The reason it takes me so long to bring these out is because I'm working through the week, and want to spend my afternoons either sleeping or actually playing Swtor. And while yes I could make them longer, I make them as long as I can and end it when it feels natural, or when there's a general lull in the story itself.

So yeah, that's why.

Start.

Menma stood before the final section in the Tomb of Naga Sadow, before him was a Sith Inquisitor trainee, Ffon Althe, who demanded he hand over Kory to punish in the Overseers name, apparently Harkun had somehow survived being blasted through Durasteel but whatever.

Go figure.

The boy had the gall to attempt and strike at her with the Force, Menma didn't even have to intervene as she countered his lightning with her own, burning his body with it and leaving him a quivering mess, Menma looked over his belongings and found four metalic rods, along with what appeared to be his journal, Menma gave the device a quick scan to the most recent entry.

Apparently Ffon was to use these four rods to release something called a 'Dashade' which would then in turn lead him to some map of Tulak Hord, he was to do this for one Lord Zash. Well...If some sentient creature was held in this tomb he felt a little obligated to at least assist the thing in leaving the place.

He put it on his mental to-do list after retrieving the Ancient Lightsaber.

"Aaaand done...Done. Uh, your welcome or whatever." Vette trailed after catching the look he was sending her, something about that empty stare just sent ice into her veins, he held it for a few moments before nodding to her.

"You have been most helpful, Vette. Little to no complaining, no shooting me in the back, no mouthing off to my Acolytes. Congratulations, you've marched right into my good graces." He said with a slight sarcastic inflection, but overall good nature.

Vette felt that ice melt rapidly as she visibly relaxed, all of his Acolytes seemed to follow their Master's lead and relaxed ever so slightly, changing from a bunch of scary, apathetic and silent Sith, to a group of Super-powered Sith that weren't all that looking to gut you like a hungry Nexxu.

"Don't think I won't be watching you like a hawk, though." Informed Menma, as he strode past her and into the final chamber of the tomb, "I've still got your metaphorical leash."

"Or literal, as the case may be."

"Hugh...And here I was hoping you'd take this thing off." Murmured the Twi'lek, she honestly, foolishly, thought he was different for a second, that'd teach her.

"I tore my own off, if you are weak you stay in your cage. If you are strong you can endure any pain for freedom." Spoke the Archon, his eyes burning with power as he stared at Vette over his shoulder, she felt her spine prickle with his stare, but that didn't stop her back-chat.

"Easy for a Force User to say." She muttered back, spitefully.

"And yet I was unaware of the Force even existing until I had already removed my collar. There aren't even any fail-safes in yours as you were not meant to have left your cell. You only have to worry about scarring, not spinal damage from shocks." Lectured the Archon disinterestedly, walking down the harrowing corridor and standing before an old, deteriorating sarcophagus.

"Master is trying to say if you can do it yourself he'll keep you safe, but if you cannot than you submit into his service." Supplied Nashada, quietly as she and the rest of the party stood at the entrance, as it was Menma's moment.

"He wants me to rip a slave collar out of my neck! Are you crazy!?" Hissed the Twi'lek questioningly.

"No pain no gain." Supplied Mjorin, a small smirk on his face. They'd felt the beginnings on the pain they'd endure under Lord Archon's tutelage, the physical conditioning made them ache, and they'd only just begun the bare minimum, the preliminary training if you will.

It was still quite harsh on the bodies of Inquisitor trained acolytes, but Mjorin had no doubt the effects would be worth the effort.

Menma grabbed the ancient looking lightsaber, picking it up he idly rolled it over his palm and tossed it up and down, testing the weight, for someone who used proper swords for most of his life, these weren't that bad when it came to weight, but this this was quite off balanced towards the front, perhaps most prominent for the more defensive lightsaber forms.

Activating it he was greeted with a solid crimson blade, the top was ever so slightly pointed, giving the whole weapon the vague appearance of a jian. The hilt was somewhat sleek with only a few odd support 'bones' exposed near the top, the grip was aged brown leather of some kind, no doubt it would need to be replaced.

Menma levitated it in his right hand and figured the weight would have little to no affect on his performance, due to him being right handed he naturally had a stronger right side offensive so the infinitesimal difference would be unnoticeable.

He heard a rumbling and the harsh thuds of stone on stone as other sarcophagi were forcefully shoved open from the inside, from the inside leapt several black covered individuals, Naga Sadow's assassin league, Menma couldn't remember the exact name at this time but it mattered little. There were 6 in total Menma produced both of his blades and spun them between his fingers before taking the Juyo Stance, his legs spread evenly at about shoulder width apart and his blades held in outstretched hands, his right held normally whilst his second was held in a reverse grip, dashing forward to meet his new foes head on the ex-Uzumaki clashed against the first two.

The first assassin's held virboblade, not like the commonplace ones nowadays the older vibroblades that were actual swords with vibration mods, forged with Sith Alchemy to increase there hardiness exponentially. So when saber met blade, they clashed in a vicious show of ferocious power, without stopping to remain in the lock Menma deflected the strength of his foes strike outwards and dashed towards the next, tossing the ancient lightsaber forward and using the Force to spin in wildly, just before the saber came into contact with the opposing blade it shut off, passing harmlessly through the assassins guard before shooting back into life and cutting the being right through the chest lopping his shoulders and head off.

Menma leapt into the air and caught the returning blade, using the Force to guide him and land upon the shoulders of another, stabbing down with both sabers he drove them right into the assassin's head, killing it instantly, the body fell limp, Menma dropped onto the ground and immediately leant back to avoid another strike, kicking off the ground and spinning a few millimeters higher than he already was he managed to twist his body all the way around and cut his opponent across the waist, separating both halves of the now corpse.

'Three down...Three to go.' Though the black haired Sith, shifting his amber eyes to his remaining opponents who stood next to one another, blades at the ready. Menma sighed at their foolishness, tossing his sabers into the air he guided them both towards his foes, they rolled away only to be picked up by a powerful current of Force power and lifted into the air, Menma clapped his hands together harshly forcing them into a powerful Force Crush, grinding their bodies into dust.

Crimson flying blades flew back towards their master, Menma grabbed them and turned them off hitching them onto his belt with little to no effort, already he was walking back to his Acolytes, Vette had wide eyes, apparently she hadn't been exposed to much Force aptitude in her life.

"You turned those guys into dust..." She observed, awe stricken.

"Why thank you Captain Obvious." Commented the Sith as he walked past her and towards the direction mentioned in Ffone's journal. Taking the bundle off stone rods wrapped into cloth and tied in a leather belt out of Tash's hands and slung it over his shoulder.

"Is that easy to do?" Asked Vette, Kaarh not having any particular reference for Force Power.

"Our majestic Lord is a font of Force Power, it dances around him and shrouds him like a gentle lover, he does not subjugate it but instead treats it like an equal, he truly is an inspiration to us all." Replied the most fervent of Menma's followers, Vette had a chill of ice go down her spine as she not so subtly took a step away from the dark skinned Sith Acolyte.

"It's more or less true." Spoke Nashada, "Lord Archon is a great power, but somehow the force wants to be wielded by him, I cannot even fathom how powerful he will no doubt be." Spoke the Pureblood.

"Great I'm surrounded by crazies..." Mumbled Vette, though if any of the Acolytes heard the slaves words, they were unphased, as their strength of belief was strong enough to stand mockery, no matter who I stand mockery, no matter who it came from.

"Oh Mr. Robot~ Eat a dick..." Sung the Sith as he had a slight hop in his step, they were walking along a cat-walk that hung over a bottomless abyss, Ancient Droids patrolled the area, each time he tossed one he would repeat 'Eat a dick'.

"He's a little...Different." Observed Vette, "Or is he usually like this and the cold apathy and death threats were an act?" She asked the Acolytes once more.

"He's probably just in a good mood." Said Kory, shrugging carelessly. "He was a little down before, so I don't mind seeing him happy for a change, beats apathetic and overly guarded about literally everything." Said the idealistic Inquisitor.

"Fuuuuuuck you sir!" Bellowed the Archon as he picked up one Droid and condensed it into a ball, Force Energy rippled around the crushing sphere tossing it forward the inward gravitational pull was powerful enough to rip up the older segments of stone and other droids down the hallway.

"Damn this feels incredible." Murmured Menma as the warm sensation of the Force flooded his veins, clicking he watched the orb of gravity implode and turn those caught within into dust, smirking he opened his hand as though offering it, he felt the smallest of impressions upon his palm, "How curious..." His eyes slightly widening, but the sensation left as quickly as it came, he really did have to get around to meditating and communing with the Force properly.

"Note to self, commune with force, find out if it's actually alive. Either it is or I am tripping fucking balls right now." Muttered the Sith, he stepped into the stone room, Ffone's journal spoke of this room, he needed to place each rod into the stone altars then stand in the center to activate it.

Menma almost did this without thinking before he...Ya know, thought. He was in a Sith tomb, not just any Sith tomb but the tomb of Naga Sadow, a Dark Lord of the fuck-mothering Golden Age! Menma opened and closed his mouth before he 'hmmed' contemplatively, opening the bundle he guided the stone rods into their respective slots, the second they all were slotted in a mass of purple Force Lightning shot into the centre of the altar, Menma whistled lightly, it was quite a powerful current for such a strong burst to come from an ancient mechanism. A stone door opened, revealing yet another catwalk though this one led to a stasis chamber.

Held within was the 'Dashade' a bulky creature with a larger lower jaw, several needle sharp thin teeth fitted into its jaw and a rounded bald head, the creature had three fingers two index-like fingers and one thumb on each hand, each finger was equip with sharp looking dull brown claws. The creature had rather humanoid legs but did have two clawed toes giving it even balance on each foot. The dashade wore little clothing outside a brown loincloth, and a belt with various small compartments for Force knows what.

The creatures skin was deathly pale, Menma approached the stasis field and looked upon the control panel at the bottom, punching it the device whirred as its field shut down, smirking at the thought that if you hit something it would work, the ex-Uzumaki watched as the creatures eyes opened in shock, like one would when waking suddenly from a deep sleep, gasping for air and rapidly taking in its surroundings.

"I am Khem Val, servant of Tulak Hord, one who was called Lord of Hate. Master of the Gathering Darkness, who are you to free me, little Sith?" Snarled the Dashade.

"Your welcome." Drawled Menma, leaning on his left leg and crossing his arms, "Hate to break it to ya sonny, but ol' Tulak has been dead for a few centuries, you missed him, but only by a little." Mocked the Sith disinterestedly.

"Dead..? My Lord why did you leave me behind? Why did you not allow me to follow you into death? Why have you abandoned me so?" Asked Khem, as though the ceiling would provide him with answers.

"Oh cry me a fuckin' river sweetheart. Get over it." Menma rolled his eyes, Khem's dark glare sunk into Menma's flesh, the creature lashing out with a swing. Menma held up one arm and blocked it before slamming his right hand into Khem's ribcage, the creature gave off a small grunt of discomfort its arm slackening enough for Menma to dash behind him and kick him in the back of his knees forcing him to his knees.

"How weak have I become, that an insect such as you can disable me in such a manner, My Lord Tulak...How long has it been since I feasted upon the flesh of our foes?" Asked Khem Val, but the fight didn't leave him as the suprisingly agile creature rolled forward and leapt at Menma, Menma merely held up a hand and penetrated the creatures Force Barrier, that all those whom were sensitive had, and held him aloft.

"Look, you're clearly confused. So I'll forgive the attempt on my life. If you desire it, you can come with me out of the tomb and decide what to do from there."

"Hmph. A Sith showing mercy a great weakness, My Lord would have slaughtered you for merely thinking such things." Menma's frown actually sent a spike of worry into Khem's body, with minimal effort but great result Menma flung Khem across the catwalk and back into the room with the rods, he landed upon the centre of the altar and skidded down the steps surrounding it, with a hiss of pain the creature rose.

"Fine. You want cruelty, I'll show you some fucking cruelty." Golden Lightning leapt from his fingertips and assaulted Khem's body, the creature howled in unimaginable pain as its nerves were fried and his flesh was rent, "Think this is better huh? Well fuck knuckle!? Do you!?" Roared the Sith, his eyes glowing a deep Sith Yellow as he poured lightning on the creature, "You take my kindness, and spit upon it! Locked in a cage for as long as you have, how about some fucking grattitude!"

Khem was once more forced to his knees as his body began to break apart, even Tulak had difficulty penetrating his mighty defense with his Force Abilities, and yet this little Sith was ripping him apart like he had so many of his pathetic little foes.

Was this how he would end? The Mighty Khem Val, devourer of the rebels of Yn and Chabosh, consumer of the whole Dromund system?

Then suddenly his pain stopped, and his body began to feel better than it had in many years, he opened his eyes, unaware he'd closed them in his haze of pain, and found his almost-killer standing before him, his whole body was draped in a stream of Golden Force energy, this energy wrapped around Khem Val's body in a cocoon of healing energy, Khem almost protested but he could not find his voice.

"You lost. So your life is mine. Follow or die." Was the ultimatum delivered.

"Will...I feast?" Replied Khem, his breathing still slightly choppy.

"Until you burst. The galaxy shall know our names, because we're going to fuck it like it's a pretty little whore." Confirmed the Warrior to the Devourer. Khem seemed satisfied.

"Then I will follow you, Master."

"Good, get your ass up, you look pathetic kneeling on the ground like that." Scolded Menma as he gestured the man-beast up, his Acolytes finally made it around the corner. "Well about time you all got here, c'mon let's scan this map and get the fuck out of this tomb, I'm sick of this place and I'm sure our new friend Khem Val is too." Wide eyes were the greetings for the big fella, Menma smirked.

"I think you scared them." He commented, "Fancy that." He said and began walking back out onto the catwalk but turned to the left towards a small room with a large stone tablet residing in the centre, Menma took a full scan of it and made sure it was fully copied onto his pad before slipping said device back into his pouch.

"...He's almost as tall as you..." Was the first thing Vette said after the silence had descended upon them, and lasted all the way to the exit.

"Shit a brick, you appear to be correct. Fancy that, I'm not some freakish behemoth." Drawled Menma, looking at the Twi'lek with dead eyes, the petite little lady chuckling nervously.

"You heard that huh..." She murmured timidly.

"You were standing a foot behind him, how the hell would I have not heard it?" Said Menma towering over her imperiously, an incredulous expression upon his face.

"Fair point." Was the quick response of the slave, before she decided to pour on the charm, smiling up at him and giving him a powerful stare with her big purple eyes, "Is there anyway I could convince you to take the collar off? I'm not really a fan of self mutilation."

"If you want I can shock you repeatedly until you have the nerve to do it yourself." Offered Menma, making her pale slightly, "The weak remain under the strong for as long as they allow themselves, when the weak free themselves they become strong. So no, I will not help you." Said Menma with finality, like the question insulted him or something.

"I find myself agreeing with such words." Commented Khem Val, if one paid attention they would notice the small smirk on his face at the Twi'lek's suffering filled expression, he drank in her sadness with gusto.

"If it's all too hard I could just kill you." Said Menma, he stopped his stride and turned to face Vette with crossed arms, she flinched and jumped back ever so slightly, "Take it off now. Or be weak forever." Ordered Menma, Vette's eyes widened.

"B-but-"

"Do it. Or I'll just kill you now." Said Menma, producing his Ancient Lightsaber but not activating it.

Vette was shaking violently as her world seemed to flip onto its head, but she reached up for the collar, she didn't want to die, it was either pain or death, she'd at least know if she was in pain she was still alive. Menma watched emotionlessly as she awkwardly gripped the metal of the collar, the first tug made her hiss in pain, the second made her tear up, she did it all without losing eye contact.

The wet sound of tearing flesh and hot, wet sensation blood flowing was the only signal she had succeeded as her world blossomed into unfathomable pain, Vette's eyes rolled back as she fell forward onto her face, Menma place his hand upon her neck and healed the surface wound, making sure it wouldn't bleed but not completely repairing the damage, she needed to learn pain wasn't her enemy.

"Tsk...Still fainted. She's weak, but she'll get stronger." Said Menma callously, weakness had always had a negative impact on his mood. Kicking the collar away he grabbed the Twi'lek and tossed her over his shoulder, sliding his saber back into its place on his belt.

"I'm still a impressed she even did it, I got the impression she was extremely adverse to pain." Said Tash, little to no inflection in his voice.

"It does take a certain something to mutilate oneself though." Said Mjorin.

"That something appears to be the threat of death via lightsaber." Commented Nashada humorlessly.

"Bah, tears, fainting. Pathetic." Growled Khem, though he did so quietly, and to himself.

"Quiet time." Said Menma, shushing them as he walked back into the Academy, swinging past the dorm and dumping Vette into one of the free beds, he told the others to start gathering their things to leave the planet, Khem kept with him though, as the Dashade insisted he needed to be by his new Master's side or his already tarnished honour would degrade further, Menma hypothesized it was more akin to self respect than honour but he didn't bother arguing.

Baras' Office.

"You there, scumbag. Stop right there." Growled a voice, Menma was unsurprised to see Eskella, Tremel's daughter. "You murderer. My father was a staunch traditionalist, and he was especially hard on me, but he was my blood and because of such his death needs to be answered with vengeance!" Growled the mocha skinned woman.

"And you would disgrace his memory by thinking he died needing to be avenged. Pathetic little girl, you know nothing, and your ignorance has led you before something you cannot even fathom." Growled Menma, producing his lightsabers as Eskella roared at the indignities, she unhinged her warblade and swung at him, her two cronies doing the same, Khem seemed unimpressed and even in his greatly weakened state, caught the blades and snapped them in half, before grabbing the heads of his foes and smashing them together with enough force to kill them both.

Menma sliced right through Eskella's warblade with his reverse grip blade before burying his weapon into her exposed chest with his forward facing blade, she died in agony as her heart was enflamed by pain, but still she did die.

Khem looked upon the corpses of the force users and could not contain his glee, he heartily devoured their flesh, cloth, bone, sinew and all he did not stop until there was nothing left, his body was shrouded in Dark Side power for a moment before returning to normal, the bloody grin on his face showing excitement and content.

"Look forward to more, Khem." Was all Menma said before walking into the office of his Master.

"Ahh, apprentice you have returned...And with such colourful company, would you care to explain to me how it is you came upon this creature?" Asked Baras.

"Some other apprentice, Ffone Althe, attempted to attack myself and my Acolytes, he died at one of their hands and found four stone rods, naturally we were curious what these were four, so inspecting his data-pad we found that these rods opened the cage leading to Khem Val's, this big fella, stasis cage. Turns out he was Tulak Hord's servant and helped him claim most of the Dromund System." Explained Menma, "Anyway so I took him out the cage, we fought, I won and he showed me to some map that involves Tulak Hord in some way, I really haven't looked at the scans yet." Menma finished by producing his Ancient Lightsaber.

"I did complete your task first, though. If that's some strange form of conciliation." Menma shrugged and clipped it back onto his belt.

Baras, chuckled, nay he laughed heartily, "Only an apprentice and already stepping on the toes of Lords, Apprentice you have crossed Lord Zash quite strongly, killing her apprentice before he could complete his final trial, this will no doubt provide great amusement." Baras had to take a moment to stop himself from laughing any more, collecting himself and his thoughts as he did so.

"I am almost beside myself to be quite honest, you completed your trial and claimed the ancient lightsaber, whilst also managing to destroy the plans of another Sith, plundering their work to increase your own power. I do believe we may get along yet. Though I am slightly curious with what happened to the Twi'lek." He asked idly, as though on a whim.

"I forced her to remove her own slave collar, she passed out from shock after doing so. But she will live. Subjugated and cowed sufficiently." Said Menma carelessly, well almost carelessly, he did have a small smirk on his face.

"Bravo, that's exactly the attitude you'll need to survive in the future." Applauded Baras, "Your trials are complete, you are now officially my Apprentice, together we will strike fear into the Empires enemies, the galaxy will quake at our combined presence. I must convene with the Emperor, and inform him that plans can begin to be set in motion. This pass will take you to the Imperial Fleet, from there catch a ship to Dromund Kass, I will meet you at the Citadel." Said Baras.

"Tell the Emperor I said hello." Said Menma, taking the pass and almost already out the door.

"I'm sure he'll be thrilled to hear from you." Said Baras, an almost audible eye roll.

End of Chapter.

So I'm back from holidays, finally. Back to writing and such, so expect some actual updates.

Raxychaz!