In the Dead of Night (Solo, PM or Msg to ask to join)

[Kell Sangros]

Location: Sojourn, Warvanus’ complex
Dead of night

Warvanus could not sleep; he abhorred the fact that he needed it still it was one of many things that fed the growing discontent and bitterness and even a twinge of regret. He had suffered more failures than successes as of late and as such he had began to feel ostracized from the pack, from the Empire, from everything and everyone. He even felt like the Darkside to it he gave his all had begun to abandon him. Had he plateau in his growth and power in the Force? If so it was a cruel joke indeed. He even thought about the wife he could not remember but still in the name of the Darkside had killed her. He still wrestled from time to time on this choice. He hated himself for it, that woman was Kell’s wife not Warvanus’, Kell died in that explosion on tatooine years ago. What survived was the beginning of who he is now, A murderer, cold, ruthless, full of anger, full of hate, always at war not with others but himself. He was properly named indeed. He stood on the rooftop of his building, the sky was clear tonight. He stood just gazing out into nothing. His emotions threatening to overcome him, did he no longer have a purpose? Was he cast aside for more promising students? He was a part of the pack now, but even that felt like it was in name only. He was a lone wolf, sometimes by choice more often than not because of circumstance. He had done everything he could to prove his worth. But still his thoughts drifted to Feluela. Why? She had been his sacrifice, as the settlement that Kell at one time called home. He had a lot of blood on his hands. He felt no remorse at that. He felt incomplete, with no purpose. His training bearing no fruit. How could he ever train another if he himself couldn’t get it together?
It should have come as a shock to him when he began to notice the Darkside’s corruption in his features. His skin had gone pale, his eyes sunken in slightly. It was the face of power. So why could he not become a stronger sith. He had the will, the desire and the drive; maybe he wasn’t as talented as he thought? Maybe he had become prideful? He did not have any of the answers but all this would do would be more fuel to command the Darkside.

Peace is a Lie, There is only Passion
Through Passion I gain Strength
Through Strength I gain Power
Through Power, I gain Victory
Through Victory my chains are broken
The Force shall free me

The code of the sith going through his mind. Most of it he found applicable. Somewhere though there was a disconnect. Did he lack passion? Or did he lack strength? Or maybe he lacked neither and the Darkside was testing his resolve. So many questions went through his mind. Even the study of the Revanites did nothing to bring any semblance of fun or joy in his existence. The longer he stood on the rooftop, the angier he felt. He would do something about it with that he exited the rooftop and made his way into the gym. He had instructed Vector to gather slaves and to arm them with vibroblades. If any survived he would set them free. Vector knew better he knew that his Master would spare no one.

As his agent was gathering the slaves he had setup dummies on each side of him. His lightsaber sitting on the table at the opposite end of the room. He got into a stance, and threw a straight punch to the dummy in front of him. Clenching his fist tighter the moment before impact, putting his arm through the dummy, his punch was met with a resounding crack and wood broke and shattered. He then turned to the left and gave a side kick to the middle of the 2nd one, also met with the same sound. While his leg was still up from the kick he hooked the leg into another kick tagging the same dummy right where a persons head would be. He turned his back and unleashed another punch then to the last one standing he drove his elbow into the center. All this happened quickly and he examined his handiwork. This was just the warm up. Just then Vector brought three slaves in with him all armed with vibroblades. He turned to face them.

“Vector you will also take a weapon, for it is time to see what you have learned” Vector looked taken aback.

“Milord?” he said questioningly

“You heard me Slave take a weapon!” Vector had been indeed the one who had betrayed him at Galfaar in the unknown regions, he had sabotaged his beacon, and had no doubt that he had leaked his whereabouts to the Covenant. It was time to test him, if Warvanus won Vector would die, if Vector survived and even proved a match then he would be forgiven. Warvanus was not in a forgiving mood. Hesitantly Vector obeyed and the four of them circled him.

“You will fight for your lives” he began “If you fall you will die, if you prove your worth then you might live another day” he promised no freedom.

He still had no weapon as they closed the circle on him, Warvanus summoned his lightsaber through the Force it came flying into his hand and he immediately activated the blade just as the first of the slaves charged him. The slave came swinging the blade like a baseball bat an attack easily countered. Warvanus dodged the blade and with his free hand he reached out to grab the slave’s throat, he squeezed and as he squeezed he impaled the first one with the lightsaber. He then let him fall. He took a step towards the opening, the second one who showed a little more skill went to stab Warvanus in the chest. He sidestepped it and with his lightsaber swiped at the weapon cutting the blade down to the hilt. He then spun and swung his lightsaber in a downward arc slicing the slave from shoulder to belly button. He too fell.

Now it was one slave left, and Vector. The last remaining slave stepped back leaving Vector to fend for his life.

“Show me what you have learned” he said to him. Vector launched into an attack using a lightsaber sequence he had shown him. Warvanus dodged each attack, every swipe from Vector’s blade met only air. This went on for a couple minutes Vector trying to attack, and meeting nothing but air. Warvanus finally grew bored and with the Force grabbed his blade and called it to his hand. He deactivated the Lightsaber and clipped it.

“You have betrayed me, Slave, I know you disabled my beacon, I knew you leaked information to not only the Covenant but to Lord Blood back when we were rivals.” Vector shook his head denying it, as he stepped backwards and Warvanus advancing on him. “When you did that you lost any favor you had accured, so now I will replace you”

“No Milord ple-“

he did not finish the sentence as Warvanus drove the blade through Vector’s throat, killing him instantly. He let it remain imbedded for a moment before twisting the blade and pulling it out, Vector fell to the floor bleeding all over the place. He now turned his attention to the last Slave standing. He did not hesitate and went on the attack, Warvanus blocked each attack, and with his blade went to strike at the mid section , which to his surprise at the last minute the slave dodged it and counter-attacked. Warvanus blocked the counter strike. He pressed the attack on this slave who although sloppily parried or dodged his attacks. Finally he had enough

“Stop” he commanded and the slave obeyed. Warvanus let the blade drop from his hands.

“What is your name” he asked.

“my name is Galleen “ he said simply and with the respect afforded to the Sith before him.

Warvanus paced around him examining him, studying him. “When it was just you and Vector, why did you fallback” he asked

Galleen did not hesitate in his answer “I wanted to study your tactics your style, plus the one called Vector said to me that he wanted to be the one to deliver the deathstroke”

Warvanus nodded, it was a smart move he had the makings of a warrior, now question is, did he have sensitivity to the Force, if he did, he would train him. If he did not, he would still train him and elevate his status.

He looked at him extending his influence touching the energy field that surrounded this slave. He pressed his awareness deeper and there it was, he could feel that he had the Force, he would need to train him. He would need to hone him into a weapon, like a personal enforcer.

“Kneel” he told him, and Galleen did as he was commanded

“Pledge fealty to me, that you will serve me, and remain loyal to me and me alone. Do this and I will teach you how to be a weapon, how to use the Force and the blade in front of you. You will elevate from the status of a slave and you will take a new idenitiy all if you pledge yourself to me, Is it your will to join your destiny forever with the order of the Sith Lords?”

Galleen did not hesitate “I pledge fealty, loyalty to you Milord and you alone, it is my will and my wish to join my destiny forever with the Sith”

Warvanus was pleased. Pleased indeed. “ Then it is done, the truth of you from now and forever will be Krieger, Rise Krieger”

The slave formerly known as Galleen rose as commanded.

“For now you will take Vector’s room, freshen, rest for tomorrow we will begin” He knew Krieger knew where Vector’s room used to be, and he departed to do as he was commanded.

Warvanus watched him go, he still did not feel any better than he did earlier. Something needed to happen or change. He needed to work this out on his own.

[Kell Sangros]

The next morning came swiftly and Warvanus was up early and in the gym he had laid out some melee weapons, a blade, a double bladed staff, along with a Tonfa style blade and a shoto style blade. It was similar to what Tormentous had him do when he began his apprenticeship. Though he was still an apprentice he still held knowledge, enough to train an underling. Would he ever be a true apprentice? That would remain to be seen. He wore a basic tunic and black pants, lightsaber clipped to his side.

Krieger came into the gym; Warvanus’ back was to him as he was gazing out the window, He could feel his new associate through the Force, he was hungry indeed. He turned around to face him and took a couple steps closer to him.

“Today your training begins my apprentice” he began “Today you elevate your realm of existence, when you take your first step into the current of the Force” He then gestured to the melee weapons before him.

“Choose one, and only one, for this will be your training weapon which ever you choose will be what you will learn to master, Choose wisely” he told him. He watched as Krieger looked at each weapon. He knew that Warvanus used a single traditional lightsaber, he knew some used a saber staff.

After a few minutes, Krieger chose the traditional vibroblade. He held it and tested its weight and balance. When he was certain he took a step back.

Warvanus nodded his head in approval “You chose well” he said after a few lingering moments of silence.

“The Force is everywhere, in your blade, in you, in me, in this room, on this moon, it is everywhere all made up of the same energy, some of us can touch and manipulate this energy, those are the Jedi Order and the Sith” he paused “The difference between the two is how we approach the Force, while the Jedi shy away from emotions, we Sith embrace them all across the spectrum. Our emotions fuel our power” He gestured for him to sit on the mat, he sat across from him.

“Close your eyes, call up a powerful memory, and when you have that memory I want you to reach out with your feelings tell me what you see and feel”

There was long silence, as Krieger tried to do what his new Master commanded of him. After what seemed like forever, Krieger let out an audible gasp it was then that Warvanus knew that he had touched the Force.

“I can feel the blade, cold steel resting on the ground in front of me, I can feel you Master, I can feel the cold steel of your lightsaber that is clipped to your side” Warvanus could see the beads of sweat on Krieger’s forehead. He was exerting a lot of effort. Which, he knew he would as it was for anyone touching the Force for the first time.

“Right now your sole purpose, your mandate is to practice what you have learned. Study and Train right now is your sole purpose, you are mine and I wish to make you a deadly weapon”

Krieger bowed his head, he was exhausted.

“you can use the training droids here, they will help you learn basic sword techniques and give you some form of experience, I will teach you about the Force and how to use it. Along with anything else I feel you need to learn” with this he rose “Practice what I just taught you, it will get easier to summon the Force” With that, he walked out leaving Krieger to practice.