Chapter 6

The next morning I awoke to the sound of talking and quietly made my way to the central chamber. I was still in the shadows but I saw Lynn talking to Master Donnavin, they both had hushed voices but I could make out the words. Lynn was dressed for battle, all of us are outfitted with a set of battle clothing in addition to our robes. The only armour is the breastplate, this gives us a decent amount of protection but at the same time keeps our limbs light, allowing us to fight at our best. Other than that it's just a dark pair of pants with a clip in them to hold our light sabers, I noticed Lynn had his. It was at least a couple hours before anyone normally woke up and it was clear that his was not something I was supposed to witness, as such I was trying hard to mask my presence. I had hoped to find out what Lynn's test would be but to my dissapointment the conversation was ending by the time I got there.

"...and if you somehow fail this assignment without dying don't bother coming back!" Donnavin said sternly. Lynn didn't say anything, he just offered a bow before turning and going onto the planet's surface. As the door creaked shut we were left in an eary silence, I almost couldn't believe my ears when Master Donnavin spoke in an even more hushed voice.

"Fight well my pupil" his tone sounded almost, worried? Master Donavin showed very little affection or care to any of us, but even less to Lynn; if anything he was twice as harsh on him. Lynn was better behaved and had more scars than anyone. So Master Donavin cares about Lynn, and I'm Lynns friend. I could use this to manipulate Donavin, maybe even upsurp him somehow! SLAM! I quickly blocked off these thoughts, realizing that the dark side was manipulating me. I could protect Mary in my current standing, and my subordinate rank wasn't hindering my ability to grow stronger in the slightest, there was no reason for me to try and take Donavins place.

"No, there isn't." Donavin said in threatening tone, it seems in my deep thought I had forgoten to continue masking my pressence. He turned his head to look at me and suddenly I couldn't breath; I felt the strength in every part of my body drain away, I would have collapsed had he not been holding me in place. As I gagged and wheezed, desperately trying to get air in he casually walked forward.

"You have become very strong Marcus, but I am much stronger still. I have important goals that are still a long way from completion. I keep you here because I see you as a tool to help me achieve these goals, if you ever ceased to be an asset and become an annoyance, I would crush you like an insect. Understand?" His tone was casual and aloof, like we were talking about the weather. I couldn't answer him of course, I couldn't even nod, all I could do was desperately will myself to stay concious and try to keep the room from spinning. Is this it, is he going to kill me?

"I really should kill you, but it seems wastefull to do so after I've invested so much time in training you. Besides, your not ever gonna try to upsurp me, are you you pathetic, little urchin?" It was more of a statement then a question. I could feel drool fizzling down my mouth as I continued to gag for breath, I could barely even pay attention to his words at this point. After a moment of silence he pulled out his knife and I vaugely felt my arm lift to a horizontal angle, "So we'll just give you the standard punishment.", he said as he gave me ninth mark. "Oh, and one more for eavesdropping of course." He sliced again but I didn't even feel it with my body screaming for air so loud. He stared into my bulging eyes for one more second before finally my throat was opened and I fell to the floor wheezing in breath after breath of sweet, precious air. I was on my fourth before I felt the pain of the fresh cuts, still I was so relieved that it barely bothered me.

"...Thank you...Master." I managed to cough out.

Master Donavin released a satisfied chuckle as he walked off, I didn't stand up immediately after I regained my composure. I was in awe of the power my master possessed; I had seen him unleash it before when Mazer said something a bit too stupid, but feeling it was completely different. This was the first time I had really grasped how powerful master Donavin was. This was the first time I really grasped how weak I still was. When I first came to this academy I trained myself half to death every day, because I knew that I was weak, that I had a long path ahead of me and finite time to complete it. I don't know when that drive had left me, I still trained hard but my determination was a shadow of what it had previously been. I had obtained a meager amount of strength and it made me confident, proud, lazy. I don't know if it was intentional or not but Master Donavin had broken me out of that dellusion. I now knew that I was just a weak, little acolyte; I wasn't some great, powerful sith. And I knew lying here on the floor wasn't going to turn me into one, with great effort I forced myself to my feat and went to the training room filled with a burning determination.

"Getting an early start?" I was broken away from my deep focus by Mazer's annoying voice, many of the orbs I was levitating fell a ways but I managed to catch them before they hit the ground. After I regained my composure I took a deep breath and continued focusing, ignoring Mazer's prompt. I had a five spheres of varying weights and sizes in a slow orbit around me, myself being about a foot off the ground. I do this excercise every week, its purpose is to teach you to control physical matter, when I first got here I had to do one ball. Every month I add fifteen minutes to my time and every year I add another ball. I broke that pattern this morning by adding another ball early, and I was twenty-six minutes past my time; I was going to go another thirty-four before I allowed myself to rest. I had a screaming migrane and sweat poured from my body but I'd be dammed if that stopped me from getting stronger. I could feel Mazer trying to pry into my mind like some slimy bug crawling into my ear; unfortunately I didn't have the energy to block him out like usual, the best I could do was block off the incident with Donavin I had this morning.

"Damn, you've been at this for hours, your not trying to get ahead of me are ya?" Good God is that what he actually thinks? Despite knowing that it would hurt my focus I couldn't resist replying.

"I'm already ahead of you you stupid, little, shit now SHUT UP!" The balls again fell as I lost my head but once more I managed to catch them, though it was far to close for comfort. He released a chuckle then leaned casually and quietly against the wall to observe me. I knew what he was doing, he was going to wait for me to fail then he was going to taunt me, knowing I wouldn't have the energy to kick his ass. God I hate this guy, tommarow I am going to rip his- Focus, you need to focus. The balls were wobbling in the air and I was so furious I hadn't even noticed. I took a deep breath and forgot about Mazer, I forgot about everything except the task I was performing.

I continued for twenty more agonizing minutes before I knew I couldn't go any longer, if I kept hanging on I would just pass out and drop them anyway. I released a groan, half relief and half frustration as they fell to the floor with a series of clacks that were torture to my throbbing head.

"Ooooh, not even close." Mazer said.

"FUCK YOU!" I yelled gripping my head tight with one hand and supporting my hunched body with they other.

"Oh don't be like that, you did great champ!" My blood boiled at his patronizing tone, there was no way I could beat him right now but damn it I might have to attack him anyway. That's what he wanted, it didn't prove anything when he beat me in this state but it was still infuriating. I was still struggling over what I was going to do when Master Donavin, appearing from nowhere, spoke.

"Indeed you did." Mazer jumped and I relaxed a little, "Now Mazer, is there a reason you've been awake thirty minutes and are yet to start training?" Mazer began blubbering out some pathetic excuse before he was cut off.

"Lift your arm." As he did Mazer turned his eyes to me, I managed a light smile. He gritted his teeth through the cut and left the room, after he was gone Master Donavin turned to me, we stared at one another in silence for a moment. "You can heal your arm now." He said simply before leaving. I brought my hand to the cuts but as I expected I was far too tired. Fortunately at that moment Azera walked in, upon seeing me she immediately turned around to go train somewhere else.

"Hey." I said, not in my usual aggressive tone, I was too tired to put up a front. She immediatly turned around to face me but said nothing, as usual she looked scared.

"I'd be in your debt if you healed me." This was the only phrase Master Donavin allowed us to ask one another for help in. As I spoke I pulled up my sleeve, revealing my fresh cuts, her eyes widened but she didn't say anything. As she placed her soft, tiny hands on my wounds and healed me I looked into her mind, unsurprisingly she was wondering what I had done to earn two punisments in such a short period of time. I wasn't going to tell her what happened and she didn't expect me to; still seeing as I owed her I figured I could at least tell her the lesson I had been reminded of.

"Never cross Master Donavin." She offered a small nod but I knew she didn't really understand, oh well, as meek as she was I doubt she would ever have to learn this lesson the way I had. Either way it wasn't really any concern of mine, I had more training to do.

I worked myself like I hadn't in years, and for the first time in over two years I passed out on the floor of the training room rather then haul my half dead body back to it's chambers. Almost every night I dream of Mary; what are reuninon will be like, what she'll look like when I finally return to her, how our children will fare at this academy. But not that night. That night their was no dream, just a great sense of satisfactioin that I felt burning even when I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

The next morning I awoke in indescribably pain, just opening my eyes and lifting my head took effort. Their was a dull ringing in my ear and I smelled worse then a dead animal, but that wouldn't ruin my good mood. No what ruined my good mood was the chuckle I heard from the doorway.

"Well look who crawled out of her hole." I said looking up at Madarra, who was leaning against the wall with a smirk. Madarra was the worst kind of person that exists; she was weak, and she had the great oppurtunity to become stronger, to become a sith! But she was not doing so. I don't know why Master Donavin didn't kill her when she stopped training but I knew better then to question him. I was broken out of my contempt filled thoughts by her response.

"Oh screw you ya little brat." She said without changing her relaxed posture, I however was shocked.

"What did you just say to me?" I asked, in tone a parent might use with a disrespectful child.

"What, are you deaf?" She replied mockingly. I don't know what made her think a puny weakling like her could talk to a sith that way, but it was a problem I was certainly going to correct. Forgetting my pain I stood up and walked over to be face to face with her. We stood silently for a moment glaring into each others eyes. Then with a short grunt I punched the wall next to her head hard, leaving an impressive sized crater. She tried to maintain her composure but as I continued glaring into her eyes it drained away; she had not expected this, she was terrified.

"You know Madarra, I could break you in half right now, and Master Donavin probably wouldn't even care." I said in a quiet, informative tone. It seemed as though she understood, she was quivering in fear and I could feel in her mind that she knew I was right.

"I would." Mazer said threateningly, having appeared just outside of the door. So that was why Madarra thought she could talk down to me. My body was sore but I had my energy to use the force rejuvinated from my nights rest. At the very least I apparantly had enough to fling Mazer straight up and smash his head against the low, stone ceiling. He fell limply back to the ground and crumpled on the floor, he was still alive though, I hadn't hit him that hard.

"Interesting." I said mockingly, it was essentially a sucker punch, and it took a lot more out of me then I showed, but I think I effectively corrected displayed who the superior here was. Madarra remained where she was, still trembling in terror and staring at me. I glanced back at her for a moment before walking out the door and to my room. Intending to get some food and wash away that God awful smell. I was in the shower when I felt Lynn returning to the tomb, I had been so consumed by my training that I had completely forgotten about his absence. Seeing as I almost certainly would have to take a similar test eventually, I was extremely interested to learn what he had had to do. I quickly finished washing and made my way back to the central chamber.

When I got there it seemed everyone was congregated around the door waiting for Lynn, I must have given Mazer a concussion seeing as Azera was still working on his head. As I stepped into the room he turned his gaze from the door to me, his eyes hardened into a viscous glare. I just raised an eyebrow and looked back at him, I was pretty close to one hundred percent at the moment, I would love for him to try something right now. And that's why he didn't, he just turned his gaze back to the door. Master Donnavin was in the room too, but as would be expected he didn't care about our squabble, or at the very least he cared more about Lynn's eminent return. The door opened with its usual loud groan revealing Lynn, he had small wounds all over him and a large gash across his face but wore a smirk that screamed accomplishment. Azera started approaching, probably wanted to heal him, but stopped as Master Donavin stepped over to him.

"You slayed my beast I take it?" He asked as if there were nothing remarkable about the situation.

"Yes Master." Lynn's tone was openly proud, not the normal emotionless tone that he spoke to Master Donnavin in.

"Kneel." Master Donavin said commandingly. When he silently complied Master Donnavin ignited his light saber and rested it just above Lynn's shoulder. The red glow illuminated the room, creating an air of mysticism that added to the grandeur of the moment.

"As your master and mentor, I hereby declare your training complete, you are now a complete sith of the new order." His voice was loud and booming, the whole chamber was filled with its echoes. And just like that, with that short, simple statement the moment was over. Master Donnavin deactivated his weapon and Lynn rose, his eyes beeming with pride. I was shocked by what happened next, Master Donavin put a hand on his shoulder and continued. "I am proud of you my pupil, I would be honored if you would stay here as an instructor of my academy."

"...Y-Yes master." Lynn choked out, it looked like he was trying hard not to cry. Lynn idolized Master Donavin and I'd wager this was more affection then he had received in the rest of his life combined up until now from him. As if trying to take his mind off of this Master Donavin spoke again.

"When will you leave for your project?" Snapping himself out of his intense emotions Lynn replied.

"Today, if Azera would be so kind as to heal me." Master Donavin gave a small frown at how Lynn worded that statement but said nothing. Only offering a small nod as he walked away. Lynn turned to me as Azera started to work on him.

"Can you be ready to leave in an hour?" I gave a nod, all I had to do was don my armour and that would only take a few minutes.

"Where are you guys going?" Mazer asked interested. I spoke harshly before Lynn could.

"On a raid, it doesn't concern you."

"A raid huh, I wouldn't mind tagging along on that." He said like he was doing us a favor, before I could tell him that I would, Master Donavin spoke.

"I think that's a fine idea." He said simply before turning around and disappearing down the hallway to his chambers. I gritted my teeth but said nothing.

"Azera go pack me a bag." Mazer said in a mildly threatening tone. Before she had time to comply, Lynn spoke.

"Azera as an instructor of this academy I order you to go meditate for the next hour, Mazer you can pack your own bag." The last part had a hint of snideness to it, Mazer's eyes grew cold as he replied.

"Sure Lynn."

"Master Lynn." he retorted aggressively, Mazer's eyes hardened from cold to furious but he forced out through clenched teeth.

"Master Lynn" He turned down the hall and went back to his chambers ahead of me, as he passed me I could feel the anger oozing out of him. Maybe I'd enjoy him coming along after all I thought to myself as I entered my chambers. I had trained in my armour before but as I donned it this time, knowing I was going into a real battle; I felt my stomach churn. Not from fear, I had trained hard and was confident in my ability. It was the thought that I was going to go kill people, strangers, that stuck with me; sith are almost always utterly selfish but my goal meant that I wasn't. I'm sure I wouldn't consciously hold back but this uneasiness would certainly hinder me if I didn't get rid of it. So I decided to think hard on it while I had time.

I took a seat on my bed and ignited my light saber, holding it horizontal to my eyes and putting my left hand close to its heat. I brought my hand closer and closer until I couldn't tolerate any more pain. I watched as my skin slowly seared away like paper in a fire while I thought. I would inflict this and more on others. I always knew that I would kill someone in a heartbeat to protect Mary, hell I knew that before I ever decided to become a sith. These people I was going to kill though, they didn't threaten Mary, they didn't threaten me, they didn't even know me. Lynn had lost his whole famliy to this organization and hated them on a very personal level, but when I looked at the Black Sun they weren't any worse than the sith in conduct. I couldn't find any reason to hate them, the dark side around me pushed plenty of nonsensical, hypocritical, reasons but I needed a real one. I would not let the dark influence me like that. I would have to channel some other emotion. I decided on self-preservation, if I died I wouldn't ever see Mary again; I wouldn't be able to protect her. So I would have to fight my hardest and survive, Mary's life was worth more than a thousand strangers, it was worth more than every other life in the galaxy, it was worth more than the galaxy itself. They'll die, I'll become stronger, she'll become safer; and that's all there was to it.

The thought firm in my mind I de-activated my light saber and put it on my belt. I looked at my hand and almost gasped, I must have moved it closer or something during my deep thought. The flesh had a third degree burn that left my palm a black charred mess, I could even see a little bone in the middle. Embarrassed to show this to anyone, even if it was just Azera, I spent about ten minutes healing it myself. Once my flesh was back where it was supposed to be I stood up to go see Lynn about the mission details, having nothing else to do. As I walked down the halls it occurred to me I hadn't left this planet in three years, hell I don't remember the last time I left this building. Not that I was complaining, I didn't have any real desire to leave ever, I missed Mary but she was the reason I was here in the first place; leaving just to visit her would be incredibly stupid. I wondered what it would be like without the constant pain in my stomach, it was so much a part of me I couldn't fathom being without it. Well I guess I'd see what its like soon enough. I thought as I arrived at Lynn's door, poking my head in I saw he was deeply immersed in the 3D map Master Donnavin was looking at earlier and decided not to bother him. Instead I walked next door to Master Donavin's room, there was something I wished to ask him.

"Master Donavin may I enter?" I asked as usual, he looked like he was expecting me.

"You may." he said putting down the leather-bound book he had been reading and looking up at me. His gaze made it clear he was waiting for me to speak, so I did.

"Master why did you instruct us to bring Mazer with us?" Master Donavin was no fool, he knew there was animosity between us; surely he knew that could cause problems. He gave me a small, knowing grin.

"Mazer is a more, common, type of sith my pupil. He wants power for power's sake, however in terms of ranking with everyone here he isn't getting more powerful and this frustrates him immensely, which leads to problems." My mind flashed to the incidents of the past couple days. "Precisely." Master Donavin said, no doubt knowing what I was thinking. "I think it would be beneficial for him to go into a fight with ordinary people, it would make him aware of how powerful he has become with his time here. Besides, he's more than strong enough to be an asset isn't he?" I gave a grudging nod and he waved me away. I returned to the central chamber and saw the others waiting. We silently headed outside and to the ship, the same one I had come here in so long ago. It wasn't until we were inside that Mazer spoke in his obnoxious voice.

"Man, I'm excited!" His teeth formed a feral smile, he was really looking forward to killing people.

"Are you now?" Lynn said quietly and somewhat mockingly as he prepped the ship for launch. "You did get the bomb from Madarra right?" He added as his hand hovered over the launch button.

"Sure did," he said brandishing the item, it just looked like a grey ball about a foot in diameter. "I was informed it took two all nighters to make this thing in time." Mazer added like it was a great sacrifice.

"Well pass on my gratitude." Lynn responded in a completely apathetic tone. My tone was a bit more harsh as I spoke.

"You don't owe her any, its important Madarra makes herself useful as more than just Mazer's whore."

"Hey that's uncalled for." Mazer said turning to me. His tone was serious but he wore a grin that looked like he was gloating. I scoffed mentally, I could've had Madarra if I wanted, hell I was stronger than Mazer I probably still could have her if I wanted. Especially after that display I put on today. I'm guessing Mazer misread the contempt coming from me as he let out a short chuckle before falling back onto one of the seats, strapping himself in. I did the same not bothering to correct him, as long as Madarra didn't bother me I could care less what or who she did. There was a thrust as we left the atmosphere and I had an uncomfortable sense of relief as the pain in my gut left. Lynn left the cockpit and came over to us after making some final adjustments.

"We have about 20 hours until we reach our destination, we should be mistaken for a delivery vessel upon arrival and dock with no problems. Once we do Mazer will stay near the ship to kill anyone who tries to flee and protect the signal jammer. Marcus you'll come with me to the armoury. Master Donavin wishes us to take any armaments we can find." Before I opened my mouth he held up a hand and cut me off. "I'm not sure why he wants them either. After the ship is loaded we'll set up our bomb in the engine room so that we can be completely sure that everyone who sees us dies." He paused for a moment as if unsure of his next words. "Whatever your reasons are, I want to thank both of you for helping me with my revenge today." He cleared his throat before he spoke again returning to the formal tone he had been briefing us with. "Master Donnavin suggested we use our first few hours of travel to meditate and get use to channeling the dark side without help." With that he went back into the cockpit, leaving us to ourselves. I closed my eyes and tried to steel myself for my first battle.