Chapter Twenty Two: Lies (Part Three)
For months the apprentice trained, settling into his new home. Each day brought new tests, new trials, new ways to continue what began the day Tash left the Academy. Each success brought with it an increased strength, endurance, coordination. Each failure brought a better understanding of Force lightning.
Within the battle room of Lord Leshai's sanctum, the battered chassis of a sparring droid fell to the ground, a confident Tash standing over it, his training saber in a similar state of disrepair. The Human looked over the defeated sparring droid as oil leaked and sparks flew from its wounds. The saber in his hand flickered as the energy array of its bent blade struggled to stay on. With a gruff sigh the apprentice tossed the weapon to the floor with the rest of the scrap.
"Honestly master, I think we've moved well beyond the point of training sabers and these pitiful droids," Tash declared.
"We have, have we?" Leshai stated, adamant in his cold stoicism.
"I have earned the right to have a lightsaber of my own, you have to admit that."
"You'll find I have to admit nothing, and that I am the one who dictates what it is that you have earned."
"Apprentices less accomplished than I have already received a lightsaber from their masters."
"Then I suggest you seek another master if you find yourself so dissatisfied." With a begrudging grunt, Tash kicked the fallen droid chassis before heading toward the door. "Where do you think you are heading?"
"Out."
Without another word, the apprentice left his master alone in the battle room as he left the sanctum for the streets of Kaas City. On his way out of the Citadel, the Human saw the comings and goings of Sith and their underlings. Masters and apprentices walking side by side. Lords conversing with Imperial officers and technicians. Business as usual.
A range of emotions brewed with the apprentice as he trudged out of the Citadel. Anger. Fury. Disappointment. Then, intrigue, when his eyes fell upon a familiar face. Making his way from the Citadel was a young Human. Someone Tash had met at the Academy. Someone who had gained his apprenticeship a year prior. Someone with a lightsaber at his side.
"Hey, Serron!" Tash called out. The other Human perked up, looking around for his addresser, a small metallic box resting within his clutches. Tash offered the quick wave of his hand, and received a hesitant one in return as the other apprentice balanced the package beneath his arm. The confused Human stopped dead in his tracks as Tash rushed over to greet him proper.
"Oh, hey," Serron muttered as the other apprentice drew close. "You were a student at the Academy. What was it? 'V' something… or…"
"It's Tash now," he informed. "New master, new life. You know? So where are you heading?"
"Making a delivery for my master. Finally escaped the Academy's clutches, did you? Pretty lucky," Serron teased as he continued toward his destination, Tash following closely by his side.
"Yeah, apprenticed to Lord Leshai."
"Leshai? Heh, okay, maybe not so lucky," Serron replied.
"You know of him?"
"Any Sith who deals in the artifact trade knows of Lord Leshai."
"You some kind of artifact hunter?" Tash joked.
"No, but my master's had dealings with him in the past. I mean, he's no expert on the ancient stuff, but he isn't one to let an item of power slip through his grasp. No Sith is."
"Understandable," Tash admitted. "My master does… take pride in his acquisitions… and his secrets."
"Well, as his apprentice, I'm sure he'll pass them onto you eventually."
"Not so sure about that," Tash declared. "These past few months of training, it's been nothing but brutal, unforgiving physical trials."
"Physical trials? You mean he's not training you to be a Seer?"
"A Seer?"
"Hah! You weren't kidding about him telling you anything," Serron stated. "You know, that actually makes sense, given his line of work."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, he's a Seer. He has access to information other Sith don't. They look into the Force itself. Sometimes they see the future. Sometimes they see the connections of fate. Now, your master? He sees items touched by the Force. Artifacts left behind by the Sith of old. Holocrons. Weapons. Trinkets. Anything some powerful being some years ago poured some power into. Sounds to me like he doesn't want a successor, he just wants some dumb muscle to help him retrieve the things he sees in his visions."
Tash fell silent as his pace slowed. Serron's words stirred within his mind. Could he be telling the truth? Leshai chose his apprentice with a test of strength. He has kept the knowledge of his Holocrons and databanks out of reach. Each and every trial presented has done nothing but focus solely on martial prowess.
Tash began to fall behind. Serron paid no attention to the sullen apprentice, having no investment in his company. The Human's gaze sunk to the ground, his eyes darted back and forth in panic. His fists clenched and shook. Looking up, he saw Serron conversing with a taxi droid.
"Hey… Serron," Tash called out. His words were soft and wavering. He trudged forth, Serron watching his slow approach as he stood beside a rented speeder. "Do you think I could get a ride?"
"A ride? You don't even know where I'm going," Serron said as he entered the vehicle.
"I know. It's just… I'm not in the best of places right now," Tash admitted. "Honestly, I think I'd prefer the Academy to… to this. I hold no loyalties to Leshai. If you could help me out, I could definitely return the favor."
"What are you offering?"
"You know more about Leshai's possessions and capabilities than I. If I were so inclined, I might be able to steer those toward the benefit of your master. Or if you'd prefer, yourself."
Serron continued to stare down the other apprentice as he considered the offer. He wasn't exactly content with his place in life either. His mouth stretched into a sly smirk. With a wave of his hand, Serron offered Tash the passenger seat of the speeder. He accepted. Taking control, Serron lifted the vehicle and set out for the Dromund Kaas wilderness, intent on delivering his master's package to a distant outpost, as well as partaking in a mutually beneficial dialogue with his new friend. Tash had other plans.
Hours passed, and at the mouth of the Citadel, a speeder approached. The taxi droid scanned and documented the return of the vehicle, not bothering to note that it possessed one less passenger than when it departed. Parked amongst the lineup of rentable speeders, Tash hopped out of the driver's seat. With a bounce in his step he approached the Citadel, newly acquired lightsaber at his hip, newly acquired metal box resting beneath his arm.
Within Leshai's sanctum, the Sith Lord meditated within his quarters. Such meditations were interrupted by intrusion of a rambunctious apprentice.
"Returned, have we?" Leshai coldly stated, his body refusing to budge from its meditative position.
"Yeah, with a gift," Tash warmly admitted, tossing Serron's package to the ground in front of his master. The Pureblood opened his eyes, focusing them on the mysterious item. With the power of the Force, he lifted it from the ground and brought it to eye level. Narrowing his gaze, it's lid separated from the rest of the box, revealing its contents to the Sith Lord.
"How did you come to acquire this?" Leshai asked with the stern arch of his brow.
"I guess we all have our secrets," Tash haughtily answered.
"No. No we don't," Leshai declared as he turned his gaze toward his apprentice. "This box contains a holocron, one I parted ways with some time ago. You took it from its owner, or rather it's owner's apprentice. Followed him to the wilds, murdered him, and looted his corpse. Am I wrong?"
"If you knew, why ask?" Tash asked, increasingly flustered.
"I was being cordial," Leshai admitted, completely deadpan. "So, you went and took what you desired. A weapon and a gift to appease your master. But not before acquiring whatever knowledge he possessed before you ended his life. All in all, a well-executed plan, if not accounting for my relation with Serron's master."
Tash could only stare at his master as his visage slowly turned into a harsh grimace. "How?"
"How, what?"
"How could you possibly know all that?"
"Well, you told me," Leshai declared, slowly raising himself from the floor, Tash frozen in his place. The apprentice felt some burden wash over him, his master's presence towering over him. "You cannot keep secrets from me, no matter how hard you try. Whatever you know, I know."
"Fine, you can read minds. But we both know there are ways to keep telepaths out."
"You don't get it. This isn't about mental intrusions and safeguards. This is about us being connected. Bound. Linked, by more than just Sith convention," Leshai explained, the gem around his neck glowing a bright crimson. "Your knowledge becomes my knowledge. Your strength, my strength. You know now that I am a Seer. That I specialize in the divination and acquisition of Sith artifacts. I can sense items powerful in the dark side of the Force from across the galaxy. I can read minds or tear them asunder, should I choose. But the connection you and I possess stems not from my powers, but from this." Leshai palmed the glowing amulet as Tash remained awestruck.
"Between the master and his apprentice rests a bond. A code," Leshai continued. "The powerful should never be forced to lower themselves for the sake of the weak, but it is their duty to ensure that strength endures. Whether it be in themselves, or the next generation. But as long as there have been Sith, there have been countless different views on how to pass on that strength. As well as countless different ways to cheat the system. One particular Sith long ago, fearing his life might be cut short by an overly ambitious apprentice, forged this amulet. It gives its wearer direct insight to the thoughts of his followers, regardless of either party's mental capabilities. This is not some Seer's trinket, for I require no such item. This is the embodiment of superiority."
"So what, I'm just supposed stay your apprentice, knowing that no matter what, I'll never be able to surpass you?" Tash shouted.
The Pureblood sharpened his gaze. "Still you do not understand. I believe in no gods. I believe that every individual has their limits. If I siphon your strength, if I know everything you know, that just means you'll have to try harder than any other to take the place of your master. Unlike other Sith, you'll not be allowed to ascend unless you are utterly deserving of it."
"Am I supposed to believe this is all for my benefit?"
"Tell me, are you not stronger than you were the day you left the Academy? Wiser? Did you not procure your own livable quarters? Do you not now possess a lightsaber?" Leshai listed. "Just because I haven't directly given you something, doesn't mean I am not responsible for its acquisition. I'll not assuage your expectations. The knowledge you now possess has earned you no more favors than you held prior. The difficulty will never lessen, but that which goes unchallenged grows weak. And I've no tolerance for weakness. You will become a proper Sith, or you will be broken. I've no vested interest in your success, and I've contingencies for whether or not you stay, and for how long you remain my apprentice. So you've a choice. Do you follow the countless easier paths that lay elsewhere? Or do you remain my apprentice?"
Tash stared at his master long and hard, thinking of his answer. He almost thought to refrain from answering, knowing the Lord had unfiltered access to what was running through his mind anyway. But he spoke aloud anyway, knowing he yet not yet lost control of his speech, and he needed to believe he still retained some control over himself.
"I'll stay," Tash declared.
"Good," Leshai stated as he raised a hand. A moment later a small arc of Force lightning leapt from his fingertips and into his apprentice. The quick burst of energy surged through his body, wracking his nerves as usual. "Don't kill your fellow Sith unless you have to. Any living asset can be controlled and utilized to your benefit. Remember that."
"Yes… master," Tash muttered as he recovered from the attack. The apprentice left for his quarters, hand tenderly resting upon the lightsaber at his side, an unwavering determination in his eyes.