*I still don't own Fairly OddParents or Star Wars: The Old Republic!*
Dialogue Key
"I wish Vicky had a fish head!"
'Oh great! The wand not working 'PBBLPT!' noise!'
"May the Force be with you."
Assigning the Second Trial & Training Begins
Timmy's POV.
As Kory and I walked back to Harkun's office after my trial with Inquisitor Zyn, I could sense her emotions through the Force. I can tell that she's uncomfortable with how I killed that acolyte who I interrogated in cold blood like that. And to be honest, I'm a little put off by this as well. I know that I let my passions guide me, but that was still the first time I've actually killed someone. At least, the first time I've ever tortured someone and then killed them in such a brutal manner. And to be honest, I feel kind of guilty about ending his life in such a brutal and agonizing manner like I did. But this is the way of the Sith. Kory needs to understand this if she is going to survive in such a harsh and unforgiving galaxy like this one.
So I stopped in the middle of the hall, causing Kory to almost bump into me. I think it's time the two of us have a little talk about what it truly means to be Sith.
"Kory. I know how you feel about the way I killed that acolyte."
Turning to face Kory, I see that she looks unsure of herself. And I can sense that she is doubting her ability to truly be Sith.
"To be perfectly honest with you, I'm not too proud of what I've done myself. That instance with the acolyte is not the first time I've taken a life, and it surely won't be the last." I said to her. "But I will be perfectly blunt with you, Kory, the life of a Sith is a harsh and unforgiving one. Among the Sith, it's the law of the jungle. The hunters and the hunted. Kill or be killed."
"I know, Timmy. And I understand that this is what it means to be Sith, but… I just can't help but think that the Sith have begun to act more like animals. And animals only ever hunt to survive, not just kill because they want to." Kory explained.
And in a way, I can see where she's coming from. Many of these Sith are sadistic and relish in the thought of killing off masses of living organisms while enslaving whole galaxies. Something I will need to remind Kory about, it seems.
"I understand how you feel, Kory. But what do you think this war is about?" I asked her honestly. "Those Jedi may believe in everlasting peace, but the Sith… The Sith know that the idea of eternal peace is a complete lie. They… WE… live for the glory of battle and conquest. And if the Emperor were to ever gain enough resources, he would begin another war. A war the likes of which would destroy whole planets and shatter galaxies until only one side remains!"
I looked right into Kory's eyes and could see the fear that still lies within those beautiful windows to the soul. She's afraid of going to war. Afraid of all the suffering that would be brought down upon the people of the entire universe should such a war ever be made real.
"I understand that you hate needless cruelty, Kory, but this is the way of the Sith. And if you wish to be a truly powerful Sith, then you must learn to discard your inhibitions and harness your passions to become truly powerful."
I gently lifted her chin so she was looking me in the eyes, as she had started looking down at her feet Midway through my advice, and gave her the most reassuring smile I could give.
"I swear, Kory, that I will help you become one of the most powerful Sith to ever live since the days of Tulak Hord himself. You have my word."
Kory smiled at me, as she seems to sense the truth in my words. I can see in her eyes that she's ready and willing to commit. The training will be harsh, and at times she may feel like she wants to quit, but I'll be there to catch her when she loses her balance and help her rise up when she falls. We both walk in a comfortable silence as we go to Harkun's office to report the success of my trial. But as we draw nearer, I can sense Kory beginning to be overwhelmed by her fear again.
Not that I blame her. I've had more near death experiences than most people my age. Or really, most people in general. But it wasn't all bad. I always had Cosmo, Wanda, and Poof to help me get through it. As we entered Harkun's office, myself being the last acolyte to arrive as usual, I subtly pushed Kory behind me and began using myself as a shield for her. I don't trust Harkun not to try and stab her in the back when she's not looking. And I'm not about to let it happen. But as I took my spot among the group, I noticed that there's one acolyte who's missing.
Harkun spoke up from his spot at his desk, speaking to us once again in that snide and condescending tone of his.
"Well, well, well. I had been looking forward to cutting another one of you down, but it looks like I'll be spared the trouble. Unsurprisingly, Niloc has gone missing. Also unsurprisingly, Ffon has completed his first trial. It's only a matter of time before he tramples you all underfoot." Harkun said as he once again praised his pet while putting the rest of us down.
"I'll tear you apart where you stand, slave! You, and your little slut!" Ffon declared as he clenched his fist in my direction.
His calling Kory by a derogatory term also sparked my own righteous anger as my fist clenched so tightly, it felt like I was going to tear into my palm with my own fingernails. But I was stopped from doing anything when Kory, in a rather bold move, took my free hand in her own and gave it a gentle squeeze. This was enough to calm me to the point of not attacking, but that doesn't mean that something's not going to happen if somebody insults Kory again!
After all, nobody calls my beautiful apprentice a slut and gets away with it!
Huh. Where did that come from?
"Patience, Ffon-an accident in the tombs is much more convincing." Harkun said as he stopped his pet from attacking. "Now the rest of you know your next task-go. I want to speak to Ffon and our latecomers."
The rest of the acolytes nodded and walked out of Harkun's office to possibly get some rest before beginning their trials. My internal clock tells me that there's still time before evening meal and rest, so I'll go train with Kory before beginning my next trial. But now, it's just four of us left here. Ffon, Harkun, Kory, and myself. As usual I kept Kory out of the direct line of fire in case Ffon or Harkun decided to attack. And I will defend her with my life.
"Now, slave-Zyn says you handled yourself expertly and as much as I find this difficult to believe, Lord Zash is satisfied with his evaluation. Undoubtedly, Zyn helped you in some way-but you will not have his help on the next trial." Harkun said to me with a growl before explaining the next trial. "Both you and Ffon will have trials of intellect-trials that test your ability to apply your understanding of the Force to solve problems."
"You don't expect a slave to be a match for me in intellect! I've been trained under the greatest teachers-"
Ffon certainly sounds insulted at the insinuation that I could possibly be anywhere as smart as him, but I know I'm stupid. I always got 'F's during most of my schooling in my old world before moving on to high school.
"Calm down, Ffon." Harkun said as he calmed his loyal attack dog. "I certainly do not expect this slave to be a match for you. That's why you will have separate trials. Which you will have three days to complete."
"Truly, your generosity astounds." I said with an eye roll.
"You're only digging your own grave." he said to me, seemingly unbothered by my quip. "Ffon, you will go to the library on the second floor of the academy and translate the following texts for Lord Zash."
Harkun handed a stack of datapads to Ffon who pocketed them as he accepted his task. A task that I feel is far too easy to really be called a trial. No wonder Ffon is so weak.
"Yes, overseer." Ffon said.
As the pink Sith Pureblood left the room, Harkun turned his attention to me and spoke in a dark and, what he thought to be, menacing tone of voice. Really, I've been more intimidated by the likes of Denzil Crocker, my old school bully, Francis, and even Jorgen Von Strangle. This guy's pathetic attempts to intimidate me only served to make me cross my arms as I looked at him with a raised eyeridge.
"Slave, deep in the ancient, monster-infested tomb of Marka Ragnos, there is a holocron filled with dark secrets and encased in a great stone monument. No one has figured out how to release the holocron from its stone prison in over a thousand years. You will bring this holocron to me, or you will die." Harkun instructed.
Smirking at the ugly man in front of me, I decided to vent a little more of my growing frustrations using him as the outlet.
"The more you make me hate you the stronger I become, Harkun. And one of these days, I'm going to be strong enough to crush you."
I felt Kory tense behind me as Harkun released a little bit of Force Pressure as a way to try and intimidate me. And while it certainly worked on poor, kind, gentle Kory, it didn't so much as make me twitch. If anything, it just made my nose a little itchy.
"You will never be strong enough, slave." Harkun growled. "You will bring back the holocron or hope that the spirit of Marka Ragnos himself returns to end your miserable existence. Now go! Your trial begins tomorrow morning!"
In response to his angry orders, I simply narrowed my eyes and flipped him the bird as Kory and I strode out of his office. Knowing we still have time before we needed to have our evening meal, Kory and I followed Loun's directions to the library where we found two Sith overseers who looked busy directing other acolytes. Taking a deep breath, I mentally prepared myself for the harsh training that is no doubt about to take place and strode over to the two while trying to keep an air of respect for the two Sith.
"Excuse me, overseers. But I was told that all new acolytes for Lord Zash were to come here for training." I said to them.
The first of them, a rather burly warrior of the Sith noticed me right away. I will admit that his stature combined with the raw power I sense from him have me a little intimidated. But at least he's calm right now. So long as I don't do anything to earn his ire, Kory and I will be okay. Mostly Kory.
"Ah, there you are. The one acolyte that everyone in the academy is talking about. More specifically how you verbally ripped Markan a new one before giving him a good, solid kick to his family jewels." the burly Sith said to me.
He released a booming laugh, catching me and Kory off guard as he clapped me on the back hard enough to make me stumble forward. Out of all the possible reactions I could have expected from such an intimidating man, especially in regards to that earlier incident, this was certainly the most unexpected. I mostly expected him to eviscerate me with his Lightsaber for my insolence towards a fully-fledged Sith, not to laugh at his fellow Sith's misfortune. Even though I sorely hope that I sterilized the man with that kick.
"Nicely done there, acolyte! I've been wanting to do that to him for years!" the man said with a boisterous laugh while his partner simply chuckled. "Pay no attention to him and his rather elitist remarks. He's been like that ever since he was an acolyte here at the academy. Anyway, I am Overseer Rance. I instruct acolytes on the ways of Lightsaber combat and how to strengthen themselves physically with the Force. This here is my partner, Overseer Samus. He teaches acolytes Force techniques such as the Force Lightning that you are so familiar with."
Rance raised an eyebrow as he noticed that I'm not holding a weapon.
"Where is your weapon, acolyte? Surely you didn't get all the way here using the Force alone, no matter how versatile it is." Rance inquired.
"Long story short, my weapon was destroyed when I saved Kory over there from being killed by Harkun. I sense great potential within her, and though she is a bit of a softie right now, with the proper guidance, she can become a truly formidable Sith." I answered honestly. "Besides, that Vibroblade didn't feel right in my hands whenever I used it in battle. I was going to get rid of it anyway."
Rance and Samus turned their gaze to Kory as they examined her and gauged her abilities in the Force. Kory gripped her upper arm and shuffled her feet as she grew nervous under the two teachers' calculative stares. It was almost the same as when she had to face Spindrall in the tomb.
"Yes-she indeed has power. With the proper training, I can see her becoming a powerful Sith indeed." Samus said.
Rance walked over to a weapon rack and pulled an Electro-Staff from the wall before tossing it to me. I caught and activated it, giving the weapon a few experimental twirls before nodding in satisfaction. It's perfect.
"At last, a pair of worthy disciples." Samus said.
"Indeed, old friend. Now, let us commence with these acolytes' tortu… er, training. Yes, training is what I meant to say." Rance said with a sadistic grin that sent shivers up mine and Kory's spines.
...Yeah, we are definitely in for a long and painful experience.
***To Be Continued…***
Yeah, I know, this one's also a little on the short side as far as my chapters go, but I want to do several missions all at once in Timmy's next trial to make the next chapter a nice and long one. Hopefully it works out, and I have something more presentable to show you all.