The Shocking Truth

[LadyM]

At last I had began gaining notice not only from the Sith teachers but from the other Acolytes, some seeking to assist me in my training while others, for their lack of trying have adopted the policy of trying to eradicate me. So far, they only speak of this. Cowards! But I do not fear them for the Norns have brought enough misery, pain, and tragedy into my life to last a lifetime, so if they will not issue a challenge, I will when I have grown strong enough. This Force, this dark side aspect of it is new to me. Back in my villiage I was a laoch and we had an understanding of what they call the Force but nothing like this. The lure of power is so craving that I lie awake at night soaking up this dark side energy. I feel the changes, I have glimpsed what the dark side is doing to me physically and mentally, yet, I crave more! When I fell, I fell completely.

Today I have been honoured by another Sith Acolyte, a Mon Calamari. Now I have never seen such a exotic species before but there is much of the Cruinne that is a mystery to me. However, this Sith, Avreet, is different from the others. He seems eager to teach me the art of Force Lightning and I am eager to learn from him. I do not worry about failure, for that word is usless to me. But now is not the time for me to let my mind wander, for what I have already witnessed since being admitted to the Sith Order, those with unfocused minds usually meet with a tragic end.

Running my hand across the silver chain until my fingers wrap around the two swords representing my allegience to the Danish God Váli, I steadied my nerves and myself for the lesson while my other hand feels the cold hilt of my lightsaber, whom I dubbed Serpent's Breath. Stretching out with my mind, one of the first lessons I learned here at the Temple, I felt a glimpse of Avreet, I think. This is so new to me but I'm a warrior and if all else fails, I will make a hard target to kill.

 

[Bubák]

Once again, the Mon Calamari found himself on Ziost. He was beginning to understand why his Master liked this world more than Korriban. Not only it wasn't so hot, he also didn't have to get sand out of his boots. Despite being a Sith and being completely able to survive on hot planets, sand simply felt so bad on his delicate skin that he decided to train on a different planet for a while, at least until his duties call him back to Korriban.

The young Mon Calamari felt he was becoming quite capable of helping less experienced Acolytes if the Sith teachers didn't have time, so he searched the Temple for someone who could use a hand and perhaps help him practice his stealth in return. One had to seek constant improvement to become the best. Most of the Sith Acolytes instantly declined his offer, as the fifteen year old amphibian didn't look like a seasoned warrior. No wonder, his cybernetic eye changed it's color, so it looked natural and nobody had any reason to think otherwise. He actually looked quite harmless, and if not for the twin lightsabers hanging on his belt, someone might have though the boy was just an average kid. Well, many rebels made that mistake, luckily for him. Who would have suspected a Mon Calamari, species well known for it's peacefulness, of being a Sith Acolyte? Avreet didn't care what the others thought about him, though. He was just doing his duty and served the Empire as best as he could.

Surprisingly, he had managed to find someone willing to listen. True, Force lightning didn't belong to his strongest powers, but he knew it and could share his knowledge with those seeking to learn. The teenager had never seen this Acolyte before, but that may have been because there was simply so much Acolytes and he didn't take picture of all of those he had met. Naturally, he wanted to practice his power, so he told her to wait for him in one of the training rooms before taking a deep breath and bending the light around himself. It was challenging, especially since he wore his black cloak, but he needed to put his skills to test. One he couldn't be seen, he made sure he focused on the sound waves and eliminated them, becoming untetectable by eyes and ears. The last thing was slowing down the river of the Force inside his body, completely stopping it and being untraceable through the Force. Every assassin had to know these powers.

The woman stood in the room, waiting for him, so he didn't hesitate and made his way there, being careful not to bump into anyone. The door opened, though Yr'il wouldn't be able to see or feel anyone entering. He stood in front of her and like a ghost, he began taking a shape again. Slowly, his black tunic became visible just as his orange head and hands until Force cloak no longer took effect. Smiling at the Acolyte as best as he could, the boy's right fist hit his left shoulder in a greeting, "Hello again. Pardon me for coming here like this. I need to practice my powers if I ever want to succeed in infiltrating the Jedi, you see. Before we begin, tell me, what do you know about the Force?" he asked and took off his cloak, telekinetically moving it towards a hanger and hanging it.

 

[LadyM]

I stood there with my eyes widening with amazment as this Sith materialized out of thin air. I had learned that such techniques could be useful but that was not my way. I wanted my foes, my enemies, and those that have wronged me to stare into my golden eyes while I took from them the only thing they truly cherished; their life. But I would not discard learning something like this latter down the road, power and knowledge is the back bone of the Sith Order, so I have been taught. I allowed my eyes to follw the floating cloak to a far off hanger where it was put to rest. I had been told I was growing strong in the Force and that my connection to the dark side had planted its seeds and now the results were bearing fruitation. So in time, my mastery of the Force will become tales of legends sung amongst the clans of the Danes. If they still thrive.

"There is no cause to pardon yourself," I said struggling with my growing anger at the mention of the Jedi then I let my gaze lock with the Mon Calamaris'. I knew there were several answers to the question of what do you know about the Force but there was only one answer I had. Right or wrong it was mine and nothing could change that. "The Force is every living thing that binds us together. It flows through those that have been granted the gift from Búri, the true and first creator of the Cruinne. The Force as the Universe you know it as is not a curse but a gift. Those touched by it should cradle it, use it, and never deny what it is. We control it, it does not control us. My knolwedge of the Jedi," I said pausing my words at the mention of the word Jedi to let my anger subside before continuing,"Is limited to what I have heard from the teachers. But they are weak minded cultists who preach one thing yet act another. They do not wish to learn the Force but rather wrangle it, control it, and at times mask their ignorance of the Force by placing laws on it."

I took a deep breath. I saw Avreet began to open his mouth but I raised my black, gloved right hand to halt him then added,"Forgive my rudeness but I do not mean to offend you by cutting your words before they escaped your lips. The Force has been sent to me by Búri and regulated by the Norns, but it does not dictate me. I am a free thinker, I am an individual and the Force beckons to me to use it for my personal gain. To deny that is to deny my full potential. And if I deny my full potential, then I would not make a very powerful Sith," I finished my little speech with a hint of satisfaction in my tone.

 

[Bubák]

Feeling the white haired human's anger growing at his mention of the Jedi, Avreet decided to adress it once she finished with her answer. As she looked into his eyes, he realized he liked the color. Mon Calamari liked unusually colored eyes, though Avreet didn't allow himself to be distracted by these things. Too focused on serving the Empire to do anything else, one could say, but that was far from truth. Avreet actually had quite a few hobbies, though most of them were those he benefited from, swimming for example helped him stay fit and in condition.

Yr'il's interpretation of the Force was very interesting. He knew there was no right or wrong answer, but her answer was something he wouldn't have expected. It sounded like she believed in some sort of deities, but the Sith were free people, they could believe in whatever they wanted as long as they didn't force their beliefs on others. Even though what she said about the Force was quite different from his own interpretation, he could find himself agreeing with her on certain things. Wanting to mention something, he was stopped by her as she continued explaining. Finally, when she finished, he nodded his large head.

"A very original interpretation, though definitely not wrong. You are right, the Force is a gift. If we have been granted such a gift, the power to control it, shouldn't we control the whole galaxy? As you said, it doesn't control us. It merely shows us the right way, but always remember that with great power comes great responsibility. Not everyone is ready for such a responsibility. Many Sith went insane and the Jedi have denied themselves the true potential of the Force. The Jedi truly are weak fanatics, saying one thing doing another. They are dangerous to our Empire, as they hate everything that is good and just and therefore must be destroyed. I have faced them a few times. They are true monsters, remember it when fighting against them. I can feel your anger inside you. Save it for them. Save it for the enemies of the Empire and let it guide your sword, not your mind."

"You can use the Force for your personal gain, but isn't it a waste? So many Sith crave nothing more than more power. Why won't you use the Force to do something not only for yourself, not for the other Sith, but for the whole Empire? Strengthening the Empire means strengthening yourself. Everyone will prosper and you will be granted your place among those ruling the galaxy. There will be completely new order, because there are only two things cartain in our mortal lives. Death and a happy new order, an order of eternal peace." Avreet allowed himself to get briefly blinded by propaganda again, but it was obvious the teenage Acolyte truly believed that, "As the old Sith code says, there is no peace. I think it means we have to be vigilant and crush anyone trying to plant a seed of darkness in the Imperium." The Mon Cal finished and quickly changed the subject so they could get to the training.

"You are here to learn one of the most powerful Force powers, though. I can teach you how to smite your and the Empire's enemies with it's fury, but you need to learn how to properly control your emotions first. When casting Force lightning, you are giving out your passion, hate, love. Everything. You need to properly control yourself to properly control your power, as if you give too much emotions into it, it may become too powerful for you to handle and kill you and anyone standing around you in an instant. Never let your emotions cloud your mind and judgement and save the emotions you don't need for later. That's how I am doing it. It is also said that for full understanding of the power, you have to feel it yourself. I apologize."

Quickly raising his arm, he chained the Force flowing inside his body with his passion and guided it towards his hand, letting it out of his fingertips as a short burst of blue crackling energy that hit Yr'il into her chest. Nothing that would cause any permanent damage by far, only a taste she needed to understand what was she going to control. "All the hate you feel towards me now, save it."

 

[LadyM]

I nodded my head in understanding, my white hair braided on the sides, once hanging low now danced back and forth with the motion of my head. There was truth in what the Mon Calamari had said. I was not in control of my emotions especalliy my anger and my hatred. I had struggled with these even before I was granted admission into the Sith Order but then the teachers instructed me to focus them and channel it into something greater, something more powerful. I began to wrangle them and when I did, I was told that I had barely brushed the tip of my full potential. Now even the Mon Calamari had mentioned the need for me to grasp and maintain a strong grip of my emotions. It was then that I saw my own weakness but worse, others had witnessed it as well. I vowed to myself that I will not allow destruction come to me by my own hand.

Then I felt a cold, dark change in the Force the moment Avreet finished his last words. I had allowed myself to be lured into a state of mind wondering when a blue light energy erupted from the fingertips of Avreet and hit me square into the chest. I took a step back letting the pain course through my body while the rippling effects of the Force Lightning soon faded into nothingness. I felt my anger begin to manifest followed by my hate for what had just occured. The pain had opened up a new thought to me, can pain be used to fuel my passion? If so, then I would become a powerful Sith indeed. Pain, anger, hatred where becoming my unseen children and as their mother, I shall cradle them, learn from them, and in time my powers would grow from them. These would become the backbone of my passion.

"So this is Force Lightning, the unnatural ability of a Sith and the fear that breeds concern into our enemies," I spoke holding onto my fueled emotion of hate. He was right, I had hated him for this but hate was one-third of my passion so I gripped it tight. "This power you have shown me, I shall wish to learn all about it. The postives and the negatives," I added locking my golden eyes onto his.

 

[Bubák]

It must have been very painful for the woman, yet she had managed to stay conscious. Impressive, even though it may have been because she was a Force sensitive and a Sith. Understandably, she felt hate towards him. It reminded Avreet how he had met his Master and she used Force lightning on him for the first time. He too hated her for it until he realized she was doing that to make him more powerful so he wouldn't fail her again. It also gave him more resistance to pain, so he was prepared if someone decided to torture him. Grima Volitu was a great Master, and Avreet would do his best to train anyone interested in the same ways as she trained him.

"Pain and hate. A powerful combination," he pointed at his right eye, "Few months ago, a Jedi Knight hit me into the eye with his lightsaber. My pain was incredible, just as the hate I felt for him. I should have been killed there, as I lacked both skill and experience, yet I have cut the fool down. When in battle, allow your pain to fuel you, using it with the Force so you won't get drained so quickly and make your powers stronger." The Mon Calamari said and nodded when she expressed an interest in learning Force lightning. Of course, he wouldn't have been there otherwise, but the white haired woman obviously wanted to learn it even more after experiencing it's effects.

"You are full of anger and pain, which is perfect for learning Force lightning. Before I give you any specific instructions on how to correctly control it's power, imagine you are using the emotions to guide the Force in your body into your hands. Imagine the incredible power, begging for release, feel the tickling in your fingertips. I want you to release it all into a wall, an uncontrolled mix of anger and pain formed into Force lightning."

Taking a step back to give her more room if she needed, he curiously watched her. She had to learn how to use the most basic, barbarian form of the power before taming it and learning how to use it without her emotions helping her.

 

[LadyM]

I would be lying if I said I was not excited to make my first attempt at this new ability. I slowly pulled off my right glove exposing the ghost white hand and raised it into the air as Avreet had done moments ago. Slowly I allowed the whirls of the dark side to blend into the Force then when I had that under my control, I poured my anger and hatred and pain into the dark side of the Force. At once I felt the tremors in the Force thinking I was about to explode when I realized it was my power growing more potent, manifesting itself in me. I took a deep breath.

Nothing, acutally it was a fizzle and then nothing happened. I cocked my head to the right, shook my right hand and still nothing. I lowered my hand realizing that I had failed in my first attempt. What happened I could not say but I was frustrated but I was not beaten. Then I remembered what Avreet said about guiding it outward rather than just building it up. So again I attempted it and still no positive results. I lowered my head angered with myself. How could I ever beat a Jedi then it struck me. I was not using my true anger. Yes, I was hating Avreet at the moment and yes I was angry toward him for using this technique on me but he was not the centre of all these emotions. Jedi and betryal!

I began to trace through my mind until I found what I needed to give my passion purpose. With each glimpse of my past of the Jedi, I felt the anger, the hatred rise and rise until it was on the verge of spilling from me. I gritted my teeth and lifted my ungloved right hand once more and focused harder. I saw my fingertips begin to turn a shade of blue followed by a crackling noise. I felt the heat of the Lightning on my fingers and though it was painful, I used that to my advantage. I looked at the wall and focused all my attention and power on one spot and slowly I began to release the blue energy.

It started out slowly then erupted into an arch of blue energy that hit the wall with such force that it left a scorching mark on it. When the last of the energy had finally left my fingertips, I gazed at them and saw that they had now turned a burnt looking colour which caused me to laugh. I knew I was going to have to replace my right glove if I was going to use this power on a daily basis.

"I do not believe in failing so I will practice this power until not only have I mastered it but can control it as I control my legs, my arms," I announced with a new found sense of power and pride. I recalled a an Elder from my villiage who preached pride was nothing but arrogance spelled with less letters and such pride was foolish and dangerous and could lead to downfalls. I began to laugh at that memory. I had allowed myself to be seduced by this dark side and fell and because of it, I am the one true daughter of the Danish Gods. "I thank you Avreet for what you have taught me. Though I felt a new pain when the energy was on my fingertips, I was able to blend that with what I was already feeling," I remarked with pleasure then added,"You truly are a warrior amongst warriors!"

 

[Bubák]

"Thank you," the boy said at her comment, clapping his webbed hands a few times at her success, "Practice it, just as you said. You wield the power, but it is unstable right now. Don't worry about that. After you use it enough times, you will feel a certain pattern in it, a thing you do whenever you use it even though you are letting different emotions fuel you. If you do that thing alone, you will discover how to use Force lightning without any emotions. That version of the power does not kill your opponents, it merely stuns them and makes them feel plenty of pain. Then you'll learn how much anger or passion you need to put into it to hurt or kill. You'll have to learn to apply different ammounts of emotions, as your enemies will also differ." The Mon Cal said then smiled, remembering she should know one more and important thing about lightning.

"Despite the way it looks, it is not electricity as how many Sith think. No, the blue or purple sparks coming out of your fingers is the energy of the Force, bend by your emotions. It will only hit what you want it to hit, so you won't hurt yourself or anyone else if you cast it into a metal floor. You can actually hold an object you are pouring Force lightning into without being hurt. It is your Force energy coming out of you, with your emotions, so it is up to you what's it going to strike and how painfully." He explained, hoping she understood.

Clasping his hands behind his back, he politely smiled, "Now please, if you'd let me taste your power." While not being masochistic, he wanted to be prepared for a situation like being captured by the rebels or the Jedi. Those barbarians used torture during their interrogations, despite it being absolutely ineffective method. As such, he wanted to get used to the pain, make it his ally that borrowed him strength rather than weakened him. He was sure Yr'il would like to use her new power agains the person who did it to her. Because the didn't have complete control over it yet, he took it as practice of his other Force power, Tutaminis. This way, he'd absorb the potential harmful effect and left only the pain.

 

[LadyM]

I found what he was saying to be interesting. So it was not real electricity but my own Force energies pouring from out of me. So by this testament I was hearing, the more emotions I pour into it the more deadly and dangerous the effects. However, I understood what Avreet had said about it being unstable. It took me three tries to do it so it would not be wise of me to simply unleash it with everything I had. It could kill both my target and myself. Not that slaying my enemies was a bad thing but I was not about to cast my life away for nothing.

"So I can use it to either kill or simply to render my target unconscience. When I had sought out this ability to learn I was blind and ignorant to its various applications Avreet. You have opened my eyes up to something far greater than I could have ever fathomed. Though I do not wish to haunt the universe with my brutality killing because I simply can. No, I will never abuse my powers, especially those that can so easily take the life of another. From my understanding, we Sith have enough enemies out there so it would be pointless for me to simply kill those that truly are no threat to me personally," I said believing my own words and not sure if he believed what I was saying. Afterall, we are Sith and trust is something that does not seem to be in abundence amongst us. However, I felt I could trust Avreet and over time form a bond of friendship with the Mon Calamari, if not out of freindship but then perhaps out of mutal survival.

Now he was asking me to use what he taught on him and still the linger effects of anger and hatred for him where still there but I no longer needed to feed off those emotins directed to me from him. I had found what filled my passion, my dark emotions so I rose my right hand, letting it hover slightly as I focused once more with the task before me. As last time, I felt the tingling in my fingertips mixed with the pain from my dark energy just as I released it through the air toward Avreet.

I watched it hit him full on but taking his words to mind, I held back my stronger emotions so that it would sting, maybe even stun him but not kill.

 

[Bubák]

The young boy was glad that Yr'il understood what kind of power she now posessed. When she asked him to teach it to her, he expected the woman to be another power hungry fool, wanting nothing more than something to kill her opponents. The woman had shown restraint, though, a rare thing among the Sith. Much as him, she wouldn't abuse her power and use it needlessly just because she could, she would use it only against those who stood against her. This pleased him, it clearly showed the superiority the Sith had over the Jedi. Having so much power, yet being able to use it and use it properly. If she survived long enough, she'd make a very powerful Sith, someone wouldn't mind to see being in power. The white haired woman might even become his friend, as coming across someone with a similiar mindset to his own was quite hard. There were only two other persons like that, and he wanted to follow them, not because of his desire for sharing a part of their power, but because he wanted to learn from their wisdom. Maybe he could introduce Yr'il to Grima? The Togruta still had him as an apprentice, but she would certainly like another student like Avreet, who knew how to use the gift of the Force properly and within reason.

The blue burst of energy hit him into chest, knocking the wind out of him and making him feel pain through the whole body. It was intense, pure, so it almost make him fall unconscious. The teenage Acolyte was a Sith, though, he had to know how to deal with pain, so he remained standing and took it as it came. Everything harmful got absorbed into him, giving him more energy, while the pain remained. Even after Yr'il stopped, he could still feel it in himself, burning as if someone poured hot metal into him. Several tears escaped his eyes, but he wiped those into his sleeve.

Yr'il definitely had plenty of potential and it was a blasted shame she didn't have a Master yet. Grima would hear of her, and Avreet could only hope the Togruta dared to take another apprentice.

"Excellent. Thank you." He moaned as he still struggled to talk. "In time, you will also learn how to mass the lightning in your hand and toss it, letting it find your nearest target. It is hard to do, as you won't be able to feed the lightning ball more energy once it parts from your body and you cut it from your power, so it lasts only for about five seconds before it disappears. It is particularly useful to disable your opponents from behind the corner, for example. You can use it to empower your punches too, though. Mass the Force in your hand and mix it with a proper ammount of emotions, as if you wanted to do the technique I just talked about, but instead of letting it go on it's own, punch something with it. Because it is still connected to you and your Force energy, it won't hurt you." He shared more knowledge, seeing the woman had the right idea.

"Force lightning can also be used to power up machines, but it will drain your energy very quickly. Use only when there is no other option of powering something up available." Naturally, there were much more applications, but Avreet knew only these. His Master, though, was going to teach him new ones soon.

 

[LadyM]

"So I can mass in the enrgy into my palm then unleash it like some sort of Force grenade," I inquired of Avreet. This ability was proving more and more worthy of learning and I had Avreet to thank for it. When the time presented itself, and awy from prying eyes, I would attempt to do what Avreet had mentioned about hurling the energy but for now I had been satisfied with the knowledge that had been imparted to me. "You mentioned I could use this energy to power up machines. But at a cost to me that would leave me drained," I started letting the visions of everything I could achomplish with this dark side energy known as Force Lightning then letting them to dematerlize from my mind I pressed on,"I have brushed the surface of the dark side powers and already my understanding of it and the nature of the Sith are bearing fruitation. Your Master must be proud of you, Avreet."

When I mentioned the word Master my heart grew weary. I had not yet caught the eye of a Master who was willing to train me, to funnel me further down the path of the dark side and all its dark and hidden secrets. Was I not worthy enough, had I not fallen far enough, was my skills to dull that no Master was eager to sharpen them? These thoughts had occured to me on more than one occasion. I witnessed Acolytes, far weaker and inferior to me, plucked from the Temple by a Master. Perhaps it was time that I stood amongst the crowds like a dark beacon and make myself noticed. I had long surpassed those in my class in lightsaber combat, which my time with my tribe had already gave me a leg up. I had recently learned a new power from my friend Avreet so my knowledge had grown. What could it be?

Then an idea struck me."So dear Avreet, do you like adventure," I asked with a smile.

 

[Bubák]

Slowly nodding, the Mon Cal acknowledged her comparison to a grenade. Truly, he had used it like that once, paralysing a group of four. A very useful thing to know and if Avreet remembered correctly, also the first power his Master had taught him. Back then, he thought he wanted to become a Sorcerer. Then Grima had shown him some of the powers of an Assassin. Needless to say, he was impressed so much that he immediately reconsidered his future specialization.

The young Acolyte certainly hoped his Master was proud of him. He knew she had had several students before him, but she never talked about them nor did he asked. Something was telling him his Master predicted great things for him, making him feel more determined to prove himself to her and be a good apprentice. While being humble, he felt proud for being chosen by someone as powerful as Grima. Yr'il, on the other hand, didn't have a Master yet. In some cases, it was better for the Acolyte since a portion of Masters killed their own students to prove themselves. Quite retarded in Avreet's opinion, destroying your own tool that faithfully serves you, but he didn't dare to openly speak against such actions. His Master may have been a powerful Sith Master, but not even her would have been able to stand again some of those... animals.

Yr'il's question surprised him, making him widely open his left eye as was usual for Mon Cals when surprised, "Adventure, you ask? Only as long as it gives something to the Empire, my Master, or myself." The Mon Calamari wanted to find honor and glory in the war, but the war has ended and he felt unsure what was going to happen next. The Empire still needed the Sith, as it always would, Avreet just had no idea where to turn his attention now. Towards the Jedi remnants? Or some internal threats?