To Live in Darkness (Darin Khel)

[Aika Kawakami]

Korriban - Tombs of the Dark Lords​

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The engines of the small shuttle began to quiet as is descended toward the red hued sand of the surface. Korriban was a near desolate planet, and the Valley of the Dark Lords was seemingly nothing but rubble, eroded by wind and time. Still, it held many secrets, knowledge, and above all else, it provided the perfect learning experience. Not for her, of course. Aika had learned her lessons in a much more controlled environment with no chance of danger. But this was different. Her apprentice wasn't her, not in the least. Therefore, he couldn't learn everything the same way as she. Doing such a thing would do no justice to the slightly younger Jedi. But where each problem lied, there was a solution. Albeit a dangerous one.​

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The ramp dropped to the surface, sand flying up in a puff. "Alright. We here. You pay now. I go. That was deal, human", blurted out the smuggler who had flown the two to the planet of the red skies. Aika didn't even glance towards him, waving her hand over his face slightly as she muttered under her breath. "Sleep now, scum. Your words are not needed. However, quite soon, I will found use for your talents once more. Now, sleep." Without another word, the smuggler dropped face first on to the ship's console, as if suddenly falling into a hibernation slumber. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she peered through the front window, watching as the wind carried small gusts of sand past her sights. One thing was for certain, things would certainly prove most interesting on this trip..​

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[member="Darin Khel"]​

 

[Alan]

[member="Aika Kawakami"]'s choice of words did not sit well with her Padawan, but nonetheless, the young man followed her off the ship. His facial expression was unmoving, even in the harsh conditions of the planet. Folding his hands over the others, he blinked and then glanced around."I'd be angry if I were to be subjected to live and train here. I can see why the Sith chose this planet."He said half-sarcastically, letting his boots dig into the sand and landing pad, glancing around. Korriban. The Republic had done well to the planet, but the taint of the dark side could never be truly removed. Darin blinked several times, facing his Master. His suspicions, were growing, that something was off. And she probably knew that as well. Being here, would probably not help her, or it may rectify it. Only time would tell.

For now, Darin waited, before speaking.

"Need you be so harsh in your words?"

 

[Aika Kawakami]

"Indeed. Though, that was not one of the reasons this became the Sith homeworld. For ages, this planet has teemed with the dark energy flowing through it. It is surrounded by it, intertwined into every grain of sand, every spec of dirt, that lies before your eyes. Before you lies much history, and much to be experienced." She laughed slightly at him. Oddly enough, he was amusing even knowing he was doing it. Or maybe he did know. Perhaps the stoic expressions were simply a facade... Highly unlikely, but anything was possible.

"Perhaps I was overly harsh in the way I used my words. Sadly, there are those within the galaxy that only know that way of speaking nothing else gets through to them. Then again, his opinion of me isn't important enough for me to grasp my tongue. Regardless, let us focus at the task at hand." Aika sauntered down the ramp, stopping at its halfway point as her eyes panned over the dried surface. "This is Korriban. A planet that once was the very heart of the Sith. Knowledge. Power. Ancient secrets. All could once be found here. Now, it is little more than lifeless ball of dust in the vast emptiness of space. It holds no meaning to anyone any longer, but there are still lessons that can be learned. Things one can't learn when coddled and shackled by the council. Had we simply taken a shuttle from Coruscant, we'd have been scrutinized, possibly reprimanded. This needed to be done in secret, away from the eyes of those who would judge. That said, why do you think I brought you here?"

[member="Darin Khel"]

 

[Alan]

[member="Aika Kawakami"] was beginning to worry her own Padawan with her judgement. He blinked several times, his brow furrowing. He clearly was not absolutely happy that she had brought him without the Council knowing. It was dangerous, to be so close to so many enemies. An incident could spark, instantly almost. Darin, didn't like taking such hefty risks that could end with a lot of destruction.

"Some knowledge, and some secrets, are better left buried in the sand, Master. This power you speak of, there's nothing good that can come from this place. No joy. No peace. There is nothing. Nothing. Here for us."

 

[Aika Kawakami]

"Tsk, tsk." She chuckled as her head shook side to side lightly. Aika moved down the ramp slowly, her steps halting just before the end of the ramp and surface of the planet. "You will have to learn to open your mind and look beyond what your can see. When I say power, it's not meant in the way a Sith would say it. Power comes in many forms. Knowledge and experience, in my mind, are the most important two." That couldn't be denied. Over time, power could be diminished, lost to one. But knowledge and experience were two things that nothing, not even time, could take from ones hand.

"Just as you must learn to open your mind, you must learn to close it. Otherwise, your simply a target for those who would bring harm to you, and those around you." Her arm rose, index finger exceeding in the direction of a hill between two pillars which winded downward on a slightly steep slope. "In a sense, you are still quite deaf to the Force. It is necessary to open your ears, and expand your senses. There, between those pillars. At the base of that hill lies a structure, the old Sith Academy. For years, it has been locked away, lost to most of the galaxy. But, with patience and diligence, one can find it. Such as we have. You will venture into the old, crumbing remains of what once, long ago, was a sign of the Sith's influence and strength. What you find within, well, we'll deal with it as you encounter. I will be with you, in mind. However, you would do well to silence your thoughts, expelling all unneeded rumblings to run about within your head. Otherwise, you may not make it back." She pivoted off her heel, turning back toward the shuttle as she moved back up the ramp. "That said, may the Force be with you. And I do hope you return. I'd hate to lose such a fine apprentice."

[member="Darin Khel"]

 

[Alan]

[member="Aika Kawakami"]'s passiveness about the endeavor she was about to place her padawan on brought a furrowing of his eyebrows, but nothing more in the facial expression department of Darin. Darin's eyes turned to the two pillars, two tall, imposing pieces of stone laying in the sand. Darin knew the potential dangers, and turned to watch his Master disappear back to the shuttle from whence they came. Unfurling his arms, he reached for his brown outer robing, letting it clump to the ground. He stood, spreading out his legs, his arms at his sides. He blinked several times, before slowly walking forward, his arms swaying as he gently made his way down the slope. The sand made it difficult to navigate, but he eventually made it to the entrance of the temple. Lights were not used here, candles and torches seemed to be moreso favorable to the ancient Sith. He blinked, standing before the door.


He opened his mind, letting the area flow around him. He felt it. The rage. The anger. The hatred. The fear. All the emotions, all the memories, that the Sith left behind. The Sith did not let things go. They channeled them, they held onto all the negativity in their lives as a way to achieve power, to achieve victory, while sacrificing what made them people in the first place. They became monsters, dark mirrors of what they used to be, or could have been. Darin blinked, as he felt it go into him. He wanted to use it, he felt the raw power. He could feel the power coursing through him, the power to crush bones with a single touch, the power to rip apart those who stood before him with a single thought, and he felt all the hatred. All the rage. The Dark side was tempting, but it could not tempt Darin Khel enough. He let out a cry, that expelled the dark side for him for the time being, that tried to tempt him. He panted slightly, looking upwards. He hadn't even entered the temple yet. Placing a single, solitary hand to the door, Darin gave it a sharp push. Air rushed inward, and sand flowed outwards and inwards to the ominously dark academy.


And then, Darin began to walk inside.


"There is no emotion, there is peace."

 

[Aika Kawakami]

She'd pretty much sent him into the lion's den... And she knew wit too. But what was she to do? He needed to learn, and it was unsafe for her to walk the surface of Korriban. It had to be this way..

Aika was standing in the cockpit, hands clasped behind her back as she watched through the front window. Her mind remained clear as crystal, maintaining her connection with her apprentice. Still, her mind began to wander. Thoughts and images seemed to swim their way into her mind one by one. Truly, the lost spirits of those who never left the red planet's surface had been completely corrupted by the dark forces at work. Still, it was nothing she couldn't fight off. The voices could be blocked out, and the images ignored. Yet, there was one thing she couldn't ignore. That was the subtle, drastic momentary change in his signature.

Apprentice. Have you gone mad? Calm yourself. Pace yourself. There is no rush at the moment. She spoke through the force, her words streaming directly into his mind. It was the first time he had encountered the dark side in such a way. And as simple as that was, it felt as if she nearly lost him. There was the risk of such a thing happening, but if she could prevent it, she would do all she could. You have just felt the surge of the dark side for the first time. Others feel it through another. However, facing it in this way, is a whole different animal. So to speak. There are spirits here. Ones who have longed for another to come, for a body that they could use to escape. Before you take another step, you must calm yourself. While it is their passion to escape what has become a tomb that drives them to try and take your body; it is your will to leave the same way you arrived that will keep you alive. If you weren't capable, I wouldn't have brought you here. Do you understand?

[member="Darin Khel"]

 

[Alan]

[member="Aika Kawakami"] was right. It was not darkness in here, he could feel darkness in other places. Darkness was where light once was. This? This was blackness, ebony rage, the hate that had never been quelled. Some people were born bad, they were programmed to walk in the dark, and these people were destined for this. To live forever in their own torment. He could feel them around him, swirling. They beckoned him, some offering deals, some offering power, others threatening. Darin felt a twinge of fear. The stoic expression broke for a moment, a face full of fear replaced it. For a moment. His Masters words echoed in his mind, and he could feel them, feel her around him. He didn't need her. He relied on her, but he did not need her. She was right. The spirits, black entities of pure maleficent intent, swirled around him.


But they would not win.


They were expelled, a burst of his own will shooting them backwards. He stood tall, glancing around. They retreated to their own crevices, and shadows on the wall. Darin walked forward, pressing onward, deeper into the temple. He still did not know what he would find, what he would encounter further within the unholy walls of this place. The stones echoed his footsteps, sinister beings looking for a way out of their eternal imprisonment of their mechanization.

 

[Aika Kawakami]

He'd made it into the ruins, and hadn't yet fallen to the dark forces within. That alone was to be commended. She'd always known Darin was one of a kind, but this simply reinforced that fact. Still, the worse danger was yet to even rear its head. Having his head on a swivel wouldn't be enough. Deeper within, unknown to her apprentice, lurked a far more dangerous spirit. One who would not be shrugged off so easily...

Good. But I recommend not using such a burst of energy. It will attract more attention, and only serve as a detriment to your journey. Now, continue on. As you move through you will need to protect yourself. Shield your mind from the opposing forces that wish to be your undoing. At the same time, keep your mind open. If you don't, you will be blinded to what is already surrounding you. Now, that said, you after one thing. Within the academy, there is a room, sanctum if you will. It once belonged to the overseer of their academy. It is believed that he left a holocron within. You are to retrieve that, and return with it. Be aware. The deeper you trek, the more danger lies.

[member="Darin Khel"]

 

[Alan]

[member="Aika Kawakami"] was in his head, and he was thankful for the advice and the guidance. Part of him knew what to do, and part of him didn't. But, the young Jedi was not to be deterred so easily by the evil that lurked in the ancient academy. The difference between this place and other dark sided entities and locations, is that this is where hate was manifested, it was sought upon for power, by young, lost souls. Anger swirled around him, screaming souls that had never been able to leave this place, spirits that were to be trapped here until a vessel could take them. How he pitied them, how he wanted to help, but they did not want his help. They wanted his soul. One such came to face him, long with a black cloak that came behind him, no face to speak of, but eyes as red as a failing star, filled with such fury that could never be quelled.

"GIVE IN TO ME!"

Darin stared blankly at the spirit, before holding out his hand, gesturing him away with a small usage of his own energy, and turned it around the spirits that formed around him. They scurried like rats, afraid of nothing of what he did, but simply of what he possessed. Darin stepped forward, moving further into the sanctum of darkness.

"I do not give into such pitiful evil."