"Do you smell that Mandalorian?" Sanguine'ar asked. The blue armored figure beside him stood, motionless. "The smell of sulfar, burning flesh, and fear. Only victors get to savor that smell, Mandalorian. There's nothing quite like it."
"Is it a familiar smell for you?" The Mandalorian asked.
"Familiar enough. It's that smell that drives me to continue this whole thing. The smell of victory, the euphoria of success. There is a long, hard road ahead of us, Mandalorian. These moments will be few and far between, so savor them while you can."
"As you say."
"Have the last of the Royal Guard been captured?"
"Yes, Darth Sanguine'ar. We await your orders for them."
"We don't have the resources to keep them imprisoned." Sanguin'ar said, with a hint of sadness.
"What should we do?" The Mandalorian asked.
"Execute them, but do it quietly." The Mandalorian bowed his head, and activated his jet pack. "Is the relay ready, yet?" He asked a shadow.
"Yes, my lord." Zanders said, stepping into the light. "The senate is eagerly awaiting your update."
"Good. Let's get this over with, and get back to something more important." The two of them began walking towards the throne room.
"If I may ask, my lord, what are we going to do next?"
"That depends on how things go, Cipher Agent. If everything goes better then I expect, I'll be sending some of you to Dromund Kaas. If not, then we continue on our current path. Have the engineers finished cracking into the Royal Vault yet?"
"Almost, my lord. They should be finished within the hour. I'm not really sure why you're so interested in it. Never thought looting was Sith style."
"Alert me the moment the engineers are done." Zanders bowed to Sanguine'ar, and left.
"Oh, that feels great." Ahsoka said with a moan. "Don't stop."
"I guess you're really enjoying the massage, then?" Barriss asked, laughing. She leaned down, and kissed the back of Ahsoka's lekku. "You know, you scared the living hell out of me, Ahsoka. What got into you?" Ahsoka rolled onto her back, staring into Barriss' eyes. The yellow orbs, a red ring around each of them, seemed to burn into her soul.
"I'm sorry, babe. I just lost control of myself." Ahsoka sat up in the bed, pulling Barriss close to her. She ran her hands through Barriss' hair, whispering into her ear, "Why don't I make it up to you?"
"Naughty girl. I'm definitely going to have to punish you for-" The door slid open, Cipher Agent Alana stepped into the room. The Agent didn't even seem to notice Barriss and Ahsoka's position. "Alana! What the hell? Could you have at least knocked first?" Barriss yelled at her. The Agent held up a finger, and turned on a holo-terminal. Sanguine'ar's unmistakable visage dominated popped up from the projector.
"-with her death, comes a new age for the Mandalorian people! A return to glory, a return to true Mandalorian nature! Once more, the galaxy shall fear the battle cry of the Mando'ade! Together, we shall usher in a new age! An Imperial Age! Stand tall, Mando'ade, do not fear the future! Do not fear the warriors of the Death Watch! Follow them, and they shall lead you to an era greater than anything you can imagine!" The image of Sanguine'ar faded away.
"Fantastic, he succeeded in his goal. You can leave now." Ahsoka said, aggravated. Alana shook her head. "As an Acolyte of the Sith, I'm ordering you to get out!" She roared.
"Ahsoka, calm down." Barriss chided her lover. "Alana, can you please go wait outside? Me and Ahsoka need a little time alone." Again, Alana shook her head. The mute Agent pointed at the projector, then to herself and, finally, to Barriss.
"What's she getting at? More importantly, why isn't she talking?"
"She can't. Though, I'm pretty sure she's saying that Sanguine'ar assigned her to act as my personal guard." Barriss said, earning and enthusiastic nod from the Agent. "See, she's just doing her job. Just try to relax." Barriss pulled Ahsoka into a deep kiss, moving her hands up the togruta's armss, and starting to peel hospital robe off.
Ahsoka pulled Barriss' hands off of her, and broke the kiss. "I'm not really comfortable doing this with someone watching, babe."
"You should probably get some rest, anyways. I'm sure whatever Sanguine'ar has for us to do next is going even worse then what happened here. Plus, you're going to need to need that strength for what I'm going to do to you later." Barriss said with a lascivious grin. The mirialan groped Ahsoka's firm ass. Ahsoka yelped in surprise, throwing her arms around Barriss' neck.
"You're terrible!"
"You love it."
"Only from you." Ahsoka kissed Barriss. "I love you."
"I love you too, Ahsoka." The two stared at one another for a long time, not saying a word. "Come on, Alana, let's go." She said. The two of them walked from the room, Agent Alana a few steps behind Barriss. They walked down the cold, metal, corridor for several minutes in total silence. Only the thumps, groans, and drones of the ship were there to remind Barriss that she was still a part of the physical universe. She heard a low mumbling sound coming from behind her. "What was that?" Barriss asked.
Alana pressed a button on her helmet a few times. "Where are we going, Acolyte?" Alana asked. Her voice was more musical and feminine then Barriss would have thought.
"I thought you had a hard time talking?"
"I do, it hurts like hell, and I have to use the microphone to boost my voice. That's why I've stuck with Zanders since the academy, he's learned to interpret my body language and low mumbling."
"So, are you two...together?" Barriss asked. Alana shook her head. "Did you have a significant other? Back in the Empire?" Again, Alana shook her head. "I see. Have you been working with Darth Sanguine'ar for long?" Once more, she responded in the negative. "What do you think of him so far?" The Agent mimicked the stereotypical female faint. "Then, I take it you find him attractive?"
"Find me an Imperial woman, or some men, who don't, and I'll show you someone completely insane." Alana said. The Agent started coughing from the stress on her throat. "All that muscle, that intense confidence, his dark nature. He's every teenage girl's bad boy, except with the forethought and planning of someone much more mature. Not to mention, all that power. I'll have you know that Sith Purebloods are the most common male protagonist in Imperial romance novels." She said, in between coughs.
"So, then, you must be excited that's he's single again." Barriss could feel Alana's anger growing, almost before she had finished the sentance.
"How dare you! Nallek was an idol for people like me! She..." Alana started coughing, and doubled over.
"Who's Nallek? I was talking about that twi'lek. Ana'laya, or something like that." Barriss tried to defend herself. It did little to assuage Alana's anger, or stop her coughing attack.
"I assign her to you because she thought you were a decent person, and you have her doubled over, coughing herself to death. Good job, Barriss." Alana tried to straighten up, and salute Sanguine'ar. "Sit down, Cipher Agent, take a moment to catch your breath. Is Ahsoka awake?"
"Yes, my lord." Barriss said.
"Good, come with me."
Ahsoka heard the door open, light from the outside corridor cast a familiar silhouette on the wall.
"Back so soon ba-" Ahsoka's eyes shot open, and she darted up in the bed. "My lord! I, uh, I thought you were Barriss."
"So I see. Next time, I'd recommend putting some clothes on. You might give people the wrong impression." He said. Ahsoka looked down, at her naked torso. Her cheeks darkened, and she wrapped the blanket around her.
"I suppose you're here about what happened on Mandalore?" She asked.
"Not at all. You lived, we won. Beyond that, I couldn't care. I'm here because we can no longer afford to put off your's and Barriss' trials any longer. We're heading to Korriban, and need to get you two up to speed."
"My lord!" Barriss interjected. "I hardly think Ahsoka is in any position to be undergoing something so stressful."
"Don't worry, Barriss, you'll go first. Maybe you'll get lucky, and the really nasty creatures will come after you." Barriss glared at Sanguine'ar. "Now, let's get started. Tell me, can either you recite the Sith Code?"
"Peace is a Lie; there is only Passion." Ahsoka started. "Through passion; I gain strength. Through Strength; I gain Power. Through Power; I gain Victory. Through Victory; My Chains are Broken. The Force shall free me."
"Good, Ahsoka. Barriss," he said, turning to the mirialan. "What do we mean by 'Peace is a Lie; There is only Passion?"
"It's meant to oppose the Jedi Code, and the Jedi beliefs. The Jedi believe that emotions and passions are negative things, so they attempt to repress them. The Sith embrace their passions, derive strength from them."
"Two answers, for the price of one. I do so love package deals. Ahsoka, tell me something; would I be correct that any power, no matter the source or cost, would desirable? After all, the next line does say: Through Power; I gain Victory."
"Yes, my lord." Ahsoka said.
"Wrong. As many Sith have discovered, the price for achieving, and maintaining, their great power is too much. The Sith Lord Nihlus is a perfect example. Once, he was a man. As his power grew, he began to lose himself to it. Nihlus developed the ability to drain entire planets of all life. That ability became a hunger, and the hunger kept growing. He became a Wendigo, a mindless creature, incapable of thinking about anything else.
"Power is meaningless, if you cannot control it. Always remember that."
"Yes, my lord." Ahsoka said again.
"Barriss, does any victory equate to liberation?"
"I-I don't know. It would seem that it would, but something tells me that simply isn't true."
"You do not hide your weaknesses from me, and you trust your instincts. Good. You're correct. Let's just take the current Sith, as an example. Let's say Dooku finally does kill his master, he likely won't have done so alone. He may have taken the position of Lord of the Sith from Sidious, but he did not prove his superiority, he did not prove that he earned his position. The Sith, as a whole, are weakened for his greed. You understand?" Barriss nodded to him.
"Good. Now, Barriss, I need you to wait outside for a bit." Barriss bowed her head to Sanguine'ar, and stared at Ahsoka for a few moments before leaving. "You almost gave me a heart attack, Ahsoka."
"I'm sorry, master. I don't know what got into me. I thought...I just...I don't know. After the first time, I just got so angry. I couldn't even think straight. It won't happen again." Ahsoka said, sorrowfully.
"Now you see the danger of anger. It brings us all great power, but dulls our inhibitions, our ability to reason. Your rage will take everything from you, if you allow it. Barriss, your allies, your future, your life. All of it will become fuel for the all consuming fire."
"I'm confused, master. How can we embrace our passions, and repress them at the same time? Should we not embrace them all?"
"They all have their uses, but you'll find some are better than others. Especially if you plan to live a long time. There is always a duality, something to be gained, and a price to pay for it. Rage will bring you incredible power, but it warps your mind. You start to hate everything, including yourself. Pain will make you nearly unbreakable, but it will drive you insane. Fear will motivate you in a life or death situation, but relying too much on it, will drive you to become more and more insular. Eventually, you'll spend your life confined to your own sanctuary."
"What passions have given you the greatest edge?"
"Without a doubt, love." Sanguine'ar said. Ahsoka shot him a strange look.
"Never figured you for the romantic type. Let me guess, you also like long walks on the beach, sunsets, and pillow talk?" She said, jokingly.
"The first time I remember seeing a sunset, I was covered in my own blood, my mother's still-warms corpse was next to me, and black smoke was billowing into the air. Most of the rest were pretty much the same thing. As for beaches, all the one' I've been to have been pot-marked with craters, barricades, and bodies. The waters on the shore were red with the blood of the dead, and the scavengers picked at the bodies.
"As for pillow talk, that I actually did like. Until my wife tried to kill me."
"Wow. Way to kill the mood. I was just trying to make a joke, no need to get so sensitive."
"I've lost everything I really cared about in the past month. I haven't had the chance to sleep, and I'm faced with the daunting task of salvaging a civilization, preserving an entire species, and giving the people on this ship hope of a real future." Sanguine'ar stopped, and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I'm just not in the mood for jokes. Just, remember this; always hold on to the things you love, and don't let anyone take them without a fight. Don't ever be afraid to admit the truth of how you feel about anyone, to anyone. That's how you end up losing the people you love." He spun on his heels, and walked out of the room.
Not surprisingly, Barriss stood right next to the door. Sanguine'ar motioned for her to go in. "Lock the door, this time." He said. Barriss ran past him, and shut the door. He heard the clicking sound of the lock, followed almost immediately by a quiet moan. "They certainly don't waste any time, do they?" He asked Alana.
Young love. The Agent signed. I'm betting you and Commander Nallek were the same way, when you two first got together.
"I was married, until about a week ago, Alana. And not to Nallek." Sanguine'ar said. He started walking towards the bridge, the Agent close behind him. "I've decided to keep Zanders permanently stationed on Mandalore. He's going to over-see the re-unification of the system, and act as the voice of the Empire. He'll be our invisible hand. No one will know about his true identity, except for you, me, and Barriss.
"As for you, I'm keeping you assigned to Barriss as her personal guard. I'd also recommend taking your helmet off, from time to time. You don't need to hide your face, anymore."
The two of them stopped, Sanguine'ar staring at Alana intently. The Agent slowly raised her hands up to her full-faced helmet. Cautiously, she worked the bindings the connected the hard shell to her armor. Alana blinked several times, as her grey eyes adjusted to the lighting of the corridor. Her pale grey skin seemed to glow, her purple facial tattoos shining brightly.
Sanguine'ar tired to avoid staring at the deep scar going across her neck.
"See," he began, "everything's fine. Come on, there are still some things we need to do before we get to Korriban."
"How mad do you think Sanguine'ar will be if we go for round four, before heading to the hanger?" Ahsoka asked.
"I imagine he'll just come up here and just drag us out." Barriss said. "Besides, the sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can get back to having more naughty fun. Though, I am curious; is it round four, or does the count reset once we wake up?" She kissed the back of Ahsoka's neck, running her hands down the togruta's naked body.
"I think we'll have to go over the rules later." Ahsoka said. "Ugh, These infirmary beds were definitely not designed to easily accommodate any sort of sexual activity." Ahsoka pressed her back against Barriss, relishing the feel of her lover's soft skin, and the heat radiating from her body.
"I kind of like how small they are. Keeps things intimate."
"That's all fine and dandy," Sanguine'ar started. Ahsoka and Barriss both shot up. "You've got fifteen to get yourselves to the hanger."
"Have you ever tried knocking!" Ahsoka yelled at him. "Who knows what we could have been doing!"
"Have you ever tried being on time?" He said, shutting the door.
"He can be a complete ass, sometimes." Barriss said. "Come on, Ahsoka, let's get down there."
The doors of the lift slid open, the Vengeance was already loaded and waiting for them. Sanguine'ar paced back and forth in front of the loading ramp. The Sith was fully armored, two lightsabers hung from his belt. Barriss could feel the intense power of the Darkside swirling around him. She could tell something was definitely wrong.
"Are you alright, my lord?" She asked. The Sith stopped his pacing, and turned to face the two. His helmet made it impossible to see his face, but the two acolytes could easily feel the swell in his anger. Without saying a word, he turned from them, and boarded the Vengeance. The acolytes looked at each other, confused.
"Guess not." Ahsoka said. Barriss shrugged, and followed Sanguine'ar on the the interceptor. She could feel the ship start to move, even before the ramp and finished retracting. The ship rapidly accelerated, throwing the acolytes off balance. Barriss caught herself on the door frame, but Ahsoka was thrown back, against a wall.
"What the hell is wrong with him?" Barriss asked. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Hopefully whatever crawled up his ass crawls back out, soon. The last thing we need is for him to try and behead us because he didn't like how long our trials were taking."
"He's probably just stressed. Hopefully he'll relax while we're undergoing our trials."
Ahsoka lowered her voice to barely a whisper, before speaking. "Maybe. I'd rather not assume anything. I sense that something is...wrong, with Sanguine'ar."
Barriss almost looked offended by the statement. "After everything he's been through, I'd be more concerned if he wasn't at all effected by it. Come on, let's drop this dreary talk, and find a nice, quiet, sound-proof place."
"Sounds like a good-" Ahsoka stopped, and stared at something behind Barriss. Barriss gave her lover a questioning look. "Your shadow's back." She said. Barriss turned around, confused.
"Oh, Alana," she began, "you are Alana, right?" The agent nodded. This was the first time Barriss saw her without her helmet. She was shocked to realize that Alana was Rattataki, and not a human. "Let me guess, you're here to follow me around, and make sure I don't get killed?" Another nod, "and I'm betting that it's a safe bet that you aren't going to leave me alone, even to sleep, have sex, or go to the bathroom?" A third nod.
"Fantastic. This is already getting old." Ahsoka said with a huff.
"Relax, maybe I can get Sanguine'ar to loosen up her orders when we're done with our trials. We just have to have a little patience." Barriss said, taking Ahsoka's hands.
"Patience was never my strong suit" Ahsoka laughed. They heard the distinct clanking of Sanguine'ar's boots against the metal flooring the Vengeance. Alana snapped to attention. Barriss and Ahsoka both bowed their heads.
"We'll be at Korriban before too long. Until then, there are some things we need to go over. First, the details of your trials. Barriss, as I said before, you will be looking for an alter. There, you should find a ceremonial dagger. You will bring me back the dagger. Whatever you do, do not bleed on the altar. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my lord." Barriss said.
"Good. Ahsoka, you will be going in the opposite direction, into the burial chamber of Marka Ragnos. There, on a work bench at the foot of his sarcophagus, you will find all the parts you need to construct a new set of lightsabers of your own. Do to the rarity, and strength, of some of the crystals, I have already started to process. You will complete them, then bring both sets back to me. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Good. Both of you remember, Korriban is our birth place. It was there that my species evolved. It was there that we fought of the Rakata. It was there that the ancient Dark Jedi Exiles first found our kind. It was there, that the Republic, and the Jedi, committed crimes against the Empire; crimes which we will never forgive, or forget.
"Korriban is the Darkside made tangible. The creatures you find there will be terrible. The dead, our tombs, our specters, our hatred, our legacy, are far worse. It will try to consume you. Tame its impulses, its desires, its dark heart, and path of unlimited power will open before you. Should you perish, know that your death will fuel us, strengthen our might. Do not delay too long, though."
"Why not, master?" Ahsoka asked.
"The Jedi will be joining us. Which brings us to an interesting cross roads. Both of you will not be able to hide the truth from the Jedi. Yet, if you both admit to your change, we will be shut off from everything going on within the Order."
"Won't they just brand us traitors, my lord?" Barriss asked.
"The Jedi will, but they won't be able to do anything about it. After all, you're still allied with the Republic, you just changed Orders."
"I think I should be the one to publically admit to my 'fall', master." Barriss said. "I'm not very good at hiding and, besides, if Ahsoka is the one, it will cast doubt on everything I've said to the Council about the two of you."
"Wouldn't they feel the same if you are the one that admits to falling? It could prompt an investigation, that could destroy everything. They could find out about Mandalore, and Droumnd Kaas." The two acolytes looked to Sanguine'ar. The Darth turned deeply inwards, considering the options.
"Barriss is right." He finally said. Ahsoka's face fell at the announcement. "I will tell them that we arrived early, and Ahsoka went one way in the tomb, Barriss and I went the other. There, left alone with myself, the spirits of the past, and the corrupting influence of Korriban, she embraced the Darkside."
"With all due respect, master, do you really think this is a good idea? Contacts only work so well, and you've seen how hard of a time I've had trying to control myself. How am I going to hide from the entire Council?"
"Have you ever heard of the Jedi Master named Ovair?" Sanguine'ar asked. Ahsoka shook her head. "He was a Jedi Master that died nearly a century before the Great War. He was also one, in a long line, of Jedi infiltrators. Planted by the Sith Empire. I will get you started on learning how to cloak your true self from Jedi perceptions. Give your developing abilities to hide yourself from sight, you should take to the technique quickly."
"Is that really possible? I mean, to hide from the entire Jedi Council just seems so, impossible."
"With the Darkside, something is impossible, only if you let be. We hid an entire Empire for over a millennia. They only know about Bane's Sith because a Jedi was attacked. With the current state of the galaxy, you could hold a lightsaber to their throat, and they'd never know." Purple-black wisps of energy rose from his body, and his black eyes glowed. Ahsoka and Barriss could both felt the intoxicating power he radiated. Their resolve was bolstered, and they felt stronger than ever.
"Follow me," he began again, "and the galaxy shall tremble. Trust me, and you will both know power than even the Emperor could only dream of. You minds are both young, open. Neither of you have formed the limits that the Jedi force on themselves. Neither of you have experienced the loss of desire that age creates. This is but the first step. Have faith in yourselves, have faith in me, have faith in this plan, and the Republic will fall. The Jedi will be destroyed. The Empire will win.
"I cannot promise that it will be quick, or that any of us will live to see the day the true Sith, the true Empire, will control all. But, the greatest of journeys, greatest of conquests, all begin with the ambitious. They are finished by the determined." Barriss looked into Sanguine'ar's dark eyes, her heart burning with a passion like nothing she'd ever experienced.
"The future is ours, master." She said. Her voice was deeper than before. Ahsoka looked at her, a proud, loving, smile on her face.
The trio walked through the silent, winding, paths of the Valley of the Dark Lords. Every now and then, a rock would tumble down, and Barriss could see a pair of red eyes staring at them.
"Tuk'ata," Sanguine'ar said. "Fearsome guardians of the tombs, but loyal beasts, if you know how to control them."
"I take it they're planning an ambush?" Ahsoka asked.
"No. They aren't stupid. They'll leave us alone."
The winds howled through the valley, chilling Barriss to the bone. The Darkside here seemed to take on very real weight, and permeated everything. She could feel the power of it all flowing through her, but it carried something else. A pressure pushed against her head, tempting her with promises of power and freedom, if only she'd give in.
"Ana once asked me, if we could have a child, where would I want to conceive it? Without hesitating, I looked at her and said, 'right here'." The three of them stopped. Barriss looked up at the massive tomb, in awe. The gargantuan bust of half-blood Dark Lord of the Sith, Marka Ragnos, loomed over two, massive doors. Even the white stone sculpture of Ragnos conveyed a sense of his great power. "Ragnos ruled the Sith for over a century, undisputed, before finally succumbing to age. It was he who warned Naga Sadow and Ludo Kresh of the looming conflict with the Republic.
"It was Ragnos who united Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma. It's from his teachings, that the arts of the Juggernaut were spawned."
"He sounds perfect." Ahsoka said, admiringly.
"He was anything but. Ragnos, for all his glory, had little ability to adapt. He was very bound in tradition, a racist to the core, and completely un-caring about anyone that was not a direct descendant of the Dark Jedi who enslaved us all."
"Then I'd bet he'd love you." Ahsoka said to Sanguine'ar.
"No, he wouldn't. My line is predominantly of the slave cast, followed by the Massassi. That's why I looked so much like the Sith of old."
"'Looked'?" Barriss asked. Sanguine'ar wasn't wearing his helmet, allowing easy access at his face. Aside from the lack of facial tendrils, eyebrow stalks, and his human features, he looked as pure Sith as one could get.
"Battle can mar even the most handsome of busts." He said, with a reluctant grin and a snarl. "Let's go." The light from the system's sun died out quickly in the ominous antechamber. In the dim light, Barriss was able to just make out several mosaics on the walls. The colored tiles played out several violent, and barbaric scenes of conquest and death. One in particular stopped her in her tracks. On one side, several Sith slaves were depicted on their knees, begging and praying before a sarcophagus. On the other, several Sith in lavish robes and armor, massive swords at their sides, stood atop a massive stairway. A massive wall separated the two groups.
"Slaves couldn't read, but the Kissai felt they needed to be reminded of their fate at every turn. I can't even imagine what kind of hell it must have been to put together the mosaic of your own slow, painful, death." Sanguine'ar said.
"Why would anyone do this?" Barriss asked.
"In less enlightened times, the ancient Sith believed that a dead lord would take their belongings with them, into the next life. Weapons, furniture, slaves, all of it. So, their slaves were entombed, alive, with the dead lord, to serve them for eternity. When the Dark Jedi Exiles took control of the Sith, they kept the practice. Some traditions die hard."
"Did the Empire and Sith of your time follow such a barbaric ritual?"
"No. If a lord died, any slaves they may have had were either sold off, or handed over to their successor. Personally, I'm not sure which of the three fates is worse." The three of them pushed farther into the tomb. The utter darkness of ancient construct grew oppressive. Barriss thought that it might try and consume her. In a place like this, any terrible thing seemed possible. "Here we are," Sanguine'ar said, bringing the trio to a halt. "Barriss, you're going that way." He pointed to their right.
"Do you know what I'll be facing down there?" She asked.
"Darkness, and death. My advice would be not to walk around in the first one, and avoid embracing the second one." He said. For a moment, Barriss thought he was being sarcastic, but the stoic expression on her face said otherwise.
"Be careful, Barriss." Ahsoka added. Even without the Force, Barriss could tell just how frightened her lover was.
"I will be." With a short sigh, Barriss activated her lightsaber, and walked into the darkness in front of her. She didn't make it very far when she heard a massive door slam shut behind her. For the first time, she was truly alone in this tomb, that had likely claimed the lives of thousands before her. Fear started to creep up inside her, morbid thoughts tearing at her mind. Would she starve, or suffocate? Would her body be devoured by whatever creatures were lurking within, or would she rot in these corridors? Would anyone bother to look for her corpse? Would they even be able to find it?
Guess I'd better mark my path. She thought. Every few steps, she would drag her lightsaber across the left wall, leaving a deep gash in the stone.
The twists, turns, and forks of the tomb were eerily silent as Barriss made her way through them. Every time she came to a verge in the path, she'd stop, and reach out with the Force to find the right path. In this place of darkness, the altar still, somehow, stood out amongst it all. What in the world is this thing? She asked herself.
Slowly, she pushed on, careful were she put her feet, lest she step on some poisonous creature, or activate some trap.
The excruciating slowness drug her journey on for another two hours. She could feel the altar's presence so strongly. She rounded what she was sure to be the last corner, and froze.
"Oh no." She whispered. The pair of terentateks had her locked in their sights. They let out a roar that shook the walls, and charged at her.
"What was that?" Ahsoka asked, with a start. The togruta jumped from her resting place, lightsabers at the ready.
"If I had to take a guess, a terentatek." Sanguine'ar said. A second, deeper roar followed. "Two of them."
"Aren't terentateks creatures practically hand-built by Exar Kun for the purpose of destroying Fore users?" She asked. Ahsoka ran towards the heavy doors barring them from Barriss. Frantically, she searched for a way to open them. She even tried to cut through them. Nothing she did, however, worked.
"Enough, Ahsoka." Sanguine'ar said. The Sith wrapped his arm around Ahsoka's wait and, with more effort than he would have thought, dragged the flailing acolyte away from the tomb doors. "There's nothing we can do. Even if you managed to get those doors open, by the time you got to Barriss, there'd be nothing left. Have a little faith in her, Ahsoka."
She calmed down, sheathing her blades, but never took her eyes off of the door.
Barriss barley managed to duck under one of the creatures massive swings. One of the beast's claws caught her shirt, and left a large gash on her back. The second one dove at her, it's large, tooth-filled, maw looked as though it could engulf her whole. She jumped to the side, causing the heavy beast to collide into the ground. Before it could recover, Barriss spun, and sunk her blade into the beast's shoulder.
The terentatek seemed completely unaffected by the attack. With a sweep of its arm, the Sithspawn through Barriss across the chamber, and into a wall.
Barriss rolled out of the way as the first one grabbed at her, its powerful arm tearing away at the stone. Getting back to her feet, she found herself between the two beasts. The first one turned, it's black eyes locking on to her. It lowered its head, and charged, full force, at her. At the last second, she jumped over the terentatek, who continued on into the second.
Enraged by the accidental attack, the second beast turned on the first. It dug its large claws into the left arm of the first, and bit down. The first beast roared in agony, and clawed at the face of the second, as its arm was shattered, and pulled away from the its body.
It was a small victory for the second creature, though. The sudden separation of the arm from the body caused the second terentatek to stumble and fall. Seizing the opportunity, the first one bit down the second's throat, and yanked its head back. Blood sprayed over the walls as the second terentatek's life slipped away. With a final death spasm, the second beast lurched out, it's claws tearing the abdomen of the first.
The weakened beast turned, and stumbled toward Barriss. It's jaw hung slack, and its movement's were wide and clumsy. It swiped at Barriss, who easily avoided the attack. With a powerful, upward, thrust, she drove her blade into the of the terentatek's mouth. The creature let out a pathetic whimper, and fell to the floor.
She took a moment to catch her breath, and observe the chamber around her. Two, large, statues flanked the altar. The figures, Purebloods, were kneeling, their heads bowed. Behind the altar sat an obelisk. On top of it sat a crystal that emitted a fluctuating red light. The top of the altar appeared to be covered in blood, though it had to have been thousands of years since any of it was spilled. In the center was a weapon rack, shaped to look like two forearms and hands, holding an elaborate dagger.
Engraved on the hilt was the hexagonal symbol of the Empire, but looked as if it was bleeding.
"He didn't tell you what this altar is, did he?" A mysterious, female, voice said behind Barriss. She spun on her heels, bringing her blade right up to the throat of the mysterious specter.
"Who, what, are you?" Barriss asked. She held the blade to the entity's throat, not willing to take any chances. Much to her dismay, the phantom walked right through the blade.
"That depends on who you ask. To some, I am Ana'laya Secura. To others, I am Darth Lantra. The real question is; who are you?"
"I am Barriss Offee."
"Just Barriss Offee? Not Jedi Knight Barriss Offee? Or Acolyte Barriss Offee?"
"What are you after, spirit?" Barriss asked. She assumed a defensive stance, bringing her blade in front of her. The spirit let out a slight laugh, and raised an arm. Barriss' lightsaber was pulled from her grasp, and thrown across the chamber.
"There's nothing you can do to me, young one. There is, however, a great deal I can do to you. Or, for you." Unsure of what to do, Barriss let the spirit continue. "I know that you were sent here for that dagger by Darth Sanguine'ar, as part of some makeshift trial. Do you know what any of this actually is?"
"Some sort of ritual chamber." Barriss said.
"This is the chamber of the Sanguine'ar." Lantra boasted, motioning to all of the strange items in the chamber. This is where the Sanguine'ar you and I know was brought for his trial, just as his mother was, and his grandfather, and every Sanguine'ar before him. Since the fall of the first Empire, the Sanguine'ar's have vowed to act as the guardians of the Sith. They pledge their all here, to serve the Empire until their dying breath. To go wherever the Emperor's will demands.
"To stand against any who would make themselves an enemy of the Empire, and to never rest until the Jedi are destroyed, and the Empire's glory stretches across the galaxy. That altar is the contract, the dagger the pen, your blood the ink."
"Why are you telling me this?" Barriss asked.
"It's simple, really. You see, Kretok is supposed to act as the Empire's foremost guardian, yet, he must now act as the Emperor, as well. It is a burden that will destroy him, if he attempts to fill both rolls at once. You can help. Serve your Emperor, serve the Empire. Take up the mantle of the Sanguine'ar. Drag the blade across your chest, let your blood spill onto the altar, and form the next step in the chain." Lantra's eyes were ablaze with passion as she spoke. For a moment, Barriss considered doing it.
"I cannot. He specifically told me not to. I will not betray an order he gave me so soon."
"I see. How about I make you a deal, then. If you undergo the last part of the Trial of the Sanguine'ar, I will give you my power. He will know that what you do, you do for the good of the Empire, and the Sith. One less burden will weigh him down. In exchange, for the rest of your days, you will receive all the power of Darth Lantra.
"Personal power is of little motivation to me." Barriss stubbornly said. "He wants to make the Empire a better place. A place of loyalty, and service. Not a place of greed, and schemes. How can I claim to want the same thing, to be willing to work towards the same goal, if I make a personal power grab?" She asked, more to herself, then the specter.
"If you truly wish to build such an Empire, then surely you must see the value in what I purpose! Kretok will not be able to fulfill the roll of both Emperor, and guardian at once. The duties of both stations will be in constant conflict with one another. Kretok must not put himself in such position. If he is lost, then the Empire dies with him. The Sith die with him!
"This is your first opportunity to truly show your loyalty to the long-term goals of the cause! You can start of new legacy of true loyalty amongst the Sith, and preserve a species, that may otherwise be lost. He may not agree with it, at first, but even he knows this is true. What truer show of faith is there, then to literally offer your life to your Emperor?"
Barriss looked at the dagger, then to the spirit. There was an almost pleading look about the blue entity. Try as she might, she was not able to find any duplicity about the specter. Cautiously, she walked up to the altar. With one hand, she picked up the dager. It's blade was blood-stained, but the edge still looked razor-sharp. Using her free hand, she opened up her shirt. Her hand trembled as she brought the blade against her skin. As fast as she could, she drew the dagger across her flesh.
The blade burned as it carved into her, causing her to drop the blade. Her legs started to give out, and she had to cling to the altar for support. She turned to the spirit, convinced she'd been betrayed. Blood flowed down her body, and onto the stone. As the first drop hit the cold stone, her world turned white. Then twisted, and melted into strange visions.
"No!" Sanguine'ar yelled. The Sith stood alone in the chamber, having sent Ahsoka off to begin her trial an hour ago. "Barriss, what have you done?" He said to himself.
He was running through twisting alleys and streets. His body was cut, bruised, and broken. All around him, he could hear the sounds of his people being slaughtered. There was no order, no chain of command. The Dark Lords were dead, or had already fled. Those that hadn't already been killed were either fleeing, or fighting. The slaves, their bodies and minds never developed to handle combat, hid in the shadows. Engineers used improvised explosives to distract the invaders. His fellow Massassi rushed to evacuate as many of the Sith as possible into the tombs and catacombs.
Several Republic soldiers rounded a corner, nearly running into him. The invaders brought their weapons to bare, firing several rounds at him. One of the clumsy shots hit his leg, but adrenaline kept him going. He brought down his massive warblade, slicing clean through one of the Republic soldiers. The momentum of his attack through him forward, onto the ground. He struck at another of the invaders with a powerful kick, shattering the soldiers knee cap.
The human fell to the ground, screaming in agony. The sound brought some comfort to the Massassi in this disastrous moment. The third soldier pointed his rifle at the Massassi's face, finger on the trigger. With a powerful lunge, the Massassi tackled the soldier to the ground. He pounded his fists into the soldier's face, over and over, until the invader stopped moving.
Getting back to his feet, the Massassi limped down the street.
He didn't hear, or see, the shot that hit him in the back. He didn't even feel the pain. He just dropped. He tried to move, but his legs didn't responded. He tried to crawl, but his arms gave out. His world started to turn black. Death had finally come to claim him, but not in honorable combat, serving his lord. Not in a way befitting one of the Massassi.
He heard something shambling in one of the slave huts to his right. A Sith slave burst out of the thatched door, carrying a baby in her arms. Several arms reached out from the hut, grabbing her. The mother struggled against the Republic soldiers. One of the them stepped out of the hut, tore the child from her, and threw it to the ground. The soldier activated some kind of weapon the Massassi had never seen before. A blade of blue light shot forth from a metal tube. The soldier turned the blade in his hand, and thrust it into the child.
The soldier showed no emotion, no empathy, no anger, nothing, as he butchered the Sith child. The mother let out a blood curdling scream. The soldiers drug her back into the hut, and likely not to a quick death. The soldier with the strange weapon saw the Massassi, saw that he was still alive.
"Be thankful," the soldier said, "that the Jedi are here to oversee the purge of your wretched culture, of your whole heretical species. Otherwise, you'd likely all suffer a similar fate as her." The Jedi raised his weapon, and brought it down on the Massassi.
"For Lord Hord!" She yelled. She, and a thousand other Sith, charged at towards the native's lines. The barbarians were all that stood between the survivors of the Sith Purge, and a stable, constant, home. For over a century, the Sith had wandered the darkness of space. Forced from their traditional holdings after the Republic, and their Jedi lap dogs, sought to wipe them out, they'd finally re-discovered the world of Dromund Kaas. Since that time, her line had sworn their lives to defense of the Sith, against anyone who would challenge them.
It was here that they would begin the long process of rebuilding their civilization.
The two forces clashed. The Sith's lightsabers easily cut through the native's simple weapons and armor. Scores of the humans fell before her. Within minutes, the defensive line had broken, sending the native's warriors scattering. Most ran back into the city, they would be hunted down, and either enslaved or executed. Others ran off into the dense jungles, likely to be devoured by the native predators. The foolish one's tried to run through the Sith's ranks.
Some still fought, with even greater passion, against the Sith that had already one. Several of these desperate heroes closed in on her. With a swift cross-stroke, she bisected all of her would-be attackers. "Fools. They should know when they're conquered."
"The Republic would likely same the same about us." A familiar voice said. "Of course, we had done that, what kind of a world would our child grow up in?" She turned to her husband. Though his face was more human than most, his skin was still crimson, and he still bore several of the boney facial ridges of their kind. It was his three, thick, fingers that easily identified him as one of Pureblood.
"I'd rather not think about it. Especially now that our child will grow up not knowing the life of a nomad." The two of them looked over the battlefield, to the villaged built around an ancient Sith tower. Soon, they'd start tearing down the ramshackle huts, and clearing the brush to make way for the city.
"Without a doubt, our child will be blessed to see the dawn of a newer, greater, Si-" Her husband let out a harsh gasp, and stumbled forward. To her horror, the sharp points of a pitch fork protruded from his chest.
"No!" She screamed. Using the Force, she began choking the injured native. She heard a loud snap, and the native's body went limp, his neck broken. Throwing the body aside, she ran over to her husband. He gasped for air, his clothing soaked in blood. He gently ran his hand across her cheek, before dropping to the ground.
Sanguine'ar folded up his cape, placing it under Barriss' head. She twitched and spasmed, suffering through the memories off all the Sanguine'ar before him. Seeing her this way brought back painful memories of his own harrowing test.
"You idiot." He said. "Didn't you think there was a reason I told her not to bleed on that damned altar?" Barriss' arms flailed, slamming back down onto the stone floor. He heard a loud crack as she shattered her wrist.
"I did it for you, my love." Lantra said. A blue mist formed, energy swirling within it, giving her voice form. "She did it for you. Try not to be too mad at her."
"I'm not mad at her, I'm mad at you. Do you have any idea what you've done?"
"I know the trial is intense, but she's not much younger then you were, when you went through it. I've seen her mind, her will is strong."
"I went through it after months of psychological preparation. You've just subjected her to nearly a thousand years of pain and torment! She's not ready for that, who knows what it will do to her mind. That was why I sent her to get the dagger! It was going to be the first step in the specialized training." He raved.
"I'm sorry, my love. I just wanted to help." Lantra looked from Sanguine'ar to Barriss. "Don't worry, Kre, I have something that will help." She walked over to Barriss, and held out her arms. The blue mist making up her form slowly began to channel from her, and into Barriss.
"What are you doing?" Sanguine'ar asked, concerned.
"Saving your apprentice." Lantra gave Sanguine'ar a smile. The same, beautiful, smile that had lightened even the darkest of situations. "I'll be watching you." She said. The last of her form dissipated, and flowed into Barriss. Sanguine'ar stared, dumbfounded, at Barriss. Her spasms died down, only slight twitches disturbing the otherwise peaceful room.
"I hope this works." He whispered. He reached out with his mind, through the catacombs of the tomb, to Ahsoka.