AN: Im changing some minor details, overall the story is much the same. For example, I made Kuro six feet tall before, but now I'm changing her to be five foot tall. I like tall characters so it's always an urge to make them as such, but I also like small characters. Kuro will be the definition of big power in small packages. Kory and Ashara will be the taller ones. My goal for these update changes is to get reacquainted with my story and make things better than before if possible.
Korriban: Four years later.
After her Sacrifice trial, Harkun noticed a change in Kuro, besides the obvious pain killing her own mother gave her. Kuro threw herself into her training, almost embracing it. It made the overseer smile. She was still not the best at lightsaber forms but she had improved. Her Force potential had skyrocketed. She was already more powerful than her senior acolytes and they had been in training for many more years than her.
The overseer wanted to test her limits further. To see how far she was willing to go. He had her train with a torture and interrogation instructor, Lord Samus. He was a tall broad shouldered man with a jovial disposition. Despite that he was an amazing instructor in torture.
For two years Kuro trained with him, everyday. At first, she was hesitant to cause any amount of pain on anyone intentionally. But as the months passed she came to find she had a talent for it. So she excelled at mind manipulation, torture and interrogation. Lord Samus was immensely pleased with his student and reported such to the overseer. Harkun was thrilled. Kuro had quickly shown immeasurable promise. She was his star student, and everyone knew it.
Kory, especially, was impressed with her twi'lek friend. The two were sitting in their room, on Kuro's bed, side by side. They were just enjoying each other's company before bed. They were talking, mostly about nothing particular. "What's it like? Having a sister?"
Not too long ago Kory had told the twi'lek girl about her family. Her mother passed away after giving birth to her. Her father who worked hard to provide for her older sister and herself. He wasn't around much because of it so that only left her sister to take care of her. Kory smiled as she remembered her loving sister, Lex. "It's….one of the greatest things ever, Kuro. She protected me, cared for me, even played with me when no one else would. No matter how stupid the game was. She was eight years older than me, so she'd be eighteen now."
Kuro smiled, happy to hear of something positive for a change. "Do you miss her?"
Kory nodded. "Everyday. Nothing quite like having a sister. Someone who's really close to you, like no one else can be." Kuro nodded as well. Then her mind began to race. She was older than Kory, not by much. Kory missed her family. She had been through a lot, losing an arm, being alone until Kuro arrived. So why shouldn't this be a good idea?
The twi'lek grinned at her friend and declared. "Well, what if I become your sister? That way you'll always be with family."
Kory looked at her friend, dumbstruck. Then burst out laughing, falling into her friend's lap. Kuro pouted, not expecting that reaction from the human. What did she say? "What's so funny?"
"I-I'm sorry…." Kory said between laughs. "I just….didn't expect that from you. I'd love to be your sister." She said with sincerity. Kory smiled at the twi'lek and hugged her around the waist with her one arm. "Thanks….it means a lot to me that you care so much."
"Of course I care. You're the only one I trust. The only one I can rely on. The least I can do is make you happy somehow." Kuro responded with a grin.
"Thanks, sis." Kory replied with a smile of her own.
Kuro was fourteen now. Today she was going to begin her advanced classes in Sith sorcery. This would be a difficult undertaking, she was told. To be able to master this art she needed to become more attuned to the dark side. She would have to let her negative emotions fester and grow. Her previous training and experiences made this easy. She just thought about her mother, how she still loved her and then let her rage take over. Not anger or hatred at her mother, no. Never. But to another woman who came to be a mother to her, then ripped it away, like she ripped open her heart. Lord Zash.
It didn't come as a surprise to Kuro that no other students were here but herself. For the past week, Kuro had learned as much as she could about Sith sorcery. It was almost impossible to fully master, but Kuro wanted power so no one. No one! Could take advantage of her and her loved ones ever again.
Speaking of loved ones. Lord Zash was the only other person in the room with her. Kuro had been instructed to go to the upper level, to the Sorcery classroom. The room was actually impressive to Kuro. At the other end were statues of kneeling, robed Sith. Frozen in meditation. Beneath each one was a cushion, a place to sit or kneel to meditate. The rest of the room was just barren flooring with purple flamed braziers on the walls leading to the door.
Kuro, out of conditioned respect, got down on one knee and bowed her head. "My Lord." She greeted, though with effort. The sting was still there of Zash's betrayal.
Zash smiled as kindly as she could. After their blow out Zash distanced herself, but continued to watch over her lover's little one. She watched her grow from a small child to a teenager. Her growth was almost explosive, well metaphorically. She had grown older, yes. Her lekku had grown and reached the small of her back. Her body filled out well, she was already a woman at the age of fourteen. But Kuro was still short, an even five feet tall. "Hello, Kuroki, my little sweetling. Though I suppose not so little anymore, hm?" Kuro didn't say anything, She knew she was still short, only having grown a good six to twelve inches at best, but she was secretly glad Zash had complimented her.
Zash didn't take her silence personally. Instead she began her instruction. "I will be instructing you on Sith magic, or Sorcery. This will not be easy, Kuro. You will learn about rituals, artifacts and other information from holocrons. This will be a test that thousands upon thousands of Sith have failed with their very lives. Are you ready to begin? Kuroki?"
Kuro, without hesitation nodded. "Yes, Lord Zash. I will not fail." She said with so much conviction that Zash couldn't help but believe her. Kuro really had grown so much. Zash hoped she was ready, for if she wasn't, then Kuro would perish.
Kory was in a class of four, for advanced Sith warriors. She had chosen the marauder class. Her former classmates had mocked her for her choice. Sith warriors in this class mostly used two lightsabers, one in each hand to constantly assault their opponents with speed and power. It was obvious why they mocked her, Kory only had one arm, her right arm.
Over the years after her sacrifice, Kuro had helped Kory get used to her single arm. She had even taught Kory a little trick which would help her in her class. Kory suppressed a smirk. She was the best warrior they had and she was going to prove it by shoving her lightsabers in her classmates' guts.
The reason the advanced Sith training was so dangerous was because there were no longer restrictions on equipment. During basic Sith training the students could only use practice sabers. Non-lethal sabers that simulated a real one. If you struck an opponent's arm the shock would render the arm useless, making it feel like your arm had been cut off. Although it was still very possible to die from practice sabers. The pain was very real and too much would kill you.
But not here. No, here in the advanced courses they had access to real lightsabers. They had to craft their own of course. Kory had crafted several and perfected the art. She had four strapped to her belt underneath her black and red hooded Sith jacket.
Kory couldn't wait for the training to begin. Their teacher was Corrin who was the best lightsaber duelist on Korriban. Her stoic demeanor and brutal strikes made it almost impossible to read her or even take advantage of any openings. Kory had watched her fight before. She was flawless in her eyes.
As she got older and entered her teenage years she began to notice things. She would catch herself staring a little too long at Corrin during her training. More often than not it got her beaten because she wasn't paying attention to her opponents.
She had even stared at Kuro, who had filled out into a beautiful, albeit, deadly woman. Even though Kory was taller than her twi'lek sister now, Kuro was still a beautiful young woman. Though for Kuro is more admiration of her beauty than actual romantic physical attraction. Whenever Kory thought about them, or any pretty girl she happened to see, she would feel flushed and hot. She didn't know what these feelings were so she had looked them up and found out what it was.
Kory was attracted to women. More specifically, she had a major crush on Corrin. So it was with no small amount of delight that Kory watched Corrin slowly pace in front of them. "You are here to be warriors. Warriors of unstoppable darkness that will destroy our enemies from the front lines. You will assault, you will slaughter, you will destroy anything and everything in your path to accomplish your goals. I am here to teach you how to do that." She looked them all in the eye and continued. "You will learn to channel your fear, your hatred and anger to purge yourself of weakness. While you are not inquisitors or standard Force users you must learn to combine your combat prowess with bursts of Force power to keep your opponents constantly off guard.
You must be brutal, you must be merciless, let nothing stop you from achieving your goals. Now, pair up so we can begin." She ordered. The four other students; a Sith pureblood girl, two human males, and a female zabrak immediately paired together. The pureblood and zabrak went to one side and the two humans to the other leaving Kory without a partner. Kory didn't care, she knew she could take them all on if that's what Corrin ordered. Corrin seemed to sense this confidence and frowned in thought. Kory just stared at her, grinning. "Kory, it seems you are eager. Too eager." Then she said to the other students. "Change of plans. No pairs. Instead you four will group up...against Kory."
The four others were confused and only a little concerned, as much as they mocked Kory for her disability, four against one was still vastly unfair even for a full bodied warrior. Kory, on the other hand, began to chuckle to herself. Finally, something worthy of her. While the four students seemed confused about this order they didn't question it. They lined up in front of her and drew their red lightsabers, smirking at her.
Kory laughed, actually laughed out loud at them. They snarled in anger at her audacity. The pathetic cripple wouldn't beat them. Corrin walked past them, past Kory and whispered so only she could hear. "Don't disappoint me, Kory." Then continued on to lean against the wall. "Fight until I say stop. Begin!"
Kory decided to show off and pull her trump card right away. She wanted to impress Corrin and show her that even if she was crippled with one arm she was still the strongest. She drew one lightsaber and used the force to levitate it. It activated with a sharp hiss and floated beside her. Kory did this with the other three then drew the last in her hand. Four black with bordering red lightsaber beams meet her opponents. "What's with those looks?" She mocked, noting the stunned faces. "Don't tell me you're scared now." She chuckled and flipped the saber in her hand backwards so the beam went behind her along her black gauntlet clad arm. "One against four. I'm only a cripple, guys. I'm sure you can handle it." She said with a mocking smirk.
With that she urged the Force to take command of her lightsabers and they attacked, using her training and techniques three of the four opponents leaving the pureblood to fight her traditionally. As the two circled each, looking for any opening, Kory continued to mock. "Come on, Tigris. I'm just a cripple using her non dominant arm to fight for her life. Where did all that confidence go?"
"Oh, shut up already!" Tigris yelled and attacked. Just what Kory wanted. Kory parried her opponent's saber and counter with a flurry of strikes that Tigris was hard pressed to stop. She couldn't believe it.
Kory wasn't even this good with her dominant left arm during basic saber training. What the hell had happened?! Tigris managed to block every strike but only barely, leaving her constantly on the defensive. She was so preoccupied by Kory that she didn't notice one of Kory's other sabers flying towards. Only at her partner's warning did she notice.
With wide eyes she realized she couldn't dodge in time. With a grin, Kory coaxed the saber to lodge into Tigris' gut. "Tigris!" Cried the zabrak, Soma, Kory recalled her name. She sounded so distraught and panicked as she smashed away Kory's lightsaber she was dueling with that Kory returned the blade to her side. All fighting stopped as the human males came to the slumped purebloods side.
Kory was confused. Why were they so attached to her? It wasn't uncommon to make friends, after all she and Kuro were inseparable but she felt they were a special case. Was she wrong? She suddenly felt guilty for actually trying to kill her opponent instead of disarm and subdue. But...wasn't that what they were trained to do? To kill? "Kory!" She jumped in surprise at Corrin's angry tone. Kory thought she would've been impressed by her display of strength. What was going on? "I don't know what you were thinking. I'm disappointed in you. The advanced courses are for those that are strong. Weeding out the weak was for basic Sith training. Here you are all strong and partners. Killing each other is never the correct course of action. We need Sith and dead students who actually show promise will not make that a reality!"
Kory was speechless. What had she done? Corrin hated her now, she actively tried to kill someone just because she knew she could. What would Kuro say? Surely she would hate her too. Kory had never felt so disgusted with herself before. Wasn't this the one thing the two new sisters didn't want to be? She fought back tears as she stepped away from her teacher and classmates, subconsciously willing her lightsabers back to her belt. "I…"
After checking over Tigris and finding her not in any mortal danger, the saber had missed anything vital. Corrin turned to Kory and glared at her. It was the first time Kory had ever seen any emotion on her face. She had hoped to see her smile at her sometime but to see such anger and hate directed at her crushed her spirit. "I have to take her to the kolto tanks. Get out of my sight, Kory. I'll deal with you later." Heart broken, Kory bolted from the room and didn't look back. She just ran, not paying much attention to where she was going. How could she have been so stupid?
Kory didn't run back to her room. She wanted to be alone, somewhere no one could find her. So she left the academy and ran into the Korriban wilds. Maybe keeping company with monsters would be more fitting for her than with people.
Kuro was meditating, the first lesson that Zash was teaching. Most students would have been impatient but not Kuro. She saw the importance of centering one's mind. These rituals and this power was not only a danger to others but also to herself. Zash even confirmed as such and smiled proudly when Kuro had informed her she already knew the basics of the advanced sorcery class.
Zash was semi meditating next to her, thinking about the past eight years and the trials she had planned for her desired apprentice. She had plans to make Kuro stronger. She just needed to prepare somehow.
Zash peeked at her student and was surprised to see her in the same position she had left her in hours ago. She was sitting on her legs, her hands lay on her thighs and her fingers straight and pointed. Kuro's eyes were closed, her face was void of any emotion. If Zash didn't know any better she would have thought she was dozing.
Suddenly her eyes snapped open and her face twisted into one of primal rage. Zash was taken aback, she had never seen that look on the girl's face before. Not even when Kuro had basically shunned her in her office after the sacrifice ritual. "Kuroki, sweetling, what is it?"
Kuro slowly turned her seething eyes to her teacher and said in an eerie calm voice. "Corrin has broken my sister's heart. I hope for your sake you are not too attached to her." Was all she said.
The way she said it sent chills down Zash's spine. There was murderous promise in her tone. If Kuro encountered Corrin, the girl would kill her. Zash had no doubts about this. Despite Corrin being a master duelist she had no chance against the already increasing power Zash could feel coming off in waves from her student.
It was terrifying how powerful Kuro was becoming and Zash didn't even know how it was happening. Kuro hadn't been performing rituals on her own had she? "Kuroki, please, what happened? What did you sense?"
Kuro closed her eyes again, her expressions blank once more. She still explained instead going straight back to mediation. Kuro had to let go of this hate towards a person she still loved. What Zash had done wasn't unusual for a Sith. Zash was just that, a Sith. While the twi'lek wished it never happened she couldn't deny the push it gave her to be where she was now. So she explained. "Kory was training with Corrin and her class of four. Instead of pairing them off, Corrin decided to pit Kory's four classmates against her." Zash frowned. She didn't expect Corrin to do something that demeaning. Corrin was going to get an earful from her later...that is if Kuro didn't get to her first. Zash returned her attention as Kuro continued. "They were expecting an easy fight. What they got was demolished."
Now Kuro was smirking, eyes still closed, as if seeing the events through her mind's eye. "A few months ago we had to make our lightsabers in preparation for our advanced courses. Kory made four and practiced with the Force to control three of the four to fight as if possessed. She decided to show it off, to impress Corrin and show her she is the best. She impaled Tigris, her classmate, almost killing her. Corrin scolded her and told her to 'Get out of her sight and be dealt with later.' Kory ran." While she loved her sister and was furious at the treatment she got, she did know that was foolish of the human girl. But when they finally spoke she wouldn't bring it up unless Kory did.
Kuro opened her eyes again and glared at her teacher. "We are teenagers now, master. Surely you know what happens during these years. Puberty, new emotions and feelings. Kory had a crush on Corrin and the bitch broke her heart without even knowing it. I suppose the apprentice is just like the master. Is that not so?" Kuro sneered and stood up and stalked out of the room but not before saying. "Go speak with Corrin if you want. Maybe you can save her life. I need to comfort my sister." Kuro left not seeing that she abandoned Zash in tears.
Kuro left the Sith Academy and trekked across the nearby wilds, looking for Kory. She followed her Force presence and deemed her easy to find so she let her mind wander. She thought back to what she said to Zash and felt a little guilty. Maybe she shouldn't have gone that far. They were spiteful and hurtful words and she knew it, but at the time she didn't care. She just wanted to hurt Zash just as the Sith lord had hurt her.
It had been years since that sacrifice and Kuro couldn't deny the effect it had. Zash was right, it did push her to be stronger. Her anger and hatred made her stronger. It was still painful but she believed that if she kept going with this animosity she would not only have lost her birth mother but would lose a surrogate mother as well. Perhaps, she would even lose herself to the monster inside. Wasn't one enough? Kuro nodded to herself with a sigh. Once she found Kory and comforted her, the next time she saw Zash she would forgive her and stop treating her so badly.
So wrapped up in her thoughts, Kuro didn't hear or sense the presence behind her until it was too late. Something snapped around her neck and she spun around, but in the transition of the movement lost all sense of her equilibrium and fell flat on her back. She stared, horrified at the loss of all control, as Ffon and his Sith pureblood friends stepped into view, sneers and grins on their faces.
"Well look who it is, Harkun's number one bitch." Ffon spat, his friends laughing at her. "Not so tough now, are you number one bitch?" Kuro wanted to snarl and spit her rage but she couldn't, she no control of her body. What had they done to her? As if reading her mind, Ffon answered, but not before mocking her again. "What's the matter? Feel a little... Out of control?" He laughed at his own joke. "Not surprising. I snapped a neural disruptor on you. You won't be doing anything until it's removed." He then Looked her body up and down, licking his lips. "Good thing too, because I want to take my time with you."
Kuro paled. No, they truly weren't planning such a heinous act were they? No, of course they would. They hated her so why wouldn't they have some pleasure before they beat her to a bloody pulp and leave her for dead. She regretted going on the holonet with Kory to look up puberty, which lead to looking up sex and almost everything affiliated with it. Kuro was always curious and it came to bite her in the ass. The twi'lek knew Ffon was going to rape her, take the only innocence she had left before leaving her to die. The worst part was she had no control in that. After everything she had been through to gain power, she couldn't even use it to protect herself.
The acolyte knew she should be afraid. Oddly enough she wasn't. She hated them for what they were going to do, they were removing her robes even now. No, instead of being scared, she was seething with rage. This was going to scar her, in more ways than one, and all she could focus on was her undying rage and hatred. She grit her teeth as Ffon, getting the honors of first defilement, thrust himself inside her. As he set up a rhythm she just glared at him and his smug smirk, wishing with every fiber of her being that he would die and spend eternity in a hell all his own.
Kory hiccuped and sobbed. She had felt regret before, but never to this level. She had felt guilt and sorrow. Anguish and pain. None of those other moments seemed to compare to her current one. Corrin hated her, she was turning into a monster that would kill fellow classmates because she could, and now she was lost in the wilds and alone. How she wanted Kuro to find her and comfort her like she always did. The twi'lek was always so protective of her. It was so sweet and endearing and reminded her so much of what Lex would do for her in those moments.
How pathetic. She thought to herself Crying your eyes out over nothing again, Kory? She mocked herself. Her inner voice was right though. This was stupid, pathetic. She was growing up and she had to be strong. She lost her arm, lost her family, lost a good life she could have had. She couldn't help her current situation but she could always make it better, instead of wallowing in misery. Where did that get her anyway? "No where." She said out loud to herself.
With those thoughts in mind she stood and tried to calm down enough to channel the Force so she could sense her only friend and find her way back to the academy. After a few moments Kory succeeded and set off. She stumbled over rocks and slugged through deep sand as she picked her way to Kuro Force presence. Everything will be okay once you get to her, Kory. Kuro is smart, she can help you. Kory thought.
Kory had felt surprised before. But never to this level. She remembered her father and sister throwing a surprise birthday once. It scared her at first but then she saw the smiles and decorations and gifts. She was happy then.
This, though, was nothing like a surprise party. This was a nightmare. Kory found Kuro easily enough, but she wasn't at the Sith Academy like she thought. Instead her robes were shredded around her bruised and bloody body. Something dry and white littered her motionless body, mixing with the blood. There was also a device around her neck, not unlike a slave collar. What the hell had happened?
The human girl began to panic as she bolted the rest of the way to her friend. She sank to her knees and shakily placed her fingers against Kuro's pulse point. She dreaded what she might find. Kory didn't know if she could continue on without Kuro.
So it was with great relief that Kory felt her pulse, but only barely. She needed medical attention, right the hell now. She didn't hate her handicap more than right then, there was no way she could carry her with one arm. So, once again she tried to calm down and use the Force to carry her. After a few attempts she managed to lift her and without wasting time used the Force to move at faster than normal speeds. "Hang on, big sis. I'm getting you help." She said to her unconscious sister. Then her eyes slanted to slits. "Then kill the fucks who dared do this to you."
Kuro was swimming in a void of blackness. There was nothing to see, nothing to hear, and nothing to feel. It was maddening. She wanted to wake up. Wanted to do something, anything but be left in this void. Where was Ashara?
She had only thought of her name and like an angel she appeared, banishing the darkness. They were still floating in nothingness but it was better. "Kuro? Oh by the Force, are you okay?"
Kuro stared at Ashara, tears coming to her eyes. She was always there. No matter what. She was there after Kuro exploded on her for no reason. She was there when she was sad and lonely. Upset or angry.
Ashara was always there. The twi'lek no longer cared if she was just a figment of her imagination. How could she not be? She always came when thought about her. She was always in her dreams and she never saw, sensed or felt her in the waking worlds. But it didn't matter. In Kuro's world of misery she had one thing, one person that saw her as someone perfect. As someone fantastic and enjoyable to be around. If Ashara was only in her mind, then so be it. She would embrace her even after her dying day.
Kuro shook her head and answered Ashara's question of concern. "No...they...they took it. They took the last piece of innocence I had left." Her sadness quickly turned to anger. "They wouldn't even let me keep that! Will they take everything from me before they're satisfied?! What more can they fucking take! I hate them!" She screamed, roared into the void.
Ashara let her vent, holding her close to her blossoming chest. Over the years Ashara had grown alongside Kuro. In the twi'lek's mind she figured it was to show her own growing age and mind. Ashara was a little taller than Kuro, but about the same fullness in the chest area, her curves were definitely all woman. It seemed togruta grew into themselves almost as fast as twi'lek did.
Kuro sobbed angrily into Ashara's breasts. "I wish I could stay dreaming...at least then I wouldn't be in pain all the time. At least then I could be with you forever."
Ashara wanted to cry at the utter defeat in Kuro's voice. "I know it's painful, love. But be strong. I'll always be with you. Even in the waking world. Trust in me, Kuro. I will always be here to take away your pain." The twi'lek couldn't quite remember when Ashara had taken to calling her love. But she loved it anyway. It made her feel special. Like she was worth something more than the universe's punching bag.
Kuro subtly shook her head, but heeded the words. She had to be strong, no matter how painful. If the universe wanted to throw all this misery at her, then she would show it just how big of a mistake that was. "It's hard. I don't want to…. But I will, only for you."
Ashara smiled the kindest smile Kuro had ever received. "That's my strong girl. Keep going. Just a little more, love. Just a little more."
Kory paced, wearing a path into the floor of the infirmary. She hadn't left the room, hadn't left Kuro's kolto tank since she was brought in a couple days ago. To say the human was livid, enraged, was an understatement. She was insane with righteous, primal fury that she wasn't even sure how she had stayed in one place so long. But she had, for Kuro.
The human girl blamed herself for these circumstances. While she was livid at whoever had done this, she hated herself more. Kuro had proven she would do anything to comfort Kory. It was clear the Sith sorceress had sensed her distress and came looking. It was Kory's fault that Kuro was put into a situation where she could be taken advantage of, when all she wanted to do was help her distressed sister. "Never again." She growled to herself, clenching her fist so tightly her nails bit into her skin, drawing blood. "Never again will anyone touch my sister. On my life, I swear it." She declared to the Force and anyone connected to it.
She no longer cared about Corrin, her crush was over. She no longer cared about being the best Sith warrior for herself, she would become the best to keep Kuro safe. To keep the filth that was the galaxy away from the only beautiful soul she had left to cherish. Kory stopped in front of the kolto tank once more and placed her hand on the glass. "Kuro..."
Kuro's body was floating in the tank, naked as the day she was born to absorb as much kolto as possible. Her head was drooped down a little, her lekku swimming behind her. She looked almost peaceful, beyond beautiful. She was healed up nicely, almost no cuts or bruises were seen.
Suddenly Kuro's eyes snapped open into a vicious purple eyed glare. Kory jumped back and cried out in surprise. The kolto tank started to shake and Kory could hear a faint growling scream bubbling from within. The glass shattered and exploded outward, Kory cried out again and turned to huddle herself away from the shards. The scream could be easily heard now. So much wrath, so much hate. Kory could sense the building Force power and suddenly she was afraid for her life. Kuro was out of control and if this power kept growing; she would blow the entire academy into atoms. The deafening scream of rage turned into a name, and it was, "FFON!" At least now, Kory knew who had violated her sister before the world went black.