Chapter Fourteen: Shadows
Night fell on the acolytes. They suffered a full day's march and were ready to carry on into the darkness, but under the protests of Lorrik, they opted for an early retirement with an early rise the next morning. Sitting around the flame of the planted hand torch, the acolytes dug into their reserves of food rations. Sharing the bits of dwindling bricks with one another, the dismay of taste was fast being coupled with a dismay of lost motivations. The acolytes knew they were closer than ever to the Academy. They knew they were on the right course. But something itched at the back of their minds. None thought to vocalize their concern. Instead, they welcomed the silence of night along with its comforts.
With the next rising of the Korriban sun, the acolytes found themselves renewed and invigorated. The usual heat of the blasted landscape had not yet permeated their being, but the fire brewing in their hearts was unquenchable. Nesk and Vurt stretched their limbs and flexed their muscles coupled with their usual contradicting expressions. Isorr was bickering with Arlia, trying to procure one of her two training sabers, signaling a return to normalcy. Kar'ai had fully recovered and was full of energy, with Ryloh showing little signs of malady. Jresh was, of course, ready and able to proceed and Lorrik would continue to follow him at his side.
The group set out under the early morning skies, walking behind the staunch Pureblood that traversed across the cracked plains before them. For hours they walked, continuously and without pause. They had surpassed the petty threats the wilds could offer. They had succeeded hunger and thirst. Their minds and bodies were sustained by their destination. They were driven by the idea of being driven. Such was the way of the Sith. Passing over an extended flatland, the group's leader captured the attention of his fellow acolytes.
"I believe that mountain range in the distance borders the Academy," Jresh spoke up. "Looks like we'll be home by the day's end."
The gathered students vocally emoted their pleasure with the news. Cheers and warm faces emerged from even the more reserved acolytes. Revitalized once more, the students picked up their pace, traversing the empty plains with a bounce in their step. Through all the exuberance and jocularity, it was a moment before any had heard the harrowing crack of dirt and stone beneath their feet.
Looking to the ground, Lorrik and Jresh watched as the cracked terrain growled and shifted, fissures spreading and widening under their boots. Just as the floor was about to give way, the two acolytes at the head of the pack met their gazes for an instant before turning to their allies behind them. As the ground beneath them buckled, they stretched their arms out in front of them, sending out a combined Force wave that sent the other acolytes tumbling backwards and away from the growing chasm that Lorrik and Jresh found themselves slipping into.
Not a moment after granting their allies safety, the two students disappeared into the abyss, producing a loud thud as they impacting against the rock a short distance below. The chasm opened further and further before ceasing in front of the other six students. The acolytes steadied and reorganized themselves as they peered over the edge of the newly created pit. Looking into the chasm, the other two students were plainly visible upon the base of what appeared to be a subterranean cave system. The chamber was several meters deep, but the drop appeared to be more of a nuisance to the Sith compared to the previous pit.
"You have got… to be kidding me," Lorrik muttered from his back, gazing beyond the created fissure toward the Korriban sky. "I am officially… sick of this planet!"
Raising himself without a word, Jresh panned the chamber for any important details. The folded coat filled with belongings that had been secured to the warrior's waist jostled and rattled, but no signs of damaged goods emanated from within. Looking up, he saw the other acolytes staring down upon them. The pair could reasonably climb out, but the sides of the cave were less forgiving than the ridge they had previously crossed.
"You guys okay?" Kar'ai shouted into the caves.
"Yeah," Lorrik shouted back with a fair dose of discontent.
Jresh scanned his surroundings with an increasing haste. "Lorrik, we shouldn't linger. I don't see any particularly easy way out."
The Pureblood's advisement was cut short by a thunderous roar emanating from the deep shadows beyond one of the large tunnels that led to the chamber they found themselves in. Shooting up from his grounded position, Lorrik locked eyes with his companion as they shared a moment of silence.
"Lorrik?"
The Human's legs began to tremble as his eyes widened. "I thought this might have been a shyrack cave… but that howl wasn't nearly high-pitched enough. Don't see any signs of k'lor'slug infestation."
"I'd rather not wait and find out," Jresh admitted. "Come over here, I should be able to give enough of a boost to get you out."
A look of worry washed over the inquisitor's face. "What about you?"
"I'm sure I can just jump out."
"You're good… but not that good. Your body's not operating at its peak."
Another howl resonated throughout the chamber, louder and closer than before. Shaken by the deafening sound, the acolytes were forced to cover their ears. When the torment has ceased, the two students had looked up to see a figure emerge from the shadows. A giant beast, walking upon two legs. A creature of claws and spines. A creature of corruption. A creature of death. Something far worse than Lorrik's nightmares.
A terentatek slowly revealed itself as it stepped into the sunlit chamber. The hunched monstrosity inched closer with each heavy step, the spines protruding from its back almost grazing the ceiling. Bearing its claws and its tusked jowls, the monster was fully aware of the acolytes' presence.
"We need to get out! NOW!" Lorrik exclaimed.
"And then what?" Jresh asked, stilled and focused, his gaze coldly affixed on the approaching creature. "You think we can escape a creature of this caliber?"
"We can try! What, would you rather fight it?"
The Pureblood sharpened his gaze, unwilling to removing them from the approaching beast. "We're here. We might as well."
"This isn't a matter of challenge or pride, it's-"
Two soft thuds rang out to the pair's left. Momentarily rending their gaze from the dark monster, the acolytes saw that Nesk and Vurt had leapt down from above.
"Can't let it have prize to itself," Nesk snarled, brandishing his training saber, his silent companion doing the same. Another two thuds followed as Kar'ai and Ryloh joined them.
"Can't allow our guide and healer to get eaten, now can we?" Kar'ai said with a smirk as she drew her weapon, Ryloh supplying an assured nod as he did the same.
The terentatek let out yet another resounding roar as it fast approached the acolytes with its lumbering gait. Charging down upon them, the students scattered as the monster offered a wide swing of its toxic claws. Diving out of the way, the sharp and heavy hand impacted only against a nearby stalagmite, utterly shattering it. Lashing out at the twisted creature, Nesk let out a savage flurry of blows against the monstrosity's arm to little avail before its backhand sent him flying across the chamber.
Unable to focus its attention on all of the students, the acolytes surrounded the terentatek, striking with the ignited arrays of their training sabers. The weapons did little in the way of lasting damage, but left a series of scorch marks across the creature's thickened hide. The terentatek swung its arms out wide and let out a deafening roar, knocking the gathered students back with sheer force alone.
Jresh recovered with lightning speed and approached the creature without weapons nor fear. With only his fists, the Pureblood struck against the monster, searching for a soft spot in its plating. He found none, but refused to relent. With each punch, he channeled the Force, sending a shockwave out and through the terentatek's hide. The creature resisted the effect, but it was enough to attract its undivided attention. Lashing out at the insignificant Pureblood, Jresh proved nimble enough to outmaneuver it's blows, dodging, sidestepping, sliding beneath the creature's legs. Looking up, he saw Arlia and Isorr continue to watch from the edge above.
"I guess we should help them out," Arlia softly stated.
"I think you'll better understand my desire for a weapon right about now," Isorr replied.
With a dip of her head, the Twi'lek unhooked a saber and passed it to her partner. Each with a weapon at the ready, Arlia was the first to leap into the foray below. Ever the nimble fighter, Arlia struck out at the creature before dodging its ensuing blows. As the creature focused on the dexterous acolytes, the powerhouses lashed out with all their might upon the terentatek's exposed figure. Once more, Jresh looked to the edge above to see Isorr casting his typical glare down upon the violent proceedings. With a cold grin, the lone Zabrak stepped away from the chasm until he disappeared from view.
Jresh returned his attention to the monster just in time to be struck with the brunt of its hand across his chest, knocking him to the ground. As the monster readied another shattering roar, a dark figure flew across the exposed sky above with a mighty leap. Landing upon the beast's back, Isorr grasped a firm hold of the creature's spines. The terentatek lashed out by shaking its entire body, trying to loosen the insect from its back. Moving erratically, Isorr leapt from the creature's back as he ran its head into one of the chamber walls.
"Good of you to join us," Jresh muttered as he lifted himself from the ground.
"Shut up. Let's just kill this thing," Isorr said as he raised his saber.
"Right. Lorrik!" Jresh shouted out.
"Yeah?" Lorrik shouted back, genuinely exasperated.
"Get everyone line up against that wall!" Jresh directed, pointing to the surface behind his companion. Not needing an explanation, the Human offered a nod of his head as he shouted to the other acolytes. As the others vacated the area around the beast, Jresh charged forward, Isorr closely behind him. "That applied to you as well."
"I know. Don't care," Isorr curtly replied, prompting a soft chuckle from the Pureblood.
Sharing the terentatek's attention, they lashed out with a series of blows, Jresh hitting the creature low as Isorr circled around it. Together, they drove the creature toward the wall opposite the other acolytes. With a primal howl, the monster charged the warriors, who deftly stepped aside, allowing the creature to slam itself against the nearby cavern wall.
Recovering quickly, the terentatek turned to see the intruders standing in a line, side by side, their intense gazes beating down upon it. In unison, they raised their hands and stretched them outright. The air in the caverns shifted as the acolytes slowly and deliberately clenched their fingers. The monster took a step toward the organized pack, but found its movement snared. Each further step edged its body less and less close to the acolytes. A force was wrapping around the creature. Overwhelming it. Penetrating it. The focused minds of eight acolytes began crushing the terentatek with the manifestations of their spirits.
The terentatek was strong. But the acolytes were stronger. As every facet, every fold, every inch of battered hide was encapsulated and consumed with the crushing force, the power seeping deeper and deeper within the creature's innards. Its hide was sturdy, capable of resisting remarkable damage. Its innards were resilient, sculpted by the dark working of the Sith of old. But it could not defend against the combined might of these eight acolytes. Slowly, the terentatek lifting into the air, hovering as it struggled to break free of its shrinking prison.
The corrupt creature succumbed to the acolytes' will. Green fluids oozed from its various wounds and orifices. The monster of nightmares had been destroyed by the combined effort of eight lowly Sith. Lifeless, the students permitted the corpse to fall and slump to the cavern floor, dripping in its defeat. Releasing their grip, the acolytes slumped in their place, victorious.
Tired. But victorious.