Inquisitor Gra'tua stood at the head of the steps to the Temple Doors. He was waiting for his newly appointed apprentice, his name was Desen Ferthos. It seemed he was a rather promising deciple, and also worthy of the Empire.
The young Inquisitor stood in his normal black robes, with his large outer robe covering almost his entire body, the only thing showing was his head, all six head-tails visible. Ususally when meeting a new apprentice his face and Race would be hidden until he had gotten the Apprentice's basic information, but this Apprentice was different. Something about his abilities.
He stood waiting for his Apprentice, the ETA was twelve hundred hours, the apprentice was late. Almost five minutes past the ETA had past and Gra'tua was growing impatient.
Desen Ferthos
Desen sighed to himself as he slowly approached the stairs leading to the massive Sith Temple, his silver eyes shining with both annoyance at his delay and anticipation towards the training he would possibly receive. Ever since he had learned fighting on Telos, he had been unable to learn anything new, especially in terms of combat. Hopefully, the Empire could rectify that error.
At the top of the steps stood a young man dressed in black robes. Desen smiled to himself at the appearance of this man. He had heard that the Sith often dressed in black robes, so the Echani knew that he was in the right area to begin his training. With the confidence of a person who knew how to defend himself, he approached the Temple with a sort of cold confidence.
Slowly, he climbed the stairs of the Temple, his silvery eyes never leaving the figure at the top. After he had crossed this obstacle, he dropped to one knee in a sign of respect, although he kept his head raised so that he could look the Inquisitor in the eyes. "Forgive me for my delay, Inquisitor. The pilot who flew me here was a fool. My name is Desen Ferthos."
High Inquisitor Gra'tua
Gra'tua motioned with his left hand for him to raise, listening to the apprentices careful words."It is not the Pilot that determines the arrival time, it is the Passenger who decides when to leave." He said calmly with a stirn look on his face. The Inquisitor always had to get an overview on new apprentices with this sort of Proper speaking, allowing only slight evidence of his homeland accent to show within the speach."Also do not bother with your name, I have already come to know it well." He said calmly, hiding his slight aggitation at the late arrival.
Gra'tua then sideways, his right side facing the large double doors to the Temple."I have a few questions that need to be asked before we may formaly proceed with your training." He said as the doors opened, turning to enter the Temple."One, do you wish to become a warrior or an acolyte at the end of your training. Two, which faction do you wish to Join once you have gradutated from training, and Three why do you wish to Join that Faction." He asked in a slight monotoned voice as he motioned for the apprentice to follow him. It was important to learn what the apprentice wished to become within the Empire, so he or she may be trained properly.
Desen Ferthos
It is the Passenger who decides when to leave. Strange words, but Desen could notice the philosophical meaning behind them as well. The young Echani smiled to himself as he quickened his pace. Perhaps this was the Sith philosophy on the Force. Although he knew about the basic idea of the Force, he had never actually touched it, so far as he knew. However, using a seemingly infinite power to your own ends... Desen kept his slightly eager grin well under control as he addressed Gra'tua's questions.
"Because I have already received extensive combat training due to my culture, I believe that I would best benefit the Empire as a warrior... Master." Desan paused for a second. He hadn't called anyone by that title in years, though he figured he should get used to it quickly. "I would also like to join the Royal Guard if at all possible. I believe that the use of the Echani combat techniques, blended with the teachings of the Sith would be most valuable in guarding the Emperor. However, if that is impossible, then I would be willing to offer my services to the Army."
High Inquisitor Gra'tua
Gra'tua nodded, looking this new apprentice up and down. He was fit for close combat and possibly force combat if he could learn to control it.Do you have any weapons on you at the moment? If so, hand them to me, we will start with close combat, and move on from there. I will teach you how to fight not only with your body but with your mind and the force as well." He said waiting for his apprentice to hand over any weapon he may have.
Desen Ferthos
Desen merely smiled calmly, and he shook his head. "Although I am trained in the art of using both single-bladed and double-bladed weaponry, I have not brought any of them with me. My body alone is enough of a weapon, and to use a blade against any foolish opponent that would challenge me would be an unfair advantage for me. All I would have to do is disable anyone that would try to bar my way here." The young Echani's smile then faded, and an icy look crept into his eyes. "I am ready to learn whatever you might be able to teach me, Master."
The Echani neglected to mention that he had never even touched the Force before, and was even unsure if he was Force-sensitive. No one in his family had ever been attuned to the Force, and he did not know either. He had merely joined the Sith to further his combat training. However, the Sith recruiter he had talked to had mentioned that the Force could serve Desen well. His words were confusing, especially since he had never even felt the Force, or done anything out of the ordinary. Still, perhaps the Inquisitor could teach him how to touch the mysterious power....
High Inquisitor Gra'tua
Gra'tua strode twords the sparring room, it looked as if he floated under his cloak, moving smoothly as to not bounce or show his steps. As he entered the room he took his sabers from his belt and placed them on hooks on the wall nearest the entrance. After he walked to the middle of the room and turned to face the new apprentice, removing his outer robes to reveal his fit physique."Attack me." He said calmly as he stood in a defensive stance."We shall see what your race has taught you." He said clamly as he rose his hand just below his face.
Desen Ferthos
(Physique) Desen blinked in surprise, then nodded and quickly stripped off his tunic and boots. Because his race believed that clothing would hinder the body, they wore as little as possible in order to maximize their effectiveness in combat, although Desen kept enough on for the sake of modesty. The young Echani warrior then assumed a more offensive stance, his right hand near his cheek, his left hand further away from his body to give him some range, and his legs shoulder width apart.
For a few seconds, the Echani warrior stood, assessing his opponent and trying to gauge his weakness. At last, he noticed a minute break in his guard which would slow him if Desen went for his leg. With that, he moved in quickly and delivered a roundhouse kick for Gra'tua's knee, hoping to at least cause him to stagger, if not shatter the bone so that Desen could end this fight quickly.
High Inquisitor Gra'tua
As Desen struck for his knee he did not move instead he took the hit, not making any sign of pain, nor moving for that matter. He had used his force capability to stop the kick just as it hit, stopping any after effects that the kick would have had. Gra'tua would not let the young warrior know that he was using the force until the session was over."You must be joking, I said attack not play." He said trying to build the anger that would eventually turn into the force, allowing Desen to be aware of it."Now try again." He said calmly as he made his defensive stance tighter.
Desen Ferthos
Desen blinked in surprise as he noticed his kick hardly did any damage to Gra'tua's body. The young man shrugged to himself; perhaps the man was using armor. It would not be unheard of. Coldly, Desen resumed his fighting stance and moved in towards Gra'tua again. This time, he leapt into the air and delivered a reverse roundhouse kick to Gra'tua's cheek. The force of that blow on an unarmored area of the Inquisitor's body would undoubtedly loosen a few teeth, and Desen expected the Sith to drop to the floor, or at least move his head from the force of the strike.
High Inquisitor Gra'tua
Gra'tua's head slightly turned with the kick as he used to force to stop the kick once more before throwing the apprentice into a nearby wall with a force push."Good, except for the fact that you did not think about my ability to use the force when you attack. I believe it is time to teach you how to touch the force, so that you may be able to harm when you attack." He said calmly as he stood there looking down on the apprentice, waiting for him to get up and walk twords him.
Desen Ferthos
Desen had been thrown against the wall with far more force than the young Echani warrior had expected, but at the last second, he was able to twist so that he was able to take the impact of the blow on his feet rather than another part of his body. Although the soles of his bare feet stung, he managed to bend his knees and take the impact of the blow without too much damage. This was fortunate, since had he hit the wall with another part of his body, he might have been so severely injured that he might not have been able to continue training.
When Desen struck the floor, he rolled and immediately sprang to his feet, ready for another assault. However, he heard Gra'tua's words and relaxed sufficiently to appear calm. With a nod, he walked over to Gra'tua and waited patiently for his next lesson to begin.
High Inquisitor Gra'tua
Gra'tua watched as the warrior was able to twist in the air, showing his great flexability. After he had approached the Inquisitor, it was time for his next lesson."Close your eyes, and feel everything around you, feel the power flowing within your body as well as mine and even the inadimant objects within this room, it is all around us and even within us. Once you have even found it you are stepping forward in your training." He said calmly as he had his apprentice try to feel the force.
Desen Ferthos
Desen stared at his mentor for a few seconds as if he was insane, but when he saw that the man was serious, he nodded and closed his eyes. He tried to extend his mind out, attempting to feel this mysterious power that Gra'tua had said he should have been able to feel. For about five minutes, he strained his mind and senses to try and feel the Force. However, after trying for several minutes, he opened his eyes and shook his head. "I'm sorry, Master, but I simply don't know what I'm supposed to be looking for."
High Inquisitor Gra'tua
Gra'tua nodded gently as he took a couple steps back, facing the apprentice he raised his left hand."Perhaps if you had anger in your heart." He said calmly as he released a powerful force lightning onto the Echani, watching him fall to his hands and knees as the electricity when ripping through his body."When you develope and everlasting hatred, wether it be of me or anything else, I will have you touch the force." He said in a monotoned voice as he approached his apprentice, intensifying the lighting as he stood only one stepping distance away.
Gra'tua stopped the lightning and kicked the man in the stomach, using the force to thrust his kick, making it even harder. It sent the young man into a nearby pillar that was helping the room stand."Infact I want you to hate me, I want you to hate every detail, and then I want you to throw me with the force." He said commandingly as he stood, waiting for his aprentice to stand.
Desen Ferthos
Desen's breath immediately broke through his lips in a loud gasp, and he slammed into the pillar with enough force that he knew a large bruise would form on his back by the next day. He rose shakily, trying to assess the damage and determine whether or not he would still be able to fight for his life if it was necessary. Although his strength would be lessened, without a doubt, he could still defend himself. When Gra'tua told him to get mad, Desen merely shook his head and gazed at his master with his calm silver eyes. "Unfortunately, if you want me to grow angry, combat is not the way to do it. We Echani use emotions to fuel our combat, but we do not hold grudges against a superior opponent. Combat is a way of expressing emotions, not corrupting them like you're trying to do. Put simply, Inquisitor, you're a fool for trying to anger me by causing me injury."
High Inquisitor Gra'tua
Gra'tua smiled, the apprentice had called him a fool.You think it was my intention to fuel your anger through pain? No, I was just having a little fun. If I wanted to make you angry, I would harm your family, your home, or your friends. Infact I was just letting loose a little fustration from an earlier event." He said calmly as he threw the apprentice again with the force, softening him up a little. Like a butcher would do to a piece of meat."So which of your family are still around? Which of your friends, or should I go straight to having your home destroyed, send your people into extreme poverty?" He said calmly as he picked the apprentice up with the force getting ready to throw him again.
Desen Ferthos
As the young Echani felt the force of the blow on his back, he coughed, and a spurt of blood fell into his hand. However, he grabbed a handful of sand from the ground when he fell, and when he felt himself rise again, he threw it in Gra'tua's face. He twisted in midair as he broke the Inquisitor's hold, and dropped to the floor. He rose steadily this time and stood calmly, defiantly before Gra'tua. Wordlessly, he walked past the Sith and gathered up his tunic and boots. He slipped his clothes on and began walking towards the door, but on his way out, he turned with a calm, cool look on his face. "If you think that you can teach me through hurting me without actually showing me anything, then you're a complete failure as a teacher. So you know, I have few attachments, for reasons which are my own. I'm going to seek out a different teacher, Inquisitor, because your methods are failing to teach me anything. I will be your apprentice; I will not be your training droid to vent your anger on. Farewell, Gra'tua; may the Force serve you well." With that, Desen turned and began to walk down the steps of the great stone Temple.
High Inquisitor Gra'tua
Gra'tua nodded, as he stopped the apprentice with a wall of the Force."It is good that you would not stand for such treatment. I was hoping you would act the way you did. I would never vent my self onto another, I have meditation for that." He said calmly as he approached the apprentice."In this Empire we need those that know what they are fighting for and those that have morals that cannot be broken. I have done this to test you not to drive you away. Now is the time for your true training." He said calmly as he stood behind the apprentice, looking the bruised man up and down."But of course the choice is up to you, leave here and find another, or remain and be treated as an equal." he said calmly and without emotion, waiting for the apprentices reply.
Desen Ferthos
Desen regarded the obstacle in his path with a calm look, and he placed his hand on the invisible wall before him. He began walking slowly, trying to find a break that he could use to walk around it. As he was walking, he spoke to the Inquisitor with his back turned. "And now you're a hypocrite trying to contradict what you said just to keep a possible apprentice from walking out on you." He shook his head slowly. "Surely there are other teachers of the dark side, with more honor and discipline than you, Inquisitor. I'm sorry that I'm not the right apprentice for you, but perhaps there will be others." He suddenly found a break in the wall and quickly stepped through it. He shot a last look back at the Inquisitor, but it was completely neutral, bearing neither anger nor happiness at leaving the Sith trainer. "Good luck." With that, he turned and walked down the steps of the Temple, symbolically turning his back on the teachings of this Sith.
High Inquisitor Gra'tua
Gra'tua nodded at the apprentice took his leave."It is not hypocracy, just the teachings of the Sith that drive me to find those strong enough to stand for the Empire. In order to find the weak as well as the strong. I have much more disipline than can be seen, and venting on other beings is not something an Inquisitor does. They meditate on the subject." He said calmly as he called for his robe with the force, placing it over his body, covering it completely as he left the room."Perhaps when your eyes open to the teachings you will see me again." He said calmly as they parted ways.
Desen Ferthos
Desen sighed to himself as he wandered along the landscape, deep in thought. Why is it that my teachers always turn out to be fools? When Desen was younger, his combat trainer had been a man by the name of Erothis. The man was exactly like Gra'tua - arrogant, egotistical, and constantly having to prove that he was the superior one in the master-pupil relationship. Desen shook his head. There should be an unwritten superiority between master and pupil, and the master should never have to prove who has the authority. Perhaps this was why Desen had not been able to accept the Inquisitor as his teacher.
Slowly, Desen gazed up at the sky, his silvery eyes reflecting the light of the sun. "How am I supposed to become more powerful without a teacher who knows what he's doing?"
Darth Malice
((I'm putting this post here just because it would go well with the last post of Desen. I will create a new thread if he accepts this offer.))
Malice stepped out of the shadows and directly in the path of the young Sith hopeful. He stood for a moment, before speaking. He towered over the Echani. His body showed a sharp contrast to that of the slender man standing in front of him.
"You wish to be Sith, yet you deny a teacher?" It was not a question that Malice needed an answer for. He knew that not all Masters were suited for every hopeful. "I sense much unrest in you, but at the same time I sense much potential. You seem to have the tools necessary to become a great Sith, but you lack the guidance to fully utilize these tools." Malice slowly walked around the new student, not sizing him up, but searching for his true purpose here. He then stopped when he was face to face with the man once again. "If you desire a teacher, someone who can help you better understand the Power you can wield once you gain true knowledge of the Darkside, I offer my guidance. If you would have it, if you will commit to my teachings, I will dedicate myself to furthering your path towards True Power.........the choice is your's."
Darth Malice
((My post above is null-invoid so if a Mod could delete it as well as this one, it would be much appreciated.))
