Chapter Twenty Two: Bonds

Jresh eyed the blue crystal within his partner's hands. "A curious choice, I must admit."

"And I must admit that it wasn't much of a choice," Lorrik replied. "It's all the quartermaster had."

"The quartermaster? From our previous encounters? Did he give it to you… or did you have to take it?"

"No, it was given freely. No need to worry about consequences or retaliations…"

"I do hope you are not speaking generally."

Lorrik offered a quick chuckle. "No need to worry about that either. I took a calculated risk, openly confronting those whom are under Darth Tash's employ, but it paid off. I have what I need to continue my training proper, and I may have secured some valuable allies."

"More promises of home cooked meals?"

"You make it sound as if that's all I'm capable of offering."

"I'm merely weighing past interactions, I know your proper skills lie beyond the culinary. In our unique positions, there's very little we can actually offer these people beyond the use of our hands. No credits. No assets. No place in society…"

"All of which can be earned. In time, of course."

"Of that I'm certain, we must simply be aware of our restrictions going forward, lest we miss any opportunities to shed them."

"That's the kind of tempered determination I've come to expect from you."

"Someone needs to keep you in line."

"Whatever, Sith'ari," Lorrik teased. Venturing deeper into the suite, the inquisitor peered into his opened bedroom, witnessing a scene of rife with past rifling.

"You should know I went into your room this morning… when I realized you weren't here," Jresh admitted.

"Did you think I was hiding in the drawers?" Lorrik joked, eyes fixed on the ransacked night table.

"I also found your journal," Jresh spoke up.

Lorrik took only the slightest of pauses. "Listen to any of it?"

"The first few entries. I was… in a peculiar state of mind when I thought you had left for good," Jresh admitted. "I was distraught. I wanted some modicum of insight into where you had gone, what you were thinking."

"As long as we're being honest, I would have liked to have known what I was thinking this morning as well. I'd like to say I never intended to leave, but I don't know what I would have done had I not come across that other student."

"Well, like you said, remember the past, but don't dwell on it."

"Right, if there was ever a time to keep our wits about us, it'd be now."

"Really? Not when we were walking across the blasted wasteland or face to face with a terentatek?"

"And if there was ever a sign that things had returned to normal, it'd be you calling me out on all the stupid things I say."

"Now, now, there aren't enough hours in the day to call you out on all the stupid things you say," Jresh offered with the slight upturn of his lips.

The inquisitor let out a soft chuckle. "Hi. I'm sorry, have you seen a Pureblood by the name of Jresh? Big. Red. Stoic. Likes leaning against walls with his arms crossed. Befuddled by the concept of humor. I heard he was around here somewhere?"

"Given what we're expected to go up against, I doubt there will be any shortage of seriousness in the days ahead. You'll have to forgive me if I try and keep things lighthearted within our residence."

"This is it then. The moment everything changes."

"Lorrik, I do believe we are well past that point. Change is in our nature. Each day at this Academy will prove to distinguish itself from the preceding one. We've faced some harsh trials recently. Harsh revelations. And moving forward, I expect we'll face even more. Some will be easier… some will be much, much more difficult."

"But we'll face them together… right?"

"Of course we will."

"Then I look forward to it," Lorrik declared. "What do you suppose our next trial will be?"

"Can't say for certain. Though most likely yours will be facing the ridicule of the other students for possessing a blue lightsaber crystal."

"You don't think they'll give me much grief over it do you?" Lorrik asked, his face scrunched in a seemingly genuine concern.

"A Sith… with a blue lightsaber…"

"Hey, our roots belong to the Dark Jedi who left their order. If anything, I'm a hyper-traditionalist."

"An anti-slavery, anti-discriminatory, anti-Sith Sith traditionalist. It's as if you're trying to offend the people you surround yourself with."

"Have I offended you?"

"Absolutely not. Just know that the boundary between harmless jibes and grievous offenses is relatively thin for most Sith."

"It's almost as if you believe the denizens of this establishment are prone to overblown retaliations for any perceived slight. Outrageous. Not these fine, upstanding, murdering, subjugating, manipulating-"

"I have no problem with any new challenges that should come our way, just… like I said, someone needs to keep you in line."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm not worried. I bet no one even notices anything tomorrow."

"I feel like everyone is looking at me," Lorrik cautiously muttered through clenched teeth. The students had returned to their typical spot atop the mountaintop, each palming their acquired crystals within their hands. Eight apprentices situated in a familiar line across from their discerning master.

"To be fair, I don't think they're looking at you so much as your peculiar item," Jresh replied.

Lorrik pursed his lips as he struggled not to turn and face his fellows directly. Instead he kept his gaze upon his master, who was most assuredly staring directly into his eyes. "He's reading my mind. I just know it."

"To be fair, he's only a short distance away, he can probably just hear you."

"Stop saying 'to be fair'!" Lorrik harshly whispered, followed by a loud, drawn out clearing of the throat from the opposing Sith Lord. Immediately the inquisitor succumbed to silence as he softly bowed his head.

"Students," Syrosk began. "I see that all of you were successful in completing your task. You're all one step closer to possessing the proper weapon of a Force-user. It is, however, only one of many steps. And seven of you are ready to proceed to the next step." Lorrik's heart immediately sunk as the Sith Lord refused to break eye contact with him. "A lightsaber is merely one tool in the Sith's arsenal. One just as potent, just as dangerous, is the Sith's mind. Despite your flawed education of many years, it has served in bettering your martial skills. The same cannot be said for your mental aptitude. The acquisition process for your lightsabers will not be quick. You will design them. Construct them. Deconstruct them. Reconstruct them. Imbue them with the power of the Force. In the end, it will not be something you hold within your hand, it will be an extension of that hand. You will forge a bond. One of many bonds crucial to your progress. Considering the fact that this will be a long and arduous process, there will be… gaps… in your training. Gaps I don't intend to waste."

Moving closer to his students, Lord Syrosk panned his gaze from one end of the line-up to the other and back again, pausing his cold eyes upon each individual for the longest instant before moving on. The apprentices remained rigid in their stances, eyes forward, and minds clear.

"The first step, in a series of steps separate from those regarding your lightsaber, will involve one on one training sessions, in which we will focus on training your minds," Syrosk detailed. "Strengthening your resolve. Fortifying your defenses. Honing your capabilities. Securing your thoughts from prying individuals. Your minds will be trained just as your bodies were. They will be broken down, so that they can be rebuilt upon firmer foundations. And like your lightsabers, this building process will not be quick, and it will not be simple. When the body wants to overcome pain, it relies on the mind to trick it. When the mind wants to overcome pain, it has only itself to rely upon. This leads to delusions, misconceptions, and weakness. All of which must be overcome. Seven of you will spend the rest of the day researching designs for your lightsaber. One of you will accompany me to my chambers for training. Lorrik. That privilege falls to you."

The Human's heart sunk even lower than before. His eyes danced against the distant horizon as his vision began to blur. Indistinct vibrations pounded against his eardrums. Murmurs. Declarations. Instructions. Everything cleared when the inquisitor felt a firm hand upon his shoulder. The gloved hand of his partner felt heavy against his robe, but amongst the weighted burden there was relief.

"Good luck," Jresh directly spoke into Lorrik's ear before taking a step back toward the Academy. The Human saw the other seven apprentices had begun walking down the return path, leaving only himself and Lord Syrosk standing atop the mountain as the Korriban sun hovered over them.

"So, what's the thought process behind this choice? Does it have to do with my crystal, or are we starting with the person with the most potential… the least potential…?"

"We're starting with the mind I'd least appreciate the contents of which being uncovered by unscrupulous parties."