Crozeus stood, motionless in front of the TIE bomber, inspecting it. Eager to begin his final mission, it was the only two seater craft he could requisition in such a short time. He had already plotted the course: They would hit Dxun to search for the Zakkeg, Lehon for the Rancor and Tatooine for the Krayt Dargon. Crozeus couldn't wait to begin, even though it would be very dangerous.
He ran over his equipment one last time. He had his short lightsaber, fitted with a brand new opila crystal he had found for sale as the quartermaster's surplus. His other lightsaber, which had a jeneraux crystal instead, was secure in his wrist holster. His two pistols, a watchman and a Sith Assassin special, were fully outfitted with enough AP ammo for a week, and secured to holsters he had had made especially for this occasion. The bombers bomb bays were refitted with a refresher and bacta, as well as spare ammo and a training drone, to pass the time in the journey form Dxun to Lehon.
Crozeus leaned against the TIEs wing and waited patiently for his Master to arrive.
Major General Celestial
Relak arrived upon the hangar. His cloak of black swayed as he walked. The wind his speed created was of no retort. It seemed his apprentice was prepared, almost to prepared. Relak had only brought his lightsaber, the double blade he was so fond of.
Celest approached the apprentice. He made haste but to extend his hand, something in it glistening. It was a double-bladed lightsaber, made of the same metal as his, the crystal red."For you, now shake my hand, you have earned it." He dropped the saber into the apprentices hand and extended his hand to shake.
High Prophet Crozeus
Crozeus remained, expressionless, but his heart was pounding as he took the saber and clipped it onto his belt. He couldn't wait to try it out. He grasped Relak's hand firmly and pumped it twice. The borading ramp decended with a prod from his mind.
Crozeus gestured. "After you, Master," he grinned. This was going to be even more fun than he had thought.
Major General Celestial
"Of course."
Darth Celestial boarded the ship hastefully, time was of importance. He rushed to the main deck and entered the passenger seat. He looked at the controls, as they were all set, of course in a starboard fashion that needed a little work.
He called upon his apprentice to hurry, wondering what he would do with the new lightsaber. It seemed first was a zakkeg, on only a few planets were they known."You will bring a piece of each back to the empire, and offer them as a tribute to the emperor. There is also a holocron I wish to retrieve from all three lairs. A piece of my history you could say."
High Prophet Crozeus
Knowing not to probe into his Master's personal life, Crozeus simply nodded and brought the bomber out and away from the planet.
"You will have to forgive me, Master, but I haven't flown one of these before."
However, the controls were easy enough and soon the bomber made the jump to hyperspace towards Onderon. As soon as they were aweigh, Crozeus stood up and went into the bay, drawing his new lightsaber as he did so.
"I think it would be best if you fly, Master. You are a far beter pilot." He called above the sounds of stun bolts being deflected and the hum of two blades.
Major General Celestial
"Then I wish you to be practicing, or such as that."
Celestial Maneuvered around the cabin of the ship. He found his way to the pilots seat pulling up the holocron of his.
"8.16.82
Begin transmission.
My apprentice, Crozeus is a good apprentice, yet he needs a few pointers still yet. This new mission we are on will continue, and I have high expectations from him. He should be able to do this all, except the Krayt Dragon. At least by himself. I feel that I must help him, or teach him a force power so strong, it could severly wound it.
End transmission."
Relak then turned to the apprentice. "Come, I will show you a new force power."
High Prophet Crozeus
This was very unexpected. Crozeus bowed and eagerly followed his Master into the hold. He had prepared in every way he could, as he knew it would be very difficult to defeat the beasts. He had studied in the Church and devised strategies fo defeating a Rancor and a Zakkeg, but all he found on Krayt Dragons were legends of great Sith heroically prevailling against them.
As Crozeus followed his Master, he felt Relak's apprehension, and felt it mirrored in himself.
Major General Celestial
"I will teach you death field. I have never successfully completed it myself, but I do know how you do it. I shall demonstrate."
Relak extended his hand upward, to a motion where his hand bent forward. He sent a very strong drain life at a dummy in the center of the room, yet no death field, it compared close.
High Prophet Crozeus
Crozeus watched in awe. He had heard of Death Field, and how it took an incredibly strong Sith to peform it. Remembering what he had learnt at the Temple he focused his energy inot imagining a weapon, and then forced himself to beleive he was weak, and needed some replenishing.
Crozeus stretched out his arm and mimicked Relak's movements. and a life drain burst towards the dummy, not as powerful as his Masters, but still better than what he had seen other apprentices attempting. With a slight smile he waited for his Master to comment.
Major General Celestial
"It needs work. I see potential though, but when facing the dragon, be sure to get it. We approach Onderon. I will remain in the ship while you take care of this. Get the holocron and the ear. Now, leave me to rest."
The apprentice was stronger than he thought. Almost a successful death field, more than he had done. Of course, the apprentice would defeat the Zakkeg. This would be nothing to him. He was finally proud.
High Prophet Crozeus
Crozeus unsteadily arced the TIE past Onderon to the jungle moon of Dxun. He soon found a clearing in the heavy forests of the moon and set it down. Without a word he left the ship, planting a beacon on it so he could find his way back. He ignited his new double blade and slashed at the thick foilage, cutting a path through the greenery until he found a trail.
After a while, he arrived at a clearing. He felt presence behind him and watched a Cannok snuffling through the undergrowth. Suddenly a blaster bolt ripped through the air and disintergrated its head. Crozeus whipped around to face a patrol of Mandalorians. He did not move, and they did not shoot.
"I seek a Zakkeg, and something of more ritualistic importance," Crozeus said, keeping his voice as gruff as possible to avoid the Mandalorians finding out about his age. Thankfully, the Mandalorians were not willing to question the young Sith any further, and the leader replied swiftly. "A Zakkeg has been sighted not too far away from here. The tomb of Freedon Nadd is about 2 clicks that way. Stay away from our camp or we will be forced to shoot." Crozeus smiled. That would be fun. He set off, tracking the huge prints made by the Zakegg.
Not before long, he came to a clearing where the creature had made its den. Teh stench of rotting flesh filled Crozeus' nostrils and he forced himself to keep from retching. The Zakkeg snored in the corner of the den. Keeping his bootseps slinet, aided by teh Force, Crozeus stepped forward. He unhooked his short lightsaber and positioned the double bladed saber by the creatures neck. Activating it, he watched as the creatured struggled and thrashed away underneath him. He activate his short lightsaber and hacked at its soft belly, opening its stinking intestines over his boots. He leaned over the creture and carefully sliced off its ear, before turning back in the direction the Mandalorian pointed, and sprinted with the Force behind him.
It only took 15 minutes to arrive at the temple. Since it had been loote by grave robbers after Darth Bane had taken down its defences, it seemed unlikely he would face too much challenge. The three Orbalisks on his back squirmed with delight as the dark energy of the place flowed through Crozeus, and he basked joyfully in it. Trecking through the halls he shook his head at how the grave robber s destroyed so many artifacts in their casual plundering. Spotting a skeleton under a pile of rubble, he smiled at how the tomb could still claim you.
He found himself pulled to a wall, and saw a tile that lookd out of placed compared to the others. He pressed and was rewarded when the door opened. He stepped forwards and found three holocrons, linked by energy. One was empty, but two glowed as they had been filled. He took all three, and the energy flowed into him. It seemed that he had learned something new, as he felt more powerful. Carefully putting the holocrons into his sack, he ran back to the ship, but made a mental note to return and pay his respects to Lord Nadd.
Major General Celestial
Relak sensed the apprentices discovery of his holocron. It seemed the Mandolorians provided some help. But as he did, a rogue mandolorian came unto the ship.
Karshan:"Sith, if I may, I wish to join you on your journey, I noticed that your apprentice was seeking a Zakkeg, and if he seeks a zakkeg, he seeks a dragon. I will join you. I need the bounty for my mandolorian brothers."
"Very well." He sensed deception within the mandolorian, but this could be good. He sent a force message to his apprentice.
"Do not come back until you kill that Zakkeg."
High Prophet Crozeus
Crozeus was already only 5 minutes away from the ship when he recived hus Master's message. He responded in earnest, pausing as he did so, and wiped sweat from his brow.
"I already have."
Soon, he arrived at the ship and sensed two people on board, both dark, although one far more than the other. Stepping aboard he found himeslf looking at the armoured features of a Mandalorian.
"Master what is this?" He asked, not moving his hand from his lightsaber handle.
Major General Celestial
"Take it easy. A mandolorian, he wishes to kill the Krayt Dragon."
He motioned for the apprentice to show him his Zakkeg ear and the holocron. This was what he wanted, and a fast way to get the various things he needed for the empire.
(Remember, two paragraphs, and make more detailed battles.)
High Prophet Crozeus
Crozeus handed over the equipment, still guarding the Mandalorian with guarded suspicion. Crozeus sat in the co pilots chair and activated the pre plotted course for Lehon. "It's going to be a long trip," Crozeus announced. "Master, I wish to show you something I found on Dxun. Bring the Holocron with the purple glow into the hold."
Crozeus led his Master into the hold. The Mandalorian followed, interested. Relak held out the Holocron, and Crozeus poured his energy into it, and the holocron responded, filling him with a dark energy. "This is like no holocron I have seen before. It has power in it, rather than a transmission. Power, like this, which I wish to learn how to harness."
Crozeus outstretched his arm and unleashed a life drain, which had a few courses of purple energy in its goldedn arcs of power, which ripped into the straw dummy. The Mandalorian took a step back, alarmed and the power eminating from the teenage boy.
Major General Celestial
Relak sucked some of the power within himself. He had never felt like this, and the power was permanent. He looked to the dummy, doing a death field, it obliterated the dummy."We must take this back to the church."
Relak opened the small holocron in which no power was within, this was it."This is my fathers holocron."
High Prophet Crozeus
Crozeus was taken aback, filled with questions. "Your Father? Who was he? Why was his holocron in Freedon Nadds' tomb?
He watched Relak looking at the holocron, his expression, thoughtful, perhaps? Before his attention drifted to the other holocrons. Of course, they would have to be given to the Church, but the one with the Death Field power in it, that would be worth a lot of prestige.
"Master, If I may, I would like to give the holocron to the Church, as it would boost my status there."
Major General Celestial
"The other holocrons you may, but I keep this. Maybe later I will tell you. But first, on with our hunt, det the coordinates."
He opened the holocron to find his fathers last tyrade. He looked as the hooded man killed his brother. Then from behind another cloaked man killed him. This man was Relak.
High Prophet Crozeus
The TIE arrived above the Unknown planet of Lehon and was drawn into the gravitational well. It took all of Relak's skill to keep the TIE steady, and soon they entered the atmosphere, zooming through the wreckage of many ships sent into orbit from the gret battle of the Star Forge. Not before long they landed on the outskirts of the lush world, and Crozeus raced into the jungle, the others following close.
They had been running flat out for about 20 minutes by the time they found a rancor, and Crozeus was impressed with the Mandalorian's stamina. The three faced the rancor and Relak waited for Crozeus to act. Crozeus extended his perceptions, feeling the beast's mind, and probed it. When he thought he had control, he gave it a simple command, beckoning with his hand as he did so.
"Come."
The rancor lumbered forwards. Crozeus grinned and looked to the others. Relak remained expressionless, and the Mandalorian still held his heavy blaster tightly. Crozeus tried another command, holding his palm flat to the beast.
"Mount." The three of them slowly crossed to the rancor so as not to disturb it and clambered onto its back. Then Crozeus projected an image of a cliff into the beast's mind, trying to recall the beach and the cliffs exactly as they were and forcing it into the rancor's mind until it recalled where Crozeus was thinking about. The rancor stumbled forwards, smashing through the jungle and Crozeus was content to wait until the beast took them to a cliff, where they dismounted.
Crozeus tried the final command. "Jump." The rancor leaped forwards, but then regained it's senses and charged towards the group. The Mandalorian fired twice but the bolts were ineffective. Crozeus and Relak dived aside but the Mandalorian was thrown into the treeline with a massive swipe of the creature's claw. Crozeus and his Master both ignited their double-bladed lightsabers and advanced together, communicating through the Force.
"I'm gonna try and get on it's head," Crozeus sent through the Force to Relak.
Major General Celestial
(Make your battles a little bit longer, describing every motion you make, please edit.)
High Prophet Crozeus
((-Edited-))
Major General Celestial
Darth Celestial thought about this. How was his apprentice to do this? It was time for him to step in.
He force jumped, only to be swiped by an incoming claw. His lightsaber only grazing the rancors hand. It cut the hand off, but of course it still had the others and the fang.
He tryed to execute a force jump once more, telling the mandolorian to throw him a plasma grenade. He successfully landed on his head, and as he did, he stuck his lightsaber through the top of its head going in circles. The mandolorian threw the undetonated grenade, Relak caught it. He jumped off but as he did, he threw the grenade into its mouth, blowing the rancor from the throat.
He cut a tooth from the rancor, and a claw. He automatically handed them to Crozeus. He cut a hole also in the Rancors stomach. He pulled out a holocron, one that he had sensed in the battle.
High Prophet Crozeus
Crozeus recoiled from the stench of the Rancor's intestines and placed the heavy claw in his pack. He watched Relak cleaning the slime off of the holocron, and knew that it was no mere chance that brought that particular Rancor to the party. Crozeus looked one last time at the body, a twinge of pity in his mind, but he shook it clear and turned away, leading the other two back to the ship.
When they embarked, the Mandalorian spoke up. "I have never seen such skill in combat before. I see now why we lost the war, if your Lord Revan was more powerful than you." He adressed this to Relak, and Crozeus felt bitter that the Mandalorian didn't accept him as a Sith, granted not as powerful as his master, but still capable enough to kill any Mandalorian. He swallowed his emotion, however and activated the course for Tatooine, before retreating to the hold once again, double bladed saber in hand, leaving Relak and the Mandalorian in the cockpit.
Major General Celestial
The ship entered upon the world of Tatooine. A desert world where Krayt Dragons were found. It seemed as if it was a short ride, and the mandolorian was restless. As soon as they landed in the Anchorhead area, he burst of the ship in a rush. Relak suddenly ran after him, followed by his apprentice.
They came out of the city and almost immediately spotted a cave within the dunes. A krayty Dragon eerged and with a roar, attacked the mandolorian. The mando suddenly died, due to impact of the hit, but not without throwing a grenade first. The grenade weakened it somewhat.
High Prophet Crozeus
Crozeus swore aloud as he regarded the size of the thing, and the loss of a valubale distraction. then again, it wouldn't be the first time someone died after he wished it. He probed its mind, trying to calm the massive beast, but it roared its defiance. The huge dragon stomped its claws, but refusing to come out too far from its cave. Crozeus and Relak began to approach it from both sides, sabers at the ready. The Krayt snapped its head from one to the other, hissing at the two Sith.
While it was roaring at Relak , Crozeus leaped in, aided by the Force, and slashed at its hind leg, ducking the swing from the tail. The immensly hard hide was only slightly burned from the long slash, but it gave Relak the chance to jump in from the other side and hit it in a like fashion on the other leg. Crozeus screamed out over the noise of the Dragon.
"Try and get it to rear up and we'll go for its belly, where the skin is softer!"
Major General Celestial
" I have a better idea, lets both cast death field at the same time."
relak lifeted his hand in the air, aimed at the dragon and let out a small death field. It wasnt as powerful as earlier, but he wanted his apprentice to get last kill.
High Prophet Crozeus
The Dragon roared its fury as the purple flames wreaked through its body. Remembering the holocron, Corzeus lifted his arm and cast his own dark fury at the immense beast. It reared up, forelegs kicking as the dark side ripped its heart open from the inside.
Crozeus broke his death field and leaped in, bringing his new saber in a sweeping slashe that opened the Dragon's stomach. Crozeus rolled aside from the collapsing body, and slashed open its neck, revealing a small sack. He cut it open and took hold of the small pearl found inside, and pocketed it before his Master could see. Relak entered the cave, probably in search of the holocron.
Major General Celestial
Relak went into the cave, finding a holocron of the Krayt den. It was his mothers holocron, one provided at birth. He had him them all here in younger days.
He picked up a scale off the Krayt dragon. He looked as the death field of both had burnt its heart. He smiled accordingly at this.
"Lets go back to the empire, your training is now complete."
They went back to the ship, and came back to Kuat. They presented the presents to the church, the rancor claw, the Zakkeg ear, and the krayt scale. To the initiation chambers.
