, if they're lucky enough, the tutelage of one of the many Sith Lords.

When Cameron arrived at his refitted AlAT/i, he briefly stepped aboard to inform the droid that aided in the general maintenance of the vessel of the intended change in plans. Their first destination would be one that Cameron knew well...certainly there was scarcely a better place to go to illustrate his initial lesson to the woman. Once that was complete, the Sith Lord quickly familiarized himself with the woman's file from the Academy. He only bothered with the highlights...age, race, observed temperament.

Exiting the vessel, Cameron arrived back on the duracrete landing pad just as his eyes caught the approach of Athena. Cameron nodded simply in response to Athena's statement. Before he bothered to say anything, however, Cameron turned and proceeded back up the loading ramp to the vessel's interior. Expecting the young woman to follow, the Sith Lord spoke in a deep, soft voice. "Your education will continue with every moment you draw breath until you no longer draw breath. You will come to find there are many different...types of devotees within the One Sith. Fundamentally, however, being a Sith is not about being part of a club or the simple wanton destruction of other civilizations."

Pausing, the Sith Lord palmed open a door that lead them into a crew compartment which had been converted into a multi-purpose room that he used for meditation and training. "You can only embrace the full effectiveness of your potential once you have truly mastered every aspect of your being." Turning to face Athena, Cameron gazed down at the young woman with an expressionless mask. "Every fear, joy, weakness, and strength must be confronted. Your ability to have absolute control over yourself is what will keep you alive and bring you more strength than any flashy force powers could hope to do. So...what do you perceive to be your weaknesses?"

Cameron wasn't interested in her strengths...not now. Those that chose to focus on their strengths were weak beyond measure.

 

[Athena Heron]

Not the simple wanton destruction of other civilizations? Shame. She kept these thoughts to herself.

Her bag and coveted pillow dropped with a kerplunk on the deck-plating as she blanched at his question. Weaknesses? She immediately saw the wisdom behind his words but realized she had buried her own weaknesses so deep she didn't know if she could dig them out again.

Charcoal-eyes blinked but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the lord's visage.

He could easily destroy her now, even if he was yet to become keenly aware of her own weaknesses.

Mouth opened and with a measure of self-control, she grunted them out. "I fear not being in control. Water is not my ally. And sometimes I fear the cost of living more than death. And as you know, Lord," a cautious tug pulled at her lips, "I can be...stubborn. Did you expect me to say something like spiders and nexu?"

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron managed a thin smile at her last statement. "I expected you to imply you had no real weaknesses and merely state a laundry list of skills you wished to improve upon. That seems to be the typical...mental state of Acolytes and Lords alike. The strength to admit and confront your weaknesses is a subtelty lost on most sentients." Waving a dismissive hand, Cameron motioned for her to stay put for a moment. "I will return shortly."

Five minutes later, Cameron returned to the modified training room as the vessel began its ascent to orbit. After removing his dark blue and gray cloak, revealing the variety of Sith Tattoos that adorned his upper body from another life, Cameron took a seat near the bulkhead. Crossing his legs, the large Sith leaned back against the cool metal of the bulkhead, allowing it to cool his exposed back.

Focusing his gaze on [member="Athena Heron"] once more, Cameron made a statement, followed by a question. "I figured on the stubborn part. I am curious as to your fear of the cost of living...more than death." That statement could have been interpreted a number of ways, but Cameron preferred not to postulate on the variety of potential meanings. "Explain your meaning...presuming, of course, you can."

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

The avian-girl tried not to let her gaze linger on the tattoos across his chest, at least more than was necessary. She rocked back slightly as the ship changed course. A pale-blue hand steadied herself on the nearest wall.

Keen-eyes panned back up from his chest to meet the intensity that seemed ever-present in the Lord's gaze. She had a troubled-past, nothing beyond norm for most sith: family slaughtered, enslavement, torture. Her shoulder blades still tingled at times with pain from where they cut her wings off almost 9 months ago, today. A tremble went through her shoulders that she was almost immediately ashamed of. She refused to be a victim. She was a survivor. She wanted death on her own terms.

"I mean," she began pacing in front of him, restless in her movements, "in death there is a release. No one can torture you in death." Eyes hardened as she stopped her movements and faced the seated sith lord. "Living has a cost and is a choice. Eventually, I fear I'll choose the easy way out."

Slightly suicidal, yes.

"I know it's silly and cowardice," she huffed, midnight feathers ruffling within tangled strands of midnight hair. Eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm curious. Were you one of the lords that admitted their own weaknesses?"

She believed she already knew the answer but she wanted to hear him say it.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron kept his gaze focused on [member="Athena Heron"]'s eyes. For a moment, he sensed a certain level of...pain? No, not pain. It was more colorful than that...like an emotion she was all too familiar with but perhaps not completely able to control, yet. While he didn't know the specifics or even have a clue, really, he knew it was of little consequence. It was true - most Sith had endured their own share of suffering or pain.

However, he generally rejected the notion that it was required to make one a Sith or even merely a darksider. When Cameron next spoke, he didn't address her comments...immediately. "Power, pleasure, pain. The biggest offenders for drawing or forcing sentients towards the dark side. Yet - you find all three of these traits to be largely ignored by those that understand the truth of walking this path." Ignored...not immune to the reality of their existence. A very necessary distinction.

"You needn't fear any of them...nor should you look forward to them. Pain is temporary...it can be controlled, managed. Power...power is so often a function of perception and what others permit you to believe, accomplish. Power is often controlled as well...albeit artificially and not necessarily by those in power." Truer words...never spoken. "Finally pleasure...a result of chemical reactions in the brain stimulated by various events and functions. Pleasure can also be controlled."

slowly, Cameron allowed a warm smile to spread to his lips. "Impressive monologue, no?" The Sith Lord's smile dissipated almost immediately. "Last time. My responses to you will be...direct...from here on out." Honest? Well...only as honest as he required them to be. Example: he was never going to answer her question about weaknesses honestly. "Your fears are neither silly nor cowardice, they're merely misguided. Death is not a destination...not truly. You will come to realize that you can experience much in death...perhaps even more than you can in life. Also. You can't die until you have my permission, so you may as well not waste your time." Honesty, check. Not that raising the dead was his specialty. Like...at all.

"To answer your inquiry..." Slowly, Cameron came back to his feet. Gazing down at Athena, he shrugged his shoulders casually. "If I had a weakness, I would. Rest for a few hours. There is a spare room just down the corridor. I will collect you when it is time to begin in earnest." Dishonesty, check. The truth was...his weakness was acknowledging that he needed it to live. Why? Because admitting it gave it power over his mind. The struggle to compartmentalize was a daily reality for Darth Ashmedai. Bottom line, for all of his strength and abilities, [member="Amorella Mae"] had the real power...the power to cause him to crumble with a mere thought and a word.

Love was basically some ol' bull...

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

Clear and cryptic at the same time. Lips twitched at his comment about permission and death but pursed into a thin frown at his own admission of his weakness. Rather, non-admission.

"There's a lot beneath the surface of you, Lord Centurion, isn't there? And I will do my best to remain functionally living under your tutelage." Settling her new teacher with one last calculating look, she heeded his advice and closed herself up in the spare room.

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Exocron
Four Days Later

After transferring to a larger Vanguard-class Heavy Cruiser, Cameron took [member="Athena Heron"] on a somewhat lengthy trip towards the fringes of the galaxy. The Sith Lord did not exactly believe in the feigned importance of ancient Sith Worlds - certainly none that had been ransacked and rebuilt hundreds of times in just his lifetime. However, he did believe in the power of demonstration, the use of active, ongoing exemplars. If there was one simple truth about the power of belief, it was that it could not be killed through political or military action.

Fortunately for both of them, the trip did not merely pass in silence amongst the two Sith. Cameron was definitively a warrior at heart, but that meant more than swinging around a weapon or trying to choke people to death. The true nature and lifestyle of a warrior very much relied on intellectual development. During their time together, Cameron engaged Athena in conversations about the history of not just the Sith but the Force itself...along with all non practicing sects. This, of course, included the Jedi Order in every incarnation. The conversation was just that...a two-way discussion not merely him dictating history to the woman. The emphasis of these sessions was to illustrate and instill the reality that perception counted for...a great deal. Twice a day, the Sith Lord put his apprentice through grueling workouts designed around not just physical conditioning but also mental conditioning under stress. No more than one hour a day was spent on actual weapon employment and expanding her knowledge of various general force talents.

Expert, veteran warriors are merely those that are brilliant at the basics.

During her personal time, Cameron permitted Athena to do as she pleased. Given that it was fairly obvious her primary inclination was not towards swinging a weapon in combat, the Sith Lord provided her access to a vast amount of knowledge...but it required her to ask. Otherwise, she could simply choose to sleep, eat, and generally be lazy. He would not judge her for that decision as her life was merely her life. However, he was extremely critical of her performance, attentiveness, and general level of understanding during their official time together. Eventually...they'd move past contrived methods of regimented instruction. Most of her training would merely come at the hands of shadowing Cameron throughout his life.

First, however, she would need to know a bit more about the things he'd held back merely days earlier. The Sith Lord was still deciding upon whether or not she was ready and thus...worth his time. The final decision would be made within the next hour or so.

Once the Vanguard had settled into orbit around Exocron, Cameron collected his apprentice and took her to the hangar. Once aboard the Irae, the Sith Lord posed a simple question to the Acolyte. "What makes a deity, Blue?"

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

During her time with Lord Centurion, she learned to appreciate sanisteams a lot, food a lot, and sleep even more. He had an intuition for how hard to push her, just far enough to bend her endurance but not break it. But that didn't mean those first days or weeks of training didn't end in some seriously sore, practically limping walks back to her temporary quarters to promptly pass-out...well, after preening of course!

With all the time they spent together you'd think she'd learn to read him better but his next question caused her narrow, black orbs to narrow at his face considerably. "Species generics would be the first layer to that question, Lord. But I could go deeper. There is the question about perception. What if blue to another being is gray or doesn't exist? What about illusion?"

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron's stern silver-green gaze remained locked on [member="Athena Heron"] as she responded, but the corners of his lips just barely flinched as if a genuine smile had dared to grace the otherwise dark, emotionless nature of his features. It was readily apparent to him that she had, perhaps, not completely understood the meaning of his comment. In truth it was more a failure of his metered conveyance than her insight and perception.

At least, she clearly assumes nothing.

"Perception. Illusion." As the Sith Lord settled into a seat and the AlAT/I lifted off the deck of the hangar bay, Cameron gave the diminutive Omwati a subtle nod of the head. "Precisely. A deity, in truth, is generally an illusion. I've journeyed to many planets throughout this galaxy over more years than I care to count. It is the embodiment of specific qualities that represent a very specific perception of a group of individuals. A phenomenon that most refer to as...faith. To this day - faith is the strongest weapon I have ever seen. It changes the lives of hundreds of thousands with merely a word, written or spoken. It is not a tangible entity that can truly ever be destroyed or eradicated."

Inhaling deeply, Cameron leaned forward slightly as he continued. "It is vitally important you understand what I am about to say next. The reality of faith and its strength...is why the Jedi Order's ideals will never be defeated. Even if we somehow manage to crush the Order's present physical incarnation, Jedi will remain...just as Sith will remain. If every single person in this galaxy were to die tomorrow, faith would endure and resurface with a later generation. Embrace the priorities of whatever organization you wish...but use them to strengthen your own knowledge and capability. Learn as much as this galaxy has to offer, and you will become an entity of superior intellect, capability, and control. You will be as close to a deity as it is possible to achieve in this life."

Leaning back, the Sith Lord allowed his dark eyelids to slide closed over his silver-green orbs. Athena could respond, ask questions, or simply stew. Whatever her reaction, he would remain perfectly silent and motionless until the Irae reached its destination...

---------
Temple of Moross, Exocron
30 minutes later...

No sooner had the Irae's landing struts compressed into the concrete landing pad than Cameron's eyelids shot open. Throwing a thin smile in Athena's direction as he came to his feet, the Sith Lord depressed a small activation switch to the vessel's intercom system. "We will proceed directly to the Hall of Aatrox."

"Yes, eminence."

The response may or may not have triggered Athena's curiosity. The two men that had been sequestered away from the two Sith near the cockpit for the duration of the journey would not be unfamiliar to the Omwati once she saw them. However, their dress and garb would no doubt hold greater meaning to her in time.

After adjusting his dark blue and gray cloak, Cameron motioned for Athena to follow him. Once they reached the converted cargo bay that lead to the boarding ramp, the Sith Lord pulled the hood of his cloak over his head. As the pair stepped down the ramp, Athena would see that two mean stood waiting at the base. They wore the typical featureless dark blue uniforms she was accustomed to seeing, but they were wrapped in flowing gray cloaks and featureless dark blue masks as well. The typical appearance of those anointed by Aatrox the Deceiver to serve him directly.

Under his breath, he spoke softly to Athena as crowds of onlookers gradually began to appear, throwing themselves to their knees and bowing their heads. "Remnants of the Moross Crusade. A religion that was mostly absorbed into the Fringe...but not completely."

A pause as they reached the bottom of the ramp. "To them. I am one of the Ten. The God of Deception and Shadows." The next words he spoke directly into Athena's mind. There is no greater deception...than that of being a deity.

Waving a hand over the crowd, Aatrox 'blessed' the onlookers as the two men that now flanked Athena and Cameron rapped their force pikes on the ground twice to command all to their feet. In another five minutes, Cameron ascended the white marble steps to the main foyer of the Temple where the Flame of Moross still burned as brilliantly as ever in the center of the room - threatening to reach all the way to the heavens. You would think them peaceful, insignificant from their very modest, identical appearances.

Athena and Cameron were both treated with a mixture of reverence and fear...given that Aatrox the Deceiver was never to be trusted. That is an illusion, a fallacy. These people and the armies of Moross swept across Wild Space like a plague, consuming all those that did not believe and converting those that could be. Even the Vong scourge of the Horde was met with a rather definitive end. Here, dark siders and light siders alike came together...unified effort to one so-called glorious purpose; the Way of Moross. This religion was created by a Sith and eventually guided by one...most would call a Jedi.

Another pause.

You inquired as to an admission of my weakness. Yes, I have. It was, is, and forever will be Her. Ending the wordless conversation for a moment, Cameron turned from the massive flame and began proceeding down the long corridor. As they walked, Athena would note that the natural sunlight became more and more filtered until candlelight was necessary to probe the eternal darkness.

They were approaching the Hall of the Deceiver.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

Dark-eyed gaze widened from the moment she stepped off the ship. Other than the betrayal of her eyes, no other emotions crept into her visage. Fortunately, the Lord's tutoring on the way over here covered the general history of Moross and the Fringe. For the crusade, she couldn't quite believe it until now.

These people were devout and seemed like they would do anything for their....deities. This....con was invaluable. Better to have willing servants than embittered slaves. Athena of all people, knew.

There was a flicker of jealousy that she quickly masked as Cameron spoke about a her. Jealousy quickly faded into something more akin to trust as she realized her master shared something very significant with his acolyte. Reaching along the mental line he already established, her voice whispered into the edges of his mind.

Master. What of those followers who believed out of fear only? Did they stay loyal?

She paused a beat, treading carefully. She tried to imagine the kind of woman that could command the heart of someone like Lord Centurion. It made her shiver.

And her?

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron smirked at [member="Athena Heron"] as they continued their progress down the corridor. The interesting reality of any intense religion is that those whom are not truly believers are often weeded out by those that are. There are exceptions, of course. Most of the leading entities of any fanatical religious movement fall into one of four categories. They are either merely manipulating others to their own end, insane, manipulated themselves by an external element, or some combination of the previous three. With Moross, all of the living Gods very much were aware of the illusion. Other than myself...the others had been with Moross largely since its inception.

As they arrived at the Hall of the Deceiver, Cameron stepped inside and switched to normal speech. The sound of his deep voice was almost completely swallowed in this particular room as was nearly every sound. "They generally did stay loyal when Moross was at the height of its power. After the carefully crafted fall of Moross, those that were merely 'going alone' scattered into the various reaches of the galaxy. We were quite...creative in dissuading dissidence during our rule. The most fervent of believers and, more specifically, those that did not necessarily follow Inari the Reviver directly, remained here on Exocron. A few ventured into Fringe space to peacefully maintain their devotion to The Reviver and the Way of Moross."

Stopping in front of a large statue that bore an unmistakeable likeness to Cameron, the Sith Lord turned to face his apprentice fully. "She was and is the Reviver. You will come to know her by another name and title altogether in due time. She comes from quite an established family, and her mother undeniably holds the power to effect the lives of nearly every government in the galaxy with...but a word."

Placing a single hand on the stone-image of Aatrox's over-sized, flowing cloak, the Sith Lord continued. "I digress. There will be time to sate your curiosity about The Reviver and how my interaction with her came to be, but it is of little importance to your education at the moment. The Sith Order carries large similarities to Moross and any other...organization centered around an ideal. At its core, however, the Sith Order and Jedi Order will always carry an inherent weakness. We could debate and postulate as to the strength of the dark or light side of the Force. It's all very academic and equally pointless. The Force is simply that...a living energy that connects everything. How you choose to use it is what, ultimately, defines you. I have met Jedi that barely conformed to the tenets of the Jedi Order, and I've met Sith that are more benevolent than many Jedi. Does this reality make either weak or any less capable?"

A rhetorical question.

"Not necessarily. In fact it is the Jedi or Sith that is capable of mastering who they are while being able to fully understand and respect other methods of living and employing the Force that tend to be the most successful. How often did the Academy ever expose you to Jedi teachings, to the real theory behind their way of life?" The answer to that was, never, and there was a point behind it. At its core, the Academy was designed to indoctrinate and break all Acolytes down to a common entity. Building them up into successful, competent Sith fell upon the various Lords of the Order. However...those Sith Lords that had once been broken down to a common level had long since built themselves up into individuals. Therefore, most masters created carbon copies of themselves out of their apprentices. This was not Cameron's goal.

He would give Athena the instruction and insight that had taken him centuries to achieve. Why? Because his purpose, his desire was to make her better than he ever was in his youth. If that ended in his death, than he would know his death had come at the hands of someone truly superior. A death he could accept.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

A single inky-brow lofted as she looked between the statue of her lord and her lord, himself. She wondered if everything was to scale. "My lord, please tell me you had one of these designed and built for your personal quarters." The corners of her lips twitched before she shifted to a much more professional-gear.

Feathers threaded between midnight strands of hair ruffled silently as she took a moment to think about his question. It didn't take her long because she had noticed the one-sided teaching at the academy. To question it would've earned her more than the usual punishment she was prone to getting.

The Omwatti was surprisingly well educated and it was evident within her speech-patterns. "They, of course, glossed over it, Lord. The teachings were always pointed toward the fallacy of the jedi but nothing was up for debate or questioning. I don't wish to over-step, Lord, but it was as if they were fearful of exposing us to something other than sith dogma and what that might do. I take it you are not as fearful of losing an acolyte as they were?"

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Cameron allowed a thin smile to briefly touch his lips. "I do not design shrines to myself, but I certainly can't control others feeling so-inspired." In truth, he absolutely could and did control such inclinations. That was the entire point of a deity was it not?

The Sith Lord's silver-green eyes fell upon the Omwati as she slipped into a state of pensive observation. Cameron was not often surprised by the actions of others, and he'd already judged [member="Athena Heron"] to be intelligent. However, part of him had expected to receive some amount of post-Academy drivel that seemed to afflict all Acolytes for a time. Surprise was ushered in on the back of a logical, honest response from Blue.

"You have judged me correctly." Though simply having no fear of losing an acolyte to some other force sect was hardly scratching the surface of reality. The truth was neither something he feared nor cared to go through extraneous effort to hide. "The Crusade contained those from both, creating a great deal of insight that I had really only previously known in theory. I watched as those with differing...temperments were able to work towards a common goal on multiple occassions."

Pausing, Cameron waved a brief dismissive hand. "You've heard of [member="Kiskla Grayson"], I presume." As such, the Sith Lord would continue. "I discovered her in a spice mine on Kessel in her teenage years...working a contract to kill someone I had been hired to recover alive. Naturally, I couldn't let that stand. Unfortunately, we both ended up garnering more attention than desired and were forced to depend on each other to escape. A...simplistic friendship continued after that. It centered around making money and disappearing those that got in our way. I'm quite certain none of this made it onto her resume for becoming Grandmaster of the Jedi Order."

Motioning for the young Omwati to follow him, Cameron began making his way towards a section of the wall behind the statue. As they drew closer, it became apparent that a door existed within the marble wall. Placing a hand over a specific section, Cameron watched as blue lights activated beneath his fingertips before the door began to slide open. "Have you ever heard of Force Light?" Yes. The first mention of a force power was of a light-side ability...probably the most devestating one in their arsenal. Therefore, it was inevitably more important to become familiar with than any other ability...dark or light.

 

[Athena Heron]

[member="Cameron Centurion"]

Pink-lips turned up wickedly for a moment at the mention of Kiskla's colored past. It seemed few jedi were as self-righteous as they claimed to be. Keen-eyes watched the hidden panel open as she followed her lord deeper within the bowls of his temple.

"I've heard of it, Lord, but don't quite understand it," brow-crinkled in thought as she recalled the words from the holopad. "It is a power that jedi use and they say this...ethereal light when in direct contact with someone like...me, will sever my ability to the darkside and potentially cause permanent damage. Have you ever been exposed to something like this?"

 

[Cameron Centurion]

The corridor that ran behind the various shrines was far more simplistic than the main corridors. The floor was carpeted but there were no decorations on the walls. In a few short steps, they were ascending a winding staircase towards where the Aesirs maintained large apartments. The Hands were given similar furnishings in another wing of the sprawling Temple. "The Jedi teachings say that it has the capability to manipulate the effects of the dark side by either containing it or eradicating it."

The Sith Lord paused until they reached the top of the steps and turned towards the right to proceed to his old quarters. He wasn't very surprised to see that this area of the Temple had remained largely intact and cleaned. The true believers of Moross were always waiting for the Aesirs to return. "I have dealt with it on multiple occasions, yes. In practice, I've found the effects are not very immediate on skilled practitioners of the Force. However, over time they certainly will weaken and individual and eventually cut them off from the Force entirely."

Another pause as they entered his sprawling suite and proceeded towards the large marble-slab balcony. "My most recent interaction with the ability happened in an entirely different manner, however." More on that later. "Now then, what do you know of Dark Side Web?"

[member="Athena Heron"]