A/N: Sorry it took so long to post chapter 4. Real life's been keeping me busy, and my new work schedule lacks awesomeness.

It's shorter than I wanted, but the rest was chopped off for part 5. It felt like it fit better to me that way.

Let me know what you think!


By the end of it they had both taken a decent beating. Though he would never admit it, Aegir had underestimated Faing and paid for it with several pronounced bruises to the ribs and lower legs. The smaller guy took no issue with targeting a limb when the vital organs were guarded. He was quick enough to act on the openings and knew how swing the weapon to make it hurt.

More aggravating was the amount of moving the little shit did. Marauder training involved agility. What ever or who ever taught Faing to fight was different. This was like aggressive acrobatics. Done by a squirrel. On adrenals. He was still determined to know where he'd learned it, and silently vowed to uncover it before leaving the academy.

If he hadn't been so frustrated, Faing didn't think he'd of landed a single hit. He spent half the fight avoiding two painful practice blades and caught a boot to the face for his efforts. Overall the Sith would have won a real duel, no question about it. The guy was a giant red power house with better sword skills than the instructors. Faing had the stiff shoulder and electrical burns to prove it. Catching a practice blade with your shoulder or lower back hurt. A lot.

The sparring session ended with the mutually silent agreement that they were both finished. Anger, frustration, annoyance, general contempt had been burnt off. Where Aegirs superior training and breeding put him leaps and bounds ahead, Faing had learned to outlast and out-maneuver years ago just to survive. Technically he would have lost the fight but keeping pace with the pure blood was no small feat. There was a tiny nugget of pride in that.

As he wiped the sweat from his face and tossed the weapon back on the rack he could hear his stomach growl. He caught a look from the Sith.

"What?"

"I'm not going to listen to that while I study."

"Don't get your force in a twist. I've got somewhere to be."

"And who are you offending with the pleasure of your presence?" The light jab dripped with sarcasm.

"Well it's not that dour old witch Laskin. Alas my charm was not enough. She's more into to muscly and homicidal."

"You've killed 2 people in three months. You're suspected in the deaths of four more from almost half a year ago. ."

"I'm not in charge of commissary maintenance. The droids are supposed to scan the food dispensers for poison."

"You routinely reprogram the droids and dispensers."

"You can't prove anything."

"You're a terrible liar."

"I'm actually pretty good when I put effort into it." Faing grinned as pulled the hooded tunic back on.

"Well start putting effort into it. Most of the overseers would happy to be rid of you."

"Don't I know it." He put his hands in his pockets, and kept the lopsided grin going as they made for the door. He was exhausted, beat up, and still running on adrenaline. Felt pretty good.

"As good as the stunt with the food was, they'll kill you if they find out."

"Yeah well, they gotta figure it out, and then prove it. Been banking on their arrogance to keep them ignorant."

"You act as though this academy is a game, one your starting to play fast and loose." It was a mix of accusation and statement. The first move had been trusting the pureblood.

"Everything's a game. This one you're just dancing with death until you can grab the win. The difference between me and you is I'm making up the steps as I go."

"Thats gambling for debt you might not be able to pay."

The doors whooshed open for them.

"Yeah, well I'm working with what I've got. When my rich noble uncle dies and leaves me his fortune, I'll let you know."

"You have an Uncle?"

"Might."

His expression reeked of mischief and the humor wasn't lost on Aegir. He smiled a small smile and reflected momentarily on the sparring session.

"Your technique needs work. You're shaky, unsure of your steps, and blade work requires improvement."

"And you can eat the dirt off my boots arsehole."

Ignoring the insouciant insult, he laughed, and shoved the smaller man by his shoulder in a friendly gesture.

"But, the style suits you and you've adapted well to it and the weapon choice. Find the focus in the eye of the storm and you'll be more effective."

"Careful there red, you sound like a Jedi."

"If you had to dismantle a building would you simply attack it, or find the key structural points to bring it down?"

"I think I would just pay a demo expert to do the job." He made a mock picture frame with his hands. "Then I could just sit back and scream and supervise, like a proper Sith. Or what I'm told one should be."

"Little narrowed minded there."

"Narrow minded? If that isn't the pot and kettle."

"Besides the overseers, how many Sith have you actually met?"

The red face fixed on him with a skeptical look. Faing bit his lip and thought for a moment. Another door mechanically slid open and they plodded along the empty hall.

"Four, before coming here."

"Really?" Skeptical again.

"Uh huh"

"I'm supposed to believe that?"

The lean figure shrugged.

"Believe what you want."

"Regardless, it's fallacious of you to think all Sith can fit into a single mold of being." Aegir waved a hand.

Faing snorted.

"Just like it's 'fallacious' of everyone to think a slave could survive here?"

"Touche."

"Thank you."

"You know what that big of a word means?" Aegir chuckled.

Faing pulled a face.

"You know, I'm starting to learn why you're so popular with everyone. You've got that bang-up pure blood charm going."


The rest of the walk was damn near companionable. It was crossed between awkward and humorous and Faing struggled to hide his apprehension at Aegir's emerging helpfulness. It was unsettling to hear constructive criticism on his combat performance and he was unsure what to make of the lack of death threats or aggressive posturing. Being disregarded most of the time had been so much easier to handle. It was predictable and routine, even when staying in that dorm room.

But now it was evident that Aegir had been paying closer attention than he had thought and the realization was unnerving. Who else had started keeping an eye on him?

That question answered it's self several moments later, and he could have smacked himself when a specific memory can roaring back.

Stepping out from another crimson lit corridor was the same man that had appeared after his duel with Rahgon. Darth Fractcious, mask and creepy black robes all accounted for.

Immediately he and Aegir ceased walking and assumed a respectful stance. The Darth closed the distance slowly and regarded each of the for a moment, the silver mask turning from one to another.

"You are dismissed Hythwynd." He didn't move, but Aegir bowed and turned sharply to leave. The air was immediately electrified and hostile, and the purebloods absence was felt like a vacuum.

Faing watched the grey clothed back disappear and his heart hammered with dread after every boot fall. His every instinct screamed that he needed to be as far from this man as possible. Nothing good would happen and everything he had worked for to this point could be shattered.

"I have business with you acolyte. Do you know who I am?" That voice sent ice water trickling down his spine and a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was cool and bass but commanding.

"Darth Fractcious, my lord." His own voice had lost the casual assertiveness from conversing with Aegir. Instead it sounded small and shaky. A familiar self loathing at his own weakness burned it's way up his neck. Loathing at his fear.

There were very few things Faing feared. His previous Master had desensitized him pretty effectively. Watching people, like the old woman who had cared for you like a mother, electrocuted to death for another's entertainment would leave a lasting impression.

Years under that harpies's thumb would make anyone slightly jaded.

So when that instant feeling of dread became so strong you wanted to puke all over the durasteel, there was a damn good reason to be sacred.

When the Darth spoke again, he felt like that scared kid again, cowering in the corner or hiding in the storage closet.

"Your continued progress here has given me pause, and I think it's time we discussed your future without the interference of the the overseers."


A/N: Grammar and vocabulary is still off. I'm working on it though. :/