Chapter Thirteen: Lessons
As the Human and Pureblood walked the halls of the Academy they were met with little traffic, and much silence. Silence that would be broken by their hushed whispers.
"Lorrik, is everything okay?" Jresh asked.
The Human let out a soft chuckle. "When has everything ever been okay?" Lorrik muttered. The inquisitor looked to his companion before letting out a soft sigh. "I'm sorry. Yeah, everything's fine. My insides are still a little jumbled, just need a little time to fully recuperate."
"As nice as that is to hear, I was concerned with more than just your physicality," Jresh added.
"Me? What about you? You were pretty quiet in there," Lorrik replied.
"Considering the conversation you had with our master, it seemed the smart choice," Jresh admitted.
"You don't seem too upset by the recent turn of events," Lorrik stated.
"I guess my time here has desensitized me to such revelations," Jresh declared. "We always believed Syrosk to be withholding information. We always believed there to be deeper motivations driving the actions of our superiors. All we've learned is that Syrosk is no longer the only person who sees the value of our strength."
"Just because a Sith finds value in something, doesn't mean he won't exploit it," Lorrik explained.
"And you believe Tash means to exploit us?"
"Us. The other students. Even his own apprentice," Lorrik offered. "There is a… genuineness to Vai, unlike any other Sith I have ever met. Every word he speaks is without malice, without venom, without falsehoods. I mean, we both know someone can mask their truest intentions, but Vai reads like an open book. A man with nothing to hide, nothing to prove. Honest and kind to a fault."
"See bits of yourself in him?"
"Actually, yes," Lorrik admitted. "I mean, he was the first Sith I had ever met, and he left a lasting impression. The first few years of the Academy, the instructors tried to reinforce the ideas of what it meant to be Sith. But I knew that strength was not reliant on selfishness and cruelty, because of him."
"And yet, you do not take him at his word about Tash. If the man is as honest as you say, why not believe what he says about his master."
"Because, not all falsehoods are lies," Lorrik explained. "I believe that he believes every words he says."
"And what do you truly believe about Tash?"
"Nothing. And that is deeply disconcerting," Lorrik declared. "Over time, I've come to know you, you've come to know me. We both know the other students, our master, even those who themselves work under Tash. But with each new detail, each new piece of insight, how much do we learn about Tash? He is loved, he is hated, he is trusted, he is feared. He is everywhere, he is nowhere. He knows everything, he knows nothing. He has made it so that the only person who can truly give us answers, is the man himself, and if it weren't for Syrosk or Vai, we wouldn't even have confirmation of his existence."
"Perhaps he doesn't exist, and this is just some sort of running joke."
"It's not as ridiculous as you might think," Lorrik stated. "There is strength in non-existence. The ability to act without repercussion. Power sourced from belief and credulity. The man has chosen his enemies carefully. The only one to speak against him is a lone Sith Lord of alien blood. No one else has any reason to."
"I'd say our tenure in the classrooms is reason enough," Jresh declared.
"Is it? I mean, if anything he kept us alive. I'm not sure I would have survived the Academy proper, and I certainly wouldn't have survived if I had never been picked up from my home planet," Lorrik stated. "But had he and Syrosk never split, would any of that be the same? Everything that he has done has been neither good nor bad, simply different. So that's why I ask, what is it that he truly desires? We don't know. Syrosk doesn't know. His underlings don't know. We have no reason to help him or hinder him, and yet our paths continually align regardless of our attempts to steer clear. And quite frankly, I'm tired of it. So we're going to push him, until he reveals his true self."
"A man doesn't go pushing around Darths to satisfy mere curiosity," Jresh replied.
"This is about more than just getting some answers, this is about finally earning my freedom," Lorrik declared. "All the strength, all the knowledge we possess is worthless if we cannot escape the workings of our superiors, and I do not take Tash for a man to let things slip from his grasp. The man embodies control… the very thing we seek to liberate ourselves from…"
"How can you be sure of this?"
"I can't. But I have reason for my suspicions. In my talk with Syrosk I… wasn't the most forthcoming," Lorrik hesitantly admitted.
"Really? I thought you to be rather direct," Jresh stated.
"Direct, yes, but I left out one particular bit of information in our talk of visions," Lorrik revealed. "I had another one, whilst on the brink of death. Between my collapse during the duel and my awakening, I was almost suffocated by darkness. The days I was out passed in a matter of moments, but I saw a glimpse of the future. An aged Human, standing amidst a scene of death and destruction. A Sith I'd not laid eyes on before. But it felt real. Realer than anything I felt before."
"You believe this figure to be Tash," Jresh questioned.
"I believe there to be a chance," Lorrik answered. "But unlike Syrosk, I don't intend to let such visions control me, to dictate my fate."
"Neither do you intend to totally ignore them."
"We survived the encounter with the entombed Massassi, but only barely," Lorrik admitted. "I believe we can change the future, but I do not believe it to be a simple task."
"But that is assuming the future you've seen is worth changing," Jresh replied. "You've no proof of the man in your vision's identity. You've no context to the death that surrounds him. They could allies or enemies. So long as you call yourself Sith, you will see death. More than you might care to."
"I know. And I know that Syrosk's mistake was his failure to contextualize and interpret his vision," Lorrik admitted. "Which is why our current course of action is to figure out the truth, once and for all. The only way this conflict can truly end is with the revelation of the involved parties' true selves. Then, and only then, will we know how to achieve true freedom."
"And which 'true selves' would you consider to have been revealed thus far?" Jresh asked
"We and the other apprentices pretty much have each other figured out," Lorrik suggested. "And Syrosk… Syrosk I feel will divulge such information himself."
"And what of Tash's apprentice," Jresh inquired. "Do you have full confidence in your assessment of him."
"I do," Lorrik bluntly stated.
"Then that just leaves Tash himself."
"Well, Tash, his instructors, miscellaneous Academy staff, Academy personnel outside Tash's realm of influence, and just about every other Imperial and or Sith on Korriban," Lorrik jokingly listed. "But all things in time."
"Speaking of time, you need to spend yours recovering," Jresh advised. "All the visions and careful planning in the world can't help you if your body remains in its current state."
"Well, that's debatable, but I understand your point," Lorrik said with a smile. "A couple days of meditation and healing, and all my insides should be in their proper place."
"What about your hand?" Jresh asked, a sliver of concern slipping through in his voice.
"Ah yes, the arm," Lorrik muttered, looking at his cracked and blackened palm. "I'm afraid that may be beyond healing… which means the same for your leg, I'm afraid. But don't worry, I'm sure there's an answer somewhere. I'll find a technique that's able to-"
Jresh raised a comforting hand. "Don't worry yourself, Lorrik. All things in time."
Lorrik felt lifted by his companion's resolve. "The famed resilience of Jresh Takuul. Which will likely come in handy, considering you might be facing the other apprentices alone while I recover."
"Assuming they all decide to continue their training under Syrosk."
"I have a feeling they'll not be going anywhere."
"I'd not underestimate their willingness to sever ties with Syrosk," Jresh declared.
"I'd not overestimate it either," Lorrik replied. "We all believe in Syrosk. We may find faults in some of his methods, his behaviors, his ideas, but we respect the man himself. And after today, that's who we finally get to interact with. Since the earliest days of our training, we believed in him, and he believed in us, despite either side's protests to that fact. Through his lessons we learned to believe in ourselves. It's time we teach him to believe in himself. In the end, we all become stronger."
"So that was the purpose of your speech? To boost a Sith Lord's confidence?" Jresh asked.
Lorrik offered a reserved laugh. "In plainest term, I suppose so. It's a student's duty to ensure their master's competence."
As the two apprentices neared their home's entrance, Jresh hastily moved to open the door for his weakened companion. The inquisitor offered an appreciative chuckle to his gallant partner before entering the apartment. The serene living quarters that greeted him were a sight for sore eyes, offering a place of comfort to recover.
"I kept your lightsaber safe inside your desk," Jresh explained.
"That's good to hear," Lorrik said as he headed into the kitchen. "I was afraid it had been left out on the cliff.
"Syrosk picked it up alongside your unconscious body when he carried you back to the Academy.
The inquisitor replied with a silent nod of his head as he reached for the conservator handle. "See? I knew he cared. Hopefully the others will come around to-waah!" Lorrik elicited a harsh shriek as he jumped at the sight of the container's frigid contents. Upon the center shelf rested the severed black hand of the Massassi. "Why is that in there?"
"You were in a coma, and I didn't know what to do with it," Jresh bluntly admitted. "I made sure it didn't touch anything, so to speak, not that we have much in the way of food in there anyway."
Retrieving the chilled paw, Lorrik grasped ahold of it with his right hand, miming a mock handshake. Aside from the slight coldness permeating through his numbed hand, the beast's limb had not changed since the Human last laid eyes on it. Turning it over, the inquisitor remarked, "You know, for an abhorrent piece of corrupted flesh, I must commend the craftsmanship of the outer material. I wonder if it has to be fused to the subject's skin, or if it could work as a coating…"
"I'd advise caution if you plan on delving into that holocron again," Jresh said from across the room. "Your first attempt didn't exactly leave a good impression."
Looking into the living area, Lorrik saw the pyramid-shaped artifact resting atop his desk where he had left it. "Don't worry. My inquisitiveness has its limits. I know better than to put either of us in danger again."
"We're Sith. Putting ourselves in danger is part of our craft," Jresh admitted. "What's important is knowing how to get out of it."
"The famed wisdom of Jresh Takuul," Lorrik offered, tossing the severed hand back into the conservator and shutting the door. "When is restock day?"
"Tomorrow," Jresh answered.
"Ah. Hey, if I was unconscious this week, where did all our supplies go? You weren't stress easting were you?" Lorrik jokingly asked.
"Remember last week? When you went through our weekly stock early and asked for this week's supplies in advance?"
"Maybe."
"And you remember how you went through most of those trying out your new 'recipes'?"
"Oh, yeah… hey, I was technically momentarily dead, you can cut me some slack in the memory department." The inquisitor saw his companion looking back at him, struggling to maintain his stoic visage. "I'm sorry. Probably not the best topic to joke about."
"It's okay," Jresh stated. "I'm just happy to see you back to your old self. Now I just have to wait for your body to recover. Regardless of the outcome with Syrosk and the other apprentices, the trials to come will require bodies and minds be at their peak."
"Yeah, only now that's true for Syrosk as well," Lorrik said. "He's been training us under the assumption that we'll succeed him after his inevitable death, which while technically falling in line with traditional Sith doctrine, has been misguided."
"But not anymore, right? It's not enough for the eight of us to become stronger, he must as well."
Lorrik made his way across the living area and toward his bedroom. "Yup. I'd say it's time we became the teachers."
"It's time you became the teachers," Syrosk rasped.
Upon the cliff top, Syrosk stood under the early morning sun across from his apprentices. All eight of them. The day following the arrival of Vai Thorel, the eight students had heard the words of their master weighed against that of Tash's apprentice, and subsequently chosen their place. A place upon which they stood adamantly amongst the swirling machinations of competing Sith Lords, confident in their renewed self-worth. However, even the most grizzled countenance faltered at their master's peculiar suggestion.
"You all have come far in the past months, further than I had ever expected," Syrosk continued. "Your bodies, minds, and spirits have shown progress unbefitting the lowly acolytes the other denizens of Korriban would see you as. Potential yet remains within you all, ready to be unlocked, but that will have to wait for another day. A unique set of circumstances has allowed for the orchestration of your next trial. Today, you all will be teachers, instructors, masters. Vai Thorel has not yet left Korriban. In fact, today he meets with those who teach Tash's classrooms. Outside of said classrooms, of course. The students have the day off, to leisure about the lower halls of the Academy as you all were once accustomed to. However, should the students be convinced to attend class, they would find themselves in need of a substitute."
"Wait a minute, you want us to take over the old classrooms for a day?" Arlia asked with disbelief.
"Yes," Syrosk rasped. "However, I would like you to address the others students with your partners, so you will only be meeting with four of the classrooms. But with time, whatever impact you have today will spread by the actions and words of those you have addressed. I have taught you. You will teach them. And they will teach others."
"What exactly are we supposed to teach them?" Kar'ai asked.
"That is for you to decide," Syrosk answered. "Force them to worship the group you walk on. Tell them to love or hate me or Tash. Do nothing but stare at them for an hour, I honestly don't care."
"Then why make us do it?" Isorr asked.
"One, it shows Tash that his domain is not indomitable nor untouchable," Syrosk replied. "Tash regardless of his wants and desires has looked upon the Academy from afar for too long. If he wants to operate on Korriban, he'll have to do so through means other than proxy by way of apprentice. And two, wisdom cannot be taught, it must be earned. It can however, be earned by teaching. And three, it gives me the day to attend to other Academy business."
"This isn't another one of those, 'hide us away while you deal with something important' kinds of business is it?" Lorrik asked.
"If I desired to hide you, I would not do so in the heart of the Academy," Syrosk rasped.
"Technically, I think the old classrooms are closer to its bowels than its heart, but point taken," Lorrik joked.
Arlia offered an exaggerated roll of her eyes. "Oh, is your class in for a treat."
"Do we get to pick the classes, or are they predetermined?" Ryloh spoke up.
"You and your partner will be teaching Kar'ai's former classroom," Syrosk began. "Isorr will teach his former class with Arlia. Lorrik will teach his former class with Jresh. Vurt will teach his former class with Nesk. Any questions?"
"Yeah, if our trial is in the Academy classrooms, why did we meet out here?"
"I'm a creature of habit," Syrosk offered, completely deadpan. "You're all dismissed."
The eights students of Lord Syrosk left their master alone on the Korriban peak as they began their bemused trek back to the Academy. They had been given a time, a place, and a task. However, only two of those three had been adequately defined. The apprentices would be returning to the very classrooms they left behind many months ago.
Traversing the path back to the Academy, none of the students had a solid plan of action. Whereas in the past, even though each new trial proved a surprise, the first and last goal was survival. No longer was that the case. The apprentices had surpassed the point in which each and every day was a life threatening experience. They had conquered the harshest wastes of Korriban. They had proven themselves capable of going toe to toe with a Sith Lord in full combat. They had pushed their bodies, minds, and spirits past their believed limits. And now, they found themselves stalled by the simple task of giving a lecture.
But as most of the students focused on the task ahead, one still found his thoughts thoroughly embedded in the present. As the eight apprentices walked together under the Korriban sun, Lorrik passed his warm gaze from student to student. Only now was it setting in that the other six stood by his side. With bright eyes, the Human held his head high as he approached the distant Academy.
"Let me guess, surprised we all decided to stay?" Arlia teased, picking up on her fellow inquisitor's mindset.
"As much as I'd like to say no…" Lorrik admitted.
"Well, we were given the same opportunity when we came back from the wastes," Ryloh reminded. "Stay with Syrosk, or completely sever our ties. We chose Syrosk then. We choice Syrosk this time."
"Yeah, but last time, it was deciding between Syrosk and an entirely new life," Lorrik said. "This time around, it was a choice between two paths. Paths that proceed toward the same destination. Paths that will inevitably cross one another."
"We stuck with what we knew," Isorr declared.
"More like we stuck with what we knew you would do," Arlia corrected. "Then again, from what Syrosk told us, you and Jresh were sticking by his side before we even knew that there was a choice to be made."
"Yeah, you were the first to decide, so I guess we just went along with you," Kar'ai added.
"Wow," Lorrik muttered, genuinely astonished. "I didn't think we'd have that much of an influence."
"Before you let it go to your head, you should know that we just didn't feel like splitting up the group," Arlia admitted. "Vai said we could continue our apprenticeship under Tash, pick up right where we left off. Promised us a place alongside a master with actual stature in the Empire. All in all, it sounded like a pretty good deal."
"And you know what they say about Sith Lords offering good deals," Isorr added.
"What?" Ryloh asked.
"Nothing. Because they don't exist," Isorr declared.
"In the end, things probably wouldn't be that different if we joined Tash," Arlia stated. "We'd be given trials. We'd become stronger. We'd be kept in the dark regarding our master's deeper intentions. Same old stuff. But if we split up, it would only be a matter of time before we would be forced to kill one another, and we thought it prudent to avoid that."
"Aw, it's always nice to hear that you care, Arlia," Lorrik joked.
"I wouldn't mind the killing. And in your current state it would really only be Jresh we'd have to worry about," Arlia admitted. "It's just that I'd rather not eliminate someone of relatively equal standing at the word the man who waited this long to consider us worthy of his attention. Say what you will about Syrosk, but he's one of the few people who genuinely couldn't care less about our species or background."
"It doesn't matter who we serve, we'll likely never escape the scrutiny afforded to us by our blood," Kar'ai offered. "Our master could sit on the Dark Council and it wouldn't free us from the burden of prejudice. In the end, Tash couldn't offer us anything we couldn't earn ourselves. He certainly couldn't offer us anything worth splitting up the eight of us. And since you stayed with Syrosk, we stayed as well."
Lorrik absorbed the words of his fellow apprentices. He realized that they all had broken free of the institutions the Academy had tried to drill into them from the earliest of ages. The reverence of their elders. The student blindly following the master. They stood as independents. Even as they forged bonds with one another, even as they owed their current status to Syrosk, they were freer than most who called Korriban home. They had been awakened to the truth of Darths and Sith Lords, and chosen to believe in the self, rather than aggrandize the influence of their superiors.
Together, the eight apprentices entered the halls of the Academy. Together, they traversed its many corridors, moving deeper and deeper into the belly of the institution. The time in which the four classes would convene was fast approaching. The four pairs offered their goodbyes and put on a brave face for the unknowns that awaited them.