A/N: Part three. It's kinda short, but I felt that this chaper should end here.
Two weeks.
Aegir estimated he had two weeks before his final trial would take place. That was if he passed the everything to that point, which he would. It was never a question of if he would succeed or not. He was born for success and power and he was impatient for it to happen. Two weeks, with one more large task in between.
Things had begun to move faster after the night he found his rival dead on the floor. The slave-turned-acolyte who'd been sleeping in there was unconscious, bleeding, and clutching the poisoned blade he'd hidden weeks prior.
From there it seemed they'd reached some kind of understanding. Faing was no threat to him - not that the sith would let his guard down. Aegir had no reason to end him, and the smaller acolyte had actually been helpful up to this point. (Surprising, considering his exterior presentation. Though Aegir would never admit to being proven wrong.)
No potentially harmful ulterior motive was immediately discernible and Faing had yet to ask for anything. He seemed content to keep to himself, other than the sarcastic remarks Aegir would catch him muttering under his breath.
And even then the pureblood would just chuckle to himself. His new room mate had a sharp tongue and quick wit.
Right now Aegir was beginning his preparation for the final task. It could be any number of things, and the sith would not be caught off guard.
When he entered his room, his eyes did an immediate sweep. Faing was sitting on his bunk, knees curled up to his chest and working between two data pads. The robes and leggings of his former room mate replacing the rags the slave once wore.
He did that a lot. Sitting hunched, making himself appear smaller. He would maintain a state of coiled tension until he had to move, and then proceed to unfurl like a snake from a tree branch.
In Aegirs mind it was a signifier of underlying intelligence and instinct, and deadly reactionary capabilities. A warning to anyone wishing to get aggressive, akin to the poisonous wild life in the jungles. To his amusement, few of the other acolytes at the academy had made such a comparison. In the last week two had died at Faings hands.
The first had tried to shove the former slave down the stairs when no one was around. He'd been found at the base of the steps with his head twisted backwards and an eye put out (Presumably from the long trip down, or so the head of security argued).
The second was in the mess hall, during a crowded meal. Faing had entered the commissary and retrieved his food without incident. But it was when he sat solitary that another had worked up the nerve to try and prove themselves. Aegir remembered watching the twi'lek maneuver behind his target and feel the interest bubble.
Before the twi'lek could drive the vibro blade into Faings back, he bounced up and twisted around in a single motion, simultaneously embedding his fork into his attackers eye socket. But the best part was how he went back to eating his meal calmly and quietly. The disturbed mutters and mixed reactions were a plain indicator of the uncertainty the other acolytes now felt.
All of this, from a former slave. One had to appreciate the irony.
Aegir was broken out of his musings by a question.
"How many in your class have obtained light sabers?"
It was an odd question, but he wanted to see where this was going.
"Four, not including myself. Why are you asking?"
"I require two."
"Two?" The sith raised a brow." You're getting awfully ahead of yourself."
Faing shook his head, eyes finally leaving the data pads. "Doesn't matter."
"I say it does, considering what ever you are up to has potential to affect me."
The smaller man must have sensed the pointlessness in arguing. "I require a light saber if I'm to attract a master."
"Then enlighten me as to why you need two."
"To do what you love best," the snark was painfully evident, but it was a non-offensive tone." Trounce my opposition in combat."
"Now that would be amusing to watch."
He turned the data pads off and shifted off the bunk in one, cat-like movement. He pulled the black hood of his 'acquired' robes over his head.
"Watch away for all I care. If I help you kill the other saber carriers, can I take the weapons?"
"I don't need your help eliminating my competition. I am more than capable."
"And I never implied otherwise. But I have a way of discovering the dirty secrets of others. If I keep any treachery at bay until your final trial will you allow me to take the sabers?"
"One would have to assume treachery won't be coming from you." Aegir remarked, though with a light timbre.
"We've already established that I'm not an idiot. Not to mention you're so worried about my potential back stabbing that you sleep in the same area as me regularly." There was that wry grin. "Think of it as a trade off, with the added bonus of being rid of me soon."
"How very tempting." The sarcasm was reciprocated. "I could agree to this, under one condition."
"And that is?"
"Tell me what you are planning. All of it, or the deal is off. I'm not walking into anything partially blind." There was a tone of finality in his voice. This was not debatable.
"I suppose thats fair." He picked up one of the data pads and switched it on. "I'm trying to build one of these."
Should have chapter 2 sometime soon. Thanks for reading. Please review. :)
