All she knew was fire.
It was a burning, all-consuming heat, roaring from the line up her chest and through her body until her muscles spasmed with it. She felt trapped by it, hedged in by a disorienting red and thrumming pain.
At some point she could no longer recall, she had fallen to the ground. Above her, she could see shapes moving and hear the voices of her companions. She knew she needed to get up, needed to stay strong, but the pain made it hard to focus for more than a few laboured breaths. It was hard to see with everything suddenly so dark. She struggled to move her unresponsive limbs, finding the effort to be taxing in the extreme.
A shape lowered right beside her, and she forewent her attempts to move and tried to focus her vision on the shape instead. She slashed wildly at the looming shape. Something cold and sharp gripped around her arm, causing her another wave of agony. Still, she refused to cry out, despite the stinging pain that flowered from her arm.
"The bleeding won't stop!"
"Get her to the medical bay. Now!"
Two of the figures were running around above her, though she saw them as little more than blurs at this point. Her arm wound stinging, she felt around for something, anything she could use to get back to her feet. Her head felt muzzy, and a fresh wave of hot pain sliced through her, flowering out from her stomach in a pulse of agony. She hissed, but did not cry out. Crying out was weakness.
"Pierce!"
"Dammit! I'll get her."
The sergeant's large form knelt over her, and she felt herself be lifted and borne like a child a moment later. In the wake of the pain, she was too weak to do much but struggle feebly.
"Hurry!"
There was a bouncing sensation and a sense of movement, but those were just distractions when compared to the fire that seemed to intensify within her wounds, the seething darkness that seemed to creep in on the edge of her awareness. That darkness had voices… thousands of them. They were there, watching her, waiting for her. Hissing and laughing. One of them had her old master's face.
I will not die from this, she swore as the world faded around her, trying her best to keep the shadows at bay. … The Force is my ally. I will not- She gasped as another spike of heat raged through her. Somewhere, a younger female voice whimpered. I am not weak... I will never be weak again...
Voices broke into her awareness, one of many now… all of them dark and twisted, beckoning for her.
Come to us. Join us, little sith.
"...e's not breathing!"
"Jaesa, get in here! We'll need your aid."
"I've never trained to heal wounds like this..."
You are weary from your struggles, young one. Come and rest. Submit to the dreams and join us.
"...ghtsaber nearly cut her in half. A miracle she was able to stand at all."
"Can you do anything?"
"We will see."
Come to your new home. Your new kin need you, wrath.
Unbent. Unbound. Unbroken.
I will never submit!
And then all was blackness.
Dark Sun Rises: Chapter 1
Overseer Tremel stood waiting, suppressing a small grin as he watched the ship make its final descent towards the landing pad, touching down silent as night. Standing, hands clasped in front of him in typical relaxed military style stance, Tremel watched its single occupant finally arrive.
The last one here, looking calm and steady, he knew the reports he had gone over countless times had indeed been accurate. Not that he had much doubt. He knew the odds one had at getting a child from one of such esteemed bloodlines was rare even at the best of times, and what an incredible stroke of luck it had been that the circumstances fit his timing perfectly. He had gone to great lengths, pulled in a few favours as well, in order to force the transition and get the young woman's training schedule accelerated, her transfer to him as sudden as it was needed. If she proved as useful as Tremel hoped, then it was worth the risk he had willingly placed upon himself.
Onyxa Solaris definitely stood out, he noted. Long and wavy ebony-black hair that reached past the shoulder blades, contrasting sharply against ivory skin. The long flowing bangs swept up and over the left eye, framing a face with high cheekbones, thin nose and firm jaw. Both eyes appeared sharp and calculating, the pupil's slit like a serpent's and always glowing the deep golden color of her sith heritage. Even the faint smile on her full, dark coloured lips was unique. Not warm or open as it appeared from a first glance, but rather highlighting her imposing, dangerous nature.
She seemed to strut with the utmost confidence as she descended from the ship to set foot upon Korriban's surface, the sheen of black leather boots akin to that of a mirror's even after setting foot upon the dusty rock. Dressed almost completely in black, her attire was a mix of sturdy armor and heavy robes - the typical armaments of those in training. With the exception of the silver bracers that covered her wrists and forearms, the arms were left bare, and a pauldron had been mounted atop her left shoulder. On a person of smaller stature or of slimmer form, the robes would have easily hidden their features. On her great height and her generous build, it instead made the attire a snug fit.
And then there was that presence and aura of strength from within her, one he had never experienced within a single individual before. Intimidating, yet beautiful - almost a physical manifestation of the Dark Side in and of herself, if it could take human form. Yes, she would do very nicely, he thought once again. Tremel slipped into his Overseer role as the woman approached and stood before him.
"At last you've arrived. Good. Good." Tremel stated as eyes locked on the woman trying to read past the stoic exterior. "There is much to do and every moment is critical."
Onyxa eyed the Overseer, calculating and judging the man before her quickly even as she listened to his words. Tremel was lean, clearly striking as he stood there in his dark navy armour accented with grey and white markings. The dark skinned, dark haired man held a high rank and would clearly have the strength and intelligence to back it up. Certainly no weakling, definitely not one to take lightly at all. The fact he had pulled her from her previous entanglements so quick and efficiently had proven such.
"The trials are a chance to weed out the weak." Tremel noted and again Onyxa nodded, "Those who take them either succeed and become sith, or die."
"I won't disappoint you," Onyxa stated , words firm as she spoke them, yet her calm exterior and expression never changed. "I will become sith."
Tremel grinned then nodded at the sith's words. Bold, and self-assured, he noted of the young woman. She had a keen intelligence in choosing her words as well. All of which continued to impress him. She was strong already, but would need every bit of her intelligence and skill to pass the trials. Unlike others who came before her, Onyxa Solaris already had a high bar of expectations set upon her, greater than most acolytes before she even set foot inside the academy. Tremel could only hope she proved as calm and strong as she appeared.
"You face your trials now without delay. Obey me, I'll make you the most powerful acolyte here."
"You better be able to deliver that, Tremel." Onyxa stated, intentionally using the man's name and not his title. She forced her face to remain neutral in expression, betraying nothing about her thoughts.
Tremel could not help a slight grin creeping onto his face as he noted the subtle jab from the woman. Good, he thought, she is clever and shows her intellect once again, knowing how to judge weak points and push buttons while hiding her own. Indeed, there was far more to this one than any other Tremel had come across. Talent and strength in the force alone did not make a good sith, the Overseer knew. There had to be intelligence, ingenuity, and maturity. While Onyxa showed a truly astounding ability with the force, Tremel could already see past the calm exterior to what was beneath. A very dangerous woman that was sharp of mind and strong of will. She was the one he had been hoping and searching for, of this he now truly had no doubt.
"Leave your doubts at the door. There's no room for them here." Tremel answered back, eyes locking on Onyxa's. Tremel held that stare, showing his own strength to the woman before him. "The trials themselves are difficult enough, but they are hardly the greatest threat you will face."
At Tremel's words Onyxa arched an eyebrow, intrigued. Now things were getting interesting. The trials culled the weak, removing them and strengthening the sith. Death walked on Korriban every moment of every day, awaiting new victims to feed upon. The strong lived, the weak perished. Onyxa welcomed any challenge meant to prove she was strong, no matter the obstacle. The question was now who, and how many, did Tremel believe were seen as such a threat on Korriban to her.
"There's an acolyte here named Vemrin." Tremel advised. "He is your enemy, and he will try to kill you. We must prepare you."
And now the fun begins, Onyxa thought. Vemrin... now she had a name to point her in the direction of her next challenge. In truth, she cared little for who they were or what dangers they presented. That included this Vemrin, a man that would be one of many to fall before her. Still, knowing where the danger was lurking was never a bad thing, she knew. Whatever Tremel was planning, clearly Vemrin was merely the pawn on the other side of the board from her. Noting the man was watching her and waiting for a response, Onyxa let her gaze narrow, let the small smile form on her lips, each word focused and intent as she spoke.
"Let him try." The words came out steady, almost a mocking kindness from Onyxa. The words held enough of an edge to them that Tremel actually felt the small hairs on the back of his neck begin to rise. "I will destroy him."
"With my guidance, someday you will destroy all your enemies." Tremel smiled a knowing little smile. "In the meantime that practice sword you arrived with will not suffice. The tomb of Ajunta Pall is nearby, within an old armoury. A strong sith war blade awaits you there within if you can take it."
She nodded at the words, aware of the practice blade slung over her shoulder. A good weapon could make all the difference in a fight, especially when it was a fairly even contest. She liked the challenge of besting superior odds, but knew now was not the time to indulge such desires. What interested Onyxa now was heading into one of the tombs on Korriban. There had to be more difficulty than merely waltzing in to take what she wanted.
"The tomb is thick with k'lorr slugs. They are deadly, savage creatures." Tremel advised. "Be speedy but be careful. They have been the end of many an acolyte. Come to me when done, to my chambers at the Sith Academy." Tremel finished then nodded to the woman before he turned and walked away.
Onyxa waited until the man had gotten well out of range before she headed off down the hallway that would lead out of the arrivals area. She had a war blade to find, and plenty of obstacles to overcome. The strong lived and the weak perished, she repeated to herself. The small thin grin broke out into a much larger terrifying smile now that he was sure he was alone. Let the tests begin, she thought.
Tremel reached the narrow hallway with its low lighting and stopped. Turning to lean back against the cold steel wall, dark eyes looked back to track the moving human sith as she headed off to do as told. Her love for battle notwithstanding, she was going to be a hard one to control, Tremel could tell. Already, the Overseer wondered just how much the woman was able to discern about his presence here. Tremel frowned a moment as he wondered if he could ever hope to train let alone control such a woman as Onyxa Solaris. Should I even dare to try, Tremel wondered? Time would tell, but already he could sense the ripples in the force all about him that her' presence on Korriban was causing.