What's Your Name? [Nemene Talith]

[Sheff Zee]

The planet of Rattatak was a place that Aeon Caedus had never visited before. Why was the Crown Prince of the whole Ado Sector upon such a planet? Because it was well known that the two sisters that had been the Queens of a planet were force sensitive, they were Sith Lords, powerful in the Force. Power that he wanted.

He didn't go heavily armed to meet the Queen on that day. He didn't want to make her have false thoughts as to his identity. Instead, he had brought a simple weapon, his falcata was upon his back and sheathed. The straps of it reached around his body as he walked through the gates and into the courtyard.

Footsteps were brisk, he had some place to be. That place was meeting a Queen, he couldn't be late. Even if it was quite possibly not arranged.

Clenching his fists as he stopped at doors to the Keep, he had to prepare himself mentally for the Sith Lord, but before he could completely ready himself, the door to the Keep opened upon it's own accord and out came [member="Nemene Talith"].

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene sensed his presence before he even reached the door.

It was a simple thing for her now. Though she was best known for bladework, as of late she had been able to sense things as she never had before. Perhaps it had been the peeling of her consciousness by Evelynn, perhaps it had been her anxiety opening her up, or perhaps she was just coming into herself as a Master. She didn't know, but regardless she made her way down to the palace door, by order of her sister of course.

Evelynn was in charge now, and she had told Nemene to greet this man, this apprentice.

So she did. Dressed in her finest silks and carrying her lightsaber pike Nemene reached the palace gates in no time, a litany of slaves gathered around her as she moved towards the doors. A pair of them moved to open the gates, but she waved them off. There would be no need of slaves.

The force gripped the door's and with a slight Jerk Nemene pulled them open.

Pointing her lightsaber pike at the man now standing in the doorway she spoke. “Who are you?”

Forceful and commanding. Her old self.
[member="Aeon Caedus"]

 

[Sheff Zee]

Is this a Queen? Surely it must be. Something seems wrong.

While he argued with himself, his body had bent forwards in a bow and he smiled a warm smile, despite the fury that was harboured in his eyes. He may have been the Crown Prince, but his family held no power on this planet. And certainly the Queen in front of him wouldn't hesitate to end his life if he tried to overstep his claims.

"I am pleased to have been greeted by a Queen of such beauty." He said, expecting an outrage of Force, but he continued on anyway to see, "my name is Aeon Caedus. I understand you are powerful within the Dark Side of the Force. That is why I am here. I wish to serve you. To learn from true power and strength."

Tread lightly indeed...

[member="Nemene Talith"]

 

[Lira Dajenn]

[member="Aeon Caedus"]
(Going to GM you a bit to make Nemene's point come across, if you like I will edit)
There was no outrage at first, only the hint of an amused smile.

Then he spoke of being her apprentice. Her only reaction was the slight raising of an eyebrow, then nothing. She was the calm before the storm. Then she struck out. There would be no kindness from her, no accepting of apprentices willy nilly. If she was to teach, they would be worthy, and as of yet this one had not proven themselves worthy, worse than that, he had spoken as a near equal.

Nobody that was to be Nemene's apprentice was an equal.

The Lightsaber pike flashed out from her grip, its fully length sliding out from her hand and whirling close towards the ground towards his feet. She struck him, sending the boy flying to the ground in one swift motion.

Seconds later Nemene was atop him, a blur of motion.

Her heel stuck in his throat, the pointy edge of her boot digging into this esophagus and cutting off breaths. On her face was a sneer, though it was a facade. “And what makes you think I’d teach you?”

 

[Sheff Zee]

He didn't even move, there was no time for him too. At first he had thought her the supposed Witch of the two. The one who used the Force, mainly because she had come to the entrance with weapon in hand like a common servant. But then she had knocked him down and was upon him like a rabid dog.

A rabid dog with poise.

He felt the edge of her boot in his throat and he involuntarily gulped, nearly choking himself in the action. But he refrained from clawing at his throat. He wouldn't show weakness to one that would squash him if he made the wrong sound, however his fists did clench and unclench as he tried to regulate his breathing.

"We want the same thing."

[member="Nemene Talith"]

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene scowled.

The Lightsaber pike ignited in a bright blue sapphire, the weapon claimed from a dead Jedi. She pointed the tip of the spear at Aeon's throat, one inch further and the man would be dead. Her eyes told that she was no playing games, but that she was very serious.

“And how would you know what I want?” She inquired of him, voice like steel.

Nemene had never had an apprentice, never taught anyone. She knew a great many things of course, she was one of the finest blademasters in the galaxy. Even after losing her saber-staff, Nemene was still well respected among her piers. Now she used a ligthsaber pike, a weapon that had not been seen in many years in the fields of war, but one that was perfectly suited to her small nature.

She waited for him to answer, pike gripped tightly.

 

[Sheff Zee]

It had been a ploy to survive for just a few moments longer, bait for her to leap upon so that he may scramble for an excuse - any excuse to live.

The weapon she was using, he had never seen before in his life and he almost began to struggle, moving ever so slightly so that he may be able to breathe just a little bit better. "Because you want the galaxy underneath your heel." A gulp. "Like I am." His fists continued clench and unclench as he spoke.

"And if you don't, you can fashion me into a living breathing weapon." Anything to stay alive. "To bring the galaxy to heel."

[member="Nemene Talith"]

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene smirked, a cold smirk.

Okay perhaps he was more intelligent than she had first suspected. She quite liked that, the galaxy beneath her heels. Perhaps that was her goal, to take it all. Or perhaps she just wanted her own little sector, though the former was far more likely. Nemene was a greedy one after all. The Lightsaber pike slowly drifted away from the boy's throat, though her heel did not budge.

“And what makes you think you're worthy of me? What makes you think you can be the weapon I want?” It was a good question, though even she could sense his power in the force.

In truth she had already made her decision.

Nemene Talith knew when an opportunity walked through her door, knew when something she could use presented itself. It had been so with many others, and it was no different now. She had never taken an apprentice, but someone she could forge all her own? That appealed to her greatly.

 

[Sheff Zee]

Aeon frowned.

He hadn't thought that far ahead into his lies, but he tried his best to hide that from her. Once he showed his uncertainty, then she'd be like a shark that had the scent of blood, and then you were done for. He wasn't to be killed by a shark, not a shark like [member="Nemene Talith"] anyway.

"I've trained myself in the Force as well as I could with what knowledge I had of it." Which was nothing. He didn't even remember how he had figured out he had the Force, but that didn't matter now. "I know I can use a blade well, that is a staging ground already. You can now fashion me in anyway you want."

 

[Lira Dajenn]

She let out a scoff of disgust, as if she knew his lies already. Her lightsaber pike however returned to the ground besides her, the butt of the weapon ringing out against the limestone floor. Her body language shifting to something far more agreeable, and less angry. A smile crossed her face.

“Very well.” She said with an evil smirk, an idea forming in her head. “I know just where to start with you.”

Nemene was not quite ready to call him her apprentices, there would be tests firsts. Tests of survival. Rattatak above all was known for its gladiatorial pits. The savage fighting of beasts and man alike. At its heart that's what Rattatak was, a breeding pit for fighters of all sorts. Thats where Aeon would be tested.

Her heel slid from his throat, and two identical women stepped up behind the young man, grabbing him by the arms and lifting him to his feet. “Take him to the Cauldron. I'll meet you there.”

The Queen of Rattatak let out a cackle as she walked away, heels clicking.

(I suggest in your post you timeskip forward to the gladiator pits )

 

[Sheff Zee]

The boot was removed from his throat and he felt the air rush through his body. He was actually taking full breaths of air just as he was lifted up by two identical females. He wasn't sure if it was the lack of oxygen, or if they were actually identical. It's an illusion. He assured himself and let them guide him to the pits.

It's time to kill, Caedus.

The Cauldron was large, it looked as if it was a stadium that hundreds if not thousands could sit in, and here he was, about to enter through one of the gates. It was time to prove himself to his future Master. He felt bad for the poor soul that he'd be facing. Confidence was the only thing he felt coursing through his veins.

[member="Nemene Talith"]

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene sat in her usual place when she came to watch matches in the cauldron. Her throne gilded with gold and flanked by two of her Sirens. Her lightsaber pike was stabbed into the ground besides her, ready to be used at a moments notice, though such a thing would never be necessary, no one could touch her here, even if they brought an army.

Within the pit was already an assembled mass of slaves, gladiators, and strange alien creatures. They did not fight yet, but instead stood in neat rows.

They knew that they were not here to fight each other, but one person. This would be the first test, a test of strength. If the boy could survive this, then he was at least strong enough to train with her somewhat, and if he was not strong enough...well then the crowds of Rattatak would get some entertainment tonight.

Nemene leaned into one of the woman besides her, and whispered. “Send him in.”

The woman flicked her hands upwards immediately, communicating with someone at the far end of the Cauldron. A horn sounded, the call of the games beginnning. The door before Aeon slid open.

It was time.

 

[Sheff Zee]

So many thoughts rushed through his mind, confidence being the main one, but more importantly an unbridled rage that had yet to unleashed. She was going to put him through tests as if she hadn't sensed his raw potential, it angered him beyond reason. It angered him because people didn't trust their initial thoughts of a person, and that's why his own thoughts of her Sith Lord had never changed.

But he'd keep them to himself.

Then the horn had sounded and he was ushered into the pit. The tunnel he had been ushered through had been dark, so when he had exited and entered the pit, there was a light that blinded him for only the briefest amount of seconds and he was able to see again. He strained his eyes to see his opponent, letting the Force take control as he squinted, tapping into it.

[member="Nemene Talith"]

 

[Lira Dajenn]

As soon as the cage opened the assembled gladiators, beasts, and men began to turn towards the apprentice. It was a hellish mix of opponents, though one that was not too uncommon when It came to the Cauldron.

In fact this was actually the usual crowd.

These creatures had been specifically chosen however, they were the lowest of the low. Slatted to die in the next tournament, now fated to be killed by her new apprentice, or hopefully so. If the man could not beat this lot, then he was not worth her time in the least.

(Just NPC the people )

 

[Sheff Zee]

When he saw his opponents, he thought it was a trap. Surely they are Masters of the Force. He thought to himself and he started to run towards them. He couldn't let any of them speak, or even make any movements so that they could summon the Force!

His first step was what let him survive, because even though he had never been trained in the Force he sped straight towards them with the unknown aid of Force speed and he drew his falcata as he approached the first being. Fortunately for the twi'lek who he faced, he had a weapon of his own, and they clashed blades.

He didn't stop there, he just continued deeper into the mix of the beasts, slashing and stabbing, throwing kicks and punches and receiving just as many, until he rolled out of the blood and gore, wiping the black sludge that was one of the creature's blood from his face.

There were only three of them left, one behind him, and the other two in front of him. The twi'lek was among them. They shared a moment of eye contact, and Aeon flashed a predatory grin before he hefted his falcata again and the two humans charged him. One from behind, the other from the front. As always, he charged the one in front, and he felt like he sensed the one behind him gaining upon him.

Just before he could get to the first one, his step faltered and he tripped upon a rock. Just in time as he fell forwards and followed through with a roll, as the first man, the one who had been in front had practically separated the second man's head from his shoulders. But Caedus hadn't even waited to see that, the moment he had passed the first man was the moment he died, for he had plunged his falcata backwards and out of his front as soon as he had killed his supposed comrade.

It was only the twi'lek left, the twi'lek was the only one who stood unscathed, and he circled the being before he simply ran at him again, and as the twi'lek prepared himself to sidestep him, Aeon stopped and launched the sword straight into the chest of the twi'lek.

If he hadn't seen it himself, he wouldn't have believed at how the falcata had flown, practically picked the man up off of his feet and thrown him a few feet backwards. Of course dead. He had felt something at that moment, he had felt as if there was a higher power within him, and he turned to look at the stands and he raised his arms.

His arms lowered as his icy blue gaze set upon [member="Nemene Talith"] and waited for her verdict. He felt powerful, it was exhilarating. He knew she would accept him now.

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene began to clap.
The echoing sound resounded throughout the entire Cauldron, her palms smacking together over and over again in an almost sarcastic manner, or one might have thought so had they not seen her facial expression. She was smiling, clearly pleased. Yes, this one would make a final apprentice. Of course there was to be one more test, a test of survival. She had to make sure he was strong, that was a given.

“Good.” Nemene spoke, her voice sultry and pleasing to the ear. “Very good.”

She hoped that he took in the praise now, once the training began there would not be much of it.

“The first test is done. Your strength is obvious, but next...I'll test your ability to survive.” She smiled and stood from her throne. The next step would be the final one, the one that proved just how hard the boy was.

The Sister Queen's Palace was located nearly an hours speeder ride away from the palace. By foot the trek took nearly three days, three days of walking through the desert alone with all the dangers that game with. That was what now lay before Aeon. He would have to find his way back to the palace.

He would have to find his way through the desert, and only then would his training begin.

(You can timeskip again to Aeon making it back to the palace if you want, or we could do a few posts where Aeon treks through the desert while Nemene prepares all he'll need for the training, up to you )

 

[Sheff Zee]

His next and final test was one of survival. The Queen was truly going to make him walk for three days towards the Castle? His fists clenched at either side as he was escorted back into the tunnels and eventually back to the world outside of the Cauldron and he frowned as [member="Nemene Talith"]'s speeder eventually disappeared into the distance.

His ice cold gaze was upon her back until he couldn't see her anymore and he thought that his palms had started to bleed from his nails digging into them, because they were clenched so tight. Another test to past. And he started to run from his location at the Cauldron towards the Castle.

It was going to be a long trip. And when he returned, he knew he'd look like death, and would wish death upon everyone and anyone who got in his way. Even if they tried to help him.

*
His black jacket was torn, his hands torn up and bloodied along with his jacket and the rest of his clothes. He was tired, breathing heavily, and there were light wounds all over his buddy. It wasn't what he'd like to look like, but it's what happened when the woman who was going to train you, was going to force you to near death first.

He trudged through the gate, his voice was coarse, it was obvious he had only survived from harming himself. All over his hands and arms were marks where he had drawn his own blood with his teeth and drank it. He dropped onto his knees, some of the dust from the desert coming up off of him and he remained slumped in his position. "Teach me."

[member="Nemene Talith"]

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene smirked, standing above the kneeling boy like a warrior Queen.

She stood dressed in leather armor, her lightsaber pike in hand and the other on her hip. She twisted slightly, looking down at him with a smile on her face. She wrung her fist around the pike, tightening her grip on it as her smirk smiled. Oh she would teach him, but first she would tell him of what was to come.

“You have earned your place by my side.” Nemene began, her voice almost praising...almost. “But I warn you. This will not be fun. You will not enjoy this.”

She purred slightly. No, her training would not be that of the Jedi's or even other Sith. She would be a cruel Master.

“I will beat you. Torture you. Break you. Every day will feel like your last. Every muscle in your body will be torn, every bone broken, and every fiber of your being shredded. I will dismantle you to your very core, by the end, you will not recognize what you have become.” She continued, her tone serious and stern.

Nemene had never had an apprentice, but she always knew what she would do if she did. She would not be as her father was, gentle but firm. She would not be as Soliael was, guiding and informative. No, she would be cruel. She would break her apprentice and forge him anew. She would make him something great. “But you will have become something great. Something more powerful than you could ever imagine. Something whose very name will inspire fear.”

The Queen of Rattatak, Sith Lord and Lady of Pain looked down at her apprentice, a grin on her face.

“Do you still want to be taught? Knowing the pain that is to come?” She inquired, but there was only one correct answer.

 

[Sheff Zee]

After he had spoken his head was slumped upon his chest and he just remained there, listening to her words but he didn't speak. He didn't even make any acknowledgements showing that he heard her, instead he just stayed how he was imagining himself getting up and standing tall above his Master.

She spoke to him of what was to come and he listened. He knew this wouldn't be anything at all like utilizing a blade to fight, even now it looked as if it was going to be more of a living hell than actual training. Though if what she said was true about the torturing, then at least he'd be able to resist high amounts of pain.

"Teach me." He repeated firmly and he raised his head to look up to her. Rage was behind his cold eyes and he hoped she could see it.

[member="Nemene Talith"]

 

[Lira Dajenn]

“Done.”

She grinned, a wide Cheshire grin that seemed to fit perfectly on her tiny face. Oh yes, this would be excellent. An apprentice to forge all her own. A tool to use as she saw fit, someone more powerful than the Sirens. Of course she would have to watch out for his own hubris, ensure that he would not grow too sure of himself, but that would come later.

Much later.

First she would have to train him. The training would be cruel, but it would be best suited to him. His bladework would improve, his use of the force become greater, his pain tolerance heightened. Everything about him would be improved. Though it would all take time.

Nemene turned on her heel, beginning to walk away before she suddenly stopped. “Have him cleaned and fed. Then bring him to the beast pits for rest.”

She smiled. Yes, he would be sleeping with Evelynn's beasts, and tomorrow the real training would begin.

Two identical women once again stepped up behind Aeon, scooping him up to his feet. Nemene walked away, her lightsaber pike drifting over the ground.

(If you like we can start a new thread for the training, or we could continue on in this thread)