Star Wars: The Old Republic

The Bladeborn: Birth of a Masterblade

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars: The Old Republic. That honor belongs to Bioware and LucasArts. However, I do own all the characters in this story. I will specify otherwise if I do not.

This is my first fanfic attempt, so there are likely some mistakes in here somewhere…..

Chapter 1

Korriban; Home world of the ancient Sith, but now a desolate tomb planet infested with deadly predators and the energies of the Dark Side of the Force. It was no surprise that the Sith had decided to put their training academy within these desolate wastes, it was survival of the fittest, plain and simple. The recruits would adapt or they would die. But nestled deep in the wastes was more than the packs of voracious tu'kata, swarms of venomous Pelko Bugs, or the ferocious and deadly terentateks. The Valley of the Dark Lords held promises of incredible treasures and the key to greater understanding of the Dark Side… if someone could survive the perils that surrounded them, that is. But our story begins in the Sith Academy, far from these hallowed and deadly tombs; it is a tale of trials, tribulations, and ultimately, victory.

The new Sith apprentice by the name of Alarick Nayl sat on the floor of his austere quarters, meditating. He was an imposing figure even at the age of 18, he was tall, reaching 6 foot 2 easily, and his muscular frame showed the results of a life with the Sith, hard muscle with the occasional white scar running over them, his black hair cut into an short, slightly spiky style, more for the convenience of almost no maintenance than any preference of style on his part. His newly constructed lightsaber lay on the floor in front of him as he hovered a few inches off the ground, his jade green eyes closed as he lost himself in the swirling energies of the Dark Side. After an hour of contemplation, he opened his eyes and slowly sank to the floor. He stood; grasping his lightsaber in his right hand and activated the brilliant crimson blade, proceeding to run through the latest sequences of Djem So he had learned from the Academy Blademaster that morning. But he couldn't seem to concentrate. That damnable humming from the blade of his new lightsaber disrupted his focus slightly. He was used to the practice sabers that were essentially metal rods with the heft and weight of true lightsabers to prepare the initiates for their true weapons. He glared down at the active saber in disgust.

"Damn thing….. I'll never get used to that humming. I wish I'd been allowed to keep the practice saber; at least THAT was quiet when you used it. Or one of those beautiful Sith Swords that decorate Blademaster Darut's quarters."

He sighed and finished his new sequence perfectly, just as he had that morning in front of Blademaster Darut. He repeated the sequence another two times, imagining opponents closing in on all sides, he struck with the fury and power expected of a Sith, his imagined opponents fell like cut wheat against the power and sheer fury of his assault. After three hours of continuous practice, the small room was filled with the stink of ozone from that blasted humming blade and the temperature was several degrees higher. He was sweating profusely, and was covered in a fine film of sweat. His breath was rapid and ragged, his Sith Tattoo-covered chest heaving from the exertions as he deactivated the lightsaber and threw it onto the bed.

Not a moment later, there was a rapid, insistent knock on the door. Alarick sighed; there was only one person that could be.

"Alright, alright! I'm coming! Stop that incessant knocking!"

As if to spite him, the knocking increased in intensity and volume. Alarick snarled a wordless growl and smashed a fist against a button on the door's control panel. The door flew open, revealing his guest, a lithe, slim and attractive woman of medium height and fair complexion with long red-gold hair and piercing, ice-blue eyes. She smiled, showing white teeth all in their correct position.

"I knew that would get you moving! You hate it when someone interrupts your blade practice!"

Alarick wasn't in the mood for this, however. He gave her his second-best intimidating glare and asked:

"What do you want Natasha?"

Natasha grinned again and pushed past him as if he wasn't even there, like she always did, entering the single room that made up his living quarters. She took her time looking around, even though there really wasn't much to see; just a bed, an armor stand holding his combat armor, a blade rack that was currently empty and a small closet that was mostly bare except for the three black Sith robes hung up there and the chest of drawers holding things like cargo pants and shirts, among other things. Alarick didn't know why she always did this; things hadn't changed in this room for a long time. His patience frayed and he asked a little more forcefully:

"Natasha! Why are you here?"

She turned around at the sound of her name and he noticed for the first time that she was wearing her light combat armor and double-bladed saber at her waist.

"I just thought you would want to know that members of the Bladeborn were visiting the academy today."

She smiled as she saw his eyes widen slightly.

"I knew that would get your attention." She said smugly. "Oh, and Masterblade Zareth will be accompanying them."

It took Alarick a moment to find his voice again. "The Blade born and a Masterblade? By the Force, that's never happened before!"

It was clear by Alarick's tone he was excited, he had read of the Bladeborn in the Academy library, they were an order of Sith Warrior that specialized in close combat. While that might not usually set them apart, they did not use lightsabers, they fought with Sith Swords instead; relishing the feel of the blade as it cut through the flesh and bone of the enemy, and reveled in the spray of warm blood on their face. Exactly what Alarick craved, face to face combat with the enemy, without those blasted lightsabers! He had to find out how to become one of them, and nothing was going to stand in his way. He marched over to the closet stripping out of the sweat stained clothing he was wearing and began to pull on the heavy ceramite combat armor that stood on the armor rack. He knew Natasha was watching but he didn't care, it wasn't like she hadn't seen him without clothes on before…..