Chapter 9: An Apprentice

Despite changing hands over the centuries, the Valley of the Dark Lords remained a critical part of the Sith Order. It was here that the Dark Jedi exiles of long ago had landed, it was here that they first encountered the red skinned people known as the Sith.

It was here…that the Empire had taken its first steps.

It was here that the Sith domination of the galaxy had begun.

It was here that the greatest of the Sith were brought after they fell, it was here that they were laid to rest in all the grandeur and ceremony that their names and titles allowed. Many secrets had been buried here over the millennia, some of them lost to time, until the Empire had returned…

Now, what had been hidden long ago was once again finding its way into the light. The Sith searched for the secrets of the ancients, and by finding them, ensure their rule in the future.

For the dark side to rule, its secrets needed to be unearthed.

It was for this reason that the world of Korriban remained relevant today.

Darth Avaryss stood upon the valley floor, looking up at the entrance of one of those tombs, its entrance cut right into the mountain side. Unlike the tombs farther down in the valley, this one did not boast the grandeur of the one who was buried here. The Tomb's entrance was a single shaft that went down deep into the mountain.

To the unenlightened, this might seem to be a tomb for someone who did not matter, no statues stood before the entrance, no image of the Dark Lord inside had been cut into the rock.

Looks, Avaryss knew, could be deceiving.

Many on Korriban referred to this place as the Forgotten Tomb, or perhaps the Forbidden Tomb. It had first been discovered almost five years ago, and it had proved lethal to many Sith and Imperials since.

The Imperial Reclamation service had sent four teams in as many years into the tomb, to discover what they could about the Sith that had been interred here. Not a single member of those teams had returned. According to Imperial records at least eighteen Acolytes had been lost trying to retrieve artifacts from this tomb. They had entered on their master's orders or on a dare from their fellows. The losses of those Acolytes were never really investigated, why would they be?

If you fell, if you failed, you were forgotten.

Such was the way of the dark side.

Only one Sith had successfully returned from this place. Only one Acolyte had ever emerged once she had gone in.

Darth Avaryss had been only sixteen when she had first entered the tomb. She had come out days later, starving, dehydrated, and half mad. She had entered for only one reason, to earn her spot as her master's apprentice.

She had succeeded in that endeavor, and now her new apprentice would need to do the same.

Avaryss intended to return to the central chamber, to the place where the ancient dark lord was buried.

It was from there that she would administer her new apprentice's final trial. Within the hour, four students would enter this place, only one would leave at her side.

The other three were dead; they simply did not know it yet.

They would learn that soon enough.

The time of their final trial had come.

She began her journey up the ramp the Sith had installed years ago, unlike many of the other tombs in the valley, there was no staircase leading up. From its state of disrepair, it was clear that few people had visited this place in the years since she had survived her final trial.

Good, she thought, the overseers had told her how this place remained mostly untouched, and through the Force she could feel the sense of malice that still hung over the tomb.

Whatever this place was, the spells and traps remained as dangerous today as they had been during her time.

She grinned hungrily.

It would definitely test the young acolytes.

She had decided on this course of action during her dinner with the overseers. Harkun had mentioned how much the tomb's reputation had grown, and it was in that moment that she realized what she needed to do. She had made the request to carry out this trial right then and there. The overseers were understandably skeptical, but had no recourse but to grand her request. It was not unusual for a Sith Master to take a hand in their apprentice's final trial. Both Harkun and Phylon had been surprised that she would risk herself by doing so, but could not dissuade her.

I expect no more from a future student than I'm prepared to do myself.

I found my way through this place once, I shall do so again. If one of the acolytes wanted her secrets, they would need to do the same.

They would learn the first lesson she had when it came to joining the order.

You succeed, or you perish.

There was no middle ground.

So she made her way forward, eager to find her way back to the burial chamber deep beneath the ground, much as she had done during her own trial. Of course, this time, she was far better prepared for what she might face. She had both water and nutrient tablets if the trial went beyond the first day, and unlike before, she was not alone.

Darth Nox had heard about what she intended to do, and asked that she take one of his servants along. He was a man from the Reclamation service, someone who had requested an opportunity to explore the tomb, but had always been denied. After all the losses, the tomb was considered too dangerous for a single researcher to enter alone.

"I must thank you again my lord for granting this request," the man said with a cheery smile, "After all that I've heard, I am most eager to start my exploration."

Avaryss tried to remain cordial with the man. The fact that he had Darth Nox's ear was not lost on her. She had tried to politely refuse him, but had been overruled by the Lord Councilor.

She had no choice but to allow the man to join her.

The situation had not pleased her.

"I cannot guarantee your safety, Lieutenant Drellic," she informed him, "Remember; you enter this tomb at your own risk."

Lieutenant Talos Drellic of the Reclamation Service grinned.

"This is not the first tomb I've explored, my lord. Though it is probably one of the oldest, I'm most intrigued by what we shall find inside."

Avaryss tried not to roll her eyes.

The little man had no idea.

Talos Drellic was a small pale skinned man with a slender build and dark brown hair. According to Darth Nox he was one of the Empire's most skilled researchers when it came to studying the Empire's past.

He better be, she thought, the tomb had a tendency of bringing your worst fears to life, and turning them against you. She had been forced to kill shades of her family for a second time, and that after her little sisters had tried to kill her.

The memory was not a pleasant one; she still woke with nightmares sometimes, hearing their screams as she brought a section of the tomb's ceiling down on top of them.

It had not been real, of course, but it had certainly felt real.

She glanced over at the strange little man at her side.

She wondered what horrors the tomb would confront him with.

Drellic had bombarded her with questions as they had made their way here in her speeder. Bleez had driven and would wait outside for their return. The Lieutenant was most curious about the illusions that she had seen, she had not gone into the full details of course, merely told him that she had been forced to face those she had loved, and that they had tried to kill her.

"A most interesting tale, my lord," Drellic had said, "I wonder what the tomb would confront me with? Sadly, I do not have a chance to experience it first-hand."

She gave the man a curious look.

"I'm not sure you can avoid it lieutenant," she warned him, "I could not stop it; that is for certain."

He gave her a sly smile.

"Ah, but you did not have access to the resources that I have, my lord." He reached into the pack he had brought along and pulled out both a medallion and a strange looking metal headband.

"What are those, lieutenant?"

"Trinkets that the Reclamation service has discovered, my lord, they are an extra layer of defense for those of us not blessed with the power of the Force."

He put on both the head band, and the amulet. She fought the urge to laugh at the strange little imperial.

There were always merchants hanging around outside the academy that claimed that they were selling trinkets that could protect you from the dark powers that still existed in the tombs. These merchants preyed on the greener acolytes, making them think that the junk they were selling would give the student and edge. Avaryss had never bothered herself, but the practice continued; the gullible were always looking for an advantage in all the wrong places.

As they entered the tomb together Drellic shifted the metal headband so it would sit more evenly on his brow.

Avaryss led them down the long descending ramp, which led into the first section of the tomb proper. As before she had almost tripped and slid all the way down, but as before, she had caught herself.

As the two of them reached the first chamber, Avaryss took in a deep breath and nodded.

The air down here felt so…familiar, like a long lost friend that embraced you after years apart.

She grinned.

It felt like the tomb was welcoming her back, or maybe trying to lull her into a false sense of security.

She had escaped once, maybe the spirit that existed here wanted to make sure that she did not escape again.

She was determined to remain mindful.

"Hear me, spirit," she called out to the shadows, "I have returned to honor your great power, not to steal from you, but to test those that think they are worthy of serving me. Four shall come, and three shall remain behind, their bones and lives enriching your domain. They are my offering, my sacrifice for being allowed to stand in your presence once again. I ask only that you allow us to pass unmolested. We are not here to steal from you, only to bask in your great power."

Avaryss expected Drellic to laugh at her for making such a statement, most Imperials did when it came to the spiritual side of the Force, they did not understand how much of a hold the past still held on the present.

Drellic said nothing, he merely looked around curiously.

"Wil the spirit appear," he asked, "Did you see it during your last visit?"

Avaryss chuckled.

"The spirit did not appear to me, no, but I felt a sense of being watched. It may have been my imagination, but why take chances."

"Power should be respected, lieutenant. We ignore the past at our own peril."

"Wise words my lord, very wise words indeed."

Drellic pulled out a holocam and began taking pictures, recordings of the room.

"Amazing," he murmured, "Intriguing, wondrous!"

"You found something?"

He nodded, grinning happily. He pointed his glow light at a stone symbol cut into the wall.

"I recognize that sigil, my lord. Although, it is slightly changed from the one I remember, perhaps the current one came about because of some alliance or loss later on, hm, no matter, still despite the variation, it is familiar to me."

'Whose sigil is it? What House is it from?"

"I believe it is a variation of the symbol of House Kressh."

"Kressh," Avaryss said, "As in Ludo Kressh?"

"The same, my lord, perhaps the lord that was laid to rest here was one of his ancestors, perhaps the first lord of his family line."

Drellic almost giggled with child-like delight.

"I wonder what type of a man he was."

Avaryss snorted with amusement.

"The tomb that we are standing in does not belong to a man lieutenant, it belonged to a woman."

He turned to her.

"A woman you say? Are you certain?"

Avaryss frowned.

She had not meant to volunteer any information about this place. She had not planned on telling Drellic about the scrolls she had discovered and been allowed to take out of here. Those secrets were hers, and she guarded them greedily.

Besides, Drellic was Nox's man, did she truly wish to share her secrets with a fellow Darth?

"I cannot give you the full details, of what I discovered," she told the man, "But what I can tell you is that the one that was buried here was likely one of the Jedi exiles that first landed on Korriban. She was also one of the first to choose to mate with a Sith high priest. From what I gathered, I'm guessing that her decision was not looked favorably upon by her fellow Jedi. It is possible she may even have been killed for her choice."

"Fascinating," Drellic said, "If what you discovered is true, than this is most definitely an important find. We know so little about the Dark Jedi that first came to Korriban, it was so long ago, and the names of those brave souls are now all but lost to time."

The lieutenant's smile faltered slightly.

"You claim that this woman was not looked upon favorably by her fellows; that is a shame. Especially considering the fact that within a generation or two, the Jedi' interbreeding with the native Sith became a common practice, it is most unfair that this young woman suffered so for being ahead of her time."

The researcher shook his head.

"Whoever you were, my lord, have no fear," he called out, "If you will allow it, I will make sure that your name is whispered again with the respect and reverence it deserves. The respect that escaped you in life will be yours again, I promise you."

Avaryss smiled.

Perhaps there was something to the little man after all.

He did not view these tombs as treasure troves to simply be plundered.

Maybe she would seek to draw Drellic away from Nox. His skill might be useful in her own work. After tall there were still sections of the scrolls that she had found here that she was unable to translate on her own.

Drellic may just be what she needed, who could say. She would have Bleez ask around, discreetly, get an idea of what the man's price might be.

"Come lieutenant," she said gesturing forward, "I will show you some of the sights that I discovered during my trial within the tomb, and then I shall take you to the burial chamber."

"You are too kind, my lord, I'm most eager to see the sarcophagus for myself."

"And so you shall," she promised, "Though I must remind you, that when the final trial of my future apprentice begins, you must not interfere, or speak of what happened to anyone, not even Lord Nox. That is the price I ask for allowing you to accompany me here."

"And a fair price it is," the man said bowing, "I will honor your request, my lord. It is the least I can do for the privilege of being allowed to explore such a wondrous part of our history."

"Excellent," Avaryss said, "Then follow me, and watch your step."

"I have such sights to show you."

IOI

The journey to the burial chamber was not as bad as Avaryss remembered; they had been attacked a few times by the native beasts, the shyrack and K'lor slugs that seemed to find their way into any tomb.

Avaryss continued to feel the dark side energies that filled this place, but, unlike before, they did not reach out and try to stop her advance.

Maybe the spirit had accepted her coming sacrifice, it may even have approved of her choosing this tomb as a testing ground.

Drellic was a child in a sweet shop; he paused every so often to take holo recordings of the various paintings and etchings that marked the wall. She was surprised to find that he was unaffected by the magic of this tomb, he made no mention of seeing anyone from his past, and none of the defenses rose up and tried to kill him.

It may have been because he was travelling with her, or maybe it was because he was content to simply take pictures and not try to steal any of the tombs many artifacts. Whatever the reason, they passed through the tomb mostly unmolested.

Avaryss stopped only once during the journey. She did so when she came upon the scattered bones of what had once been a former Sith Acolyte. She could tell by the ragged remains of the tunic who this person had been. She also found the skull off in the corner; she picked it up and regarded it thoughtfully.

"Hello Nass," she said to the skull, still here I see."

When Avaryss closed her eyes, could almost see her former ally's face. Her pretty features twisted into a scowl.

She and Nass had been good allies once, the Inquisitor's daughter had been a skilled tactician and led them to many victories, but when the girl had poisoned Avaryss' lover and tried to blame her for the deed, their relationship had changed.

Nass had been the first person that she had killed with her new lightsaber, the first, but not the last.

It was with the girl's blood that she had begun her journey as a full Sith.

She would always be grateful to her for that.

"What is that, my lord?" Drellic asked.

She laughed lightly.

Someone who stood in my way," she replied, "Someone blissfully forgotten."

Avaryss tossed the skull back down; it bounced back into the shadows and disappeared.

Goodbye Nass," she said, "And thank you for dying."

She turned and continued on.

She thought she had heard the sound of voices and weapons fire behind them, which would mean that the four acolytes were now in the tomb.

She needed to reach the burial chamber before them; it was there that she would administer their final test.

She was curious to see who made it to the final challenge, would it be all four, or would one come out of the shadows and claim his or her rightful place at her side.

She was most eager to see.

IOI

Hours passed as the trial continued. Avaryss and Drellic had scattered glow sticks around the central chamber, so that they could have light as they waited. The Dark Lord meditated before the dais, while the researcher moved back and forth between the various statues and art work that had been buried with the Lady of House Kressh.

That was the term that Drellic used. Since they could not find the woman's name in the tomb, Lady Kressh would have to do.

Occasionally the man would interrupt her meditations, but she did not mind. The little man had a talent for making interesting discoveries. What he had to say was never boring.

She was surprised to find that she was grateful to have brought him along.

He made the wait here…interesting.

Drellic would pause in his work every so often to drink some water or eat a nutrient bar. He offered one to Avaryss who declined.

The Force would sustain her for several days, as long as she had water, food was a minor issue.

She spent much of her time meditating, communing with the Force, and in doing so, keeping track of the four acolytes now struggling to survive.

The Force could not reveal to her exactly what was going on, but it did give her a good idea.

Thing were proceeding…slowly.

Two of the acolytes were currently engaged in a chase through the tomb. Whether this was because of tomb's defenses or a personal rivalry, she could not say. The third acolyte was wandering alone in the dark, perhaps lost, or being tormented by some specter of his or her past. The fourth had stopped, at least it felt like they had stopped, she thought that the acolyte was meditating, perhaps trying to draw on the power of this place.

Whatever the reason, she was not impressed.

If the acolyte wished to become her apprentice, sitting peacefully in a corner would not bring them any closer to that goal.

She slipped out of the Force and decided to take the lieutenant up on his offer. Nutrient bars were not the tastiest of meals, but they would sustain her.

She wondered how long it would take for one of the acolytes to emerge victorious.

Phylon and Harkun had taken wagers on their favorites; Harkun favored the Zabrak, while Phylon thought the pure blood would emerge victorious.

Avaryss had chosen not to get involved, she did not care which one emerged, as long as they followed her orders, and listened to her teachings.

She would need someone both cunning and powerful when she arrived on Oridanna. Whichever Acolyte survived, they had a hard journey ahead of them.

The road to power was never easy, but to the one that succeeded, the rewards were more than worth it.

As a wise Sith once told her, power was the end of the journey, not the destination.

Power was its own reward.

And what about Fenn, Keera asked, I take it that means he is all mine then?"

Avaryss growled like an angry beast.

Silence, she hissed.

Your opinion is not wanted.

The hours continued to drag on.

Avaryss…continued to wait.

IOI

One of the two that had been chasing each other around the tomb died first, she felt the shift when the Acolyte died, ending their chance at becoming her apprentice. The one who had not been moving winked out next; she was not sure how that one died, only that their presence disappeared.

She felt the two survivors drawing closer, Avaryss reached out with the Force, trying to draw them together, to bring them to her side for the final fight.

Drellic was dosing in a bedroll near the sarcophagus, how he could sleep down here, she didn't know.

The hum of the dark side was very strong in this place. It was like the sound of gentle lava flow running past her on a dark night.

She rose from her meditation, feeling both relaxed and refreshed.

She prepared herself for what was coming next, her hand resting on the weapon on her belt, or rather one of the two weapons that were on her belt.

She smiled.

What came next would be fun.

She heard footsteps on the walkway, the one over the pit lined with spikes. A few seconds later the pure blood Hudlo emerged. He was ragged and wild eyed; he looked around the chamber, looking for enemies that weren't there.

Avaryss smiled contently.

"You are almost at the end," she informed him, "Only one more person stands in your way."

"You," Hudlo growled at her, "Did you know what this place was? Did you know what we would face here?"

"Of course," Avaryss said with a dismissive shrug, "You needed to be tested as I was tested."\

She grinned.

"As I said, you are almost there."

A second Acolyte arrived; this was the human, the balding assassin Stryke.

Avaryss was surprised.

She would have thought the Zabrak would have made it before he did.

"And then there were two, huh?" he growled, glaring at Hudlo.

The pure blood hissed like a feral animal, his hand gripping his war blade.

Stryke looked up at Avaryss. He had a cold grin on his face.

"So what happens now, master," he said, his voice dripping with venom.

Avaryss removed the lightsaber from her belt.

"One of you earns this," she said holding it up. "Only one of you can emerge as my apprentice. The time has come to see which is the strongest."

She tossed the blade between them. Both human and pure blood looked down at the weapon, then back up at her.

Avaryss grinned hungrily.

"Fight for your master's pleasure," she declared, "Show me who is worthy of standing at my side!"

They both looked down at the weapon, and then up at her.

Avaryss felt a shift in the Force.

She frowned.

She did not like what she was sensing.

"You erred, Avy," Keera said.

"Good luck getting out of this one."

She could sense the two acolytes' hostility; it was all directed at her.

Fools, she thought, do you not realize what I am?

Do you not understand what it means to be a Darth?

"You put me through hell, witch," Hudlo snarled.

"Don't," Avaryss growled, raising her hands.

"Just…don't. You don't want to…"

Hudlo snarled and leapt towards her, his war blade raised over his head, his eyes were wild with both rage and near insanity.

Avaryss did not bother using her lightsaber, she did not need it.

She reached out with her hand, and caught the pureblood in mid leap. He thrashed in her grip, spitting out curses and obscenities.

She glared at him.

"First lesson," she hissed at him, "I'm stronger than you."

She flung him away. He hit the wall of the tomb, hard.

Avaryss glared at the foolish acolyte.

"I am stronger than you, and that is why I'm your master, remember that."

Despite the ease with which she had thrown the pure blood away, she shuddered.

"What you just said to him, "Keera reminded her, "Those were Darth Feer's words."

She imagined Keera shaking her head.

"You are so like him now.

The accusation both hurt and shocked her, before she could respond Hudlo was crawling back to his feet; he looked ready to spring again, to murder Avaryss.

He was suddenly struck by blaster fire; he staggered back as the blasts sent him bouncing back against the wall. He did not fall right away. He was too enraged to die so easy.

That was when a blast caught him in the eye. The pureblood's mouth fell open and he slid down the wall, his burned body slumping where he had landed.

Avaryss turned to his killer. Stryke held a blaster in each hand, the barrels were smoking; he grinned hungrily.

He looked up at Avaryss.

"Guess we know who is going to be your new apprentice, don't we my lord?"

Avaryss sniffed, she would have preferred a fight between the two, to see their skills on full display.

She shook her head.

Oh well, we do not always get the things we want.

"I do hope that your saber technique is as good as your skill with a blaster," she informed him, "There will be times that I require something more…subtle than a blast in the face."

The assassin laughed.

"I'll prove myself to you soon enough, master," he said, "But first I need to claim my…my…"

Stryke looked around, searching on the ground at his feet.

Avaryss glanced down as well.

The lightsaber was gone.

"Where is it," Stryke said, "What happened to the…UGGGGH?!"

Stryke's eyes widened in shock as the crimson blade punched through him. He arched his back as the lightsaber burned its way through him and out the other side.

Avaryss' eyes widened, she…she…she had not even sensed that someone else was in the room!

She was impressed.

Standing behind Stryke was the Muun, the former lawyer called Dym, he grinned triumphantly as he leaned in close, whispering in the assassin's ear. Avaryss had needed to use the Force to hear what passed between them.

"I found your lightsaber, human," he spat, "Or rather…my lightsaber."

Stryke gurgled, he tried to pull one if his blasters, but to no avail.

Dym used the Force to pull it for him; it leapt into the Muun's hands.

He gave Avaryss an arched look, awaiting her decision.

She smiled, understood immediately what the Muun was asking.

She nodded curtly.

Dym did his duty.

He shot Stryke with his own blaster at close range. The body was flung across chamber skidding to a stop and stinking of burned flesh and hair.

The Muun regarded the blaster with a sense of distaste.

He flung it to the ground.

"You are right, my lord," he said with a shrug.

"Most uncivilized."

The sound of combat had roused Lieutenant Drellic; he came to her side holding a blaster of his own.

"Is everything all right, my lord?" he inquired. He raised his hand wiping at the sleep in his eyes.

Avaryss chuckled.

"It is fine lieutenant," she said, "The winner of this little contest of mine has just graced us with his presence."

The Muun grinned broadly.

He clearly liked being called a winner, as he should.

To the winner go the spoils.

Though she wasn't sure how he pulled it off, she had not sensed his approach in the Force; in fact she had felt nothing.

It seemed that her new apprentice had some secrets of his own.

She was eager to discover them for herself.

"I'm sorry that you did not get to see the fight you desired, master," he said, "But I saw no reason to fight when I clearly had the advantage over this fool."

Avaryss nodded.

Strength was not everything for a Sith, cunning, deception, and ruthlessness were important too.

Dym had shown that he possessed all three. It would have been nice to see the survivors fight it out for her pleasure, but she was fine with this outcome.

She was nothing if not flexible.

She was most pleased.

"Are you ready to take your place at my side," she asked him, "Are you ready to study the mysteries of the dark side?"

"Teach me master," he said excitedly, "Teach me, I want to learn."

Avaryss grinned triumphantly.

"Then kneel at my feet," she ordered, "Speak the words, and pledge yourself to me and my teachings. Become an extension of my will."

The Muun nodded and walked up to her, he knelt at her feet, bowing his head respectfully.

"I am yours, my lord," he vowed.

"What is thy bidding, my master?"

Avaryss almost laughed.

And now I come full circle, she thought.

Now…it begins.