Chapter II

"Excellent work, my young apprentice," Lord Mortalitous cried out, entering into the arena. The smoldering heaps of droid parts now scattered about the training ground were swept out of his path by a wave of his hand. Darth Mijara kneeled down before her master, his robe sweeping the ground behind him as he stepped forward. "You are beginning to earn your place at my side." He stretched forth his hand and, without lifting her head, she placed the completed lightsaber into his hands. While she could not see him through the blindfold she wore, Sa'avia could sense his intrigue at the particular fashion of her weapon. The emitter was shaped to a rectangle, similar to that of a single edged sword's crosspiece. Under that, a protrusion in the shaft curved and developed into a half formed hand guard, like the handle brake of a speeder bike. His gaze followed the hilt lower, criticizing every detail. The hilt extended half a meter past that of a normal lightsaber, coming to an end with a small loop at the base. The hybrid weapon held the reach of a saber staff, but retained the maneuverability of a traditional lightsaber by shortening the length of the staff handle.

"Truly you have an eye for versatility, Darth Mijara. This weapon will be most formidable to those you encounter." This brought a hidden smile to Sa'avia's face. Her master had become much more approving in the latter years of her training. What deep respect she had had for him now had grown into one of undying loyalty. He was her father. He was her friend. He was everything to her. He was her master, and she was honored to be his apprentice.

"Run it again," he commanded, and a fresh onslaught of droids came out of the gladiator style doors. This time she allowed the smile to show as she casually retreated from her master, keeping her back to the threat. She heard the pulsating hum of the blade reach out from the emitter. And while she could not see it, she knew with a surety that the blade was as warmly red as the one her master carried in her memories.

—«•»—

"No! No! No! N- AAAAAAGGGH!" His screams were becoming marvelous to her. At the beginning of the torture session, his pitiful whimpers were just that; pitiful. But now, the cries of desperation were like a welcome sign, urging her on to go further, deeper into his mind. He was only a simple criminal, plucked off the streets of whatever planet or city he haunted, but her master had seen the haggard man as an opportunity to test her capabilities. Penetrating his mind was like swimming through muck. It was full of sinful thoughts. He had dwelt in the lower levels of Nar Shadaa all too often, and his desires were rancid. Darth Mijara had no qualms about punishing this sick fiend for the vain things of his imagination.

Plucking a scene from her own imagination, she reached out through the Force and placed it right at the forefront of his sense of reality. She could almost hear the terrible roars of the monster the man now thought he faced, and she once more indulged herself in the pleasure of his fearful tantrums.

—«•»—

The fire. The haunting hollow eyes. The flames. The cries of the ones she loved. The inferno. Her parents. The embers. The hatred. The explosions. The blasters turned towards her. The blood. The screams. The agony. The death!

"Gah!" It was like an evil voice screaming at Sa'avia from the grave, waking her from her deepest sleep. Another nightmare from the past. It haunted her. The fear of death was poison. She had hoped that after all these years, she would have learned to overcome it, possibly even embrace the idea of it. But after seeing so much of it, conducting its path occasionally, it still held her frozen in its cold clutches...

—«•»—

The hiss of the pneumatic door signaled her entrance, though Lord Mortalitous could sense Darth Mijara long before she made it to the door. Sa'avia, out of discipline and respect, kneeled down before him as he stared out into the vastness of space from the bridge of their command ship. Keeping his back to her, he searched the thoughts of her mind.

"Darth Mijara," he addressed her. With the acknowledgment, she rose and took her place at his side, also taking up the act of looking out towards the stars. "There is something that troubles you," he said, not taking his eyes off the void.

"It is of no matter," she lied.

"Your thoughts betray you. You are distressed. Do not hide it, Mijara, it gives you strength. Let your fear fuel your passion." His words, like so many times before, soothed her. They coaxed her into confession.

"I seek power, master." Her master hummed.

"Yes, so many life forms in the galaxy do. But there is something specific you are withholding." He turned a knowing eye to her.

"I fear that which I cannot perceive. I fear death." Sa'avia rested her shoulder against one of the durasteel pillars that braced the sturdy window. Lord Mortalitous kept silent, though a corner of his mouth turned upwards. "There is more you can teach me, I know it."

"Mijara," he paused. "You have been a prized apprentice and a formidable ally. There is not much else I am able to show you. However, I will grant unto you whatever I am able." She pondered for a moment.

"Are you able to show me the way to overcome death?" He grimly shook his head. "Is there someone else who can teach me?"

"Darth Mijara. Do not be foolish enough to leave my side after all the work I painstakingly went through to get you to where you are now. I have seen your potential, and I will not have you deny me your gifts," he hissed. "The futile search for immortality is one that many idealistic youth before you have gone through and met their fate at the hands of foolish tragedy. Do not follow their footsteps. Others will try to deceive you and tell you there is a way. Do not believe this. I am obligated out of respect to your loyalty to deny such a possibility of immortality. Abandon this dream." His voice was stern, and she knew better than to disobey. She bowed her head and left.

—«•»—

Author's Note: No. No. No. *aggressively tears all the posters of fan-service and "shipping" off the walls* There is not going to be a romantic relationship between Sa'avia and Lord Mortalitous. That's just wrong in so many ways. He's old enough to be her father. "But Anakin and Padme did it," I hear some of you saying. They were about a ten year difference, which is wrong nonetheless. These two have about 20-30 years distance, and I'm definitely not comfortable with that. Not every story has to have a love interest, especially when it comes to Sith. Sith don't do love, remember? "Channel your hatred," and all that. Anyway, may include picture of the lightsaber so there is a visual for all you beautiful readers. Yes, this is another story about a Sith trying to gain immortality. No, it is not going to be like others were they find it. I would tell you what does happen, but that's a plot turning super spoiler that I would hate to leak after only the second chapter. Tsk tsk, it simply isn't done.