Caging the Beast-A Noghri Tale (OPEN)

Close behind, but hidden within the Force, another Sith followed Cho. An altogether more sophisticated Sith indeed, who despite himself worried over the Noghri and his excessive lack of control. He had, after all, saved the alien's life once. "I have had it," he declared quietly as Cho slumped to the ground, writhing about while he struggled with whatever was in his head. "Today, Cho Wroth, your problems end... or you end."

And as Wroth howled in his anguish, Shard stepped out into the open. "Knight Wroth, heed me!" the Miraluka shouted, throwing a hand out. They were at the edge of a narrow crack in the ancient red rock of Korriban, which according to the younger initiates was where failures were exiled to die. Shard knew this was poppycock; the new Sith did not kill their students for failing, and even if they did it was much more efficient simply to run them through with a lightsaber and throw the corpse to the tuk'ata.

"Wroth, it is clear to me that whatever your problem is, you cannot attend to it on your own," Shard went on. "You need help, or else you will kill yourself inside and be a worse failure than you are now." He stepped forward, his hand still outstretched; he had no fear of the maddened creature, after all he commanded a life debt from him. Not only that, he was one of the Lords of the Sith. "I command you now, wake up and attend to me. I can help you, but you must let me in. You must let down the fetters of your mind so I can see inside; if it was something the Jedi have done I can undo it easily, I know their ways."

From a certain point of view, one might assume Shard cared for the Noghri in some odd way, and perhaps he did; why else would he bother helping him out as much as he had? Then again it could also be said that Wroth was a valuable resource to the Sith and Shard didn't want to see him lose any of his edge. After all, strong emotions were what drove the Sith and fueled the might of the Dark Side.

That voice.... a voice that he knew all to well. -Shard- The one who had brought him from Subterrel and to whom he now owed his life to. Shard never asked he commanded and Cho respected that. None yet would have been strong enough to catch Cho's attention and respect. Walking from the meditation Cho held his voice and power in check as he spoke to shard.

Help? What help.. is there for some thing that is no longer capable. My emotions...... my mind it breaks. Never had my mind been like this. I had focus once. That was before Reylin my last master. When I meet her and became her's my hatred and anger rose to unimaginable levels. Death and pain is what I fed on. But why now why this moment a lowly Jedi showed me what was really going on.

As he touched the barrier he felt that familiar force of long ago, Reylin's force.

She took from me what was rightfully mine.

Cho's force and mind opened wider that it had in the past. The dark tendrils of Cho's force writhed in the dust, twisting and flailing. His mind became filled with those images that he had put behind him the night he opened him self to her.

-flash back-

At the pinnacle of the temple Reylin stood with her claw like fingers wrapped around Cho's head and Cho shrieking in pain. The flood of emotions and hate was filling the air around them and pouring into Cho. With Ecstasy and hunger in Reylin's eye she poured darkness into Cho wiping out any trace of light side from his mind.

----

Cho snapped back from the vision to see Shard standing before him. Now knowing what must be done Cho stood and turned to Shard.

Here is your Test.... Darth ... or Lord. What ever everyone is now calling you. If you rid me of this ....--points at head-Then TRULY you would be one to follow. Not those that prattle around and think themselves my superior. Give my focus give me my emotions........ GIVE WHAT IS MINE. MY MIND!!!!

At that a force bubble formed around both of them. Cho knew that a fit was near and if there was going to be any chance of success then Shard would have to see what Cho's full power and mind was truly like. Cho lifted his head and opened his mouth a groan came forth from it. Word's.... ancient words of the Rakata flowed forth and filled the air. Words of power, conquest, and reworking the world to suit their own will.

With those word power surged from the very ground that they stood upon. The ground out side of the bubble cracked open, lifted into the air and began to swirl around them picking up speed with every revolution. Through Cho's limited ability of telepathic, shrieks of terror and death could be heard. The smell of fresh blood could be tasted in the air.

Now fully open Cho gave this to Shard the only other person to know him as such and the last if this went well.

Fascinating, Shard thought, as the Noghri apparently let loose. "Your former master did this," he murmured, walking up to Wroth without fear. "I hope she is dead for this insult; no one deserves to have their power locked away, Wroth. No one." The screams in the air were matched and exceeded by a second set as Shard shrank his presence with the Art of the Small, much lower in tone; whispers of madness, fleeting glimpses of horrors so vile a lesser being would go mad from the sight. They were not normal visions, but the omni-directional Force perceptions of the Miraluka; swirls of the Force, and the life energies of those involved.

"This is my life, Wroth," Shard went on, now speaking right inside the Noghri's head. "This is how I see the galaxy. Your eyes, your sight, is as limiting as having no legs; you think yourself mad now, what is left of your mind would shatter irrevocably were I to fully share this vision with you. Or anyone, really."

As he spoke, Shard was carefully exploring Wroth's mind, the internal pathways of life energy and the Force, seeking the blockage of his thoughts and emotions. "You know much, and you are strong," he went on, his voice a calm, cool center in the swirling madness of both their minds. "But there is much you lack, which it would behoove you to learn. You lack empathy, you lack grace; you are a crude weapon which those above you set loose, and you kill with no regard for those around you."

Now he found it, the choking blot of darkness and pain that prevented the Light from penetrating, that kept the Noghri from being in control of his emotions. "There is strength in this, but there is also weakness. Your lack of subtlety makes you predictable; a skilled opponent would simply wait for you to trip over yourself, and you would fall on your own blade. But you need not be so pitiful... You can become greater than yourself, overcome this and attain your full enlightenment."

Slowly, subtly as he spoke, he wove a web around the blockage, the scarring. Each strand was carefully planted, then strengthened as more strands were thrown out; the wound was deep and well-entrenched, and Shard needed all his concentration to manipulate it. "This will be the beginning of your new road, Cho Wroth," he went on. "When at last you are unbound by these shackles, and can observe the world without the pain, the fear, the anger and hatred which has blinded you for so many years. Do not shirk from it, but embrace it wholeheartedly; rise to the challenge of learning anew, and at last, find yourself."

The web was complete; he had the blockage in his grasp, and beyond it was Wroth's repressed self. "This... may hurt, Cho Wroth," the Miraluka said out loud, mentally bracing himself before tightening the web and pulling hard on the wound. "In fact it will hurt." It had been crudely implanted; it would have to be crudely extracted, yanked out full bore. It was simply too big, too deep and solid to simply cut away bit by bit and remove in the proper fashion.

The Noghri was nothing if not tough, though.

(Occ-from Of Metal and Monsters)

Char: .925 KWD
Location: Nearing the edge of the force disturbance at edge of temple compound.



.925 scanned and monitered at the force activity as Alindra and him walk toward the disturbance. There had been many who had neared the event but none chose to evolve themselves in the matter at hand. .925 knew he was out of his element and stated so to Alindra.

Master is this normal or has some thing occured to set this event off. For from my data the power here displayed is by far the greatest I've recorded. Though....pausing for a second.... This is very primal and unfocused. Raw is a better word for it. .... Can you do that? ... If I might ask.

.925 processors had already predicted the odds whether or not she could. It was not good odds.

At the moment though if she timed it right or him they together could kill the primal one but the odds of a return strike from either Sith would most like kill both with in the following seconds. .925's sensors noted other powerful Sith coming closer to these two, the ones known as, Shard-Darth and Cho Wroth and first level Sith.

.925's sensors noted that the force sigs of the two were growing closer in strength but the coloring was very different he could see the differences between primal and focused. This to he made known.

The power of the two is very great but I can see that the noghri is the one who is primal in his foucs. The other is very focused and odd. He is holding an odd area of power. Could you confirm what I do not know?

As he waited a power wave exploded from the center as Shard said.. "In fact it will hurt." .925 steadied himself still awaiting an answer to his questions.

((From Dark Brotherhood))

How... interesting...[/i]

On his continued exploration of Korriban's ruins, the Sith known as Zaaltarr had stumbled across an intriguing display. Several Tuk'ata had ventured from their caves and begun to wind a path through the canyon, heading towards the rebuilt Temple nearby. Zaaltarr had taken a particular fondness to these creatures, and in fact they often accompanied him in his travels to and from the desert's ancient tombs. Both were predators, birthed in the power of the Bogan, and it was for this reason the Hounds of the Sith tolerated his presence. Zaaltarr watched the Tuk'ata disappear behind an earthen spire before deciding to follow them. By now the Wookiee knew well the area surrounding the Sith Temple, and this familiarity now told him he was headed back towards the Valley of Dark Lords via the back of the Temple grounds. A short distance from the rear entrance of the Temple laid a small stretch of canyon that was rumored to be the death place of Initiates who were found unworthy and sentenced to exile. And while he did smell death on the air, Zaaltarr had uncovered no evidence to support such rumors. If he had, he would be tracking down either Iniquitous or the Overlord's trusted disciple Lady Renata, rather than practicing meditation in the desert.

This disturbance, it's drawing them...[/i]

Zaaltarr followed after the Sith Hounds for several minutes more, climbing out from the canyon's clutches and into a deep patch of dune sea that appeared to stretch on endlessly. He found the pack of Tuk'ata ambling back and forth atop the highest hill, as if awaiting his eventual arrival. When the four hundred pound Wookiee finally joined them, he saw the Sith Temple stretched out before him, a pair of figures at the outer edges of the grounds, facing the dubious stretch of canyon he and his fellow hunters had just traversed. At this distance, the Wookiee could begin to make out the ongoing conversation between his fellow Sith.

"Knight Wroth, heed me!"

Wroth? Zaaltarr was sure he had heard the name before, whispered on the tongues and in the minds of many a Sith. The shadowstrider closed his eyes, falling into the embrace of the Dark Side. The visage of the hooded figure faded into nothing as he continued to focus, pulling the Force around him like a shroud and shielding him from Horuset's harsh light. Deeper and deeper he delved, searching his own thoughts and memories, scanning until he at last uncovered the gems of information he had been searching for. Cho Wroth, a reptilian Marauder who seemed to have made an impression on many of the Order. As he reviewed his own memory, the Wookiee found that the thoughts he had read on the subject of Cho Wroth back at the Temple revealed that this was largely a bad impression. For one reason or another, many Sith had seemed afraid of the little lizard. Many more had simply been confused by his behavior since the battle of Subterrel...

"...my mind, it breaks... I had focus once..."

"Death and pain is what I fed on..."

"She took from me what was rightfully mine..."

The darksider caught snippets of the reptile's words as he strode towards his fellow Sith across the sun-baked earth, the black folds of his cloak blowing invisibly in the wind as he moved. Zaaltarr was puzzled as to what was going on. Neither did he have any way to know what to expect; he had never even seen Wroth's species before. However, Zaaltarr did recognize the other figure. It was the man called Shard who had also fought for the Sith on Subterrel. The Wookiee had been present when the Overlord named him Lord Memnon, having used the opportunity to again try to learn all that he could about the stronger members of the new Sith Order. It was important to know the major players after all.

"Give what is mine. My mind!"

Zaaltarr released his hold on the air around him as the Wroth-thing shrieked once again. The Wookiee looked to his beast companions, the red glow of their eyes meeting that of his own. "Let us see what is to be done."[/i] Zaaltarr drank in the thoughts and emotions pouring from the reptile as he continued on his way towards him and the man who stood near him, a clearly visible specter of shadow against the backdrop of Korriban's unrelenting landscape. Feeling a field of static take to the atmosphere, Zaaltarr again wrapped himself in the Force, only this time he pulled it into place as a protective sphere, duplicating an additional sphere for Lord Memnon.

Zaaltarr steadied himself as the ground around Cho Wroth began to violently shake and then split apart, throwing dust and rock into the air. The Wookiee felt the Tuk'ata slink away behind him as the air started to swirl faster and faster, creating a deadly tornado of sand and stone. The static charge of the air began to produce small arcs of lightning around the Wookiee, no doubt drawn by his fur and the metal of his blades. As he focused on holding his defenses, Zaaltarr became aware of a foreign tongue being spoken. But this too was somehow familiar to him... As he listened, the Wookiee's red orbs flared with a sudden revelation.

The voices from the Holocron![/i]

Zaaltarr's gaze settled back onto the reptile's hunched shoulders with renewed interest, the thirst for knowledge evident in his blazing stare. He had to know how Cho Wroth had learned to speak those Words. He could taste power in those Words, an ancient power that had since been lost to the darksiders of the galaxy. He stared even harder down upon the Noghri. I must know... I must... and you will tell me![/i]

"This... may hurt, Cho Wroth. ... In fact it will hurt."

The words echoed in Cho's mind. In Shard's embrace with-in the force Cho could truly then feel Shards power. His power seemed so over whelming to Cho's fractured being. He did not even feel the other force users presence until Shard started to pull the blockage.

Cho's mind flared with pain sweet lovely pain. The pain had once been the only way for him to focus and feel alive but now the pain surged through him as the force did. Focusing on pain Cho could see the blockage and the depth to which it had been woven into his being. What he saw that Shard did not was the tearing of the blockage was ripping parts of his mind along with it. He had to do some thing to repair the damage, but he was not versed in this area. But maybe the other was able to help? So with-in the force he reached out to find this new one asked for healing of the damage giving compensation when all was done.

Cho could not tell whether his message got out past the pain and the screams with-in the force. All he had ever wanted was power that was his and the knowledge that he could do exactly what the force wanted. He did not know how this was going to come to a completion. He began resiting a prayer of the Rataka, one of rebirth and life. Cho knew that when this prayer was used with force use it made molding life easier. In his training he saw them use this prayer to give a planet a rebirth of sorts. Desert planets to lush jungles, oceanic to mountainous, a planet once dead to a star that gave life to others with-in it's reach. Hope beyond hope he rested the prayer, giving it power from the flow of the force to aide in it's healing of his mind and to Shard to not faultier in his efforts and to the other with his efforts.

Cho's mind flared more and more with pain he gave into the pain and the prayer along with the efforts of those who were helping. He did not care what they did. His death or his rebirth was now in their hands. A quick thought came to him of Lady Renata if the force had mercy and allowed him to live he would make amends to her. 'Make amends' there was again that fellow feeling that Shard had talked about. Then he though... his previous attempts to get her attention was because she reminded him of his former master. He guessed that he was not fully over his master but would the removal of the blockage remove this need as well. New thoughts came to him and new feeling as well the prayer and Shards efforts were starting to have an effect upon him. The damage though was there as well, laying there as like plow tracks with-in his mind. Healing was going slower than he thought he only hope the scars would not distort his presence in the force.

[From Dark Brotherhood...]

Xerron followed his lifetime partner Zaaltarr as something drew his attention to the back of the temple, past the Valley of Lords and the remaining statues standing guard there. He now heard with his ears what his Wookiee friend must have heard through the Force. The wind howled in rage and lightning crackled from somewhere below in what Sith Initiates called "The Canyon of Shame", supposedly where failures were exiled to die a slow and probably painful death. The Assassin knew it was a bunch of bull, probably used by the Sith Masters to frighten the Initiates into obediance and to keep them in line. This new Sith Order did not believe in killing it's students. Torture? Maybe.

That was what it sounded like now. Like someone was being tortured. Feral screams erupted from the center of the force made tornado. He was able to catch snippets of conversation as he drew nearer but, the noise from the wind and the lightning strikes muffled alot of it.

"Knight Wroth, heed me!" Xerron recognized that voice immediately. Shard. Or as he was better known as now, thanks to his new title. Lord Memnon. The revelation that Shard had been named Lord already and Xerron was still technically an Initiate still stung. He pushed the feelings and thoughts from his mind and redirected them to the scene at hand.

Xerron lowered his Force Presence to his very limit, realizing that the merest distraction could prove hazardous to the situation. He felt that something important was going on, but, he didn't know what specifically. He looked back at Zaaltarr, who was busy delving into the force. Again. He simply shook his head. Zaaltarr did that alot. He looked upon the scene in front of him and recognized the figure in the center of the force made tornado. Cho Wroth. He'd only seen the Noghri a few times. He knew mostly of the rumors surrounding the reptilian alien but, little else. He tended to be wary of those who triggered his danger sense, and Wroth triggered it easily. Based upon the scant information and the couple sightings he'd seen himself, Xerron had determined that Cho Wroth was unstable at best but, very powerful. Someone you'd rather have with you than against you. The assassin was quickly getting bored with the air display and so focused his hearing to pick up their conversation.

"Wroth, it is clear to me that whatever your problem is, you cannot attend to it on your own," Shard went on. "You need help, or else you will kill yourself inside and be a worse failure than you are now."

Xerron's eyebrows raised Shard helping someone? That's a first. What can he be after? he thought listening intently to the words spoken to the nearly out of control Noghri.

"I command you now, wake up and attend to me. I can help you, but you must let me in. You must let down the fetters of your mind so I can see inside. If it was something the Jedi have done I can undo it easily, I know their ways."

Xerron took more of an active interest now How would Shard know the ways of a Jedi? Then Cho Wroth spoke and Xerron began to understand what was happening.

"Help? What help.. is there for some thing that is no longer capable. My emotions...... my mind it breaks. Never had my mind been like this. I had focus once. That was before Reylin my last master. When I meet her and became her's my hatred and anger rose to unimaginable levels. Death and pain is what I fed on. But why now why this moment a lowly Jedi showed me what was really going on. he said venom at a past wound clear in his voice.

"She took from me what was rightfully mine."

Xerron's mind absorbed the conversation as the force made storm grew to a crecendo.

"Here is your Test.... Darth ... or Lord. What ever everyone is now calling you. If you rid me of this ...." he said pointing at his head "Then TRULY you would be one to follow. Not those that prattle around and think themselves my superior. Give my focus give me my emotions........ GIVE WHAT IS MINE. MY MIND!!!!"[/i]

Xerron was shocked, truly shocked. His previous master took his sanity from him?! That is truely a cruel punishment. Who are you Cho Wroth?[/i] he thought within the confines of his skull. It was then that Xerron realized what was truly going on Shard's removing the blocks in Wroth's mind. Such a task is surely dangerous and Wroth, though unstable for the moment could be more dangerous if this is not handled properly. Thankfully my Uncle Xerxes taught me a little bit about healing. It's not much but, it could mean the difference between Wroth's life and death at this moment. Wroth is a useful tool for whoever controls him. I cannot sit idely by. I must use the small amount of knowledge I have to help seal the tears that are no doubt forming as Shard does his work[/i] Xerron thought as the Noghri's screams intensified.

Xerron sat cross legged on the red sand and went into a meditative state. Opening himself up to the force he let the feelings of those around him wash over him. He searched for Cho's mind firstly. It took all his concentration to delve into the Nogrhi's mind and push through the outer layer of thoughts to the more sensitive inner parts of his mind. Xerron worked carefully doing his best to heal the cracks and tears that had already begun to show as Shard progressed in stripping Cho of his force made mental barriers. Sweat beaded on the outside of Xerron's forehead from the stress, his brow wrinkled in determined intense concentration.

Carefully he wove his way deeper into the recesses of Wroth's mind. Cho Wroth, my name is Xerron Delzaren I am a fellow Sith like you. I know what is going on and I will try and heal the tears in you as Shard releases you from your mental barriers. You are still useful to us and it would be a shame for you to end up a vegetable. Make no mistake. I have no compassion for you. You are strategically important due to your power. That is all I value. I have no wish to control you however, I am not strong enough for that. If I and Shard are successful you will owe me. That is enough for me Xerron said in a force message to Cho Wroth.

Then he receded the connection and focused on healing the ruptures he detected.

Cho's mind was awash with pain and power the force fit had hit it's peak and the ground around both of them, Shard and Cho, was starting to glass. The heat of the friction and the force lighting was having their way with anything that came near. Cho tried to refocus upon the event at hand. That is when he heard another voice with-in his mind telling him they were there to help in the healing. Cho neither cared or worried who it was. All he could do was link his force power to the two other minds that had came near.

One was focusing on healing while the other searched Cho's mind for question that they needed. Cho had now answers just what he knew, and that was death and killing for the taste of blood. Shard pulling the bindings made Cho spasm once more. The resulting effect was a ear splitting crash of force lighting hitting debrie making them into smaller chunks. A few time during that point his mind slowed he could almost reach that point again that he had at Subterrel when tapped the pure raw natural power of the force, the power that the Rakata would often tap into to move their ships and reshape whole planets. Yet he was still just short to reaching it once again.

Pain to pleasure, pleasure to energy, energy to life.

Cho tried to repeat his former masters words but did not help the only thing that did was old noghri proverbs from the Rataka that had ruled them so many years ago. So Cho let the pain twist into pleasure so that he could feed off the energy so that his body would stay standing as these few Sith ripped and tore the force barriers from his mind.

Each spasm resulted in a force lighting strike. The ground around these four began to break apart further and grind into fine power that ended to gloss into a heated slag at the force bubbles extremities. Cho's force tendrils slashed and twisted and writhed in accord with Cho's pain. Wind swept up by them all as the heat of the glassy sands arose from the ground. Minutes turned into hours for them yet Cho's freakish connection to the force via the Rataka training kept them strong.

Memories flooded back into Cho's mind of days growing up. Training to hunt and kill in the noghri way silent as the night and deadly as Stava. Cho's mind wondered to his Stava training. He had not mastered it his training was still on going in that aspect. Death grips and maneuvers so brutal that one could kill with out using a blade, just the claws they had. Cho allowed his thinking to go back to that time in his life.

Then and only then did Cho feel the ease of the force blockage being to let go. Had he been the one who was holding on to the force blockage. He must have for the barrier fell fast the last holding of the blockage slipped from where it was. He went back to think of more of his training and the skills, the old ways of the Stava trained. He was gaining by letting go. This to was one of the proverbs of the Stava training letting go to move just enough that the prey would move either to greater pain or death.

As Cho let loose his inhibitions and flooded his mind with old noghri training the time of his release was near. Now all he had to do was wait for the rest to follow.

Xerron struggled to keep his focus and heal the scarring that he detected. It wasn't much but, it would be better than nothing. Sweat poured from beneath his hair, dripping from his nose and dampening the cloth that hid half of his face, weighing it down slowly. He wove the force like a thread through the recesses of the Noghri's mind, following as best he could as Shard literally ripped the blocks from the aliens mind. He didn't have time to pause and look at the bindings in Cho Wroth's mind but, he could tell they wove deeper than he could detect. He felt himself straining to maintain control as the pressure from the extraction, the link the Noghri had made between himself, Shard, and Zaaltarr grew. The overload of information from each individual mind was almost too much for Xerron to take but, he pushed it all to the back of his mind with the scant spare strength that he had. The impressions still leaked through though.

The veins on his forehead began to bulge as he continued to weave the healing power of the Force, as he followed Shard's path of destruction. Finally he could hold on no longer, he'd reached his limit. He slowly withdrew from the Noghri's mind, letting the Force ebb as slowly as he could as he left. He hadn't realized how hard his breathing had become, he was laboring for breath like he'd been in a constant lightsaber duel for seventy two hours straight.
Having finally left the wounded aliens mind, Xerron let his grasp on the Force go completely. He didn't know how long he had held in for but, it felt like an eternity. His shoulders sagged limply as his body began to realize the toll that was put upon it. His entire body was sore from the experience. He laid back and smiled. He felt like he was in training again with his Uncle Xerxes. The hot arid wind blew about him, covering him in a film of red sand but, he didn't care, it was an inconvience, nothing else.

He laid there for a while, catching his breath. Finally after about ten minutes, he felt rejuvinated enough to stand. The wind storm had died down a bit since he had started and the air in the area took on a calm tone. Shard must have succeeded then he thought as he stood and made his way to the edge of the cliff. He took another breath and made his way down to Shard.

"So, now that Wroth has his mind back and you have a new servant. I have a proposition for you. Take me into your Dominion and have someone train me as an apprentice and I'll execute any that get in the way of your plans. Even Iniquitous, should you order it. I want power and I'll not get it by simply delving into the Temple library and practicing by myself in my own techniques. I need a teacher, not solitude" Xerron said in a tone that left no implications of uncertainty.

Xerron let his hood and half mask down, letting Shard see the determination in his face "A personal assassin that doesn't ask questions for a chance to learn from a Master. Do we have a deal?"

As time wore on, Zaaltarr became less and less aware of what was going on in the physical universe around him. Deeper, and deeper he had dove into the Noghri’s twisted psyche, dividing his focus between assisting Lord Memnon’s efforts and finding the answers he was seeking. To do so was a considerable effort, even for a powerful telepath such as Zaaltarr. Further hindering the Madclaw’s progress were the constant barrages of lightning striking everything around him, forcing him to periodically conjure up new protective barriers around himself, Shard, and Xerron. Thankfully, the Wookiee was able to use some of the Noghri’s own Force energy to fuel his efforts, allowing him to continue to probe the small being’s mind for what seemed like hours on end.

Zaaltarr’s eyes burned with a sinister hunger as he felt the last tendrils of the Noghri’s mental block begin to weaken. The Madclaw had sifted through much, and now he had all he needed. Much of the contents of Cho Wroth’s mind were now copied within his own. The Madclaw was eager to put his new found knowledge to use, to unlock the last pieces of the puzzle contained within the holocron that had been in his possession for decades. But he had answered his fellow Sith’s call, and so Zaaltarr would not leave before seeing Cho Wroth’s crucible through to the end. He reached out once again to the Noghri, this time pouring his entire focus into the reptile’s mind. ”And now, let us end this.”[/i][/b]

Throughout the chaos, Shard remained in place like a rock embedded in the ground, untouched by the madness that swirled around him; his robes were unaffected by the gusts, the lightning seemed to simply be absorbed or redirected. "Fascinating," was all he said, too low for the others to hear, as he continued pulling on Cho's mind, freeing it from the fetters his old master had inflicted. The scarring was inevitable, yet he did what he could to minimize it; the efforts of the others were helpful, and it was a simple matter for him to divide his attention between the Noghri and shielding himself from their prying.

What time went by, he had no idea; he could not spare the attention for it. But then, it seemed to have an external effect as the chaos began dying down. He felt the Wookiee stealing Cho's memories, a strange endeavor if ever there was one, but that was none of the Miraluka's concern. He felt Xerron weaken and collapse of Force exhaustion, his stamina expended, but his concentration was yet on Cho Wroth; they were almost done, just a little more...

Finally the blockage was free, and Shard could concentrate on simply dissolving its power. Of course it fought back, but without the bindings that held it to Cho's mind its influence was greatly diminished. "And... there," he murmured, moving for the first time in maybe hours, maybe minutes, by clenching his fist in time with the final dissolution of the dam. Memories and teachings flooded the Noghri's mind, and Shard observed some of it for later dissection; mostly hunting, stalking, the focus of one's mind for stealth, and the brutish ploys of unrestrained power. Not as much as the Wookiee had taken, but it would do for a fee.

"Knight Wroth, you are unbound," he called, his voice strong despite the previous titanic efforts as he lowered his arm. "From now on, your mind is your own, but your life belongs to me. I have saved you, now I command you as both your liege lord and your salvation." The other two were exhausted, it seemed, though the younger human recovered quickly and stood up. He even had a few words for the Miraluka, though now wasn't exactly the right time for such dealings. Nevertheless Shard faced him, and he would feel the heated gaze roving over his form.

"As far as I knew, you held a low opinion of me and my commands, Initiate Delzaren," he replied, rolling his neck and stretching his arms out. "But if you are willing to reconsider your thoughts I always have room in my Dominion for open minds and willing arms." He considered the man's request, then shook his head. "To my knowledge there are none who have the time or inclination to accept a student at this time, but learning need not be so formal; there are many in my ranks with much experience in the Dark Side, and life and death in general, you are certain to pick up a few things from working and fighting alongside us.

"In return I will expect the same loyalty and dedication to the cause from you as I do from everyone else, and the swift execution of my orders and my enemies." That was what Xerron had offered, so it was a moot point, yet there seemed to be formalities and protocols to observe. "In any event I accept you into the Dominion, and name you Knight Delzaren." The other man would feel a slight pressure on each of his shoulders as Shard waved his hand at him, and that seemed to be that. "Make your way to Bastion as you are able, where my forces gather en masse; we are making a reckoning there, and you are now among my forces. Don't be late."

He turned away from Xerron, and approached Zaaltarr. "Zaaltarr, is it?" he asked of the old Wookiee. "I do not recall the pleasure of your acquaintance. I am the Dark Lord Memnon, commander of Shard's Dominion," and he held his hand out for Zaaltarr to shake.

Cho heard Shards word and indeed he did owe Shard his life on two accounts first was the removal from Subterrel and now this the freeing of his mind. Cho wanted to respond but he was to drained by the experiance. He opened his eyes to find himself kneeling on the ground and drool coming from his mouth. He had to stand for if he did not stand now all those present could and would see him as weaker than he truly was.

So gathering what force he could he worked his mind and body back to feeling out the way to the hidden power of the Rataka. In the lost language he recited, a solmn of 'the Gift'. It was the first thing he learned when his training had began by the Rataka program.

Power to life. Life to being. Being to growing. Growing to becoming stronger. Becoming stronger to conquring all. Conquring all to power. Thus all is balance and turn the wheel it does.

The flow of force gathered faster around Cho till it made him whole once again, though he was still weak in the knee he was at the very least standing. He walked over to Shard and stood beside his leader. Yes Cho thought of Shard as his leader and not his master for deep with-in Cho's mind he would not let another be his master.

Xerron listened as Shard spoke, assuming the young assassin had a low opinion of the Miraluka and his commands. Xerron simply shook his head, and laughed audibly. He waved the comment away mentally, he was a changed man. The time between then and now had sharpened him, molded him into a more mature man, and a weapon for the Dark Side of the Force. The experiences of his early childhood, training under his exiled Uncle, surviving in the Shadowlands of Kashyyyk, as well as the experiences on Farrfin, Muunilinst, Rhen Varr and in the very Korriban Temple itself, had shaped him into the man he was today.

A man with no true loyalties, a man who knew that loyalty to anyone was foolish, as it all too often led to blind trust and eventually death, and that loyalty had it's boundaries even in the Sith. If one cared for nothing, was loyal to no one, then they couldn't be hurt and couldn't be betrayed. The Sith cared little for their followers, the only reason they gathered and taught their philosophies was to spread the influence of the Dark Side and to kill Jedi. All of which was fine for him. This Sith organization was different in that it didn't kill their followers for failure, disobedience or vain infighting. Traitorous acts ofcourse held the risk that the consequences of such actions was death but, there was no gaurantee that someone wouldn't find a way to use the actions to their own gain.

He was suprised at the quickness and ease with which Shard had promoted him, though. The gesture had caught him offguard but, he quickly recovered, bowing his head politely and thanking his new leader for the gesture. Then he glanced over to Cho Wroth as the Noghri began to struggle to stand. Eventually though the small gray alien made it up and came to stand beside Shard.

"I will do as you ask Lord Memnon but, what would you have me do once I reach Bastion?" Xerron said curious as to the dark Lord's plan for him. Whether he was supposed to report to someone, or simply wait there until something needed done. Xerron had never been to Bastion before, though he knew where it was thanks to a fairly up to date nav computer that was on his ship.

Zaaltarr listened to the conversation, his head inclined towards Xerron and Lord Memnon when in truth his eyes were upon the Noghri. He was somewhat surprised when the Miraluka turned towards him and addressed him with a greeting. Giving a slight bow in response, the Wookiee reached out slowly to take the man's hand, giving him time enough to re-think his offer. Neither were backing down however, and soon their palms met for a brief exchange, the long, jagged claws of Zaaltarr's right hand wrapped gingerly around the Near-Human's wrist.

"A pleasure Lord Memnon, I have heard of your Dominion..." The red glow of Zaaltarr's eyes flickered between the figures of Xerron and Lord Memnon. "Tell me, what is the relation between your Dominion and the Sith Order? Would your forces accomplish a victory in the name of the Sith on Bastion?" he questioned telepathically, his curiosity aroused.

Shard smiled. "Bastion is already Sith territory, Zaaltaar," he explained out loud. "Not many people know of the place, though; it is something of a secret from our enemies, and apparently ourselves as well. As for the relation, the Dominion is an extension of the Sith, but more importantly of me; we serve as a second front for the Empire's wars, slowly accumulating strength in preparation for the larger war. At the same time the Dominion serves simply to carry out my own whims, extend my own power and influence throughout the galaxy.

"But not just mine, however." The Miraluka stepped back and raised his arms, spreading them in the air. "All who join will benefit, provided they have the will and the guts to step forward and take what they think is theirs. It is my Dominion, yes, Shard's Dominion, but there is opportunity for everyone within its ranks to grow stronger in every way!" The speech done, he lowered his arms and looked thoughtful.

"I admit, at the moment we are still small in the scheme of things," he went on. "But that will change, I assure you. We will grow and prosper, and everyone along for the ride will do so as well." He paused again, and tilted his head to the side while an inquisitive look crossed his face beneath the glasses and the goatee. "Have you an interest in joining, then? Or do you simply want to keep an eye on me and my followers? You don't strike me as being a very proactive person."

((Bah, short post.))

The Wookiee considered Shard's words. Zaaltar was far too old to be easily swayed by mere exhalation, but he had to admit, the man had a way about him. The thought brought a rare expression to Zaaltarr's face, somewhere between a grin and a smirk. Shard was partly correct too, perhaps proactive was not a word to describe him. The Wookiee was however suspicious and watchful by nature. But one must know when to play one's hand, and when to simply watch and wait.[/i]

"In the Empire's territory yes, but as I understood it our Order still has some ...cleaning up to do. Such was our mission to Muunilinst some months ago."[/i] Zaaltarr concluded the last bit with a gesture towards the assassin Xerron, his jagged claws once again gleaming in the desert's harsh light.

"But as to the matter at hand: I will admit to my suspicious nature. You are a very difficult one to read, and I suspected ulterior motives,"[/i] he chuckled telepathically. "I did in fact question the wisdom of our Overlord when he named you as a Lord of the Sith."[/i] Zaaltarr inclined his head to the side as if to cushion the blow, although he was sure the man before him was only all too used to the scrutiny of his colleagues, and therefore above taking immediate offense at such things.

"But please, do not mistake my words for mere egotism. As I have said, it is only my nature to suspect. Lord Iniquitous' perceptions far outreach my own, and it is a power I envy him. Doubtless his faith in you is ...well placed."[/i] The Wookiee's wine-red eyes glowed more fiercely as he came to his decision, the Dark Side having altered his features long ago. Reaching up with both hands, Zaaltarr slowly pushed back the deep hood of his cloak, letting the sunlight emblazon his dark-red fur.

Crossing his arms, Zaaltarr continued: "So, I will join this Dominion of yours Lord Memnon. If its' cause is to strengthen the heirs of the Dark Side and their Order then it is a worthy cause indeed."[/i]