Star Wars: The Old Republic Acclivity - Part 3
Desiderium stood over the corpse of his defeated opponent.
"That's it?! This is all that can be mustered at this pathetic excuse of an academy?!" he spat at the disturbed onlookers. "This is what happens when you take what is not yours, you digusting excuses for acolytes!"
The young man that now lay dead had stolen and destroyed Desiderium's lightsaber in his sleep. He payed the ultimate price for this deception. It was commonplace on Korriban for Sith to betray one another. The Sith Empire was based on the principle that the strongest achieve power and the weak are forced to do their bidding. Any and all advantages should be put in place to eliminate stronger opponents, including destroying or sabatoging their prized weapons and armor behind their back. Desiderium shoved through the crowd to his best friend, Tristesza.
"Do you enjoy it?" she asked.
"Killing? I don't know. I do it because I have to. It's the way of the Sith to crush our enemies," Desiderium replied.
"And our friends too," she said as she chuckled. Desiderium grimaced.
The two walked to the chamber of the Overseer, the headmaster of the Sith Academy and the ruler of every students fate. The two were the top students on all of Korriban. Tests and quests were nothing but menial tasks for the two. They had caught the attention and admiration of the most powerful Sith on the planet, and it would surely jump start the duo's career as Sith Lords.
"Blessed children of the Dark Side," a voice as chilling as any came from the dimly lit room. The Overseer's chamber sent chills down their spines. "Well done in the courtyard, Acolyte Ratis."
Desiderium gulped and began to mutter, "But my lord, how did-"
"Child, there is nothing I do not see at this academy. The Force tells me all I need to know," the cloaked figure said as he rose from a massive chair, the only item in the room, and approached the two students. "You two are an unusual case here. Never before has the Force been so strong with anyone, let alone two people like yourselves."
The man was featureless. His entire body and face wrapped in heavy, black fabric. The two students were absolutely petrified. The instructors were said to be absolutely terrifying here, but the two saw them as nothing more than glorified nerf-herders. This being was something entirely different. He radiated hate and fear. He was obviously tangible, yet he was ephemeral at the same time. He seems to glide across the floor as he moved. He stood only a few inches from the pair's faces. The being was as tall as the mighty Desiderium, though he was not nearly as well-built.
"You two are going to be Sith, that is, if you can complete one last task for me," the dreadful being said.
"Anything you wish," replied Tristesza.
"You two are to delve into the tomb of Sith Lord Pyrion Krathus. It is well-defended by hundreds of droids and...creatures that defend his remains. Get to his crypt and I will give you your final instructions there." The Overseer glided back to his chair. Desiderium and Tristesza bowed and left the room. Leaving the room felt like instant relief. The Dark Side was tangible in the space around such a powerful Dark Lord of the Sith.
"Let's be on our way then," Desiderium stated. The two did not grab food or water. The Force could sustain a Sith for weeks if they knew how to harness it properly. The classes at the academy were not completely useless, it would seem. The two walked out of the academy gates with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing and the training sabers slung across their backs.
They traveled for days to get to the tomb. The Dark Side powered them through, night and day, and guided them to their destination, the peak of a mountain a hundred miles from the academy. The two found the entrance soon enough. It was a massive, corroded hatch made of cortosis, a lightsaber resistant material.
"He was a smart man," Tristezsa said. "But not smart enough." With a flick of her wrist, the hatch flung into the air and down the side of the mountain. Desiderium and Tristesza drew their training sabers and activated them. They jumped down into the chasm below. They fell hundreds of feet before they slowed their descent and floated to the ground. As soon as their feet hit, dust flew into the air and red, glowing eyes surrounded them in every direction. The ancient droids rushed at the acolytes with blades and electrostaffs. The acolytes batted down droid after droid with flurries of swipes, parries, and thrusts. After they destroyed the massive army, they regained their composure.
"Are you okay?" Tristesza asked.
"Better than ever," Desiderium said with a fire in his eyes. The two pushed on, fighting the occasional group of droids along the way to the main crypt. The Dark Side guided them like a beacon to the room which contained the remains of this once-powerful Sith.
After nearly a day of fighting and walking through the massive halls of the mountain tomb, they entered the crypt of Pyrion Krathus.
"By the Force," the two exclaimed at the same time. As they said it, a massive beast rose from the ground before them. It was a Terentatek, a demon creature that was a physical manifestation of the Dark Side. It stood at fifty feet tall. It had spikes pertruding from multiple places on its body. Desiderium had heard the rumors of these creatures. Some stated that even lightsabers could not pierce the hide of these demons. How can we prevail if all we have are training sticks?! he asked himself. The beast shook the room with as it stopped its gnarled and clawed feet. The acolytes jumped high in the air and came down with all of their might behind their training sabers. They hit the beast where its hide was weakest, but to no avail. The blows only enraged the creature further. The Terentatek swung at the two with claws the size of vibroswords. The two were much too agile to be hit, but their strength had been sapped over the course of their journey and previous battles. It wasn't long before the beast found its mark. Desiderium tried to roll from the beast's strike, but a claw pierced him through the sternum. He gasped his final breath and fell to the floor, lifeless. Tristesza drew on her remaining strength, and in a display of immense power, ripped the beast's own hand from its body. As is roared in pain, she slammed the clawed hand into the creatures skull, ending its life as quickly as it had ended her childhood friend's. She ran to the body of her beloved. She had studied as a healer in the academy for some time and held hope that she could bring him back. She bit her hand to draw blood and used it to draw the ancient runes she had practiced so many times on Desiderium's face. She chanted the ritual as she held back tears. Eventually, Desiderium awoke. His amber eyes locked on hers. The moment did not last, however. The two heard clapping where the old Sith's coffin was.
"Well done, you two," said the Overseer. "You've completed almost all of the tests I have placed before you."
"Almost all?" inquired Desiderium.
The Overseer laughed loudly. It was the most terrifying thing either Desiderium or Tristezsa had ever heard. Not even the roar from the demon compared. "You will fight to the death right here. Whoever lives will be my apprentice and gain a place on the High Council of the Emperor." Desiderium looked into Tristezsa's eyes again. This time there were tears.
"Please don't," she begged. Desiderium stood up from her arms and walked to his fallen training saber. He did not think, he only acted. Tristesza remained on her knees where she had revived him only a few moments ago. Desiderium stood over her with his blade activated.
"Didn't I mean anything to you?" she whimpered. "Didn't this time together affect you at all?"
"That's the thing, Tris, you're all I have left. You are my only barrier from gaining full mastery of the Dark Side. With you gone, I will know only sorrow and power. I will conquer this world and the next until all is mine."
He plunged the blade into her back.
"Thank you for that," said the Overseer right into his ear. The young man felt as though he should weep, but could not find it in himself any longer. The Dark Side had truly taken over every facet of who he was. He was no longer Desiderium, but a Sith Lord. He turned and knelt before the Overseer. The being ignited its saber and wove it over both of his new apprentice's shoulders.
"I pronounce you Darth Cruciatus, Lord of Torment and Pain. May the Force serve you well as my apprentice," said the old Sith Master. The newly anointed Sith looked up from his kneeling position to his new purpose. He felt empowered. Never before had he felt more alive, yet so dead at the same time.
"What is thy bidding, my master?"