Hello darkness, my old friend.

[Cain]

In the time since his encounter with Visari Jack had spent most of his time skulking around the Sith Temple, keeping to himself. Above all else Jack was interested in learning what the Sith knew about Force draining techniques... in particular how to drain knowledge. However, the more he searched the more Jack realized such answers could not be found here on Korriban. Not this Korriban anyway. The secrets of Sith power that had once been kept here had long since been buried under dust, decay and war. In their own mad grab for power the Sith on Korriban had destroyed the legacy of their ancestors. The secrets of the Dark Lords of the past had fallen into the hands of fools, hands which could not properly handle or preserve such power.

The tombs in the Valley of the Dark Lords was proof enough of the decay Korriban had suffered. Jack had set out to explore them finding empty caverns that could only echo the power they had once held. There were no answers here, only starving beasts that made their homes in the Dark Lord's tombs. It seemed that if there was any knowledge left of the dark side on Korriban, it would be found with the Sith themselves. They were a very reclusive and mysterious bunch. Most of the other Initiates on Korriban only regarded Jack as an insect that would scurry about within their homes, helping himself to their leftovers. If it was their wish they could easily squash him... but a morbid curiosity caused them only to watch the insect despondently struggle. Jack was used to such thoughts directed at him and in truth he wanted little more to do with them than they wanted to do with him. But there wasn't many other options left.

These Sith seemed to be led by a man... at least Jack was fairly certain he was a man... called Darth Iniquitous. Jack would hear the others whisper his name and speak of his great "vision". Certainly if anyone had the information Jack needed it was this Iniquitous. But one certainly does not simply walk up behind the Lord of the Sith and tug on his cape, begging for Sith secrets... does one. The same would go for any of the other Sith Lords. No, if Jack was going to get information from the Sith he would need them to come to him. But where to start? It seemed that Jack would not be able to continue to fly beneath the radar.

Jack waited in the temple, watching the recruits stream in and out. None of them were particularly sexy candidates. Jack's head was beginning to pound as if his brain was ready to burst out of his skull. His old master's last lingering thoughts were still haunting him. With a shaky hand Jack reached into his robes and produced a cigarette, carefully placing it on his lower lip and lighting up. One deep inhale was all it took and Jack could feel his whole body relax. As he exhaled Jack's serenity was interrupted by the coughing of man in front of him.

"Just what the hell was that?" A deep and rather contentious voice demanded. Jack opened one of his eyes to see a Twi'lek standing in front of him amidst a cloud of smoke. The sheen that came from his scaly blue Lekku gave him the appearance of a creature that had just slithered its way up out of a swamp. Or, at least it did to Jack. He regarded the Twi'lek with a disgusted scowl.

"Buzz off, worm head. I've got a headache as it is without having to listen to your shrill voice," Finishing his sentence Jack pulled the cigarette away from his lips and blew another plume of smoke into the Twi'lek's face. Flashing his sharpened teeth in anger, the Twi'lek grabbed Jack by his robes and tossed him off the bench out onto the Temple floor.

"Just for that... you're going to die today, boy." The Twi'lek snarled, grabbing a lightsaber from his belt and igniting its red blade. Jack raised an eyebrow at him from his position on the floor, raising his index finger to signify that he need a moment as he took one last drag of his cigarette and snuffed it out on the ground in front of him. Jack then slowly picked himself up and cracked his neck. It seemed they had drawn the attention of the other Initiates in the room.

"Well?" Jack said with a shrug, "I'm waiting."

The Twi'lek growled in anger and charged in at Jack. With a huff Jack lifted his hands and channeled the Force down through them as he had many times before. Bolts of Lightning sparked from his finger tips and arced through the chest of his attacker, stopping his charge in mid stride and flattening him onto the ground, "You're pretty green, aren't you? Well... I mean you're blue... but that's not what I was referring to," Jack said stepping up to his attacker and standing over him, "A Sith is not a Bantha, my ornery friend, all brawn and no brains. If you want my advise I suggest you put away the ruler, because someday you might piss off somebody you don't quite measure up to."

[Rugs]

How long had he been a member of the Sith now? A few days? It certainly couldn't have been more than a week. Time had passed so quickly in the days since that he'd come to Korriban, trading away some of the freedom he so cherished for the hope of gaining more power. Though he might have been a Sith in name, Nieraan cared little for the Sith's plans of conquest and domination. He would participate in them if need be, for no other reason than to test himself, but his ultimate goal was furthering himself. The Sith were a convenient step on that path, and nothing more.

Regardless of his newness, Nieraan was already working to make a name for himself, or at the very least, making his presence known. It wasn't hard. Despite the fact that it'd nearly gotten him killed when he first came onto the scene, he continued to be the same brash, irreverent man he'd always been. Except for when Silas was around; Nieraan had learned to keep some of his thoughts within his skull around the man, but everyone else was fair game. Most didn't like him. Nieraan didn't really care about that fact, but he couldn't blame them, since he wasn't the easiest person to get on with. But at the same time, he'd realized that he couldn't go starting a fight with everyone in the Temple unless he wanted to end up dead, so most confrontations stopped at merely being tense.

He was returning from a trip out into the wastes at the moment. Korriban was a world of power, whether it was hidden away in the archives of the Temple or lost and forgotten in the tombs of long-dead Sith. Nieraan was looking for something, anything that could make him stronger, but there was more to be had than just dusty old tomes and ancient trinkets. Many of the older members of the Order were powerful, like Silas, and had knowledge locked away within their heads that could prove useful.

And then there was Korriban herself. The Dark Side of the Force flowed freely here, and as naturally as a river in its bed. It was strange, to be on a world so strong in the Force after spending much of his life in the slums of Metellos, which reeked only of poverty and desperation. Nieraan liked this world. She was a fierce mistress, and did not coddle the weak. Her creatures were as fierce as the people that inhabited her, and it was those creatures that had been the subject of Nieraan's trip. He'd heard tales of them: Shyracks, Tuk'ata, Hssiss, even Terentateks. Supposedly, all were fierce. If nothing else, they'd provide good practice. Of course, Nieraan hadn't ventured far from the Temple, and had been out while the sun still hung in the sky; he did not know Korriban well enough to go too far, nor was he stupid enough to get lost in the desert of this cruel world at night.

It hadn't been the most exciting trip. For most of it, he'd found nothing, and then we he did find some creatures, he found little more than a few Shyracks near the entrance to some cave. There was a good number of them, but some sustained lightning was more than enough to handle them.

Ah well, he thought as he crossed the threshold back into the Temple, pulling down his hood to let his shaggy blue-streaked hair hang freely around his shoulders, maybe I'll have better luck next time.

"Buzz off, worm head. I've got a headache as it is without having to listen to your shrill voice."

Hm? Nieraan stopped and looked around for the sound of the voice, which drew him out of his own thoughts. Confrontations weren't a rare thing within the Temple; it would probably be wiser to say they were fairly common, actually.

He found the two miscreants--a Twi'lek and what looked like a Human--quickly enough. it wasn't hard with the way one of them got thrown to the ground. But he was a ballsy one, and simply continued to taunt the Twi'lek. Nieraan smirked as he moved through the growing throng of onlookers. Either the Human had some reason for his air of calm self-assurance, or he was going to get the living daylights beaten out of him. Nieraan was tempted to go with the former, given the way things usually seemed to work, but either one would be amusing, no doubt.

The Twi'lek charged. The Human countered. The Human won. A ripple of mutters ran through the crowd of Initiates as it started to disperse, and Nieraan almost missed the Human's last line; that truly would have been a pity, given the way it made him snicker softly to himself. Perhaps this one will prove to have some worth.

"That was nice, stranger," said Nieraan as he stepped forward, toward the Initiate that stood over his fallen foe. "You gonna finish the deal, though?" When he stopped, he made a gesture with his head toward the fallen Twi'lek. "Right now all you've done is embarrassed him. Probably just pissed him off. Might want to make sure he doesn't forget the lesson, unless you want to be dealing with him again." Of course Nieraan wasn't suggesting that the Human kill the Twi'lek--though that would be amusing--but a sound beating was often enough to get the point across.

"Oh, I'm Nieraan, by the way. Who are you? Can't say we've met."

[Cain]

Jack took the time to light up another cigarette as he stood over the fallen Twi'lek. The exciting part was over and the crowd was beginning to disperse. The confrontation had been intense but brief as these things so often were. Rolling over trash like this Twi'lek in a place like this certainly wasn't going to get Jack's name on the Holonet... but it was a start. It seemed being a student at the Sith Academy was a lot like being in a maximum security prison. All you had to do was kick someone's ass on the first day... and you were in.

"That was nice, stranger," one of the onlookers commented after the others had cleared out. The man was, for lack of better terminology, a mess. His clothing looked and smelled as if the last person to have washed them was Naga Sadow himself. He appeared mostly human outside of the festive colored hair and faint golden complexion. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that Jack's first impression of him was one of reserved disdain, "You gonna finish the deal, though?" he asked gesturing toward the fallen Twi'lek. Jack gave a scowl letting his cigarette hang from his lower lip, the ashes quickly collecting on the end, "Right now all you've done is embarrassed him. Probably just pissed him off. Might want to make sure he doesn't forget the lesson, unless you want to be dealing with him again. Oh, I'm Nieraan, by the way. Who are you? Can't say we've met."

"Jack." he answered simply, finally grabbing his cigarette and flicking the accumulated ashes down onto the Twi'lek at his feet, "As to your inquiry; I hadn't really given much thought to what I was gonna do with my new Twi'lek friend, seeing as how he was the one who had most of the plans right up until that Force Lightning knocked the blue off him. I don't figure there'd be much sense in killing him now anyway. He's learned his lesson, haven't you wormhead?" Jack gave the Twi'lek a kick upon mentioning his new nickname but only got gurgling noises in response, "See?"

With a labored sigh Jack then stepped over the fallen Twi'lek and flicked the butt of his cigarette away, taking a seat back on the bench he had been so rudely ripped away from. His head still hurt... but then again it always hurt. Jack began to rub his temples when he noticed Nieraan was still there, "So what's your angle?" Jack asked, gazing up at Nieraan with tired eyes, "I don't suppose you're here for the scenery. Would it be too cliche to guess you came to Korriban in search of power?" Jack chuckled to himself, leaning back in his seat. His whole body ached with fatigue and all he could think of was how unbelievable a good night's sleep would be right about now. Unfortunately it just wasn't an option until Jack found a way to repair his mind, "It's actually kind of amusing when you think about it. There must be, what?... A hundred Sith mulling about this academy, all after the same thing. Makes you wonder if any of us will succeed. Or maybe we're supposed to fail." Jack grinned wider, laughing off the thought, "Don't mind me, my old master always used to tell me I was a 'glass half empty' kinda guy."

[Rugs]

So the man's name was Jack. Nieraan was correct in his assumption that he hadn't met him, nor had he heard the name around the Temple yet. Perhaps this Jack was fairly new then, much like himself. Whatever the case may have been, Nieraan was sure that a good deal more of the Initiates would come to know this one, if only for the show he'd so kindly put on. But that was the way things went here, right? You were a nobody until something happened to gain you a little bit of notoriety. Usually that 'something' was a fight, or some other sort of confrontation, and then it seemed like everyone knew you. Nieraan couldn't complain about it, though.

"As to your inquiry; I hadn't really given much thought to what I was gonna do with my new Twi'lek friend, seeing as how he was the one who had most of the plans right up until that Force Lightning knocked the blue off him. I don't figure there'd be much sense in killing him now anyway. He's learned his lesson, haven't you wormhead?"

Nieraan chuckled at Jack's kick, which didn't get much in the way of a coherent response. "I suppose. But when he comes after you again, but I suspect he'll be ready for your lightning if he comes after you again. But that'll be your problem, eh?"

He observed Jack for a few silent moments. Physically, there wasn't much to him. He was the same height as Nieraan, though he looked to be a bit thinner. His skin was pale, and his eyes had the look of a great deal of fatigue to them. Intimidating was not a word that Nieraan believed had ever or would ever be used to describe Jack. But looks could be deceiving. Obviously, there was something to this Initiate, with the way he'd laid the Twi'lek out so simply. Or maybe that could be attributed to luck, rather than skill or power. Time would tell, no doubt. I wonder how strong he is, anyway.

As Jack began to speak again, Nieraan reached out, not with his hands but with the Force, feeling, probing for signs of power. His investigating was gentle of course; the object was not to be noticed.
As such, it wasn't as deep as it might have been if he didn't care about keeping it unnoticed, but he was able to gather enough from his cursory glance. There was definitely some strength to this Jack; emotionally, there was... fatigue, perhaps? It was hard to put a finger on what exactly it was Nieraan was feeling, but if the way he carried himself was any indication, Jack's fatigue was more than just physical. What was causing it, though Nieraan hadn't a clue.

"I am," he said in answer to Jack's question. "I'm here for strengthening myself and that only. The moment I start to get pushed into doing something else, I'm gone. I can't say I really give a damn about the Sith's wars or their need to rule."

"It's actually kind of amusing when you think about it. There must be, what?... A hundred Sith mulling about this academy, all after the same thing. Makes you wonder if any of us will succeed. Or maybe we're supposed to fail. Don't mind me, my old master always used to tell me I was a 'glass half empty' kinda guy."

Nieraan snorted a laugh as he leaned against the wall next to where Jack say, arms folded across his chest. "Well, I'd hope for your sake the 'glass half empty' thing doesn't get in the way of getting stronger. It'd be a waste in a place like this." He sighed, looking to Jack for a moment, and then to the Twi'lek that was still laid out on the floor. "So what's your reason for being here? I doubt you came here just to get into fights, fun as that is." A wry grin grew on his face then and he chuckled to himself. "And something about Korriban makes me think it's not the best place for finding sleep help."

[Cain]

"I hope he does come after me again," Jack answered through a yawn, "Any excuse a Sith has to be on his toes is a good one... especially in my case." Jack's eyes flashed toward the Twi'lek on the ground. In the compromising position he was in any defenses his mind may had would be in no shape to keep Jack out. Though even if he were conscious it was unlikely he would have been able to do much against Jack's Telepathy. He was the type that wore their emotions rather plainly on their sleeve, it would not have taken much prodding to have seen through his intentions.

There wasn't much to read within the Twi'lek's mind at the moment. The only thing Jack could perceive was the pain. Himself being in almost constant physical pain, Jack could muster up little in the way of pity. To Jack pain was a good thing. What could cripple and incapacitate others, to him was nothing more then an old familiar friend.

"So what's your reason for being here? I doubt you came here just to get into fights, fun as that is. And something about Korriban makes me think it's not the best place for finding sleep help."

It was an innocent enough question, but Jack had learned early in his life to be wary of others. A good lesson to keep in mind in the presence of Sith, "Me? I'm here for the same reason as you and everyone else, I wager," Jack answered plainly, "The Sith have something I want. I'm here to collect... and let's just say I'm not pleased with how long the line is. I'm half tempted to just start wrecking up the joint and see who comes to stop me." Jack let out a sigh and stretched out his arms, limbering up a bit before picking himself up out of his seat with a grunt. Nieraan was still here. Clearly he wanted something, he was a Sith after all. Pleasantries and small talk were foreign concepts.

Jack was silent for a long moment, his eyes slowly scanning the Temple all around him before finally returning to Nieraan. Locking eyes with his fellow Sith a devious smile formed across Jack's lips and he let out a chuckle, "Hmph... ya know, that might actually not be such a bad idea. You in, slick?"

[Rugs]

Nieraan's eyebrows quirked up at Jack's offer. It was a curious thing--an invitation to create chaos, liven the place up a bit. It could be entertaining, at the very least.

"I think I might be," he said, meeting Jack's gaze levelly, "though there are a few things we'll need to look out for if we're gonna do this, the main thing being other people." The Firrerreo shifted a bit, moving his weight from one leg to another. "They don't like it when people come in and screw around in the manner you're suggesting here. I know that from experience." His mind returned to his first few moments after arriving, when he'd first come across Silas, another, older Firrerreo. Silas let him in, and Nieraan was thankful for that on some level, but he'd had to know what kind of people he'd be throwing himself in with if he was going to join the Sith; he wouldn't stand to work with weaklings and cowards. Of course, he'd learned that the Sith--or Silas at least--was most definitely not some spineless fool, and in his pushing he'd crossed a line and almost got himself killed. I'll have to find that Alice girl and thank her one day. If she hadn't shown up so conveniently... Well, there wasn't a need to finish that thought.

"Other than that, we might need a scapegoat, for if we do get caught..." Nieraan's focus shifted, sliding away from Jack and down to the Twi'lek on the ground. The blue man wasn't really in any condition to disagree. Nieraan didn't say the question out loud, but only implied what he was thinking to Jack with another glance between him and the Twi'lek, followed by an arching of his eyebrows.

"But sure, I'm game." He came forward off of the wall and stretched, throwing his arms out to eather side until there was a satisfying pop in his back. It would be good to see what some of the other Initiates were made of. The grin that grew on his face when he turned to Jack could only be described as devilish. "What do you have in mind?"

[Cain]

Jack snickered while listening to Nieraan. He began to gather the Force to him. Drinking in the suffering of the poor Twi'lek combined with Jack's own pain made calling on the dark side like second nature.

"I think I might be, though there are a few things we'll need to look out for if we're gonna do this, the main thing being other people. They don't like it when people come in and screw around in the manner you're suggesting here. I know that from experience. Other than that, we might need a scapegoat, for if we do get caught... But sure, I'm game. What do you have in mind?"

"Heh... I didn't come here to fall in line and become some pawn. I don't intend to be a piece on anyone's chess board. Real power lies not with kings, queens or rooks. It belongs to those manipulating events. To those moving the pieces. I think it's about time we stop being moved and started making moves of our own. Wouldn't you agree? After finishing his mini rant Jack turned his attention to one of the support pillars next to him. It was a thick column of stone that must have been at least ten feet in diameter. Jack took a few steps back, channeling the dark side down through his arms. Tiny arcs of dark blue colored energy could be seen visibly rising and falling from Jack's limbs as he gathered the Force to his limbs.

Jack then swung his left arm across his body and extended it towards the pillar. Several quick bursts of Force Lightning shot out from his finger tips in rapid succession. Each struck the pillar, blasting a large chunk of the stone away until finally a large enough portion of the support was pulverized that the weight of the top of the pillar crashed down onto it's base. The crash shook the temple and Jack calmly then discontinued his Force Lightning and brought his hands back together, closing his eyes. Jack concentrated on the Force all around him and gathered it into a barrier that surrounded him and the Twi'lek at his feet on all sides. He had been able to raise the barrier just in time as the pillar tipped over and brought down a good portion of the ceiling with it in several large slabs.

When the dust had settled Jack opened one eye and surveyed the damage. It was certainly a start. The first student to rush out of her dorm to investigate the noise Jack met with a Force grip. He lifted the hapless human female off the ground and snapped her neck before tossing her limp frame aside with a swipe of his hand, "This is where the fun begins..." Jack said, glancing back over his shoulder at Nieraan. His eyes had started to glow a soft yellow color as he immersed himself in the dark side.

[Rugs]

"Heh... I didn't come here to fall in line and become some pawn."

Nieraan nodded. He'd not come to the Sith to be anyone's plaything. Nor would he bow and become another face in the crowd, too passive to do as he pleased. Jack's words made sense.

"I don't intend to be a piece on anyone's chess board. Real power lies not with kings, queens or rooks. It belongs to those manipulating events. To those moving the pieces. I think it's about time we stop being moved and started making moves of our own. Wouldn't you agree?"

Nieraan was quiet for a few moments as he mulled over Jack's words. He could feel the Force swirling around the man, and didn't need to see the energy arcing along his arms to know that he was preparing something. Whatever that something was would probably kick the wasps' nest.

"I suppose I can agree with that."

But what's your first move going to be? He wondered, turning his yellowed eyes to Jack. Lightning burst from the other Initiate's fingers, taking out chunks of the stone pillar before him. Each blast ate away at the stone, sending little pieces of shrapnel out everywhere and leaving a thin cloud of dust around it. And finally, when the integrity of the pillar was such that it could take no more, it fell.

Down on their heads.

Part of the ceiling came with the pillar, and of course, Nieraan was left outside of Jack's little shield. Not that it mattered. Nieraan smirked as the Force surged into him and he lifted his hands up, toward the ceiling. As some of the great slabs of stone fell toward him, he grabbed them, shunting them to the side so that they landed harmlessly around him. On and on they fell, kicking up a cloud of dust that was near-blinding, until finally, they stopped.

Nieraan paused, one final slab of stone held in the air above his head until the dust dissipated and he was sure that the collapse was done. Then he shrugged, letting the stone fall down to the ground behind him. Well, that's one way to make sure you get noticed, he thought. But you're going to get us both killed.

It was too late to turn back now, though. He'd get in trouble if he got caught with Jack now, so there wasn't anything to do but go along with it. He couldn't deny that there might be some fun in it.

Before either of them could say anything, another Initiate rushed out, looking to see what was the source of all the noise. Nieraan tensed at the sight of her, and prepared to strike out, but Jack took her first, snapped her neck, and threw her aside as if she were nothing more than a toy.

"This is where the fun begins..."

"I guess it is, Jack," Nieraan said, laughing to himself. The man was ballsy. Very ballsy, to start this in the Sith Temple. Nieraan found some respect growing in him for that.

He reached out with his senses, trying to see what condition the hive was in. Alarm radiated out from several people nearby. Several approaching people. Well, it was hardly unexpected. Great, here we go. Nieraan called onto the Force, drawing deeply, and then letting some of it go, in the form of lightning that danced around his fingertips and the bottom of his forearms. At the some instant, another student appeared, wielding a dark green lightsaber and swiping at Nieraan's neck. He ducked below it and reached out, grabbing the boy--who didn't look to be any older than fifteen or so--by the top of his neck and slammed him back, into the wall. Their eyes met for a long moment as Nieraan began to squeeze, choking the kid. Finally, when he felt fear welling up in the young man's heart, he laughed and moved, throwing him with a Force-strengthened arm across the room. He hit the wall and landed in a heap, though Nieraan doubted he was dead.

Well, perhaps it hadn't been too late to turn back earlier. It definitely was now.

"Tell me something Jack," Nieraan muttered. He pulled his main saber from his belt and thumbed it on, letting the dark gold blade come alive. "How well can you handle yourself in a fight?"

Because a fight was what they were in for. Until one of the higher-ups arrived.

{And Jenno's claimed the next post >:3}

[Jenno]

Another day of learning. The Dark Overlord sat in his personal chambers, meditating upon the dark emanating glory of the dark side. He sucked it in with every breath and coaxed it through every inch of his flesh. It flowed into every cell of his being and forced out the exhaustion that had gathered within them. This was a technique he’d learned from Darth Everos, a meditation that allowed the user to rest and recover without exposing themselves. As the dark being that he was, sleep would only provide openings for the ambitious and foolhardy.

He had rarely slept since obtaining his new vision anyway, unlike those with functioning eyes he was unable to shut out the things he saw. Upon Nar Shaddaa in that dirty past life of his he usually would just pass out from exhaustion. But not now, now that he held the powers of a Sith he could rejuvenate himself through the force and escape the need for sleep. Of course the prerequisite of meditation still came with its own weaknesses, there was no quick way for him to replenish his energy for example, it would still take him a number of hours, he was not a god.

But this vision of his did mean that he was like a built in security system for the temple. He could never shut off; he could never not see the events that went on in every hall and every classroom. It was the most attuned power he had been granted by the force and whilst it caused him difficulties in the past, he understood the power that came with it. Of course, even those who knew of his… unique situation didn’t quite know the extent to which it operated. He supposed the force was not without its sense of irony, making a blind man something of a visionary.

Iniquitous could see events transpire in the lower reaches of the temple. Of course, he had not believed anyone would be quite so stupid to try something such as this. Such action against the Order, if it were ever to be attempted, would have to be carefully planned out in precise detail. Such a random flow of events wouldn’t do much for these random initiates other than earn them a swift death. Perhaps I should be the one to deliver it. The thought flashed through his mind for a moment, an example always served well. But then again perhaps these two could be saved, from themselves and from those that would kill them without a second thought.

His body floated back to the ground as he brought his meditation to an end. He had done enough meditating for now and he could feel energy surging through his body once again, his movements were quick and precise and his mind operated at lethal rate. Raising his hood over the void that was his helmet the Dark Overlord left his chambers and began to walk calmly through the temple; his gait was elegant and held no whisper of quickening within it. His mind was clear and graced with serenity throughout his journey to the upstarts. This was not a man that seemed unnerved by unfolding events.

As Iniquitous had reached one end of the grand entrance chamber, the shudder from the tumbling pillar erupted across the temple. His walk didn’t waver. He felt death spring to life close by. His walk didn’t waver. Dust had come to surround him. His walk didn’t waver.

Iniquitous came to a halt. He was before them now, distinctly in their view. His hood rested deeply over his helmet, he doubt there appeared to be anything but shadow resting where his face should be. He was amongst the midst of their slaughter but did not flinch; in fact he was perfectly still. Engaged in their trivial spectacle, the one sporting two lightsabers spoke to his comrade in a brief lapse of violence. It seemed like they were enjoying themselves at least. It was his time to join in. He did not shout and yet his voice was flowing with a cold, echoing power. “Yes, do tell. How well can you handle yourself in a fight.”

He did not wait for a response; he did not leave time for once. As if he was drawing in a breath he sucked the Force to him. Dark and wretched it swelled within him, amassing in his body. His foot slid forward and he focused the energy into a single point. First raised he punched down to the ground and that focused ball of energy moved with the muscles in his body and made its way down through the Sith’s shoulder, then past his elbow and to his fist. As his punched reached its final extension, a few inches from the ground, the energy within was forced out and exploded against the cold floor, kicking up another storm of dust. The Force Wave was heavy and violent, throwing back most of the students that had gathered behind him. The backlash from the force caused the hood of his robe to flutter behind the Dark Overlord’s helmet, revealing the faceless metallic surface. How the two upstarts would deal with a grand extension of force push such as that would provide somewhat amusing.

But his actions were not over. Confronted with the blast, Iniquitous would take advantage of this and reach out with his arm of the force as it wrapped itself around the ignited golden lightsaber that one of these ‘Sith’ held. With a flick of his extended wrist, the blade pushed free of the maker’s hand and span comfortably into the Dark Overlord’s own realm of control. He gripped the hilt, it was sturdy, decent craftsmanship and the colour of the blade was quite unique as well. Depending upon the result of this encounter, Iniquitous might very well come to possess a new blade.

He held it out before him, taking no particular stance as of yet but giving time for these two students to prepare themselves. “Come, Darth Iniquitous stands before you. Show me the extent of your idiocy.” They had both made a choice, perhaps it was not one they could fully comprehend at the time, but that was their own failing. Their error needed to be shown to them. Who better to do so than the educator of this institute? Iniquitous did like to think of himself as a good teacher, one way or another he would make sure that all those who entered his temple learned something.

[Cain]

"Tell me something Jack, How well can you handle yourself in a fight?"

Jack had only begun to enhale the breath that would allow him to answer Neiraan's question when a great tremor in the Force caught his attention. It was a presence unlike any of the students Jack had come across on Korriban thus far. A unique perversion of the dark side that at the same time thrilled Jack and sent a shiver down his spine. The source of this disturbance was a dark figure that Jack could only barely perceive through the dust churned up by the fallen pillar to be a man.

“Yes, do tell. How well can you handle yourself in a fight.” The dark figure called out. He didn't wait for an answer. Almost instantly the Force was blasted at Jack in a tidal wave of energy. Jack had not anticipated such power. The wave crashed against Jack's barrier like a torrent of onrushing flood water. Jack winced trying to hold it back but it was too much. As his barrier shattered Jack found himself and his Twi'lek friend thrown back across the Temple floor.

Jack's expression remained one of fatigue as he picked himself up and brushed himself off. The barrier might have saved his bones from being pulverized, after such an outburst Jack was fortunate he could still stand. As the Sith took Neiraan's weapon from him Jack reached into his jacket, hesitating a moment as it appeared he was going for his own lightsaber.

“Come, Darth Iniquitous stands before you. Show me the extent of your idiocy.” The Dark Overlord said.

Instead of drawing a weapon from his jacket, Jack pulled out a cigarette and stuck it on his lip. At the command of his left hand his lightsaber wobbled on his belt before jumping up into his palm. Jack ignited the red blade and used it to light up before turning it off and placing it back from whence it came, "So you're Iniquitous. I must say you're shorter than I expected." Jack answered, taking a long draw on his cigarette. The instant the nicotine filled his lungs he could feel the fatigue and pain that wracked his body melt away... at least for a moment until he had to exhale the smoke again, "I hope you didn't take this vulgar display of power too personally, it was but a means to an end."

Jack was able to maintain his calm in the presence of the Dark Lord. It certainly wasn't out of ignorance, he could sense the vast reservoir of power in this man. Power enough perhaps to crush Jack on a whim. Jack understood this well and there was a certain amount of respect that had to come with that. Though at the same time there was no sense in being intimidated. If Iniquitous was going to kill him then that was that. What good would cowering and groveling do now other then bring shame on one's self.

Jack glanced over at Neiraan. He could feel a great deal of anger and fear in his comrade, "I'll get right to the point. I hate this place. This planet is a dead and wretched world infested with imbeciles and tools. I did not join the Sith and recite a code about breaking my chains only to be used as some sort of pawn. So if you wish to test me... test me. I'd rather die having tasted real power then live as nothing more then cattle."

[Rugs]

Nieraan's question was barely out of his mouth when he felt the presence of another Sith. A strong Sith. Well that didn't take lo-

“Yes, do tell. How well can you handle yourself in a fight?”

Nieraan turned to look over his shoulder and what he saw made him stop, his blood running cold. There was a man, standing in their midst. His robes were black, as was the pool of shadow that surrounded his face. He'd never seen the man himself, but it hadn't been long after his arrival that he heard stories of the Overlord's countenance. Could this be the man, then?

His wonderings were cut short when he felt a sudden buildup of power. Dark power, extraordinary power. He turned on his heel to face the man, as if it would stop what was coming.

It didn't.

Down, the man's fist went, toward the rough stone floor, and when it stopped, the Force exploded out around him. Dust and slabs of rubble flew into the air once more, carried on the burst of power. Nieraan never really had a chance against it. He knew virtually nothing about making barriers, and even if he did, he doubted he'd be at the point where he could stop this wave. Jack tried. Jack failed and got sent sailing back through the air. Then the wave slammed into Nieraan like a wall, knocking the breath from him and setting off a wave of pain across his front as if it had been one. Back he went, suddenly airborne, until he came down onto the ground. He landed roughly amidst some of the broken blocks of stone and rubble and rolled back a few feet until a wall brought him to halt.

Nieraan grunted softly to himself, from a mix of some pain and disorientation and then picked himself up, using the wall for support as he got his bearings again. There was something warm flowing down the side of his head. A hand went up, and when it came back, it was slick, and red with what could only be blood. Hnh, didn't notice that. He must have gotten a scratch on his landing. It didn't hurt though. Superficial then; not that it really mattered--it'd take a whole lot more to make Nieraan worry about a wound, being a Firrerreo as he was.

He brushed some of the dust off of himself, and that was when he noticed his lightsaber was missing. Well, one of them. His blue one still hung from the belt that was wrapped around his waist, but the gold one--the one he'd had in his hand--was gone. Where is it?!

“Come, Darth Iniquitous stands before you. Show me the extent of your idiocy.”

Nieraan looked up at the man--at Iniquitous--through the clearing dust. What he saw lit a fire in his eyes and made his face distort into a scowl. He had taken the lightsaber--he must have grabbed it when Nieraan had been airborne. It was in his hand now, and he held it casually, as if he owned the damn thing.

Nieraan growled lowly, like some dog with its hackles up as he took a hold of the Force and shunted some of the stones on the floor out of his way. He heard Jack's words, and some part of him agreed with them, but he was focused on that lightsaber. It was his. It was the first one he'd made, back when he'd still been an innocent boy. Back when he still lived with his father, who'd tried to raise him to be a good, just man. That lightsaber was a special thing to him, and he didn't care if the person that took it was some bum on the street or god, he'd get it back.

A mix of emotions swelled within the young man then. On the one hand, the part of him that still held onto some sense was terrified that the Overlord had been incited into taking action against them, and knew that theirs was a delicate situation. But most of him was furious at having his lightsaber swiped and getting thrown through the air again. Then there was the urge that always rose within him when faced with an authoritative figure: the urge to resist scraping and bowing, to show them that, while he may follow them, he was not some spineless slave.

It wasn't the first time he'd felt such feelings. But when he did, Nieraan had a way of doing things that were incredibly stupid.

"Before you test anyone," he said, stalking forward to stand about three meters away from the Overlord, "I'm going to make something clear: I don't give a damn who you are, but you're going to give my lightsaber back." His voice was hard, the blood on the side of his face forgotten, and his eyes glared at where he imagined Iniquitous' would be, were it not for the helmet. But though the tone of his voice had the undercurrent of a threat to it, he made none. Not with his mouth. The dark blue lightsaber that was suddenly alive in his hand served that purpose well enough.

[Apillis]

"I'll get right to the point. I hate this place. This planet is a dead and wretched world infested with imbeciles and tools. I did not join the Sith and recite a code about breaking my chains only to be used as some sort of pawn. So if you wish to test me... test me. I'd rather die having tasted real power then live as nothing more then cattle."

Those words of a boy speaking to one much stronger than him made the woman walking amid the shadows to the gathering of loud initiates feel only disappointment. He did not understand, and she could not only feel it but with her eyes piercing beyond the flesh and bone of what makes them within the material, but what composes them within the Force itself, she could see the lack of understanding in all of them. They wanted power, they wanted strength, but they all lacked the knowledge, the clarity to obtain it -- to claim it.

"Before you test anyone... I'm going to make something clear: I don't give a damn who you are, but you're going to give my lightsaber back."

She heard the other new arrival speak, stepping beyond the shadows cast from walls and pillars she had walked amongst, revealing her figure. She uttered in that natural soft-spoken tone, though every word seemed to drip and ooze with an omnious intention, "Then lay claim to it... Understand... All of you. The call of Korriban is the call of the dead. It is the very stilled heart of the core body in which we take on. To walk the path of the dark side is to walk a path of death. It demands sacrifice. You are either strong enough to sacrifice others to the darkness to forward your power within it... or you will be one of the sacrificed..."

With very collected, icy gaze as she slowly paced around the gathered Initiates like a hssiss amongst a herd of prey. The corner of those dark grey lips of her corpse-like pallor curled into a sneer before her pausing in her paces to further say, "Making demands for power exclaims one as a child. You want power? Real power? To hold sway over the lives of others; whether they continue to live and breath or die, grow stronger or suffer in weakened agony... to hold the very heart of their existence in the palm of your hand... that is power. The very structure of this place -- this Order is for that very purpose. Will you claim strength and power over your fellow contemporaries -- your rivals -- or be their victim for their claims for power?"

Those dark lips... curling, thinning... into a wide teethy grin as those blood red irises turned to Iniquitous, "My Lord, I wonder if any of them can survive... How many will be sacrificed?"

[Squee]

If there was one thing Tesa hated about the Sith temple, it was the crammed and unreleased malevolence bottled up within each being. The temple felt like a trapped fizzy drink. When as considered rest, the bubbles were stilled, though the gasses were obviously jammed into one area. As soon as one bubble brushed against another, there was a concentrated amount of carbonation, and they formed together, unwilling to release each other. When it reached the surface, the bubbles burst, releasing the gasses and added to the building pressure near the top of the drink.

This was most of everyone. Then there were those people who thought they’d take the drink and shake it up for fun. Outsiders who reached, grabbed, and up, down, up, down, up, down… watching in amusement to see just how long it would take for the drink’s top to burst. And the angry bubbles would spew and they became overwhelmed by the mess they’d created.

That’s exactly what the fools on this level were doing. Just how long can they shake the bottle? Keep shaking… she thought, Keep shaking and meet the biggest, baddest bubble around. I'm sure he'll agree there's not enough room in this town. She hoped he would come down in response to the wreckage. Tesa heard the crumbling from the room she sat in, studying and reflecting her history in silence. The bottle’s walls groaned and the bubbles stirred from their spots. They ran down the halls in response to the ruckus. Tesa remained put, sensing the roar of disturbed emotions and not willing to risk herself just yet.

Her datapad lowered, resting upon her thigh. Her eyes closed slowly as she sank into the swallows of her mind. Once she had her center, she shoveled off the immediate presences and sought the one. Nothing yet. Perhaps he was still beyond her sensory range. Her mind remained dark and Tesa waited patiently, expecting to see her hidden orb appear from the dark wall any moment. It didn’t, so she discarded her search and let the other, closer orbs appear. Trouble makers still making trouble. An orb suddenly snuffed out.

Tesa opened her eyes in a start. Killing people! How foolish were they? Tesa stood, pocketing her datapad, and cautiously made her way into the hallway. Quickly, half her mind attacked the task of calming her lightly labored breath. Reaching back, she drew up her mottled gray hood. She was slow going, and the closer she got, the more comfortable she became with the wall her hand ran along. A wash of power tickled a vibe in her sixth sense, and she quickened her pace then, passing around the corner into the troublemakers’ tomb. The biggest bubble has arrived.

All she wanted was a peek. To watch what unfolded. It might prove to be a little amusing after all, just to see how far the stupidity went. Lightsabers were ignited. People were picking their bodies off the floor, positively stunned. Tesa sighted the two fools as she entered further into the room, hand following the wall. She halted, crossed her ankles, and promptly sat down to be witness to the next events, a small smirk perched on her lips.

The overlord made his challenge, a golden lightsaber within his hand. It wasn’t his, as was made quickly clear by blueberry head after the man sucking his life from a burning roll of paper had spoken. Then some woman got in the middle of it, trying to sound smart. Tesa instantly did not like her. She was interrupting the show. The smirk was gone as even Tesa listened, comprehended, and finally agreed on a couple, certain points. The women still needed to remove herself from the spotlight.

Her elbows planted into their own knees, Tesa laced her fingers lightly and rested her lips against them. What now, brown cow?

[Karl the Unfettered]

Another day, another disaster, Shard thought, looking up from the training hall. Someone was destroying their Temple, what the hell. "Show-offs," he muttered angrily, straightening up. This had been the first chance in a long time he'd gotten to practice his forms, and now this. What. The. Hell. "Ought to give these cullies a piece of my mind... or a couple pieces!" A short, mad bark of laughter, and his mind was made up; even if it hadn't been his duty as Lord Memnon to investigate and punish disturbances, he would have gone up anyway simply to have some fun.

Quickly he rearranged himself, pulling his belt of weapons back on and throwing his tunic and cloak over himself before heading out the door, automatically hiding himself within the Force as he went. He moved fast, but wasn't fast enough; he felt the Dark Overlord, Iniquitous himself, rouse and approach. "Ahh, ah haha ho hoo," he said to himself, rubbing his hands gleefully. "Now they'll see the funny side..." Fun indeed, fun indeed.

Even as he drew nigh to the spectacle, another player of note slithered aboard and made some confusing speech. Shard had no idea what she thought to accomplish; such concepts were far above the heads of mere Initiates like these two. At least she could have tried to make herself understandable at their level... one could hardly expect headstrong, apparently suicidal boys like these two to grasp her words at that level. "Don't listen too hard, you'll get a headache," he whispered lightly to Tesa, whom he had come up behind undetected. "She's spent too much time meditating under rocks and hiding in the shadows of larger men and women to really grasp the situation."

With that cryptic warning he slid past, loosening the cloak over his presence; immediately the room become markedly warmer, and faint whispers echoed on the air. "Wanton, pointless destruction is not our way," the Miraluka said, his impenetrable glasses gleaming brightly. "Nor is disrespect in the face of our highest master, the Dark Overlord," and he bowed slightly to Iniquitous. "He stole your lightsaber? Boy, he has every right to take your life if he wished, and none would act to save you!" he told Nieraan. He recognized that one, but Jack was a dimmer memory; had he been around Visari at one time...?

No matter. "In any event, an obvious challenge has been thrown down," and he moved to stand opposite the other Lord and Lady, with Jack and Nieraan between them. "Come, you face three of our highest number, three of our Lords; make your challenge before all of us, or be struck down where you stand. Both of you."

[Jenno]

For an Order so small it was somewhat surprising how quickly its members could swarm to the scene of an incident. For Iniquitous there was now no escape, his presence in this situation had caught the gaze of some members, both old and young. He didn’t know what was expected of him here and in truth he did not care, he would act how he wanted to act in this situation, his agenda was always to the cause. Now that he was flanked by Lady Vorxere and Lord Memnon who had both taken the liberty of speaking to these upstarts, Iniquitous felt that he needed to make sure he had control over events so that someone didn’t end up killing another member of the Order.

Raising his free hand to the Sith Masters, Iniquitous currently did not wish to waste time with too much formality. “Your words are falling upon deaf ears. I doubt they will pay much heed to those that they foolishly believe are ‘tools’. This lesson is one that they must learn from me and me alone.” With the golden lightsaber still in his right hand Iniquitous took a few slow steps forward, his guard was slightly dropped, but he had an insurance plan in case of a sudden attack.

Before him stood the two upstarts, brazen in their actions and full of their own words, there was potential within them, but were they worth the effort? He would try, and he could not fault himself for that. He addressed the upstart who owned the lightsaber that Iniquitous currently carried. Upon the realisation that the Sith before him had taken one of his lightsabers, the man had actually threatened Iniquitous, perhaps there was sentimentality within the cool silver cylinder that the Dark Overlord currently held. Daring, he thought to himself, if not stupid. From behind that faceless helmet Iniquitous spoke to the more emotional of the two. “You have anger. I can feel it pump through your muscles with the blood and adrenaline, it gives you strength through the Force. But you are weak. The only reason I currently possess your lightsaber is because you were simply too weak to hold on to it. And even now, with your power surging through you, you are not strong enough.”

“And you,” he said, snapping his head towards the other upstart, “if this planet is swarming with imbeciles then you must be the greatest of them all. You would rather die by my hands than live as a weakling? Your words are pathetic; perhaps it would be a display of great mercy for me to kill you now.” His grip upon the lightsaber tightened for a moment before he spoke again. “You look with your eyes and you do not see beyond the most basic of things. You hear the code and recite it but you fail to grasp the words you are saying. This is an Order that strives for power and knowledge, to destroy the Jedi and the Republic. Together we are a strength to be feared, but that means nothing if individually we are weak. If you wish to continue to stumbling about blindly then I suggest you join the Jedi Order, they seem to accept all kinds of fools.”

His guard dropped further as he continued onward, talking to both of the upstarts, “Both of you are weaklings in an Order built upon strength. You fail to see beyond the innermost part of your being and your threats do not inspire fear. You want to be significant and you want to have power? To do that you must continuously challenge yourselves; I provide the opportunity to learn and to challenge, so that you might prove your strength. The sooner you see that and the sooner you understand the heights to which this Order and its members will go, then the more powerful you will become. If you can not open your eyes then you are not worth my time.”

He stopped speaking for a moment. He needed to let his words sink in before he placed down his ultimatum. “So now you both have three options, you can leave this planet and this Order, turn your backs on power and control whilst you linger in a realm of continued idiocy and ignorance, you can fight me here and die, becoming nothing more than a footnote in the history of the galaxy, or you can open your eyes and see the truth, accept that this is a place for your abilities to grow, where you can test yourselves upon the battlefields that are to come. You can both attain power here, if you are truly prepared to.” He had finished his little speech now. If they were too blind to see the opportunity before them and the potential that surrounded the Order then Iniquitous would be glad to see them leave, or better yet, to see them dead. Death always served as the best example to others. It would be interesting to see what decision they made.

[Cain]

Jack stood watching with tired eyes as one by one more Sith congregated into the hall. These Sith were like hyenas, smelling fresh blood on the air and curiously circling the kill, chattering loudly to each other as they do so. Jack had been taught much of the Sith by his former master, but seeing them in the flesh brought a reality to Lynn's teachings that no dusty temple or ancient holocron could. The story of their dark histories were written on each of their faces. In the case of Iniquitous his face... his story was hidden. Iniquitous' identity was shrouded from Jack behind a cloak of steel and dark side energy. Something shielded the Dark Overlord's mind and made it impossible for Jack to get any kind of feel for him. Had he not so loudly announced his presence Jack probably still would have no idea who he was.

The woman that entered next seemed young at first glance, but upon closer inspection her features spoke of many long painful years.

"Making demands for power exclaims one as a child. You want power? Real power? To hold sway over the lives of others; whether they continue to live and breath or die, grow stronger or suffer in weakened agony... to hold the very heart of their existence in the palm of your hand... that is power. The very structure of this place -- this Order is for that very purpose. Will you claim strength and power over your fellow contemporaries -- your rivals -- or be their victim for their claims for power?"

Jack took a last long drag on his cigarette as he listened patiently. Though his expression seemed uninterested Jack took in every word to analyze its possible intent. 'Real power' she says? "Hmph... claim power over my fellow contemporaries you say? Lest I become their victims?" Jack couldn't hold back the hint of a smile. He wondered if this Sith Lady truly understood the situation. Or perhaps that little speech was simply a reflex in response to the overflow of nameless Initiates who came through these halls only seeking power for power's sake. It was understandable however, clumsy as Jack's method of drawing attention to himself had seemed, "No disrespect, my lady, but is that information supposed to be new? You are right about one thing; the call of Korriban is the call of the dead. Much death festers here. I dare say it follows each and every one of us who walk within this temple and it casts long shadows of pain and hatred within the Force. I myself have certainly left a path of death in my wake... some perhaps deserving it more then others..."[/color] Jack was able to contain his emotions as his thoughts began to drift back to his victims. Not the least of which being his father who had sold him and his mother into slavery to pay off gambling debts, "Honestly it is difficult to tell whether you are scolding me or praising me. I've taken many lives in order to obtain greater knowledge... and I've taken the lives of my peers, just now, in order to gain higher notice. Is this not the same kind of strength you speak of?"[/color]

“And you, if this planet is swarming with imbeciles then you must be the greatest of them all. You would rather die by my hands than live as a weakling? Your words are pathetic; perhaps it would be a display of great mercy for me to kill you now. You look with your eyes and you do not see beyond the most basic of things. You hear the code and recite it but you fail to grasp the words you are saying. This is an Order that strives for power and knowledge, to destroy the Jedi and the Republic. Together we are a strength to be feared, but that means nothing if individually we are weak. If you wish to continue to stumbling about blindly then I suggest you join the Jedi Order, they seem to accept all kinds of fools."

Iniquitous was certainly not one to pull any punches. Jack listened to the rant, offering a raise of his eyebrow in response. 'You do not see beyond the most basic of things'!?! How insulting! Jack had liked to consider himself a man of thought and philosophy. To accuse him of being obtuse in such a manner... it simply would not do. Jack thought he could say the same of the Dark Overlord who clearly had already made up his mind about what Jack was and what he had intended to do. However, it would not be wise at this point for Jack to push his luck any further.

“So now you both have three options, you can leave this planet and this Order, turn your backs on power and control whilst you linger in a realm of continued idiocy and ignorance, you can fight me here and die, becoming nothing more than a footnote in the history of the galaxy, or you can open your eyes and see the truth, accept that this is a place for your abilities to grow, where you can test yourselves upon the battlefields that are to come. You can both attain power here, if you are truly prepared to.”

Jack nodded slowly as he listened to Iniquitous, maintaining his composure. He gave a final glance to the used up butt of his cigarette between his index fingers before flicking it to the the ground and crushing it beneath his boot, "If I may, my Lord," Jack began, his tired brown eyes flashing back up towards Iniquitous, "there is undeniable truth in what you say, I am certain. But I have been taught that to be a Sith is to seize power when the opportunity is given and to cast aside weakness. To remain here as I am squabbling with other students over scraps... it is senseless when the opportunity for the strength you speak of lays before me. I came to Korriban for it, and continuing to wander the planet in obscurity as I have been gets me no where. Make no mistake, crude as my methods may have been, my intention from the very beginning was to attract the notice of those who actually possessed the knowledge I sought. And in that, I believe I was successful."

Jack then knelt down onto one knee. He lowered his head to Iniquitous but kept his eyes aimed upward at the Dark Overlord, "You say you provide the opportunity to prove my strength. Permit me to show you that I am worthy of what I ask for."

[Rugs]

Nieraan had known this would happen when Jack started ripping down that pillar. Or if not this exact situation, something like it. It was the only logical conclusion--kick the anthill, and they would swarm around the breach to deal with the offender.

And now the Sith swarmed.

Already there had been other Initiates that gathered, even before Iniquitous' arrival. But then came the Overlord. Well, that had been bad enough in and of itself, but Iniquitous was not the only high-ranking Sith to come to the scene.

Nieraan's head turned at the approaching presence of another powerful user of the Dark Side.

"Then lay claim to it... Understand... All of you. The call of Korriban is the call of the dead. It is the very stilled heart of the core body in which we take on. To walk the path of the dark side is to walk a path of death. It demands sacrifice. You are either strong enough to sacrifice others to the darkness to forward your power within it... or you will be one of the sacrificed..."

She revealed herself as she spoke, sliding out of the shadows with the smooth grace of some creature born from them. Nieraan's glance shifted from her back to the lightsaber that Iniquitous held and then back to her. Her face was young, but her voice and presence both had a weight to them--a weight that spoke of years; more years that Nieraan had lived. The edge of his lips twisted in a scowl at her last line. I won't be a sacrifice for anyone, he thought darkly as she continued to speak, but neither will I be a peon.

He heard her words, her talk of power, but his mind was elsewhere. Any other time, Nieraan might have been intrigued by her words, but now his mind was too clouded by emotion, too clouded by his anger at Iniquitous for taking his lightsaber away from him for the Firrerreo to pay any real attention. But still, some part of his mind took them and stored them away, saving them for some possible reflecting upon later on.

Then another one came. His presence was different than that of the woman, but it was a powerful one, just as hers was. But where hers seemed to be more... contained, his was boisterous; it was loud and bold, much like the man it was attached to. Nieraan only snorted softly, They sure do like flocking here.

The man revealed himself then. Nieraan vaguely recognized him--enough to know that he was one of the Lords or whatever they were called, but the man's name escaped him. The words he spoke did not.

"He stole your lightsaber? Boy, he has every right to take your life if he wished, and none would act to save you!"

Nieraan's grip on the lightsaber that still rested easily in his hand tightened and he growled audibly as the man continued to go on. He knew mouthing off to yet another Sith that stood higher than him wasn't the brightest idea, but he'd never been one to hold his tongue. If trouble came from it, then so be it, but Nieraan wouldn't be cowed, no matter how many of these Lords and Ladies reared their heads.

"Yes, well then," he started, turning to meet the man's glasses-covered gaze flatly, "if I can be killed for doing nothing, then I can see this Order going places." He snorted roughly and shook his head, before returning his gaze back to the man's glasses. "Yes, kill the ones you expect to fight a war for you for no good reason. After all, I felled no pillar, and I've harmed no one, save that fool who came in blindly swinging his lightsaber at me." Nieraan made a gesture with his head toward the younger Initiate that was still on the floor, where he'd been thrown to a few minutes earlier. "And he still lives. So answer me this: outside of rank, what right does he have to kill me? I've done nothing wrong. Or is retaliating against an attacker too much for a group like this? I'd certainly hope not, given the nature of those that walk these halls... "

Nieraan thought to say more, but he stopped at the sound of Iniquitous' voice. His eyes returned to the Overlord, and he listened.

“You have anger. I can feel it pump through your muscles with the blood and adrenaline, it gives you strength through the Force. But you are weak. The only reason I currently possess your lightsaber is because you were simply too weak to hold on to it. And even now, with your power surging through you, you are not strong enough.”

Fury swelled within Nieraan and he scowled as he struggled to keep himself from doing something he knew he would regret. His free hand curled into a fist as Iniquitous began to walk towards him and Jack, and his lightsaber quivered gently from the tightness of his grip. Were those words from any other man, Nieraan might have attacked, but Iniquitous was the Overlord. If Nieraan attacked him, he knew that the chances of learning anything from the Sith would be extraordinarily low, if he even survived. But he did not take well to insults such as those.

He held his tongue for the moment though, long enough for Iniquitous to make his ultimatum to them. Jack answered first and actually knelt down before the man. Nieraan snorted again. And here I thought he had a spine.

Nieraan was silent for a few moments as he contemplated his options. He didn't like it, but if he wanted to continue to grow and become more powerful, he'd have to submit, in some fashion. All of this because I came back to the Temple at the wrong time.

He sighed irritably and shifted his weight from one leg to the other, though the dark blue blade of his lightsaber remained alive. "I've half a mind to 'prove my strength' to you now, Iniquitous, but that wouldn't get me anywhere, would it? Fine. I will follow you. I will fight for you, when needed, but know this: I will not bow and scrape to you, nor will I kneel to you. My reasons for being here are for my own advancement, not for your war with Jedi and the Republic. If I must fight the Jedi and the Republic to advance myself, then so be it, but I am not some slave to be driven about like a cow."

He sighed then and rolled his neck, popping it and looked back at his lightsaber before returning his eyes to Iniquitous' mask. "And you still have my lightsaber. I'm not going to ask for it again."

[Apillis]

"Hmph... claim power over my fellow contemporaries you say? Lest I become their victims? No disrespect, my lady, but is that information supposed to be new?"

Crimson hues held a very unimpressed gaze behind her veil under the hood of her black mantle in reaction.

"You are right about one thing; the call of Korriban is the call of the dead. Much death festers here. I dare say it follows each and every one of us who walk within this temple and it casts long shadows of pain and hatred within the Force. I myself have certainly left a path of death in my wake... some perhaps deserving it more then others..."

Though the dark side itself seemed to drip in every word she uttered as if they held their own presence, her tone held more that of a matron who earnestly was attempting to teach a thick-headed student, her natural soft feminine voice speaking normally lacking any pitch or hint of condescension, "To be candid, I believe it is something new to you. You are echoing my words... as many often do, and just like them, what you have proclaimed and how you have acted thus far... you have shown you never have learned the lesson. Since when does death and sacrifice of oneself or of another... have to be of the material alone? An example of a singular aspect of the lesson: Sacrificing oneself for something greater, greater than they once were... much like the hssiss when shedding its skin as it grows into a stronger predator. The shedding of skin -- the past -- it is a death for a renewal, a symbol of rebirth into something more. But in order for there to be rebirth, there must be a death. The shedding of skin, the casting off the past, the breaking of the chains that bind you... these are deaths for something more. Deaths of the material or metaphysical or both, and that is not just regulated to yourself. This is but one aspect of what it means to join the Sith, casting off the shackles of your past -- of what you were -- to become something greater. To reiterate. Now, your part lay within proving you have the strength to do it... and survive it. The structure of the Sith Order is the proving ground and enabler to make it happen for the strong."

"Your words are falling upon deaf ears. I doubt they will pay much heed to those that they foolishly believe are 'tools'. This lesson is one that they must learn from me and me alone..."

Her eyes turned back to Iniquitous, his first two sentences within his statement she could not help but smile at feeling much the same. Acalya chose to fall silent in that moment and merely observe, and watch how Iniquitous himself deals with Initiates. In truth it was not any sense of Iniquitous' authority or sense of great power that made her quiet, but one singular reason: he possesses knowledge she does not. Outside of this, she has little use for him, and little other reason to follow him outside his needing to remain to keep the Sith Order to uphold at least a modicum of stability.

She held no real reaction to anything Iniquitous was saying, despite she agreed with it. It was all an observation not for learning, all of what Iniquitous spoke to the two Initiates, she already well understood and for the most part adhered to herself. This was an observation on his usage of his sway within the Order, and just how far and how well it was regarded among even the most lowly of the Order. This was an observation about positioning more than anything else. After all, a predator first seeks to understand full well the strengths and weaknesses of the other predators when treading the same area.

It was after hearing Neiraan speak his disposition, she could not help but smile a dash. He was like the other one, Jack... both so full of pride. Pride can be a great strength or ones great downfall, and it appeared it was the latter that was approaching rapidly for either of the two if they kept this up...

[Squee]

Tesa was amused and irritated at the same time. Her mood was a contradiction, which didn’t surprise her. She couldn’t escape moments of bipolarity, though she loathed them so when she recognized they existed within her. It was always later, and never during her experiences, that she noticed the two, co-existing opposites. So, it did not matter now what she felt, so long as she felt and felt strongly, because they supported her opinions.

First off, Shard. Cocky, creepy blind guy who thought he was cool attempting to sneak up on her. Unfortunately for the man, she’d heard the light scuffle of his shoe, and gave no response to his whispering muses. She considered them long enough to conclude he was a hypocrite. Isn’t this what you’re doing, Shard? Meditating beneath rocks? Leeching from others? You think you’re such a big shot. And as he spoke, Tesa quirked a single eyebrow, pressing her lips harshly to fingers to repress a snicker. He was a hypocrite! Do you think that repeating what she said in different words makes you grander? Wiser? That the congregation will adhere to your words better? What do you hope to gleam from this encounter? Step down and shut up.

She was also irritated because these people wouldn’t shut up and let Iniquitous fulfill his duty. By interrupting the confrontation, they demeaned him in front of the other initiates and lords and ladies. If Iniquitous kept quiet, so many would misunderstand the situation and reconsider Iniquitous’ strength despite his impressive display and control of his power. She was willing the Overlord to speak so strongly she was frustrated.

The speaking continued, and Tesa wanted to draw her nails on the stone wall, make screeching noises hard to bear and difficult to think with such an ugly sound. She wanted to snarl at them all, but she refused to succumb and become the object of her very aggravation! So, she stayed put, bleeding out her darker emotions like a slow oozing honey.

But then, the whole situation became an amusement to Tesa, whose face curled with such awful humor. He’d finally told the Sith Masters to keep their mouths shut. Intently she focused on Iniquitous’ accusations and observations of the two crazy initiates, wondering just when heads would roll. Unfortunately, three choices were offered before the upstarts. Tesa huffed. Idiots didn’t get to make choices. They were incapable of doing so. Or if they did make a choice, it was usually groveling. These fools had been tearing down the temple! The support was weakened, and this was the home of many initiates and masters that actually deserved to dwell here.

Idiots always made interesting choices, however, and the groveling ones were always the best. Tesa didn’t necessarily expect a grovel out of the smoking man… but… oh this was good. A grin sneaked over her lips as the smoking man told Iniquitous what he expected the Sith to be by what he’d learned. Who gave him the rights? Conform, you fool! That is the proper way! You must only conform here, because adults set the rules in the household. To which came the man bowing before Iniquitous. The easiest way out.

The second man proved to be different. Unlike the smoking man, he forthrightly refused to kneel. He spoke his piece and Tesa felt her opinion change. Maybe he wasn’t so bad. He was angry, but his lightsaber had some kind of importance to him. It was his. She knew what he was thinking. Whatever it symbolized, he was willing to fight for his possession back, and so he stood by his importance. Tesa frowned. Yet, however important, opposing the Overlord was not the best decisions. Maybe if he turned off his other lightsaber…

Well… crud. I really hope you don’t die. She thought back to Shard’s words. …He has every right to take your life if he wished, and none would act to save you! Tesa wasn’t so sure about that. She shifted until she was crouching on the balls of her feet. She couldn’t think of a strong enough justification for lifting her chin to Iniquitous, neither could she support her reasoning to the blue haired man. She didn’t have a foothold in any of the temple’s diplomacies or opinions since Tesa almost never interfered with the temple’s affairs. She swallowed. No, she’d stay put, where her solace in the underneath would keep her in its embrace.

[Karl the Unfettered]

If the matter hadn't been so deadly serious, Shard would have laughed. They certainly see the funny side now, methinks, he said to himself. Behind him the younger girl seethed with impatience and frustration, no doubt due to him sneaking up on her. Let her seethe; it would help her focus and attain strength, or it would help her die. Either outcome could be turned into a benefit for the order at large.

Ahh, but this Nieraan fellow... he was endlessly amusing. All but threatening Iniquitous in the middle of the halls he had all but called into existence, given meaning and purpose to. He was very brave, possibly suicidal; the Miraluka didn't for a second believe he truly intended to submit entirely, not by a long shot. He felt there was nothing else to be said, but if things ended on a note such as this, that wouldn't do at all! They had to see the funny side, at least before one of the Lords or masters tired of them and cut their heads off.

But before he could think of anything witty to say, something else attracted his attention. Someone approached, and it was someone Shard despised having to deal with face-to-face. "I apologize but I must be going," the Miraluka said hastily. "You two, learn some manners or find your throats slit in the night." He bowed, turned and brushed past Tesa again, going back to what he was doing before.

((OOC: Apologies to everyone, but I wasn't doing any good here and this thread has lost its appeal for me. Leaving is always awkward, and this is the most graceful I could come up with. Again, my apologies.))