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Betad by Beans, Marethyu, Mike God of Lore, Priapus

The Celestial Inquisitor

Chapter 07: A New Order

- Sarik -

100cp granted, 100cp total.

I considered asking Mara about the presence in her head, but if that is really who I think it is… well, some things are better left unasked. It spoke to her, so she clearly knows that it is there, and for once, I think I should just mind my own fucking business.

[Quick Spells] - 200cp, 100cp needed

You are now capable of casting your spells faster than most would ever be able to. You can cast all of your spells instantly, faster than an eyeblink, making them extremely hard to dodge.

Feeling the power fail to purchase, I reach out and lock it in. It sounds useful, and I don't want to let it slip away. The Celestial Holocron is vast, it could be years until something that slips away comes back around. Shaking my head, I focus again.

That doesn't mean I don't have something to talk to Mara about as I approach her quarters, knocking and waiting patiently. Another Sith might take offence to having to knock on their own ship, but my past as a slave has given me a kind of humility which most don't have. I know I am still on the weaker side, and while I am in command of everyone else on this ship, Mara Jade is another matter entirely.

She opens the door, eyebrow raised.

"Needy, aren't you? Is there something else, Sarik?" Mara asks, her tone teasing but not quite mocking as I nod.

"You said you were my contact with Imperial Intelligence, so I have need of you. I have something I wish for them to test that I believe they will be very interested in," I explain, watching her eyes narrow in thought.

"Something else you've managed to make, like your warpstone tokens?" Mara asks, making me nod. "We took some of them off Zash for testing. Of course she immediately ate one out of fear that we'd take the whole set."

Zash is kinda mad, isn't she? Well, it's not like I can talk, given how I got into this mess.

Reaching into my chest, I pull out a fairly large sealed container and hand it over, making her examine it with a curious look.

"This is a liquid called Veritaserum, a powerful truth serum that forces those who drink it to answer any question they are asked truthfully. I don't believe it is all-powerful, and powerful Force-users or those with exceptionally strong wills can resist its effects, but that's what I want them to test," I explain, seeing the interest in her eyes before she smirks. "Kory couldn't resist, at any rate."

"And you happen to be the only person in the Galaxy capable of making this little wonder drug," Mara continues, with a knowing look in her eyes. If they want more, they have to go through me. "Sneaky. If this does what you think, it'll be in very high demand. We already have truth serums, of course, but they're not exactly reliable."

"My goal is to make sure that when the war starts again, we crush the Republic completely. If I happen to get rich and powerful in the process, that's just a happy little benefit, isn't it?" I say with a certain smugness, getting a laugh from her.

"Of course. Making yourself indispensable to Imperial Intelligence and being able to name your own price is just a little benefit on the side," Mara agrees with a knowing look. "I'll pass it on. Imperial Intelligence is always looking for more ways to do their jobs, considering they're in an intelligence arms race against the Republic's SIS. Of course, this increases the chance that SIS learns about you and paints a target on your head."

"It was never going to be a matter of if, only when," I say with a shrug. The more I grow, the bigger the target on my head will become. Floats by Himself is enough that some factions would consider war with the Empire to get their hands on him if they knew what he was truly capable of.

"True. I see you've had Eclipse plot a course for Balmorra. Pleasure before work, Sarik?" Mara asks, and I can hear the judgement in her tone.

"Not exactly. I know who my first target is going to be, but I'm not quite ready for them. The detour will give me time to practise before I go for an admittedly very dangerous target. Besides, my power grows through my actions, and I believe that I can get it to grow again by collecting Taunt," I reason, watching her carefully as she considers my words. I know how my power grows, and my words have revealed that, which I can see got her attention.

"Perhaps. Try not to get too distracted by your passions, Sarik, but we shall see if you're right. If you let your lower head guide you, I might have to take your Twi'lek toys away," Mara warns playfully before she pauses. "Is the target by any chance a female Twi'lek?"

I don't answer, but that's enough for her as she laughs. I didn't pick Aayla based on her looks, but I don't say that. She's not supposed to know who I'm going for.

"I'll get this on its way to Imperial Intelligence before we take off. Watch yourself, Sarik. If Darth Atroxa learns of your weakness to Twi'leks, she'll eat you alive," Mara teases as she walks past me.

My mind briefly goes to the very attractive Lethan Twi'lek, who runs the Academy. I've never spoken to her, but she does fill those robes really- no, bad Sarik. Don't even go near that bundle of crazy until you're much stronger. I've heard of her taking Acolytes into her chambers, and they're never seen again when she's done with them.

Heading out of the ship, I get to work. Did I want Mara out of the way for this? Maybe a little, even if I'm sure she'll find out eventually anyway. Cracking open the tome, I start reading. It's time to meet my Daedric Merchant.

It doesn't take me as long as I expected, thanks to the Mark of Tzeentch, no doubt, but before long, I'm ready as I focus and cast the simple spell and watch a rift form in the air and a woman in jet-black, spiky armour step out of it with an almost bored expression.

I've headed into the wastes again for this, a decent distance from the Academy since I want to keep this secret for as long as I can.

Her skin is dark grey with red markings covering the parts of her body which are not blocked by the armour, as she turns to me with a mildly curious look. The tome fades, breaking apart in my hands, its purpose done.

"So, you're my newest summoner?" She says, looking around. "Ah, this galaxy. Very well, master. I am Jansa, the only interdimensional dremora merchant. All sales are final; you cannot buy anything you sell me back, and any attempt to cheat or rob me will mean that your soul is forfeit to an eternity in the Deadlands."

I can tell she's deadly serious, a pact forming between us.

"What do you buy, and what do you sell?" I ask, making her laugh, a dark laughter that puts many Sith to shame as she smiles grimly.

"Anything and everything. When you summoned me, I gained a selection from this galaxy, but I still have access to my stores from Tamriel. You can either peruse my wares or make a request. If I do not have what you want, I shall find it. For a fee, of course," Jansa explains. "Feel free to sell any slaves you don't want to me; Force users are at a premium."

"Do you do business with anyone else?" I ask, making her shake her head.

"You alone can summon me. I have other means to get my products, but until your death, you are my sole interdimensional client," Jansa explains as I reach into my chest. I gained quite a few relics from my tomb delving, and Jansa looks them over with a raised eyebrow. They aren't Force-imbued, and they don't have any secrets that my Mark of Tzeentch can find. "Ah, Sith relics. I'll buy those; always have room for more relics."

A part of me wonders what she's doing with them, but I don't really care as we haggle over the prices. I might have gotten a little ripped off, but that's expected when dealing with a literal demon merchant. The important thing is that I've established that I can use her as a source of items and money as I use my new credits to buy a second lightsaber and several parts. I can't afford the Lightsaber forge I want, but I can make do with these.

"A pleasure doing business with you, Celestial. Do keep me in mind," Jansa says as our business concludes, turning and leaving through another rift as I head back to the ship. I used my [Hashashin Training] to sneak away, but I still think people will find out that I went out into the wastes to do something.

Returning to the ship, I call for Vette as I work on the lightsaber carefully.

As she enters, I can tell what she's expecting immediately. Her posture is defensive, her eyes flicker toward the bed, and she subconsciously crosses her arms over her breasts.

"Taunt was captured attempting to escape and has since been shipped off-world," I say simply, still dismantling the lightsaber with the Force as Vette's eyes widen in shock at my blunt words. "Your gang stole from a Moff. His security system caught a glimpse of her face, and it was enough for her to get identified. She was sent to Sobrik, Balmorra, where the Moff is stationed and has been assigned to relief duties for the Imperial troops."

I don't need to face her to feel the dread and horror she's experiencing at my calm explanation of the situation her friend has found herself in.
"B-but you can get her out, right?" Vette asks, pleads, as she watches me extract the lightsaber crystal with a curious look on my face. "Master?"
"Sobrik is under the control of Darth Lachris, who personally ordered Taunt into relief duties. I believe she did it as a power move, taking Taunt away from the Moff. Which means Taunt is currently caught up in a display of dominance between a powerful Dark Lord of the Sith and a Moff," I explain, letting the dread and despair grow. "I can get her out, but it would not be cheap or easy. Darth Lachris was personally trained by Darth Marr; she is not someone whose attention we want so soon. Especially not when I'm doing this as a favour to a slave."

"Master, please, you can't leave her with them-" Vette starts before she stops herself. Appealing to my empathy isn't going to work, former slave or not.

– Vette –

As she stared at Sarik, she desperately searched for a way to convince him to help Taunt. Relief duty, she knew full well what that meant. Taunt was strong, brave and smart, but she'd never been a slave. Vette truly believed that if they didn't get Taunt out fast, there would be nothing left to save.

She considered throwing herself at him, offering her body to him for his aid, but then she stopped herself with a dark thought. He already owned her body, didn't he? She couldn't offer him something that he already owned; that would just be an insult.

"Nothing to say?" Sarik asked, the silence having dragged on for too long.

"I'm sorry, Master. I know I ask far too much of you," Vette admitted, and she meant it. This was a mess, but it wasn't Sarik's mess, and he had his own problems. "There is nothing I can offer you for saving Taunt that you don't already have. My obedience is yours; my body already belongs to you. B-but, please, save her, and I will do anything. Trade me for her if you have to. Taunt doesn't deserve that fate."

Sarik listened to her, eyes narrowing.

"Make no mistake, Vette. You are mine. I have no plans to trade you away; you belong to me," Sarik said, his tone almost a growl. He was insulted by the idea of giving her to the Balmorran Imps, and despite her words, she couldn't deny that she felt a shiver of relief at his declaration. "I will contact Darth Lachris."

Sarik's final sentence caused a wave of relief to flood through her, but she waited for the other shoe to drop. Sarik wasn't doing this out of the goodness of his heart, even if she was sure he was more kind than most Sith. There was a good person beneath all the Sith indoctrination and training; she just wished she could have met that person.

"But make no mistake, this will make Taunt mine. Neither of you will ever escape me, and you will serve me until your dying breath. Whether that is from old age or you lose your life in my service," Sarik continued, and she just nodded. Taunt might not like it, but it was Sarik or the entirety of the Balmorran Imperial forces. "As for you, I've decided that your current skills are insufficient for my needs. You're decent with a blaster, but with the dangers we will be facing, I need more than decent."

"Sarik?" Vette asked, confused. I let her slip pass.

"Call it an investment in improving my tools. You are going to be the first member of my Hashashin order, a group of spies, saboteurs and assassins. The training will be brutal and gruelling. You may even die during it if you are weaker than I believe, but I will reforge you into a true weapon for my own ends," Sarik continued. "Much like Kory, you will become great under me, or you will fail to meet my expectations, and I shall replace you with someone more fitting and assign you to my bedchamber as nothing more than a useless pleasure slave. Prove my faith isn't misplaced, and I'll even remove that collar. Fail, and you'll wear it until your dying day."

He wanted to train her to be an assassin? In truth, she'd killed for credits before, but she could tell that this wasn't something so simple. This was his price for saving Taunt?
"I won't let you down, master," Vette swore, bowing deeper than usual. The weight of her collar felt a little lighter, with a a path to removing it laid before her.

– Sarik –

"I hope so, for your sake. Leave me. I have work to do before we depart for Balmorra," I order, making her nod. She wants to be more than a slave, and I just gave her a way to achieve that.

In truth, I already planned to contact Darth Lachris because she is someone I want to form a good relationship with. She's powerful and influential, a good person to have on your side.

As for Vette? I've thought long and hard and come to a conclusion about what I should be doing. I want to make my own organisations, using the [Hashashin Training] to make my own group of loyal assassins and spies and my [Lore of the Vermin] to create a new breed of Sith Sorcerers under my command.

The bond Mara shares with the Emperor gave me ideas, and with the [Mark of Tzeentch, I can put a little of myself into my apprentices. Vette and Kory will be my test subjects to see how much influence I can exert on them and how easily I can keep them in line as they grow more powerful under my tutelage. As my own knowledge grows, so will what I can teach my followers.

I can even try to capture the targets on my list and break them to make them into weapons to use against the Republic. What greater victory can there be than to turn the enemies' assets against them? How will the Republic act when their heroes kneel before me in supplication?

If I can keep them loyal, buying slaves to train into weapons is a viable strategy. Mara is right, the Republic will come for me eventually, and I need to be ready. That's not even mentioning the many other threats, including my fellow Sith.

If I can master the [Mark of Tzeentch, I could increase my connection with Vette and Kory and use that to teach them even faster, psionically imparting the knowledge I want them to have. If I streamline the process enough, I could turn a worthless slave into a deadly assassin in a matter of days or even hours.

I will need to find a way to stop the information from being spread or stolen since the moment it becomes common knowledge, it is one less asset that I have. I think that's doable through the Mark of Tzeentch as well; the Changer of Ways has methods to keep his secrets.

Plus, while Vette thinks I'm doing this for her… Balmorra is the perfect testing ground for some of my techniques.

"You called for me, Master?" Kory says, bowing as I turn to her. She's fallen into her role with incredible ease, but I can sense the ambition growing inside her. She's tasted power and wants more.

"We are soon to be hunting Jedi. It will not do for my servant to be seen using such a mediocre weapon," I say simply, pulling her training blade away from her as I turn to show her the lightsaber I bought from Jansa. Her eyes widen in shock as I ignite it, the green blade humming as it gives off an unnatural light. "This is the first warpstone lightsaber the Galaxy has ever seen. It may be dangerous to wield; do you believe you are able to handle it? That you deserve the honour?"

"I deserve only what you deem me worthy of, Master, but I won't let you down," Kory swears, her eyes on the dark green blade as I smile at her response. I can sense her honesty; she means every word.

If I decided she didn't deserve clothes and had to crawl on all fours like a beast, she'd do it. Kory really is a special kind of Sith, as I turn off the blade and hand it over.

"Good answer. We will soon be departing on our assignment. While we travel, I will be teaching you some of the Force techniques I have gained. I may not be a Darth yet, but you are my apprentice from this day forth," I say, confidence in my tone as her eyes widen.

Without prompting, she falls to one knee in submission, staring up at me with awe and gratitude.

"Thank you, Master. I will not fail you," Kory swears, holding her new lightsaber close to her chest. "Perhaps I should show my beloved master how grateful I am?"

The lust in her tone is very real, and I can sense her arousal as I chuckle.

"Not just yet, Kory. We have work to do, and pleasure can come afterwards," I scold playfully, making her blush even as she looks slightly disappointed.

Now, what to teach her first?

— Quest Section — VOTING CONCLUDED

What should Sarik teach Kory?

The Lore of Plagues

The Lore of Ruin

Author's Note: Still on vacation, still great at relaxing.

Written: 25/10/2024

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Quest: The Celestial Inquisitor Ch07-11

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