Korriban, Sith Academy
Harry stared with little interest at the other recruits around him as they stepped off the shuttle that had landed on one of the landing pads at the academy. At least, Harry had thought it was until he took a clearer look around. They were actually outside one of the temples it seemed. A man in a uniform was waiting for them. He was a Caucasian human male with his face set permanently into a scowl. He didn't look impressive and his presence in the force left much to be desired unless he was hiding it. A look over once more had Harry doubting it.
"So you're the new recruits then? None of you look special or impressive enough to be called Sith but perhaps you'll prove me wrong, unlikely as that is. Your task is simple. You will navigate your way through the temple you see in front of you. Those who live will be allowed to continue training. You have practice sabers and are expected to use them. Try not to die." The man finished before stepping away and getting in the shuttle they had just arrived in.
The rest of the recruits started murmuring amongst themselves and shuffling around. Harry walked forward into the temple with no fear. He felt several life forms inside that had the touch of corruption of those who fell to the dark side. Despite this, he was still unconcerned. He had been through most these temples already and knew his way through the ones he had no destroyed over the years. He felt the eyes of the other recruits on him as he stepped into the temple drawing his practice blade. It could still kill if you dealt enough damage with it.
It didn't take long for Harry to encounter the crawling worm creatures infesting the temples now. The looked hideous and some seemed to be hacking up some green acidic substance which Harry was sure they could probably launch at opponents.
He signed before charging into the fray and cutting a line through them before they could even react. Harry made up for the sabers lack of power with his force enhanced strength to make quick work of them. These creatures weren't actually that strong and they were pretty slow as well. A good choice for weeding out the weak in Harry's opinion if he ever had a reason to do such a thing
. He heard a screech to his left and didn't even bother to look as he ducked down under a ball of acid that had just been spat at him. He didn't bother retaliating as it would just slow him down. He made it halfway through the swarm before they finally took notice of their kind being quickly slaughtered in his pass. They started to group in packs and surround him but Harry just charged right threw.
He finally reached the end where he slowed down and took a breath. He turned around and saw a clear thin path of dead bodies where he had run threw that led all the way back to the entrance of the tomb. Harry saw wide eyes of a few of the braver recruits that had ventured in soon after him. Harry gave them a salute before turning around and continuing forward. In truth, that would probably be the last time the saw them. That first horde was now extremely agitated and grouping together for protection after the first hit he'd had down to them. They would be even more aggressive now.
The rest of the temple was rather simple, to be honest. This one was rather straight forward and the enemies were nothing to him. A rather easy task for someone like him. He did see quite a few dead bodies as well as practice sabers. He didn't even bother to pick them up. He likes lightsabers because they were useful especially for spare parts. Practice sabers were practically cheap knock offs. Then again, all his parts were on his ship which he had given to HK when he had left with Satele. Of course, he had his lightsaber hidden away on him but he would have to make sure not to break it.
After several more minutes of going through he finally reached the exit where he saw the Caucasian Sith from earlier waiting for him. He looked up at him in shock.
"Done, already? How is that possible I just sent you in less than twenty minutes ago." The man exclaimed. Harry shrugged with indifference at the man's words.
"it was no obstacle for one such as myself," Harry said letting some stereotypical arrogance enter his voice. The man took the bait and glared at him in response.
"We'll see if that attitude will last for you. Don't get cocky just for completing the easiest part of your training. All it proves is your slightly better than the normal garbage we get through here. Now go to the speeder and it will take you the rest of the way to the academy." The man finished and turned away from Harry and back towards the temple to wait for any other survivors. Harry shrugged and walked towards the speeder. He climbed in and waited for the driver to take him to the academy.
They immediately jetted off and Harry got his first real look at the valley of the Sith since he had last seen it. He was surprised by the giant black burn marks scattered all over the valley now. It gave the valley a new sinister look with permanent shadows all over the place. He wondered how if the fiendfyre had eventually been extinguished by the combined effort of multiple force users or simply killed everyone and then died once it was done using their bodies for fuel.
"What's with the burn marks all over the place?" Harry asked the driver. The man shrugged.
"No idea. Some sort of force fire happened when the Empire first took back the planet from the Jedi. The original Sith fleet sent here was devastated and over eighty percent of its inhabitants died, ten percent suffered major injuries and the last ten percent suffered minor injuries or were completely fine. A whole other fleet had to be sent to stop the Jedi from retaking the planet." The driver responded. Harry just made a noise in the back of his throat.
If anybody looked at him they would say he looked impassive except for his eyes which seemed to be radiating pride. It's not like anyone could do what he had done after all. It sounded like none had even been able to stop his spell and it just had to burn itself out.
Soon they were at the academy that stood in place of what Harry vaguely remembered to be a destroyed temple at some point. The driver lowered the speeder down and pulled into a landing area where he saw someone with a datapad waiting. As soon as it got low enough Harry hopped out and looked at the man. The man stopped typing and sneered at him.
"So, you're the new recruit then? Don't look like much but perhaps you will surprise. You will go the academy, once entered you will go through the second door on your right where you will be assigned a training group." The pasty, robed Sith told him. Harry nodded without a word and proceeded to walk over and climb the stairs up to the academy. Their seemed to be quite a bit of traffic of Sith, soldiers coming and going.
Harry finally reached the top and looked around. There were guards on both sides of the entrance but none felt very strong in the force. Not strong enough to be called proper Sith but stronger than the average soldier most likely. Interesting way to put them to use he supposed. He walked through and the guards didn't even give him a glance. Harry watched and made sure to map out all the security he could of the building. It was unnecessarily tall and obnoxious as expected from the Sith. It seemed to be buzzing with students and a few teachers. He scanned the big open entrance room and slyly looked at all the camera positions and even some of the hidden ones. He wondered what security systems they had here to protect information. It would have to be something impressive considering Republic spies had repeatedly made attempts to crack it with no luck.
Harry continued forward, not wanting to gain any attention or look suspicious. He moved to the right side of the room and went through the first hallway. His eyes narrowed in annoyance as it branched in two directions and went into a room on the final direction straight in front of him. He looked into the room and saw what looked like people mingling so he assumed that was not the right way, he turned to his right and saw more rooms. He finally looked to the left and saw a lone hall way that went to another room that couldn't be seen due to the hallway making another turn. Harry decided down that way due to the process of elimination.
Harry walked down and noticed cameras following his movement and turrets that followed him as well. He scowled slightly to himself at the security of this place. It would be annoying if he had to make a quick recovery. He was hesitant to us apparition in the building with so many possible hidden cameras. It wouldn't do to give his possible enemies new ideas on how to use the force.
He made the last turn and saw a nice-looking office with a dark-skinned man inside of it. He seemed middle age for the most part and seemed to have a seriousness almost ingrained into his face. The man looked up at him as he entered.
"Hmm. You're the new recruit then. Hadrian was it? No last name?" the man asked almost condescendingly. Harry shrugged nonchalantly, the man could possibly be testing his control or trying to push his buttons, Harry wasn't sure which.
"Never needed one before. If I need one you can just put anything you want down." Harry said blank almost in a monotone. The man squinted at him.
"You trying to be funny?" the man asked with an edge.
"No," Harry responded back in the same monotone he had used to answer his last question.
"Good. Now then, Hadrian, I've heard they found you on Serenno was it?" the man asked. Harry just nodded in response.
"We conquered Serenno just recently. They found you rather quickly." The man said. Harry was sure he heard suspicion in his voice but didn't rise to it, he just nodded.
"Nothing to say?"
"Was I supposed to say something?" Harry asked.
"You don't think it convenient that you were on a previously republic controlled planet and then were immediately found to be useful as soon as it switched to the Sith Empire. Why did the Jedi not find you first?" the man asked.
"You will have to ask them next time you see one. I can only tell you what I know my life has been up to this moment. If you wish me to start speculating on why they never found me, I can do that." Harry told him. The man got close and glared at him directly in his eyes. Harry said nothing he just continued to looked impassively at the man. A moment of silence passed between them and eventually, the man stopped and turned around and walked back to his desk.
"For the moment I will give you the benefit of the doubt. My name is Tremel. I am the overseer of this academy and will be the one that decides when and if you pass training to become a true Sith. For now, I have assigned you to training group seven as one of their senior members was just taken as an apprentice. You will fill the gap. Let me make myself clear, if you do not perform up to standards you may not like the result trainee." Tremel said to him with a glare, "There in a training ground on the opposite end of the hallway. Why don't you go join them?"
Harry immediately picked up on the fact that the man had said the ending of the sentence with a sinister tone. Perhaps these other trainees were supposed to haze him when he arrived. Not that it mattered. It was just about time to prove why he was a Sith.
"As you wish," Harry said as turned from Tremel and started walking back down the hallway. This time he didn't bother to check the rooms as he could feel which one all of the little trainees were gathered in. He walked up to it and clicked a few buttons on the doors embedded pad to open it. It slides open with a swoosh and Harry walked in.
"Well, what do we have here?" a recruit said as he walked over to Harry with his training saber out. The two who had been in the middle of the room sparring stopped and walked over with the others. Harry counted off and found there to be seven trainees, two female and five male. All seemed to be smirking or smiling at him with barely contained bloodlust. Harry had to keep himself from rolling his eyes at these untrained Sith wannabees.
"I am Hadrian, I am the new trainee for your group," Harry said in a bored tone of voice. The man who appeared to be the leader seemed to smile even wider at that.
"Are you now? Well, you don't know this but we have a little initiation with new recruits. Break you in as it were." The lead male said subtly tightening his grip on his training saber. Harry looked around and watched the rest do the same.
"I see. And are all of you going to be participating in this little initiation?" Harry asked. No one said anything but the growing smirks and smiles answered it for him.
"Well we thought it would be a good team building experience, don't you agree?" the man asked as he took another step forward. The rest of the trainees slowly moved around him until he was completely surrounded. Harry let a smile grace his face. The first one that had appeared on his face all day. A small innocent smile that perfectly masked his inner thoughts and emotions.
"You know, I think you're absolutely right. A team building exercise is exactly what we need. I actually have one in mind, I think you will like it. It's called Survival of the Fittest, it's a classic game for the Sith, though usually on a bigger scale. I hope you learn how to play quickly so you can give me some entertainment." Harry said with a perfectly innocent tone drawing his own training saber. The man sneered at him and made to jump at him.
Harry raised his hand and unleashed a force blast in every direction knocking all the other trainees across the room violently until they slammed heavily into a wall. Harry gave a little twirl of his blade and pointed it at the leader with the same smile still frozen on his face. The leader didn't look so confident now, in fact, he looked shocked and possibly scared.
"W-wait a moment let's talk." He said raising his hand. Harry tilted his head slightly as if giving the idea some thought.
"Hmmm… No."
Tremel POV:
Tremel looked up from the newest report he had sent to the dark council about the academy which would eventually get sent to the emperor. He looked at the time on his desk and looked up. He had finished his paperwork for the day, perhaps he should check in on the trainees. He liked to randomly check in to keep the recruits on their toes.
He scowled lightly as his thoughts drifted to the newest trainee. He was the only one that had survived the initiation out of his recruit group. He did not know if it was coincidence or if the young man had purposefully caused something himself, either way, he didn't like it. The boy's past was already suspicious enough. His little talk with him hadn't improved his confidence either. It wouldn't matter though. If he was secretly working for the Jedi, he would be exposed quickly enough. The Sith did things that would make even the strongest Jedi hesitate. All he had to do was wait.
He stood from his desk and started walking. Since his thoughts were now on the boy, he should probably check to see how he was assimilating. Training group seven was particularly known in the academy for its… violence. If any group would expose the Jedi it would be them. With that in mind, he went to go check on them in the training room. He didn't want them to get carried away with their little initiation. It was the reason it was so damn hard to assign new recruits to the group.
As he walked through the halls with his hands behind his back he got several nods and small bows of respect from students and teachers alike. He would return them with stern nods of his own as he continued marching his way down the hallway. He felt a small sense of pride at having this much power and influence. Sure, he was not on the dark council but he helped shape almost all new Sith that joined their empire making him quite the prestigious individual.
Tremel pulled himself from his thoughts on the pride in himself when he approached the door to the training room he had assigned training group seven too. He reached for the button panel before pausing briefly. He felt a disturbance that caused him to the look at the door. The dark side hung heavy in the room he was sure of it.
Tremel sighed to himself as he swallowed the feeling. The imbeciles had probably beaten another recruit to either death or something close to it in their little hazing process. This time he would have to punish them personally for such an action. Sith followed their emotions but an army and Empire had no use for individuals that had no self-control. He angrily pushed the buttons on the small console and watched the door slide open. What lied on the other side made him freeze in his tracks.
Blood, there was blood everywhere. Every wall, the floor, the ceiling. It was all covered in blood. It was still dripping and sliding down the walls to show how fresh it was. Then his eyes slipped to the bodies. From first glance it almost looked like they had all been killed by a stab or slash from a lightsaber, it wasn't until he looked closer that he saw the true cause of death. The cuts and slashes, while semi deep, were too superficial to kill, even in the quantities that he was seeing. It was the internals that killed them. Bones in their bodies could be seen protruding in every angle except the one that they started in naturally. Something of great force smashed into their bodies repeatedly causing massive internal bleeding in multiple locations. None of these deaths were clean or quick.
"They were boring you know, unskilled and uncontrolled. Not worthy of one day calling themselves Sith." A quiet voice said. Tremel zoomed in on it and saw the body at the back of the room that had been sitting and leaning against the wall. He hadn't even noticed the eyes that had been watching him since he entered the room, now he couldn't look away. Those emerald/yellow eyes that had seemed so passive and bored half an hour ago now seemed to dig into his very soul and analyze it.
"You… did this?" Tremel asked in disbelief. He had initially thought the body was dead as were the others from the lack of movement and the amount of blood covering it. Now, he was almost sure none of it was the man's blood.
"Of course, they thought to teach me a lesson. Instead, I decided to teach them one. I seem to have gone overboard though. I doubt we will ever know if my lesson sunk in. Oh well, they were waste of time anyways and would have only served to slow me down and weaken the Empire." The boy said with the same quiet voice. Tremel looked at him and underneath it all, the boy looked to be smiling. Tremel finally pulled himself together and cursed himself for allowing this boy to seem him look so weak.
"Why?" He demanded with authority. He wanted to know what had caused this new trainee to cause what could only be described as a bloodbath in this training ground.
"Why? Isn't it obvious? Before, in your office, you accused me of possibly being a Jedi spy. An enemy of both the Empire and the Sith. Do you still think I am either of those things Overseer Tremel?" Hadrian asked him calmly. Tremel grimly scanned the room. No. He did not think the boy to be a Jedi or Republic spy. This brutality, this… savagery. This boy was a Sith through an through, and he had just walked in the goddamn building for sithsakes!
"You did all of this to prove a point to me?" Tremel asked with a snarl. The boy looked at him, the smile and light in his eyes had both faded back to their natural impassive states. He gave Tremel a small shrug.
"That… and because these fools thought themselves above me. I needed to make sure they never made that mistake again." Harry told the man. Tremel said nothing as he looked around the room for a few more seconds. He eyed the bodies for a few more moments then smirked.
"Hmm. Perhaps we have some real talent to grace this academy. Your dorm is 5A on the second floor. The droid in the hallways will take you to it now. Tomorrow will begin your real training to be a Sith." Tremel said before pivoting and walking back to the door. As he exited the room, he stopped and turned back at Hadrian, "Oh and one more thing. This little incident is to never be repeated. Am I clear?"
"As you wish Overseer Tremel." The young man said back with his bored tone of voice. Tremel made a note to watch the security tapes from this room later today. He was curious what the boy looked and sounded like in battle.
"Good." With that Tremel continued on his way back to his office. On the way, he grabbed a random service droid. The droid looked at him.
"Have a cleaning crew sent to the training ground at the end of this hallway immediately," Tremel told it before pushing it away and continuing. The next few months would be… interesting.
2 months later
Harry's POV:
Harry had been here for two months and he was honestly enjoying it for the most part. He got to beat other trainees up and occasionally had to go explore a temple. To hide his true skill he had started using his lightsaber in more of beginners Juyo form rather than his Ataru natural form. He wasn't quiet using the form but enough that anyone who saw him would assume he had a natural affinity for it.
Tremel himself had also taken over his training assignments. Mostly because other teachers didn't like him and thought he would fly off the handle and attempt to murder them. It was amusing, to say the least.
He had actually just returned from a temple where he had been instructed to deal with another bug infestation. Harry didn't know where K'lor'slugs came from but how he wished how they would simpy return them. They were nothing but nuisances and provided no challenge even when they had entire armies to back them up. He wished to enter the tomb of the Sith Marka Ragnos. He could feel a powerful beast there that seemed to have an unending hunger of flesh. Tremel had forbidden him from attempting to dispatch of it and warned him not to let his power get to his head.
Another thing that had gotten on his nerves was Tremel. The man seemed to take pleasure in making him bend to his will. He suspected the man liked to have power over people and the more powerful the person, the more powerful Tremel felt.
As he entered the temple, he had to stop as Tremel seemed to be waiting for him. He didn't look happy either but he seemed to be trying to mask his unhappiness. Next to him stood a tall figure dressed in some impressive imperial battle armor. Judging from his look, Harry figured the man to be the source of his anger.
"Overseer Tremel, my lord," Harry said with a slight bow of his head to both. Tremel returned it but the Sith didn't and continued to seemingly stare at him. Harry returned his gaze even through his mask with no fear.
"Trainee Hadrian. This is Darth Marr, a member of the Dark Council, he wishes to speak with you." Tremel said steadily. Harry nodded once at that before turning to the know identified Darth Marr.
"How may I serve you Lord Marr?" Harry questioned
"… Tremel you may leave." Marr said to the man. Tremel stiffened slightly but nodded once and did as he instructed. He stalked back to his office. Marr seemed to stare at Harry for a while before finally asking whatever was on his mind, "Walk with me. Yesterday you killed a trainee by the name of Viziel. Why?"
Harry was slightly surprised by the question as he followed the man back out of the academy and down the stairs back to the valley. He thought back to the arrogant man whose skull he smashed in with his training blade yesterday.
"He was not a true Sith. He would have weakened the Empire if he was allowed to continue." Harry responded.
"He was one of the top trainees of the academy from what I hear, how would he have weakened the Empire?" Darth Marr asked him in his deep voice. Harry noticed it seemed to radiate controlled power. He was a powerful Sith, he could tell without even having to sense his power.
"He was uncontrolled and untame like a beast. He would have done anything for more power. Someone like that would have put his own wants before the wants of the Empire. Perhaps not immediately but eventually and then he would have become a nuisance. Killing those like him helps keep the other recruits in line and makes sure they know what happens to people like him." Harry explained honestly. He could tell the man was not actually mad with his actions but rather curious on his motives.
"Interesting. You seem rather loyal to the Empire even though we conquered your planet rather recently." Darth Marr said to him, there was a slight accusation behind it.
"I spent eighteen years on a republic controlled planet and no one gave a damn about a kid like me living on the streets. A month under imperial control and I was found and told I was worth something. They gave me a weapon and introduced me to a power within me that would change my life. Yes, you could say I have a longing to see the Empire expanding and made stronger." Harry told him. Marr made a noise in the back of his throat after his explanation.
By now they were in the valley itself and watched as many trainees moved about completing the various task they had been ordered to do. Many gave looks to Marr before quickly looking away. Harry ignored the looks, he was more concentrating on Marr. The man was strange for a Sith, he did not react like most Sith would have at his explanation. In fact, he was almost sure that Marr approved of both his actions and his reasons behind them.
"Quite powerful for someone who has only been here for a few months. Did you have any previous training?" Marr asked him.
"Not training but I have been aware of my force presence ever since I was a child. I have been able to do a few things such as moving objects towards and away from me. When I was younger I was attacked and accidently unleashed a force blast knocking everything away from me. I practiced it until I could use it with ease." Harry explained. Darth Marr nodded and was possibly pleased though Harry was having a hard time being able to tell considering the man wore a mask.
"I came to Korriban for a normal inspection as everyone else one the council had been busy. I noticed you almost immediately and have been reviewing your records. I was most impressed, to say the least but there is still much room for growth. Not only that but you seem to be able to exhibit a control over yourself and your desires I rarely see in a Sith while also being able to turn into a savage killer at the flip of a credit. I think you can go far, in fact, I think you can be one of the most powerful Sith this Empire has seen in years." Darth Marr stopped and turned to look at him. Harry had to look up slightly to maintain eye contact.
"I thank you for the compliment, Lord Marr. I will strive to meet your expectations as I continue further in my training." Harry replied. He had a feeling he knew where this was going and was feeling his anticipation grow. He was tired of being on this tedious planet and having to listen to every whim of Tremel. This could be his chance to get off this planet but showing his eagerness would only cause Darth Marr to think him immature.
"I am sure you will but from now on, you will do so as my apprentice," Marr said with finality in his voice. Harry got down on one leg in front of the man immediately and calmly bowed his head. He knew what was expected of him after all.
"I am unworthy of such an honor," Harry said to him.
"I will determine that myself in time. Until then, have no doubt that I will push you harder as my apprentice then you have ever been pushed before. Remember, from now on you will answer only to me or the Emperor, no one else. Am I clear?" Marr asked. Harry nodded.
"Yes… my master." The words tasted weird in his mouth. Even when Revan had taken him as an apprentice, he had never called the man master. Mainly, it had to do with the fact that Harry had taught Revan magic at the same time so they had been teaching each other.
"Go back and pack anything you wish to bring with you. I will talk with Tremel and we will meet at the shuttle port." Marr commanded. Harry nodded before moving back to the academy. He didn't bother to look at anyone, he was just happy with the fact that he was finally leaving. Moving through the academy he didn't bother even showing respect to the teachers who looked at him. He didn't have to anymore thanks to Marr.
He finally got to his room and started packing his limited items. He had a week of training robes and that was about it. With the simple stuff packed, Harry walked over to the wall and felt his hand around. Finally, he felt a small crack in the wall and used his fingers to pry a chunk off the wall. With the chunk gone, a small compartment was revealed and inside it, a small memory drive. Harry grabbed it and pocketed it before going back to his pack and slinging it on his back. With that, he walked out of the academy for the last time. How he wished he could cast another Fiendfyre and burn this infernal place to the ground. Sadly, he was sure there were enough force users now here to extinguish it and he would likely have to blow his cover.
The walk down was interesting, to say the least, both students glared at him in while he left though it seemed it was not in anger but jealousy. He wasn't surprised his apprenticeship had already been found out. He had walked with a Sith and now was packing up to leave. You didn't need to be a genius to figure that out.
He didn't let the stares bother him as he walked out of the academy and made his way to the shuttle port. It wasn't a long walk which was good because it was starting to get uncomfortably hot. He couldn't use a cooling spell because it would be sensed and there would then be questions.
Darth Marr was already there when he finally got to the shuttles. His arms were crossed but he didn't seem to be impatient.
"Good, you have arrived. Now, it is time to go to the space station and from there, your apprenticeship will start. Harry let one of his rare grins loose. The same grin he had given right before he killed an entire training group.
"I can't wait."