OOC: I need someone especially gifted in RPing that is in the Military, Force Sensitive, not necessarily a Playable Character and more preferably an NPC. If you would like to join then send me a PM and I will let you come into the RP.
IC: The battle was won and Jaden was ready to make it back to base. It was strange for a battle to go so quickly, but it had. The leading man had been killed ten minutes before the battle had ended, leaving Jaden in charge. The younger man had never been in charge before, but his mind worked quickly to figure out how to destroy the enemy.
It was only a training mission though, a mission where each member of the military got to try his or her hand at being the leader. Jaden had thought he did very well, seeing as how he did not know what kind of battle or strategy would be needed. The battle, the way he died, the enemy, the place, everything changed for each person.
For Jaden's they were in a dense jungle, the enemy, and Jaden's forces had been fighting against them. It was a bit more like guerilla warfare then anything because they never came out of the trees in full force. There would be air gunners and snipers, but they would not attack all at once. It was too dangerous for Jaden's men to follow the commanding officer into the forest, as he had wanted.
Had it been a regular battle Jaden would have acted no differently. Any punishment was better then leading men into their death for no reason. The battle could not be won in the forest, but for some odd reason the commander had thought it could. If there was ever a commander so dumb and naiive to do such the soon to be apprentice would question the military's training and promotion greatly.
All was done now and Jaden was asked to leave the simulation room and wait for his results, which he did. As he sat waiting a man passed by him in a black cloak. Quickly the simulated general knew him to be a Sith, though of what rank he was unsure.
"What are they doing on a routine simulation?" Jaden wondered silently to himself.
Supreme Commander Alor
[[I believe that I fit the description, but I don't understand the NPC (Non-Playable Character) part? What do you not prefer a Playable Character?]]
Jaden Mustik
OOC: I prefer an NPC because it doesn't make sense to be recruited by someone that plays a character and not be their apprentice. Though if you wish to play the part as your character it would be fine with me. Your character is one that would work for this.
Jaden Mustik
OOC: I guess I will just take this over to the point of where I need another person to help me RP.
IC: The imposing figure in midnight black robes that swept across the room before came back out. This time he did not just quickly hurry by though, as he did the first time. He looked all around the room, twice his eyes falling on the younger military based man. The second time the imposing eyes had fallen upon him Jaden knew that he was looking for him, or even found him, but was considering talking to him. Perhaps they were going to show Jaden what the punishment was for what he had done with a lower ranking Sith, one that was not powerful enough for the full punishment, but just powerful enough to make an example.
Jaden just sat there, not blinking, nor looking like he was frightened on the inside, mostly because he wasn't. When he made his decision not to lead the men into the forest he had, right then and there, accepted the responsibility of his actions, as well as the consequences. He would not flinch in the face of danger, or anything like that, not even as the cloaked, hooded figure made his way over to Jaden.
Something inside of him, deep down, told the young simulated general not to be scared. To stand up and fall in step with the hooded man as he, once again, swept by. Somehow, someway, Jaden had known what the Sith had wanted him to do, and that feeling, whatever it was, had led him correctly. As the hooded figure passed by he slowed a bit by Jaden, long enough for the man to fall into step behind him. The others around the room gave wild looks and some even murmured their surprise. It was enough to start making Jaden doubt his feeling, but when they left the room into the long empty hallway the man began to speak.
"I have been told about your actions within the simulation chamber. Actions punishable to normal people by death, but you are not normal are you Private Mustik. No, you are above the normal people, you have something your other comrades don't have, someting I have," the man sounded serene, and paused.
Jaden's mind was going crazy trying to unravel everything that was going on. He was being told he was above normal people, above everything that had happened before in his life, and help something the Sith himself held. Perhaps it was the imposing figure, or perhaps it was the way the two of them led their men, but not once did the Force pass through Jaden's mind. He was so sure that he would have amounted to something much earlier had he possessed such a gift.
The Sith seemed to be able to read thoughts because at that very point in time he continued speaking, "Yes, I am talking about the Force. You possess the power of the Force and the power to control it, but you need training. Come back with me, learn the ways of the Dark Side from one of our several masters there, and you will amount to something you never thought you could."
With that the figured lurched off into the distance. Strangely Jaden knew that if he wanted to find this man to leave the planet he always could, he was always around, but the military man had some things to think about. He headed down the hallway, down the same path that the Sith had taken moments earlier, and took a left when outside the building. Looming in the distance stood a very tall cantina.
OOC: Anyone interested in being someone that manages to anger me to the point that I need.
Darth Malice
Lobai, a large and rather obnoxious Twilek entered the cantina. He seemed to always have somewhat of an entourage of scum that constantly surrounded him. This, along with many other personality traits, rubbed most people the wrong way.
He sat down at a table towards the middle of the bar. As he waved his hand in the air, he yelled out his order to one of the droids. He then turned his attention to a card game being played at the far end of the cantina. Tapping one of his comrades on the shoulder, he motioned for them to walk over to the table. At first, he stayed silent as he watched the card game being played, then it started.
"So.......General." He said in a obviously mocking tone. "Word is you chickened out of a fight today." He smirked as he turned back towards one of his own. "Should've expected as much from a puny human. Especially one with delusions of grandeur." He once again laughed and turned towards his friends.
Jaden Mustik
Jaden did not recognize the man talking to him as it was not one of his own squad. He had expected to get some kind of talking to from a lot of people about what had happened today, but the fact of the matter was simple. He walked out with his life, whether virtual or not, and several of the others didn't walk out with anyone elses, let alone theirs.
Jaden, who appeared to be the younger of the two now in conversation, looked up, a wry grin on his face. This alien did not know of the proposition that the simulated general had just been given, did not know of his true power, which was not bad really because Jaden himself did not know of his true power, at least not yet.
"If you are so high and mighty, then tell me, how was your evaluation today? Or are you too cowardly to join the military. Afraid you might be alone without your mommy, or maybe you might get hurt and have no mom there to rub bacta on your scorched behind."
Several at the table laughed at Jaden's coinciding remark. This was going to turn into a game of insults, Jaden could feel it, but he was ready, or so he thought.
Darth Malice
Lobai allowed a half-smirk to stretch across his face. He turned back to the rest of his clan after hearing the last of this lowly being's comments. What this unsuspecting human didn't know, was that not only was Lobai loud and obnoxious, but he had a tendency of backing it up. This was the reason he was wanted in questioning for a string of public "disputes".
He returned his attention to the seated human. "Ignorant youngling. You know not who you speak to, yet you use a brash tongue." Lobai's face had lost it's smirk and was now one of annoyance. "You would be of no use to the Imperial Army." He leaned in so his face was inches away from the much smaller man seated in front of him. "Cowards are not needed here." He held his head there for a few moments and backed away.
As Lobai walked towards the exit of the cantina he stopped. He then turned on one heel and looked back at the table he had just been at. Walking back in that direction he grabbed a handfull of worms that had at one point been the dinner of some long gone customer. Again, he leaned down towards the unsuspecting human who had now gone back to the card game at hand.
"This is the drink you deserve." And with that he dumped the handfull of worms into the man's still full drink. He then stood tall and waited for his response with yet another smirk spread across his face.
Jaden Mustik
Jaden let a wry grin pass across his face as well. Sitting down he was not nearly as intimidating as he was standing up because his full features could not be shown. Even standing up he was not that intimidating, and that would be the mistake this man made. Not wanting to get himself in any trouble the younger of the two men kept his tongue, but the worms were the final straw. Instinct, or this mystical Force, told him that the man was expecting a stand up attack and was prepared for it.
Listening to his instinct Jaden whizzed around, faster then he had ever moved before, and hit the man in the stomach. There was such power behing his hit that something must have been helping him. Now his anger was leading the way. He could have simply got up and left, the other man was in enough pain, but he wanted to hurt the man, to destroy him.
Letting his anger take control of him Jaden stood and kneed the man, who was doubled over from the last blow, in the face. Blood sprouted from the mans nose and he fell over like a log, beaten, but Jaden was still not done. He wanted to humiliate the man, and he was doing such now. There were kicks to the ribs, stomps on the face, anything that Jaden could think of just happened. When one of the guards finally pulled Jaden off the other man, the overconfident and cocky man, was barely alive. Jaden wore no sign of anger, and the blood he wore was not his, but the smile he wore was his and his alone.
After literally getting thrown out of the cantina, banned from ever returning, Jaden decided it was time to head home and get some rest. He felt a sense of urgency from somewhere, somehow, but he did not know what it was about, until he opened the door to his room. There another cloaked man stood, looking rather angry. Bad news traveled fast apparently, and Jaden was sure they were here to arrest him.
Darth Malice
The cloaked figure remained silent for a few moments after Jaden entered the room. Now, looking out the window he spoke.
"Now do you see?" He kept his eyes towards the darkness beyond the window, not waiting for a response from the man in front of him. "All it took was a few words to open your mind to the idea of something greater."
The man moved as if he was floating from one side of the room to the other. Now the moon highlighted his facial features, but they were not the features of an average man. His face appeared as something else. Half-human and half-alien, but not alien in the typical sense.
"You could feel the Power running through your body." The man's body convulsed and his eyes rolled back into his head. Small sparks of purple and blue licked the tips of his fingers. "It only needed you to unleash it upon your enemy." His eyes fell back upon Jaden and the light faded from his hands. "You have only scratched the surface of a limitless source that is tailor-made for you Jaden Mustik." The Sith moved once again, this time straight towards Jaden, until he was inches from him. "Seize this opportunity." He spoke with a whisper now. "You are meant for much greater things than those here......the choice.....is your's."
Jaden Mustik
Jaden watched as the man's eery features became, though he had not thought it possible, more eery. Blue and purple light, almost as if lightning, sprouted from his fingers and vanished almost as quickly. He had spoken words of truth, words of wisdom, but still Jaden doubted it. Did he have the power within himself to make lightning out of thin air, to predict the future? He could not answer the questions himself, but he would be able to, oh he would.
The dark figure, now inches from Jaden's face, was emposing. Everything about him shouted power, but Jaden would not flinch from him. This could be the face of death, a face Jaden had been waiting to see for a long time, though narrowly missing it each time.
"I will have to research more on your......people. Right now my answer still stands as I told another of your members, no."
Jaden thought for a second that the man was going to attack him. He had been angered at the younger mans answer, this much was evident by his quickly changed expression, but he did not attack him. Jaden was headed to Korriban, the homeworld of the sith, but first he would put his resignation in from the military. He was done being a foot soldier, now he was on a greater path, the path of knowledge.
Little did Jaden know the Sith standing across from him was probing his mind. Now he knew where he was going, how he was getting there, and what he hoped to learn.
OOC: I am going to be traveling to Korriban in two IC days, so my next post, and I would like your character to be there already. Have a few surprises in store for me as we go along. My next post will set you up for whatever you would like to do.
Darth Malice
((I will be ready))
Jaden Mustik
Jaden had been busy the last two days. His resignation from the military did not go so well. It was meant to be a peaceful 'I am done sorry guys', but it ended up being much, much worse. By the time Jaden was escorted out there had been shouts about leadership values and morals, about the command structure, and about several other things from both Jaden and his commanding officer. It was not pretty, but it would be necessary for the future.
The young man was ready to escape the dismal plains he called home during his time in the military and head off for answers in the dark. Korriban, his destination, was homeworld to the ancient Sith Species, and several of the first Sith Lords. An academy had been held there so long ago, during the time or Darth Bane, and much knowledge could be attained there, or so Jaden had thought.
Aquiring a transport was almost as bad as his resignation because he had, in a few short hours, been blacklisted at nearl all major companies. The move was very, very illegal, but it was the military so they would recieve no punishment. That was another thing that would need to be changed about the galaxy, the Justice System. It had always been Jaden's dream to have something to do with how justice was brought upon this galaxy, and if he became a Sith he could have that, he could join a group of theres that focused on that.
After a day and a half of searching Jaden finally found a small transport ship. It was an old X Wing, dating back nearly to the Clone Wars, but it had a hyperdrive and that was all he wanted. The ship was in terrible condition, looks wise, but the engine had apparently been kept up, so things were not as bad as Jaden thought they would be. He gained clearance to leave, only because of the fact he had resigned and was asked to leave the planet immediatly, and began his journey towards Korriban. His first stop, the Valley of Dark Lords.
Darth Malice
The two Twi'leks watched from a neighboring hangar as Jaden's newly acquired X-Wing took to the air. As it did, they both jumped in their own newly acquired Sith Infiltrators. An assignment had been passed on to these two, highly skilled combat pilots. It came from the upper echelons of the military stationed here and was not exactly known to anyone outside of the immediate triangle actively involved.
They reached the outer reaches of the planets atmosphere, hanging back just far enough not to be detected on the "outdated" crafts radar. Unlike Jaden's X-wing, the newly redesigned Sith Infiltrators that each of these pilots commanded were highly maneuverable and lightning quick. The only thing they lacked was a hyperdrive, so they were forced to engage before Jaden set his coordinates.
Finally, the two pilots broke off and took position on either side of Jadens' ship, still hanging back but now within firing range. The leader of the two fired the initial shot from his laser cannon. The other pilot followed in suit with shots from three of his six laser cannons.
Jaden Mustik
Jaden was amazed to hear the emergency scanners go off and then his ship rattle from two, or even three hits. His scanners, while outdated, should pick up someone within firing range. He had forgotten the simple fact that the firing range when this hunk of junk was built was much shorter then that of the range now, so it was basically useless. Now he was going to have to deal with shots being fired from somewhere he could not see them coming.
Immediatly he brought the s-foils out and readied himself to return fire, though most power was directed at the rear shields. He would only have to outmanuver them for two minutes, until his ship was ready for the jump, but that could prove to be more difficult then expected. With reflexes coming from somewhere he did not know Jaden jerked the control yoke to the left, narrowly avoiding having his hyperdrive being superheated and rapidly cooled.
Jaden stared in awe at the back of his eyelids as he closed his eyes. He had seen so many of the sith do this when they wanted to focus, though he was not sure what else he was supposed to be doing. He heard them say "Let the Force Guide you" so he would do that. His movements would come from what he had always called his subconcious, and it was proving most valuable at this point in time.
Though his ship was less manuverable then new ships it was equipped for short range battle, so it had the necessary equipment to let him evade long enough for the coordinates to set in. The ship was hit several times and the shields were running low, panic set in. Without looking at the clock the pilot of his own X Wing hit the button to jump into hyperspace out of instinct. The three seconds it took to hit the button and pull off the button were enough and the ship was ready, jumping into hyperspace.
Jaden, while flustured, was still headed to the Valley of Dark Lords first off when he came out of Hyperspace.
Darth Malice
The Sith, cloaked in robes of black, sat in the center of what used to be the Sith academy here on Korriban. He was deep in meditation and his body was hovering nearly a foot above the ground. His hood was low over his face, shadowing his features in darkness. The Temple, long abandoned, was lit only by a few scattered candles, making it nearly impossible to see the entirety of the room.
His eyes rolled somewhat beneath his eyelids as he saw glimpses of Jaden's connection with the Force. It allowed him to yet again search the vastness of Jaden's thoughts. He was now not far from this sacred place. What the young Force-sensitive did not know, was that the answers he seeked had been wiped from this planet long ago. The only secrets that remained were held within this Sith alone. He would shed the light needed to pave the way for this future Sith.
As he felt the vessel of Jaden grow near, he felt something else. A tremor in the Force he hadn't expected. It was that of a Jedi nature, but not in actual human-form. It was more of the presence of a spirit, but one more powerful than he had felt in quite some time. Slightly thrown off, he came out of his meditation and disappeared into the shadows of the former Sith Academy.
Jaden Mustik
Jaden approached the planet of Korriban as he exited hyperspace. The trip was long, boring, but gave him plenty of time to think about what he had been told the past few days. Things were starting to come together in pieces of his past. He had always been a gifted fighter, always, but he had not though, not even once, that it was some mystical power guiding his reactions, that was new to him. The answers that he sought would be found on the ancient world of the Sith.....or so he thought.
As he entered the atmosphere of the planet he felt nothing different then he had in hyperspace or on his training moon. There was nothing eery about the place, nothing special, it was just a sand pit, almost as bad as Tattooine. In the distance a large building loomed into view. It was tattered and beaten, as so many of the buildings were on this planet, but it was inmistakable, the Academy of Korriban.
Several thousand years ago this was home to Darth Bane and the Brotherhood of Darkness, another failed Sith Experiment, and now it would play home to Jaden for a while, a very short while as it turns out. His ship landed several meters away, almost a hundred, and he began his journey towards the temple. As he loomed forward he began to get what he called butterflies in his stomach. It was now he would learn the true knowledge, it was now he would learn what the Sith really were, or at least that is what his head was telling him. In reality it was a fleeting sense of danger, growing ever present as he neared the Academy.
The doors slowly swung open to reveal nothing. Darkness and empty space filled the room. There was, once again, no strange feeling from the room, no strange emotions filled the younger man. He began to wonder if he had made the right choice, but was interupted. The butterflies in his stomach were growing so much that it had began to alter his thinking, something was there, though unbeknownst to Jaden.
Darth Malice
The large stone doors of the ancient academy slammed shut behind the unsuspecting newcomer. He would learn the true Power of the Dark Side here and whichever path he chose, life or death, as would be the choices, he would have to stick with it until the end.
The dust swirled lightly throughout the darkened grand corridor. A once decorated hall now stood barren. The walls cold and empty. There was no remnants of the Power that once burned inside these halls, but the light would once again be shed. The cloaked figure emerged from the depth of the shadows. His black robe flowed gently behind him as he strode towards Jaden. He stood tall and bold. His demeanor reflected that of invincibility.
"When asked whether you would join the Order of the Sith you twice refused. So why now do you come to the most ancient of Sith training grounds?" His question was retorical, for he already knew all of the answers he seeked. He now stood a few feet in front of Jaden. "The answers you seek can be found within these walls, but to truly understand them, you must experience what it is to be totally helpless, your life in the hands of someone who wields Power you can only dream of. Only then can you understand the Power that is inside of you." His voice was loud....and silent, all at the same time. Bold and venomous. His words, though clear and unwavering, had a intoxicating sense to them. It was as if they drew you in. A week minded being would be defenseless against them.
Circling around Jaden, the Dark Sith asked one final question in a deep, melodic voice. "Do you wish to know the Power you hold?"
Jaden Mustik
Jaden had a gut feeling that he would need to shut his mind down from all workings, so he followed it. Lately these gut feelings had been paying off for him, so why stop listening to them now? Again it had paid off, but he did not know that. He was not trained enough, not skilled enough, to know when someone was trying to break into his mind, but apparently he was skilled enough to wield him off because he was not lured by any of the mans words, however tempting they may be.
Everything the cloaked man standing before him said was true, and Jaden could tell that. This room, this building, and even this planet loomed with nothing but a false pretense of having power. Jaden had been drawn here because of the knowledge he thought it had held, and he had been wrong---to a point. There was knowledge to gain from this place, true knowledge, knowledge only gained by experience, and the man standing before him could offer him that knowledge.
Thoughts of anger rolled through Jaden's head, and after that thoughts of what others would think of him should he become a Sith Lord. Would they think him just as a merciless killer? Would they view him as someone not to be reckoned with, to be feared? Did he want that? What was this power that the new three sith spoke of? Did he have the ability to wield it?
"And what power may that be?" Jaden asked very sarcastically without thinking, his mind on other matters.
Darth Malice
The Dark Sith's evil and deep laugh echoed somewhat through the corridor as his head fell back. He brought his focus back to the young man standing before him. "I can feel the anger flowing through you now." He stretched his arms out to his sides, his spiney fingers spread wide. The talon-like fingernails seemed to curl around the tips of his fingers. The skin that covered his hands was as pale as the moon. He then took hold of his hood and dropped it to his shoulders, revealing a bald and scarred head. His facial features were still mostly in shadow, but his silvery eyes reflected what light was left in the room.
"Do you believe you may simply ask "what" this Power is?" His words were cold and void. "Do you believe their are words to describe it?" He knew Jaden was not as nieve as many he had seen before. He would not just give him this knowledge.
Jaden Mustik
Jaden had not actually expected the hooded man to give him the answer, but he used it to bide time, to make his mental bond to himself stronger, thereby strenghtening his resolve. If he had to fight his way out of this, he would, but it would not be easy for either of them, and one of them would die. Though Jaden hoped it would not happen there was a speck inside him that longed to kill someone, to kill this man, and that would happen, but not yet and not to Jaden's knowledge. That was farther down the road, too far for anyone to know yet that was not trained in the Force. Perhaps the man would know he was walking into his death, perhaps he knew it was the steps Jaden needed to become what he was to become, a Sith Lord.
"And how am I supposed to know this power scarface?" he did not know what made him say something that would anger the man so much, but he had said it, and perhaps he would get some knowledge out of it.
Darth Malice
Again, the dark cackle of the man standing in front of Jaden reverborated throughout the room. "You look to provoke me oh foolish being? In your present state you are but a miniscule slug at the mercy of my heel?" The glow of his eyes turned from silver to red instantaneously. He moved closer to the bold human. "If you believe yourself capable to strike me down where I stand, I will not hinder you." He dropped to one knee and bowed his head. "My life is in your hands Oh Mighty One." His tone was now one of mocking sarcasm.
As he rest on one knee he gave himself completely to the Power of the Dark Side. He could feel the swirl of fire deep within his core and he arched his back and pushed his arms straight forward, sending numerous bolts of white lightning towards the unsuspecting Jaden. He stood as he continued the onslaught. "You WILL know the Power of the Dark Side. You WILL feel pain."
Jaden Mustik
OOC: Limitless Boundaries? Isn't that a bit contradictory?
Jaden was filled with pain in an instant, not knowing where it had come from. He tried to open his eyes, but the constant voltage going through his body left him in spasms. His eyes would not open, he could feel his muscles twitching from the electricity, but he would not give into the Sith standing above him, causing him the pain. Not a sound of pain came from his mouth, nor a tear, though it was terribly hard to fight them back.
When the electricity stopped Jaden stood, weakly, and looked over at the Sith. How had he achieved so much power through only thought, and out of seemingly nowhere. He wanted to learn this power, but how could he ask to be trained now? He had been so ignorant, so defiant, that he would seem to be an idiot if he asked for it now. It seemed that the Sith knew he wanted to know now though because a smile was fading across his face. Jaden could not bring himself to look into the eyes of the man who had destroyed him simply without any effort.
Darth Malice
He smiled to himself as Jaden regretted the words he had uttered earlier. He questioned whether or not the Sith would teach him. His smile faded and he walked in a circle around Jaden. "I did not come here to simply humiliate you. It was not my intention to end you life either, or you would be dead. You simply had to understand, first-hand, what it felt to be helpless against the Power of the Dark Side. Now you know exactly what your enemies will feel and one day you will know how I felt......to hold someone's life in the palm of my hand. To have the choice to crush it." He brought his hood back over his head and turned towards the back of the corridor, walking towards a rear exit. Stopping just shy of the passageway he returned his attention to Jaden. "There is no turning back once you pass through this hallway."
Jaden Mustik
Jaden raised his head up slowly, still drained of all pride that he once held. He had been humiliated, discrased, but some good could come of that. He would extract his revenge, maybe not today or tomorrow, but one day the man who had caused his humiliation would die by Jaden's hand. The soon to be apprentice followed the Sith through the hallway, hoping that he would soon learn the ways of the Sith Order and its power.
Darth Malice
As they walked down the narrow passageway, life seemed to stand still. The air seemed as though it had not felt a fresh breeze in centuries, as it hadn't. It was as if days, weeks, and even months passed on this, at one point, seemingly short trek. The light faded and finally, the two were engulfed in darkness. You were not able to see an inch in front of your face. Even, somehow, the Force was useless to guide you through this abyss.
A faint light appeared not one hundred feet in front of Jaden. He approached it with an unconsciously quickened pace. No man had walked this path unscathed. Whether it was an emotional or physical scar, a scar remained nonetheless. When he reached the light he realized he was the only one standing at the exit. The dark man that had been guiding him throughout this journey was gone. The only question was......was ever there to begin with? Had it been Jaden fighting within himself?
Now, looming before him, was a dark temple that seemed to stab the clouds overhead. It's features were sharp and dark. Now the feeling of Darkness was overwhelming. It felt as if your bodyweight tripled. The ground was covered in mist and heavy, dark trees, seemed a complete contrast to what he had seen upon entering the Sith Academy. Some Force seemed to draw anyone that entered this untouched landscape in towards it. A large and ancient crest was carved into the stone above the dark entrance. It appeared to be some sort of ancient Sith scribing, but the wear throughout the centuries left it illegible.
The choice was now Jaden's alone. Had he been the only one this entire time? Were the answers to all of questions hidden within this dark structure? There was only one way to find out.
Jaden Mustik
When Jaden appeared in the light he didn't expect his shadow to be the only one to fill the area behind him. There was no sign of the man he had just been talking to, the man that he had just felt a terrible pain from, the man that was there, Jaden knew it, or did he?
Everything was starting to go amiss, he began doubting himself, his talents, and even his sanity. He was so far into doubt by the time he walked through the doorway that he, in that short walk, was contemplating whether to continue. He could not go back to the military, not after what happened, and he could not return to the Empire, not after what he had said about it, but he could stay here, all cooped up and hidden from the world, basking in insanity as so many others had.
His mind was urging him to sit and stop, but his body was telling him different. The pain that he had felt was more then figment of his imagination, nobody had that good of an imagination. He knew it was there, but still he doubted himself. Despite his body's want to continue he sat down, obliging to his mind. But, was it his mind that was telling him these things on its own free will? Was it someone else doing it, perhaps the dark man? Or could it be the sheer power of the Academy itself, tainting Jaden----no testing Jaden?
So many questions roamed freely through his head as he sat there, just sat there, curled in a ball. Fear had now worked its way through his body, and he was beginning to understand. Deceit, fear, these were tools of the Dark Side, a power so very strong on this planet, and it was obviously testing him. He still did not know what was testing him, but he knew that he would have to pass, that he would have to battle his way through. A battle of minds, only a cunning man could do this, or a ravage beast, so which one was Jaden? The answer would come in due time, but for now he focused on the tingle working its way down his spine. There was some kind of danger close.
Darth Malice
Silently, two Hssiss had been watching Jaden's actions, studying his movements. They were perfectly blended into their surroundings by the Dark Force that consumed them. Slowly, they circled their now seemingly feeble prey. The poison dripped from their mouths as they grew closer and closer. As Jaden now lay in somewhat of a fetal position the two Hssiss revealed themselves. There was a slight hiss of air coming from each of their now salivating mouths. This human would make for an easy meal, or so they thought.
Jaden Mustik
Jaden was frightened by the two beasts lurking in the shadows. Their claws were like steel, their scales black as the night itself, and their eyes glowing red, gems from the pit of hell itself. For a moment Jaden contemplated returning to the entrance and leaving this place behind, to give up on all that was necessary in his life. Failure, hatred, rage, cowardice, they flooded the Force. With each thought the beasts seemed to get hungrier and hungrier, feeding on the dismay.
Jaden turned for one second, looking for something to grab off the ground, and as he turned back, large stick in his hand, there was now only one beast. The other was still there because the same trickle was going down Jaden's spine, but where was it at? The question, rhetorical as it was, was answered rather quickly as the beast sprung at Jaden, knocking him to the ground. A large gash filled his leg, blood spilled everywhere, but with the gash came something else entirely.
The young man, aided by the Force, threw the beast off of him into the wall. Now, with both Hssiss sniffing him, savoring the meal to come, it was not fear that gripped the boy, only a heightened sense of things. One flanking from the front, and one from the rear, the beasts were coming at Jaden, who was moving backwards ever so slightly. On the wall an ancient object was stationed, points at the end of it, shining through the darkness. A call to Jaden that he would escape with his life.
The first beast made its move, attacked the man, but he rolled out of the way. As he came out of his voluntary tumble he reached a hand upwards, grabbing the object. Without even making sure he was fully on his feet Jaden swung around, arm outstretched. A loud thud filled the halls, the beast was dead, and his head, which lie inches from the feet of its killer, was testiment to that. The beast seemed to get weaker as Jaden's morale boosted, and the advantage was now Jaden's. The beast once savoring a meal to come now retreated, but retreat was not an option. If the beast lived it may once again grow stronger and attack.
Retreat, a terrible word for a Sith--even the beast of ancient Sith Lords, but apparently the beast did not feel the same way. Within seconds it was using the Force to mask its presence and become invisible. Jaden threw the object as hard as he could at the beast.............but it hit nothing but the floor around it, skidding to a hault just outside another door.
Darth Malice
As the beast fled a silence fell over the grounds surrounding the dark temple ahead. Only the slight sound of the wind whistling through the trees could be heard. The air was heavy, much heavier than anything known to the outside worlds. As the wind continued to howl, it seemed to almost catch a certain beat. As if a chorus of dark spirits cried out through the night. They seemed to beckon anyone and everyone to enter the black structure that lie ahead. As the mist swirled about ghostly figures seemd to appear against the midnight sky. For only seconds they danced around Jaden and then another breeze would erase them from sight.
A mere mortal would be consumed by the chill in the air. Not of a physical nature, but more spiritual than anything. The darkness seemed to consume everything around Jaden. It begged to be allowed entrance into the deepest corners of Jaden's mind. Over and over unseen forces tried to tug at the resilient man's courage. They would not rest until Jaden was once again lying helpless on the ground.
Jaden Mustik
Jaden felt a sudden darkness grab his mind, pleading with him once again to lie there, helpless, curled over.....dead. For a moment Jaden had fought it with such resilience that it was admirable, but that resilience only lasted a few minutes. After those few minutes Jaden began to doubt himself again, thinking that maybe he should lie down, helpless, cold, dead. No, he would not do it this time. This time he would continue forward, past this test of the ancient Sith for only the brave and strong can call themselves sith-only the brave and strong.
Strangely enough the room ahead never got closer, but always seemed to get farther away. Just another mind trick, but it was demoralizing Jaden anyway. No matter what he told himself the looming feeling of failure filled his soul. The wind whipped his eyes and they began to burn, but still he continued on. Through the harshness of the mental tricks, through the cold, blistering wind he continued on, waiting for his next trial.
Darth Malice
As Jaden continued toward the looming structure in the distance a pair of watchful eyes fell upon him. They were not able to be seen, nor was the being they occupied, but it's presence was a feeling that could not be shook. An overwhelming and intimidating suspicion. Not intimidating in the normal sense, but rather in a sense of his own inability to decipher his surroundings.
A slight crackle of breaking twigs and swirl of leaves on the ground, and the undeniable feeling that hung over Jaden, were the only signs of someone else, however, the being kept it's distance. It's intentions were unknown, and the way things had been going, it's intentions could not be predicted.....in any way.
High Inquisitor Gra'tua
[[Darth Malice, would you let me know if you hear anything from Jaden, I would like him to finish his last step in his training so he may graduate.]]
Darth Malice
[[I will, but this is the only contact I have with him, so you'll probably know he's back just as quickly as I will.]]
