Chapter Seven – Beasts of the Sith
Aindri weaved through the rickety tables of the mess tent, approaching the fair skinned woman, black hair pinned up behind her head, who a trooper identified as Lord Renning's apprentice.
"What do you want?" Malora asked irritably abandoning her half-eaten breakfast.
"Tuk'ata." Aindri replied, starting her own breakfast.
"Seeking Lord Renning's lost pet are you," Malora snorted, "Don't waste your time the fool's research is pointless."
"Do you wish to retrieve it?" She asked, continuing when Malora remained silent, "It is a deadly beast, not some harmless vermin."
"That may be, but you still risk your life for nothing." Malora grumbled, her tone turning bitter, "Renning deludes the Dark Council into believing he's advancing Sith knowledge. The truth is he wastes the Empire's time and resources dissecting mindless animals."
"But if his experiments were discredited he would be banished, and I would be rewarded," Malora leaned forward, her voice lowering to a whisper, "Look, just a minor alteration to the mutant Tuk'ata's brain would allow me to reveal my master as a fraud. Bring me the brain before delivering it to Lord Renning, and I'll make it worth your while."
Aindri swallowed the last of her food, bring up a map of the lower wilds on her datapad.
"I will not be dragged into your schemes Malora. If you want to challenge your master do it yourself." The apprentice scowled, stabbing her remaining food with her fork, and she looked at Malora expectantly.
"The mutant Tuk'ata escaped Marka Ragnos's tomb," She relented, still glaring daggers at her as she pointed to an area on the map near the main entrance to Ragnos' tomb, "It's much larger than the others, so you should spot it easily."
Leaving Malora to brood, Aindri returned to her commandeered tent to grab her gear, having woken up at dawn to ready herself, and walked towards the camps entrance. She turned her wrist, clenching and unclenching her fist, releasing a small at how nicely her injury had healed. A combination of her naturally fast healing process, bacta, the Force and a goodnights sleep. Whilst the muscle still hadn't fully recovered, she was confident that it wouldn't be a problem during her trial.
Stopping just outside the durasteel wall, she surveyed the sands, lit by the early morning sun, before her and made some adjustments to the calculations she had made last night reckoning it would take a bit less than half the day to travel to the tomb. From what she had been told by one of the troopers, research materials from the laboratory were being transported back to the Academy via shuttle so if she was quick she would back at the academy by nightfall.
With little time to lose, Aindri began hiking across the sands and it was an hour later when she came upon the first ruin, a shattered pillar engraved with ancient Sith scrip worn away by time until it was barely legible. The dark sides' presence was stronger here than it had been at the laboratory and she closed her eyes to reinforce her mental barriers, shielding her mind from whispering voices. Her shields strengthened she opened her eyes and started coughing, the sand irritating the back of her throat. Ignoring the discomfort, she took a quick swig from the water flask attached to her belt before continuing her journey through the ruins, cutting a path through knots of soldiers been driven mad by the sheer strength of the darkness.
It was another two hours of walking and cutting a swathe through large and small groups of psychotic soldiers, before she reached the entrance to massive tomb cut into the rocky face of the cliff that towered over sand and ruins. Carvings of ancient Sith symbols were etched into the walls, protecting the tomb with ancient Sith magic. Further symbols were engraved on the tombs interior walls, writing describing the various parts of Marka Ragnos's life, many telling the same history they were taught at the academy, covering almost any free space.
Venturing deeper into the tomb, Aindri met and fought rival acolytes as well as those who had been cast out of the academy and sought a second a chance at power. She found Renning's beast in an antechamber in the tombs western wing using chunks of K'lor'slug meat as bait after she had come across some and gutted them. The fight was an interesting challenge, as she had to hold back against a beast twice the size of a normal Tuk'ata to make sure the brain wouldn't get damaged. After cutting out the brain and placing it in a specimen case she climbed over the rubble and stepped through the gap the Tuk'ata had charged through, hoping to use the passageway to get deeper into the tomb but found her way blocked by large rocks and collapsed columns forcing her to turn back.
After passing through several large chambers, many filled with abandoned excavation equipment, skirting the walls to avoid further clashes, she came across a corridor which was colder than the others. The dark side ever so slightly more oppressive as it pushed against the mental barriers she had erected. But her shields held and she walked down the corridor, coming to a flight of stairs which lead into another chamber, half circle in shape and with a high vaulted ceiling, lit only by a single shaft of sunlight through a hole in the roof. Shrouded by shadow were hooded statues hugging its walls, spaced at even intervals they flanked stone alters stone alters adorned by skulls with various skeletal structures
Steeling herself, Aindri descended the stairs, lifting her foot when she heard a crunching sound and looking down to find pieces of a white object. It was only when casting her eyes to the rest of the chamber that realised it was bone.
Whole skeletons and individual bones, some human others not, littered the floor. Some were brittle and cracked, others were smooth. Aindri crouched and picked up a piece, inspecting the deep gouges in its surface. Rising, she dropped the piece and unsheathed her warblade, holding it loosely in her hands as she crossed the chamber to the stone tablet sitting upon a raised dais, bones crunching underneath.
The dark side rippled slightly around her and peering into one of the six braziers flanking the tablet, Aindri found it filled with an unidentifiable liquid. Tremel's words of sitting among the flames sprung to mind and she withdraw a lighter from her belt, holding it against the liquid surface, rapidly withdrawing her hand when purple flames flickered to life, casting an eerie glow across the tablet. Lighting the rest, Aindri sunk into seiza, taking deep and study breaths as she tapped into the dark side of the Force.
A wave of dark side energy crash into her, the ground shaking when a rumble echoed from deep within the tomb. Her eyes snapping open, Aindri spun to face the sarcophagus resting beneath the statute standing against the chambers back wall, raising her warblade in defence. The chamber fell still before stone exploded outward in a shower of dust and debris, a bulky shadow breaking through the wall. Once the cloud of dust died down, Aindri found herself face to face with the hulking figure that was the Beast of Marka Ragnos.
Easily triple times her height, it towered over her, large spines scraping against the walls. Aindri recognised it as a Terentatek, a beast descended from rancors experimented on by early Sith, a product of Sith alchemy. But the dark energies, pure malice and intense hunger emanating from the creature marked it as something special and she could scarcely believe it, thinking they had all gone extinct.
"Sithspawn."
She tensed, the beast whipping round its head to stare in her direction at the sound of her voice. She eyed its massive claws warily, well aware of the toxic venom they and the tusks exuded. The beast fixed its eyes on her and sniffed before letting out an earth-shattering roar.
Drawing on the Force, Aindri thrust out her palm, sending a blast of Force energy slamming into the beast, which hadn't moved an inch. But she had achieved her goal.
It roared in rage and charged towards her, massive claws raised to crush and maim. Rolling forwards, a shower of dust and shards flew into the air when its talons struck stone. Aindri stayed constantly on the move, ducking and dodging blows. Cutting, piercing, slashing and stabbing where the beasts hide was exposed and venerable, sparks flying when her blade skated across its armour. She sprung backwards, easily avoiding the wild swings of fists, the Sithspawn's attacks became increasingly erratic. Its movements were sluggish, weakened by blood loss but her own blade hand started to shake, her injured muscles throbbing and sending dull pain arching up her arm.
Placing some distance between her and the beast she watched its movements carefully. Adrenaline rushing through her veins, her senses sharpened and time slowed to a standstill. Blood roaring in her ears. Heart thudding in her chest. Boots sliding across the stones slickened by blood. Bones and rubble scattered across the chamber. The stench of sweat and blood. Tightening her grip on the warblade, time accelerated back to normally speed and she sprinted forward.
Sliding underneath the beast she used her momentum to carry her forward launching to her feet behind its back. Pivoting, she drew on the Force and leaped up high into the air. Flipping her warblade Aindri brought it slamming down into the gap between the beast's spines, piercing its throat. Gritting her teeth, she held on tight as the Sithspawn thrashed around, screeching. Gradually the creature's movement slowed and it shuddered before collapsing, its breathing getting shallower as the life left its body. Withdrawing her warblade she pushed of from its back, landing lightly on her feet with her blade raised and ready to deal with any unexpected surprises. Slowly making her way round to its head, Aindri could see the light leave its eyes, the Sithspawn released its last breath and shuddering once more before stilling completely.
Dropping her arm, the tip of her warblade scratched the food and Aindri hung her head back letting out a triumphant roar, drinking in the warm afterglow of a well fought battle. Her roar echoed throughout the chamber and stabbed her blade into a gap between the stones to keep her balance, leaning forward as she breathed deeply, dragging air into her lungs. Aindri felt the oppressive darkness which had saturated the chamber slowly dissipate until she could no longer hear the whispering voices.
Aindri's fingers loosened around her warblades hilt and she sat heavily on the ground, looking down at her blood-stained clothes she scrunched her nose in disgust. Ignoring the throbbing in her arm Aindri stripped off her outer tunic and threw it into flames, watching as the wet fabric caught alight. Checking the contents of her flask she used half of the remaining water to wash the blood from her hair and face. Shaking her head, she retied her hair and stood, picking up and sheathing her warblade.
Aindri's journey back through the tomb was relatively free of conflict, the amount of blood on her robes dissuading most from approaching her. Exiting the tomb, she shielded her eyes from Horuset's harsh glare, waiting for her eyesight to readjust before checking her chrono, considering the time she spent in the tomb she judged she'd be back at the Academy by nightfall.
When Aindri returned to the laboratory, she headed immediately towards the research area, passing troopers who were loading equipment into a shuttle. She found Renning near the back of the area, elbow deep in a new Tuk'ata corpse, Malora crouched by a cage checking on a K'lor'slug.
Sensing her approach, Renning removed his hands from the Tuk'ata, turning to her with a scowl, "I'm running out of patience. Have you finally acquired the mutant Tuk'ata brain, or should I send someone else?"
Malora looked up from her work, eyes widening at the acolytes' bloody appearance before quickly switching to stare daggers at her when Aindri held the specimen case out too Renning.
"Ah ha!" Renning grinned manically, extending his arms to take the case, "Wonderful! Let me see it."
"Look at the mottling along the frontal lobe. I can't wait to analyse this." He stared at the brain reverently through the glass only snapping out of his reprieve when she coughed.
Placing the specimen case on the table he looked up at her, "You've done me a great service, but now I must continue my research. If there's nothing else?"
She briefly considered whether to enlighten him of his apprentices attempted duplicity, but Malora's feelings regarding her master were hardly concealed and Renning had most likely knew already. It was after all, expected of apprentices to betray their master.
"No, good luck with your research."
Aindri had returned to the Academy by early evening, having hitched a ride on a transport shuttle, heading through its winding corridors to Tremels chambers. Her hand dropped to the hilt of her blade, when she sensed a pulse of barely restrained resentment and bloodlust rippling through the Force. Loitering at the bottom of the stairs was Dolgis, undoubtedly the disturbance's source, and released a frustrated sigh.
She was not in the mood to deal with Vemrin's minion.
"Well look who's here," Dolgis smirked looking up at her, "Remember me?"
Aindri levelled him a glare. She was tired and didn't want a fight, no doubt the reason why Vemrin had sent his lapdog to confront her now. She moved to walk past him, glaring even harder when he held up his arm to block her.
"Not so fast, buddy. I put myself in your way. On purpose," He smirked at her, "Notice anything interesting?"
Aindri arched an eyebrow, of course she had noticed the suspiciously empty corridor. It may lead to Tremel's chambers but even this corridor was busy this time of day. If Dolgis was here then Vemrin's other groupies were likely running interference, keeping other acolytes away.
"No witnesses and no witnesses means no rules." Dolgis unclipped his training sword and she drummed her fingers lightly against her blades hilt, waiting for him to make the first move.
"No more shortcuts. No more special treatment. You're just going to be another dead failure on Korriban."
Dolgis charged forwards his training raised. She pivoted away from his blade, Dolgis staggering forward, whirling around growling. She ducked and dodged his blows staying within his reach but never letting him land a hit. It wasn't long before Dolgis began tiring and lunged at her desperately. Drawing her warblade she disarmed him with a flick of her wrist. Whipping in behind him, she brought her blade to rest against his throat.
Unable to process what just happened, Dolgis stared down at his empty hands and blinked. Looking up, he meet her eyes and gulped.
"N – No! Hold up, hold up! Look I was wrong." He said quickly, his voice trembling slightly and she could feel his terror as her blade bit his throat.
"What they're saying about you… totally true. So… strong. I don't wanna die!"
"And I don't care." She replied coldly, before drawing her blade across Dolgis's throat, severing his carotid artery spraying the walls with a fine red mist. Falling to the floor, Dolgis reached out unseeingly for the hilt of his saber, blood slowly drained out of his body. A wet gurgle escaped from his lips as took his last breath, his body stilled.
Stepping over Dolgis corpse she felt Tremel's unease as she entered his chambers and found him sitting at his desk staring vacantly at his datapad.
"I have slayed Marka Ragnos's beast."
"I know, I felt it." He said distractedly continuing to stare at his datapad. Aindri frowned, she had felt the dark side dissipate when she had slayed the beast, but she didn't think it would be felt all the way here at the Academy. She opened her mouth to say something but stopped when he waved at her dismissively.
"Yes, yes. You are dismissed for now." He said absently and she left his chambers frowning but happy she could head to the dorms for a much-needed shower. She could already imagine the look on Tormi's face at her blood-soaked appearance. She swore the blood had seeped through her clothes and into her skin.
Darth Baras steepled his fingers and sat back in his chair looking thoughtfully at the report on his desk. He, like many other high ranking Sith at the Academy, had felt the tremor in the Force yesterday afternoon and after making his inquiries his suspicions had been confirmed.
Aindri Ninum Hallow.
The name of the acolyte Tremel was rushing through her trials rang in his head, distracting him from the astrogation charts, troop and cargo manifests, ship logs and dozens of other various types of list littering his desk. He had known Tremel had brought his own acolyte to Korriban out of some misplaced sense of duty towards ensuring purity and allowed it, thinking – if nothing else – their presence would provide suitable motivation for his own group of acolytes. But now…
Tapping his fingers against his chairs armrest, Baras came to a decision punching in Tremel's holo code, his thoughts drifting back to the issue at hand as he waited for him to answer.
Rumours of Hallows' talents had already spread throughout the Academy and now she had slain a beast which had ended the lives of countless acolytes as well as some full-fledged Sith. Baras thought both Thanaton and Harkun idiots for ignoring the potential threat the Twi'lek acolyte posed. They would pay for that mistake, but he would not do the same. It paid to keep powerful individuals where he could easily dispose of them should they prove a threat.
The overseer's ghostly blue image flickered to life and Baras let the silence stretch as he regarded Tremel who, to his credit, didn't fidget despite the nervousness rolling off him.
"My lord?" Tremel asked his voice steady but Baras could sense the trepidation hiding beneath his calm exterior.
Baras allowed silence stretch between them, letting Tremel sweat before giving him his orders, "Tremel, bring this acolyte of yours too me."
"My…" Tremel began, but Baras cut him off before the lie could leave his lips.
"Do not lie to me. Did you not think I wouldn't know of your protégé?" He asked curtly and watched as Tremel grew more nervous before he continued, "Send them to me Overseer. Do not make me ask again."
"Yes, of course, my lord." Tremel bowed hurriedly before signing off.
Regarding the now empty space, Baras considered how best to deal with the errant Overseer. Tremel had far surpassed being an annoyance, and it was time he was dealt with. Perhaps, Baras contemplated, he could use this situation to his advantage, eliminate both overseer and acolyte in the same stroke.
Ultimately, regardless of what transpired his endgame would not change, but he required a pawn strong enough to achieve his goals in the interim. If it would prove to be this unknown acolyte then so be it, and if they died it would only serve to make the one who does become his pawn stronger.