Chapter Twenty: Doctrines

Holding his companion up in the air, the two apprentices continued to indulge in their merriment without a care in the world. If the other Sith amongst the Academy grounds were gazing upon their revelry, they did not know. Rather, they did not care. In the time of their brief separation, they realized fully their attachment to one another. And in that attachment, they saw not weakness, but an enduring strength. A bond.

Setting the inquisitor back upon the soles of his feet, the Pureblood attempted to straighten up his image, wiping the smile from his face. As hard as he tried to return to the stoicism he had so readily relied upon, there was still an aura of emotion about him. Lorrik expressed a quick chuckle as his partner's lips struggled to straighten themselves and the warrior slowed his breaths.

"I was… worried I might have missed you," Jresh admitted, prompting quick series of nods and a smirk from his companion.

"Oh, I know you would have missed me."

"I meant…" Jresh continued, increasingly flustered.

Lorrik gave his partner a firm pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry big guy. I know this emotional stuff doesn't exactly roll off the tongue for you. We've got time, no need to rush things."

"No. I can't just keep putting things off," Jresh stated. "When you left, I was certain it was because I had been dishonest. About my being here. About my past."

"Don't worry about it. We're all figuring out our place in this Academy. In this Empire. Our pasts are behind us. Let's focus on the future."

"It's not that easy. You brought up our lives before the Academy for discussion before, I evaded the topic. I was selfish. Concerned that my past would define me more than anything I've accomplished."

"Nonsense!"

"Is it?" Jresh asked. "Isn't that entire reason we're in this situation? Why we were hidden away amongst the halls of the Academy rather than out here with the true acolytes? Slaves. Aliens. Impurities."

"Our pasts are merely a sequence of events that shape our path. They don't define it. And they certainly don't define us," Lorrik declared. "We can't ignore our past. For all the painful, harmful memories, there is knowledge to be learned. There is strength to be drawn. And if I know you as well as I think I do, you'd never cast aside a potential source of strength. I'll admit, we are not in the most prestigious of positions at the moment… but if given the choice, I'd not alter the path I've walked. We think the Academy a place of uplifting those who have proven their superiority, but we forget those cast down in the process. Or maybe we remember them and just think it a deserved fate. The Academy… it's a horrible place. More so than we know. We haven't faced what these acolyte's have faced. Death was nonexistent amongst the classrooms. Out here… not so much. I could stand around, hating the years I've wasted under Tash's instructors, but the fact is… I might not be alive right now had I been accepted as a traditional student."

"I take it this has to do with the person I saw wearing your coat as they boarded the shuttle off world?"

"Yeah. Had a little talk with him. Younger than us and yet he's been through things much worse. This Academy would have no doubt been the end of him," Lorrik said as he gazed toward the landing pad. "I gave him my envelope. I saved his life."

"A noble action."

"He didn't deserve to go through what he did. He didn't ask to become a Sith. He was dragged here along with many others. Enslaved by the Sith, forced to earn their freedom from shackles they did not require. There is a path of ascension within the Academy, but it is buried under countless more that lead only to death and dismay. The Sith should be about freedom. We pursue the path we tread because it suits our goals, but we are the ones who should choose to pursue it! Our freedom is what sets us apart from the Jedi! The Academy is an institution of veiled enslavement, with true freedom reserved for select few. I cannot abide by this. We are Sith. We will not turn away from this path. But we cannot turn a blind eye to the contradictions… to the distortions placed upon that title. I used to think your idea of the Sith'ari as fantasy. Now, more than ever, I'd like to see that fantasy realized. I've moved past the manipulations of Darth Tash… of Lord Syrosk. My immediate thought this morning was to leave it all behind, but that would be putting my talents to waste. No. Instead, I will train. I will progress. And once I have achieved a sufficient level of power, I will mend this Empire. But alas, the foundations are much too warped. If we want to truly fix things, we're going to have to break them in the process. Are you with me?"

"Yes," Jresh adamantly answered. "Now and forever."

Without another word, Lorrik wrapped his arms around his companion once more and squeezed him as much as his limbs would allow.

Releasing his grip, the Human wore a determined countenance. "Syrosk has a lesson for us. We shouldn't miss it."

"You're right. Let us head back and prepare for the day ahead. You without a coat, and me without a weapon… it would be a rather embarrassing start for our new path, wouldn't you say?"

"Well, at least we can rectify one of those…"

The eight apprentices had reconvened later that day, standing atop the usual mountaintop with an odd sense of nostalgia. Situated in an orderly lineup, they stood within the stern, penetrating gaze of their master whom remained rigid at their opposite. Back in his usual armored getup, the intimidating figure panned his view from student to student, holding his eyes on one for a few moments before moving onto the next.

"Well, it seems all eight of you have opted to stay. Good," Syrosk plainly spoke up. "Given that you all stand here unscathed, I also take it none of you went out of your way to disclose the nature of Darth Tash's plotting to the Academy at large. We mustn't diverge from that choice. He is a dangerous and powerful figure who knows I still oppose him and his ways and would no doubt order his forces to strike against us… if, however, he weren't so caught up in his pride and sense of superiority. No, instead, we are currently beneath his notice. Partly by design, partly by fluke. But it is a factor that I plan to capitalize on. There is nothing simple about being a proper Sith. You must understand when and where to bare your teeth. I'll not send you out to fight my enemies. I'll not be using you as dispensable tools. I will be training you to be proper Sith. No one will know of your progress. No one will know of your strength. Not for quite some time. Put away your pride, your selfishness, your ego, unless they directly serve in your ability to better yourselves. Is that understood?"

The apprentices all offered a steady stream of nods and affirmations.

"Good. One thing you all must understand is that you are not students of this Academy. You are students of a Sith Lord currently residing within the Academy, making use of its facilities and surroundings. As my apprentices, you have earned my respect, but I cannot say the same for the Academy staff and its acolytes. Lorrik and Jresh may have an easier time walking the amongst the populace without burden, but the rest of you will be looked down upon. Therefore, it is fitting that you possess something indicative of your status. A proper lightsaber."

The students looked to one another with a budding pride, breaking from their disciplined formation at the thought of owning their very own weapon.

"With the traditional Force-user's weapon at your hip, people will be wary of drawing you into open conflict, which is something we need to establish sooner, rather than later. Typically, a master would gift his apprentice a lightsaber upon achieving the proper rank. I do not have eight with which to part with each of you. I do not even own a second lightsaber from my own. This is by intention. In my spare time I could have easily acquired weapons to simply pass out, but that would not teach you to appreciate it. I simply gave you your personal training sabers, and I see that one of you has misplaced it."

The others' eyes fell upon the weaponless Jresh whose posture refused to budge even the slightest.

"It fell off a cliff, sir," Jresh explained, his usual stoic self.

"No, it currently resides at the hip of Isorr. His lies twisted at the bottom of a darkened pit, not yours. Telepath, remember? After you all acquire your lightsabers, that will be the focus of our next training session. I may possess a gift for the art, but any Sith with sufficient training can dominate the mind of their opponent. Read it, control it, destroy it. Before we can continue, you all must be able to sufficiently defend yourself against the mental intrusions of your fellow Sith."

The apprentices were in agreement with their master's plan of action.

"Now, for your lightsabers, I can provide you the raw materials. Power cells. Lenses. Casings. Your responsibility will be acquisition of crystals. Fortunately, the Academy keeps a stock of such items. Unfortunately, they are kept remarkably expensive to keep them out the hands of lowly acolytes. Luckily, you all still possess the envelopes I presented to you yesterday, each with enough funds to purchase them."

"Damn," Lorrik muttered.