Chapter Two – Venturing into the Tombs
Green ichor sprayed across her clothes, the K'lor'slug that Aindri had struck down with an overhead blow, her blade whistling through the air, let out a high pitched squeal. She was only halfway across the mortuary courtyard, and already her clothes were covered in blood and sand. Sand which had tasted the blood of thousands and all that remained of those who'd fallen in the relentless and cruel climb meant to test the limits of ones' power.
Fingering her tunic, she curled her lip in disgust and hoped that the academy had spares. Many spares. Flicking the blood from her vibrosword, she surveyed the rest of the courtyard, keeping an eye on the K'lor'slugs that skittered across bright red sand.
The beasts where, like she expected, completely vicious. Vermicular bodies propelled themselves, undulating across the sand where maws filled with endless rows of teeth, rotated antipodally as they threatened to tear careless acolytes limb from limb and devour them whole.
Driven by the smell of blood and the dying shriek of their foul brethren, a group of K'lor'slugs slithered towards her. Vaulting over the swipe of a talon from the creature nearest to her, she landed in a crouch in the middle of the group and spun as she rose so that her blade sliced through the things tough skin in a single motion.
She had only travelled a few more steps when another two K'lor'slugs slinked towards her and thrust her blade forward in a low stab, sweeping it upwards to cut through the creatures torso and maw. Aindri raised her vibrosword to strike at the second K'lor'slug only to duck when she heard a familiar crackling behind her. A bolt of purple lightning arched over her head, striking the K'lor'slug square in its torso and it fell to the floor convulsing.
Spinning, Aindri stepped forward and brought her blade to rest at the throat of her attacker. Aindri arched an eyebrow at the curious sight before her. Her assailant, was a red skinned Twi'lek in a long purple tunic and black leggings, which hugged the curves of her figure. Black tribal markings were tattooed across the length of her long lekku and she wondered what the tattoos symbolised. A vibrosword was strapped to her back, and sparks still danced around slender fingertips, which where currently raised in front of her face. She was strong with the Force, that much was obvious at glance, and almond-shaped eyes examined her with an intelligent and calm calculating gaze.
This, Aindri observed was a woman who promised equal parts pain and pleasure and could undoubtedly get any man or woman to spill their darkest secrets.
"What?" The Twi'lek asked as drew her hand back to inspect her finger nails and Aindri arched an eyebrow at the fellow acolytes flippancy, considering the blade at her throat.
"You are an alien," She commented, it was rare after all for non-humans or non-purebloods to attend the Academy given the Siths' xenocentrism and obsession with the purity of Sith teachings and tradition.
"How observant," The Twi'lek drawled though she gained a sharper glint in her eyes when she looked up at her, "The Academy, as I am constantly told, is getting desperate."
The Twi'lek smiled in bitter amusement at her own words, like she was commenting on an inside joke, before she glanced briefly down at the blade resting against her throat and then returning her attention back to her nails, "Now, are you going to put your blade down?"
Aindri tilted her head at the Twi'lek's request, "After you tried to kill me?"
"Consider it a professional curtsey," The Twi'lek drawled, "Besides I failed, didn't I? You'll be ready for me this time, so theres no point in trying again so soon."
Aindri narrowed her eyes at Twi'lek for a moment before she snorted and stepped back, sheathing her vibrosword with a single fluid motion.
"Why thank you," The Twi'lek continued in the same drawling quality, before tilting her head towards the dark and crumbling tomb entrance with a raised eyebrow, "Care to join me in the tomb? From what I've seen, you clearly will need help if you going to pass whatever trial you've been given any time this century."
Aindri arched an eyebrow and when she remained silent, the Twi'lek shrugged elegantly before brushing past her, "Suite yourself."
Watching the Twi'lek, who moved with a seductive grace, stroll towards the tomb with an assessing gaze, Aindri knew that she was being provoked on purpose It was a clever ploy, goad someone into fighting the majority of enemies in order to prove their superiority and the Twi'lek would get a free ride through the tomb.
"I will not be manipulated into fighting for you." She called out crossing her arms and the Twi'lek stopped before turning to look at her with a new measure of respect.
"You're smarter than I gave you credit for. Smarter than the usual brutes at least."
She did growl then, and the Twi'lek smirked at her before turning and walked through the entrance of one of the valleys' most ancient tombs with a wave, "See you on the other side then. If you survive."
Aindri clicked her tongue before unsheathing her blade, spinning it into a reverse grip and thrusting backwards to impale the K'lor'slug which had attempted to sneak up behind her. The creature emitted a high pitched screech as she yanked the blade from its torso.
Re-sheathing her vibrosword, Aindri marched towards the entrance and began her descent into the tombs depths, running her hand along the roughhewn walls as she walked down the worn stone steps. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she stood in an open archway which opened up onto an expansive chamber ravaged by time. Spidery cracks covered the walls and statues, broken urns lined the walls and looking up she could see holes in the ceiling where the masonry had become loose.
Surrounding the area near the staircase was a makeshift barricade, made from stacking crates one on top of the other, separating the space from the rest of the chamber and the K'lor'slugs occupying it. Behind the barricade the remainder of a squad of troopers had taken shelter, only one of whom was still standing as he unleased quick bursts of blaster fire when an overly inquisitive creature got too close. The rest where leaning or sitting against the crates, bleeding heavily, and it took only one look to know that they were at their limit. She approached the one man still standing, the stripes on his uniform identifying him as a Sergeant.
"What is the situation Sergeant…?"
"Cormun, my lord," The trooper saluted, "Of the Fifth Infantry Company, Korriban regiment. I'm here commanding a hard target mission to exterminate K'lor'slugs in this tomb."
He shuddered involuntarily and Aindri sensed his fear at the mention of the beast, "I've lost three squads of good men fighting them. They come in packs – they just… they'll swallow a man whole."
"Strategy?" She asked, given how many of the beasts there were she'd target the egg chambers to stop them from breeding. It turned out the sergeant had the same idea.
"We managed to get explosives to all the egg chambers but the K'lor'slugs were all over us before we could detonate them."
She nodded before unsheathing her vibrosword and approached the barricade, "Hold this position, I will detonate the explosives."
She didn't wait for an answer before vaulting over the crates and charging towards the nearest K'lor'slug with a Force aided leap. Impaling the creature, and drawing on the Force, she thrust out her free hand, the K'lor'slug thrashed about in the air before she enclosed her fist. The K'lor'slug exploded, thick clumps of blood oozed to the floor and crushed organs fell to the ground with a wet thud. Moving forward, she ducked through an archway into a corridor and carved her way through K'lor'slug after K'lor'slug which only got more ferocious as she neared the egg chamber. It wasn't long before floor grew slick with the creature's blood and Aindri slipped once or twice as she found it more difficult to keep her footing.
Reaching the chamber, she could just make out the explosives scattered in amongst the eggs and spied the detonator switch only a metre or so away from the eggs. Unlike the corridor and the main chamber, there was only a single K'lor'slug standing guard, though it was much larger than the others. Aindri knew it was most likely stronger as well.
Twirling her vibrosword once in her hand, she leaped towards the beast and brought her blade smashing down onto the things crown but the tougher hide meant that she only scored a small cut. She had to jump back to avoid the swing of a talon, before she lunged forward, stamping her foot to had extra power to her thrust. With all the force concentrated on a single point, the blade was able to pierce the K'lor'slugs stomach, blood and gastric acid spilling on the floor. Aindri withdrew her vibrosword quickly so that the acid wouldn't eat away at the metal and she channelled the Force into the muscles of her arms before she dealt a fatal blow with a slash just below its maw.
Setting the charges, she sprinted from the chamber and ducked behind doorway before she threw the switch, and clapped her hands over her ears as the explosives detonated behind her. It took a couple of seconds for the tremors to settle and she twisted around to peer back into the chamber.
The explosion sent charred pieces of K'lor'slugs spattering across the floor and walls and a small shower of dust and pebbles rained down from the ceiling. She spent a moment to admire the handiwork wrought by the Sergeant's explosives before walking back down the corridor to the main chamber.
"From the explosion I take it you were successful in clearing the egg chambers?" Cormun asked hopefully as she approached, letting out a sigh of relief when she nodded in confirmation, "You have my utmost thanks, my lord."
"You will be fine for now, but given your squads condition I would retreat soon." Aindri warned.
"I'll get the survivors back to the barracks as soon as possible," Cormun replied, before looking at the remnants of his squad with a sad sigh, "They were good men and woman, they deserved better than torn to shreds by a pack of beasts."
"They died in service to the Empire. To the Sith. There is no greater honour." She replied, her head slightly bowed in silent condolement for the slain.
"You are right, my lord," He agreed with a small smile on his face, "Their families will be proud," He looked to her and saluted, "I'd say good luck, but I don't think you'll need it."
Leaving Cormun and his men behind her, Aindri ventured further into the tomb, her blade rising and falling in bewildering patterns as she cut her way through K'lor'slugs after K'lor'slug until the tide eventually slowed. She kicked at a carcass of one of the few creatures that hadn't been killed by her, evidence of passing acolytes who could actually swing a vibrosword with some semblance of skill, but stopped when something about the corpse caught her eye.
Squatting down, she examined the K'lor'slug and frowned upon seeing blasters marks as she knew the troopers from the entrance hadn't gone this far in and Acolytes didn't carry blasters. Some of the burns were also inconsistent with ones belonging to Imperial issued weapons. Raising her head she looked intently into the gloom, the lack of light making it hard to see beyond a few meters ahead of her.
Standing, she twirled her blade in her hand once before starting to walk forward once more, and it wasn't long before she heard the familiar sounds of blaster fire ringing in the chamber ahead of her. Aindri stopped in the archway and analysed the ongoing melee, looters clashing with the occasional acolyte, before spotting a certain red skinned Twi'lek standing over a human male, her lips twisted in contempt. Lips curling up in a predatory smile, she silent began stalking towards her.
Tormi disliked looters, hated them with a passion, and so she had dispatched the human male, who wore simple work clothes to hide him from suspicion, with a particularly potent dose of Force Lightning. She turned to the second looter who was thumbling with his blaster, a look of abject terror on their face, and was about to raise her hand when she heard the tell-tale sound of a blade whistling through the air. Jumping to the side, she avoided the blade which slashed open the looters throat, sending a fine red mist spurting into the air.
Whipping around with her arms raised to release a torrent of Force Lightning on her attacker, she found herself facing with the same human acolyte she had met above ground. That acolyte was now mirroring her earlier posture and was examining her finger nails with a bored expression on her face, her vibrosword held in a loose, almost lazy grip in her other hand. Almost being the operative word, as despite seemingly unguarded stance there was a certain readiness about her. Looking up, the human gave her a look which sent a single, simple, message.
Now we're even.
"Tormi." The Twi'lek supplied with a savage grin, one promising murder and mayhem and Aindri gave her a savage grin of her own.
"Aindri."
Together they launched forward and Aindri blocked blaster bolts and the occasional vibrosword as she cut her and Tormi a path, while the Twi'lek followed her laughing as she shocked looter and acolyte alike. They fought in tandem, with her cutting and slicing into the enemies closest to them, whilst Tormi used Force Lightning to strike those further afield. It wasn't long before Aindri came to both respect and appreciate the Twi'lek's skill with the Force, her lightning getting faster and stronger each time she used the technique.
Within minutes they had travelled several chambers deeper into the tombs where they once again encountered K'lor'slugs and green ichor once again sprayed their already stained clothes. Coming into one of the few areas of the tombs free of enemies, Tormi looked down at her clothes with a look of disdain.
"While this has been fun," Tormi scowled picking at her clothes, "I'm looking forward to a shower and chucking these in an incinerator."
"Really? I think it's an improvement." She commented drily.
"Shut up." Aindri smirked and they left the gloomy corridor and entered another antechamber, a corridor directly in front of them whilst of too the right was a set of stairs which descended even further into the tombs depths.
"And this is where we must part I'm afraid," Tormi sighed dramatically as she approached the stone stairs, "I have a trial of philosophy to complete."
"Spindrall." Aindri muttered, surprised that the elderly Sith, who was at the Academy when her uncle was an acolyte which was decades ago, was still alive after all these years. From her uncle, she knew that the Sith was a prophet and often counselled acolytes on the Sith code.
Then Aindri frowned when she registered the heavy sarcasm lacing Tormi's voice and arched an eyebrow at her follow acolyte.
"Well what can I say? My overseer is a xenocentric chauvinist." Tormi snorted, as if that explained everything and didn't bother to elaborate any further. Giving a small shake of the head, Aindri gave the Twi'lek as small smirk.
"See you on the other side. If you survive." Aindri quipped and Tormi snorted, even as her eyes glittered in amusement, before she gave her fellow acolyte a cunning smile.
"Oh I'll pass whatever test he gives me, I don't plan on letting some old geezer prevent me from being Sith." Tomri waved over her shoulder as she disappeared into the shadow of the stairs and Aindri was alone once again.
Not long after Aindri separated from Tormi, she came upon an archway spanning that span the beginning of a set of well-worn stairs delving down into shadows of the tomb. Etched into the stone of the arch was ancient Sith script, worn away by passage time. She recognised 'Tyûk' meaning strength, and 'Asmenys' meaning blade, 'Spaga' meaning sword and 'Ginklas' meaning weapon. The rest of the text was illegible but what she could read told her enough about what was awaiting her at the bottom of the stone steps.
The Armoury.
Unsheathing her vibrosword and holding it ready in her hand, Aindri stalked down the staircase, careful of any loose or damp flagstones, guided by pale orange light from below. Every twenty steps was a narrow landing, flanked on each side by weathered, ancient sarcophagi standing against the two walls. They were open, but instead of mortal remains, just as ancient droids lay deactivated within. Despite their age, and the scuffs and scratches on their metal frames, the droids looked perfectly operable and Aindri wondered whether someone was sent to rebuild or maintain them and if so how often.
The bottom of the staircase opened up into a grand circular chamber littered with masonry, crumbling armour, interspaced by open sarcophagi where more droids lay entombed. Along the walls sat numerous weapon racks, some of the spaces sitting empty, blades to which a champion had already laid claim, whilst others held ancient, dormant, blades. A few of the weapons, though not many, that she could see were too dull or aged to be of any use. Whilst there were no obvious remains, the dark stains and patchy streaks on the floor lent weight to Tremel's earlier words:
Become Sith, or die.
Shaking her self, Aindri re-sheathed her sword and she moved to stand in the centre of the chamber, closing her eyes and opening herself to the Force, letting it guide her to the correct blade. Feeling a weak tug, she turned clockwise until she was facing the side of the chamber where the pull felt strongest. Opening her eyes she walked towards the rack at the back of the chamber, flanked by two statues of bowed slaves, and skimmed her hand over the blades hilts. Her hand stopped over the hilt of a warblade which, while she couldn't quite put a finger on a reason, she knew would be the blade that would see her through her trials. Gripping the hilt, she removed it from the rack, eliciting a slight rasp as it scraped against the stone.
Stepping back, Aindri examined her new weapon which, while slightly rusted, was light and razor sharp. The blade, slightly longer than a traditional lightsaber, ended in a chiselled tip whilst its base flared out in a stout guard over the handle. She gave it few experimental swings, getting used to the weight, the balance and the feel of it, before she held it out in front of her. Taking a deep breath and releasing it, she pressed her thumb gently against the toggle. A pale light spilled from the hilt, sheathing the blade in a weak crimson glow and a deep hum emanated from the metal, not dissimilar from the sound of a lightsaber. Though whether the blade would hold against a lightsaber in sustained combat, she did not know.
Satisfied that the blade was sound, and pleased that age had not comprised the metals integrity, she passed it into her left hand and unsheathed her vibrosword before tossing it into the rubble. With a slight smirk on her face, Aindri took a step forward when a soft, almost silent, whirring sound reached her ear and a glint of metal caught her eye.
Out of the sarcophagi stepped four droids, who raised four blasters, all pointing straight at the centre of her chest. Her smirk breaking out in a wild grin, Aindri deflected the bolts with her new blade and jumped towards the first droid with a Force aided leap, impaling it through the chest. Removing her blade from the first droid she stepped up and bisected the second with a single strike, sparks flying from the exposed wires. The third, she sent crashing into the wall with a powerful Force Push, and crushed it with the Force. She ducked, blaster fire sailing over her head and span the warblade into a reserve grip before thrust it back and up, piercing the fourth beneath its chin. Walking back through the armoury and up the staircase, she continued to demolish the droids that staggered out of the sarcophagi, laughing freely at the destruction that she and her blade created.
Battling the droids in the armoury, set the tone for most of her journey through the rest of the tomb and Aindri quickly became bored as she settled into motions of cutting through anything that crossed her path, K'lor'slug or looter, with ruthless efficiency as she fought her way through the corridors. By the time she had reached the upper floors her bloodlust had largely dissipated as none of the tombs denizens challenged her enough to get creative in her bladework. Even the K'lor'slugs, as deadly as Tremel had made them out to be, had lost their bite.
"Come on you nerf-herders! The quicker we shift this lot of relics, the quicker we get paid!"
Aindri stopped mid-step, her ears perking up at the rough voice and odd accent, and cocked her head to the side as snippets of conversation floated down from somewhere above her. Walking past a broken statue, she found a staircase leading to what she guessed was another chamber above her. Stalking up the steps, Aindri stopped just short of the archway and watched as the looters manhandled what had to be priceless Sith relics, gritting her teeth at the lack of care and respect that they were treated with.
Narrowing her eyes, she recalled the bloodstained datapad that she had found in one of the chambers and fixed her gaze on the man directing the other looters. Curling lithe fingers tighter round the hilt, Aindri drew her blade as she leaped at him. The looters watched horrified when her warblade split the man's skull, his blood pooling on the floor as he hit the ground. Taking advantage of their panic, Aindri attacked the rest of the looters, quickly striking those nearest to her, her blade humming gleefully when it sliced through sentient flesh.
Witnessing the carnage, the few remaining looters dropped their weapons and fled the chamber, and whilst she wanted to chase and destroy them for even daring to touch the tombs relics, their safety took priority. Re-sheathing her warblade, its hunger quenched for the time being, Aindri crouched down and carefully picked the relics to check them over for any damage. Breathing a sigh of relief at that the relics were fine, she gently placed them into a bag she'd taken from one of the looters and stood, hefting the bag over her shoulder.
Aindri picked her way carefully through the rest of the tomb, avoiding the looters and K'lor'slugs so that the relics wouldn't be damaged. It took her another solid hour of making her way through the tombs twist and turns before finally finding a staircase that lead up and out of the tomb. Taking the first step, Aindri smiled at the thought that she would be finally stepping foot into the Sith Academy. And looking down at her clothes, ripped, bloodied and stained with droid oil, she looked forward to the chance to have a shower.