The Shadow swallowed the question, and considered his reply. The question suggested that this, Blood character had at the very least enough logic to consider Xavius’s offer. The man was careful, and rightfully so.
Xavius adjusted his black hood, the adjustment exposing a hint of his mimetic armor underneath his cloak. The Shadow always kept his armor light, as his unrestricted movement was one of his greatest assets in combat at his skill level. While powerful in the force, there were those that had more tricks and powers, but when it came to saber combat, there were few that matched Xavius Bain’s prowess. He had studied and mastered each classic saber form, and his own technique of blending the classic forms often mid battle had continued to serve him well in his past few years of duels, against many formidable opponents. When he had fought Silas Karn, it became known that Xavius Bain had over time adopted the Echani outlook that fighting was a form of self-expression, and he could tell very much about a person based on their body movements, another language in which Xavius was fluent.
“How can you be sure?” The deep whisper tore through the air. “You can’t.”
The words escaped a touch harsh, but any other answer would be empty words. Xavius didn’t trust Blood, and there was no reason for Blood to trust Xavius. Yet, they both had mutual needs, and the other could provide that.
“Treachery in the Sith came from the stance of weeding out the weak so that the Sith would only ever grow stronger. It worked best during the era of rule of two, because the student would need to surpass the master when they eventually challenged them, until taking a student on their own. This would allow for the Sith to crescendo into the most powerful individual force users of all time, rather than having multiple weaker Sith taking down one Master. If I wanted you dead, we wouldn’t be talking right now, but you only have my word to go on, and your own logic.”
His black eyes flickered again.
“So what is your answer?”
The Grey in the Fire
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Xavius Bain
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Slade Xandir
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Re: The Grey in the Fire
Blood's heart sped a single beat when the whisper snatched his time spent going through every possibility, and sent it into the Void. It was proof that it all boiled down to something he knew from the very start; they would have to trust each other's own word. Damn. Fair play.
Just as Krynn had told him in the Illusion,
"I see."
However, as unreliable as this man's initial word seemed to be, he retaliated with a surprise that Blood hadn't expected: A lesson.
“Treachery in the Sith came from the stance of weeding out the weak so that the Sith would only ever grow stronger. It worked best during the era of rule of two, because the student would need to surpass the master when they eventually challenged them, until taking a student on their own. This would allow for the Sith to crescendo into the most powerful individual force users of all time, rather than having multiple weaker Sith taking down one Master.”
It made sense. But why wouldn't there have been more effective treachery with more available students? Why would it only be more effective when there was only one? When weding out the weak, would it not have been more effective with the more students there were?
Blood was being thrown into an ambush of questions, questions he would either need to do plethora of research on, or simply ask this man for. But not yet. Not yet. He had to do work for this man, and it was already apparent he would get something worthwhile in return.
Xavius was a living holocron, in itself.
With resolve, Blood culled the peak of his raging curiousity along with the urge to assault this man with questions. He would have to give, to get in this relationship.
"You have my temporary loyalty, Xavius."
For now.
"This Kole you seek, show me what his face is. I do not know every prisoner of ours, but one skill I have is never forgetting a face. As for the Holocron," he continued, stepping forward and lowering originally tense posture to something more allowing. "I know there is one on both a moon I am currently rehabilitating, and there is still that one on Arkania. I haven't exactly unlocked the ability to see the potential of them, yet, so I have not located any others."
Blood didn't go hunting for Holocrons, as they were gems he didn't understand the purpose of. He recalled several times how he had seen his Master place his essence in one, but he never knew how to get it out. It wasn't explained to him, but he felt as though the Sithian would have show him when the time was ripe. Was it so, now? Or would Blood still have more time to ferment?
Time wouldn't hide it from him; it would tell him whether he was ready or not. But until then, he would have to wait for it.
Just as Krynn had told him in the Illusion,
"I see."
However, as unreliable as this man's initial word seemed to be, he retaliated with a surprise that Blood hadn't expected: A lesson.
“Treachery in the Sith came from the stance of weeding out the weak so that the Sith would only ever grow stronger. It worked best during the era of rule of two, because the student would need to surpass the master when they eventually challenged them, until taking a student on their own. This would allow for the Sith to crescendo into the most powerful individual force users of all time, rather than having multiple weaker Sith taking down one Master.”
It made sense. But why wouldn't there have been more effective treachery with more available students? Why would it only be more effective when there was only one? When weding out the weak, would it not have been more effective with the more students there were?
Blood was being thrown into an ambush of questions, questions he would either need to do plethora of research on, or simply ask this man for. But not yet. Not yet. He had to do work for this man, and it was already apparent he would get something worthwhile in return.
Xavius was a living holocron, in itself.
With resolve, Blood culled the peak of his raging curiousity along with the urge to assault this man with questions. He would have to give, to get in this relationship.
"You have my temporary loyalty, Xavius."
For now.
"This Kole you seek, show me what his face is. I do not know every prisoner of ours, but one skill I have is never forgetting a face. As for the Holocron," he continued, stepping forward and lowering originally tense posture to something more allowing. "I know there is one on both a moon I am currently rehabilitating, and there is still that one on Arkania. I haven't exactly unlocked the ability to see the potential of them, yet, so I have not located any others."
Blood didn't go hunting for Holocrons, as they were gems he didn't understand the purpose of. He recalled several times how he had seen his Master place his essence in one, but he never knew how to get it out. It wasn't explained to him, but he felt as though the Sithian would have show him when the time was ripe. Was it so, now? Or would Blood still have more time to ferment?
Time wouldn't hide it from him; it would tell him whether he was ready or not. But until then, he would have to wait for it.
"𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒, 𝐼 𝒶𝓂."
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Xavius Bain
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Re: The Grey in the Fire
Though Xavius’s prowess in the force was largely centered around combat, he had also delved deep into the Fallanassi techniques in immersion and illusion, tapping into an area in the force that was uncharacteristic of a warrior like him. The question to see Kole’s face sparked an image to flash vividly through Xavius’s mind. He could see the boy’s eager face vibrantly as if it were real, and the focused determination that swept over his entire body while sparring was as clear as watching a video in Xavius’s mind.
The fingers on Xavius’s left hand stretched for a moment, extending ever so slightly to the eye. His eyes flickered as they had before, but a surge of energy leapt from his body into a manifestation of a young boy with dark, short hair and green eyes. Light radiated from the boy, though the colors all around were engulfed in black. The young boy looked towards Blood, and for a brief moment he seemed alive, but with a swirl of black fire the illusion brought a blinding light, until all that remained was smoke.
Xavius took a step towards Blood, the smoke gently adjusting to his imposing form before dissipating into the air.
“The boy.”
The Shadow Lord eyed the newcomer. The illusion served the purpose to show Blood Kole’s face, but it was also a clear display of Xavius’s abilities, aimed to show that there was much to learn from Xavius Bain. While he doubted that Blood/Slade would become his apprentice, it was Xavius’s secondary goal after his own personal growth in power to grow the Shadows, and it was possible that this one could be an ally. Or, like the true Sith of old he would absorb the lessons that Xavius would teach and eventually challenge the master. If that were the case, the Shadow Lord would be ready. Unleashing a true Sith on the universe would be a small price to pay for what he aimed to gain…
“Is that image sufficient?”
The fingers on Xavius’s left hand stretched for a moment, extending ever so slightly to the eye. His eyes flickered as they had before, but a surge of energy leapt from his body into a manifestation of a young boy with dark, short hair and green eyes. Light radiated from the boy, though the colors all around were engulfed in black. The young boy looked towards Blood, and for a brief moment he seemed alive, but with a swirl of black fire the illusion brought a blinding light, until all that remained was smoke.
Xavius took a step towards Blood, the smoke gently adjusting to his imposing form before dissipating into the air.
“The boy.”
The Shadow Lord eyed the newcomer. The illusion served the purpose to show Blood Kole’s face, but it was also a clear display of Xavius’s abilities, aimed to show that there was much to learn from Xavius Bain. While he doubted that Blood/Slade would become his apprentice, it was Xavius’s secondary goal after his own personal growth in power to grow the Shadows, and it was possible that this one could be an ally. Or, like the true Sith of old he would absorb the lessons that Xavius would teach and eventually challenge the master. If that were the case, the Shadow Lord would be ready. Unleashing a true Sith on the universe would be a small price to pay for what he aimed to gain…
“Is that image sufficient?”
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Slade Xandir
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Re: The Grey in the Fire
Blood watched smoke be given life, as if the Void was something to manipulate though a mere thought. Xavius produced a clear image through the works of darkness, giving a boy who's fate was unsealed just as swift as his face was given to Blood. Though the image was largely darkness, almost semi-silhouette in nature, the light that came through provided enough for the image to click well into Blood's mind, spurring the cogs who retrieved the prisoner, mentally. He knew he saw this boy; he was the last prisoner of the 3 to be shipped through the transport, that day. He was a profound boy, and as Slade, he had been simply making sure the kid was put properly in the cell he was designated. As Slade, he was blind to what this boy could have been to the Sith...But as Blood, he now knew how much purpose he could have served. This was a product of Xavius, and just as if he could sense Blood already craving the addition to the Sith, Kole turned and looked towards him. Though the boy's face held no emotion, it almost felt as if the pup was disappointed in the Sith's immediate response to his connected dots.
Did Blood feel...ashamed?
The sharp light slashed the boy into a million fragments of near holy essence, and like a properly done illusion, Kole was gone, ebony fumes wafting up and around their creator who strode to meet Blood's eyes with his own crumpling gaze.
This man was so much more...
“Is that image sufficient?”
Blood almost stalled for a second through his awe, but swift he was to return to his fours, mentally.
"Yes. I know of him and 2 others who were snatched from freedom and placed on the 38th cell of the 14th floor. They were captured together. This boy, however; I remember him well."
Blood swiveled from the Tamer of Darkness, making way to his Infiltrator. He wanted to retrieve this boy as soon as possible, to ensure he was still alive, still breathing and able to be reunited with this Xavius Bain.
His goal was to ensure this Void Walker was pleased. Once he was, he would be. Only for the lessons. The lessons. Right?
He tossed his words over a shoulder, already making it to the freshly lowered ramp.
"Are you walking Dromund with me, or staying offland?"
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[A Short Shipride, later]
Blood looked down the jungle-infested world, sparks of lightning skipping across the tops of the atmosphere. He hadn't been here in quite some time, and a memory sparked directly from it. From an interrogation room, watching Tormentous giving Neive an oppertunity to redefine himself, only for Neive to spit verbally in the Damned One's face. It was disgusting, Slade remembered, how one could be offered grace back into another's pack, but refuse the perfect oppertunity, to be ungrateful. To so much as steal from Tormentous, to bite the hand which once fed you. That was the real reason why Slade had been so lustful for Neive's death, that day. That. The trash and traitorous whelp who dared conspire against his Alpha.
Blood interrupted the memory, linking through his holowatch to Xavius' located com.
"We have arrived. I'm going to bring Kole onto my ship with his cuffs still intact, but I will transport him to your ship offland, to avoid any suspicion."
With that, he keyed in the coordinates of his ships location to the terminals where he docked, the landing pad cushoning the frames which held the matte ship above floor. A few droids and a pair of slaves stood to oversee the landed ship, and from there, he walked through the way of mazelike hallways, outside.
Did Blood feel...ashamed?
The sharp light slashed the boy into a million fragments of near holy essence, and like a properly done illusion, Kole was gone, ebony fumes wafting up and around their creator who strode to meet Blood's eyes with his own crumpling gaze.
This man was so much more...
“Is that image sufficient?”
Blood almost stalled for a second through his awe, but swift he was to return to his fours, mentally.
"Yes. I know of him and 2 others who were snatched from freedom and placed on the 38th cell of the 14th floor. They were captured together. This boy, however; I remember him well."
Blood swiveled from the Tamer of Darkness, making way to his Infiltrator. He wanted to retrieve this boy as soon as possible, to ensure he was still alive, still breathing and able to be reunited with this Xavius Bain.
His goal was to ensure this Void Walker was pleased. Once he was, he would be. Only for the lessons. The lessons. Right?
He tossed his words over a shoulder, already making it to the freshly lowered ramp.
"Are you walking Dromund with me, or staying offland?"
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[A Short Shipride, later]
Blood looked down the jungle-infested world, sparks of lightning skipping across the tops of the atmosphere. He hadn't been here in quite some time, and a memory sparked directly from it. From an interrogation room, watching Tormentous giving Neive an oppertunity to redefine himself, only for Neive to spit verbally in the Damned One's face. It was disgusting, Slade remembered, how one could be offered grace back into another's pack, but refuse the perfect oppertunity, to be ungrateful. To so much as steal from Tormentous, to bite the hand which once fed you. That was the real reason why Slade had been so lustful for Neive's death, that day. That. The trash and traitorous whelp who dared conspire against his Alpha.
Blood interrupted the memory, linking through his holowatch to Xavius' located com.
"We have arrived. I'm going to bring Kole onto my ship with his cuffs still intact, but I will transport him to your ship offland, to avoid any suspicion."
With that, he keyed in the coordinates of his ships location to the terminals where he docked, the landing pad cushoning the frames which held the matte ship above floor. A few droids and a pair of slaves stood to oversee the landed ship, and from there, he walked through the way of mazelike hallways, outside.
"𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒, 𝐼 𝒶𝓂."
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Xavius Bain
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Re: The Grey in the Fire
The com’s audio filled with the voice of Blood. "We have arrived. I'm going to bring Kole onto my ship with his cuffs still intact, but I will transport him to your ship offland, to avoid any suspicion."
Dromund Kaas.
The dark side pulsed through the ground beneath the Shadow Lord’s feet, as if the planet were attempting to feed the appetite that took shape in Xavius’s desire for power. Which each step he took, the memory of his last venture to the planet burned vividly in his mind. He had been so close to getting Krynn back under his wing, before Kota’s intervention. Then, upon the arrival of Tormentous and his subordinates, Xavius found himself forced to hunt his Shadow companion to keep her safe, despite having to engage her in combat. But, the Shadow lord had began to respect the Darth on that day, despite their philosophical disagreements, as Darth Tormentous had remained a man of his word. Then even more respect was earned during their battle, as the man had proven a formidable opponent.
His eyes shifted to his Assassin, standing guard silently and taking in the planet. The lifeless mechanics were the closest thing Xavius had to a friend, and they rarely spoke. Their comfortable silences continued, the Shadow lord meditating on the brilliant energy that the force brought in this place. He took hold of the dark energy and his black eyes reflected back the beautifully electric planet, as the ancient Sith lords had done many years ago.
He pushed out his senses to gather the force users in the vicinity, reaching out into the energy that seemed to enhance his abilities, though it also enhanced his lust for personal gain. He could feel the dark side seeping into him, pushing him and yet he knew that in order to harness the ability, he would need to tap into the emotions he was so disconnected from. Time would tell if he could truly harness it.
On the outskirts off land, the Shadow waited for Blood’s next comm.
Dromund Kaas.
The dark side pulsed through the ground beneath the Shadow Lord’s feet, as if the planet were attempting to feed the appetite that took shape in Xavius’s desire for power. Which each step he took, the memory of his last venture to the planet burned vividly in his mind. He had been so close to getting Krynn back under his wing, before Kota’s intervention. Then, upon the arrival of Tormentous and his subordinates, Xavius found himself forced to hunt his Shadow companion to keep her safe, despite having to engage her in combat. But, the Shadow lord had began to respect the Darth on that day, despite their philosophical disagreements, as Darth Tormentous had remained a man of his word. Then even more respect was earned during their battle, as the man had proven a formidable opponent.
His eyes shifted to his Assassin, standing guard silently and taking in the planet. The lifeless mechanics were the closest thing Xavius had to a friend, and they rarely spoke. Their comfortable silences continued, the Shadow lord meditating on the brilliant energy that the force brought in this place. He took hold of the dark energy and his black eyes reflected back the beautifully electric planet, as the ancient Sith lords had done many years ago.
He pushed out his senses to gather the force users in the vicinity, reaching out into the energy that seemed to enhance his abilities, though it also enhanced his lust for personal gain. He could feel the dark side seeping into him, pushing him and yet he knew that in order to harness the ability, he would need to tap into the emotions he was so disconnected from. Time would tell if he could truly harness it.
On the outskirts off land, the Shadow waited for Blood’s next comm.
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Slade Xandir
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Re: The Grey in the Fire
Though there was no response, it was almost telepathic how he knew Xavius had gotten his message. He wanted to form a bond with the man in the Force. Nothing friendly, or personal. Nothing intimate or lovely. But something that he could rely on when it came time to need to either summon or receive answers from the ominous man. Nothing could replace how invaluable it was when he and Tormentous could communicate through the vast distances of stars between them, how he would only need to call Blood's name, and vice versa. Though the link grew both thin and frail, it remained after such time. But Blood couldn't exactly tug it, for he knew his Sire wanted his peace for now.
Would Tormentous consider it traitorous his actions, now? His desires? Or would he continue with his regimen, letting his dark star pull light from wherever he saw fit?
So many unanswered questions that pulled demandingly at the Sithian's mind.
They grew in intensity as he strode through the corridor, and walked through the entryway of the prison.
His feet echoed against the ravenous empitiness that was the walls, the ceiling, the soul of this prison. It swallowed everything only seconds after, his footsteps no longer giving the subtle comfort of him being present, but the reminder of him bieng alone. It didn''t bother him, but it ticked peskily at him, hoping to mar his focus.
Up to the elevator, and through the 'hostiles' directory.
The hum of modern technology sought to reassure him, but he paid no heed to it. He couldn't even enjoy it. Blood was concentrating on not detering from his goal, despite the haunting confusion the Dark Side shifted against him.
The lower he went, the bowels of the planet pressng on his head with the gravity change. 13 levels down, and a jolting stop pulled him from his thoughts. It was here he remembered the prisoners being taken. The doors slid open, revealing a dark hallway that was the opposite image of what the initial entry to the prison wan. Morbidly rank, hellish, and only lit by sconces. The smell of defication and other waste swam in the air, unpleasant and daunting to any of the faint hearted. A rotting body might have been left down here, as well, and the possibility was confirmed once a pair of droids pulled a limp corse from cell 296.
Stone floor hushed his boots as he made his way thorugh the rest of the hall, tomblike and engulfing it made itself known. Actively his Force searched through each cell, past each bar, onto each face.
287, no,
288, no.
289, empty.
290-
Here.
Blood peered through the grimy bars, eyes locking onto a sitting figure, silent, and calm. It was a sight unlike the rest of the cells, where screaming, begging and pleading happened once everyone was alerted of his coming. Pleading for release, begging for an end, screaming from mania. But this one was far from this place. Untouched by the taint.
Waiting.
"Bring this one to landing pad's bay number 363 NAD 42. Get him cleaned and ready for transport.Harm nothing on him. If I find anything wrong with him, I will have no problem replacing him with you all."
The guards pulled around the corner, one Massassi and 2 humanoids. Blood turned away and strode from the scene, entering the elevator and returning to the ground floor. Despite no longer being there, he could still feel those emeralds on his back.
He made his way back to the landing pad and stood by his ship, counting the second down to minutes, minutes that impatient Blood felt tick by.
And once half an hour skated through, golden eyes were greeted by a sight. Two guards holding the boy's shoulders, and another walking behind him with an electrostaff. Hurriedly, he opened his ship and prepped it for takeoff, flipping switched and ensuring the engines were live. As he took care of it, an impatient hand waved the men aboard and he snapped to them.
"Chain him to the pole at the dining sector there." The boy would be in eye's view, and that was all he needed.
The man holding Kole's left shoulder handed the Sith Lord the keys to the wrist cuffs and ankle chains while the other two did as instructed. Within minutes, they handled their job and took their leave respectfully.
Once their last boot left his ramp, he retracted it and lifted from the terminal. Flashing the communication online, Blood prepped his systems for sending, but kept them silent. If this man truly was the Master of this child, he would feel his presence.
Xavius would lead him to him, or Kole would step in for it. He waited intruction from either of them.
Would Tormentous consider it traitorous his actions, now? His desires? Or would he continue with his regimen, letting his dark star pull light from wherever he saw fit?
So many unanswered questions that pulled demandingly at the Sithian's mind.
They grew in intensity as he strode through the corridor, and walked through the entryway of the prison.
His feet echoed against the ravenous empitiness that was the walls, the ceiling, the soul of this prison. It swallowed everything only seconds after, his footsteps no longer giving the subtle comfort of him being present, but the reminder of him bieng alone. It didn''t bother him, but it ticked peskily at him, hoping to mar his focus.
Up to the elevator, and through the 'hostiles' directory.
The hum of modern technology sought to reassure him, but he paid no heed to it. He couldn't even enjoy it. Blood was concentrating on not detering from his goal, despite the haunting confusion the Dark Side shifted against him.
The lower he went, the bowels of the planet pressng on his head with the gravity change. 13 levels down, and a jolting stop pulled him from his thoughts. It was here he remembered the prisoners being taken. The doors slid open, revealing a dark hallway that was the opposite image of what the initial entry to the prison wan. Morbidly rank, hellish, and only lit by sconces. The smell of defication and other waste swam in the air, unpleasant and daunting to any of the faint hearted. A rotting body might have been left down here, as well, and the possibility was confirmed once a pair of droids pulled a limp corse from cell 296.
Stone floor hushed his boots as he made his way thorugh the rest of the hall, tomblike and engulfing it made itself known. Actively his Force searched through each cell, past each bar, onto each face.
287, no,
288, no.
289, empty.
290-
Here.
Blood peered through the grimy bars, eyes locking onto a sitting figure, silent, and calm. It was a sight unlike the rest of the cells, where screaming, begging and pleading happened once everyone was alerted of his coming. Pleading for release, begging for an end, screaming from mania. But this one was far from this place. Untouched by the taint.
Waiting.
"Bring this one to landing pad's bay number 363 NAD 42. Get him cleaned and ready for transport.Harm nothing on him. If I find anything wrong with him, I will have no problem replacing him with you all."
The guards pulled around the corner, one Massassi and 2 humanoids. Blood turned away and strode from the scene, entering the elevator and returning to the ground floor. Despite no longer being there, he could still feel those emeralds on his back.
He made his way back to the landing pad and stood by his ship, counting the second down to minutes, minutes that impatient Blood felt tick by.
And once half an hour skated through, golden eyes were greeted by a sight. Two guards holding the boy's shoulders, and another walking behind him with an electrostaff. Hurriedly, he opened his ship and prepped it for takeoff, flipping switched and ensuring the engines were live. As he took care of it, an impatient hand waved the men aboard and he snapped to them.
"Chain him to the pole at the dining sector there." The boy would be in eye's view, and that was all he needed.
The man holding Kole's left shoulder handed the Sith Lord the keys to the wrist cuffs and ankle chains while the other two did as instructed. Within minutes, they handled their job and took their leave respectfully.
Once their last boot left his ramp, he retracted it and lifted from the terminal. Flashing the communication online, Blood prepped his systems for sending, but kept them silent. If this man truly was the Master of this child, he would feel his presence.
Xavius would lead him to him, or Kole would step in for it. He waited intruction from either of them.
"𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒, 𝐼 𝒶𝓂."
-
Xavius Bain
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Re: The Grey in the Fire
Wait.
The boy sat cross-legged in his cell, silent and meditating, but eyes open. Kole’s normally cheerful and optimistic demeanor was rightfully not present, and what remained was an intensely focused young boy. He reflected on the moments that brought him here, drowning out the sounds of the prisoner’s screams with the feelings of his own anger.
Rage.
Beneath the calm demeanor, a storm brewed inside. Perhaps it was this place, perhaps it was the company that captured him, but the young prodigy couldn’t feel anything but anger. Anger for being captured, anger for the friends he lost, anger for…
Xavius Bain.
Logically, he knew that Xavius had not abandoned him or gotten him captured, but in his current predicament he couldn’t help but feel anger toward his master. But Xavius was gone, and he needed to move forward. He had been left with the tools to survive
Wait.
‘No’. He thought. Xavius wouldn’t abandon him. Not out of love, but out of duty, or necessity. Despite the cold demeanor, Xavius had had invested time into Kole, and Kole into wining over his affection. He had entrusted Kole to be a leader in the Shadows, and it was all going so well until the mission on that ship...
And then, something was different. The metal doors opened and a blinding light silhouetted three guards that lifted Kole up. Though mentally he was focused, he noticed that his body felt noticeably weaker than normal as they lifted him like a rag doll. He was sprayed down with water, and while his rage welled up inside him, he was smart enough not to engage. Kole let them do what they were planning on doing, and plotted his escape. He needed a weapon if he wanted any chance of that, and he waited for an opportunity.
The opportunity eluded him as they chained him to a pole, with a man that Kole sensed immediately was force sensitive. He looked for a lightsaber, the only weapon he felt comfortable using. If the man was trained, Kole’s current state wasn’t conducive to a true duel, but his options seemed low. Until…
Xavius.
He could feel his teacher’s presence nearby. The initial feeling was anger, then sadness, and then something different. Hope. Maybe Xavius was there to rescue him? Or was it just by chance? Either way, he would need Xavius’s help to defeat a Sith in this state. Kole focued his little energy and called out to his master. A pathetic cry for help; a cry for his master to bail him out. In this cry he realized that it was not his master who had failed him, it was he who failed his master.
---
Kole.
Xavius Bain could feel the child call out to him in the force. He nodded to his Assassin, which exited back into the ship and prepared for take-off. He sent a com to his Sith companion, his deep voice ripping into the mechanical silence of his ship.
“Sending coordinates now.”
The boy sat cross-legged in his cell, silent and meditating, but eyes open. Kole’s normally cheerful and optimistic demeanor was rightfully not present, and what remained was an intensely focused young boy. He reflected on the moments that brought him here, drowning out the sounds of the prisoner’s screams with the feelings of his own anger.
Rage.
Beneath the calm demeanor, a storm brewed inside. Perhaps it was this place, perhaps it was the company that captured him, but the young prodigy couldn’t feel anything but anger. Anger for being captured, anger for the friends he lost, anger for…
Xavius Bain.
Logically, he knew that Xavius had not abandoned him or gotten him captured, but in his current predicament he couldn’t help but feel anger toward his master. But Xavius was gone, and he needed to move forward. He had been left with the tools to survive
Wait.
‘No’. He thought. Xavius wouldn’t abandon him. Not out of love, but out of duty, or necessity. Despite the cold demeanor, Xavius had had invested time into Kole, and Kole into wining over his affection. He had entrusted Kole to be a leader in the Shadows, and it was all going so well until the mission on that ship...
And then, something was different. The metal doors opened and a blinding light silhouetted three guards that lifted Kole up. Though mentally he was focused, he noticed that his body felt noticeably weaker than normal as they lifted him like a rag doll. He was sprayed down with water, and while his rage welled up inside him, he was smart enough not to engage. Kole let them do what they were planning on doing, and plotted his escape. He needed a weapon if he wanted any chance of that, and he waited for an opportunity.
The opportunity eluded him as they chained him to a pole, with a man that Kole sensed immediately was force sensitive. He looked for a lightsaber, the only weapon he felt comfortable using. If the man was trained, Kole’s current state wasn’t conducive to a true duel, but his options seemed low. Until…
Xavius.
He could feel his teacher’s presence nearby. The initial feeling was anger, then sadness, and then something different. Hope. Maybe Xavius was there to rescue him? Or was it just by chance? Either way, he would need Xavius’s help to defeat a Sith in this state. Kole focued his little energy and called out to his master. A pathetic cry for help; a cry for his master to bail him out. In this cry he realized that it was not his master who had failed him, it was he who failed his master.
---
Kole.
Xavius Bain could feel the child call out to him in the force. He nodded to his Assassin, which exited back into the ship and prepared for take-off. He sent a com to his Sith companion, his deep voice ripping into the mechanical silence of his ship.
“Sending coordinates now.”
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Slade Xandir
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Re: The Grey in the Fire
e of silence came the horrid break of it. Even the boy breathed silently. What were these kids trained like? How did-
Blood was so indefinitely focused on trying to figure out how the mechanics of Xavius worked, almost as if on cue, his voice shredded the silence like he knew he was being thought about. It was true...he did have connection to the boy. And he wanted him seriously, not as just a task to see if Blood was willing to follow an order.
It was all true.
Beeps sounded almost mutely as the burgundy numbers paired with occasional alphabet on the newly arrived message. The ship automatically saved the details of the message, but certain sections were blocked as they were encrypted. Certain things weren't meant to be followed, and it seemed his company's mentor was one of those anomalies.
Only when desired.
With the input in, the autopilot kicked on, and up hovered the Infiltrator. Thrusters gently flashed to life, carrying him and his precious cargo right and perfect through the exit, and to the farlands. Through and past the jungle thickets, passing overhead the harsh greens and molty browns until he was just above the designated coordinate. A clearing space between the trees and other underbrush was what the ship settled down into, right next to another uncharted ship. His.
Turning to Kole, Blood looked at the boy, a bit more frail than he would have looked, but not a shell of what he probably was. The kid held out. He didn't give the boy direct eye contact, but quickly grabbed the keys and began uncuffing the pup. The man stepped back, pressing the release caption for the doors, while the steel ramp lowered back down to the soft loam.
Freedom. Well, for Kole.
Blood waited for the pup to make the first move, not wanting to startle him into action. Just as he would with animals, he kept solace, calm, and unmoving. Peace allowed them to relax, and make their own choices. Kole was free to go. Surely he felt his Master beyond the cold interior of the ship...he was allowed to go to him.
He would follow, of course, but the child had the right of way.
Blood was so indefinitely focused on trying to figure out how the mechanics of Xavius worked, almost as if on cue, his voice shredded the silence like he knew he was being thought about. It was true...he did have connection to the boy. And he wanted him seriously, not as just a task to see if Blood was willing to follow an order.
It was all true.
Beeps sounded almost mutely as the burgundy numbers paired with occasional alphabet on the newly arrived message. The ship automatically saved the details of the message, but certain sections were blocked as they were encrypted. Certain things weren't meant to be followed, and it seemed his company's mentor was one of those anomalies.
Only when desired.
With the input in, the autopilot kicked on, and up hovered the Infiltrator. Thrusters gently flashed to life, carrying him and his precious cargo right and perfect through the exit, and to the farlands. Through and past the jungle thickets, passing overhead the harsh greens and molty browns until he was just above the designated coordinate. A clearing space between the trees and other underbrush was what the ship settled down into, right next to another uncharted ship. His.
Turning to Kole, Blood looked at the boy, a bit more frail than he would have looked, but not a shell of what he probably was. The kid held out. He didn't give the boy direct eye contact, but quickly grabbed the keys and began uncuffing the pup. The man stepped back, pressing the release caption for the doors, while the steel ramp lowered back down to the soft loam.
Freedom. Well, for Kole.
Blood waited for the pup to make the first move, not wanting to startle him into action. Just as he would with animals, he kept solace, calm, and unmoving. Peace allowed them to relax, and make their own choices. Kole was free to go. Surely he felt his Master beyond the cold interior of the ship...he was allowed to go to him.
He would follow, of course, but the child had the right of way.
"𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒, 𝐼 𝒶𝓂."
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Xavius Bain
- Registered Member
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- Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 12:53 am
Re: The Grey in the Fire
Kole stared blankly at what he previously deduced was a Sith. When the door was opened and his shackles released, it was all he could do. Was this a trap? Kole reached out with the force, and he could feel Xavius’s presence. It seemed that the two were working together, but he wouldn’t know for sure until he saw his master.
Pondering what to do only lead to one solution. Leaving the ship was his option, and if it was a trap then so be it. Either way, his only course of action was to exit. The boy walked out into the air, and inhaled his freedom, before making eye contact with the hooded figure of his master.
Xavius’s presence, while familiar to Kole still managed to suck the life out of anything nearby. It was a subconscious feeling, and Kole had grown accustomed to it, but the familiarity didn’t make it any less unsettling.
The boy fell to his knees, disarmed by the look that the Shadow Lord gave, Kole's body buckling under the gaze of his master. He bowed his head, and awaited his Xavius's judgement.
But Xavius Bain remained silent, and instead the Shadow turned his eyes to the Sith.
“It seems you are a man of your word indeed.” His eyes shifted back to Kole, piercing through the boy in a way Xavius would never understand. He knew his effect and power over the impressionable adept, but how much his influence shaped the child’s future he could never understand on an emotional level. Kole would forever fight for Xavius’s affection, until it got him killed like almost every other apprentice before him.
“On your feet, boy.” Now that Kole was secured, Xavius wasted no time. There was no time for sappy reuniting. His black eyes looked back to Blood.
“Now, lets talk holocrons.”
Pondering what to do only lead to one solution. Leaving the ship was his option, and if it was a trap then so be it. Either way, his only course of action was to exit. The boy walked out into the air, and inhaled his freedom, before making eye contact with the hooded figure of his master.
Xavius’s presence, while familiar to Kole still managed to suck the life out of anything nearby. It was a subconscious feeling, and Kole had grown accustomed to it, but the familiarity didn’t make it any less unsettling.
The boy fell to his knees, disarmed by the look that the Shadow Lord gave, Kole's body buckling under the gaze of his master. He bowed his head, and awaited his Xavius's judgement.
But Xavius Bain remained silent, and instead the Shadow turned his eyes to the Sith.
“It seems you are a man of your word indeed.” His eyes shifted back to Kole, piercing through the boy in a way Xavius would never understand. He knew his effect and power over the impressionable adept, but how much his influence shaped the child’s future he could never understand on an emotional level. Kole would forever fight for Xavius’s affection, until it got him killed like almost every other apprentice before him.
“On your feet, boy.” Now that Kole was secured, Xavius wasted no time. There was no time for sappy reuniting. His black eyes looked back to Blood.
“Now, lets talk holocrons.”
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Slade Xandir
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- Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2017 4:16 pm
- Location: Right behind you.
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Re: The Grey in the Fire
Blood watched as the boy bravely took his first steps into his release. With it came the image of one of the most beautiful things he had actually been able to see. Before him stood the ominous Lord of Shadows, and to his knees, he fell. Submission and its most beautiful forms.
Blood walk down the ramp until he made it to the pair, and with tense seconds later, he felt the gaze of the Void on him. “It seems you are a man of your word indeed.”
'When it's necessary, yes, ' he almost slipped up and said. But the Pied Piper was smarter than that, and would let nothing jeopardize what he was aiming to get from this man. So he simply canted his crown, and let the sentence pass with the agreeing gesture. With lack of response, he watch the situation unfold between the reunited pair, and was surprised with the lack of acknowledgement for Kole' s submission. A hard teacher he was, and our seemed near identical to his own. Tormentous didn't go for full subjugation from his students, only those who needed to kiss his boot and beg for forgiveness. Was this child doing the same? Or was this simply how he felt towards Xavius?
While Blood was trying to psychologically deduce what was going on between these two mysterious beings, The Dark One turn to him yet again. “Now, lets talk holocrons.” A slight raise of a brow greeted the subject, but nothing more. Blood was still antsy in wonder for this man's own come-through.
"Let's, " he confirmed. "What specific lord are you aiming to get? Or is there one you have in mind, already?"
Blood walk down the ramp until he made it to the pair, and with tense seconds later, he felt the gaze of the Void on him. “It seems you are a man of your word indeed.”
'When it's necessary, yes, ' he almost slipped up and said. But the Pied Piper was smarter than that, and would let nothing jeopardize what he was aiming to get from this man. So he simply canted his crown, and let the sentence pass with the agreeing gesture. With lack of response, he watch the situation unfold between the reunited pair, and was surprised with the lack of acknowledgement for Kole' s submission. A hard teacher he was, and our seemed near identical to his own. Tormentous didn't go for full subjugation from his students, only those who needed to kiss his boot and beg for forgiveness. Was this child doing the same? Or was this simply how he felt towards Xavius?
While Blood was trying to psychologically deduce what was going on between these two mysterious beings, The Dark One turn to him yet again. “Now, lets talk holocrons.” A slight raise of a brow greeted the subject, but nothing more. Blood was still antsy in wonder for this man's own come-through.
"Let's, " he confirmed. "What specific lord are you aiming to get? Or is there one you have in mind, already?"
"𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒, 𝐼 𝒶𝓂."