The Next Level

[Negative Blessing]

Deep inside one of the jungles on Dathmoir sits an old prison now transformed into the home of a Sith Master. Grima Volitu, the Sith Witch, stood on the landing pad watching the shuttle descending to her compound's landing platform. Inside the shuttle was Crusader Yr'il Ber'ong, a girl Grima watch rise from Acolyte to Crusader. They had been a a mission together but they never formally trained together until now. When Grima was on Korriban a few days ago the young Crusader approached her and asked if Grima could teach her a Force power but did not tell the Sith Master which power she wanted to learn. Grima agreed.

The shuttle landed and the doors opened. After the ramp touched down, Grima saw Yr'il emerge from the shuttle and exit it. "Greetings Crusader Ber'ong and congratulations on your promotion. I feel the Dark Side has grown stronger inside you since the last time we were in each other's company." Grima led the white haired girl through the entrance and motioned for one of her servants to show Yr'il her room.

"I am aware you are eager to start your lesson but for now you must rest and eat. My servant will show you to your room and will bring you drink and nourishment, In the morning we will begin your lesson and then you can tell me what power it is you seek to learn from me. Also, if sleep escapes you please feel free to roam the compound but be aware of the jungle itself. There are many predators on Dathmoir and not all of them are creatures or monsters."

Grima took her leave of the Crusader.

 

[LadyM]

I stared out the side view port of the shuttle as it made its way to the landing platform below. I could see, rather sense, Master Volitu out there waiting for my arrival. When she agreed to meet with me here on Dathomir to aid in my training as a Crusader I was pleased. The last time we were in each other's presence we were back on her home world strengthening the Empire's hold on her planet. But times have changed over the last ten years and this was going to be only the second time I have seen her since the great war.

I stepped off the shuttle's ramp and the first thing I felt was the strong presence of the dark side. Now I understood why the Sith Witch had chosen to live her, one was always surrounded by the dark side. "Thank you Master Volitu for taking time to train me further in the dark side of the Force. Much has changed for me in the last ten years and growing stronger is but only one change. I feel at times Master Volitu that I may have lost my way but we will discuss this later," I said as we moved toward the entrance of her home.

One of her servants walked up to me and nodded that she would be obliged to show me to my quarters. Master Volitu was right, I was eager to begin my next level of training but I was famished. I bid Master Volitu farewell and allowed myself to be led to my quarters. Along the way I noticed she had several guards and servants that reminded me of the Nightsisters and wondered how she convinced them to abandon their beliefs and serve her.

Inside my room, I ate the food brought to me and after meditating for a few hours, I fell into a deep sleep. The next day I was well rested and more than ready to begin. I had given it much thought through my meditation trance last night what I wanted to learn from Master Volitu. I left my quarters and found her sitting in what appeared to be some sort of banquet or great hall.

I approached her cautiously and then I said when she took notice of me, "Master Volitu, I have given it much thought about what I wish to learn from you. I seek to learn the power called Force Corruption."

 

[Negative Blessing]

Sith Master Volitu was sitting at the table in her banquet hall finishing up her meal when the Crusader entered. She sensed the girl was apprehensive to approach her and she was confused by this. Grima had no ill will toward the girl but she did have a lecture already planned out for her. But that would hold off for now as she answered, "So you wish to dominate the minds of others....using them rather than simply killing them outright." Grima saw the expression on the Crusader's face change and Grima waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. "We will discuss that later Crusader Ber'ong but first we will lay the ground work for you to learn Force Corruption."

Grima rose from her chair and motioned for the Crusader to walk with her through the corridors. "Force Corruption has many useful applications that work on the minds of others. You can break wills, dominate people, or turn them against their friends. Most importantly, you can use them in any matter you wish. Killing them is wasteful but if you can find a purpose for them, then they will have cause to live, right?" Grima gave Yr'il a sideways glance but continued before the Crusader could answer.

"I am not here to judge you Crusader Ber'ong but I will warn you. This path you are walking on is both unstable and dangerous. I never said killing is not the Sith way or my way or that it is wrong but we as an Order need to curb our taste of brutality and finally quench this blood thirst that has gotten so many of our Order drunk on stupidity. If you do not find a way to balance yourself out Crusader then you will make powerful enemies out of close associates," Grima said adding a tone of venom in her words. She "liked" this white hair girl and would enjoy seeing her grow through the ranks of the Order but if she did not learn the way of the true Sith, then Grima feared she would have to kill the girl.

"Before I teach you this power, I want you to tell me why you think you are losing your way. I sense the Dark side in you so I know you are not wanting to jump ship and join the Order of the Jedi or some other lightside organization. But I am curious so please indulge me."

 

[LadyM]

I listened as Master Volitu explained to me the applications of the the Force power Force Corruption. I knew from the first time i discovered the power that I yearned to learn it and as the Togruta Sith Witch spoke about it, the more I craved the knowledge. But the lecture turned to about me, rather how I was thinking I was losing my way. I respected Grima and I knew whatever I said would not end in my death, considering her views about killing.

Taking a small, deep breath I said, "I know killing is part of the Sith way in respects to preserving our life for survival is one of our primary functions. I have always believed what you said about such brutality in our Order and I believe your concept of killing or not killing but for the past few years I have felt a darker change in me. Blood lust and rage has began to dominate my emotions, making me into something I do not wish to be, A mindless killing machine."

As we walked, I remained silent for a bit as did Master Volitu. I was playing her words over about this path U was going down and she was right, it was dangerous. I could turn my potential allies and associates against me then I would be standing alone when chaos and death came knocking for me.

"Though I am a Crusader and have no need for another Master, I wish for you to assist in my further training. Teach me more in depth about the dark side and the powers that come with such growth. I pledge myself to your teachings, Master," I said with strong emotions.

I knew if there was one Sith that could help me to grow and have a life filled with longevity, it would be her.

 

[Negative Blessing]

Grima walked with Yr'il listening to what the young Crusader was saying and when she stopped, Grima stopped walking. Her right index tapping on her lips, she looked into the eyes of Crusader Ber'ong before speaking. "You will need to control this blood lust of yours Crusader if you wish for me to teach you more about the Dark Side of the Force. But teach you I will. From the first time I met you I could sense the potential in you and even after all this time apart, it is still there. I will aide you as much I can in....finding your path but you will do everything I say, no questions."

Grima gestured her left arm out and began walking again. "This power you have chosen to learn from me, we shall begin soon but first I have a....test for you. On the outskirts of the jungle lies a village. In this village is a male Zabrak who has decided to ignore his training and his place. The Nightsisters wish to see justice served but at the moment, they are powerless to hunt this traitor down."

Grima now stops and looks at Yr'il. "Though I try to seek a use or purpose for everyone...which you will learn from through Force Corruption, this Zabrak is beyond salvation. The Nightsisters want him dead....and so do I."

Grima turns on her heels and walks away, leaving the Crusader standing there alone.

 

[LadyM]

So once again I found myself assisting Master Volitu in ridding the galaxy of scum and traitors. Back on her home world she had dispatched me to hunt down and kill one of the Councilman and I did so with ease and cunning. However, I knew this time it would not be as easy for the target would no doubt know I or someone was coming for him. Without saying anything, Master Volitu turned and left me alone.

Following the makeshift directions Master Volitu gave me, I quickly found the village she had spoken of. I stood in the foliage watching the villagers moving to and fro, noting they were mostly human; and I was looking for a Zabrak. Not seeing my mark, I used the Force and stretched out my senses touching the minds of the villagers until at last I found who I was looking for. He reeked of overconfidence! Slowly I entered the village not knowing if the villagers would protect this traitor I had been sent to kill. It seemed they did not care why I was here or who I was. Also, I sensed no signs of betrayal from them, only desperation in life that was riddled with hardship.

I moved through the moss and grass covered dirt road toward the target. He knew I was here and I hoped he would make a break for it, for I love to hunt. To my dismay, he stepped from one of the buildings, a tavern of sorts, and looked at me. He produced a doubled sided weapon, crude and unknown to me. He pointed his accusing finger at me and spat then said, "So you have come to kill me, girl. You will find..." Not letting him finish, I hit him with a wave of Force energy, Force Push, that knocked him on his butt.

I let out a slight chuckle as I answered, "This girl has indeed come to kill you." I unclasped my weapon from my waist sash and ignited it. Serpent's Breath was now ready to dispense justice as his crimson tongue flickered. I moved into the Ataru form and attacked. The Zabrak rose to his feet but he was no match for me. In two quick and precise strikes he was lying dead at my feet. After powering down my lightsaber and returning him to his resting place, I reached down first grabbing a necklace around his neck then his crude weapon.

Upon returning to Master Volitu's residence, I dropped the weapon at her feet and held the necklace out for her to take. "It is done Master Volitu. His justice came swift and quick," I said to her.

 

[Negative Blessing]

Grima looked down at the crudely made weapon and scoffed at it then looked at the dangling necklace in the fingers of Yr'il and shook her head. "No, you keep that as a reminder that if you ever stray from your path someone will take a trophy from your cold, dead body."

Grima motioned to one of her servants to take the weapon away and to send a message to one of the clans that the Zabrak was dead. Turning her attention to the Crusader, Grima nodded her head in satisfaction of the success of the test. "We will now move forward in teaching you Force Corruption. Through this ability you can manipulate, bend, and break the will of another. As you grow more powerful in the Force, mainly the Dark Side, you can target more than one individual. Through Force Corruption you can turn an enemy into an alley....turn their ideas and views that were once against you in their favour. The Jedi have a similar technique as this and they call it Force Persuasion. The Jedi do not...abuse...their powers as they would have you believe, so in essence, it is against their nature to dominate another through sheer will."

Grima motions with her chin toward a door. The door opens up and one of her servants enters ushering one of the prisoners from a lesson she taught weeks ago. "I know you have an understanding of mind domination such as Force Persuasion. So just like that ability, you will need to enter the mind of this prisoner and through your powerful will....dominate his. You will see his stand against us Sith and that is where you should start. Make him see us as his allies and not his enemies."

 

[LadyM]

My eyes roamed to the door after Master Volitu spoke and saw a lone prisoner being escorted inside by one of Grima's guards or servants. I didn't waste any time for my eagerness was at a all time high. I invaded his mind rather easily and began to bend his will to me, turning him into a slave. With his mind complete in my control, I began to mainu0late his thoughts turinng his view of the Sith into something more pleasant.

I asked the guard for a blaster and when it was in my hand, I handed it the prisoner and told him to shoot me. The prisoner just stared at me and I knew he was completely under my spell. I told him to turn the gun on the guard and without hesitation he did so. I gave Master Volitu a look and she nodded toward me. I ordered the prisoner to shoot the guard and without thinking, the prisoner pulled the trigger. The blaster had no energy source so the guard was safe but I was beginning to understand the plus of such a power.

"Master Volitu, I must than you for opening my mind up to such a impressive power. I wish for you to teach me more and more, filling my mind up with all the knowledge you posses,""I said felling more than giddy.

 

[Negative Blessing]

Grima stood motionless as she watched the Crusader achieve success with the new power she had just taught her. She had faith in the Crusader that what she taught her, she would grasp it quickly. The potential in this one was great.

"If you so desire to learn from me then I will teach you Crusader Ber'ong. For now, this lesson has come to an end. Go and rest or go and return to your duties. When you are ready to learn again, seek me out."