A/N:
I'm just going to let you guys enjoy this chapter for now. Stay tuned at the end of the chapter for my thoughts and review replies! :D
Chapter 13
Shortly after Sandor left, Aaric went decided to wash up and turn in for the night. Before turning to enter his chambers, he caught sight of Vette inside of what he now preferred to call a 'pleasure room'. She stood before the carbonite block of Yadira, gazing upon her fellow Twi'lek's frozen form in a mix of awe and worry.
Aaric observed his slave as she extended a hand to touch the Padawan's cheek, trailing it down her face and neck as the apprentice silently stepped into the room and maneuvered around her, away from her view.
When Vette saw the Padawan on the table, she was curious. It had been quite some time since she last saw a person frozen in carbonite. But then she suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. Even though she was not direclty responsible, this jedi was still a fellow Twi'lek… and now her master had captured her and brought her here as his prize.
The blue-skinned Twi'lek could only imagine what lay in store for her, if Vette's own experience was anything to go by. The various implements of sexual nature on the arms hanging above the table only confirmed what Aaric was about to do in time to come.
Maybe she could try to help her escape? Vette shook her head and sighed. That wouldn't work and she would be the first suspect. The way Aaric had treated her since her departure from Korriban was already leagues better than what other Twi'leks were going through throughout the galaxy. What other slave in the galaxy could say that their master entrusted them with weapons and to fight at their side as a sidekick, if not an equal? If she betrayed that trust… no, she didn't want to think about what Aaric would do to her if she ever did.
Her shoulders drooped in defeat. The only thing she could do was to try and talk to her once the defrosting process was complete. Maybe she could help to make things less sufferable along the way? Things could get boring without another female Twi'lek to talk to, she supposed.
"See something interesting, Vette?"
The Twi'lek jumped and squeaked in fright, but was held down by a firm grip of hands on her shoulders. "W-what? P-please don't scare me like that, master!"
"You're not thinking of helping Yadira escape, wouldn't you?" Aaric whispered as he brought his body closer to hers, bringing his mouth close to her ear.
Vette chuckled nervously as she stood ramrod straight. "N-n-no! Of course not, aheheh! W-why would I do that? You've treated me well so far… I guess."
"That's good. It'll be a shame if you tried anything funny." Aaric replied in mock relief. "I've been taking care of you, have I not?"
The slave gulped audibly. "O-of course you have! I was just curious about what you're going to do with the Jedi here… I mean if you don't mind sharing, my lord."
The apprentice raised a brow. Though he hadn't known Vette for very long, he knew that the Twi'lek preferred to call him by his name or, 'master' when around others. But to address him as 'my lord' in private meant this was something she genuinely wanted to know about and she was deferring to him as a form of respect. A smirk tugged on his lips.
Vette expected her master to reject her request, but what she didn't expect was for him to start massaging her shoulders. The knots in her muscles unwound as a feeling of pleasure and relief caused her body to relax involuntarily. A sigh escaped her lips as her senses started to influence her mental state.
Meanwhile, Aaric's hands have nimbly progressed from her shoulders to the arms and sides of her torso. Vette had subconsciously leaned further into his own body. The apprentice closed his eyes and nuzzled his face into the crook of his slave's neck, smelling her and planting butterfly kisses up and down.
"You know what I want to do with Yadira, here?" He continued. "Well, let me tell you. I'll give her the same opportunity I gave you. And if she refuses? Well, let's just say there are worse things in the world than torture by pain. In the end, whether she wants it or not she'll give me everything of herself to use at my disposal, just like you."
"Her knowledge." Before Vette could react, Aaric had unzipped her suit and pulled it off her top in one sharp tug, making her gasp in shock. "Her talent." A warm hand snaked across her bosom and cupped a breast, fingers twiddling with her pert nipples. "Her sex." Another hand slid down her abdomen, teasing the top of her groin with circling motions just above the hood of her clit.
Vette was sliding into a world of pleasure. Her head had tilted to the side to give her master more access to her sensitive neck. It took every ounce of willpower just to keep herself verbally coherent. "Y-you won't kill her… will you?" she breathed.
Aaric grinned. He wasn't planning on killing Yadira anyway; her talents as a Jedi were valuable. She might even become a full-fledged apprentice if he deemed her worthy. But Vette didn't need to know that. Perhaps having another Twi'lek around would be good for her. She might even unknowingly help in influencing Yadira to the dark side.
His hand snaked further into her nether regions and cupped her pussy, middle and ring fingers rubbing her labia, as if coaxing entry to her deepest parts. Needless to say, she was sopping wet and Vette's deep gasp was all he needed to hear.
He purred. "Only if you give me your complete and absolute loyalty."
"Yesss…" She hissed as her pleasure levels rose.
"Yes, what?"
"Yes, master!" The Twi'lek panted. "I'll… give you whatever… you want! I'll f-follow… you wherever… you go!"
That was all Aaric needed to hear.
Vette's eyes bugged out as her master plunged his fingers into her hot canal, slipping into them with ease. The sensations tripling as the digits slid in and out, twisting and turning within her. Her vocal chords lost its ability to utter nothing more than grunts and squeals of pleasure. Time lost its meaning and each second that passed felt like a minute to her.
Aaric relished in the control he was having over Vette. This was the way to turn a slave. Not like those under Baras or the inquisitors. His methods ensured their personalities and quirks stayed with them after they turned. Aaric Tritum never suffered slaves who were so broken they were nothing more than a shell of their former selves.
The hand gripping his slave's breast slid up and grasped her neck and lower jaw, putting pressure on her windpipe. It wasn't enough to choke Vette, but enough to show his dominance to her. He pulled her head such that she was looking directly at the still-frozen Yadira.
"Look at her." Aaric hissed as his fingers pumped faster. "She'll become a slave just like you. With time the both of you will become sisters in everything but blood. Soon, I'll conquer her just like I have conquered you… and she'll wake up never knowing that you came all over her the day she arrived here."
Vette could barely comprehend the meaning of his words as her hips had started humping against his palm to match its rhythm. She couldn't understand what he meant by 'came', but she did know that something inside her was coming. The pleasure was building up like a balloon and she did not know when it would explode.
"But in the end. You'll always be special, Vette. My slave. My first."
In mere seconds, Aaric thrust a third digit into her tight snatch and hooked his fingers, pressing them onto her g-spot and rubbed his palm against her hood; exposing and brushing against her sensitive clit. The combined maneuver was too much for Vette to handle and sent the slave over the edge.
Her mind was sent reeling in a mind-numbing orgasm as her body arched and hips thrusted in the direction of the Yadira's frozen form. Aaric quickly pulled out his fingers and held her body in place as she spasmed, spraying her orgasmic juices onto the unsuspecting Padawan.
A few moments later, Vette relaxed and slumped onto Aaric's arms unconscious. A gentle smile graced his lips. The Twi'lek had passed his first hurdle. She was now bound to him in mind and body, whether she knew it or not. The only thing left was to mould her to his desires.
Carrying here form over his shoulder, he made his way back to his chambers, stripped her and tucked her into the bed. Aaric joined her soon after.
The next morning, Aaric was already up and about preparing for his next briefing with Baras. Vette was still sound asleep. Her surmised that she had earned a slight reprieve for her efforts. As he lounged on his office chair, he silently watched the Imperial news broadcast through the Holonet with nothing short of amusement. Reports showed a holo of Grathan ranting of his son's death and calling for the death of the assassin who did it while offering a substantial reward of several hundred thousand credits.
Aaric smirked. Even if there was anyone within Grathan's forces who suspected him they couldn't even leave the compound without risking themselves getting arrested or killed.
The doorbell sounded once again and the apprentice went over to check the security cam only to smile. Finally, they were here. Opening the blast doors revealed a pair of women. Redheads to be precise and clothed in black robes with crimson trims. Twins. In unison they raised their right hands with palms facing inwards showing a pair of double chevrons in opposite directions and intersecting at the tails; the insignia of the Mecrosa Order.
"Took you both long enough." Aaric waved them in. "Problems at customs?"
The twins stepped in and without warning, tiptoed to plant a kiss on each side of his cheeks. "You see us for the first time in years and this is how you greet us?" One twin purred. "You owe us for making us come to you instead of the other way around." Piped the other.
"Tara and Lara Balis." Aaric smiled. "So you both decided to become the order's artisans? Can't say I wasn't expecting that."
Tara chuckled, her jiggling bosom attracting the male Sith's gaze. "Everyone knows how important you are to the Order, Aaric. Becoming artisans was the only way we could see you every now and again. Servicing the tools of the Order's highly prized prodigy is a great service indeed."
"Even if it means travelling through the volatile border between the Republic and Empire." Lara continued, crossing her arms under here generous breasts.
The apprentice stepped in between the two and roughly grabbed their firm buttocks, eliciting sighs and coos from their supple, red lips. "And it is worth all the trouble to see the both of you again. I'm sure you both are here to service more than just my lightsaber."
"Of course!" Tara grinned and Lara rubbed Aaric's thick shaft from underneath his pants. "How could we ever forget this piece of glorious manhood."
Aaric smirked and pulled back, causing the twins to frown. "Not right now ladies. I have to meet my master for a briefing. In the meantime, you've got work to do."
The apprentice grabbed his lightsaber and tossed it over to the twins. Lara caught it and cringed as she examined it. "Ugh… it smells. The design… so archaic. So primitive!"
Tara scoffed. "It's nothing we can't handle. By the time you return, your saber will be fit for a king."
"I'll hold you to that." Aaric waved as he stepped back into his chambers to wake up his slumbering slave.
Spank!
"OWWW! Okay, okay I'm awake! Could you just stop spanking my ass for just one day?!"
"How could I stop when it's just lying there being so spankable?"
"So… those twins were from your home planet?" Vette asked cautiously.
Other than the stinging in her ass cheeks from her master's wake-up spank, the Twi'lek had nevertheless had never felt greater after a full night of sleep. Once the memories from the previous night had came rushing back to her, she went red and was embarrassed beyond belief. Aaric, though, gave her no comfort and relished in seeing her squeamish side as he gazed at her nude form while she dressed.
Soon, they had arrived at the Sanctum and were striding briskly towards Baras' office.
"Yes, they are." Aaric replied without breaking step.
"Come to think of it, you never told me about your past or your family." Vette shrugged.
Her master never deigned to reply to her confusion. Before she could press further the entire hallway tremored and a roar echoed throughout the sanctum.
"YEARGHHH! I CANNOT BREAK HIM!"
The pair gave each other an alarmed look and strode quickly into Baras' chambers. There they saw his hulking figure, standing across from the captured Republic agent who was smirking despite the punishment he had been enduring.
Aaric decided to announce his presence cautiously. "I can feel your anger, master. Is there some problem here?"
"A BLIND, DEAF, COMATOSE LOMBOTOMY PATIENT COULD FEEL MY ANGER!" Baras whipped round and raised his clenched fists in shaking fury. "WHO WOULD ASK SUCH A BLOODY STUPID QUESTION?! CLEARLY THERE IS A PROBLEM HERE!"
Aaric raised his hands in mock surrender while Vette hid behind Aaric's back, peeking an eye out from the top of his shoulder. "Okay... I'm officially scared, now."
Luckily, the Darth's anger quickly turned to frustration and contemplation. "This is impossible. An unknown power must be shielding this man, which only confirms my suspicions. This Republic agent is the key to unlocking the threat we face. I must harness my rage and frustration. They will lead me to an answer."
"Trust your feelings, master." Aaric advised. "They usually are right. At least they haven't let me down so far."
"Ha!" Baras chuckled mirthfully. "The minion advises the master. Very good, you demonstrate your progress. And the word has spread that Lord Grathan is incensed at the slaying of his secret son. I take it that was your handiwork?"
The apprentice smirked. "And I also stayed to socialize with Lady Grathan as well. An added insult to the injury."
Now, the spymaster's chortles gave way to a full-blown laughter. "Excellent! My confidence in you is growing, apprentice!"
When he finally caught his breath, the master continued his debriefing. "By the way, I haven't heard from Dri'kill Ba'al. He's missed a scheduled communication. Let me guess… he gave you trouble, didn't he?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Aaric replied with no small amount of cheek in his voice.
"Heh. Vast improvement indeed!" Baras nodded. "No matter. He fulfilled his primary purpose. Every Sith must attempt to orchestrate his own promotion. Now back to my prisoner. There's one last possibility to break him. I thought it impossible, but perhaps there's a small chance you could pull it off."
Motioning the apprentice to follow, Baras pressed a button on and a projection of a large pyramidal structure hovered over his table. "Over a millennium past, the Emperor claimed Dromund Kaas and made the Dark temple the epicenter of dark Force energy. In the bowels of the temple, he conducted horrifying experiments that drained the knowledge and life essence from all the greatest Sith Lords of the time."
Now that was something Aaric didn't learn about in his own order's archives. "He destroyed his own Lords?"
"They existed to serve their master and that they did. He siphoned them to make himself immortal and all-knowing." The master nodded before pressing another button, revealing another holo of what seemed to be some sort of device. "My research has provided evidence of a device the Emperor created called The Ravager that ate his victims' minds and delivered to him their greatest secrets. No one could withstand the Ravager's intrusion, even the strongest Sith Lords of the Empire confessed whatever the Emperor craved."
Aaric nodded in understanding. "Sounds useful. I guess the Emperor has the best toys."
"It is. And dangerous to boot." Baras warned darkly. "I wouldn't call the Ravager a toy, apprentice. It's not to be taken lightly. The Emperor keeps the Ravager hidden in the Dark Temple, which has, in his absence become a death trap. There's a good chance the horrors that await you will be too severe. But it's worth your life to me."
The apprentice's eyebrow twitched but allowed himself to stay impassive at his master's disregard for his life just to chase something which may or may not exist.
"The legends describe a secret chamber in the temple's depths where the Ravager was encased. You'll know the device by its inscription. Be swift, apprentice. Dismissed."
Aaric bowed and walked away swiftly with Vette hot on his heels.
Surprisingly, the Dark Temple wasn't that far off from Kaas city. A quick speeder ride passed through the new district, then the Kaas city expansion site and onto a path which cut through the forest and through some small caverns in the perimeter of the hills.
The closer they got to the temple, however, the more it seemed that something was off about the surrounding area. People seemed more jittery and prone to jumping at the slightest thing. The occasional soldier or officer would be seen talking to him or herself. The only thing that confirmed Aaric's suspicions were the subtle but noticeable probes against his own aura even when there was nobody around besides the Vette and himself.
Even Vette voiced her concern about random sudden shivers up her spine or a whisper behind her ear. Aaric had touched upon the metaphysical aspects of the force like spirits and such in his training, but he deemed them not crucial to his development as a Sith. In response, Aaric willed the force to bolster his own aura and the disturbances seemed to stop… for now.
They continued their ride until the path ended at an outpost. It was there that they had a full, unobstructed view of the Dark Temple in all it's glory. The constant rain and frequent flashes of lightning through the clouds in the horizon only served to enhance the sense of doom all around it. There were few people posted around the outpost with only a handful of soldiers and a couple of Sith present. Aaric set the speeder down and the pair dismounted.
"You there, Imperial!" The apprentice barked at one of the troopers. "Get me the people in charge here. I'll need to speak with them."
"Yes my lord!" The trooper snapped to attention and ran off.
As they waited, the pair gazed out of the exit towards the temple. Vette shivered. "Sith sure do love their monuments. If they're trying to impart a sense of doom, you can tell them... uh... mission accomplished!"
"Yes, and I'm sure the rain will stop, the clouds will part and the sun will shine on Dromund Kaas this day." Aaric deadpanned.
Before Vette could retort a pair of men, an officer and a balding Sith Lord came up to them with grateful smiles on their faces.
"Ah!" The Sith Lord exclaimed, his arms open in welcome. "At last, the Dark Council has answered my petitions and sent a powerful fighting Sith to help us secure the temple! Wouldn't you agree Captain Fizik?"
"Yes, my lord." The officer replied. "Now our research can be completed, Lord Alaric!"
Aaric's brow twitched. It seemed that everytime he went somewhere, there was bound to be others vying for his help whether he wanted it or not. That didn't stop him from having his fun though…
"Oh no, you must have gotten the wrong Sith." Aaric raised his hands. "I'm just here on behalf of the Imperial Utilities Board to check the plumbing."
The two men were momentarily stunned at the apprentice's statement so much that he could almost see the gears turning in their heads as they tried to comprehend that what Aaric said was mere jest.
"Y-you mean you're not here to assist us?" The balding, pale-skinned Sith stammered. When Aaric shook his head, he could only groan and palmed his face. Captain Fizik visibly drooped his shoulders in response.
"Of course, We've been ignored again. How stupid of us." Lord Alaric grumbled.
"I did tell you that it was too good to be true, my lord." Fizik replied. "Oh well, better luck next time."
"No! I refuse to let this threat to the planet stand! To hell with the Dark Council!" He snapped his gaze towards Aaric with fire in his eyes. "You will forgive us for not introducing ourselves, apprentice. I am Lord Alaric and this is my aide Captain Fizik. Imperial Reclamation Service."
"Aaric Tritum, apprentice to Darth Baras." The younger Sith replied with a nod then gesturing towards Vette. "And this is my… retainer. I've been instructed to enter the Dark Temple for reasons I will not divulge. You understand. Still, I would be grateful if you could furnish me with some intel on the Dark Temple."
The Twi'lek raised a brow at her master's use of the word but shuffled it at the back of her mind for later.
"Ah, I see." Alaric nodded in understanding. Baras was a powerful figure in Sith politics after all. "In that case I assume you must have both reason and authority to enter the Dark Temple. Perhaps you could still save this planet."
Aaric deadpanned. He wasn't going to do some other Sith's dirty work. "Save this planet…from what? Force ghosts? What are you babbling about old man?"
Normally he wouldn't be so rude against a Sith of higher station than himself, but Aaric could sense that he was weak compared to Grathan. In addition, his apparent age was not in line with the position and prestige of other Sith who were as old or even younger than him. The apprentice surmised that the balding man must have been kicked into the Reclamation service to live out the rest of his days.
"You're a brave one, aren't you?" The balding Sith scoffed. "Or is it that you sense my weakness? But not everything grows weaker with age. The Dark Temple is ancient, built during the previous incarnation of our Empire. A thousand years ago, our own Emperor buried his enemies here. These enemies remain powerful, even in death; which is why the temple was sealed. But now something terrible has happened."
Aaric rolled his eyes and muttered. "I don't like where this is going."
"With the Emperor's attention elsewhere," Alaric explained. "a group of ambitious, but ignorant, Sith thought to gain power by raiding the temple. They didn't find the relics they sought. Instead, they awoke an ancient Sith Lord, Lord Kallig, and their expedition plunged into madness."
"Madness?" The apprentice scrunched his face in disdain. "Like they went all loony and started killing each other?"
Alaric groaned. "Not necessarily. Many of the troops sent in after were simply slaughtered whoever remained."
"It's true." Fizik piped up. "I sent three separate expeditions into the dark temple. Not one has returned. I can't say for sure what's going on, but people who go in there... they don't come back. Sounds I heard coming out of that place would send a rancor running, if it was smart enough to run."
Both master and slave looked at the officer incredulously. Surely his claims were exaggerated?
"Whatever historical research I was able to dredge up shows that Lord Kallig died by ambush." Alaric explained. "Thus, I believe his spirit awakened unaware of his own death, and his expectations became reality for those around him. His power overwhelmed all inside the temple, and even now the workers plot wars against each other, believing themselves Sith Lords and drawing terrible power from Kallig himself."
Aaric rubbed his chin. Had this Lord Kallig been so powerful that his power had lived on even in death? And to think that such power was enough to affect the minds of others and warp their sense of reality? The apprentice frowned. He would have to be careful stepping into the temple, or else it would be his tomb as well.
"We will be more than happy to furnish you with the internal layout of the temple and where you might find what you're looking for." Captain Fizik exclaimed. "In return, we would like you to assist us in securing some specific data and locking down some dangerous elements within the temple. We will also compensate you appropriately for your time and efforts. So, what say you?"
The apprentice folded his arms and pinched the bridge of his nose. These tasks were most probably beneath him and Alaric was most likely sending him on a wild goose chase just to find some ghosts. However, if Baras was more than willing to send him to the temple thinking he might die in the attempt, then it would be better to go in prepared.
"Fine then." He acquiesced. "This better not be a waste of my time. Darth Baras wouldn't be happy if he knew I was off gallivanting about the temple chasing ghosts."
"Great!" The goatee-wearing officer brightened with joy. "Thank you Lord Aaric! There really is nobody else who can do this for us! You're doing us, and more importantly the Empire, a favor!"
"Yes, yes. Get on with it already!" Aaric waved his hand exasperatedly.
"Right! Sorry about that." Fizik scratched his head sheepishly. "You see… the expeditions I sent in were looking for specific data. I can spare the manpower; they were slaves mostly, But that data is essential. All I'm asking is for you to find the data the expedition collected. If all you find is bodies, bring back their datapads. This information is vital to future construction on Dromund Kaas."
"More importantly," Alaric interjected. "there are still more ancient Sith Lords whose spirits lay dormant in the temple. If the ancient Sith Lords are woken by the violence within, they could overrun Dromund Kaas."
Aaric shrugged. "Maybe that won't happen."
"We're not going to be saved by optimism, young one." The Sith Lord snapped frustratedly. Motioning the pair, he brought them into the command tent where a holoprojector was set up. A press of the button revealed a three-dimensional projection of the temple itself and the insides of every floor, room and chamber within.
Aaric whistled at the schematic's intricate details. Perhaps this Sith Lord was no slouch after all.
"I have studied all the burial chambers within." He continued, pressing another button to reveal an image of a ancient blast door covered in Sith writing. "Each was made with the same ancient design; one we can exploit. If you fuse the five hundred-kilogram hinges on each tomb door, even a violent assault should not be able to wake the ancients. The team I sent in earlier was using a massive thermite torch. Effective but slow, I'm afraid. They did not make it far. The torch must be recovered, and the doors of the ancients sealed!"
Captain Fizik picked up a datapad and started transmitting. "I'll mark the location the expedition and the demolitions team last signaled from on your map, as well as the locations of all the ancients' tombs that we know of. And… that's it! Best of luck, my lord."
Soon enough, the pair had prepared themselves and followed the path towards the temple on foot. As they got closer, they could see figures in the distance. Upon closer inspection with macrobinoculars, they could see that the area was littered with dead bodies. Those that were alive, however, were stuck in different states of possession.
Some were simply standing in place while their upper bodies convulsed. Others seemed to be torturing each other, giving instructions or outright murdering each other in broad daylight. But the way it was all happening seemed all wrong; acolytes behaving like submissive slaves, slaves utilizing force powers against others, troopers shooting each other for no reason at all. It was pure madness!
"First we faced off thugs, then met a bunch of cultists, killed off a mad-scientist-Sith and now we're jumping into a temple full of mind-controlled crazies." Vette counted off. "There's no lack of excitement with you is it?"
"You could say it's an occupational hazard." Aaric replied. "What? Having second thoughts?"
"Me? Second thoughts?" The Twi'lek scoffed. "Psh…We're going into a tomb! Tombs have treasures! Man, from the size of that place I could probably make a fortune in there. You think maybe I can just take a little...?"
All she got was her master's deadpan stare. "No? Okay, okay!"
"Anyway," Aaric exclaimed. "we don't know how these zombies are going to react to us. So let's just take it slow and stay calm. Sudden movements are only going to alert them to us. If they do start attacking us… well, we'll just kill them all."
Vette rolled her eyes. "That's always your favorite plan B isn't it?"
"Better than the rest of the Sith. That's their plan A most of the time."
Setting off towards the temple once again, Aaric felt the aura of the temple surrounding and pushing itself against his own. This time the probings were more overt, the whispers at the back of his mind even louder than before. But the apprentice paid no heed to these distractions, opting to focus his mental defenses and bolster his own aura with the force once again.
Vette stayed close to her master and felt the effects of Aaric's efforts. It was like a warm blanket covering her entire body. It was familiar and gave her a sense of security. The Twi'lek noted to make sure Aaric was never out of arms reach.
As they slowly walked the path, the pair tried to stay as far away as possible from any groups of crazed workers or soldiers. Certain sections mandated they walk dangerously close to them; some even turned their heads as if registering their presence. But none had dared to attack. Still, it did not diminish their sense of caution. They could very well attack them at any time.
Slowly but surely, they reached the entrance of the towering pyramid. Giving each other a look, the pair strode into the temple not knowing what awaited them within.
Back in Aaric's residence, the twin artisans were busy disassembling and rebuilding the apprentice's lightsaber from the ground up. It was but a simple task for these two. They had honed their skills since their adoption into the Mecrosa Order and adored Aaric greatly. So the trip to Dromund Kaas, though dangerous, was well worth it.
Tara and Lara took turns to work on the weapon while taking breaks to check out their scion's newly acquired apartment. Obviously, they were more than impressed. They would have loved to stay for more than a couple of nights, but were instructed to return to Nyssa after their work was done here.
"Hey Lara," Tara, the more bubbly of the two, called out from one of the rooms. "check this out!"
"What is it?" Lara replied without breaking concentration from her work. "You better not have touched any of Aaric's stuff. You should know by now how Aaric hates others touching them."
"But you and I both love the way he punishes us whenever we do!" Tara teased. "Anyway, there's a Twi'lek girl here… freshly unfrozen from carbonite it seems."
Lara looked up and put down her tools and went over to where her twin was. Now this was a first. Aaric was never one to bring home conquests. Usually he would have ravished them then and there, or he would simply leave them alone. "Is it now?" She muttered, scanning the pink-skinned Twi'lek up and down. "Aaric's been a naughty boy… gathering toys for himself it seems. Not just the blue-skinned Twi'lek too. You think he's got a Twi'lek fetish now?"
Tara scrunched her face in thought. "I don't think so. You know how Aaric likes to play around with his toys who ever they may be, teasing them then slowly whittling down their defenses, taking them by surprise. Do you think she's dangerous?"
Lara shrugged. "There must be a reason why she's on this table all clamped down. Let's see if we can't wake her up."
Lara exited the pleasure room and returned with an unmarked bottle. Opening the lid, she wafted near the Twi'lek's nostrils. Within moments, the prisoner had stirred from her sleep.
"Mmmgh…Ugh… my head." Yadira fluttered her eyes open, squinting as her eyes attempted to adjust to the light. As soon as her vision cleared, she tried to move her arms and legs only to realize they were bound by durasteel clamps which forced her body to be in a spread-eagle position. Panic started to set in as she looked around anxiously at the unfamiliar space she was in, until she finally registered the presence of a pair of smirking twins before her. "Where am I? W-who are you?!"
Tara smacked her lips. "Mmm… definitely from the Republic. I'd know that accent anywhere. Tell me Twi'lek, what's your name? Do you remember what happened before this?"
Yadira frowned as memories came rushing back to her. She remembered being on the Brentaal Star, dueling with the Sith apprentice… and then nothing. The padawan realized she must have been captured, but where she was brought to she didn't know. First thing she had to do was get out of these restraints!
"I-I'm not telling you anything!" She replied defiantly. Reaching into the force, she gazed straight into the eyes of her apparent captors and said. "You will release me from these restraints and tell me everything you know."
The twins remained expressionless for a few seconds as the pink Twi'lek looked at them with hopeful eyes… then raucous laughter filled the room as they held onto their stomachs, giving Yadira pitiful and mocking looks. Frustration and confusion seeped into her psyche. Why wasn't her mind trick working? "I said, You will release me from these restraints and tell me everything you know!"
As their laughter died down, Lara was the first to recover as she wiped a tear off her face. "Oh dear! This little one's a Jedi! Aaric's really gotten something worth his time now. This is going to be such fun!"
"Too bad your powers won't work here, little Padawan. No force-sensitive individual can." Tara recovered as well and leaned in close, turning the table towards the left. A confused look filled the padawan's expression all she saw was a cage filled with leaves and a faux-tree with a large lizard on it. "You know what's in that cage? That's a Ysalamir. Curious little thing… it emits an invisible bubble that negates all force powers within its range. Nobody knows how it works or how to replicate that ability artificially, but it's worth highly in the black market. I wonder where Aaric had gotten it?"
Yadira could only stare on in horror as the implications of the lizard's presence filled her mind. Her breathed quickened and she shook her head muttering 'No!' over and over again. Not once did she even think to go back to her Jedi training to calm herself down.
"Doesn't matter, sis." Lara exclaimed, trailing a dainty finger from the Twi'lek's leg and up to her crotch. "While we wait for our treasured scion to return, I don't think he'll mind if we play with his new toy for a bit; prep her body for what's to come when he finally arrives."
Tara grinned mischievously. "Solid idea, sister."
"W-Wait, no! What are you doing?! Y-you can't… No! Don't! Ooh… wait you can't touch t-there! I-its forbi- Ugh! Oh! HAUGHHHH!"
Meanwhile in the Temple, both Master and slave were exploring it's mossy and damp interior. After they entered through the main corridor, they were greeted by a massive expanse which dominated their view. Nothing but pillars and walkways filling the humongous hall and entrances at the sides which lead to only the Force knew where. Thankfully, the map of the interior provided by Lord Alaric and Captain Fizik made it much easier to traverse the temple.
As what was happening in the immediate vicinity of the Temple's exterior, the same could be said for the inside. Crazed and mind-controlled workers, troopers and Sith dotted the magnificent hall still playing roles of long-dead Sith Lords or going mad from the pressure and killing everyone and themselves in the process. The latter was experienced by the pair on more than one occasion and they were forced to kill them all. Fortunately, this was done quickly and painlessly.
Since they had no idea where to start looking for the Ravager, the pair decided to complete Alaric's and Fizik's tasks and hope they would somehow stumble upon it.
Soon, they reached the chamber where the research expedition supposedly last signaled from. All they met with, however, was a single lanky man with a goatee. He wore and exaggerated frown and puffed up his chest as the pair approached him.
"Do you dare approach the great Nil Venerous, Lord of the Sith, master of the undying darkness!" He boomed, opening his arms as if welcoming them. "Answer me! What insolence brings you to this place, slave?"
The apprentice's brow twitched in annoyance at being called that by someone who was a slave himself. At first, Aaric thought he was one of the mind-controlled slaves. But something caught his attention… unlike others who were possessed, this 'Nil Venerous' did not possess any power or aura to back up his attitude.
Aaric folded his arms with a deadpan expression. "You talk big, but I smell your fear. You're no Sith."
The confidence in which he said it broke the man's act as he blinked in confusion. "What? Y-you're not afraid of me? Y-you aren't a mindless puppet like the rest of them? I-I don't understand."
"I still have my senses," Aaric narrowed his gaze. "but someone here is out of his. Start talking."
The fake Sith shuddered at the look he was given and started explaining. "You're right, I was out of my senses. But not anymore! My name is Dorian. I was part of an expedition send by the Empire to measure strange activity in the Dark Temple. But soon after we entered, we all became... different people. I became the mighty Lord Venerous, and the others became my obedient followers and servants! We were gathering data for the Empire and then we were all suddenly possessed. It's strange that you seem to be unaffected. In fact, it's strange to find you here at all. I thought the imperials gave up sending people in here. What exactly are you doing here?"
"I was sent after your expedition." Aaric replied curtly. "More specifically, to find the data you were all collecting."
"So the imperials haven't given up on getting their precious data after all." Dorian rubbed his beard. "This is lucky. See, ever since I came to my senses, I've been worried that my followers would begin to doubt my leadership. I can't lose my power. I can't go back to being a slave! But maybe... maybe we can help each other?"
Vette raised a brow at Dorian's brazen request. "And what exactly do you think I would do for you?" Aaric asked skeptically.
Cold sweat dripped from the slave's forehead. "A-all I ask is that you find the symbols of Lord Venerous's power. They were looted from his tomb by people possessed by Venerous's enemies. The symbols will help me reinforce my followers' belief in me; lock them in their dream. While you're doing so, I can gather up the data my colleagues left behind."
"You're such a weasel!" Vette pointed at him accusingly. "You just want to continue taking advantage of them!"
SNAP-HISS!
"Or…" Aaric replied, inching his lightfoil closer to Dorian's jugular. "You could just order your followers to find you the datapads. They haven't lost their faith in you yet, is it not?"
Dorian shook in fright. "Y-y-you can't threaten me so overtly! My followers would attack you thinking I was in danger!"
Aaric smirked. "Oh you don't have to worry about that. They'll listen to everything you say. Wasn't that what you said?"
As per Aaric's plan, Dorian had called his followers to him in that very same chamber and loudly declared that the Sith and his Twi'lek were his new bodyguards. When the mighty 'Lord Venerous' requested for the datapads, it didn't take long before they piled up neatly at his feet. The apprentice grinned triumphantly as Vette scooped them all into her backpack.
"Now!" Dorian questioned his followers. "Does anyone know or heard about a device called the Ravager?"
Everyone in the small army shook their heads.
Dorian laughed nervously. "Ah, well. Looks like we're out of luck! You've got what you came for, so I guess you don't need me anymore…"
"Why, Lord Venerous!" The apprentice exclaimed exaggeratedly with a hint of steel in his voice. "Weren't you telling us about your plans to conquer this temple and claim it as your own? Surely the Mighty Master Nil wouldn't back down from the threats the other lords pose?"
Drops of sweat were now raining down his neck and onto his clothes. This Sith wasn't going to make him do what he thought he was going to make him do? "Err… yes, you are right my good servant! W-we shall march forth a-and claim this temple by force! To war, men!"
And with that both Sith and Twi'lek now had their very own army to back them up, if only for the moment. Together the group explored the temple while battling the mind-warped denizens within. It was time to seal the chambers of the unawakened Sith lords of time immemorial.
Scouring the ground level soon turned up the dead engineering team with their heavy duty equipment still intact. Dorian's followers picked them up and the group fought their way to the second floor according to the coordinates provided by Alaric. One by one, each door was sealed with thermite in a fiery display which melted the hinges and forever shut them; the inhabitants never to wake ever again.
When they reached the last known door, Aaric stepped towards it and heard a 'click!' as a hidden tile underneath his foot was depressed. The apprentice jumped back expecting a trap, but instead an ancient holoprojector opened in the middle of the door and started playing a holorecording. In front of everyone was a hulking human male in an overbearing suit of armor as befitting a Sith Lord. Instead of lashing out in rage and anger, his expression held one of tranquility. Something which Aaric picked up on.
"Hello, stranger." The projection greeted politely. "I am Sith Lord Kel'eth Ur. My internal chronometer tells me it has been exactly nine hundred and sixty three years since this hologram was made. Have the Sith truly lived in fear of me for so long?"
Something clicked in Aaric's mind. This was an interactive holorecording! It was said that some wise or powerful persons would create a recorded projection of themselves which embodied certain characteristics of their personality together with data and information to ensure it could be passed on to the generations that would come after. The technology to create such a recording was old yet advanced. However, only those with the resources to do so would be able to create one.
The apprentice cocked a brow. "Why should the Sith fear you?"
"It is what the Sith do." Kel'eth Ur explained calmly. "Their passions, their fear especially, feed their power… a power that inspires yet more fear. Like so many before me, I challenged the Emperor and was buried in this temple. Fortunately, I had just enough time to make this: an interactive image that would transmit my secrets to whomever was bold enough to find my tomb and unlock it."
Aaric gave Vette a look, who shrugged. Whatever secrets Kel'eth Ur had, he suspected it wouldn't be what he expected. "Well, I unlocked your tomb. So start transmitting."
"Patience, and everything will become clear." The image chastised, something which irked Aaric a little. "The way of the Sith lies in channeling the Force through the use of powerful emotions. Fear is the chief of these. The Sith feed on palpable dread."
Aaric nodded. So far so good. This knowledge was basic for anyone who was force-sensitive and aspired to be Sith. Aaric's understanding of the dark side of the force, however, was slightly deeper: Fear was the easiest emotion to grasp and thus was the quickest way to calling upon the force. Other emotions like hate, envy and love usually were borne out of fear at its core. These secondary emotions acted as a buffer and strong point for which a force user would pull his or her energies from.
"It's a lie." Kel'eth exclaimed. Aaric blinked. "Fear is a lie. Passion, a lie. Fear gives temporary power, and passion is easily manipulated. Real strength in the Force comes when one is no longer afraid. And one can purge fear when one stops grasping; after power, after things, after life itself. And allows the Force to guide him. There is only the Force."
The apprentice palmed his face. This was a Jedi's code!
Anyone who cared to delve into the philosophies of dark side would eventually realize that fear was also the most brittle of foundations. Once the secondary emotions were removed, fear would go out of control and seize the force user in a fight or flight mode which was a double-edged sword. The force user could become hysterical and lose all sense of composure, leaving them open to attacks. Only in rare cases did the affected force user manage to come out on top in a duel, but historical data on this was few and far between.
Needless to say, it was not encouraged. Sith could only rely on their offense to overpower and dominate their opponent while leaving their mental and psychological defenses open to their Jedi enemies.
Hence, Aaric's own studies in the dark side resulted in this: A skilled Sith would only channel the force through the use of pure, unadulterated emotions. Not relying on fear, but focusing all their power feeding on a singular emotion to motivate and drive oneself into a self-sustaining loop. Without fear as a base for an opponent to exploit, it would make him more difficult to defeat and overpower.
"There's only the force?" Aaric repeated incredulously. "THERE IS ONLY THE FORCE?!"
Vette jumped back a little at her master's reaction. His sudden burst of anger was something unexpected. She wondered what was it exactly that pushed on his buttons, but wisely kept her mouth shut. Dorian, however, hid behind one of his followers in case he was caught in the line of fire.
"Just that." The tranquil man continued. "Everything there is, life and death alike, is wrapped up in the Force. What I learned only lives on through this image and its device. Yet, I am one with the Force, eternal and at peace. Take them. Take my teachings to the Sith. They will find power there, but a different kind. Not of darkness… but light."
Aaric breathed heavily. Even the Jedi had to infect one of the ancient Sith Lords with their hypocritical bantha crap? No, there would be no peace between Sith and Jedi. Yes, there was real strength without fear. But only when it was replaced by another emotion in all in its entirety. For Aaric? His undying crusade for revenge against the Jedi and the Republic. Revenge against their machinations for causing his mother's death.
As the old saying went: When one seeks revenge, be prepared to dig two graves. And Aaric Etherall Tritum was more than prepared to die in his pursuits. He would take down his father, he would take down House Pelagia as well as however many Jedi and Republic wretches he could before dying himself. There was no fear. Not for him.
The apprentice calmed, his hatred simmering but still present. Giving the hologram an evil smirk, he gestured exaggeratedly. "Of course, I'll take them to the Sith."
Kel'eth Ur nodded and a small trap door opened from the ground, sprouting a cobblestone stand. Atop the stand laid a glowing pyramidal-shaped artifact any self-respecting force-user would recognize: A holocron. Aaric took the holocron from its stand and the podium retracted itself into the ground.
"It is done. This recording's power source will fail in a few minutes. Is there anything else you would like to know? Any knowledge that I have not imparted?"
"I want to know the location of the Ravager."
"Ah, yes. The Ravager; Our beloved Emperor's most feared weapon. His use on our fellow Sith Lords had spurred us to challenge him before he became too powerful. Alas, it was not to be and only this temple remains as a reminder of our failure. Here is where you will find the Ravager…"
By the time they reached the chamber where the Ravager was held, Dorian's followers had been whittled down to just a handful of followers due to attrition. Vette was a little uncomfortable at using them as fodder since they couldn't control themselves. But Aaric didn't seem to mind and reassured her that there was no way he could somehow release them from their trance. He wasn't a Sith scholar after all.
The chamber was circular in construction with a podium not much unlike Tulak Hord's chamber. Atop it was some sort of sarcophagus. And standing in their way was another group of slaves led by a broad-bodied man with a lightsaber clipped to his belt.
The two groups faced off each other as the apparent leader walked up to them and exclaimed. "It was foolish of you to come here!"
Vette sighed. "Uh-oh. Looks like we got another fight on our hands. I really want to just get out of here now."
"The Ravager belongs to me!" The man continued to rant. "They will enable me to exact revenge on Lord Pharshol. I am Lord Vacuus. The conqueror of Begeren. The killer of Garatak the Singed. Leave here or burn!"
"You don't look like a Sith to me." Aaric taunted. "In fact, I have no idea what in the world you are talking about."
The 'Lord Vacuus' unclipped his lightsaber in response. "Perhaps your vision will improve in death! Attack men!"
And just like any other fight with any other mish-mash of possessed slaves, troopers and Sith, it was won with ease. It helped that most persons who claimed to be Sith Lords usually didn't have the physical makeup needed to exploit the power and knowledge they had at their disposal. Needless to say, Lord Vacuus was vanquished quite quickly. More conveniently, everyone save for Aaric, Vette and Dorian were killed in the end.
The apprentice approached the sarcophagus and inspected it for any traps or spirits. Sensing none, he pushed open the lid to reveal a stunning amount of treasures inside. Most importantly was the Ravager itself: A gold, semi-circle shaped device inscribed with Sith runes even Aaric himself could not read. It seemed to be conveniently shaped to attach to another person's head with four distinct claws at each corner to latch on to its poor victim.
Vette peeked from behind him, peered into the sarcophagus and whistled. "Damn…Would you look at that! I would love to take something from here, but seeing what we had to go through? I'd rather not take that chance with any Sith-y related things."
Her owner rolled his eyes in response. "Good choice. Now let's get going."
"W-wait! What about me?" Dorian pleaded.
"What about you?" Aaric glanced at the slave quizzically. "You could stay here and be hunted down and destroyed by your fellow Lords, if you like. Or you could come with us and continue being a slave. Better than dead I suppose."
"W-w… b-but… I-I no..!"
The trip back was thankfully uneventful. Aaric had now bested the Dark Temple and returned with the Ravager. Vette was just relieved they got out. Dorian was shivering and wallowing in his return to slavery as the Sith passed him over to the troopers for a thorough… debriefing.
"You're back!" Alaric exclaimed as he saw the now party of three return through the outpost gates. "I hope you sealed the chambers of the ancients? Kel'eth Ur's chamber especially… I'm terrified to think what would happen is Kel'eth Ur and his crazed ideas were to re-emerge!"
Aaric narrowed his gaze, which made Alaric flinch. "So you knew about Kel'eth Ur? And you deemed it prudent to not tell me? Well then, I did seal his tomb. But not before acquiring this from his tomb…"
The apprentice took out the pyramidal holocron which alarmed the Sith Lord greatly. He shuddered and stepped back as if it was cursed. "What-what's this? How could you?! I want no part of this! Please, destroy it! Bury it! Seal it away!"
"And why would I do that?" Aaric questioned.
Alaric scoffed. "Clearly, you don't understand. Throughout history, the light has endeavored to destroy the darkness. The Emperor was right to murder Kel'eth Ur for his heresy. Peace, serenity… words for the stifling for the very emotions that drive us. Perhaps it would be best if I took them and kept them… hidden. Give them to me!"
The Sith Lord stretched out his hand to grab it, but Aaric pulled it away and fixed a glare at the balding man. "Don't worry your pretty little head, Lord Alaric. The holocron may exist, but I will make sure that the teachings inside of it will never see the light of day. I will keep it as a reminder of how we should be grateful of the light that we are able to appreciate the dark side."
Alaric stared at the apprentice as if he had grown a second head. Seeing how he had thoroughly confused the Lord, the apprentice explained himself.
"Tell me… do you know how the Sith first came to be?" Aaric said as he walked round the Sith Lord. "They were Jedi once… stifled by their restrictive teachings, they were the first to deduce the order's monastic hypocrisies and suppression of their potential. And now… after years of conflict, perfected. Wielding knowledge and power greater than those that came before them. So you see Lord Alaric, if there's one thing we should be grateful for… it is the Jedi who are our forefathers. The Jedi who have unwittingly birthed their own destruction. There can be no shadow without light, no evil without good… this holocron only serves as an instrument to remind me of my hate towards my enemies. To reassure us that as long as they Jedi exist, so shall we!"
Lord Alaric was stunned into silence by the apprentice's revelation and could only furrow his brow and rub his chin at the new information Aaric had given him. Without a word, the apprentice considered the task done and left Alaric to wallow on his own. Catching sight of Captain Fizik, the pair caught his attention and he bounded over in excitement.
"Ah! The only thing more powerful than the Dark Temple." Fizik exclaimed. "Any luck getting that data?"
Aaric deadpanned. "You have no idea what I had to go through to get this."
"Hey, you actually came through!" The officer smiled. "Can't say I was expecting that. Can't say it's not a relief. Now we can finally stop sending expeditions in there, wasting all those slaves who should be building monuments to the Empire."
The apprentice shrugged. "Slaves shouldn't be collecting data anyway."
Fizik's shoulder's dipped as he sighed. "My superiors may feel differently, but I tend to agree with you on that point. Anyway, I believe that concludes our business here. Goodbye, then. And thanks for the data. Your service to the Empire will not be forgotten. I'll tell the Reclamation Service to name a hallway after you."
Once the pair were far enough from anyone else, Vette sniggered. "The Great Aaric Hallway! Yeah that sounds really flattering! Ha-ha-ha!"
"Oh shut up, Vette. Or I'll spank you again."
"Eek!"
Master and slave returned to the Baras' office with utmost speed. Time was of the essence after all. When the Darth saw his apprentice return sporting both the Ravager in hand and a triumphant smirk. He grinned from ear to ear, not that anyone could see it with his mask on.
"When I sent you into the Dark Temple for the Ravager," He exclaimed "I thought it might be the last time I saw you, apprentice."
Aaric handed the Ravager over to his master, who took it and inspected it in great detail. "Oh ye of little faith, master! I thought you would have more confidence in me by now."
"If there wasn't much, there is definitely more confidence I have for you now." Baras boomed as he chuckled evilly. "The prisoner grows weaker by the minute. There's no time to spare. Stand back and bear witness!"
"You're wasting… your time." The prisoner rasped, still unrelenting until the Ravager was affixed onto his forehead. "I… will… not… GAHHHH!"
The Republic agent lurched and arched as the ancient device glowed a sickly violet. His pupils also sported a similar glow as the veins on his face turned black and covered his expression like spider webs.
"Yes. The Ravager has seized his mind." Baras explained. "Excellent! In his condition, we don't have long before the ordeal liquefies all brain matter."
Vette turned green. Aaric raised a brow. "Maybe he'll last longer if you reduce the pain?"
"No. The pain drives the device's effectiveness." Baras replied offhandedly before turning his full attention to his prisoner. "Republic worm, you have the information I desire. Tell me everything!"
The prisoner continued to jerk and writhe as he started spilling everything. "I am… Republic… Information Service… on special assignment to verify… possible Imperial spy… on Nar Shaddaa. Commissioned by… Jedi Council… acting on suspicions provided by… Master Nomen Karr…"
"Nomen karr." Baras growled palmed his forehead and dragged it down his face. "That's a name I grow tired of hearing."
Aaric's interest had been piqued. "Who is Nomen Karr, master?"
"Nomen Karr is a Jedi Master who infiltrated the Sith." The Darth explained. "I rooted him out, then he nearly destroyed me and fled. He's dedicated himself to proving that the Sith have spies embedded within Republic and Jedi ranks. I've thwarted him at every turn. But he is tenacious!"
"How did Nomen Karr come to suspect my spy on Nar Shaddaa?" He continued. "Tell me, Republic wretch! What alerted him?!"
"Master Nomen Karr has… a new… Padawan." The prisoner rasped, black-stained blood now starting to trickle from his ears. "She seems to… know any being's… true nature. She senses… hidden darkness… and untapped purity…."
Baras gasped. "Astonishing. I've never heard of the Force granting such a gift. Tell me, how does her power work?"
The agent was now bleeding from his nostrils, but he was forced to continue. "All I… all I know is… when Master Nomen Karr brought her to Nar Shaddaa… this Padawan sensed… darkness in your spy… simply by… seeing him."
The apprentice widened his eyes. He was just as amazed as his master was. However, instead of being alarmed, he was grinning inwardly. He had Yadira with her talent in gravity manipulation. Now, if he could turn this Padawan to the Dark side, he would have a powerful tool by his side. For the moment, he wasn't going to give Baras any ideas. "This is a serious threat."
Baras nodded gravely. "It is the doom I felt… the disruption in the Force. If this young Padawan can see through deception and disguise with such little effort, she threatens everything I have worked for. Continue Republic dog!"
"Karr… believes his Padawan's… ability… is foolproof…" The agent wheezed as his eyes bled. "but the Jedi Council is Skeptical. I was… to provide proof… but… I wasn't … able… to report my findings…"
"We must know more about this Padawan." Aaric exclaimed.
"Yes, my apprentice." The Darth agreed. "Such a threat must not wander the galaxy unchecked. Who is this Padawan, you Republic pest? Tell me everything you know about her!"
The poor man was gurgling now. Mouth frothing with blood. Vette couldn't stand to look anymore and turned away in disgust. "She was found… on Alderaan…! Her power… first emerged… training on… Tatooine. And… the Jedi sent another… agent… to investigate someone she suspected on Balmorra…."
"He's fading!" Baras exclaimed. "Is she human or one of the Jedi's cursed aliens? Where can I find her? What is her name?!"
"I… have… nothing… no… thing… mo… mo—argh!" The agent said as he expired with his liquified brains oozing out of all of his orifices.
Baras was still but for a moment as he came to terms with the current situation. "The Ravager has emptied his mind." The Darth said morosely. "That is all we have to go on, a few random places within the greater galaxy where Nomen Karr and his Padawan have been."
Aaric shared his frustration. "Spotty details at best. We have our work cut out for us."
"You mirror my thoughts apprentice." The master beckoned Aaric into his office. "Nomen Karr is a relentless crusader, and this Padawan and her unprecedented power threaten everything I have achieved. Your duties are likely to take you to the far reaches of the galaxy. I will need to deploy you at will. Thus, you shall have a starship of your own. You've earned it. Go to my personal hangar in the spaceport and claim it."
Aaric beamed with pride and bowed respectfully. "Thank you, master. I'll use it to its utmost of capabilities."
Baras sat at his table and waved his apprentice to leave. "I must ponder our next move. Waste no time. Get your starship in my hangar and wait for further instructions."
Vette tapped Aaric's shoulder and whispered. "Yeah, uh, let's go before he tells me to clean all this up, okay?"
When Aaric and Vette returned to the stronghold to gather their belongings, they were surprised to hear sounds of what only could be of adult nature coming from the pleasure room. Aaric stepped through the blast doors as they opened to see a very stimulating scene.
A very unfrozen Yadira, unclothed from her Jedi robes, naked in all her glory sweating and flushed in her cheeks as Lara and Tara stimulated her in everywhere and every part of her body possible.
"You… you will never… get anything… from meEEEEEEEEE!" She shrieked as Lara pushed a vibrator roughly onto her clit.
"Ooh, really now?" Lara cooed as she lapped at her labia. "How many times is it that you've almost cum? Nineteen, twenty times?"
"If you keep resisting, your mind will break you know." Tara added as she twiddled the Twi'lek's left nipple while sucking her right. "And Lord Aaric doesn't suffer toys without a will of their own."
"What's the meaning of this?!"
Both artisan's stopped and looked up to see their scion giving them a hard gaze, but with a very pitched tent in his pants. The twins looked at each other and giggled.
"Oh! We're just helping to prepare your new toy, Aaric. Don't worry. We didn't insert anything inside her. She's still very much a virgin and her hymen's still intact."
"Trust us. We checked!"
"Get out." It wasn't a suggestion.
The twins exited the pleasure room quickly, still giggling. Aaric sighed. The twins were playful and needed to be disciplined. Perhaps he would give them a quick lesson before sending them back to Nyssa? Stepping over to the still panting Jedi, he surveilled the tight and youthful body of his newest slave.
"You remember me?" Aaric questioned.
A steel look was Yadira's reply. "You're the Sith scum that killed the general."
"Oh, the general is still very much alive I can assure you that. In prison, but very much alive."
"From what I heard, being imprisoned by the Empire more or less guarantees death. Where am I? Why did you capture me?"
Aaric raised a brow and smirked. This Padawan was brash and hardheaded, but nothing he could not manage. "You think you're in a position to demand answers from me? How cheeky of you… but I'll entertain it for now. You're in Dromund Kaas, the home world of the Sith Empire. I could have killed you, but I decided to spare your life. You're more useful to me alive than dead anyway."
Cogs began to turn in Yadira's mind as she processed this new information. She was deep in enemy territory. Even if she managed to escape, it would be almost impossible to get off world much less exit the mansion with the Ysalamir negating her powers. "I won't serve you! I won't turn to the dark side!"
Aaric laughed raucously. "You say that now! But in time you'll realize how wrong you are." The apprentice tucked his hands behind is back and leaned forward. "I'm going to give you a choice. Something any other Sith wouldn't even deign to do so."
Yadira gaze followed him as he paced about the room. "I'll be conducting missions for my master throughout the galaxy and I won't be coming back here for quite some time. One: You can choose to remain here, shackled to this table and I will program these arms to pleasure you in every way possible… breaking down your spirit every hour of every day until I come back. Until then, you'll only be fed water and gruel through pipes shoved into your stomach and pumped at designated intervals. If you think you won't go crazy by the time I return, think again."
The pink skinned Twi'lek could only turn white and shudder at the consequences being left here all alone. Her gaze flitted between the different phallic objects positioned above her. All those implements stabbing into her holes every singe hour of every single day.
"Or you can choose to follow me on my ship, still shackled to this table but I will be able to observe and… participate in your progress personally." Aaric grinned. "And if you become a good little slave for me I might deign to release you from your shackles; a first of more privileges you can earn as long as your follow my orders. Who knows? Maybe you'll get stronger and manage to escape? If you can, that is."
The Padawan thought carefully. There must have been some catch there. It was obvious that he was leading her to choose the second one. It was risky, but being able to travel together with her sworn enemy would allow her to gather intelligence on the Empire. She could try to form up a plan and escape if they were anywhere near Republic space. There were more options open to her if she followed him.
"The clock is ticking, my little youngling. What say you?"
Aaric strode towards Baras' hangar, inwardly grinning to himself. Yadira had taken the bait and decided to be a prisoner under his direct supervision aboard his new starship. Vette trailed behind him with a skip in her step as she was excited to see their new ride. Aaric couldn't say she wasn't unlike a child in some respects. Tara and Lara were walking right beside him, each one holding an arm and nuzzling it and getting as much scent out of him as possible before they returned.
Needless to say, Aaric was getting many looks; mostly jealousy and envy from men and women respectively. Once they exited the turbolift, they walked past controls and up a ramp to a viewing balcony where Vette gasped in wonderment.
"Wow… take a look at that." She muttered. "We're going in style now…"
Aaric gazed proudly at his new ship. Even the twins reveled in its magnificence. Starship design and manufacturing was one of the key industries that House Mecetti was profitable at. So the three of them appreciated a well-made starship design. As spacer, Vette could tell that speed and maneuverability was key in its design.
"Nice ship. Are you leaving Dromund Kaas?"
The apprentice reflexively stepped away from the twins and ignited his lightfoil, pointing it straight at his uninvited guest who raised a hand in surprise. He would have raised both, but his other hand held a large case. Aaric levelled a dangerous gaze at the man.
Said man was pale, bald and obviously in garb that showed he was Sith. He chuckled nervously. "Relax, my name is Ralesk and I'm a friend… bearing gifts. Cellvanta Grathan sent me to deliver this token of her appreciation, for all you've done for her. It will greatly enhance this new ship of yours."
Aaric looked at Vette and motioned his head towards the case. Reluctantly, the Twi'lek cautiously stepped forward and relieved the case from the man before hurriedly getting back to the safety of her master's side.
"Open it." Aaric ordered.
Slowly, Vette undid the locks and opened the case; revealing a large device that made the former-pirate squeal in excitement. "Holy moley! I think I know what this is supposed to be: It's an Electronic Warfare Pod. It temporarily disables the targeting systems of nearby enemy starships. Their accuracy is shot, and their missiles can't lock on to you!"
The apprentice kept his gaze firmly on the fellow Sith. At least Cellvanta was genuine in her appreciation towards him. Which meant that the Sith's presence here was because of none other than Beelzlit.
"Thank you, friend." Aaric replied with no amount of sarcasm. "Don't you think sending a Sith to act as a messenger boy is a little underneath you?"
"On the contrary, it's quite the honor." The messenger retorted. "You've made an impression on Lady Grathan but not on the lord. You see, Cellvanta's husband, Lord Grathan, has a different present he wants me to deliver. Apparently, he says you know too much."
Aaric stepped forward, inching his blade closer to the would-be assassin's throat. "And he's sent you to silence me, is it not? I think you'll find it a wee bit hard to do so. If you caught me by surprise, you might have had a chance. But unlike others, I'm always prepared. Your killing intent was leaking and I could smell it the moment I entered the hangar. If you still want to try and kill me, then by all means… because let me assure you, there would be only one way this will end."
With lightning fast reflexes of his own, the assassin summoned and activated his own lightsaber. Leaping backwards out of Aaric's reach. "Hn. Enjoy your last few breaths on idle threats you have no way of carrying out. I've murdered just about every form of sentient being in the galaxy. And I'm here for you."
Vette and the twins moved forward to join their Lord and master in the fight, but were stopped when Aaric raised an arm to stop them.
"Nobody interferes!" He exclaimed. "This fight is mine alone."
The three companions reluctantly pulled back and stayed at the sidelines while the two duelists circled round each other.
"Ha! Arrogant, are you not?" Ralesk sneered. "If they had joined in, you might have a chance of defeating me. Now you've delivered yourself unto death!
"Clearly, you've never met me." Aaric smirked. "Less talking, more fighting. Let's finish this."
The assassin charged forward with force-enhanced speed, hardly surprising to Aaric given that his own order trained spies and assassins as well. Ralesk's lightning-fast thrust to his target's face was smoothly dodged by mere millimeters and a sudden snap-hiss gave the bald man only moments before an activated blade speared through his wrist from vertically from under his arm.
The apprentice smirked as he relished in his would-be assassin's look of shock. It was obvious that Ralesk wasn't expecting Aaric to use his lightsaber that way. Frowning, the bald man charged once again and rained down an impressive torrent of cuts and thrusts as his target dodged and parried all of them with no strain at all.
As the fight raged, Vette and the twins could only look on in amazement and pride respectively. Vette was always excited to see her master in action, at least when she herself wasn't fighting. In her words, it was simply cool or awesome to watch. The twins, however, saw the fight differently: Aaric was demonstrating his skills to them so they could report his progress to High Lady Brezwalt.
Trained as assassin's themselves, the Tara and Lara could tell that Ralesk's fighting style was similar to Makashi, possibly a hybrid style between it and Soresu. However, it was not as graceful or efficient as either. Each attack was singular and designed to kill instantly in one stroke. If he was under the Mecrosa Order, he would have made a passable killer at best. Aaric was leagues beyond him.
Seeing as he was fighting Grathan's assassin, Aaric saw to show off his dueling prowess by using one combat technique he had used against the big bad man himself: Tràkata. The art of utilizing taking advantage of a lightsaber's ability to be turned on and off. He only used it once against the Lord of the Sith knowing that Grathan would have found a counter quickly. But against someone of lesser caliber, this was enough to deal with Ralesk.
Philosophically, Tràkata involved practical combat and deception, rather than single-minded determination or endless patience. It was rarely used by the Sith, as their power came from passion rather than practicality, and neither was it commonly used by the Jedi because of their unwillingness to rely on deception.
Thus, it was no doubt that most opponents that went against Aaric would be caught unawares by this tactic. Sometimes, fatally.
Ralesk continued to attack in growing frustration as his target dodged and parried, weaving in and out of his range as the continuous snapping and hissing of Aaric's lightfoil as he repeatedly activated and deactivated it grated on his nerves and patience.
It didn't help that the mere apprentice would step into his guard and activate his blade in an attempt to spear him through. It took all of the assassin's focus and concentration to calculate the trajectory of the plasma blade and dodge accordingly simply by looking at the angle of which Aaric pointed his lightfoil at him; much less try to find a way to kill him.
In one instance, Aaric deactivated his blade as he attacked, bypassing Ralesk's block before igniting it and forcing him to dodge within an inch of his life. In another instance, the apprentice caught the Ralesk's blade with his own before momentarily deactivating it, causing the bald Sith to stumble and leave himself open. A swift kick in the butt sprawled him across the floor. A timely roll prevented Ralesk from being Sith kebab on the floor.
Panting heavily, the assassin steeled himself as he gathered the force about him. The only way he could overcome his annoying opponent was to be faster than he was. Generating energy into his legs, Ralesk blasted forwards with blinding speed, intending to slice Aaric down in one move.
Unfortunately, the apprentice was his worst match-up.
Aaric brought his blade up to parry, but it was a feint. Just before their sabers clashed, Aaric deactivated his lightfoil then reignited it once Ralesk's blade flew past… allowing just enough time for the blade to reach full length and decapitate the poor Sith.
The now headless assassin crashed onto the floor and skidded to a halt with his severed head rolling up behind him. The fight was over. He had definitely impressed his audience and put on a good show. Lara and Tara wore large grins on their faces, while Vette wore an expression of awe as always.
Holstering his lightfoil, Aaric pried Ralesk's lightsaber from his now-dead body and pocketed it. There was no point in leaving around a dangerous weapon for others to pick-up. Tara and Lara latched onto Aaric's arms yet again in glee, rubbing their generous bosoms on his arms.
Vette smiled wryly at the scene, but couldn't help but feel a tad jealous.
When everything was loaded and the ship prepped, the party of four boarded the vessel. Walking up the ramp and through a narrow corridor led to an open chamber where they were met by a droid.
"Oh! Ah, I mean… greetings!" The drioid perked up with its heavily modulated voice box. "I am Toovee arrate, factotum droid for this vessel. You must be my new master. Gentle, kind new master…"
Aaric deadpanned at the droid's weird quip. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. What's your function aboard my ship?"
"I am programmed for a wide array of tasks including but not limited to meal preparation, ship maintenance, janitorial duty and etiquette." 2V-R8 bowed as it led the group on a tour round the ship. "Welcome aboard this Fury-class Imperial Interceptor, a versatile craft combining a starfighter's maneuverability with an armament to rival larger military vessels. You'll find all the standard amenities, including your own private captain's locker for storing valuables. The astrogation console contains a constantly updated map of the known galaxy. Interstellar communications are accessed via the ship's holoterminal. Priority alerts that you may find useful are available from the Imperial HoloNet console. Lastly, the ship's intercom will inform your crew that you wish to issue new orders. Any questions, master?"
"None." The apprentice questioned. He would have time to review the ship's schematics and weapon systems during their travels. "I have a mission to complete. Time to see what this ship can do."
"Thank goodness you aren't deactivating me! I mean… good luck." There it was again. Aaric wondered if the droid had some malfunction in its programming. "I regret I am unable to offer you combat support, master. Frankly, my chassis couldn't withstand the stress. However, should any errands arise that are beneath your superior status, please do not hesitate to call upon me. I function to serve you! Whenever you're ready to depart, consult the galaxy map on the bridge. It will program the proper astrogation coordinates and activate the engines."
The apprentice nodded and left the droid to its own devices. While Vette decided to explore the ship a little deeper, the twins came up to him to present his newly fashioned lightsaber. Gone was the archaic and stiff durasteel design wrapped in browned weathered leather with an oversized button.
Now replaced by a sleek and ergonomic design; Its length was reduced so there was just enough space for a two-handed grip, yet short enough not to dig into Aaric's wrist if he needed to wield it one-handed. The grip was shaped so it fit comfortably around his palm and fingers but was also curved to maximize its use as a makashi-style weapon.
Baras' apprentice activated his newly designed lightsaber. He could tell that the beam was more focused and sharpened appearance. When he questioned the twins, they giggled in response.
"Do you really think we're only good for what it looks on the outside, Aaric?" Tara answered.
"We've replaced all the components inside as well." Lara explained. "All except for the crystal, of course. Everything inside of it was literally ancient!"
Aaric smirked. "Well, I guess some thanks are in order."
"Don't thank us yet." Tara said, taking the lightsaber and handing it to her sister. "We've added something special for you."
As Aaric looked on in curiosity, he noticed Lara depressing a hidden button. With a sharp twist and pull, the midsection of the lightsaber opened up just enough to expose the focusing crystal.
"Anytime you find more crystals along your journey," Lara explained. "you can quickly change between them like this."
Tara fished out a red crystal from her pocket; not unlike the standard synthetic crystal found amongst the lightsabers of typical Sith, and handed it to the apprentice. "This is a firkrann crystal. Unlike synthetic ones, this one imparts an electrical charge to the weapon that contains it making the saber especially devastating to droids. Use it if you're suddenly facing a large amount of them between you and your objective."
"Excellent." Aaric muttered as he claimed his lightsaber and new crystal. "You both have done well."
"Well enough for a reward?" Lara licked her lips expectantly.
The apprentice raised a finger. "After we get the hell out of here."
The twins pouted but relented. "Fair enough" Tara sighed. "Let's get off this sodden rock. It's too dark and its dampening my mood."
It didn't take long to get everyone strapped in and prepare for takeoff. Aaric needed little time to get used to the controls, he had enough experience piloting almost every vehicle he could get his hands on back in the Tapani Sector. Soon enough, they got clearance and left the atmosphere of Dromund Kaas to be greeted by the black, starry depths of deep space.
Once safely away from the planet's gravitational pull, Aaric sent the twins away to hide in his room while Vette stayed by his side as he contacted Darth Baras through the holoterminal. Within moments his master's large frame materialized in front of him.
"Ah, apprentice! I trust you find your starship satisfactory?" Baras enquired.
Aaric grinned. "I'll let you know after I've taken it for a spin."
"You're about to get that chance." Baras replied. "There is much to be done. My interests must be protected and my enemies destroyed. Nomen Karr's efforts to expose my spies and prove his Padawan's power to the Jedi Council must meet with systemic failure, you will exhaust yourself in this charge."
The apprentice could only nod and grin inwardly in anticipation as Baras continued his briefing.
"The information we siphoned from that Republic agent will be our map. We know my spy on Nar Shaddaa was being surveilled. We know where this Padawan was discovered, where she trained, and that the Jedi have sent someone to investigate my spy on Balmorra. The Padawan will have to be hunted down and destroyed, but first you must secure my network by silencing my spies on Balmorra and Nar Shaddaa."
"I reckon we start with Balmorra, master." Aaric spoke up. "Nar Shadaa can wait since the investigating agent has been eliminated, so we have bought some time. If it's true that there's a Jedi that's investigating on Balmorra, it will only be a matter of time before your spies there are uncovered."
Baras nodded. "Hmm… your logic is sound, my apprentice. I shall abide by them this time. Go to Balmorra and I will brief you once more when you arrive. My contacts there will detail what must be done when you reach planetside. Your tasks are paramount, apprentice. Bring cruelty. Bring rage. Bring death."
The hologram cut out as Aaric turned away and chuckled. "You don't need to tell me twice."
End
A/N:
And that's it! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. To be honest compared to the previous one I not exactly confident that this is my best. I had a hard time trying to find interesting ways to complete the Dark Temple. At the same time, I also didn't want to squeeze all the side-quests into it since they either wouldn't add anything to Aaric's development in the long term and I didn't think that fighting possessed zombie-like persons would make for great fight scenes either.
Anyhoo, I hope you guys enjoyed the addition of Yadira Ban as well as the twins (though the twins would only be around temporarily). I'm thinking of slowly adding more characters into the team so we don't get stuck with the same crew as the game. In addition, I'm thinking of changing a certain characteristic of some of the characters... you guys may or may not like it, but it's an idea that's been swimming around my head for some time now.
TheOnlyKing:
Aaric's still aligns towards the dark side of the force and he's not going to be a gray character in any sense of the word. Yes, he may make decisions that are supposedly 'light-sided' but his motivations for doing it would be more sinister than what would appear. This chapter should reinforce that by now. His only quirk is that he's more practical-minded than most Sith and only uses his emotions to harness the power of the dark side when the time requires it. So don't worry, Aaric isn't going to be like Revan.
Roughbathtowel:
The reason why I started writing this story was mostly because I wanted to play out my fantasies in a way that the game wasn't able to. That's why you might think that the story follows closely to the game and you're right. I want my character to complete the main and some side quests but doing so in my own terms that fit the storyline more. That's why instead of knocking down the front door, I opted to go underground and sneak in.
Ro-Lee:
Thanks! I guess the previous chapter took a lot of time to finish that's why I felt its my best chapter to date compared to this one now. :( I just hope that I manage to capture that same essence by veering away from the storyline just a bit by doing these things, in addition to developing Vette's character and next Yadira's for the next chapter.
Alepad:
Hope you enjoyed this chapter if that's what you're looking for. :P I only put in secondary quests if I feel that they'll provide some sort of character development, good fight scenes or a big dose of humor. Today's chapter might not be as good as the previous one, so I hope I made up for it in Vette and Yadira. Yes, entirely Dark side characters are just too typically villainous and I couldn't stand how illogical the dark-side decisions were in the game. The fact that there are Sith like Lana Beniko is the reason why I made Aaric what he is.
Once again, thanks for your readership! I'm glad that you guys voiced out your opinions and please continue to Read and Review so that I can continue! See you all again soon!