Chapter 5

I think you will progress very quickly here. The words rang in my ear as I brought the training saber down hard, aiming for Lynn's shoulder. Master Donavin was right to place faith in me, its my third year in this academy and my power over the dark side grows every day. Not that Lynn and I were really fighting all out with the dark side at the moment, just a casual spar to work on our swordsmanship. I had progressed in that as well, this was apparent as he barely managed to block my blow and released a gasp at the impact. Our blades were locked in contact as I continued pushing down, hoping to make him step back and lose his balance so I could deliver another strike. His right leg lifted and I began to lift my blade up for another blow, however instead of stepping back as I anticipated he lifted it and kicked me in my vulnerable stomach. I managed to lunge back to reduce the impact but it was still enough to knock me off my feet, pouring sweat and hurting in more places than I cared to count I opted not to stand back up. Although it seemed Lynn was not going to accept that.

"Get back on your feet." he said tauntingly.

"Just gonna get my ass kicked again." I mumbled out somewhat frustrated. Not that I actually expected to win when I accepted his challenge. Not only had Lynn been training at this place since before I was born, but swordsmanship was his strong point. He took great pride in his fighting ability.

"Turn your frustration to anger,-"

"-cool your anger into hate." I finished with him "We're not fighting like that though."

"Go ahead, you could use the edge and I could use the challenge." Subtly saying that I wasn't a challenge before I'm certain was a ploy intended to make me angry. I decided to let it, I allowed myself to become very angry; not at Lynn but at my inability to win this fight. I then took it a step further and focused on how much I hated my weakness, I drew some of the power that I loved so much from the air around me and let it invigorate me. The pain faded away and my blood seemed to pump through me three times as fast, although my heart was calm. I was aware of everyone around me, Lynn a yard ahead wondering if I was going to do as he said or not, the little girl peaking her head through the doorway amazed at how fast we could move, the older adolescent twi'lek standing next to her wondering if I would spar with him after this was over, and then I shot up to my feet. Lynn gave an excited grin and I roared in anger, charging with greatly increased speed.

I was free of all thoughts in my frenzy, I brought a volley of hard strikes from many different angles at him, they came so fast he could do nothing but block as I pushed him back. Finally he had his back to the wall and I swung an especially hard blow down on his head. He managed to parry the blow by placing one hand on each end of his saber, then while I was still recoiling from the impact, he let go of his blade and pushed hard with both hands on my chest. I managed to stay on my feet by jumping back as he pushed, he caught his sword as it fell back down and charged me.

Now I was on the defensive, and I was tired. I barely blocked his first two blows and with the third he crushed my fingers on the hilt with an audible "crunch" causing me to drop the sword. He gave a grin and lunged forward for the finishing blow while I stood holding my hand. I was brimming with rage as he was about to bring the weapon down, just before it reached me I released a vicious yell as I swung my good hand forward, it didn't make contact but it did send him flying off his feet about five yards back and into the central chamber. In a second he was back up with an angry grunt, I could see the fury in his eyes and knew that he was now using the dark side as well. I looked at him and then at my blade on the ground, I had used my last bit of energy with that blow; the pain from my injuries was coming back and I was finding it difficult just to stand. Still, I was a sith and sith never surrender. However surrender turned out not to be necessary, as I bent over to pick up the blade I collapsed from exhaustion; cracking my head open on the stone floor on my way down. I didn't bother standing back up.

I released a groan and reached my hand up to heal my head, when I realized I didn't have the energy I groaned again louder. My eyes were still shut when the pain in my head left to the sound of a soft humming. I opened my eyes as Lynn was pulling his hand back, he kept it out a ways offering it to me. The red skinned twi'lek by the door clapped mockingly.

"Pretty impressive" he said in a cocky voice, I just glared at him. Mazer had been brought here about six months after me, he was around my age and had a notion in his head that we were rivals. I only tolerate it because Master Donavin told me to, he thinks wanting to surpass me inspires Mazer to improve himself. He was the closest one here to my skill level but I still had a notable power advantage on him.

"Indeed." Master Donavin added simply. All of us jumped, Master Donavin was good at hiding his presence and had a habit of appearing out of nowhere. We all quickly turned to face him and bowed, seeing that he was looking at me I also offered a reply.

"Thank you Master." I said filled with joy, compliments from Master Donavin were rare; so you know when you get one that it's genuine. "Lynn come with me." he said with a hint of disappointment in his voice. I shot him a glance as he walked away and saw that he was holding a fair amount of envy towards me.

"Hey Marcus how about a round with me?" Mazer said aggressively as soon as they were gone.

"I'm tired."

"Your also denying a challenge." Mazer said ignoring my valid excuse and trying to goad me. Unfortunately it worked. The fight wasn't much of one, in less than two minutes I was on the ground bleeding from my forehead again and that bastard was standing over me roaring with blood boiling laughter.

"You just keep laughing." I spat out brimming with rage, I fantasized about what I was going to do to him tomorrow after I was healed and rested. These thoughts were interrupted as he brought his foot down hard on my back, making me cough out the last of my breath. I blinked the blackness that was creeping on my vision away and sucked in another breath strenuously.

"I will." he said keeping his foot on my back dominatingly. That's when the little girl, Azera, spoke in her timid voice,

"U-Um Mazer, d-d-doesn't Master Donavin say that victory isn't real unless it proves your better then your opponent?" Oh god stop talking. I desperately willed the stupid girl to be quiet as Mazer turned his head to look at her with a glare. "S-S-So isn't bragging over beating Marcus when you only won cause he's tired a little... well... pathetic?" It seems about half way through her statement she realized what a big mistake speaking was as her voice got quieter with every word that left her mouth. Likewise Mazer's gaze grew angrier with each word that left the young girls mouth. The last word, pathetic, was barely even audible and immediately followed by Mazer striking her hard across the face with the back of his hand; knocking her off her feet. My anger kept growing but I just didn't have the energy to use it.

"The hells going on in here?" I heard Lynn's voice and actually gasped in relief, I was beginning to worry how far this would escalate. I lifted my head in time to see Mazer's eyes droop in worry.

"We were just sparring and..." he led off trying to come up with an excuse. For a couple of seconds Lynn waited for an explanation, there was no sound except for Azera's soft crying.

"Lift your arm." Lynn said simply coming closer to him. Mazer lifted both hands and slowly backed away,

"Hey wait, y-you don't understand!" he said with a nervous chuckle, Lynn's arm came out at incredible speed and cut him; much deeper then he normally did. Mazer yelled a swear and gripped his arm. Lynn grabbed him and brought his face close to his.

"What I understand, is that you just got a lesson in sith conduct from an eight year old." he said quietly but angrily. "You are pathetic!" he punctuated this by throwing him off his feet. I was thoroughly enjoying myself watching this scene, so much so that I didn't notice when Azera walked up and began healing me. Of course between how small she was, the dark robes she was wearing and her long black hair it wasn't hard to miss her in the shadows of this place. Master Donavin takes every child he happens upon who appears extremely force sensitive, he purchased Azera from a slaver last year. She was doing well enough in her training but it seems living her first eleven years as a slave had made her meek and submissive. We were trying to drive these traits out of her but Mazer kept reinforcing them by treating the girl like, well, a slave. As if on cue with my thoughts Mazer suddenly yelled out.

"DAMMIT CHILD GET OVER HERE AND HEAL ME!" Azera jumped and quickly ran over to him, she complied with his command but didn't touch his punishment cut. She knew better, the last time Mazer made her do that both of them got three more and a thourough beating from Master Donnavin. I wanted to put a stop to Mazer's abuse but Master Donavin had told me that this was a good way for Azera to learn that her weaknesses were just that. I was taken away from these thoughts as Lynn led me away, we stayed in ear shot though.

"Marcus, I have some kind of test tomorrow and Master Donavin said if I pass I can launch an attack on Black Sun. I already have a target in mind but it would be a little risky to try alone, if I could convince Master Donavin to let you would you come along?" This was rare, to outright ask me for a favor. Me and Lynn had a sort of silent friendship and it was no secret that Master Donavin was firmly opposed to it. He warned Lynn that one day I might come after him for some reason or another, and he would foolishly show me mercy because of our friendship. It was valid reasoning but neither of us could think of any reason we would have to fight one another, in the long run we'll probably both be in positions of influence and power in the new sith order. Besides even if one of us was a higher rank then the other neither of us wanted power for power's sake, I wanted to protect Mary and he wanted to destroy the Black Sun crime syndicate. These thoughts flew through my head in a second, I gave him a quick nod as I spoke.

"Ya sure." He gave me a thankful smile.

"Actually can you ask him yourself, I want to do some last-minute training. Again I nodded, this time grudgingly.

"Thank you!" he said enthusiastically before running past me. As I passed through the central chamber I saw Azera in the training room making practice swings at the dummy with her mini training saber. I couldn't help but smile, Azera was an adorable child, and her form was just so pitifull.

"HEY!" I barked out at her, in shock she dropped her blade then quickly turned to face me. "Your blows are to slow, if that dummy had a blaster you'd have five extra holes in you before you got your first swing in!" I yelled aggressively while she stood their quivering. The dark side whispered for me to hurt her; to beat her viciously and show her how weak she was, but I pushed the desire away knowing that doing so would serve no purpose.

"I-I'm sorry, I'll do better." She sputtered out. After a moment without me leaving or saying anything she picked up her blade and made another swing, it was much better. She stayed in form but turned to look at me, eyes wide with fear.

"God your pathetic." I said with mild exasperation. She closed her eyes and let out a small sigh of relief, knowing I would have said or did something much worse if her performance hadn't satisfied me. With that I stopped helping her and returned to my previous task of speaking to master Donavin. When I got to his doorway I saw him sitting at his table and looking intently at some 3-D map of a large ship.

"Master Donavin may I enter?" I asked formally.

"You may." He said without looking up from his map, his voice seemed apathetic and I took three steps into the room. Not wanting to waste his time a cut to the chase.

"Master I wish to go with Lynn on his project tomorrow, I have already been given his approval." His gaze grew hard and he silently looked from his map at me, I felt my blood chill.

"Assuming he passes his test." he said harshly.

"I do not believe you would give one of your pupils a test he could not pass Master." I said honestly and plainly. At this he gave a cold smile.

"Why do you wish to go with him?" he asked knowing full well why I did. I chose my words carefully none the less.

"It would greatly weaken this order, and therefore me if anything were to happen to him, as such I feel it is worth my time to make sure he is successful in his mission. Additionally I feel it would be beneficial to my training to be in a real life or death fight." I spoke emotionlessly. Master Donavin glared at me for a few moments longer before releasing a frustrated sigh.

"You may go."