Capturing Primes I

[Omnis]

---

​

The Rector of the Sith did not advertise his intentions. Such a thing was beneath him. Students could either sign up for a session with him or forgo training with him at all. It was that simple. Details weren't important.

Thus, no one knew what they were doing when they boarded the large ship that Xic had requisitioned for the mission. The ship had multiple decks, several storage and loading bays, and was crewed by more than a hundred Imperials. The students learned from the crew that the flight would not be a short one. They were going to Felucia.

Rector Xic was nowhere to be found during the time it took to fly to their destination. The Sith Lord's signature in the Force was completely absent, so it was understandable if they began to question whether or not he was even on board. Learning from him would be difficult if he wasn't there. Unless he could project his presence across the galaxy. If such a thing was even possible. Or, possibly, transmit to a holoprojector. But such a thing would have been cheap, unbecoming of the Sith Imperium's Rector.

Once the ship left hyperspace, one of the Imperial Stormtroopers on board told them to meet in the hangar bay on the lowest deck. They found their instructor there waiting for them, mysteriously present in person and in the flesh without any explanation. His absence went unsolved. The mask he wore was a twisted horror, crafted with singular dedication of multiple decades. With his ability to cast illusions, it was still a question whether or not the mask was even real.

The hangar bay's lights were bright, pointed down to the bottom floor of the bay where a shuttle was waiting for them. Xic stood just in front of the shuttle, clearly illuminated in blue tones. His tattered cloak, large and hanging loosely off of his frame, was a faded grey that remained motionless in the neutral atmosphere of the shuttle bay. The Rector turned his head to follow the students as they made their way down the metal grate stairs towards the bottom floor where he stood. Every metal pang that their footsteps made seemed to cause his terrible mask to warp slightly, as if reacting in agony to each echo. However, the mask seemed independent of Xic himself, whose posture remained without tensity as they descended the stairs.

"Welcome, students." Xic greeted them. His voice was like that of a large beast trying to speak like a humanoid, straining too hard to remain low in volume and form organized sounds with normally unrestrained vocal chords. It gurgled and scratched, grating. "The ship is about bring us within shuttle range of Felucia. If you are not prepared, or you are missing some vital equipment, it is already too late to turn back."

Xic turned without another word and strode to the back of the shuttle, where the loading ramp was already down. His footsteps made no sound on the metal floor, nor did his feet kick the base of his cloak away at all. Everything remained still, as though he were simply floating to his destination. Once on board, Xic wasted no time in sitting near the front of the shuttle and faced the students.

"It is my promise that before the end of the day, those of you that survive will learn more of the Force and being Sith. Our objective on Felucia is the capture of multiple species. It does not matter if the species are native or of foreign origin. The only thing that matters is that whatever you capture, it needs to be the prime specimen of its species. Naturally, I do not expect you to scout the entire planet in search of the apex specimen. However, whatever ecosystem it exists in, regionally, I want the alpha or prime specimen. It needs to stand out from the rest.

In all likelihood, you will be able to identify alpha predators more easily than prime specimens of more peaceful species. They are of equal value to me, though, so do not think that you need to capture dangerous predators exclusively. You are each to bring back at least one prime specimen of any species. Duplicates cannot occur, as there can only be one prime in any case. Those of you that bring back the same species will have to compare your examples.

Failure to accomplish this task will result in disciplinary education. Success will be rewarded.

Before this ship stops and we roll this shuttle out, are there any questions?"

 

[Mr. Mischief]

Everyonce one in a while, an opportunity presents itself that is impossible to pass up. And that is exactly why the Massassi found himself on this ship. Having expressed interest in seeking training with Darth Xic, the Rector of the Sith, and much to his surprise had been selected to attend todays festivities. Which remained a mystery to this point. Sitting in one of the chairs within the recreation room, Savan sat in silence with his elbows upon his knees and his head dropped in contemplation. Something that he'd found himself doing a lot lately, quiet reflection upon life as a whole. It wasn't until he'd been asked to make his way to the hanger that his posture changed. As he stood a stretch escaped him unwillingly, before falling into stride towards his destination. Upon arrival, Savan lowered the hood of his cloak exposing his proud Pureblood features to the Sith Master that had seemingly materialized out of thin air. His force signature haven't not been present on the ship up until this point, or at least it hadn't been detected by the Massassi warrior. The sleeveless robes that the Acolyte wore highlighted the strength and power that he possessed, as evidenced by the bulging muscles that covered the Pureblood's frame. His elegantly crafted lightsaber was nestled into the holster positioned on his left hip that was lashed to the sash around his waist. As he made his way down the grated staircase, Savan caught sight of the fabled Sith whom had summoned him and the others. Appearing as nothing more than a silhouette encased in blue luminescence to the Acolyte warrior. After a brief and subtle welcoming, once the others had arrived, Xic informed them of their destination and mission. The realization of just what he'd gotten himself into began to dawn upon him and the face-splitting grin that spread across his face was a display of the excitement that he felt. He started to think about all of the various life-forms that resided upon Felucia and what particular one that would be his focus. Though, in the end no decision was made and it was decided that he would simply wing it and hope for the best. The sheer excitement that he felt for simply getting off of Ziost and exploring the wilds of Felucia was threatening to bubble over. He was quite eager to get things underway... yet, a question did come to mind and so, he voiced it. "Do you want us to bring the specimens back alive or dead?" Savan said with a tone that was laced with the excitement that consumed him.

 

[Vexillar]

This was it.

Viole Nivar had his first real test. He didn't know anything about this mission, he didn't need to know anything about it. All things would come in time, but Xic had a reputation. He was a damn good teacher. His abilities were great, and if you survived his lessons then you too could be great. Viole ran the risk of getting seriously injured during this assignment, but it was worth it. Nothing great was earned without some battle wounds. Viole didn't know what Xic would request of the Acolytes, but whatever it was he knew that it would be a task to really push their limits. Viole sat in his room waiting for the time to leave to get to the ship. He rolled his lightsaber over in his hand a few times as he thought about what he was doing. The Force has directed him to sign up for the mission, the Force allowed him to be selected, he had to trust that the Force would see him returned to this room alive and well...and in one piece. Whatever this mission was, he was sure to discover a lot about himself. He was sure to realize a lot of his own shortcomings, and a lot of strengths he didn't know he had. He was sure to discover exactly what he was made out of. This mission would prove to show Viole more about him than any amount of training could. This would be important for building his future. It would reveal to him his weaknesses. He had to trust that the Force would guide him...

He needed to.

He stood up and clipped his saber to his belt. It was time to go. He made his way to the ship and boarded it along with the others who would be taking on this mission. He knew none of these other people, and he supposed it was fine that way. He didn't need to know of them. He didn't really even want to know them. He was here to learn, not to socialize. There was, however, a certain allure to getting to know these people. He looked around at them all. Each one displayed an aura unique to themselves, just as most people did. He studied these auras, but ultimately decided not to discuss things with any of them. Instead he was more concerned with the fact that the ship had taken off and yet it seemed that the Sith wasn't there. He flexed his Force Sense ability, but could locate no one else on board. Of course not. He began to wonder if he was being taken away by Nox. Hiding like this was certainly something that the Crusader was known for. Though, maybe Nox learned from this particular Sith. All the same, if Viole couldn't sense him then it was possible that the others couldn't either. Viole, however, had the advantage of Sight. So he did just that. He walked around the ship looking around for the man, but found no trace of him. Now he was genuinely confused about what was going on. Was he even dealing with an actual person? The young Sith decided to just go to the medbay and chat it out with one of the droids there. It was then, however, that he was instructed to meet the mystery man at the hanger bay. The Acolyte excused himself from the droid's presence and met with the elder Sith.

He listened to the words of Xic as he spoke. It was indeed too late to turn around. Viole had everything he needed, however, and so he just remained silent. He boarded the shuttle with Xic and the others and looked around at everyone else. He found their reactions to his words rather interesting. Reading their emotions as if it were being presented to him off of the page of a book. He understood the purpose of the mission. It was pretty clear. Go out, find the best type of your particular species, bring it back. Viole began to think about the various species available to him. The planet had a lot of options for them all to choose from. He wasn't totally sold on which creature he would attempt to go after. The Massassi asked a fair question. Dead or alive? That would indeed make a difference to how much force was used on his specimen. After Xic answered the question, Viole would ask his own. "What is the time limit on the mission?"

 

[Logan]

There should have been a feeling of ravenous excitement churning in his belly, or a sense of overwhelming nervousness making his hands shake and his heart thump. Those would have been normal responses for someone who was about to undertake such a pivotal opportunity in their lives the way Eligos was. But Eligos had none of those usual feelings. A halo of confidence hung around his head, giving Eligos an air conceitedness with a hint of venom. He, and regrettably a few others, had been chosen by the Sith Rector himself for a training mission under his tutelage. It was the opportunity of a life time, a real chance to gain an invaluable lesson and potentially priceless acquaintance. Eligos was fully prepared to give everything he had to achieve whatever goal the Rector had for the group. He only hoped the others had the same view.

Eligos had little words for his compatriots on the mission. One, the pureblood Savan he knew, the other two Eligos had never met. Savan had proved himself to be an intelligent and capable Sith even in the short time Eligos had known him, so his participation in the mission was fine by him. The others, whether they knew it or not, would have to prove themselves before Eligos would even bother to remember their names. Even if this was to be a group training mission, Eligos had no problem ignoring the weak in favor of those who would help achieve the Rector's goal.

Descending the ramp of the shuttle, Eligos' lightsaber hung loosely on his belt. Standing with his fellow acolytes, Eligos listened to the Rector speak. As the words echoed inside of his mind, Eligos already began to formulate a plan to retrieve the best Felucian specimen. The Rancor would be the obvious choice, but trying to solo an apex predator like that would most likely be a death wish. Not to mention the fact that the Rector wanted an alpha specimen. Still, if Eligos could manage to down one of the foul beasts he would surely secure a win in this little contest. Keeping his mind from wondering too far, Eligos waited patiently for the Rector's answer to his fellow acolyte's questions.

 

[Bleed Me A River]

After many months of extensive training and missions among the Sith, Grik has shown much improvement on top of his existing abilities, so he decided to challenge himself, applying for a training mission with the Sith Rector, Xic, a Noghri Darth with almost no presence, though everyone within the Sith knew his name. He was a powerful being and without even meeting the man, Grik had great respect for him. His mentor, Nox, whom was essentially his master, though they did not see their relationship as such, told him where to sign up for these training missions. Without missing a beat he applied, and within a few days, he received notice that he was accepted for the first training mission. When he approached the ship, he took all of the gear he could carry, including his blaster rifle, which he left slung across his back. His other weapons were in their usual spots and he wore his Durgolosk hide leggings and tunic. The evidence of his hunting prowess was evident in his attire as he had hunted and skinned the beast himself.


The ride was a silent one, which bored Grik greatly. He spent the majority of the trip eating, as he has two stomachs to fill, and meditating, after having learned from an attendee, that they were heading to Felucia, which was a pleasing thing to hear, since the last time he was here, he was an inexperienced Force User and pirate. They stopped here on the way to a mission to refuel and was nearly overrun by the local Jungle Felucians, resulting in the death of one of his closest friends. If he could find the tribe responsible, he'd exact a swift revenge on those involved. He meditated on the planet itself, the inhabitants, the plant life. After a moment, he ended his meditation to find a droid to see what they knew of the planet.

After a decent conversation, Grik was told to meet the rest in the hangar as they were about to be briefing the Acolytes on their mission. He walked to the appropriate hangar, to find the other Sith and a crew for a shuttle, as well as the shuttle itself. He had luckily been carrying his gear with him, since Xic wasn't allowing anyone to retrieve any gear they had possibly left behind. As he explained that they were hunting a prime specimen, he did a mental flip. This was his niche. He crossed his arms and listened to the Noghri speak. Immediately, the thought of capturing a Rancor raced through Grik's sub-conscience, as he grinned to himself. He'd remain silent as the others asked their questions, which he'd admit were pertinent. Grik would soon decide that he had no questions for the Darth.

 

[Omnis]

The Rector's awful mask turned to regard Savan directly, the warped brows turning down a fraction. Darth Xic's visage almost looked contemplative somehow. More and more, it appeared that his mask was alive.

"Bring back your specimens in whichever way you think I will best be able to use them."

He did not expound on that statement. It was none of their business what he was doing in his labs with various species from across the galaxy. His experiments were secret in nature, and from his perspective the students should have just been glad to aid him in his scientific pursuits. Even if some of those pursuits made horrors like his own mask. As for them, some of the students simply would not be able to bring back their specimens alive. They either didn't have the power to control their target or the target was too dangerous by nature. It was wiser to bring back a dead specimen than to bring back nothing after failing to capture it because it was still alive.

Xic turned his head back to the center of the ship, speaking to all of them again.

"Twenty four hours from your drop. That's how long you have. The ship will land sixteen hours after drop, so those of you that complete the task early will not need to wait so long."

Those that were wise would use the time fully. There would be uses for that time on a mission like this one.

"Flying drones will be tracking your progress. They are silent and covered in a non-reflective material, so as not to give away your positions. However, should you interfere with the recording drones then I will consider your mission as a failure. I expect there to be no complaints or issues with that." The Rector leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees and gauntleted fists supporting his head. As the bladed gauntlets pressed into the mask, it warped in silent agony again. "Are there any further questions? If not, I will begin a lecture to prepare you for your mission."

 

[Vexillar]

Find a species. Bring it back, dead or alive, withing twenty-four hours. Don't die.

Just another day in Mr. Rodger's neighborhood.

The Acolyte ran through a mental list of species that lived in this place. He had his pick. He had a lot of picks, including the ever popular Rancor. Such a beast did not interest him, however. There were better options out there, as far as he was concerned. What Xic wanted the beasts for was unknown to him. He could only imagine the horrors that awaited whatever they brought back. Perhaps, in death, the victim would at least be spared the pain of whatever Xic would possibly do to them. However, wouldn't it be easier to extract data from a live target? Maybe it would be best to just tail one of the other Acolytes and invade their targets? Eliminate competition as well as get his own reward? No. That would cause more problems than it would solve. Not only that, but it would probably manage to get Viole killed in the process. The amount of predators on this planet were good and plenty. Not only that, but the predators on this planet were all rather deadly. Getting between one of them and an Acolyte would just be inviting trouble. On top of that, it's not like it would get him any additional brownie points with Xic. Hell, the Force incarnate could probably come down and tell Xic all of it's secrets, and the man still probably wouldn't be impressed.

All the same...

Viole knew he had a job to do. He had no further questions and so he would just wait for Xic to begin his lecture. Though he found himself wondering what more the man could provide for their mission. He decided it would be best to pay careful attention. Someone like Xic wasn't someone you just barely listened to and hoped for the best. If he was giving further information and details out, then clearly he felt it was important to know. Which meant that it was important to Viole.

 

[Mr. Mischief]

The silence that followed Darth Xic's answers to the questions that the gathered Acolytes had asked, was an uncomfortable one. Anguished and yet, horrifying emotions play across the features of the mask that the Rector wore while he addressed those selected to undertake this mission. They were expected to track, locate, and obtain a creature of any species... as long as they were a prime specimen. Simple enough... Thought Savan as his mind began to calculate what his target he was going to be.​ Looking into himself, the Massassi couldn't find any other questions that he wished to pose and so he stepped backwards a single pace. With his arms folded behind his back, left hand gripping his right wrist. His mind was locked solely on the task of figuring out the subject of his hunt, he'd studied the planet before and knew that it had quite a few natural predators. Of a native or imported variety... The thought of seeking out the legendary Felucian Ripper or perhaps one of the infallible Bull Rancors, while tempting was too plain to him. Such an idea would surely be the line of thinking of the lesser species, like the human and Barabel... predictable and pathetic. This particular mission was a true test of one's self and the motivations that drive them, something that the Pureblood planned on capitalizing on. Shifting his head into the direction of Eligos, Savan knew that if he were going to pull off the plan that he had in mind then he would need the assistance of the Kissai. "When we get on the surface... I have a proposition for you." Savan said in the true Sith language, coming out as complete gibberish to all of those gathered besides Eligos and perhaps Xic.​ He had everything he needed for his plan in a likely partner in Eligos, the fury of the Dark Side guiding him, and his target... The Felucians. All he had to do was make sure that the others didn't follow or catch wind of his strategy, because even though he would take great pleasure in tormenting the worthless excuse of Sith. Such actions would likely result in punishment of some form or fashion, after all they were going to be monitored from the onset of their journey.

** - Italicized dialogue means that it was spoken in the Sith Language.​

 

[Omnis]

"Felucia is full of predators and static dangers, such as natural and sentient-made traps. Your senses will be extremely important for your survival. Even as you track your prey, viewing them with a distant eye from a great distance, keep a close tether on your own surroundings. On this planet, a surprise attack will end poorly for you."

He wasn't one to introduce his topic or break it down for them in neat headliners. Whatever he had to say, he expected them to listen. It was up to them to find the meaning in it all, to draw together how it was all relevant. However, one did not become Rector of the Sith by spouting riddles and babbling nonsense. There was a method to the mask-clad man's lecture.

"Many of the species on Felucia are faster than you, stronger, or both. If you know, you can use the Force to augment your own abilities and even the field. I will not be teaching you how to do that, as it was my assumption when you took this mission that you would have everything you needed to complete it. If you do not, that is not my problem. What I will impart, however, is how to draw more power from the Force for this purpose and strengthen your ability.

Remember that the Force is in all things, moving non-stop but also static. It is ready to heed your call, to move at your beck. While it can be hard to draw this power from other highly animate, thinking beings, it is not hard to draw it away from sedentary things. Felucia will have plenty of those. Search for the Force in new places, not just the ground or the air. Take it from wherever possible, instill it with your purpose, whether that is rage, pride, or whatever you use. I won't tell you exactly what you can and can't pull from. That is for you to figure out. I will not limit you by giving you set expectations, a border on which to halt your mind. Once you have catalyzed that power into energy, don't just use it with your physical body. You have a metaphysical presence in the Force, a place both you and the Dark Side can tap into that is much larger than the pitiful confines of your flawed and limited bodies.

Remember that your environment can help you as well. The entire world is yours to dominate and use, not just the creatures and beings in it. Felucian predators will use their surroundings in clever ways. It is imperative that you do the same. Outwit them, or you will die for that failure."

Xic's mask stretched into what seemed like a yawn before one of the eye sockets twitched so fast that it appeared to be strobing. That lasted for only a second, before the mask settled down again.

"If there are any reasonable questions about Sith principles or controlling the Dark Side, now would be a good time."

 

[Logan]

Savan's words spoken in their native tongue caught Eligos slightly be surprise. Given the natural tendencies of the Sith, when a mission was proposed to be a solo endeavor it usually stayed that way. It appeared though that Savan had a level of intelligence and cunning that betrayed his Massassi heritage. Eligos naturally assumed those were his intentions at least, as he could see little other reason for Savan to wish to speak to him when they finally embarked on Master Xic's animal crusade. While no Master of the art by any means, Eligos attempted to reach out to touch Savan's mind, letting him know he had no intentions of anything heinous and merely wished to communicate without the ears of lesser beings prying into business that wasn't theirs.

"You have my attention." The words, spoken in the native tongue of the Sith, would echo in Savan's mind if he would permit them to. "I'll separate myself from the group shortly after we set off. Find me."

Eligos' facial expression showed no signs of change as he communicated with Savan, and his eyes never wavered from the Rector's ever evolving visage. Eligos wasn't sure the exact purpose of a mask such as the Rector wore, but he could only imagine the level of fear it had instilled in the hearts of anyone who stood in defiance of the great Sith. Absorbing Xic's lesson about drawing the dark side from one's surroundings, Eligos began to formulate his own plan in case what Savan had to offer him didn't pique his interest. Remaing silent, Eligos continued to let the gears of his mind endlessly churn as he patiently awaited the true beginning of the hunt.

 

[Vexillar]

Viole listened to the man as he spoke, though the conversation of the two near him didn't escape his notice. He didn't bother learning to speak or understand the ancient language, though he knew what language they spoke. He merely watched them. He didn't need to understand their language to know what was going on. They were plotting. Why not just come out and say it? One doesn't speak in a dead tongue, in a group of people that were issued a challenge, merely to wish another person good luck. That was just stupid. So naturally he would assume them to be plotting. Though for all he knew, they had just thrown out their entire plan and he missed it. It mattered little to Viole. He had his target, and he kept that information close to him. He buried it under layer after layer of thoughts. Droid schematics, counting the ticks heard on the ship, listing various parts, with prices and usages, for droids. His Thought Shield had been coming along nicely, and he was glad he took the time to learn it before coming on this mission. Plotting and planning was the exact reason this technique was made...or rather it was part of the reason. Even so...

The Acolyte remained silent as the instructor asked for the final round of questioning. He had no questions about the Force, Dark Side or otherwise, and how to utilize it. He understood the words of the man. He was just going to mind his own business, do as he was supposed to do, bring his target back, and call it a day. Be aware of his surroundings, of course. The predators here were at home. They were kings here, and the Acolytes would the usurpers. But ever coup could go astray if one was not careful. He was not going to fall prey to these predators. Such a fate would be terrible. Beneath him in every way. He would be a laughing stock. Failure was not an option...not that it ever was.

 

[Omnis]

The shuttle departed from the ship soundlessly, barely a lurch introducing it into the vacuum of space. It didn't take long for the shuttle to reach atmosphere. As the shuttle slowed down, descending toward the planet's surface in a controlled plummet, Xic rose and moved to the back of the shuttle where the ramp was.

"Something to think about in these final moments before your departure. Force Sensitives that don't know how to levitate their bodies can die from a simple fall, despite being able to leap great distances with an augmented jump. What is it that separates those that die in a fall and those that land from a tall jump? Intent. If you are thrown from a great height, you will likely die. If you throw yourself from a great height, you at least have a chance to recover.

The Force will aid those that have proven their strength. If you are weak enough, foolish enough, to be taken off guard, then the Dark Side will ignore you. However, if you command the situation then the Dark Side will recognize that supreme will."

Xic reached up and pressed his gauntleted hand to a panel on the wall. The ramp behind him lowered slowly, mechanical servos and gears buzzing loudly. Fresh air burst into the shuttle, grabbing at Xic's long cloak and making it flutter rapidly.

"Remember, twenty four hours. Prime specimens only. Don't fall, jump."

The shuttle slowed down some more as it coasted twenty six meters over the top canopy of the Felucian jungle they were to be dropped in. Below the ramp, the canopy was revealed to primarily consist of large, soft fungus caps in shades of purple, green, and blue. The fungal trees growing in the jungle were dominant, far outnumbering any branched wooden trunk trees. The top canopy featured the largest fungus trees, with caps that extended over the forest floor for tens of meters, sometimes a hundred. Their umbrella-like ceilings cast deep shadows below them. Beneath the largest fungal trees, more waited in lazy leaning postures with far thinner stalks to support them.

 

[Bleed Me A River]

The Barabel stopped to watch the two Sith as they spoke in a foreign. Barabels often used their largely unknown language, so he had a hunch that they were plotting. A hunch was all he needed to keep a sharp eye on the two. Remaining silent, he looked forward, periodically, sneaking a peek at Xic's ever-changing mask. He was intrigued by its design. The more he looked at, however, the more convinced of its autonomy he was. He would ponder on it later, for now, he was already psyching himself up for the great hunt. He first, wanted to absorb what the great Sith had to say. As he listened to his words, he pondered on his capacity to levitate. Having not really experimented with levitation of his own body, he was unsure in his ability. Perhaps, he'd dedicate a period to experiment with levitation in a moderately safe area.

He was practically jumping out of the ship as they lowered it to just above the canopy. Immediately, in the far corner, he noticed a tree move, quite violently, even for the living flora on this planet. If he was capable of making his way toward it, he'd start there. If not, then he had chosen his direction after leaving the ship. With that, he leaps out of the ship, and aims for one of the stronger rooted plants for a safe descent. He landed flawlessly on one of the plants and flipped off of the plant to the ground. There, he began to take in his surroundings, all of the scents and visuals, the small insects that buzzed around him, the moss underneath his scaled feet. He could feel the Force on this planet, through the ground more than anywhere else, as if the planet itself was sentient. Seeing some of the fauna and flora of this planet, that was not outside the realm of possibility.

OOC: Sorry, for disappearing.

 

[Vexillar]

Jump, don't fall. Right...

As the ramp came down he looked at the others. He took the words to heart as well. This would be quite the challenge, but he felt that he could manage it just fine. He had to, of course, though for his plan...some damage wouldn't hurt. He just had to be careful about it all. He was about to move when another acolyte stepped forward. Mayhaps he would be the one to lead? It seemed so. Viole looked at the Barabel as he stepped forward to jump. He wondered if Jedi did any such things. Or did they simply land the ship and safely escort everyone off? He was sure that their Masters did things differently from one another. These were thoughts for later, however. He took one more step before jumping off the ramp and removing his cloak in one swift motion. Lowering the ship and opening the ramp was enough of a command for him. His cloak was immediately snatched up by the wind and was taken away to a far off location. This left the Acolyte in his sleeveless tunic, pants, and boots as he rocketed downwards.

The Miraluka relaxed his body as he fell. He didn't have far to go really, but at this speed and height damage was still something to consider. He aimed himself for one of the large fungal caps. Those would be his best bet, rather than trying to aim for the jungle floor. He flipped his body around and readied himself for impact by pulling on the Force. He commanded his surroundings to protect him, to bend to his will, and the universe obeyed his desires. He released a torrent of energy at the cap as he neared it, pushing him back up for a moment and reducing his speed. He began to fall again and rolled into it with his shoulder. The soft cap and his reduced speed helped him to survive the fall. Unfortunately he was not expecting the cap to be as smooth as it was. After his initial roll, he began to slide down on his back. He swore slightly and waited for the moment to push off the cap. He shot himself out to the jungle floor. He rolled into this fall as well, just as he did with the cap. This ground was solid, however, and hit back as he landed. He could feel his shoulder and back complaining about the force of the impact.

He took a moment to stand and looked around. He had to work fast. Surely the others wouldn't be far behind. He began to push himself below the Force, hiding himself from those connected to the primal energy. Once he felt that he was successfully removed from the Force, untraceable through such means, he began to move. He knew what he was looking for, and what he knew of this planet, and his target, told him he wouldn't have to go far before running into them. In fact, he could already feel a small trace of them. They were still far though, and so it would be some time before he would actually see them. He moved quickly. With any luck, he would get there without running into any issues.

However, he felt something calling to him. The Force demanded he break from his course. It called to him like a Siren calls to the sailor, and, like the good sailor he was, he had to answer...

 

[Omnis]

Small drones, no larger than a curled fist, flew from the front of the ship and zipped out over the edge of the ramp. They fell away in trios, growing smaller as they receded toward the ground and decelerated to avoid crashing. Once closer to the jungle floor, the drones sought out the Acolytes who had jumped. They were fast, more so than the students might have imagined, but were almost entirely silent despite their energy output. True to his word, Xic had given them no burden.

Xic, for his part, walked away from the ramp and entered a room in the side of the shuttle. There, a holoprojector deck in the form of a table dominated the center of the room. Without so much as a casual gesture, Xic pulled a chair out and sat down. The chair slid back closer to the table, again without any motion from him. Steepling his metal-clad fingers and leaning forward, he watched as the holoprojector turned on and showed him various feeds. Through this, Xic was able to track their movements and witness their deeds. He would judge them, as was his right by rank, his duty by station, and decide their merit by what he saw. Also through this method, Xic would be able to speak to them in their minds. If necessary. It wasn't something he anticipated doing, but as a master of telepathy he was quite capable of reaching them even while in a moving shuttle.

The pilot of the shuttle knew not to land for another sixteen hours. The craft would hover around the region, in no particular pattern, avoiding sight or suspicion for as long as possible before setting down and giving the students a place to go. His presence in the Force, once unleashed, would be enough to draw each of them to his location so that they could locate the ship. As it stood, Xic almost always kept his signature well buried. It wouldn't do to intimidate every Force sensitive around him so badly that they all ran from him without a second thought. As a horror of the Dark Side, crafted by it as much as he was master over it, his particular aura could give other Force sensitives some uncomfortable feelings.

Settling in to watch, Xic ruminated on their chances. He'd have preferred if they didn't get themselves killed, but with Acolytes it was almost always a very high possibility. New to the ways of the Force as they were, thinking themselves to be new gods, they could get carried away more often than not.

 

[Vexillar]

The First Hour

Viole could feel he was being watched, but that didn't matter. He had things to do. The Force called to him on this planet, it whispered to him. It's seductive call beckoned him to follow it's voice. He was helpless in this. He knew better than to ignore the Force. The Acolyte's feet carried him quickly. He didn't run with the aid of the Force, he needed to conserve his strength. As he ran, however, he began to plot. He knew what he was after, and he knew how to get it. He just needed to figure out how to get to his desired location. Mayhaps this is what the call of the Force was for. To show him the way. He had hidden himself from those who would seek to track him through the Force. He didn't want to take chances here. He had also redoubled his efforts in shielding his mind from wandering probes. He didn't need any nearby Acolytes trying to peer into his thoughts. Assuming any of them would be close enough for such an action. He outlined his plan in his head;

He knew little about Felucia, but what he did know is what he would use to his advantage. There were multitudes of species on the jungle planet. The most interesting of them all were the native, the Felucians. Divided into two culture, the Felucians fell either into those civil beings who were simple farmers, or the Jungle Felucians who were notoriously territorial. The Jungle Felucians, were his mark. They spread all over the planet, and those they were all one species, these creatures had divided up into tribes. Each one covering a piece of land and ruling it. These tribes worked independently, having their own rulers, but they always worked together when needed. The Jungle Felucians were also non-space traveling types, lacking the proper technology to explore space. This would aid Viole. He also knew of their ability for Telepathy. The Force was his area of study, he loved everything about it, and when a species was strong in the Force he made it his business to learn all he could about them. Their ability for Telepathy would allow for him to communicate with them. The only issue would be them communicating with him...if they didn't try and kill him first that is. They were, for all intents and purposes, xenophobic. Creatures who cared little for associating with anyone outside of their species. If they didn't kill you outright, you must have done something to impress them.

The Acolyte jumped into the canopy and began pushing off the branches to accelerate his movement. He knew he would have to work hard to infiltrate the Felucians, and he'd need to work harder still to get one of them to come with him. That's where their xenophobic nature would play into his hands. The Miraluka looked like humans. Those unfamiliar with them, and even the majority of people who knew of his kind, could easily mistake him for a human. After all, how many humans wore masks or fancy visors to hide their eyes? Plenty. Humans were arguably also the most recognizable species. They were almost everywhere. Surely the Felucians would know humans. His Sight would be his ally here once again. Proving to be a secret weapon to use against the Felucians.

Eventually he sensed the call of the Force faded, giving way to a more physical sound...the sound of fighting. He heard a monstrous roar and the sound of a female combatant. The Force drew him here for a reason. He rushed off to the aid of the woman.

 

[Vexillar]

((Omnis has dropped fellow participants))

1:30 into the challenge

When he found the source of the disturbance he saw a multitude of confusing things. A Twi'lek woman who appeared to have a strong connection to the Force, but clearly wasn't trained in it, fighting with a vibroknife against an Acklay. Not only was the sight in and of itself baffling, but the Acklay gave off a powerful Force Signature! He watched the happenings with great interest. The woman moved between the legs of the Acklay skillfully, clearly this wasn't her first fight with one of these beasts. It tried to pierce her with it's large claws and when that failed it got clearly upset. The beast roared and ran away from the woman who gave chase. Viole was confused for a moment but then he understood what was happening when the beast turned and opened it's mouth. A powerful bolt of lightning raced out of the mouth of the beast and ruined the land as he tried to hit the Twi'lek. She seemed prepared for such an attack, however, as she skillfully rolled to the side and continued her attack. She jumped up, but was smacked away by one of the foreclaws on the Acklay. She was shot down and the Acklay moved in to finish the business. Her vibroknife was lost to her and she began to back up slowly.

Viole reached out with the Force "CATCH!" He shouted and sent the knife flying to it's owner. She was surprised, but reached out and caught the knife in her hand. She rolled forward just as one of his claws came down. She stabbed the creature in it's claw and ran under it's belly creating small slashes here and there across it's stomach. He admired her work as the monster let out cries of pain. She eventually jumped on the leg, and climbed up. The Acklay tried to shake her off, but she refused to move. Viole rushed forward and waved his lightsaber around, drawing the beast's attention for a moment. It seemed that moment was all the Twi'lek woman needed. She got to the top of the monster's head and placed her hands on it.

The monster let out a loud roar for a moment before waving back and forth. The entire thing went down rather quickly. Viole wasn't even sure what happened, but suddenly her Force Signature was detected inside the monster's. He could see her influence upon the beast. It went from a raging mess into a calmed child. The woman jumped down and the beast followed her as she walked up to Viole. "Thanks for the help...Now who are you? Why do you wield a lightsaber?" She held her vibroknife out to him, and the beast let out a low growl. Viole deactivated his saber and raised his hands. "He means you no harm...the Force brought him here. To you." She tilted her head at him as if trying to decide whether he was friend or foe. She eventually put the knife away and the beast visibly relaxed. "I don't trust you...yet. But you saved my life, allowed me to capture this beauty. So you live...for now." She motioned for him to follow.

 

[Vexillar]

2:00 Into the Challenge

Half an hour later, Viole had discovered that her name was Arya. She was the champion of a local Jungle Felucian tribe. Her skills with a vibroknife, and her ability to tame the local wildlife, had earned her the respect of the tribe. That's all Viole really cared to retain about her. She was just another step on his journey to obtain his prize for the task at hand. She was helpful, however, as by the time they got to the camp the Felucians were already well aware of his existence. He was aware of theirs too, however, as he did see a few scouts watching them. He didn't say anything however and merely acted surprised when he was confronted by the group. They were strong in the Force, all of them were. Even the weakest of them, in terms of Force connectivity, shined brightly in his sight. He couldn't help but admire these people. Arya looked at him as they dismounted from her newest prize. "You will remain in one of our holding cells until we can decide what to do with you. You still haven't said why you have a saber..." Viole rubbed the back of his neck softly. "He can sense the power of your...friends here. It's no use lying. He is just a student of the Sith..." The woman hissed and the Felucians raised their arms. The Acklay roared and raised one of his claws. "Give me one good reason why I don't kill you here and now." He looked around for a moment and managed to sputter something out. His voice was panicked, but calm, he spoke quickly, but with purpose. Something an unsure Sith Acolyte who had never been a prisoner would do. "H-he came here with his friends! They were collecting data on the wildlife here, b-but he got separated. One of his friends got hurt, and he went to find help."

She eyed him curious for a moment. She held out her hand.

"Give me your weapon. You will be under supervision until we can determine what to do with you..."

Viole didn't have much of a choice in the matter. He handed her his weapon and suddenly he felt very exposed. She looked the weapon over and chuckled to herself. She commanded the Felucians to take him away and they obeyed. Viole never once offered opposition. They took him to a hut with wooden bars. It was rather...primitive. Viole took a seat and meditated however. They two guards spoke to each other in some awful guttural language. It was terribly hard on the ears, but he managed to drown the sound out. He wasn't sure how much time had passed. He was deep within the Force's embrace by the time they required his attention. The entire planet was very much alive with the Force, and these Felucians were so in tune with it. If he didn't know better than he would swear that these creatures were born of the earth itself. "Oi. Sith." Viole looked up at the Twi'lek woman who demanded his attention. "You will stand trial. If your intentions are good, if you're able to renounce the Dark Side, then we will help your friend. For the curing of one soul, may only help better the galaxy. If you fail the test, then you will die. If you refuse to take the test, then you will die. Make no mistake. You may have saved my life, but this is as far as my good graces go. These Felucians detest the Dark Side, and though you are but a youngling it's touch is clear. It can, however, be fixed. You will show that you can repent...or, as mentioned, you will die." she said this all very nonchalantly. In fact, Viole could almost swear she held back a yawn. He nodded though and she motioned for him to be let out.

 

[Vexillar]

3:00 into the challenge

Viole was brought before the Twi'lek in her own abode in the tribe, surrounded by more Felucians than he felt comfortable with. One, however, caught his attention. He hadn't noticed him at first when he set foot in the tribe, but now...he was kind of hard to miss. While the others shined with the Force, this one was akin to standing near a star. His connection with the Force ran deep, it ran strong. Viole knew that he had to have him. That was his target. The apex of this particular region's Felucians would be this one and Viole needed to find a way to get him out of here. "A few days ago two of our scouts went missing. We have recently managed to get in contact with them via telepathy. It seems they are being held captive by a local, and unfriendly, Twi'lek tribe. You will go in and get our people back....and, Little Dark-sider, you will do this without killing anyone." Viole tilted his head at her for a moment, ready to question this odd stipulation, but decided it was best to leave it be. He nodded at her slowly. "So...may he have his lightsaber back?" She arched a brow and shook her head. "Absolutely not. You will do this without the aid of the Dark Side and without the aid of your lightsaber. My shaman will accompany you on this adventure. If he senses the Dark Side within you even once, he has permission to kill...If you pass this test then you will be granted your weapon, and my Shaman will be allowed to accompany you to save your friend." She waved him off. "Go go. You have people to save.

The Miraluka left the tribe with the star-esque shaman close by. He couldn't understand the Shaman's language, but the Felucian was well versed in the art of telepathy. He showed Viole images of where the camp was located. The entire experience was odd still to him. To share a mind with another being. The Acolyte would have to learn this. He could feel the Shaman's contempt towards him, however, and he knew that this wasn't the best time to ask. He made his way to the camp of the Twi'lek. He stopped short though, allowing his Sight to give him an accurate reading of the camp. There wasn't a lot going on here. In fact, it was mostly just men. He figured that this was just a scouting party, or some sect of a larger population. It didn't look like too much effort. Viole was still, however, outnumbered here there to one. He took a breath and proceeded to walk forward.

The sentry posted outside raised their blaster and stared at Viole. "Halt! What are you doing here? With them." Viole stopped and raised his hands. He looked at the Felucian and then back to the Twi'lek. "This one brought was told that there are Felucians here? Well...any tribe able to capture not one, but two, Felucians is worth investigating...So he thought he'd bring a gift." He motioned to the Felucian. The plant-like alien understood this and began to attack. Viole quickly used the Force to push the person into a nearby tree. The Acolyte then used his telekinesis to toss the Felucian into another tree. He could feel the Shaman's mind grow weak. He was knocked out. Viole looked at the Twi'lek and smiled. "So may he come in?" The Twi'lek looked confused for a moment and then the Felucian, and then Viole. The Miraluka was growing impatient. "You will let him through..." Now seemed like the perfect time to work on his Force Persuasion ability. The guard resisted for a moment, but Viole kept it up. He pushed his mind against the others and eventually he felt it crack. Apparently these Twi'leks would be an issue...

 

[Bleed Me A River]

Grik crept through the exotic forest of Felucia. After killing and eating a few unnamed animals for a quick snack, he begins meditating, allowing himself to become more connected with the planet's darkside energy. An hour would pass by before he was rudely forced back into full consciousness after the roar of a nearby Rancor livened up the silent forests. As Grik moved to investigate, it erupted out of the thick brush. The Sith jumped out of the way quickly, before being run through by a reptomammal easily twice his size and then some. After looking closely, he noticed that the Rancor was carrying her young on her back. This would be a bad enough situation if it were alone but now with its young to protect, it will be even more ferocious.

'Hmmm... a Rancor.... this one could... no.. this one isn't a prime specimen. he thought to himself. He shouldered his rifle and drew his saber but did not ignite it, instead, getting in a ready stance with the hilt concealed behind him. He waited and watched as the Rancor stopped and turned toward him. Without so much as a pause, the Rancor mother charged toward Grik, which he responded to by igniting his lightsaber and timing his charge with the beast's limbs, executing a Force Dash underneath the Rancor's body at the height of her bound, igniting his lightsaber and swiping blindly behind him, hoping to hit something vital. To his dismay, as well as the Rancor's, he hit the stubby tail of the mother, causing her to bellow loudly. Grik used this moment to shoot a few rounds of his heavy slugthrower revolver into the Rancor's now exposed back as the young that was once on his back had now sought refuge among the trees while his mother fought off the threat. It was then when he saw that the young Rancor had a... unique look about him.