Capturing Primes I

[Vexillar]

3:45 into the mission

The Twi'lek guided Viole into the village where he ordered some of the others to take the Felucian to a holding cell. He was curious to witness how they were holding Felucians, but he did not go out of his way to voice such concerns. Mostly because after being guided into the village he was taken to meet their leader. A heavy set Twi'lek who sat upon a makeshift throne. Viole felt the urge to twist his neck around with disgust. Such gaudy arrangements for someone who lived in the jungle was obnoxious. He put on a smile however and bowed his head respectfully. The man who had escorted Viole walked up and whispered something into the leader's ear before being waved off. "My guards tell me you have brought us a Felucian and that you used the Force to do it...How brave...I wonder though. How did you know about us? It was that female, wasn't it? Yes...that's the only option, the only way. I had hoped that she herself would come and that she would be dealt with. It seems that was not the case. No matter...at least we have another Felucian to lure her out with. For your brave efforts, and apparent lack of care of...self," --as he said that word he eyed Viole's clothing with disgust-- "you may ask me one question." He sounded bored, and Viole found himself getting annoyed with this man's lack of care for...anything. How was he the leader at all? This was insane. "He would like to know why the Felucians haven't taken back their lost comrades. They are powerful warriors with a deep connection to the Force...how have you managed to hold them while defending yourself from invasion? It seems...impossible...Unless..." The Twi'lek on the throne chuckled. "Yes yes. Such a boring question...guess it's too be expected, however." He shrugged casually. Viole could feel his anger rising once more. "Very well. It's simple. They are held prisoner with a shock collar. These brutish xenophobics haven't the technological advancement to get on or off world. Sad really, but our gain. We get one, throw a shock collar on him, and now we have a new pet. Through their skills in Telepathy they can understand us, even if we don't understand them. We don't need to though...they are beasts." He rolled his eyes.

Shock collars? That's all? Pathetic...He knew a thing or two about shock collars. A remote was used to control them. All he needed was the command codes. "Very well...very effective. He can appreciate that. He was sent here to obtain that other Felucian you have captured, however, he has no desire to help them. They are, as you say, beasts...ghastly. No no. He'd rather them remain exactly where they are..." The Twi'lek seemed interested by this. "Maybe you aren't so foolish after all...Away with you then. Guards. Give him a bed...he looks terrible..." The Twi'lek leader waved his hand and was clearly done with this conversation. Viole bowed slightly in thanks for the bed. A small tingling crept up the back of his skull. He sensed something from this man...deceit? He was taken to a small hut and offered a bed. Viole nodded and then paused a second to look at his escort. He tilted his head slightly and waved his hands. "You will get him the command codes for the shock collars" The Twi'lek didn't put up much resistance this time around. Viole had used almost a sixth of his time, and he wasn't really in a mood to waste time. He remembered his training when learning how to bend minds. Jedi worried about the victim, but he was training to be Sith. He couldn't let such concerns prevent him from completing this assignment. Nox would not be happy with such a thing.

The Twi'lek guard spoke like he was in a trance...which he basically was. "I will get the command codes for the shock collars..." The Twi'lek walked away and Viole sat on the bed. He felt that he was going to be 'betrayed'. Whether or not one could call it a betrayal was besides the point. He figured he had two options, wait it out here and make his move or remain a step ahead of them and get both Felucians out of here. He searched his mind for anything that could help. Eventually he remembered the pillars of the Force; Alter, Sense, and Control. Specifically he remembered the abilities of the Pillar of Sense. To enhance one's connection with the world around them. An idea floated into his mind, and if he played his cards right it just might work. Luckily for him, there was no better motivator than the sense of impending doom. He was sure that he too would get a collar placed on him, but he would sooner die here than be put in a shock collar. Of course being "blind" he knew all about Force Sight, the ins and the outs, the ups and the downs, but what he hadn't delved into before was Hearing. He knew of it, sure, and surely the application of Hearing couldn't be different from Sight. When it came to sensory based techniques, they tended to all revolve around the same principles. Or at least that's what he was told. So it should be no problem picking up on bits of their conversation.

 

[Vexillar]

4:45 into the mission

Viole had been left alone for sometime. Where the other guard went he didn't know. It didn't matter to him too much. He had more important things to do. From his hut he could perfectly see the leader. The slug-like Twi'lek sat there with two other Twi'leks. He was saying something, but Viole couldn't hear him. The guards were coming and going for about an hour so far, and each time he saw them approach he would try to listen in on their conversation. So far he had only managed to get bits and pieces, nothing whole. He took a deep and calming breath for a moment. In order to properly see with the Force one had to trust it, fall into it, be one with it. You needed to offer up your body to the Force, and empty your mind. Allow the mystical energy to guide you. Similarly, with Force Sense one had to immerse themselves in the Force. Viole calmed himself, feeling the Force around him. It was like a beating heart in this place. It was so alive, so free. He found it almost too easy to connect with the Force around him. He let himself become a conduit for the primal energy, feeling it touch his core and spread outwards. He focusing on his subject. The leader. He could barely hear him. It was like listening to someone through a closed door. The voices were muffled and hard to hear a difference in their tones, as far as he was concerned he could be listening to one person do an entire speech. All the same, he focused on that voice still. He didn't force anything, he remained calm and centered.

"Do you have the shock collars ready?"

"Yes...what are the codes?"

There was what sounded like a sight. "How many times must I repeat myself. It's five-four-three-nine-one. And don't forget to give it to Lorna. She's the only one who can resist their Flow powers." He seemed to be done talking, and it seemed that he also discovered what became of his latest 'thrall'. He watched the guard approach the hut where Viole was staying. He relayed the code and the Sith nodded in approval. Well things took a strange turn for the better, though it seemed that he was indeed to be collars. That simply would not do.

He slid off the bed and stepped outside. It wsan't hard to find this female Twi'lek who was trained to resist the Force. She shined a dully in his sight, but shine she did compared to these other Twi'leks. He noticed her hips where a control pad sat. That would be the pad for the shock collar, Viole could point out a shock collar controller a mile away. He looked around. Too many Twi'leks. He would have to make this quick. He walked up to her and she looked less than amused to see him. "What?' Such charm...Viole assumed she was single. "He was just admiring the prisoners..." He said calmly while he looked at the two Felucians trapped in their cages like rats. He could feel the Shaman's hatred for him at that moment. He wished he could have told him that it was apart of his plan, but that wasn't an option. "What do you do with them?" She didn't answer him at first and then she sighed when Viole didn't move. "Our leader uses them for stupid things like cleaning or luring out more Felucians." He nodded slowly. "He heard you have some skill in resisting their mental manipulations...how did that happen? And is that what keeps their Force powers in check?" She arched a brow at him as if suspicious for his line of questioning but then the information poured out of her. She went on and on about how she used to be a Padawan in the Jedi Order, but left due to...differences. She mentioned that she wasn't strong enough to suppress another person's abilities, but the collars were outfitted with a special drug that clouded the mind, made it difficult to focus. Which, in turn, suppressed their abilities. He lost interest after that, and as she spoke be looked around for a moment. Nobody was looking.

So he began to use the Force to lift the controller off of her belt.

It was a difficult thing to do, but she was so lost in her story telling that she didn't even seem to notice it. By the time she noticed it was too late. He reached out and snatched it out of the air. The Twi'lek woman shouted in rage, and Viole shoved her back with the Force. He quickly undid the collars, and the Felucians burst forth from their cell. The Shaman tackled Viole hard and shouted in his guttural language. Viole couldn't understand him, but he was released so he assumed the Felucian was okay with the outcome. The Twi'leks opened fire with their blasters and the two Felucians ran off into the jungle leaving Viole there to his fate....

 

[Vexillar]

6:00 into the mission

Viole was surrounded. There was little he could do, especially without his saber...and especially with the Felucians still watching. He could feel their presence even though they hid from sight. They were watching, waiting, wondering what he would do, and he could feel that. This lowered his options severely. This was a small village. Only about fifteen armed people, and a leader who Viole doubted ever wielded a blaster in his life. Which technically dropped the count down to fourteen. Viole had blasters aimed at him from all angles, however, and that was enough to pose a problem. If they tried to collar him here and now, then he would be forced to kill them or be killed himself. He sighed slightly. This was a most unfortunate set of events. The woman he has pushed aside walked up to him and delivered a nice punch to his stomach. Viole doubled over and she backhanded the side of his face. Spitting on the ground next to him she stormed off. Viole laid on the ground and laughed slightly. "Something funny to you, Plant Lover?" Viole rolled onto his back and smiled. "Yeah...it's just amusing how you think that you'll get away with any of this..." She knelt by him and grabbed him by the collar of his tunic. "Speak. Before I have my men put holes in your body." Viole shrugged. "Well it's just that he's Sith. You're nothing. Nobody. Insignificant worms, writhing in the dirt for a little bit of attention. Really think the Empire doesn't know where I am? How would they react to a band of low life nobodies treating one of their Sith like this? They won't pay you. They'll just kill you all, and if this one is alive he'll be punished for weakness. If he's dead, then it's of little concern really. They get a body for testing. All the same, they look down upon slavery...and with those slave collars do you really think you'll get very far with them? Besides...this one is being watched by a rather nasty and proven Sith..." He shrugged and smiled.

The woman hesitated for just a moment, and the men around her looked at each other with worry. Viole could tell they had never really come in contact with the Empire before, just heard the same brutal stories most people had heard.This was good. It worked in his favor. She released him and threw him on the ground. "Lock him up." He didn't need the Force to sense the fear inside her. It was dripping out of her mouth, but she was trying to be strong for her people. Viole could sense it inside her. Her fear, her worry, she was terrified...He sensed a hint of doubt inside her, doubt that his words were not true, but what else could it be? A Jedi would have no business on this planet, and he certainly wasn't a rogue Force User, as his kind weren't even on this planet. At least she was smart...to a degree.

Nobody rushed to grab the Sith, but finally one of them did pull him up. Three of them took him to a makeshift cell. He could still feel the Felucians around him. He exuded an aura of calm, mentally drawing on the Light Side of the Force to cover up his growing annoyance with this charade. He called on the power of Ashla to aid him in this moment, to comfort his mind and ease his spirit. He felt...oddly calm for a moment. It made him feel things he had tried to push down for ages, and so he quickly stopped. This was wrong. He was Sith...or trying to be...but why did he want to go back then? Why did he want to touch Ashla once more?...He looked at the guards as they produced the shock collar. He could see tiny needles inside of it as well as tubes on the side with some weird liquid. He wouldn't be a slave again. Not ever again. It was then that he felt it...movement. It was then that he heard it, a cry of help.

 

[Vexillar]

7:00 into the mission

It happened so quickly, even Viole was unsure what he was witnessing. Felucians spawned from the woods and tore through the village. The Acklay from before let out a roar as lightning ripped across the ground. Twi'lek's panicked, and Viole watched it all happen. He walked out of the hut as Felucians of all shapes began slaughtering the Twi'leks. With such a vast differences in numbers, and without the prisoners to hold as leverage, they were destroyed. The Beast Tamer of the Felucian tribes rode her Acklay over to Viole and slid down to him. "So...I saw everything that happened when you freed my men. The Shaman says you didn't touch the Dark Side, but that you harbor extreme negative feelings. That makes you a threat, he says that you should still be put down...but he did also mention that you touched the Light Side. Which means there's hope for redemption yet. Which means that you are allowed to go." She tossed him his saber and eyed him carefully. He could sense her distrust in him. "...He won't harm you, and he won't harm your people. Promise." She folded her arms and waved a hand dismissively. "Fine. Go. Save your friends." She motioned for the Shaman to come over and Viole could feel the Felucian's distrust, and loathing for him.

Viole looked around for a moment. Something seemed...off. It suddenly dawned on him that this village was...small. Less than twenty Twi'leks living in such close proximity to the Felucians. Not to mention that they seemed to be rivals for sometime. He looked around again but didn't see anything. Nothing seemed out of place at all. "Uh...just a moment..." He moved to the middle of the village and stood there for a moment. He allowed himself to hear the voice of the Force, he removed his hearing from the physical world and allowed the sounds around him to be delivered to him on the winds of the Force. Maybe it was because he had done it once before, or maybe it was because of the nagging feeling in the back of his head. But this time he nailed it on the first try. Things were still muffled, but he managed to tone out the sounds of Felucians moving about and that harsh tone. There was silence for a moment as he concentrated. The feeling of unease intensified for a moment and then he heard something. The rustling of leaves. This broke Viole's concentration and he immediately looked to the source of the sound. There it was. He saw a Felucian slowly creeping through nearby flora, but the source of the sound he heard probably came from one of the band of Twi'leks on his tail. He sprinted to the Beast Tamer. "There are more Twi'lek on the way...where is your other scout" She seemed uncomfortable. "He was killed. The surviving member saw him get taken away, a scream, and then he could no longer feel his kin." Viole shook his head slightly. "Well there is a Felucian attempting to sneak up on us, and he has Twi'leks with him." She frowned for a moment and the Acklay let out a roar. A few of the Felucians were now on alert. It seemed they sensed it too.

A traitor.

Viole was surprised by this turn of events. Felucians were often incredibly loyal. Undeniable loyal. What could have brought it to this? Viole had a mission to do, he couldn't be bothered to assist in this petty civil war. He needed to capture the Shaman and get out. That was his assigned duty. But could he just turn down this opportunity? He hesitated for a mere moment before the traitor and his comrades burst forth through the trees. His surroundings once more dipped into chaos. Twi'leks just kept pouring out of the brush, the Acklay could only do so much against such numbers. There must have been other encampments around here for the Twi'leks to crash through here in such numbers. Then something caught Viole's eyes. A chance to both help the Felucians, thus gathering their trust, and complete his mission. One of the Twi'leks shined brighter than all the others, and brighter than the Beast Tamer. He was strong in the Force, and he shined a lovely shade of red. Viole grinned deeply at this and ignited his saber. Immediately he rushed in to aid the Felucians. The Twi'lek's fought against him, whether through false sense of Bravado or some mixed form of brave stupidity, but they all fell. Until Viole had cut and carved his way to the man who glowed in the darkness. The Twi'lek male looked at Viole and waved a hand, utilizing the Force to shove him off to the side. Viole resisted the telekinetic influence, deeming it untrained, raw. This was almost too easy. He wasn't complaining though. He turned back to face the Twi'lek but he was gone. He turned around a few times and eventually spotted him running off through the woods.

Everyone was distracted with the rest of the Twi'leks, who were swiftly losing numbers, so Viole took this moment as his chance to escape. He dashed off after the runner. The Twi'lek was fast, but Viole was faster still. He made a mental note to thank Nox for the lesson in Force Speed. In little time at all he had caught up to the man, then he surprised him. The Twi'lek blasted him with a much more powerful Force Push. Viole was knocked against a tree and slumped down for a moment. He saw the man run off and Viole stumbled to get back up. Once he did, however, he looked around for the man. He was easily tracked via Viole's sight, and the Acolyte managed to use the Force a few times to knock him over. Eventually Viole caught up to the man, this time he used the Force to trip the runner, as soon as he fell Viole gave a quick strike to the man's legs, cutting them just enough so that they would no longer be functional. His victim screamed terribly loud before succumbing to whimpers. Pitiful whimpers. Viole sighed at the sight. He deactivated his saber and clipped it to his belt.

He had a small nagging feeling in the back of his head and looked around for it's source. Eventually he spotted the Shaman watching from a nearby tree, planted on it as if it was his last line of hope. When it decided to come down Viole stood aside so the creature could approach the wounded Twi'lek. The Shaman looked at Viole and gave a few clicks in his harsh language. Viole's mind felt thick for a moment, clogged, and then he saw images of himself falling, moving through the woods, and his actions just now. He understood the message, the Shaman knew he had lied. More disturbing, Viole had his shield up...but the Felucian had still managed to slip by and infiltrate his mind. It seemed the rumors were true...the Felucians were dangerous with their mental abilities. More images came in. He saw this man and the Beast Tamer woman together as children and then grown up. They were siblings. The Felucian motioned to the Twi'lek and then to the direction of his ship. His head shook. He then pointed to the man and then back to the village. He nodded his head this time. A final set of images flashed in his head. A class being taught, a man he had never met being exiled. "You want to take the Twi'lek back...to judge him yourselves. He doesn't understand the final set though. What are you trying to say?" The Felucian stepped closer for a moment and tilted his head at Viole. "You...leave...I...teach..." The Acolyte arced a brow slightly. What could this plant possibly teach him? He sighed and rubbed his temples. Complete the mission now, or learn something? The mission called for the apex of a species to be obtained...He checked the time and sighed again. "Fine. Take him." The Felucian bowed respectfully to Acolyte. He looked at the suffering Twi'lek who had ceased his whimpering and was struggling to crawl away. The jungle came alive at that moment. Roots sprung up to encase their victim, wrapping him up tightly, and covering his mouth so that no screams may be heard. Viole had to appreciate that kind of thoroughness.

The Felucian sat down at this moment and motioned for Viole to sit with him. "Mind...blocked...Difficult...teach..." Viole hesitated for a moment. He wasn't exactly a fan of dropping his Thought Shield but he did it. He could now feel the full presence of the Felucian's mind on his own. He heard the Felucian's voice once more though this time it was inside his head. He knew that much, and the power fascinated him. "I have been trained since birth to use the Force. All of my people can use it to a degree. As Shaman, however, I have a deeper connection...I can teach you many things, you may only learn one, however. Let it be known, that I am only presenting this opportunity because you have displayed...courage. The Dark Side has touched you, but you do not call upon it...I see now what our Champion sees. Chance for redemption..." He fell silent for a moment and then spoke again. "You were learning to hear with the Force, yes? Then hear...listen to the Forest. It is alive. Can you hear it? The wind, the leaves, the roots, everything. Hear it's beating heart, and be one with it." Viole couldn't believe he was doing this. In the middle of a mission that could spell success or failure for his time at the Academy, he was learning about Force Hearing from a sentient plant. He resisted another sigh and did as he was instructed. He listened. He opened himself to the Force on this planet. He could feel it pulsing under him like one massive heart. He went deeper, he felt the ebb and flow of life around him. The plants, the trees, he felt it all touch his mind and he touched it back. And then he listened. He heard the gentle breeze of wind near him, and when he had continued to hear it for a few seconds, despite no longer feeling it, he knew it to be true...he was hearing the planet. His head shook slightly and he looked at the Felucian across from him. The plant had left while Viole was distracted.

 

[Vexillar]

7:25 into the mission

Viole wandered around for a bit, simply listening. That's all. He listened for the Shaman mostly, but could find no trace of him. He still felt the struggles of trying to fall into Force Hearing, but with each attempt it got a little bit easier. He still needed to stop in order to truly focus, and sometimes sitting helped. Still...he had to stop at some point. This was dangerous for him to do. He couldn't keep going like this. Stopping to listen every now and then on a planet so alive with the Force and so filled with danger was just foolish. He set aside his desires for knowledge and began to simply focus on his desire to not fail this class. Eventually he came across a planet that began spitting at him. He sprung into action, ducking and dodging his way around the plant. He hid behind a tree for a moment and took a breath. The plant spit out a glob of that liquid again, and Viole heard the thud and the soft sizzle of something. He rubbed his temples and took a breath. The Miraluka stepped out from his cover and the plant let loose a volley of poison at him again. Viole held his hand of and focused on what he wanted. He wanted them to stop. He wanted to not get hit. The universe bent to him, and the globs slowed to a halt in air. He tossed them aside and charged in. The plant spit out a few more rounds at Viole and he managed to leap over them before stabbing his saber through the center of the thing. He took a sigh of relief that it was dead...

And then he heard some horrid snarl in conjunction with breaking earth.

Turning around he saw what he could only describe as a budding plant with an attitude problem rising up from the ground. The earth broke apart to give way to this monster, and when the 'birth' was finalized there it stood. It was easily twice the size of Viole, and though it didn't have any specific Force properties it was safe to say that this was probably the best plant in the house right now. He readied himself for any movement as the thing let out a low growl. It moved with lightning speed, Viole was caught off guard for a moment, as it slammed it's head into Viole sending him flying against a tree. It shot out human sized globs at him, and barely as time to roll out of the way. The plant let loose a few more shots and Viole continued trying to move out of the way. The Miraluka took a moment to catch his breath as the plant / animal thing before him just swayed gently. Viole wondered what it was thinking. What was going on underneath it's petals. The beast lunged yet again, and Viole jumped over it this time. Pouring the Force into his legs and letting it out in a burst just before his legs would explode. He soared over the plant and when it looked up to spit at him again, he noticed something, a sac like object, secreting the same goo that it then fired at him. As he began to fall down, he rolled his body to avoid the latest fire. Upon landing he took off, dashing towards the thing trying to get in close to take out that poison sac. The plant closed it's petals however and smacked him aside.

Viole skidded to a stop and raised his weapon again as the plant began to thrash around. It's head went in every which direction and eventually slid along the ground in an attempt to smack the Acolyte away. Viole managed to avoid the trashing, but the spin came quicker than he expected, and he was thrown away yet again. He was getting very tired of this. He slowly rose up yet again, determined not to let this abomination have it's way with him. The plant's poison sac was exposed once more. Viole drew on the energies of the planet. He felt it coursing through him, running up through his feet, into his legs, his stomach, filling his arms, until he let it rush out of him in a powerful Force Push. The attack was timed just as the beast spit out more goo at him. The beast's liquid was shoved back into it, and with the Force Push hitting the sac, it exploded. The beast roared for a moment before falling over. Viole could still feel it in the Force. It wasn't dead, not yet, but it was injured...badly. The Acolyte took a moment to catch his breath. He looked around searching for some sign of where he was supposed to go now. He didn't have the strength to continue looking for something. He was positive that this was the apex of it's kind in this environment. He wanted to do too much at this moment, and on that list sleep appeared repeatedly.

 

[Vexillar]

10:00

Tired. He. Was. Tired. He was exhausted. His 'prize' had died. He managed to use the Force to lift it out of the ground. He pulled it for a while with the aid of the Force, but that didn't get him very far before he was physically weak. He tried to just normally pull it and found himself outclassed. So instead he waited, rested, he would sleep for no more than an hour, and then he'd awaken once more to stay watch. Sleep, awake, sleep awake, the process was more draining than it was helpful. He felt a little bit rested, but his body cried for more. His mind yearned for more. He sat down and meditated for a moment, opening himself to the Force on this planet. He had no idea where we was, but he wanted to get to the landing site. He had less than 15 hours to figure it out. The ship would land, however, in six hours. So he didn't have very long in the grand scheme of things. Though it had only been 10 hours so far, he felt like it had been days. His body was well passed the point of exhaustion and he was pretty sure he had some minor internal injuries as well. He knew his ribs were badly bruised, since breathing was a chore and hurt rather bad. So he decided that meditating would be the best thing for now. Not like he was going anywhere.

The Miraluka just relaxed and fell into the embrace of the Force. It seemed there would be no rest for him, however, for as soon as he did he heard something. Turning around to face the source he was confronted with a Jungle Felucian. One he identified as the Shaman from the village he had left. The Shaman reached out to his mind, and Viole let him in. "You killed a mother...she gave life to her children, and in return her children protected both us and the village..." Viole shook his head. "You own me an explanation first. How come you can speak so clearly now?" The Felucian shook his head. "I'm not speaking clearly, you're just understanding clearly. Now again...you killed a mother. But...I can see why you did it. Your...'mission'. I will show you back to the landing sight. But you must never return here on penalty of death...You killed her, and to grow another takes time. Time that may cost my village it's life..." Viole nodded quickly. He cared very little for coming back at this point. He just wanted to go home.

 

[Vexillar]

12:47-16:00 into the mission

Almost three hours later and Viole was finally at the landing LZ. The Shaman turned to look at Viole and shook his head with disappointment. He left him there and the Acolyte simply slumped against his prize. The Acolyte sighed deeply and waited patiently for the ship to come. As he waited he meditated, conserving what remained of his strength in case there would be more predators lurking about. He was correct in that. A few times a wandering animal would walk by, but it never lingered long after Viole threw it away. They would always whimper and hurry off. Viole would just return to his meditations, and wait for the ship. The good thing about meditation was that while he did it, time seemed to go by quicker. Things didn't seem so bad. He didn't really feel his physical problems as much. His body sore, beaten, bruised, and bleeding in more than a few areas, was basically a distant memory while he mentally cleansed himself.

As he waited, and meditated, he decided to work on his Hearing. The Acolyte looked for a random insect to trace. A small little bug flying by would do the trick. He relaxed, began his meditation, shutting out the entire world except for that bug. His sight was focused on the bug, and his hearing was as well. He could hear it's light buzz as it moved through the air. It was oddly soothing to hear only the wings of a fly. The fly would buzz around for a while, and then stop. Buzz some more, and then stop. He wasn't sure how far it had gone, or where it went, only that he had been doing this for about two hours by the time he heard it.

The sound of a ship.

He immediately stopped and looked up. Sure enough, he could see the ship. Right on time. It landed exactly at the 16 hour mark, and Viole waited by his claim for further instructions.

 

[Omnis]

The Darth that had placed them all on the jungle planet sat in an observation room, with a crystalline screen displaying several feeds from the observation bots that he had sent to accompany the Acolytes. There were at least three bots following each of them at all times, if not more, and all maintained several different angles. The flying recon units were extremely effective, remaining almost completely undetectable and able to zoom in at great lengths for better detail on an image. Xic watched calmly from his comfortable, reclining seat. One hand remained at rest under his chin, while the other smoothly manipulated controls on the panel below the screen.

He first watched Viole move around. The young Miralukan had shown great sensitivity as soon as he hit the ground, showing promise in an area that Xic was very intrigued with. The Miralukan might prove useful for other experiments, too. It wasn't long before the student had run into a Twi'lek woman and an interesting situation. At first glance, Viole appeared to have gotten himself captured. Almost willingly. Knowing that the situation wasn't quite what it seemed, Xic kept the feed live but focused his attention to the side.

Another feed showed the Barabel student. Xic's younger brother had been quite involved with that Acolyte, as well, and Xic resisted the almost unconscious habit of shaking his head in disappointment. His younger brother was a naive, ignorant fool that chased idiotic theories. If they had been on terms even relatively resembling speaking, he'd make certain to disabuse Nox of his childish notions. It took him a moment of cold reasoning before Xic was able to remind himself that Nox' ignorance was not his own fault, but instead a condition of the training he had been given by their clan. Nox had been shaped as a tool, a specific weapon, and to go outside of those bounds was difficult for any member. The fact that Nox pursued such a path at all was at least admirable, if not a bit frustrating in its own right.

Realizing that he had let his mind wander, Xic tuned back into the Barabel's feed. Grik Volic had encountered two Rancor, a mother and its baby. Of course, Xic had expected one of the students to go after one of the resident Rancor. They were glorious beasts, providing both prestigious fame and desirable infamy to the warriors that could best even just one. That the Barabel had elected to fight instead of run was no surprise, considering the aggressiveness and physically domineering traits of his species. Xic wondered how Grik would fare against the two beasts, actively weighing and parsing the factors that he knew about the Acolyte and the Rancor based on its size and observable traits. Reaching a conclusion with computer-like speed, made capable by an analytical mind that had been honed through intense study for decades, Xic imagined that the result of the encounter would be barely favorable. Even then, that was only if the Rancor mother he was fighting hadn't been raised amongst some of the more intelligent members of a semi-sentient pack. So far, determining that was difficult.

Grik slid underneath the mother instead of dodging to one side or making a more direct move against it, surprising Xic. Perhaps his brother had taught something useful to the other reptilian man after all. Seeing Grik look to one side, toward where the young Rancor had retreated, Xic zoomed his view in on the youngling. Seeing what Grik had noticed, one brow of Xic's mask raised silently.

Interesting.

Also of great interest, Viole's developing situation. The Miralukan was proving resourceful, and not with physical equipment or assets. The young man was showing his cleverness, as he convinced a Felucian to go to a nearby slaving camp full of more Twi'lek. Things quickly changed, and the Felucian was made prisoner quickly. Along with Viole, again. But now Xic could see the roughly formulated plan, and approved. Watching with interest for quite some time, making certain to keep monitoring Grik during key moments, Xic followed events with Viole as closely as he could. Of course, the observation bots couldn't get too close. With Viole going in and out of the camp's squat buildings, the cameras couldn't see everything. There were times he had to be patient, waiting for Viole to reemerge and events to make more obvious developments.

There were a lot of conversations. Somehow, Viole had managed to make as many allies as enemies. Even if both of those things were fairly confused and mixed. Viole was playing all sides of the field, continuously to his advantage. Xic almost rued how the Acolyte was nearing apprenticeship with Nox. Such a relationship would be a waste, Xic deemed. But he had more important matters to attend to than tutoring one Acolyte specifically. Xic was glad that Nox took apprenticeship so seriously, as Xic himself was even more strict with his guidelines for potential apprentices.

Events devolved around the Felucian camp, but Viole managed to find his way clear easily enough. Once again playing the situation to his advantage, Viole turned in one of the Twi'lek to the local Felucian shaman. Gaining a boon, Viole took tutelage from the shaman during some of the time he had left. Xic finally felt himself nod, giving a physical reaction to the proceedings. He made a mental note to bring up the learning session when Viole rejoined him on the ship later.

Of course, Viole wouldn't have been himself if he didn't manage to get even more seriously injured as soon as he came across the very next dangerous being. Or maybe it was simply a trait of being unlucky that punishing things were drawn to the unlucky, and not the other way around. It bore little importance, so Xic dismissed the query for the moment. Regretfully, the Acolyte had already fatally wounded the specimen. Even from his position farther away, Xic was able to observe that it was a unique specimen. Something he wanted in his lab, definitely. The complex plant life form died amidst a seeping mess of its own viscous poison. Still, if enough of the poison lay intact then Xic could extract plenty of data.

As Xic had directed earlier, the ship began to land at the designated spot right on time. Xic would make sure to pay the pilot accordingly.

A large metal container preceded the Darth himself, floating through the air with nothing touching it. The container's metallic lid slid open of its own accord and Viole's specimen lifted itself similarly. The specimen was deposited roughly inside, and then some of the liquid that had spilled from the creature began to form into small bubbles and twist up into the air. The liquid collected into loosely formed spirals, then filed down into the container with the plant-being before the lid closed.

Xic appeared out of the shadows inside the shuttle as the container flew past him and back inside. The Darth looked down at Viole, hovering several feet over the young man, as characteristically silent as usual. In that way, he and his brother were infuriating to many. A sharp slice of pain, like a deftly wielded scalpel, injected itself into Viole's head. The Rector was dipping inside, taking a good look at something precise.

The masked man let out a contemplative hum as his influence withdrew from Viole's mind, retreating so precisely though the same path it had cut that it was nearly painless. Even the pain that Viole had felt before had been tolerable, akin to the feeling of ripping off an adhesive bandage instead of slowly peeling it away. Despite its intensity, the purpose behind it was so complete and flawless that it seemed preferable to the imaginable alternatives.

'You have left your mind too open, Acolyte. While it was beneficial for you to do so before, with the shaman, you forgot to reassume your defenses before coming back. Had another Acolyte been here before now and sensed that weakness, they might have exploited that weakness. Never forget where you are, Viole Nivar. Never forget what you are.'

Xic turned about and hovered back towards the shuttle, lifting one arm and gesturing to Viole to follow.

'Rest in one of the private compartments. You are wounded and lack the necessary comprehensions to attend to them properly. Meditate until I summon you. Once the last lecture is over and this shuttle rejoins the ship, you will go to the medical bay and receive immediate attention.'

Xic didn't have to ask if he had been clear.

 

[Vexillar]

Viole watched closely as the ship began it's descent. He was so happy to see the ship. So thrilled indeed. He let out a gentle sigh as the ship landed. He looked at the metal crate as it floated out of the ship, and then Xic did. He was always impressed by how the Force worked. He watched with a critical eye as the plant he had slain was tossed into the box and the liquids it formed were also bottled up. He was glad that the liquids could be saved, he would have been surprised if the Sith did not want to study what secretions the plant formed. He back to Xic and just as he did, he winced and gritted his teeth. It felt like a dagger was moving across his mind. He swore at himself silently, and he couldn't wait for the feeling to go away. Luckily, Xic saw fit to not torture him...at least not today. Viole knew his screw up before Xic even spoke. He mentally kicked himself for leaving the door open. It was as the woman who taught him said 'Having an open mind is a crime just as severe as being without your lightsaber'. Or something to that effect. Xion chided him for his lack of defenses, and Viole immediately resumed the Thought Shield.

He then got his instructions on what to do, and he was, of course, all too happy to obey. He bowed slightly before the more powerful Sith. "As you command, m'lord." He walked onto the ship, attempting not to break out into a full on sprint, and found a compartment that was relatively empty. He all but collapsed on the cold floor and felt into the Force's embrace. It had been a challenging day for him, but that was the point of all of this. To push his limits. He silently began to meditate on all that had happened as he waited for Xic's command.

 

[Bleed Me A River]

Grik looked back to see the mother practically climbing over her own rear legs to get between him and her baby, prompting Grik to sink into a low stance, ready to jump or sprint in one of eight directions. The Rancor barreled toward him and attempted to crush its opponent. Sidestepping, Grik pulled his lightsaber fitted with a Barab Ore stone, which gave it a very hot and translucent blade, and with a swift and accurate strike to the wrist of the large mother-beast, severing many bones in her hand, rendering it virtually useless. What was once her right pinky and ring finger are now hanging on by singed skin. She shrieked again and Grik stood dominantly in front of the Rancor. He hissed at her and dropped his stance ready for another attack, though instead of waiting on her to initiate the attack, he leapt forward, and over the Rancor, cutting her back deeply, splitting her spine. She'd fall limp, though not fully dead, in a state of paralysis from the severing of her spine. He'd then dispatch her and end her suffering with a swift thrust through the crown of her skull. After which, he approached the frightened, semi-sentient reptomammal.

"You. You're not too different from this one. This one lost his mother in the same way. Not too far from the same reason she died. You are unique, and you can serve a greater purpose." the Sith hissed mentally. Whether the Rancor young understood, he didn't know, but nor did he care. The Rancor looked at the Barabel with the look of a confused toddler, only twisted into the face of a Rancor. Grik sat cross-legged in front of him and stared deeply into its eyes, while drawing from the Force from within the ecosystem.