Dark Sun Rises: Chapter 5

Onyxa was quick to return to Baras' chambers after the deed was done. She had brought the proof her new master had needed, the burns on Tremel's wrist and forearm still smoking slightly from where the lightsaber had severed it from the rest of the limb. Onyxa did her best to remain impassive as the Sith Lord praised the success of his newest acolyte. An enemy was removed, and he had won his quarrel against a traitor. All had not been lost however, as even after the defeat, Tremel had pointed out his plans were still intact. It was the only comfort that Onyxa had taken from what had happened.

"I am impressed you had the fortitude to destroy him." Baras' masked visage had betrayed nothing of his thoughts, but his voice hinted at an amused curiosity. "You know that he saw you as family. How did it feel to strike him down?"

It was a test, a deathly subtle check to see if she was hiding anything from him. Onyxa had braced herself, her own natural mask firmly in place even before she spoke.

"I did what was called for."

"... Very good. You mask your feelings well. So long as you don't suppress them, you may yet prove worthy of becoming my apprentice."

Onyxa stared at the ring in her hand and inwardly sighed. Baras had stripped the lifeless hand of the jewellery, giving it to her with something vaguely resembling respect for the departed. A memento, Baras had said, a reminder of what had once been and a way of emboldening the spirit moving forward. Onyxa stared at it intently now, resting in the centre of her palm. While she did not regret her actions, did not have time for remorse over such, she still felt the void Tremel's defeat had created. Onyxa had succeeded as Tremel had hoped, but the cost had been significant, leaving her to fend for herself so long as she remained on Korriban. With little else to do, she had made sure to visit the medical droid about the damage suffered from their battle. Tremel had not held back at all, had pushed her to the brink of her skills and abilities. One of Tremel's blows had slipped past her defences, leaving a wound which had genuinely surprised her before redoubling her assault. It was nothing however that would slow Onyxa down. Once that had been done, she had grabbed some food, and then found her way to the high perch that got her away from everyone.

Sitting there in the setting sun, Onyxa watched the acolytes running about below, the number of which grew fewer and fewer as the light faded towards night. Again she had revisited her thoughts about Darth Baras. Vemrin? He was nothing, a rival that would be bested then forgotten when the time came. But Baras?The man was powerful, and had to be respected at all times, his reach farther than she initially predicted. As Tremel had warned her, to underestimate him was death.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard a series of beeps coming from her holo-communicator and frowned. She had carried the thing around, a small silent item tucked away in a pocket. It was an unused communicator that, until now, had never gone off. Pulling it out, Onyxa held it nestled in the palm of her right hand, pressing the button to answer the incoming call. Immediately the device came to life, the blue light of the holographic image showing someone that Onyxa recognized instantly... despite the damage that had been dealt to her.

"We failed."

It was the acolyte girl, Phyne. She was heavily bandaged, and the pained look told him she had taken a beating. She was lucky enough to still be alive, she thought. In truth, she had not expected any of them to truly succeed and defeat Vemrin. In fact, quite frankly, she expected they would all be slaughtered. Phyne had managed to have the internal strength to survive somehow. She could admire that.

"We attacked Vemrin, but he was too much for us. Teeno…. He just tore him apart… Many of us are dead. I'm broken, but alive."

"You survived. Your strength is admirable. Let your pain, your anger, nurture you while you heal, Phyne." Onyxa said, and watched as the battered woman actually managed a smile and nod back in response.

"Good luck." Phyne said softly, words tinged with her pain, a small wince flashing briefly over her face. "Do me one favour? Take that bastard's head off for me, alright?"

Onyxa allowed herself a small smile then, once more finding she rather liked the woman. She was not the strongest, but she had a fighting spirit and strength. She might yet make it from acolyte to sith, and survive Korriban's harsh trials. Onyxa found herself hoping she did just that.

"You have my word." She finally said before ending the conversation.


The Tomb of Tulak Hord had proven treacherous, filled with k'lorr slugs, shyrack, along with countless droids and rebelling slaves. In the end all would fall to her blade. Just like almost every other venture into the tombs so far, she had endured it all with hardly a scratch. That was not to say it was without its difficulties however, and she could feel her exhaustion begin to plague her now as she walked back to the academy. Only the weight of the tablet shards in the satchel hanging from her belt made it all worth it. Pain was good though, she thought. Onyxa knew if she ached and felt such, she was still very much alive. Pain, anger, emotion in general, all of it made her stronger. Baras's latest trial had pushed Onyxa to her limits more than any previous trial, and she had fought as if her life depended on every strike of her blade. To do any less would be unworthy of her. She glanced down as she walked, taking stock of her armour's condition. A blaster bolt had been a grazing hit to the shoulder pauldron, taking a small piece out of it and leaving scorch marks. She'd also taken blows to her left upper leg, and right arm. The latter still bled despite her efforts to stop such by ripping some of her tunic and tying it securely and tightly about the wound.

That last injury sustained had come after she had left the tombs. Onyxa had been jumped by lesser acolytes bent on taking the shards, claiming them for themselves. She wasn't all that surprised. In the end she had shown them no mercy. They had been weak, and death was what they had deserved. Onyxa didn't waste any remorse for them. They would have shown none for her had the roles been reversed.

A small snort of disgust came to her at the thought. As if she would ever let that happen.

Upon reaching the Academy, Onyxa made straight for Darth Baras's chambers. She knew already that Vemrin was likely positioning himself as the only successful acolyte of the trial. She grinned as she thought of how utterly unravelled the man would become when she appeared carrying the shards. The wait was not long, as Onyxa found Vemrin as expected in Baras' chambers. Darth Baras' gaze shot quickly to her as she entered, and stood waiting until she was addressed. Baras' faceless helm turned to her, and Onyxa could only guess at the expression behind it on the man's face. Surprised? Pleased? Angered? She could sense nothing that could give her an answer.

"The prodigal supplicant returns-and with the shards from the tomb of Tulak Hord. Superb." Baras's echoing hollow voice said. Onyxa bowed her head slightly to him in response.

"An interesting turn of events." Baras commented, gazing back and forth between the two acolytes. "You both stand on the precipice of becoming Sith. But only one of you will have the opportunity. I had thought you would be the one, Vemrin, who would be the one to become my apprentice. Now however, I have changed my mind."

Onyxa heard the words and had to concentrate to keep a smile from her face. Even from where she stood and the distance between them, she could already feel the rage building within Vemrin. Casting a side glance, she could see the man almost shaking with his anger. There was no denying the confrontation was quickly coming to be at hand. Now more than ever, Onyxa knew they were going to fight to the death. The certainty of it made her hunger for the moment, golden eyes seeming to flicker slightly brighter in anticipation, lips set in a small smirk that seemed to infuriate Vemrin even further.

"I believe, acolyte, that you are now my choice." Baras said inclining his metal covered head towards Onyxa. "There is a great power sleeping within you, just waiting to be unleashed."

Vemrin made to speak in protest, but Baras waved a hand and quickly cut off any attempts at an argument. Vemrin continued to scowl and fume even as Baras dismissed him back to his chambers. Onyxa cast a glance over her shoulder, watching the man carefully. She would not put it past Vemrin to be the coward and try a sneak attack from behind. Even if Darth Baras was standing right there, it would be her mistake to underestimate the other man's ambitions. Once he was gone, Darth Baras turned his attention once more back on the young woman in front of him, studying the one who had shown such power, raw as it was, but already growing stronger by the day. Baras contemplated what to do with this sudden and impressive acolyte. There is so much untapped potential within Seraphus' offspring, Baras thought. He wondered briefly how it was he had not been aware of this student sooner. He would need to make inquiries, perhaps even make an example of a few of his underlings to ensure such would never happen again.

"Tremel had done you a great disservice. You are far more skilled and powerful than he would have ever given you credit for." Baras stated, watching Onyxa closely. "One final trial waits before you. Succeed and you will be my apprentice. Fail and you will die."

Onyxa listened to Darth Baras's words and nodded. She knew all too well there was no love lost between he and Tremel. That confrontation seemed as inevitable in hindsight, as her own with Vemrin did. It would happen, though Onyxa wondered if Tremel could have even stood a chance against the man. She would not have counted on it. She may have liked the Overseer, but Darth Baras had far more power. She could tell the man had that dark remorseless core needed to have obtained the station and power he held, and would continue to do so for quite some time.

"You will venture to the tomb of Naga Sadow. There you will find and claim an ancient lightsaber as your own. Almost no one knows how to find the secret entrance, but there is a twi'lek in the holding cells that was caught breaking in there. I hear she is quite willful. Take her, and do with her as you will to show you the entrance." Baras instructed. "Do such and return to me, acolyte."

"As you will, my Lord." Onyxa said and then headed out of Baras's chambers, thoughts momentarily flickering to memory of the mouthy blue skinned twi'lek. It seemed their destinies would wind up entwined after all. Interesting.

Onyxa entered the Academy jail and could already hear Knash and the twi'lek once again engaged in heated verbal sparring. Some things never change, Onyxa thought. The jailor seemed to enjoy engaging and riling up the twi'lek, giving him a reason every time to press the button and activate the shock collar about her slender blue neck. One of these days, she thought, that shoe will be on the other foot for the man. The galaxy had a way of balancing things out. She couldn't help the thought that perhaps she needed to do it, just as an object lesson for the man.

"Maybe I oughta just let the guards have their fill of you. A rat-tailed little bit of a thing you are, I'm sure they'd enjoy you all night." Knash baited the twi'lek.

"Well I know it wouldn't be you lining up. Have to get you away from having fun with the beasts." Off went the shock collar and the twi'lek slumped to her knees in her cell as Knask glowered at her through the bars. "Assuming you can get it up at all."

The shock collar crackled to life once more and Onyxa could hear the cry of pain from the woman. Kneeling in her cell, head down and lekku shaking, the jailor had enacted his revenge. For a moment, the prisoner had finally gone quiet. Onyxa took it all in, once again impressed with the twi'lek's ability to stay feisty despite repeated shocks. Beaten, but not broken.

"Keep pushing twi'lek, I can press this all day long." He held the remote in his hand, waving it in an ominous, threatening manner -

- only for Onyxa to reach out with the force, ripping it from the jailor's hand as she came into view.

"Actually, you can't." Onyxa stated, voice matter-of-fact as she stared down the jailor. Knash turned to her then and held up his hands defensively even as he paled. Good, he remembers me well, Onyxa noted.

"No harm done, I assure you!" Knash stated quickly, "She's in one piece enough to help. You're taking over this one, and that's fine by me!"

Onyxa said nothing, letting the tension build for the briefest moment, a subtle warning. Then her golden eyes moved to regard the prisoner. Taking her in once more, she reminded herself no matter how innocent or harmless she looked, she had to assume she would prove dangerous at some point. She's a flight risk, she knew. When she caught the feisty gaze of the twi'lek's violet eyes staring intently right back into her own, Onyxa nodded to her.

"You're this bruiser's problem now, Vette." Knash remarked with a smirk on his face.

Vette stared at the raven haired, golden-eyed human sith that stood before her cell, ignoring Knash. She'd seen this woman before, heard enough of the idle chatter of those about the Citadel to know she was of some importance. Some days it just seemed to rain misery, she mused as she watched Knash unlock the cell to let her out. Rising to her feet, the twi'lek moved to stand before the other woman, eyes glancing down to the shock collar control now firmly in her grasp. She knew enough about the Sith to know if Knash had been hard and took pleasure in her pain, the odds were she could expect far worse from this much more imposing Sith.

Still, no reason to not try leaving a good impression of what Lady Sith was going to be dealing with.

"Hey there." She quipped, rocking from heel to ball of her feet, watching her closely. "I was told what was going on. I'm to play tour guide."

Onyxa had to fight not to grin. This twi'lek was just a bouncing, energetic, and quick witted little wisp of a thing. For some reason she found her quite amusing. She almost laughed as she thought of how they must appear. The calm, stoic and often proud Sith warrior paired with the blue skinned bouncing bundle of energy that was Vette. Yes, the galaxy had quite the sense of humour. That of course did not even take into account her status as thief, and all but a slave, in the hands of the Empire who had very low tolerances for alien species.

"Oh, just so you know, I'm officially on strike when it comes to domestic duties."

She allowed a small smile to show on her face at that.

"I assure you, I do not require a maid." Onyxa stated calmly, "But as it stands, you will follow my instructions as expected. Do well and I will be pleased. Do poorly..." she deliberately trailed off for effect.

Vette got the point of the woman's words. If anything, this Lady Sith was pretty straight forward, she decided. She didn't seem to be anything but calm, confident, which of course made her lekku tremble. It was always those calm, quiet ones you had to worry about. She'd have to try and figure her out, and quickly. So long as she didn't expect her to do anything she didn't want to do, they'd get along alright, she thought. Then again, the confidence does kinda remind me of Taunt. Vette decided as she cast a look at her again. Not sure why though.

"Well then, off to do some Sith business!" Vette quipped as she brushed past Knash, giving the guard a mock menacing look. Knash growled back at her. Behind the twi'lek, and out of sight of the both of them, Onyxa grinned.

They had not gotten far before Vette stopped and turned to face Onyxa. She stood with a hip cocked out, hand resting on it. The violet eyes looked pointedly at her golden ones. Onyxa arched an eyebrow, but said nothing, waiting for the woman to say what clearly she felt was important to get off her chest.

"Look, I'll do what you need, I just want to make sure you don't have… umm… ulterior thoughts."

The eyebrow arched even higher. "You make it sound like I'm some sort of monster."

Whatever answer the twi'lek expected, that evidently hadn't been it, visibly stumbling over the response. Reaching out, she cupped her fingers around and under the smaller girl's chin and held her gaze firmly, eyes calm and mysterious, voice surprisingly soft in that moment.

"Let me be just as clear." Onyxa stated, "So long as you follow me, you will have nothing to fear. I will protect you from our enemies. All I ask is that you do the same for me. Are we agreed?"

Vette took a long deep slow breath and nodded. She had no reason to doubt the Sith's words. She knew they could lie with the best of them, but she had a different feeling towards this one. Something in that calm demeanour, the way she looked and spoke to her, gave her confidence in taking the Lady Sith at her word. The light tender touch she used in holding her gaze to state such even seemed out of character for what she would have thought a Sith would be like. Vette was nothing compared to her, something to be looked down on. She was a rat-tailed thieving alien. Yet for reasons unknown, this woman seemed to see past such things and treat her... dare she say it, like an equal.

Onyxa watched the twi'lek intently. She could see her taking in her response and mulling it over. Likely trying to figure out if I'm lying or not, she thought. She could see where such concerns might come from. After all, Knash had just threatened to let the guards have their way with her. Twi'leks were quite often sold into slavery and made into... pleasurable company. Had she not been deemed useful, Onyxa knew that more than likely could have been her fate. She knew the academy sold off prisoners. Looking at her, she did allow himself to note she was attractive. Young, healthy, and with a strong personality, she was quite the handful.

"Thank you... I think." Vette muttered, giving her a wary look before shrugging and accepting things as they were for the time being. "Let's just go do some sithy stuff."


Onyxa glanced about, checking the data pad and the map displayed on it. The tomb of Naga Sadow was expansive, a sprawling work of corridors and chambers that seemed to lead on forever. Interconnected as the chambers were, it was a maze that someone could easily become lost within. That was a prospect she did not relish as a possibility.

"This place still gives me the ultra creeps." Vette commented as she stood by her side, arms wrapped about herself.

"Scared of crawling through tombs, are we?"

Vette cast a furtive glance at her and huffed. Jumpy? Oh, she had every reason to be jumpy. Since entering the tomb they'd run into two different groups of acolytes trying to kill them, not to mention a half dozen ancient droids. The further they went in, the more stuff that came out to try and tear them apart.

At least the Sith had armed her with a pair of blasters, she thought. It had been a nice enough gesture, one she took to mean she trusted her at least a little bit. Despite that, Vette thought, someone or something trying to kill you over and over in the same day was definitely enough to make anyone jumpy. Save for my sith escort, she reminded herself. Lady Sith never seemed to be anything but calm, controlled, almost enjoying herself even. It was starting to get on her nerves.

Onyxa caught the huff and arched an eyebrow, giving the twi'lek a quick glance. She'd been handling herself well. Despite the running comedic diatribe Onyxa had been inundated with, the twi'lek had proven herself pretty handy in a fight. In all honesty her attempts at levity kept things from being too serious. In such a dark place, it actually helped improve their cohesion she found.

"This way." Onyxa said as she made for a corridor out of the chamber they stood in. Glancing behind her she cast the twi'lek a look before remarking, "Time for more Sith business."

"Hey!" Vette cried out even as she began laughing, the moment made all the funnier as Onyxa added a growl to her comment. "That's my line!"

The two slipped through the corridors, a pair of near silent shadows amidst the dark. They worked in tandem with Onyxa leading and Vette deftly keeping pace close behind, acting as support. They worked their way along until the hallway entered into a large circular chamber. Across the way, two large stone statues stood facing into the room. Onyxa frowned as she checked the data pad map once more. If the map was correct, they should have been right where they needed to be.

"It's your turn, Vette." Onyxa stated.

"Yeah I know, just give me a moment here." Vette looked about orienting herself.

It had been some time since she had been in the tomb. Getting shocked constantly did not exactly help a person remember things. After all she had endured, she knew she had to recall everything and quick. She had already come to regard Onyxa as alright, but not a person to get on the wrong side of. Vette moved away from her, wandering the room, peering about. Onyxa watched the twi'lek, trying to follow whatever it was she was looking at. In truth, Onyxa had no real idea. Perhaps looking for -

It was then she felt it, the subtle trembling of the force. It was there; rage, anger, hate, all of it rolling in a wave that brushed against him. Onyxa knew what it meant without hesitation. So he had come. The time was finally here, at last.

"Care to join us?" She called out over a shoulder, seemingly to no one, getting Vette's attention.

Realizing stealth had failed, Vemrin emerged from the shadows, teeth bared in a sinister snarl, weapon already drawn and ready. Just like him, she thought, to try and strike like a weak coward from behind. She had been waiting for this, and in truth had expected it far sooner. Vemrin was not going to let her complete this trial after all. At least not without taking one last chance to rid himself of his opponent. Onyxa's smile grew larger, a hungry gleam in her eye as she turned to face him directly.

"Trying to sneak up behind me, Vemrin?" Onyxa's voice had dropped to a frightening growl. "A suicidal endeavour. Fitting you tried it inside a tomb of all places."

"You won't take everything from me. I've worked too hard, too long. I have overcome too much to be denied my rightful place as Baras's apprentice."

Vette watched the pair, hands falling to grab and yank her blasters free from their holsters. Just great, she thought, eyes darting from one sith to the other. Part of her was unsure if she shouldn't just start shooting both of them.

Better yet stupid, run for it!

...No, that was not an option, she knew. Even if she got distance between them, she'd never make it off Korriban on her own. She had a good agreement about not running with Onyxa. She had not shocked her once since taking her from the holding cell. She had contemplated it a few times, but Vette could honestly say she hadn't harmed her. If she was being honest with herself, there was also something about her she kind of liked. The choice for her was a pretty simple one.

"Oh just great." Vette commented.

"Don't go far, rat-tail!" Vemrin said without taking his eyes off Onyxa. "Have that secret chamber open by the time I have killed this bitch of an upstart!"

Vette readied her blasters, taking aim, but abruptly stopped when Onyxa raised a hand, halting her.

"Vette, pay witness." Onyxa's voice was calm, but with audible fire burning beneath as she drew her war blade. "I don't want any interference. Sith against Sith. Let there be no excuses when I crush him into dust."

Vemrin didn't wait for Vette to respond. Leaping forward, he struck hard and fast, trying to run her through. Onyxa was ready, raising her war blade and bracing for the impact.

Their blades met in a mighty clash of steel, sparks flying as they locked up, both trying to press the advantage. Vemrin was smaller, weighed less, and Onyxa used that to her advantage, plowing a shoulder into his chest and pushing him back. Vemrin however, was far from lacking in his ability to fight. As Onyxa pushed forward, Vemrin went with the momentum of the shove. Rolling back, Vemrin drew Onyxa in and over him. Kicking up, he pushed with both feet upwards, sending his opponent over him.

Onyxa felt the boot strike to her stomach. All she could do was go with the attack while trying to keep her blade tied up with Vemrin's. Following through the roll Onyyxa rose into a crouch, war blade held straight out to her side. Vemrin rolled onto his stomach before scrambling to his feet. With a cry, Vemrin went on the attack, leaping at Onyxa. Whereas Dolgis had been nothing but brute strength, Vemrin was much more precise, speed and agility rivalling Onyxa's own. Vemrin was using both hands, Onyxa only one, the standard Makashi stance more than enough to weather the onslaught, blocking and deflecting every blow with a near effortless grace.

Vette watched in amazement. They were moving so fast, she could barely follow their movements, the crashing of war blades both chaotic and impossible to predict. She shook her head and lowered her guns as violet eyes watched what would happen as they came together once more. If she tried to join in now, she realized, she'd just be getting in the way. All she could do was wait, praying Onyxa would come out the winner.

Leaping forward, Vemrin struck at Onyxa. Letting all his rage, all his anger, pour through him into his strikes he battered away at the larger woman. The incessant and ferocious attack forced Onyxa back step by step back. Each subsequent blow drove the war blade down, and Vemrin pressed his onslaught further. For a moment, it seemed that Onyxa was faltering under the incessant assault, being pushed back bit by bit. But appearances were deceptive. Again and again, Vemrin tried to cut her down, but Onyxa's war blade always met his. She was letting him hammer away, letting him push her back. Once she was less than a foot from the chamber wall however, she suddenly planted her feet firmly in place, smiling at him as she stopped his volley of strikes cold, not being pushed back another inch more. He could find no weakness, no opening to exploit or push out against.

She was toying with him.

He barely had time to register this before his next strike was batted aside, staggering him as Onyxa pushed forward, pressing the advantage.

Still smiling that small little smile, golden eyes glowing with power, Onyxa allowed her own rage to grow, let it burn throughout her body and fuel her strength. Switching from the fencing stance of Makashi to the more aggressive Djem Sho form, Onyxa lunged at Vemrin much more fiercely now, giving him no time to recover, full powered, two handed swings bludgeoning him with merciless blows. Not only was she strong, she was fuelling her speed as well to land several small attacks.

Vemrin was stunned, watching her fight. All his efforts were useless, unable to hold back her natural talent. Panic began to rush through him as they fought, Onyxa dancing back and forth, nearly overwhelming him, landing small attacks on him again and again. A cut to his good arm, a thrust to the opposite shoulder, a slash across the back of a shoulder as a desperate thrust attempt was thwarted and countered effortlessly—each one weakening him a little more, and she was far too fast, giving him no time to recover. A sudden parry slashed through his side and straight through his armour, causing him to cry out in pain as blood sprayed from the wound.

He was going to die here if he didn't do something, and fast.

Enraged and desperate, Vemrin roared in rage, attacking with a new, desperate fury. But his desperation and anger made him careless. Onyxa spun and kicked him hard in the jaw, hearing a satisfying crack as her booted foot connected with his face. Vemrin stumbled and fell, and before he could even try to recover, he felt his throat contract.

Vette watched as the power poured from Onyxa, a wave of force that threw her from her feet and onto her backside. Sitting where she landed, Vette could only stare open mouthed. Onyxa now stood amidst a red swirling haze of energy, her golden eyes blazing bright like a pair of powerful flames. Vemrin was floating off the ground, held in place. He had dropped his war blade, his hands instead grasping frantically at his throat. Onyxa swung her free arm and Vemrin flew through the air. With no way to protect himself, Vemrin slammed into the wall only to then fly the other way and hit another. Back and forth across the chamber Vemrin was thrown by the sheer power and will of Onyxa Solaris. Then rising straight up, Vemrin was brought face down into the ground, slamming into it with an thunderous crash, the stone cracking from the force of the impact.

"Umm… wow!" Vette murmured, even as she was sure she heard bones break and snap as Vemrin's body hammered into the unforgiving floor.

Onyxa moved to tower over Vemrin. Smugly smiling down upon his kneeling form, her free hand reached out, calling Vemrin's war blade to her before criss crossing both blades at his throat. She was all but daring Vemrin to try and do something from where he kneeled, knowing it was pointless, eyes of fire burning a hole right through him. Vemrin coughed and blood ran from his mouth. All there was for Vemrin was pain and the knowledge that he was done. There was no fight left in him, no way to win. It was over.

"Have I come so far... sacrificed so much ...only to fail now?" Vemrin muttered.

"You have!" Onyxa snarled, before raising both blades up and outward, slashing them in a cross and severing the man's head from his neck, ending his life.

Vette stared with wide eyes, taking everything in as the body slumped backward. Onyxa was almost beyond believing in her power. She knew if Vemrin could be killed with such a powerful display, there was no doubt she would be a mere annoying fly to be swatted by comparison. She sat still and unmoving, just staring at the Sith even as the glow of her eyes, the swirling, fiery energy about her golden eyes subsided. She could see Onyxa was breathing only slightly heavier than normal, see she was still far from tired despite all the energy spent in the fight.

"Vette." Onyxa spoke her name, making the twi'lek jump as the Sith slowly glanced over at her then. "The chamber?"

"I already found it." Vette replied quickly, finally forcing herself to move. Rising to her feet, she put her blasters away and moved towards her. She pulled up short then, looking at her.

"I'm not going to kill you, Vette." Onyxa answered her unspoken question.

It was quite plain to see the fear of such upon the twi'lek's face. She had seen her kill, seen the dark side of her nature, and it had scared her. For some reason she couldn't fathom, Onyxa found that thought made her just a little bit sad. It was something that she doubted Vette would let go or forget. As such she would never look at her the same ever again.

"Well that's a relief." Vette quipped at her, "And I am quite sure I can trust you, huh?"

Onyxa shook her head and had to resist a smile at the twi'lek. Releasing Vemrin's blade, she raised to Vette's sight the shock collar control and arched an eyebrow at her. She knew she was not going to use the device. They both did. Still, she did not have the patience or energy to waste on verbally sparring with the twi'lek woman. Vette had done her job, Onyxa had done hers, and they were almost finished. They were so close. She just had to endure and press on, no matter how she felt.

"Ok, ok, don't get all sithy on me! Rawr rawr!"

Vette hurried over to the wall and as Onyxa watched she ran her hands over the stone, seeking out just the right ones and pressing them. She stepped back once more to her side even as the low rumble began to echo through the chamber. The two tall stone statues moved together, turning to face one another, even as the wall itself behind them parted and moved. They both stood and watched as the secret chamber opened itself to them.

Onyxa knew they had succeeded. The ancient lightsaber was hers. Upon igniting it's crimson blade, the light casting her features into dark contrast, she smiled deeply.


Darth Baras watched as Onyxa entered his chambers, the blue skinned twi'lek following close behind her. He noted the alien woman did not stray very far from what she would assume was her protection. His eyes moved to the other woman's hip, his focus drawn to the lightsaber that swung clipped to her belt there.

"Ah, so you return, and with the ancient weapon in hand." Baras said, nodding his metal covered head. "And I see you've left the twi'lek alive no less. I wonder about that."

"She's has proven herself useful." Onyxa shrugged, playing it off as nothing more than a trifling matter she could have cared less about.

"I could not find Vemrin in my chambers. I have not heard from him in some time now. I assume he tried to stop you and paid for his folly?"

Onyxa nodded at Baras's question before shrugging in indifference again. She could have cared less if Baras was upset over Vemrin's demise. His death assured her own life continued. Onyxa knew more than one person was likely raising a glass to his fate about the academy even. Vemrin had not been very smart, and had made far too many enemies even among other acolytes.

"He tried and failed. Vemrin was nothing if not consistent."

Far from displeased, Baras was clearly impressed by the fact Vemrin had paid for his disobedience with his life.

"Bravo." Baras declared. "I see you may indeed become one of the strongest Sith in the galaxy."

"Your trials are over now. You have proven your strength and loyalty to me. You are now my apprentice." Baras stated, arms folded behind his back. "We have much to do, my apprentice. You will take a fleet pass I will leave for you and take the shuttle to Dromund Kaas. Meet me there in the Citadel in KaasCity. Do not delay."

Onyxa took in every word and bowed to the man. Somewhere, she knew, Tremel was smiling. Whatever game Tremel had begun, he had positioned Onyxa right where he had wanted her. Now all she could do was succeed when tasked by Darth Baras. Do that and she would prove herself worthy of her new position. Whatever lay ahead, Onyxa knew she would have to grow stronger, and learn the games of politics Sith played in greater detail. Her life, and the life of her companion Vette, would depend on her comprehension and ability to play that game.

"As you command, my master."