Malicious Intent

Atia was so angry she knew if she followed him she'd have tried to kill Viktor. Calming down now that the fight was over, she went to the center of the room and sat down. He was right. He would have kept going, and she would have lost. And he was right about her giving in earlier. She had no control. So many questions flew threw her head she could hardly think clearly. Did I give myself over? Am I already corrupted beyond control? Why was he smiling at me? Why did my blood taste good? Would I have killed him? Why didn't I? Why didn't I feel the pain? Will I ever be able to defeat him? She sat in one spot, motionless for what seemed like hours, staring into nothingness. She focused her thoughts, trying to use the force to sooth her mind, but it only made her more restless. She eventually gave up, returning to her room. She showered, letting the hot water flow over her bruised back, just now feeling the extent of the damage. She dressed for bed and slept dreamlessly.

What the hell? Atia didn't bother trying to keep herself standing when she was kicked. Instead she used the added momentum and rolled, giving her added distance from his inevitable next attack. She came out of the roll on her feet, deft as any acrobat. Now she remembered why she was so angry with him earlier. He thought he was going to win, and there was not a snowball's chance in hell she would let that happen. "Quit messing around and fight!" She flared, rushing at him once again, her crimson blade flying towards his head. He parried, but she expected him to. She pushed forward in every way she could, starting to feel the effects of such a long fight. She didn't care about not killing him anymore. She only wanted to wipe the smug smile off of his face. She pushed forward, quickly wearing herself out, exerting everything she had left to make one opening. When their blades locked, she pulled Viktor close and headbutt him, then swept his feet out from under him, forcing him to the ground. She again threw him against the wall to give her some time to rest. Her forehead was now bleeding, head ringing from the blow. The pain didn't bother her but somehow gave her added strength. Between heavy breaths she worked to taunt him even more. "Had enough?"

Atia was taken aback. Why the humor? Doesn't he know I'll kill him if he lets up for a second? Some of her anger abated and now she had to focus more on her attacks than just let the motions flow from her. She continued to hold her ground but was no longer gaining it. "A puppet? Hardly. I'm just releasing it. To think I can be taken over in such a way. Ha!" She noticed his smile, loosing focus for a moment. She snapped back into the battle when his blade came dangerously close to her face. She could feel his pain but he didn't show it. She was a little upset her attack hadn't hurt him like she had hoped. When his blade come forward, she gave a small push to his hand, knocking his blow slighly wide. She took the oportunity and flicked the blade upward. At the last second she pulled back and only singed his clothes slightly. She moved back, out of range to let him know what she had done. "Oh. Sorry. They didn't look good on you anyway."

Atia's lightsaber fell from her hand when she hit the wall. She coughed, tasting her own blood and stood up, pulling the lightsaber back to her hand. The taste of her own blood sent a sense of confusion in her. She should have been thinking of how much that hurt, but the only thing coming to her mind was that her blood tasted pretty good to her and that the blow didn't hurt as much as she though it would. She rolled her shoulders and neck, sending a echo of cracks in the empty room. The pain he put in her didn't work anticipated, only making her angry she had been thrown so easily. Now she looked directly at him. "Silly me, must've slipped." She made no attempt to hide her anger in her features. Everything about her screamed fury. She consciously projected her anger on the room, letting it reach Viktor as she approached him, instilling a primal fear on would normally get when fighting a monstrous predator. About two meters in front of him she increased her speed and her strength with the force, no longer controlling her strikes. She let herself give into her fury, used it to focus the force, every blow sending a tremor of anger though the room. Viktor's motions were slightly fumbled, the fear she worked to instill creeping up on him. She struck high, giving him little time to block. Before their blades even met, she dropped low to sweep his feet. With his footing lost, Atia decided to give back Viktor's force push, sending him into the opposite wall as he had done. "Is this floor uneven or something?"

She hadn't expected a true fight with such deadly weapons this early in her training, but Viktor's strikes were fast. Faster than "practice" should be for the first time. The blows came swift, but without the strength Atia though he had at his disposal. So he is holding back, but replacing strength with speed. Atia gave a wry smile as she parried his attack, knowing full and well this is why she chose the curved hilt. It wasn't only for speed and precision, but distance. When holding the lightsaber, you extend your arm in it's fullest, bending your elbow mostly for powerful attacks. Most of the movement with her lightsaber would be with her feet and wrist. The danger of the fight only excited her. The thought that at any moment she could loose her life made the fight that much more entertaining. She jumped backwards, aided by the force, to give herself the distance she required, then lunged. Her attacks were equally fast, but she knew she couldn't match his strength if he pressed it. She had to keep him on the offensive. Subtle wrist movements, and blinding speed made her lightsaber cut through the air, leaving normal eyes to see the trails of light following her movement. She pressed on, keeping her attacks at torso level, making him keep his guard low. The speed of the battle made her adrenaline pump. She started to recall the last time she had fought and how good it felt to have someone under her thumb. She wanted to crush Viktor as she had her first. She wanted to hear his death moans, his agony, his pain. With every swing she felt the force growing in her, begging to be unleashed. She summoned her anger and continued to press the attack. All of a sudden, she made a seemingly desperate attack low, making him drop his blade else he loose a leg. Blades locked, she stepped in, giving up her distance advantage and struck him in the face with her left fist. The overpowered blow knocked him back, but Atia didn't press the attack any further. She wanted him to get up. She didn't want the practice to be over. There was so much more fun to be had. "Grounded by such a little girl, tisk tisk."

Atia followed Viktor to a room in which she presumed was supposed to learn how to use her new weapon. She saw him ignite his and gave him a quizzical look. "So...how exactly are we supposed to learn how to use these?" She ignited her lightsaber, still admiring the dark crimson glow. Something told her to prepare herself. She was no longer in the safety of the lab. Atia drew upon the force, letting it well up inside her until called upon. She waited for Viktor to give some clue as to what they should be doing.

Atia looked over at Viktor, hand forging his hilt. She felt inept that she hadn't thought out the option of customizing one, but shrugged it off and moved on. Now all that was left was the placement of the crystals. She levitated the crystals over to their place and slowly set them in place one by one. Atia shut out her sight and focused, using the force to feel around the surface of the crystals, looking for the perfect angle to place them at. Slowly the crystals spun, changing direction at Atia's will until she felt that they couldn't be more perfectly aligned. She set them in place and studied the angle with her sight. It did indeed feel like the correct placement. She glanced at her chrono, noticing that it had taken her a half hour just to align each crystal. She stood for a second, trying to remember the passage of time when she was setting the crystals but gave up and attached the second half of the hilt. The saber was chrome plated with black grip. She was pleased in the simplicity of the design. Unable to hold back her enthusiasm any more, she picked it up and held it in her hand. It was heavy, but with the aide of the force it was almost unnoticeable. She palmed her new tool, acting as if it were an extension of herself. The metal was warm to the touch despite the fact that she had hardly touched it while constructing it. The heat it permeated was not natural, but this didn't detract from the pleasure it gave Atia to hold. She flicked on the internal switch via the force and watched the blade extend for it's first time. The lightsaber's blade was a dark crimson. Atia suspected it was the fine black mist in the crystals that gave them their darker than average shade of red. She flicked it around, noticing the weightlessness of the blade. The hum of the blade pleasing in her ears. "I name you ßloodlust."

With her newly formed crystals suspended in air, Atia began to go through the rest of the parts needed. She had to decide what kind of lightsaber she wanted. I'm not terribly strong, but I'm quick. Perhaps I should go for a curved dueling hilt. It's a tad harder to align the crystals just right, but it requires more grace than brutal strength to use. More up my ally. She picked through the parts until coming upon a curved hilt, still just an empty shell. There was only one to choose from, but she didn't think how the hilt mattered would matter. Looks, after all, could be deceiving. However she didn't want it to be conventional. This is where she put her "tinkering" to practical use. Even as a child she was good with engineering little devices. Now was perhaps the pinnacle of all that playing around. She broke the empty hilt apart and started to throw in the basic pieces. The power cell, brackets for the crystals, the wires that would rest on the inner wall waiting to be hooked up later. She paid extra attention to the mounting brackets for the crystals. If the crystals were realigned, the lightsaber was likely to explode. The brackets set, Atia made one last overview to make sure everything was in place before the final step. She made a final tuning on the stabalizer ring and stood back, admiring her work thus far.

Atia was soaked. She hadn't exactly planned for the rain, but she was glad for it. It felt cool and refreshing. She had been led down a turbolift and was told to make a lightsaber. She went to her designated side of the room and looked through the parts. There were several style of hilts, varying degrees of power emitters and focusing lenses. Everything needed for a diverse lightsaber, except the crystals. Atia leaned against the wall to try to remember how the Sith made crystals. If memory served, she had to throw raw material in an incredibly hot furnace to burn out the impurities while using the force to form the crystals. She looked over at the bench, picking up the raw elements to make the crystals. She placed it in the furnace and started it up. Atia sat down two meters from the furnace door and began to suspend the material withing the furnace chamber. Within moments the material had grown bright red, it's molecular bonds incinerating from the heat. Now it was a free floating liquid mass. Atia remembered that the force in her was strongest when she focused on her emotions. She began to recall every mean-spirited thing her master had done to her for no appearant reason. The pain, the embarrassment. None of this she deserved. Moving back through her mind, she remembered all those who ridiculed her growing up. Cruelly commenting on her lack of standard vision, that she was a freak. Oh how she wanted to kill them! Kill them and everyone they knew, just so they'd know not to mess with her. The added support of her anger began to compress the material, forcing the molecules together. The flame got hotter, and the lesser materials started burning out of the crystals. Now the crystals began to take shape, and color. The iron remaining in the crystals gave them a red color. Atia knew the crystals would probably be fit enough to work in a lightsaber, but her hatred commanded her to continue, to unleash itself through the crystals. Now Atia remembered her first kill. The man who had attacked her for no reason, and how good it felt to hurt him, even after her master showed her how it had felt. Knowing how he had hurt only reinforced the pleasure. A wicked smile came on her face as she continued to bask in the memory of how good it had felt. The crystals began to contort, compressing ever smaller as more material was added. When she had finished, Atia waited for the crystals both to cool. She made two, one as the primary and one the focusing. She pulled them out with the force, making sure not to touch them herself to keep from marring the surface before it was put in. The crystals both came out red, with an abnormality. They had what looked like a fine mist of black in the middle. Atia had thought for a moment, realizing that it was when she lingered upon her first death, she had set a different feeling through the crystal. Pleasure instead of hatred. Atia enjoyed the crystals, giving off an aura that matched hers. She kept them afloat as she made her way back to the workbench.

Atia could only sit and watch the Jedi take the beating. Part of her wanted her stand up and yell at Revan to stop. To stop this senselessness and just detain the Jedi. Cripple him so he is of no threat. But she could feel part of herself not caring. All the reading she had done over the hours at the terminal, her views had begun to become twisted, shaped by a new way of thinking. Protecting others throughout life gets you no where. They wont care about you. They are bound to fail or betray you eventually, that is an inevitability you have to come to terms with. The only way to survive is to look out for yourself. "Do you really think they'd come to this hell of a planet for you, Jedi? That is if they even knew you came here. I'm surprised that pretentious council of yours even let you come here." She bent down to examine his face. He was far beyond upholding the composure the Jedi were known for. He didn't seem right, too ill at ease. "Or did they? Did you come on your own accord? What were you seeking on this planet, Jedi? Death? Oblivion? The eternal peace? All these I'm sure Master Revan would be more than glad to give." She glanced at Revan, the pleasure of his task lying elegantly on his face. A slight shiver went through Atia, afraid of what she saw in Revan, in what she began to see in herself. She brought herself back to the matter at hand and adressed the Jedi once more. "No, you came for something else. Answers maybe? What questions crawl through that lump of grey matter you call a brain? More importantly, were the answers worth your life?"

Atia found herself angry that he wasn't shocked at her eyes. Forgetting he, himself was blind, she felt bitter at what appeared to be his attempt to simply ignore the obvious. Is it out of pity he doesn't comment? How dare he pity me. He is the one who is beaten and broken, not I. Where can he find room in his pathetic existence to feel sorry for me? "My past is my own concern, not yours Jedi" She added a touch of venom to the title, as if it were some horrible disease or he belonged to something hated galaxy wide. To anyone not inside her head, this would have seemed completely random and uncalled for, but Atia felt perfectly justified in her lashing. He was, after all, the enemy.

"I'll not harm you unless you give me reason. Lord Dagon seems to want you alive..." She paused and looked him over. He was broken, defeated. Nothing left but a hollow shell. She was split between pity and contempt. All her reading had lead her to believe that the Jedi were self righteous hypocrites, saying they desire not power yet ever working harder to eliminate any opposition to their rule. The Sith mostly. "...Why, I don't know." She sighed and tried to take the time to reflect on all she had been taught. She remembered what Dominique had said about her eyes. How she shouldn't be ashamed of them, how they were part of her no matter how she tried to mask them. Atia let her shoulders drop from the gravity of her impending actions. She reached up and pulled her cowl down to rest on her shoulders, letting loose her platinum hair, tipped in blood red. She kept her eye lids closed as she straightened her hair by running her fingers through it. She looked at Avararda, opening her eyes slowly, revealing completely white orbs. "We'll just have to wait and see, now won't we?"

Meat sack? Atia obediently stood at the ship standing watch over the jedi. He sat, his life's blood continuing to flow from his wounds. Atia couldn't help but feel sorry for the man. He had appeared to go through a lot. She stopped herself from felling remorseful to the point of freeing him when she recalled the previous lessons she had learned from her master. He was just as likely to kill her than say any kind word. Are the Jedi really so terrible? Atia leaned against the hull of the ship, roughly three meters from the Jedi. She took out her vibroblade and began flipping it in the air, toying with the balance and catching it before it fell to the floor. "Are you going to behave, or am I going to have to make you escape a touch more challenging?" She tilted her head toward the Jedi, keeping her tone and look serious. She stopped flipping the blade and held it casually in her hand. "Because I have no qualms with giving you another hole to bleed from, if you wish it."

But, if we're not Sith, what are we? I never came across any third group in my reading. The Sith were know for horribly powerful acts throughout the galaxy. What could be worse? She had been taking in every word from the three, making sure to understand what her master had been trying to teach her. Atia listened to the Jedi speak, making the futile attempt at arguing with Dominique and Revan. He was in no position to argue. If he remained silent, he could eventually find himself in a much better position and free himself, instead of antagonizing those who were obviously in control of his fate. The more he spoke, the more Atia felt something was wrong with him. "Master, he doesn't seem like a conventional Jedi. Don't most Jedi attempt to remain calm and peaceful in all situations? He just appears to be lashing out like a wounded animal."

Atia had followed Dominique to the Jedi's ship. She saw him lying on the ground, weak and defenseless. She cringed when Revan kicked the prone man and looked away as he continued his assault. Fighting is one thing, but this is just brutal. Why is he doing this? She looked back when the sound of violence ceased. The Jedi was now lying face down. She didn't know what to feel for him. She was being trained by a Sith master. Sith. She should have been at war with this Jedi. She shouldn't care what happened what happened to him. But she did. "Master. Why is this man a threat? He's obviously injured. He can't do anything against us in his condition."

Nothing about this planet felt right. Even before they landed, Atia couldn't help but feel like something horrible was going to happen at any moment. Upon exiting the shuttle, she was greeted by a sight she felt was beautiful and horrifying at the same time. Everywhere she looked she saw the darkest light she had ever seen. Everything had seemed to have a presence in the force. It made it hard for Atia to focus on things. Dagon had told them to be on guard, which averted her attention from the scenery to Dominique. She seemed to be hidden within the background of the planet. Atia looked at Dagon and Revan and found the same to be true for them. To her, they seemed to almost disappear. What kept them from completely escaping was the individual aura they had acquired through their lives.The inquiry to what she had learned thus far made her smile. "I've read quite a lot and found that I've much more to learn. There seem to be several theories out debating on what the force really is. The three I focused on sounded the most feasible, but I couldn't figure out which to follow. The first stated that their was a dark and light side, each with their own followers. The second stated that there was only one force and it was how it was used that made it dark or light. And the third said that their was a limited amount to the force and that the more people manipulating it left less for everyone else. That was the only thing I had confusion over. The history of the Jedi and Sith were pretty straight forward. I didn't get too far on the traditions and dogma behind either sect. I was reading that much when you arrived." Atia looked at Dominique, giving a slight smile in hopes that her progress would suffice for what she had asked her to do. She had no reason to know that she had obscured from her orders slightly in getting water. That and the small conversation with the odd pair she had met in the lab.

Atia's smile faded as Dominique came closer, letting the blue aura of her weapon protrude from her robes. What the...? That thing....what? She looked at the large men behind the petite woman when she made them more known. They were indeed large and could probably rip her apart without remorse. How could such a small woman demand the power to command men such as these? How did they fear her as such? It didn't seem to make any sense. And what did she mean....like a harlot? Was she implying Atia was some two bit whore, willing to do anything to achieve power or wealth? Hardly. Twisting men around your finger was one thing. Uncrossing your legs for trivial things. How degrading. Atia's mind was riddled with questions. What was this power she spoke of? Is it attainable? What is the blue thing on her waist? The all too familiar line rang through Atia's thoughts once more. Peace is a lie.... The words seemed to answer all her questions at once, without devulging any information. Atia turned her attention to the blue eye anomoly. She nodded her head and let a sole word leave her red lips. "Yes"

Atia was confused by this little woman. Everyone else seemed to cower in front of her, and Atia couldn't really tell why. She tried to study Dominique's features to see if she was particularly intimidating or not, but all she got was more confused. She looked like a normal person would to Atia, except, more. Normal people appear as a glow, the color sometimes augmented by the gravity of their deeds. How "good or bad" of a person they were in life made them look different. That is how they were primarily distinguishable to Atia. No one was the same. Everyone was just a little different. But this women was different. When Atia looked upon her, it looked as if the light were focused, like everyone else was behind filtered glass. Not only did she she appear "clearer", but her aura was richer, more full of the color everyone else had. Everyone else was faded by comparison. All of this intrigued Atia all the more. She was curious, but she wasn't going to let this anomaly act like she deserved everyone's respect. No, she'd have to earn it, like everyone else. She let her hood fall to her shoulders. She shook her head to let her hair escape from it's previous confines and joint it's rightful place in full view. Atia gave one of her more charming smiles. "Who? Me?"

The ship set down after three days of awkwardly conversation. When the ramp was lowered, Atia started to make her way out. "Have you considered our proposal, Atia? Wanna stay with us? It's good pay. Just ask Draven." Ced looked over to Draven for affirmation. Draven just looked away, focusing on the crates being loaded into the ship. "She's made her decision" Draven said with a bitter note. "Oh, no, I can't really. Shouldn't tie myself to one place too long." "Well it will be sad to see you leave. You increased the power efficiency of the hyperdrive by sixty percent. You're a good mechanic, really."'' "Thank you, really. But I have to get going. I have to find a place to crash and a job by days end." Atia started to walk away before she was stopped by Draven. "I...I know we agreed that you'd repair the ship for passage, but...here, as a parting gift." He handed her a cred stick with a couple hundred credits on it. "Apology gift you mean?" She whispered to him, just out of hearing range of Ced. Draven didn't say anything, but his face went red from shame and he went back to work. "Thanks Draven. Well, I hope to see you guys around. It's been fun, really." She strolled off the ramp and made her way into the city. She wasn't familiar with this planet and had to stop and ask for directions several times. Every seemed to be apprehensive, like something was wrong, but no one was saying a word to her. She made her way to the nearest mechanical shop to see if there was any work. She found a small shop off of the main stretch of businesses. She rang the bell on the counter. A quarren appeared from the back. "Can I help you?" His basic was broken and hard to comprehend, but she managed to pick up the gist of what he was trying to say. "Yes, I was hoping to get a job. I'm a fairly accomplished mechanic." "Are you with the raid?" "What? What raid?" He struggled to pronounce the words. "Did you arrive in a ship? Or a pod?" What the hell is he talking about? "Um...I came in a ship. I just arrived today on The Esoteric. You can check the dock records." "No, no. I believe you. We've just been a little...anyway. You say you are a mechanic?" "Yes. I've worked on everything from large freighters to common appliances. I can do just about anything, really. And I'm a quick learner if I don't know how it works." "Do you have residence here?" "No, I was actually hoping you could point me in a direction for a place to stay as well." "Hm....how old are you, human?" "Um...I'm not...eh. I'm fifteen." She didn't want to take the time and explain how she wasn't human. Thus leading into a further conversation about her uniqueness that she wanted to avoid for a while. "You're not going to run off on me, are you? If I give you a job, you will stay for a while?" "I plan on it." He thought for a second, seemingly looking her over to get a judge of her character. "You aren't...on anything are you?" "No sir. Quite clean." "Alright. I have an empty room above the shop. You will open the shop and close it. I will show you to your room and show you around the shop tomorrow. After you get settled in, you will have the day to explore the town. Get a feel for where everything is." "Sounds great." He took her upstairs and gave her the key to her room. The building was rather old to require keys, but she didn't argue. The room was rather small. A shower in the corner, a bed, and a small closet to put personal items. "This is where you will stay. You can access the room from the back alley as well. You have the rest of the day to do as you will. I expect you downstairs bright an early tomorrow." He quickly left to attend to the shop, ignoring any questions she may have. She left the room and locked the door behind her, leaving to search the city. This will work for a while. Just until I save up a few creds and decide on my next move.

Atia tried to remain out of sight most of the trip. She made regular rounds on the ship to check on the the condition of the ship. She was surprised it hadn't fallen apart. Most of her time consisted of savaging parts in a hull that was pretty much converted into a junk pile. The rest of the time was devoted to fixing the ship. Three days out of Mon Calimari, Atia was awakened one night by Draven. The lock to her door was surpassed and opened. Atia scrambled to put on her goggles and looked at who was at the door. "Wha?....who's there?" "Draven." "What's the matter? Something break? We gonna crash?" "No, no. Nothing to worry about." "Then why are you here? Didn't I lock my door?" He walked over and sat on the edge of her bed, resting his hand by hers. "You know, I've been watching you the past few days." His hand touched hers, only by fingertips but slowly moved to her palm. She didn't move it, letting him focus on her right hand as her left moved for the blaster under her pillow. "You really are quite graceful." "Thanks Draven. It's good to hear people notice you." "And I was thinking. You don't have to leave us on Mon Calimari. You can stay on the ship, for repairs that is. We'll pay you. I've been talking it over with Ced. He seems to think it's a good idea." "Well, I don't know Dra..." "We were thinking it would be good to have you around. Bring a nice touch to the ship. Maybe soften it up a little." "Where's Ced?" "Asleep." She started to panic. She knew his intentions. There was no mistaking his what he wanted. It was a chance she took, and it seemed to have backfired. She noticed that Draven didn't look the same as when she had met him. He looked shadier, as if she had set him on a dark path. It was certain he was thinking in a pattern he had never had before she arrived. This isn't going to end well. "Well, we're a couple days out. Gimme a few days to think it over, k?" "You're so pretty, Atia. Can I...just...see your whole face?" His hand moved from hers up to her rose shaded goggles. In one fluid motion, her left hand grabbed the blaster while her right reached for his throat and pulled him flat on the bed. Barrel to his temple, he started to reach for his weapon. "Hold it! I'm not here as your plaything. I'm here to repair your ship and be dropped off. That's it! If you so much as lay a finger on me the rest of the trip you won't live to regret it. Hear me?" His face went red as he only nodded. She let go of his throat, seeing the little trails of blood flowing from it where her nails had torn the flesh. He stood up and walked out the door. She got up and closed it, reprogramming the code to the lock. She took off her goggles and set them beside the bed. She replaced the blaster and layed back down. The remaining days would be awkward and she'd have to stay on guard. If he tries to do anything again, I'll go to Ced. He seems to still have some integrity left. If he protests as well I'll have to go to plan B. Though it is a far bloodier plan than I was hoping for.

Real Name: Atia Nickname: N/A Age: 16 Species: Miraluca Height: 5' 6”