Chapter 12. Training

The most difficult lesson for Petyr to learn as it is for all Sith who follow the rule of two, is patience. He was anxious to avenge the death of his friend Royce. But he was not ready to face his Master Darth Cognus. Within a year Petyr could lift large objects and summon force lightening. He could run long distances without tiring himself and leap fifty feet into the air. He could also alter gravity and run along the side of buildings and trees. He could even run across the ceiling if he wished. He was an expert at mind domination as the Jedi used the old mind trick.

As far as lightsaber combat went he had already mastered the Shii-Cho, Makashi, and the Ataru styles of fighting. Like his Master Petyr was determined to be a living weapon of the Dark Side. In addition to his exercises and martial arts Petyr was well learned in the history of the Sith order. The old Sith Empire and the New Sith Smpire. He studied the teachings of Darth Revan, Bane, Zannah, and from his own Master's holocron. He also learned of Marko Ragnos, Ajunta Paul, Freedan Nadd, Tulak Horde, Ludo Kresh, Naga Sadow, and many others. Though their teachings were just to further his knowledge of the force itself or use their knowledge to increase the power of the rule of two.

After a year and a half Petyr built his own lightsaber. It was a foot and two inches long which included the four prongs at the top of the hilt. The temple had a stock pile of Sith crystals so when he was ready all he had to do was pick one from the vault. Now Petyr was able to duel with his Master using energy blades. When they fought he noticed that she only used one saber. A trap he figured so that he could not know of her true skill. So in private Petyr would practice against saber droids on knight level armed with twin blades.

Despite all his accomplishments in the past two years Petyr had yet to accept his title of Darth Severuss. He would answer to Darth Severuss in his Master's presence but he still held onto his name Petyr Dayhok. Then there was the fact that his desire to kill Darth Cognus was faltering as he often dreamed of and had visions of his father.

Cognus slipped around his guard elbowed him in the head and held her blade to his neck, "Dead again apprentice…You seem distracted…"

"Forgive me Master…"

"Forgiveness is for the weak…If you can't focus then you are no good…Off with you…" She watched as he walked away. His passion was slipping and she needed to spark it again. When Severuss showed up for his training the next morning Cognus was not in the archives. So he went to the dueling ring. She was not there either nor was she in the control center or the throne room. "Yes!" Cognus said from behind her door.

"Master I'm ready for my lessons…"

"I doubt that! Go meditate I shall decide what do with you later…" She felt fear arise him as he walked away from her door. The first part of her plan worked, the fear would drive him to work hard on his own. "Now I must spark the passion, but how…I will meditate on this…"

There was something in the way Cognus said I will deal with you later that made Petyr's heart race. His Master was a strict thorough disciplinary and she would not hesitate to kill him. His survival instincts kicked in he had to find a way to convince her that he was still useful as an apprentice. That he was Darth Severuss. "Humph! Darth Severuss…" He whispered, "And what must I sever from myself…Her?"

Darth Cognus had summoned her chief Sith agent to the temple on the Rakata home world. "Find out where the prophets of Darkness are operating from…"

He bows, "Yes mistress…"

Cognus' plan is to send Darth Severuss on a mission that will lead him to the Prophets of Darkness. With a nudge in the force the Prophets would feel threatened and try to kill Severuss, but he would turn the tables and kill them.