Chapter Five – Reigning Judgement
Setting his datapad on his desk, Tremel sat back thinking, fingers interlaced beneath his chin. The report on the acolyte's progress showed she had surpassed his expectations, and he would have to readjust his assessment of her abilities. She demonstrated intelligence and strength, and the moment she had stepped off the shuttle he had felt the ripples in the Force that her very presence was causing. There were of course, whispers of discontent amongst the acolytes and overseers at her arrival, but now they had a taste of her abilities many admitted she deserved her place. Even Rance, who originally favoured Vemrin, had begun giving her one-on-one instruction.
Tremel frowned thoughtfully. The rumours had mostly likely reached Baras, he needed make his next move and if not now soon. Relooking over the list of potential prisoners scheduled for transport to Korriban, he selected the three cases he'd best thought would test her mind. Satisfied with his selection, he sent a message those three were to be delivered to Korriban immediately. It was time for the acolyte's second trial.
Aindri sat in large lecture hall flipping through the class materials on her datapad, only half listening as Assistant Overseer Markan lectured about ancient Sith Lords. Tormi sat next to her looking bored and Marken shot her a look of disdain when she gave an exaggerated yawn.
"Ajunta Pall," He bit out, sweeping his gaze over the acolytes, "Was the first individual to have held the title of Dark Lord of the Sith. Kown for his ability to shape and create life through the Force, the Jedi, being the fools they are, condemned his actions and suppressed his teachings. In an act of defiance he fought against the Jedi leading to the Hundred-Year Darkness and upon his defeat, was exiled to the Outer Rim, where they discovered Korriban and the Sith," He inclined his head towards Ffon, who looked down on the other acolytes smugly, "Who revered Ajunta Pall and his fellow exiles as gods."
"Ah, to be worshipped by legions of minions and venerated as a god." Tormi, sighed dreamily, her eyes glazing over with barely concealed desire.
"Constantly being surrounded by sycophants would be irritating." Aindri replied.
"And that is where we differ my friend, for I could imagine nothing better." Aindri hummed in response before glancing up to see Markan who was glowering at them, specifically Tormi.
"Pay attention Acolyte," Marken spat, "Or you will be punished."
Tormi gave the assistant overseer an overly sweet smile and he growled at her. Marken was one of those who, like Tremel, could often be heard complaining of what he deemed was the increasingly lax standards regarding admission to the Academy. She had listened to more than one verbal sparring match between him and the Twi'lek.
"And to think these sacred halls is being desecrated by aliens and slaves." A mixture of scowls and smirks broke out across the room, Vemrin and Ffon unsurprisingly among them, at Markens words. Aindri glanced sidewise to see Tormi's smile slip slightly. Nudging the Twi'leks shoulder, she gave Tormi a small shake of her head, indicating it wasn't worth it. Her companion released a small sigh but nodded and sat up looking attentive. She felt Tormi's loathing simmering beneath her skin when Marken smirked at her.
"Tulak Hord," He began with a smug tone, "Was another early Dark Lord, the battles of Yn and Chabosh among his greatest achievements."
Tulak Hord. Memories of listening to her mother reading her stories of those famous battles flashed through her mind. It was one of the few good memories she had of her.
"It is believed that hundreds of worlds were conquered by Hord, and his conquering of the Dromund system played a significant part in Dromund Kass becoming the Empires current capital. Unfortunately, the majority records from that era were lost in the Great Hyperspace War but that hasn't stopped generations of Sith from unearthing his teachings and artefacts." Aindri felt interest stir in Tormi at the mention of the word 'artefact', her signature flaring a little before being tempered as the Twi'lek adopted a mask of indifference.
"Hord's mask was found by Revan during his search for the Star Forge. His lightsaber discovered by Darth Marr on Dromund Fels before his ascension to the Dark Council."
Many sat up at the mention of dark councillor legendary for his reputation as the Defender of the Empire, a Sith who dealt defeat after defeat to the Republic forces. He was one of the few people she immediately respected, even she had met him when he visited her uncle at his home.
"Hord's successor was Marka Ragnos, eliminating his competitors through quick and ruthless campaigns. It was this strength, power and penchant for strategy that became hallmarks of his rule and allowed him to hold the title for over a century due to showing a great level of strategic discipline. It was also this strategic discipline that stopped him from waging war against both the Jedi and the Republic, despite knowing of their existence. Why?"
Silence descended as acolytes looked at each uncertainly and Markan grew increasingly annoyed with each passing second. She glanced at Tormi, who could've easily answered with her already extensive knowledge of Sith history. But she was content to let Markan stew and the pleasure at Ffon's inability to answer was clear on the Twi'lek's face.
Aindri sighed quietly and placed her datapad on the desk before answering, raising her voice so she could be heard throughout the room, "The Empire wasn't ready. He knew they needed to focus on gathering strength before confronting the Republic. If, at that time, Empire's and Republic forces clashed, the Empire would not survive."
"Naga Sadow attacked the Republic." Tormi pointed out.
"And look at the result. Sadow was too ambitious, too impatient. Had he followed Ragnos's example, waited until the Empire was truly ready, the Hyperspace War wouldn't have been lost. His overconfidence was his downfall." Aindri replied and Tormi inclined her head conceding the point.
Marken nodded at her in approval, "You are correct, Acolyte. Despite the Empires initial successes, the Republic far outmatched us in numbers and firepower. Once the Republic realised this they regrouped and pushed Sadow's forces back to Koros. When he retreated after failing to invade Republic space, the Republic followed him, which resulted in the loss of Korriban."
Several of the acolytes growled in anger at the thought of Republic ships even being in the same system, much less in orbit above Korriban itself. Tormi looked indifferent, but then Aindri supposed that was to be expected. After all, the Empire, both current and ancient, was a civilisation built on the backs of what where deemed 'lesser species'.
"Did Sadow die on Korriban?" Asked an acolyte sitting in front of her, not quite being able to keep the venom out of his voice.
"No one is entirely sure, but the most commonly held belief among historians is that Sadow sought refuge and later died on Yavin Four." Markan checked the chrono on his wrists, "Tomorrow we'll be going more in depth into lead up to the Great Hyperspace War before moving onto the war itself." He paused and looked at each of them in eye,
"And I expect all of you to be better prepared it." Tormi snorted and he glared at her and she smiled, waving at him in response. Growling, Markan strode from the room causing an acolyte, who was standing by nervously the door, to jump out of the way. Tormi cocked her head regarding the acolyte.
"My, my, my. What could Harken possibly want now?" Tormi tutted and sauntered over to the doorway.
Aindri's datapad vibrated gently on the desk and she looked down to see a message from Tremel requesting her presence in his chambers.
"Coming?" Venitas asked, appearing besides her and she shook her head and nodded in understanding when she lifted her datapad to show him the message and whispered, "Good luck."
Since her first day and her first lesson, Aindri had fallen into the familiar routine of lightsaber training in the morning, lessons on the Force, and lightsaber training in the afternoon. Further supplemented by Sith history and battle tactics. But knowing of Tremel's game she knew he would expedited her trials. Still she was surprised he had called her for her second trial so soon, for that would be the only reason she would be called to Tremel's chambers. Entering his chambers, Tremel walked out from behind his desk so that he was standing directly in front of her.
"You here good," Greeted Tremel, walking out from behind his desk to stand directly in front of her, "Do you know why I called you here?"
"My second trial."
"You are correct. There are three prisoners in the Academy jails. Interrogate them and decide their fates. Consider each criminal's story carefully. The decisions you make will be scrutinized, let your passions guide your judgements."
She arched an eyebrow, "Who will judge my actions?"
"Me. When Darth Baras catches wind of you it's going to be my neck on the line as much as yours." He replied matter-of-factly and she considered his answer for a moment before inclining her head, conceding he had a point.
"The head jailer Knash is waiting for you in one holding rooms. Now go, and return to me after you've passed judgement on the prisoners."
Walking through the halls, Aindri reached the stairs down to the jails, a slight draft coming from beyond the stairs, and she recalled the underground floors were far more expansive than those above. She also recalled that the jails took up the whole of the first of the underground levels. Descending the stairs she came into a long cavernous room, the lights doing little to chase away the shadows. Ray-shielded cells lined rough-hewn walls, casting an eerie red glow across the dark floor, ceiling and walls. Various doors led into individual interrogation rooms, from which she could hear pained screams and smell burned flesh. Closing her eyes, she could feel the pure despair infusing the walls. Looking into one of the rooms she saw a prisoner convulsing on a table, a Sith in inquisitors' robes burning him with electricity. Imprisoned in the cells were prisoners ranging from republic soldiers to slaves, some banging on the shields with anger and desperation as she passed, but many sat on the floor staring listlessly into space.
Aindri neared the holding rooms which were located deep within the jails, backed onto a landing pad were shuttles could load and unload detainees. She blinked when she heard a chirping sound float from the open doorway. The cheerful sound, foreign amongst the anguish permeating the jails, was followed by a more familiar yelp of pain and she entered to find a blue skinned Twi'lek clutching at her neck with a grimace. In front of her cell was a balding Sith, holding a remote control, likely for the shock collar on her neck.
"Ow! Jerk," She groaned and shook head giving the man a wide smile, hands on her hips, even as the annoyance Aindri had felt building showed on his face, "If you don't like that just say so, I can do other animals too. Dire-cat, frog-dog, Kowakian monkey-lizard, you name it."
Aindri arched an eyebrow in amusement, feeling a slither of admiration at the Twi'lek's courage. Though not necessarily her recklessness. Roughly her height, the Twi'lek's lekku lacked Tormi's tribal tattoos and violet blue eyes held a hidden sense of wisdom which clashed with a sense of mischief. Viewed through the Force, her signature reflected her eyes along with an unbreakable will that Aindri could respect. It made her minded drift to her comment regarding sycophants to Tormi.
Gliding near silently across the room, she tapped the Sith lightly on the shoulder and he jumped. He whirled around and she could now see a beard, staring at her with wide eyes, which narrowed to anger, before widening slightly with a flash of realisation.
"You're the acolyte Tremel sent for the test right?" He asked uncertainly and she nodded, leaning against the crates stacked behind her.
"And you are Knash."
"Yeah, and I run these cells and slave pits," He confirmed, crossing his arms and scrutinizing her critically before huffing, "You should know this situation is highly unusual. Tremel must think highly of you to ship in prisoners rather than sending you offworld for interrogation or using the wretches caught here."
Aindri shrugged, if Tremel had pushed for her to come to the Academy early she wasn't surprised that he willing to circumvent the typical interrogation procedures. He wanted to expedite her trials, he could not afford to send her offworld.
"Seems to think you're the next coming of Exar Kun," Knash continued, lowering his voicem "But you ought to know he ain't the only one watching."
"Hardly surprising given the circumstances in which I arrived." Aindri replied dismissively.
Harrumphing Knash led her into a separate room containing three cells, holding three prisoners. A human woman, a bald man in Sith armour and in the far cell, an Neimodian.
"These are the prisoners transferred here. You gotta interrogate them as needed and then decide their fate. They're normally executed or given a trial by combat to see if their worthy. Whatever you decide, you will be the one carrying out the sentence."
Aindri examined the woman in first cell, who was still standing despite being severely beaten, a fresh bruise blooming across her left cheek, and meeting her eyes with a steely gaze.
"You freaks aren't getting anything new out of me," The woman sneered, "I've been through this routine. Just do whatever you're gonna do."
Knash regard her coolly, "Impudent to the last. She was sent to kill an imperial spy in the Yavin system but throughout her torture, she maintained that she was hired anonymously."
Protecting ones identity was standard practice when employing assassins. Refusing to give it made it harder to trace back to you if they failed, however…
Analyse every explanation, evaluate every motive, scrutinise every opportunity.
"Republic assassins are trained to resist torture."
The assassin scowled, "I'm not political. I work for whoever pays."
There was truth in the assassin's words and Aindri tilted her head, regarding the assassin thoughtfully as she debated her options. She didn't deny the charge, but executing her would prove fruitless and she would not be able to defeat her in combat…
"Point is she doesn't deny the charge. So you must decide execution or trial by combat."
But a third avenue, "She could prove useful, send her to Imperial Intelligence."
There was a gleam in her eyes at the prospect of learning as the assassin crossed her arms, "I won't work for free."
"You and Intelligence can come to a suitable accord." She replied smoothly, moving onto the cell and she could feel Knash's gaze on her back and hear him murmur under his breath, "Interesting."
"Please I am a fellow Sith, judge me with an open mind a grant me trail by combat, I beg you."
"Sith don't beg." She rebuked, squashing the small slither of sympathy she felt for him.
For a warrior, dying without a weapon in their hand was one of the greatest shames they could endure. She knew because she was the same and if she was to die, it would be fighting with a lightsaber in her hand. Aindri also had no idea who he was or who his friends were or whether his connections were influential. Executing the Sith, rather than ending him with dignity might bring her enemies she did not need.
"This pile of waste is Devotek. A valued Sith champion until he botched an important mission and caused a thousand Imperial deaths," Knash sneered, looking at the Sith with disgust, "Now look at him."
"I served faithfully for twenty-four years then one mistake and they threw me away. Now I have been left here to rot. Please let me feel the weight of a weapon once more."
Reaching for the vibrosword resting against the wall for this exact purpose and nodded for Knash to open the cell.
"This should be entertaining." Knash mused, opening the cell and she tossed Devotek the blade and drew her own, the warblade humming in excitement at the prospect of fresh blood as she adopted a low guarded stance.
Gripping the blades' hilt, Devotek brought it in front of him, murmuring, "My thanks young warrior," Before raising the vibrosword and bringing the blade down hard.
But languishing in the jails had robbed Devotek's strike of whatever power and speed it once had. Compared to Rance, whose blows had more than once threatened to crack her skull, this was nothing. Stepping back to avoid the blow, Aindri turned on her sharply heel and reversed her blade, thrusting it through his neck, killing him instantly.
"Well he didn't put up much of a fight." Knash smirked as she removed her blade, the body slumping to the floor.
Ignoring the comment and Knash's smug tone, she re-sheathed her blade in a single fluid motion before turning to the Neimoidian, who sat fidgeting on the floor, "The final criminal?"
"Well, he's a bit of a puzzle. He's called Brehg, a jittery little wretch. Suspected of supplying forged documents to Republic agents. Strangely enough he maintains his innocence despite being severely tortured." Brehg scrambled to the bars, pressing his hands against the shields, eyes pleading her for mercy.
"That's because I'm innocent I am! Believe me you gotta! I had nothing to do with forging no papers. Set up, I was set up!"
"The evidence is circumstantial," Knash admitted, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "There is a chance he didn't do it."
Aindri regarded the Neimoidian, the Force whispering a warning in her ear. There was something off about the alien, but she wasn't yet skilled enough to tell what it was. Who would frame him? And Why? Such information could potentially be useful for someone else. All she knew was there was more to him than met the eye. He would never leave Korriban anyway.
"The Inquisitors. If nothing comes from it, execute him." Panic alighting in his eyes Brehg begged and pleaded for his release. Scowling at the noise Knash banged on the shield, sending him sprawling to the floor.
"Shut up, you fidgety fool, the decision's been made." Knash ordered and Brehg curled up whimpering. Shooting the alien a look of disgust, he gave
"You're an interesting one kid, I can see why people are keeping tabs on you. Head back to Overseer Tremel, and see what he thinks of your choices."
Striding from the holding rooms, she could hear Knash and the Twi'lek resuming their verbal sparring, inevitably followed by a yelping of pain. She thought it a shame such a spirited individual would likely perish in the jails.
Climbing the stairs, she left the jails and its oppressive atmosphere, inclining her head in greeting to the acolytes she knew when they passed each other, having made a small circle of friends since her first day, Tormi and Venitas at the centre. Through them she roughly knew of Vemrin's movements, their rivalry having only grown since their first and second encounters. It was because of this, she knew Vemrin only had one more trial before facing the one that would make him Sith and why Tremel was accelerating her trials.
Nearing Tremel's chambers, she raised an eyebrow at the impatience and frustration, radiating through the Force. A muffled voice she didn't recognise floating into the hall, its owner likely the reason for his irritation. The door slid open at her approach and Tremel barked a harsh order from within.
"Then run back to your master in the beast pens before I cut you in half." She leaned to the side just as an acolyte rushed past her.
Tremel pinched his nose, releasing a sigh of frustration and looked up to see his acolyte waiting just outside the door and waved her in.
"Sorry to make you wait acolyte, these interruptions are incredibly annoying." Letting out a breath, he picked his datapad, standing with a small groan as he stretched his muscles, "Now, your test in the jails. I've reviewed your interrogations. The assassin, Solentz – you assigned her to Imperial Intelligence. I commend you that was excellent thinking, never, waste a potential resource."
"It was obvious." Aindri shrugged, though whether Intelligence would find a use for the woman remained to be seen.
"Obvious to you, but many would have just executed her. Now Devotek, the failed warrior, why grant his wish for trial by combat?"
She considered her answer briefly, doubting that Tremel would approve of her reason true reason. Besides she did deal with Devotek, so the overseer could hardly complain.
"I wanted to see for myself if he had any worth." It was a half-truth, but if Devotek had beaten her, then she would have found some use for him, potentially as an instructor since he had real combat experience.
"That holds some merit," Tremel conceded, "But it should have been obvious he was far past any use. Devotek was an utter waste of space. Once something is no longer useful it should be eradicated, remember that."
"That is a matter of perspective." She replied, challenging him to as they held each's gaze for a moment before he decided to let the matter drop
"Lastly, the forger," He said delicately, his mouth curling up into a slight sneer, "You sent back for more torture even though he seemed innocent. A strong decision, leave no stone unturned."
Aindri inclined her head, giving him a knowing smile. One of the first lessons drilled into her head was thinking of the bigger picture, being decisive, was one of the first lessons to be drilled into her head from an early age.
The ripple from even a tiny stone can flow a great distance.
Wise her uncle may be, but he could be irritatingly cryptic. It took a while for her to learn the lesson behind that particular riddle.
Tremel hummed in approval, "Each time, each prisoner, you made the best possible decision. You may yet be able to challenge Vemrin for Darth Bara's attention. But there's more that must be done before we expose you to Baras."
Tremel leaned back against the desk, tapping its surface in thought.
"Because I forced you into the Academy ahead of schedule, Darth Baras will be predisposed to judging you severely. And by 'severely' I mean fatally."
Aindri suppressed a snort at the rather obvious statement. It was natural that a Darth would be judgemental in choosing an apprentice and the whole idea behind having ones trials on Korriban was would either become Sith or die. Fatal, was a given.
"Go, train and grow stronger. It will take time to find something will truly test your abilities."