[Ask] Perusing in the Archives

[Alexander Roth]

@Trucu

Ahh the Korriban Academy, iconic fortress temple of the Sith where prospective Acolytes vie for the power and knowledge to crush their competition, or at least the stereotypes do. Like some of the more progressive, or stable, Acolytes Alexander doesn’t concern himself too much with the arts of underhanded tactics and backstabbing methodology that some of his fellow Acolytes do, just enough to defend himself from those particular “students”. To him the Academy is a place of learning not a battleground, even if its courses do generally translate to one. Learning how to kill one of your fellow Acolytes isn’t the same as willingly weakening the Empire by doing so out of selfish reasons.

Alexander shook his head slightly as the voices of two rather aggressive Acolytes escalated across the room, though their argument was short lived as they were quickly “escorted” from the Archives to avoid whatever damage the two could potentially cause to that which was far more valuable than someone's pride or honor, knowledge. Slowly pacing back and forth on his temporarily “claimed” spot Alexander found himself reading over a datapad guide to translating the ancient Sith language, brushing up on the mediocre knowledge of it he already had. Alex figured that if any language was going to come in handy while learning to be a better Sith it’d be their own.

Contrary to many of the other individuals within the Archives, whom were mostly garbed in dark robes or fancy “intimidating” apparel, Alexander was probably the most “normal” dressed individual in the room. He was wearing a basic grey military “grunts” short sleeve casual/training uniform, cut from thicker more wear-resistant cloth. The back of the shirt depicted the red hexagonal emblem of the Sith overlaying the black circular one that belonged to the Imperial Armed Forces, displaying his dual loyalties for those that would actually understand them. A holstered ‘Canine’ blaster pistol lie at his left hip, opposite of a matte black “handle” that was his lightsaber on his right, and a small rectangular case designed to carry around two small metallic spheres.

Alexander’s casual pacing was out of habit, accompanied by his constant glances around the room from the datapad in his right hand. One can never be too cautious no? While reading Alexander also held his left hand somewhat close to himself, with his palm facing up, and constantly rolled his fingers. If someone were to get a little closer to him they would probably notice two small metallic spheres in his palm that he was rotating seemingly randomly in a clockwise and counterclockwise motion, though to direction was actually being swapped with every paragraph he read.

 

[Trucu]

Trucu Taylor entered the library as two Acolytes were being escorted out. He’d come here in search of something a bit more peaceful, perhaps there was nowhere on this planet for a guy like him. A few years on an ISD had made him more of an Imperial man, and so far the Sith had done nothing to win over his loyalties. The majority of people here seemed on the brink of insanity. He wasn’t sure if they were insane, or if this place had turned them insane. Either way, his training had been stunted by the simple fact that he was too busy watching his back to learn much. So, he’d come here. To the library, typically a place of peace. A place he could come, sit and learn without having to worry about who was progressing fastest, who was strongest, who was smartest.

As he scanned the library wondering where to get started; he saw a man who, like him, stood out. Not only was he not clad in the typical robes, but he had a blaster strapped to his hip. Trucu decided to take a shot and hope that his man wouldn’t be insane. If he was, Trucu wasn’t sure he could take much more of this place. Trucu himself was clad in the typical Naval blues, black boots, and blue cap. He wasn’t armed and in fact hadn’t carried a weapon since leaving his naval assignment.

Trucu approached the man and noticed that he was rotating something in his hands. Intrigued, Trucu questioned him, “What you got there?”

 

[Alexander Roth]

Just as the two argumentative Acolytes were escorted from the room a third one entered, though this one caught Alexander's curiosity. He was unarmed and dressed in the traditional Imperial Navy blues, that was unmistakeable. Well, unmistakeable for a man with multiple family members in the Navy including both of his parents. Alexander only glanced at the man a few times from behind his datapad, he didn't want to make it seem like he was watching him afterall. The man appeared to be scanning the Archives for something in particular, or perhaps a place to start. If a member of the Imperial Navy was here he was very like to be in the same boat as Alexander, and since he hadn't seen any other IAF Sith around Alex could only guess he was relatively new to the scene. It was a refreshing sight to be honest, the Sith needed more level headed Acolytes and Alexander hoped this man was one.

Returning his attention to his datapad Alexander continued to read over his guide to translating Sith writing, though he did manage to catch a glimpse of him walking in his direction out of the corner of his eye. "What you got there?" The man questioned Alexander in what seemed like a genuinely curious tone. "Hmm?" Alexander looked up from his datapad to see the Navy Acolyte casting glances down at his left hand, where Alexander was currently rotating his meditation balls. "Oh, these..." Alexander opened his hand wide to give his fellow Acolyte a better view of the two small metallic spheres, which were made from basic durasteel. "... I'm not sure what they're technically called but I think meditation ball is a good enough name for them. They give me something to do with my free hand and help with the dexterity of my fingers in the process." Alex replied in a relaxed tone, rotating the balls in his hand back and forth a few times to demonstrate how one uses them.

As he demonstrated his meditation balls Alexander glanced over the Acolyte that questioned him, setting the datapad he was reading down on a shelf to his right in the process. He looked to be only a few years younger than Alex was, perhaps roughly the same age that he was when he was recruited, and certainly didn't seem to have the ever so common aura of aggression that many of the other Acolytes did. "You're from the Navy aren't you? I came from the Army myself. Name's Alexander, but you can call me Alex if you like." Alex spoke in a somewhat more friendly tone, offering his now free right hand for the Navy Acolyte to shake if he so chose to. If he declined it wouldn't hurt Alexander's feeling though, this place wasn't exactly known for hospitality so it would be reasonable for his fellow Acolyte to be wary.

 

[Trucu]

Trucu listened as the man responded. “Oh, these…”

He opened his hand and Trucu observed small metallic balls made of what looked like durasteel. Not mini-thermal detonators, so they were off to a good start. As the man explained their purpose, Trucu observed intently. He’d heard of them before and knew many men and women of a more learned status than Trucu typically used these types of learning techniques. Trucu gave the man a small nod of approval and admiration.

“You’re in the Navy aren’t you? I came from the Army myself. Name’s Alexander, but you can call me Alex if you like.” Alex said in a friendly voice, he stuck out his right hand and Trucu accepted it. In the back of his mind he wondered how many of the other acolytes were watching them from afar and plotting against a perceived ‘alliance’.

“Naval Crewman Trucu Taylor. Technically I’m still active duty and on leave for ‘training’. I got a couple weeks before I head back for a rotation on one of the new ISD’s. I’ll probably be cleaning johns and mopping up grease like most of last year.” Trucu shook his head in disgust but smiled at the self-deprecation.

“What about you? Still in the Army? Seen any action?”

 

[Alexander Roth]

"Naval Crewman Trucu Taylor. Technically I'm still active duty and on leave for 'training'. I got a couple weeks before I head back for a rotation on one of the new ISD's. I'll probably be cleaning johns and mopping up grease like most of last year." Alexander smiled slightly and chuckled inwardly a little at Trucu's mention of cleaning toilets and mopping up messes, the start of many a Crewman's career, or so his parents would have him believe. Nonetheless it was refreshing to meet what appeared to be a relatively normal man like himself in a place like this. While Trucu gave his reply Alex glanced around the room out of habit. Some might call him paranoid or "jumpy" but his 'habits' were perfectly reasonable when you spend most of your time living between the various Sith Academies for years. "What about you? Still in the Army? Seen any action?" Trucu's questions brought Alex's attention back to the man in front of him.

"Well, I can't say I've seen much action as I was recruited fresh out of the Stormtrooper Academy. I'm still technically on duty as a Private though. My superiors consider my Sith training to take precedence over sending me out on ops. They generally leave me to my training as long as I check in regularly, keep up to date on protocol, and prove I'm not getting sloppy when it comes to the skills I learned as a Stormtrooper." Alexander replied in a casual tone, purposefully leaving out some details as per another habit of his. Namely how long ago that was and that his father was the primary reason that he was left to train without much disturbance. "Of course there's the occasional request for assistance, but nothing all that exciting. Unless you consider being added security for an unnecessarily paranoid officer or dignitary exciting. How about you? Seen any excitement as a Crewman?"