Orik Bendan

Orik smiled as the Westar blaster pistol was suspended in the air, a floating representation of what the power of the force could do. Impossibilites became nothing to the mind of a force user, such as keeping an object suspended in air without anything so much as a repulsor. With the accomplishment that came to pass, the sith lord nodded in approval of the task having been completed. He is good... The last excercise had brought out something odd in the mind of Nadus that Orik hadn't had the benefit of in his own training. It was as though this man was driven not just by a desire and eagerness to learn the intricacies and complexities that was the force, but as if he was also made even more powerful from his memories and his experience in the realm of battle and war. It would prove to be a large benefit to the man, and was undoubtedly something that could make this man even more powerful when he learned to draw on different memories for different things. With a small nudge in the force, Orik undermined the effort that Nadus had put forth in causing the blaster pistol to ascend to the air and the weapon returned to it's holster without hesitation, like a dog being called by a master to come back home. Once again nestled safely where it should be, the blaster would sit dormant until such a time that the sith lord deemed it necessary to use it again, be it for this man's training or for actual combat. "The Force can give you advantages that enhance your efficiency in every regard. It can make you extremely fast and swift if you force it to submit to your will and make it give you what you want. The sith warrior shed his black robe as it fell lightly and gracefully to the floor beneath his feet, only to reveal his much less formal garb that was much easier to move around in. The air around him became thinner it seemed, and all the weight from his body fell to the ground and it felt as though he were in a constant state of defying the laws of gravity. With a quick step, he started into a full on sprint toward Nadus. His entire body seemed to glide from one side of the spacious area to the other and suddenly Orik was right next to the man that he was training. The entire ordeal had lasted a duration of around a second at most. "Physical limitations are only physical. If you can break that barrier, you have endless possibilities. Reach out and achieve the utmost speed you can"

The boot that pressed into his back continued to do so in a forceful manner that dug into the flesh and make a foot print on the sith lord's apparel. Yet this is not what triggered the harsh, violent reaction that would come in the Kel Dor's mind and would surface in a blazing physical representation of rage and malice, yet it was the knight's easily controvertible statements that rung within his ears and never ceased their endless echoing. The words nearly drove him mad within but a second, and they had accomplished that very task in a few more. The vision of the sith lord became hazy as the images that his sight gave him became stained with a crimson bloodlust and all that he saw he wanted to destroy in an instant. Thought had eluded the man, and all of his emotions and feelings reached their pinnacle in that very moment that the words, ”œI am not your enemy,”

Orik smiled as he could feel the darkness in his pupil grow and his signature in the force blossomed into a mere blip in the galaxy. Yet is was a resounding blip at that, one that signaled that force awareness had been achieved and that now Slicer was part of everything in the galaxy and yet was above it in some way and manner that only one who possessed the potential of a dark sider could. That was enough to make the Kel Dor pleased that he hadn't wasted his time by coming here. Thinking of how to introduce the next lesson to the man, he outstretched his hand and felt the darkness around it as he summoned energy to come coursing through the air and silently and invisibly touch everything and everyone in the room. It swirled around the two as an aura of the force, and eventually the man clad in armor began to slowly hover over the ground below him. His entire body levitated to the point where he was a good three feet off of the ground instantly. "This is what you will learn to do: Lift things using only your mind and your affinity with the force." He let the man down gently so that his feet barely made as noise as they struck the solid floor. The Kel Dor reached for his blaster pistol and tossed it to the floor with a large, metallic clank. It skidded for a second and then came to a halt a few feet away from Slicer and lay idle there, waiting to be used. "Now I would like you to lift this weapon with only your mind. Tap into the force and feel your connection with the object. Invision your goal and then realize it by tapping into all the passion you can muster." The Kel Dor stood there and awaited in his black robe with the red lining that traced the outlines of his sleeves and other select parts of his outfit. All the while he stared at the man, showing no emotion in the stoic, austere gaze that gave no impression at all as to what could be going through his mind at that moment, whether it was positive or negative would be unknown to the galaxy around him, just the way that the sith lord enjoyed it. A quick thought found it's way into the mind of the man as he stood there and waited for Slicer to attempt the task. The simple thought was what he would do with those Magnaguards that he would be recieving and how anxious he was to begin their training... not to mention his training with them. They could become the perfect students, learning from absolutly everything that was presented to them and doing so with the precision that only a droid could maintain. They would serve as excellent sparring partners for a sith lord who was becoming eager to improve his skills beyond that of any before him. The ends would be great for him and eventually it would all be worth it. Then again, just training a worthy ally like this to make him even more powerful shall be worth it. From what Orik could gather, the man who had called him to Selvaris was a relativly decent commander at least. The Kel Dor hadn't exactly evaluated him in that regard. However, the man definetly had the unmistakable aura of death around him and skill that could be unleashed with relative ease in battle. The man's force training would not be his only weapon, it would merely be an accent to an already dangerous foe who could kill on so many different levels already that he could already be a force to be reckoned with, even for a sith. Now whether he put that determination and power to use in the ways of the force was an entirely different matter that they would have to find out through the trials and tribulations that training brought.

((OOC: Sorry for short post. Time constraint)) Orik nodded wordlessly in response to the question from the Imperial. The feeling was not quite the same as the one he had when he had accepted Marcellus as his apprentice. This one seemed much more forced, and the raw hate of a monster wasn't in the heart of this man to the potentcy as he had seen it in the very sould of the now Lord Maultros. The force potential for the man that stood before him was still great, yet a bit of him knew that the force was not a necessity for sucess for Slicer as it was for most sith or jedi. "First we will open your mind to the dark side. The force is all around you, woven into everything and everyone. Being that connected with everything makes it a powerful weapon, far more useful in many regards than physical weaponry. Of course, some may have contrary opinions... yet I do not find myself among their ranks. Connect with it and feel it's embrace. You can't accomplish this through physical means, but rather it is something that transcends the physical realm."

The acceptance of Orik's offer was pleasing in the most satisfying way. His own droids to control and train to serve his cause. The IG-100 Magnaguard was a droid that could not just be programmed on how to fight, but learn how to fight. This is why the Magnaguards were so valued by General Grievous and why they were such deadly warriors. Depending on the amount of time spent training them, they could become formidable foes for even jedi knights and the like. They would make welcome company for the sith lord when he finished this task and got back to the more immediate demands of the sith. The stormtroopers around him ushered him to his room. They didn't seem to be walking with him however, but rather around him. The dark power of the sith lord emanated from his body in an aura that repelled the men who had any sense about them, and the very air seemed to become rich with the malicious taint of the Dark Side. Orik breathed the air in and savored every second of the feeling as he felt it pass through his throat and into his lungs, knowing that it was of his own creation. The escort that he had been given had began to walk a bit faster every second that they were exposed to the presence of the Kel Dor, a few breaking out in nervous sweats under their pure white helmets. In one way Orik found a similarity between himself and the stormtroopers. Because of his oxygen mask and his goggles, his emotions and feelings were generally hidden from others, and the armor and helmet of the stormtroopers provided them the same comfort. The Kel Dor walked with them, anxious to find his room in order to catch up on a few things that needed catching up on, yet he found the need to slow down and let the escort slow down their pace eventually. Their fear was apparent and they could be read just as easily as the holonet could be viewed. Every thought and feeling they had was projected through the force and it Orik suppressed a chuckle or two at the shear idiocy of the men. Do they not know that I am not here to cause them any harm? Letting the question go unanswered, Orik finally arrived at his room. The door flew up into the frame and disappeared from sight as a storm trooper ducked inside quickly to turn on the lighting. A pale goldenrod radiance grew into vision as the bare essentials of survival could be seen in the room. They were, of course, all he would truly need. This base wasn't meant to hold guests, and the sith lord didn't expected to be treated as royalty or anything. A nod of satisfaction put quite a few of the soldiers at ease, or perhaps it was the fact that they would finally be able to leave to more pressing matters and away from this shady, robed character that had been called in so suddenly and had cast a mysterious and cold temper over any area in which he found himself. As soon as Orik took his first steps into the room, the escort quickly vanished and he was alone again with no greeting other than the closing metal door behind him. As he began to get settled into his quarters, he figured now would be as good of a time as ever to do something which he had put off for a bit. Sinking into meditative position, the warrior began to search for something in the force. Perhaps it was an object, or perhaps it was a clue. For some reason or another, however, it was something that transcended the realm of the force and resided somewhere in the spirit of Orik. I shall wait until they get come to get me, but I shall search for as long as possible.

The sith lord looked over the heavily armored imperial as the proposition passed through his ears. There was but one response that the Kel Dor could possibly comprehend as being suitable for payment if he were to give out his services. Being no stranger to the world of training one in the ways of the force, they would have to cost the Empire something if he were to take his time and train a man of such power as the on that stood before him. "I will require four Magnaguard droids as payment for my... services." As the last words left his lips and traveled into the air, the head of the cloaked figure tilted upward from it's position and allowed Slicer a better look at the Kel Dor's face. The mask that he bore eternally for the sake of his life held the plastered, serious gaze that it had always held and the staring was that of an inimical glance which never ceased or let up, only furthering to display how set in stone his wish was. The sith lord didn't even try to use the mind control trick on this man as he had the other Imperial, for the man appeared too strong-minded for him to accomplish such, so he would rely solely on his words and actions to get his message across without the force... the old fashioned way of doing things. The meeting room that the two both stood in was somewhat large and contained would could be found in any basic meeting room. The slick, curved chairs laid perfectly symetrically around a rather slender ellipse, waiting for guests to sit in. Of course, the two men in the room would not spend enough time in the room to constitute the need to remain comfortable, so it served rather to increase the formal atmosphere that had been set up. The sith lord had to admit that he was somewhat impressed with the intricate designs of the layout. Each chair had been placed perfectly with Imperial precision and there was an exact distance between each one. Perhaps I should give somewhat of a demonstration... Since he had arrived on this planet, Orik had felt a world that was once a bustling center of rebel activity decline as a sullen state of gloom fell over and swallowed the planet. The life that had once been found everywhere was now only found at the base, and in an undeniably smaller proportion. Still, the Kel Dor could feel all this and could feel the heartbeats of men guarding the outside of the durasteel door that led to the meeting room. Knowing that if he hurt anyone or anything considerably that they could instantly perceive him as a foe, the sith lord decided on a much less destructive plan than the one he had previously conjured up. Without even lifting a finger, the chair at the head of the table began float into the air, free from the laws of gravity that bound it to the floor. Spinning slowly on one of the chair legs, it began to ascend higher and higher toward the ceiling. All the while, the only part of Orik that followed the object was his head. Still, his eyes were staring at Slicer though they were hidden. The chair was let loose, and began to fall to the floor, right before the Kel Dor outstretched a hand and caught it. The object came to an abrupt halt and began to gently and peacefully find its way back to the place where it had come from... exactly the same place. "If you choose to accept, that is the first thing I will teach you to do. You have most likely seen more spectacular displays of the force, and a sith lord is capable of far greater than that. However I didn't want to upset the balance of the room, and wanted to give you a demonstration on what you would be doing immediatly. Perhaps with not so much control, yet levitation of your surroundings is rather elementary. So... do we have a deal?"

The three-winged beast emerged from space and swooped down into the atmosphere of the hot planet. The end of each wing pointed toward the surface during the decent and it seemed to come with the inimical intent of destruction and death as it flew gracefully through the night, the singular moon in the sky being the background on which a silhouette was formed. Upon further concentration, once could see that this wasn't actually a living, breathing beast at all. Rather that this was an object composed of cold, unforgiving metal. Although the design of the ship was meant to be somewhat menacing, it did nothing to compare to the notorious pilot that sat comfortably and safely in the chair, for no mere shuttle could compare to the terror that a sith lord could cause. As Orik guided the Shrieking Talon throughout the sky, he began follow the path of coordinates that had been provided to him by the mysterious message he had received in the midst of space with consummate control of the ship's every movement. After flying the same ship for his entire life, he had become very proficient with it and knew just how far he could push anything. Every turn he made was exact, and that kind of immaculate perfection was one thing that the Kel Dor enjoyed. I'm approaching the base. I will soon see what I will have to work with. Orik pushed the throttle as hard as he could, hoping to get as much out of the new modifications that he had installed on it. The sublight engines seemed to be working more efficiently than ever as the landscape became but a blur to the vision of the Kel Dor. A faint smile accompanied an exhilaration that only the rush of adrenaline that came with speed could bring. It was as though he were younger, before he was a sith, trying to outrun various different patrols. The shuttle slowly eased to a hover as it flew towards the designated docking bay which was surprisingly close. With the flip of a switch, the stygium cloaker activated so that the ship would appear blind on all sensors, even the Imperials. Of course, it wasn't that he didn't want the Imperials to see him, for he knew that they most likely were watching him now through different surveillance devices. That wasn't it. It was just that he didn't like his location known to the outside galaxy. He was there for his business and that was his alone, not meant for the prying eyes of anyone. It was a habit of his to not want to be seen or heard, and it was not one that he had any intention of breaking now. The shuttle became still and idle as Orik took in a deep breath of air. By the time the Kel Dor began to exhale, the faint hiss of the ramp coming down could be heard. As his footwear created somewhat louder than usual footsteps, he descended the ramp and looked to see an Imperial standing and waiting for him. The sith lord put his hood over his head and let the red lining of the black robes create a circle around his face. The Imperial before him was from the same stiff mold that all of them seemed to be from. Sometimes it surprised him to find that they were not all just clones of the same officer. The officer was most likely here to tell him what where to go, yet Orik just felt like he wished to abuse the power of the force for a little bit and manipulate this man's mind to further improve upon his skills. "You will tell me where I need to go." Reaching into the man's mind, he implanted the thought there just as if the Imperial had thought of it himself. He could feel every cavern and trail of the man's brain and molded and shaped it to fit his purpose so that he would accept this thought. The idea was not to get the information that Orik needed, but rather just to get it through this method of the dark side. When the Imperial responded with a near mindless expression pasted on his face, the sith lord smiled behind his oxygen mask in satisfaction. Excellent...

Orik was distracted by the small, flashing red light that had managed to draw his attention. He wasn't expecting any messages yet apparently he had been contacted by someone. Pulling up the transmission he read it with eager eyes as he took in every word and thought of what each would entail. I've thought of enough here... With the manipulation of a few controls, the shuttle was off to a different planet than the one that the sith lord had intended for it to head towards when he first set off. Now he was heading towards Selvaris...

The interior of the Shrieking Talon was so cold and metallic to the sith lord now as his alien features surveyed the closest thing to home that he had even known. The luxury of a true home had eternally eluded him long ago and he would lack such a chance for the remainder of his life... however long that may be. The pugnacious nature of the Kel Dor would put to rest the minimal chance that he would live a long and peaceful life, and that peace that evaded his every move was exactly the reason that he had no home. The sith academy could never fill that void, nor could he say that he had any family and very few truly cared if he lived or died. What does it matter... You have no true home. His lids closed over his eyes and shut out the worries of the world around him beneath the goggles that always remained present on his face. The world of consciousness fled as his mind was lulled to sleep by the faint noises of the starship as it glided effortlessly through space. His figure rested lazily in the unrelenting metal chair, yet comfort was not something that he'd become accustomed to so it was all the same to the Kel Dor. With that, he found himself in something... some sort of a parallel reality of pure darkness. Endless fields of black surrounded him on all sides, yet the space was not empty. No, it was so full and so dense with hate and malice, that it had successfully thwarted any attempt by light to climb to the surface or become visible in every the most microscopic manner. It was the essence of a black hole, yet the physical self of the sith lord was still resting in the chair with an emotionless expression that couldn't be seen by the prying eyes of the stars that failed to see beyond his oxygen mask. In a way his mask gave Orik the appearance that he never held any thoughts or feelings within the confines of his mind at all, as though his face were an entirely cold and impersonal one... almost like a droid of sorts he thought. A heartless collection of metal with a look that never wavered from what the designers intent had been for it and the way that it had been created long ago. Now the man saw the astral projection of himself within the starless black hole, his eyes but mere spectators to the event. With a sudden boom, the entire reality seemed to shake with an number of vibrations too numerous to count as Orik assessed the tangibility of the event and attempted to judge whether or not it was truly happening. Of course he could see what was happening, yet it hadn't occurred to him that he had slipped into a dream. The boom suddenly took form as a voice in his ears as some higher power altered the vibrations in the air to make words that shook the entire world of the man. "You have been found guilty of failure Orik Bendan." The words needed no explanation as to what he had failed at. If his mind were not pre-occupied with the unreal visit to this alternate dimension, it would once again visit the scene of the Academy where Orik was sliced cleanly in half by the saber held in the hand of Kyp Durron. A flicker of hate began to stir within the mind of the Kel Dor. Not for the former Dark Lord of the Sith, but for himself and for the failure that he had been forced to live with ever since. His head tilted downward as a sullen disposition wiped through him and drowned out that flicker of hate with morose feelings. Before him the world had given him no time to bask in his somber reflection as it appeared that the darkness began to receded to make way for red and orange fires that seemed to burst out of no where. It were as if the gates of hell were opening before him and as though an unknown forcer were pulling him through without his consent. The flames danced around his flesh, yet the epidermis did not blacken or char as would be expected. Nor did he feel any pain or heat from the cauldron of plasma that swallowed him. His eyes strayed until he saw the pyrotechnic chamber he found himself in arrange a bit of the fire so that it formed the shape of a human. Elliptical orbs of brilliant, pure light appeared on the face of the fiery abomination and stared straight into the eyes of Orik. No words were exchanged, just the sound of embers eternally burning without any need of fuel or any signs of stopping. It spoke very much in the same extreme manner that the darkness had spoken to him before. "Do not fail again. Failure happens, it is inevitable. Learn from it." With that, the fiery hell that he was in was replaced by the familiar interior of his ship and the sith lord was left in the cold grasp of space once again as reality flooded back to his vision. As he stared out into the galaxy he saw the planet grow closer and closer and he felt the void in the force... an empty hole. Orik knew that he would soon become a part of that void, and his thoughts slipped as he gave his mind a rest to recover from the mental exhaustion that followed the dream.

((Marcellus, you haven't posted in here yet so I'll make this post for you. I'd also like to apologize for the crappy post.)) Coreillia now was witness to the landing of a shuttle containing two sith lords and one abducted to learn the ways of the sith. The envoy of darkness touched down and any attempt to land without a bit of notice drawn to the Shrieking Talon was stymied by the busy skies of the planet. People raced around busily and buzzed by in whatever form of transportation they could manage, and their eyes took notice as Orik bid Marcellus and Jace a farewell. It was not every day that they saw a fleshless body walking around. Now the shuttle took off and headed toward a place where the sith lord might finally be able to take a small rest and reflect upon a few things that needed reflecting upon. With a course plotted to Myrkr, the shuttle began to ascend to the atmosphere. A planet without the force... only there might I be able to find a place to rid myself of momentary complexities and find solace in the pure simplicity that is the galaxy...

Orik looked to Maultros as a spark of anger inside of him ignited a rage that seemed to engulf his being. The very mention of the name brought back the horrible memories of death and defeat as he could imagine the blade of the lightsaber slicing through his mid-section and the Kel Dor's mind fell to the farthest reaches of oblivion. Reality had become but a mirage as he had slipped into the sleeping state from which he had now awoken from, and all of it had subsided to make room for the face of the former Dark Lord of the Sith whose features would become etched in his mind for eternity. "I will kill him when it is time for me to kill him..." The heavens forbid that the sith lord say anything that might've implied that it would take any effort to kill the man. No, he was no longer a man in his eyes any more. It wasn't worthy of being called a man. To have all the power at your fingertips, ready to dispense your wrath upon any being you wished without fear and then to throw it all away for nothing at all... only an unintelligent fool would do such a remarkably stupid thing. Not wanting to talk about it any more, the sith lord was quite releived when the planet of Coreillia came into view. It was just like every other time he had visited a planet. The orb would always grow into view and suddenly you'd find yourself actually in it without hardly realizing it. There wasn't truly a set point in most cases where you could tell the exact instant you had hit the atmosphere, yet somehow you would suddenly just land. Orik knew he was thinking too much again... overanalyzing things again. Ever since his failure at the temple he'd thought about things a lot more than was needed, even taking something so simple as landing on a planet and expanding upon the thought. We all have our demons... the academy is mine. As the shuttle drew closer and closer to the ground, the sith lord realized what he would have to do. He'd have to dispel these "demons" from his soul before he could become one. One who terrorizes cannot be terrorized, and that is not what Orik wanted for him self. He'd have to find a place of reflection, a place to find himself and try to excorize this useless self-pity. "We're landing now. I won't be getting out with you sadly. I have...something to do." (cont. in Coreillia)

Orik pondered the choice that Marcellus had made. Even though he was unsure if the boy were to become a worthy sith, it was still good that he was taking risks. Such was the character of a sith lord, and perhaps the Kel Dor could learn a lesson from that. Yet now the boy was not to be discussed for there were more pressing and immediate issues that must be taken care of before the training of one of the newest sith apprentices would begin. The boy hadn't even awaken and here they were chatting about it. Hmm...now where would be a good place to get him a ship? The ship that they were riding on now was stolen by Orik's father when he was incredibly young and was just being forced into his life as a smuggler. It was without a doubt the cheapest way to get a ship considering his situation at the time, yet now Marcellus had something at his exposal that neither the Kel Dor as a child nor his father had. Maultros possesed the dark sie of the force, wand that in itself could be the ultimate bargaining chip in the galaxy. Whether it be used through intimidation or whether one was to control the mind of another, it was an easy way to get whatever a sith needed and get it fast and cheap. Now the question is what place they would go to. Naboo was home to the intricate and sleek designs of the Nubian Cruisers, just like the one that his master had owned. The ride was smooth and the room was quite spacious. However, the defences were minimal and it wasn't quite as manueverable or speedy as the shuttle that the two were riding in at the moment. They could be outfitted with weaponry however, but it would be much easier and less costly to just by a ship that already contained weaponry. Then a thought came to Orik's head. Coreillia made a fine line of freighters and was a definite power house when it came to manufacturing ships. There were many different models that one could choose from, and they served various different purposes that all seemed to fit the needs that Marcellus would have. Moving from spaceport to spaceport as a smuggler, the Kel Dor had seen quite a few of these as they were owned by a variety of different people. The infamous Han Solo had in his possession a YT-1300 that he had heavily modified to make it a great ship. There were also others that could be real assets to a sith lord. "I'd say Coreillia would make a good location." Now the sith lord had said his peace and he prepared for Marcellus to set the course in for the planet. His eyes once again shifted toward the cot on which the boy was sprawled out on. Eventually he would have to wake up, whether it be mid-flight or when they reached the planet that they were set to reach. No matter where or when he woke up, he would rise to a different life and it would be interesting to see how he would adapt and conduct himself. Both of the sith lords would be able to see if the risk that Maultros was taking was likely to pay off or rather if it was just a lost cause. I pray, for his sake, that it is not the latter.

The escort shuttle was a speck in the midst of the vacuum of space, yet it held in it two sith and a new padawan who would hopefully join the ranks of the sith one day soon. Inside of it, Macellus Nero, now known as Lord Maultros, was at the pilot's seat for the first time instead of the chair opposite him. Instead, in that chair, Orik Bendan sat down and awoke from a small sleep he had drifted into. Had goggles not covered his eyes, a bit of a shaken expression might've been found on his face as the nightmare he had been trapped in snapped away. Why must I have this dream... His hand, which had clenched itself into a balled fist during his short slumber, now opened up and released all the tension that had built up. Hopefully Marcellus hadn't noticed, but to think that he hadn't seen the Kel Dor become a bit shaken was unlikely. That dream made all of his emotions boil inside him to a point where it would've been uncontrollable to suppress them even if he had been risen to the world of conscience. Some things couldn't be prevented. Now looking to the boy that lay down on the cot, a quick gaze waited impatiently for him to wake up. Orik wanted to see who exactly this apprentice was and if he was worthy of becoming a sith. Marcellus most likely wouldn't have made a mistake with his picking, but there was always a minimal room for error. Afterall, emotions and first impressions, as strong as they could be, could also be flawed to read and misleading in nature. A thought conjured in the mind of Orik and was held within the confines of his mind for a second. It wasn't so much of a thought as it was a statement, and it wasn't truly meaningful at all. However, it was better than sitting there, rotting away in his already impatient mood while waiting on a mere boy who couldn't even call himself a sith yet. Then he stretched out and bent the force to his will and manipulate it as a potter would clay, or as a blacksmith would manipulate heated metal. Taking the thought from his mind, he planted it within the brain of Marcellus, waiting for a reply in the force. It didn't have to be said outloud, even though he knew Jace wasn't conscience due to his breathing patterns and heartbeat. For some reason, thoughts were something that Orik loved to pass between people. In his fights, he shared images and thoughts with his foe often. Thoughts are usually sacred to an indivdual, completly controlled within the metaphorical walls that contain a personality. The power to breach those walls and affect doubts, insights, fears...it was all rather empowering. It also made any statement a bit more personal and secretive. So Marcellus...what do you see in this boy.

The body of the boy (Jace) slowly began to hover over the air, suspended by an invisible presence that couldn't be seen, yet was felt by the sith and flew threw all. With the slight movements of his hand, the boy followed the fingertip as his body began to rise above the ramp of the ship. His limbs drooped downward to the ground as the rest of his body was slowly laid into a cot that Orik would usually sleep on. However, the sith lord had no use of it for the moment, so he would allow the soon to be apprentice of Marcellus to use it. "It is time to go. You can pilot this time." The two made their way up the ramp and inside the interior of the escort suttle. The hissing of the closing ramp behind them ceased as the gears and mechanisms clicked to lock it shut. Now the only thing that there was left to do was head out into the galaxy so that this man could begin his own journey and teach yet another how to become a sith, just as Orik had done so with Marcellus. His eyes drifted to the boy as he began to slouch into his seat and began to look him over. His heart held some sort of history that he couldn't quite make out, but he knew that a harsh past was somewhat present within his life. Now he realized the words of his own former master Sirvani as she told him that his emotions were displayed before her like an open book. Just as his had been read by her, the man's could be read by him. It proved to be a definite factor in deciding if the boy would make it as a sith. Orik had read up and done his research on Marcellus before picking him to train. A republic exile who appeared to be more of a monster than a man, infested with an aura of destruction that now became an eternal warning for those who saw him that he possessed great power. Just as the Kel Dor had saw something in him, so must Marcellus have saw in this boy. As he slept there, waiting to be arroused by something, he seemed so peaceful...little did he know that he would wake up to a new life. One that embraced chaos and bathed in the blood of his foes...that would be if he possessed the strength to withstand the trials and tribulations. As the Shrieking Talon began to hover over the ground, preparing to launch out of the atmosphere into the infinite reaches of the galaxy above, one more though crossed Orik's mind. One that both was somewhat disturbing and one that also evoked no reaction from him at all. It envolved that boy Namiad, whom he had arranged a deal with and hadn't carried out that deal. On one hand, he wanted to be a man of his word. On the other hand, the deceit and betrayl of that individual wouldn't mean much. I will think about this mid-flight I guess (To Coreillia)

Once again the skies of Cardia were graced by the persence of the Shrieking Talon. Sitting in the seat of the cocpit, Orik Bendan laughed at the little situation that he had experienced with Namiad. To think that he could be bought by credits was rather humorous to think about. A sith couldn't be bought as an underling. Without any chance to negotiate a price, why would Orik even think about accepting the proposal of the man down in the Mos Eisley Cantina. Now Orik followed his senses until he had found where his former apprentice waited. The sith lord had forgot that Maultros lacked a ship to ride in, so he'd have to give him a lift to wherever he wanted to go. It was the least he could do after so much time invested in him, and it would be good actually doing something after flying across the galaxy only to not do anything at all. Afterall, the only way to make up for some lost time was to make use of the time you have been given in the present, and that is exactly what Orik Bendan planned on doing. The shuttle touched down and the ramp was let down with a loud hissing noise that Orik had become accustomed to. As the Kel Dor walked down the ramp, every footstep left a taint of darkness and a trace of irritation of having traveled all the way to the outside of Tatooine for no reason. The orange hands of the sentient had curled up into balled fists as he walked. Marcellus would know that he wasn't angry at him most likely, but it would've been easy to make that mistake. At least my time won't be wasted here... Acknowleding the man who was recently granted his lordship, he looked to a man held in his clutches. Marcellus certainly didn't waste any time showing his violent nature around the sith academy. That much was evident to anyone who gazed upon the knocked out being that lay without expression or feeling. "Good to see you haven't wasted any time. I sense that even in our short abscence that you have already grown even stronger since the last time we met. We can talk onboard, but right now I'm in a bit of a hurry. If you couldn't tell, I'm a bit frustrated due to losing time flying to nowhere."

Now the jedi had disappeared from sight and no longer could his presence be felt in the force, no matter how much Orik tried to reach it. The jedi had vanished into oblivion and now there was nothing to do but follow him. Hesitation was a distant memory as the Kel Dor hit the ground hard. The mud splotched on his face and the skin that hit the ground was now covered in a think brown mud that made him uncomfortable to say the least. Yet he was too consumed with rage to even care about the minor inconvenience. The task that had laid itself before him was much too important for such minor discomfort to cloud his thoughts. I am coming for you jedi. I will find you somehow. The power of two sith working as one left him and now so had the jedi's signature. There was a feeling of emptiness all around him, as though in that short, brief period of time everything had changed. Before he was surrounded by flames in the heat of combat, hurling the head of a statue at a jedi and enjoying the fire that seemed to decorate the arena so well. Now all that he could see was some odd wasteland. As his flesh had left the room, he had felt his skin cool to the outside air. Of course, it was more just for the fact that before he was heated by the flames and now he was heated by the unforgiving sun. The mercies that a breeze could bring had not been shown to the surface and the jedi was extremely lucky that the building was built where it was. Now the boots of the Kel Dor hit the floor of the planet and he calmed down. His visual aid from which he drew his anger from had fled from him and now he was left with a bottled up rage that was stored inside him for later. His breaths slowly calmed down and became much less sporadic. After Orik had finally become as calm as he could possibly be in the situation he was in now, he noticed that there was something abnormal on the ground. Glass shards laid themselves out before him and he could see that they made some sort of trail. It was as if the road to this jedi was laid before him by fate and that by following these, he would be able to meet the jedi and ambush him. The thought of lunging forth on an unsuspecting jedi like a predator snatching its pray was enough to put a grin on the face of the sith lord. As he followed the trail, he had put all of his weapons away except for the sword. The lightsaber would make a hum and ruin any stealth that he could muster. Much like he had done on his first trip to Coruscant, he masked his presence in the force to where it was almost invisible. It wasn't quite perfect, but it would help as long as Sabian didn't detect him. I will kill him wherever he stands. Wherever I find him, he shall fall to the blade I hold in my hand. Then, once Exodus finishes with the traitor, the sith shall be victorious. The trail was becoming more and more tiresome to follow. A slight sense of exhaustion set in, yet Orik wouldn't let this phase him. It had required stamina for him to triumph many times before, and it would be that same stamina that he would attempt to draw from in this moment as he hunted the jedi. It was very much like a predator searching for prey in the jungle, or more of a game between tuskcat and rat. The jedi was running and hiding from him. It was almost priceless. The thought couldn't help but spring to mind that the jedi were the very order that preached against fear so much, yet here he was hiding from the sith lord. It certainly got a chuckle from him as he continued onward to wherever the jedi was.

Transmission to Namiad from Orik Bendan: "Hello Namiad. This is the sith that you met before on this very planet. I've heard that you're interested in a living krayt dragon from a report on the holonet. It will not be necessary to pay seven seperate individuals to capture it for you. I will be able to do this all by myself." Now the sith lord waited for a transmission on that same line.

The academy was once again graced by the footsteps of Orik Bendan. A darkness surrounded him and every step he took seemed to echo throughout the planet through ripples in the force. The bones in his left hand had been treated and now he could feel the figners and move them with ease. Once again he had feeling in both hands, and it was a pleasure to feel once again. Only when one becomes numb can they appreciate something in its fullness and entirety. Now he walked toward his ship to find no one at work. Either idleness had struck the workers whom he had commissioned or they were even more dependable then the sith lord had given them credit for. It would hopefully be the latter, for Orik didn't take too kindly to rest when there was a job that had to be done. He stepped up to the Shrieking Talon and followed the specified security protocol that allowed the ramp to drop before him and the Kel Dor was no able to enter the escort shuttle. He didn't step in it at once, however. First he walked over to a panel and accessed a few different things. Now he looked for his ship through the sensor system. The sith lord was able to read the specifications of the ship such as the model and such, not to mention he could see what bay it was in. That was to be expected, but he just wanted to make sure. Now he walked up the rap and into the room where lights from various different controls flashed in the corners of his eyes and he could see what he needed to do right infront of him. A dull roar became audible as a switch was pressed. It was the strygium cloaker integrating into the system by being turned active for the first time since it was installed, and it was music to Orik's ears. Now he walked down the ramp and made his way back tot he console that he had just left. With any luck, the cloaker would be working and the time of the workers would not have been wasted. It was fortunate that they had installed it thought, because Orik was beginning to worry he might actually have to commence some decaptiations on the grounds of the academy. That wasn't very desirable... Well, maybe the decapitation part would be desirable, but not if they're loyal to the sith. Now he had made his way toward the console and had begun to look for his ship. To his satisfaction, it was invisble to the sensor mainframe and that was something very good. Hopefully the modifications to his sublight drive had gone as planned also. The only way to tell was to take off and test them, so that is just waht the sith lord planned to do. He even had a place to go after he had taken off... Relaxing into his chair in the coc-pit, he flipped various switches and readied his ship to leave the sith academy. He would miss the cold, dark feeling that he was leaving. The sense of pure hatred stirring and lurking about the many hallways and rooms. The eagerness to kill instilled in every ounce of any structure or person. Now he left the darkness of the academy for the aboslute blackness of space...an void in the galaxy where planets and stars floated around on endless, repetitive cycles. Ships flew back and forth between different waypoints in hopes of finding different destinations. As the escort shuttle hovered over the ground and then burst with speed, Orik smiled at the fact that the sublight drive modifications were sucessful and now he would be finding his destination very soon. That destination was none other than a place he had visited relativly recently. A place of no-good thugs who would progress through their lives without meaning. A place where even the sands seemed to be scorched by the heat of multiple suns. His destination... Tatooine...

Orik and Lord Maultros stood there for a bit without moving. The silence spoke their words for them. Now was the time for Marcellus to begin to do whatever he was meant to do. There was something in the force that said that the smoldering being had a fate that was intertwined with the true fabric of darkness and that his destiny lied among the sith whose names were only mentioned among the likes of destruction and chaos. The master-apprentice bond between them was undeniable. That much was certain. Now Orik looked to Marcellus and began to think about what he would do now that his apprentice had become a lord. Would he seek revenge against Kyp Durron, the great jedi master who had forsaken the power of the dark side? The one that had defeated him at the academy and had taken his life. Perhaps he would seek out a random jedi on a random planet and bury his life with misery. That was always a fun option for a sith, and it was pleasing no matter which jedi or which way the pain was attained. Maybe he would train further, so that he would better be able to fight those that he wished to kill and defeat. That was definetly a great option. Oh well, none of that was to be decided at the moment. Orik nodded to his apprentice that basically said that he would be there if Marcellus ever needed aid in anything at all...even at the expense of his own death if need be. With that, the Kel Dor departed for the academy, ready to see if his modifications for his ship had been completed. And so begins the time of Lord Maultros...

Orik stared deep into the white flames of the man that stood before him. An intensity had brewed and stirred within the soul of Marcellus Nero and all of the power that had been sought after had been attained. Every expectation had been exceeded, and now the light of the planet became fully restored as the pair stood opposite eachother waiting for a judgement on what would happen next. Anticipation rushed to the planet and filled the air. With every breath that the two took the tension built. ”œDon't you see Master”¦ Don't you see”¦ My power is great and my purpose is obvious, the Jedi must fall”¦”

Now Orik found himself flying through the air toward his apprentice. He had been swept up off the ground and now he felt weightless as he sped out of his control toward the copper blades that his apprentice held in his hands. It was quite obvious that his skill was great and this battle would soon be coming to a close. How the apprentice would respond to the Kel Dor's next attack would determine how much longer he could be called apprentice and signal how quickly he could be called a true sith. With every fiber of his being, Orik summoned the dark side to help him gain enough power to at least gain some fraction of control while in the air. Maybe he could use this move against his apprentice... "Now let's see if he's able to adapt..." With the saber, he readied it so that when he came in contact with the man's sabers, that he could block the assaults. When he blocked, he used the momentum of the force push to give him power and it was enough to knock the man backwards a bit. He didn't fall to the ground, most likely due to some abnormally strong will not to spend his life on the ground anymore. In a way it was symbolism for how you could resist practiacally anything if you had the heart and willpower to do so. As Orik's boot touched the ground, he readied his saber until it pointed to the canopy of the jungles planet and the hilt was just above his head. His left hand dangled loosly from his side, which it had done for the majority of this little bout. It was quite odd that Marcellus hadn't taken advantage of the injury, and that was one of the things that the sith lord was hoping he would do. Perhaps Marcellus felt it would taint his victory if he actually did take advantage of the injury. That reason made a bit more sense so Orik decided to go with it. Now the Kel Dor decided to do something that he didn't think that he would have to do. It could easily kill his apprentice if he wasn't skilled enough to make an incredibly difficult to make response, but trials weren't meant to be easy. A flashback of Korriban entered his brain and then just as quickly as it came it was lost to nothingness and nothing but the fight before him remained in his brain. The dark side aura of the planet combined with that of the master and the apprentice and it manifested itself in a sable wave that seemed to make the night even darker until everything was pitch black. Not even the force would allow one to see...which is why infared and night-vision were handy little improvements to have to his goggles connected to the oxygen mask. A deep glow seemed to come over everything as he switched the function of his goggles and now looked at Marcellus, ready to be dealt with. When they had first met in the jungle, his apprentice had let out a force scream that had knocked many trees over. Know those same trees would be used against him as they started to rush toward the sith lord from all angles, including above him. If even just one hit, it would be sure to crush some bones.

Now the Kel Dor gazed at the saber that his apprentice had made. It was rather complex, included a magna lock grip on both saber hilts and the copper blades closed in on his body. One blade looked to his neck and another looked for his waist. The man had maintained his state of mind incredibly well despite the mental barage that the sith lord had sent his way, and it was rather impressive that he was able to weild such a complicated weapon and his mastery in the force was even greater than was expected from the man. Good... The Kel Dor ducked and put his blade straight in the air, so that the hilt was almost touching the saber that was aimed to his waist. Both of the sabers struck the crimson blade on opposite sides and Orik maintained perfect control of his saber. By sliding his saber along to the tips of both of the sabers, he made a circular parry that tossed the man's arms involuntarily to the outsie of Marcellus' body and his chest was open for any attack that the sith lord would be able to dish out...and he had quite a few different ways to inflict pain in this current position. Sliding on the ball of his left foot, he lifted his right leg and called upon the dark side to strengthen the leg. Every muscles below the Kel Dor's waist tightened with power and was ready to launch a powerful blow to the man. With a lightning fast movement, a kick found it's way to the chest of Orik's apprentice. The dirty boot left a mark on the chest of the man and sent him flying backwards. "Very good. I feel your anger. Channel it and focus it even further Marcellus. Through it you will achieve power." It was really nothing that Marcellus didn't already know, but hopefully the elementary reminder would insult the man. If a true sith is insulted, they do not let the person who commited such an act live to insult them again. Auiditory antagination could be a powerful weapon to use against a foe, unless of course one could turn the words into an advantage. Hopefully Marcellus would be able to feed off of it. The man's back hit the trunk of a tree hard and Orik stared in satisfaction as he lowered his leg back to the ground. It still was on the verge of spasming from all the power that it contained, and that power would now be used to aid his legs in a different application of the force. He sprinted toward his apprentice, activated lightsaber still in his fingertips. He drew back his arm and got ready for a slash...or at least that is what it would look like. The force connected every living thing together and bound them all. Yet only the strongest of those living beings survived and thrived. That was the way of the sith, unlike the jedi that held every life as valuable. The jungle was a live with life. It was evident in the plant life that surrounded them. Marcellus had taken the life of plants before, and that was just another example of it. Plants laid stationary almost their entire lives, and the only time they moved would be to sway to the wind and bow to the ground on which it stood. Now Orik would command the tree to do something to benefit him... Suddenly, every branch on the tree that Marcellus had hit began to fall to the ground. The sticks were lined with thick, green leaves and the covered the man almost at the same time that he hit the trunk. Now Marcellus was invisible beneath the many branches and the branches would probably cut the man a bit. Now the sith lord began cutting away, guiding his swings so that he would make his way toward his apprentice. Sparks flew amongst the green leaves and the sound of the lightsaber humming and cutting the objects grew louder and lourder in the ears of Marcellus. Soon, the crimson blade would be able to make contact with the flesh, or lack of flesh, of Orik's temporary foe. "Marcellus, I know you can get out of this one. Don't prove me wrong."

Orik looked to the smoking heap of a man that was Marcellus. Waves of grey floated from his body and dissipiated into the air. Flames danced within his eyes and a passionate rage eminated from the very being of the Kel Dor's apprentice. Such a sight would've terrified most normal men and sent them running in fear and panic at the mere though of a physical struggle between such a demonic creature. Yet Orik had learned two things so far once becoming a sith lord. The first was that he shouldn't fear anything, and the second was that Marcellus was a man, not an animal. An animal lacked intelligence or character, and Nero possessed both. The apprentice had found his way out of the little trap that the sith lord had made for him. A sense of pride that he had the privledge to train Marcellus combined with a hint of dissatisfaction that his trap hadn't been stronger. Either way, the mere fact that he created it was an accomplishment in itself. "Nice work Marcellus, but don't get visions of granduer stuck in your brain yet. I'm glad to see you've passed my tests here, and now I shall see if you are truly worthy to call yourself a sith lord..." With a pull of the force, Orik's belongings floated over to him. His sword and the hilt of his saber found themselves in his alien hands and the Westar blaster pistols flew to his holsters and nestled into them. With a quick move, the Kel Dor slamed his left hand against a tree trunk with all the might he could muster. After making a dent in the trunk of the tree, he looked at his hand. Pain coursed through every inch and it was easy to see that almost every bone in the hand had to have been broken. The sith lord's hilt, that was in that hand, flew back to his belt while he put his sword away. "Prove yourself to me in combat...and you will be granted your lordship" Now the dark side began to swirl around the two, flowing and feeding on both of their powers like a mynock sucking the life out of a ship and using the energy to survive and thrive. Orik's body felt light as air despite the increased gravity of the planet, and the blood that ran through his veins began to boil at the thought of combat. Finally, after all the training and all the work, Orik would see if all that time was just a waste or not. The crimson blade emerged from the hilt, although it wouldn't be used right now. Just the mere presence of a weapon ready to defend him made the sith lord feel more secure and allowed him to focus completly on the task at hand. Marcellus' brain opened up before him. Every detail and wrinkle was exposed and laid out before the Kel Dor. The thoughts and emotions of the man were all tainted with a sadistic evil that laced every idea that came into the apprentice's mind. Now the dark energies rushed into the man's brain and disrupted the neural network of the man. Dissorientation flooded itnot he man's body and it would surely be difficult just to stand up. If it was any more powerful the neural storm would've incapacitated the apprentice, yet the will of Marcellus was strong, and if Orik thought it would be that simple to defeat the man, than he would be a fool. Luckily, Orik wasn't a fool and knew that the action he had just taken would not secure a quick victory. It would take more then that. A hand outstretched, the one with the saber in his grasp. His fingers lifted up and only his thumb held the hilt to his palm. A wave of the force pushed the man and sent Marcellus flying toward the trees. The trials of this one would be difficult. Even without one of his hands, Orik was still deadly. To become a sith took great skill, and that skill would be tested and taken to the extreme in the case of Marcellus Nero.

Orik sat on the planet floor, gazing upwards toward the canopy of the trees in the jungle that surrounded him. This would be a perfect place to wait for Marcellus and to train a bit. He had not trained himself really since he had become a sith lord, and almost all of his experience since being Sirvani's apprentice had involved either training Marcellus or fighting a jedi...not that either of the two were necessarily bad things. The Kel Dor throughly enjoyed that. He took out a book that he had grabbed from his room back at the academy. It was a prized book that held a spot very close to his heart, being that it involved the history of his people. It was a book containing many of the different attributes of the Baran Do, former advisors and investigators of the Old Republic. A group that had survived through the ages. He opened the pages and re-read the information about someone who is father told him was a disceased relative. Journal Entry 34 The jedi have all but overshadowed our order now. Even on the planet of Dorin we are considered nothing more than prophets of our wisdom, which I have no real problem with. The Jedi Order will do as it must, and so shall we. Today I have witnessed a truly miraculous sight. Wiel Oon has begun to have premonitions of the near future, much like the rest of us. It is always a wonder to see the eyes of another open just like mine have... The rest of the entry went on to talk about daily chores and such. This entry was a marvelous read, since it showed that through the force, one could predict the future. Orik always dreamed of such a power, but had never really given much thought in trying to achieve it. He sat there for a second and tried to meditate on the force, sensing the flow of it and where it would take him. Hopefully the current would lead his mind somwhere to the future, yet he suddenly realize that he didn't possess the skill of the Baran Do yet. They're philosophy was that of wisdom, and his was that of hate. He soon grew frustrated with the attempt and decided to stop and prepare a treat for his apprentice. Using the force, he gathered the dark side energy of the planet and that of his own being and swirled it together and forged it into an energy trap. It was a technique of the dark side that had been used to capture jedi, and only the strongest jedi masters who devoted their entire being to escaping such a trap could free themselves from the dark energy. It would leave his apprentice immobile, unable to move. It was nearly invisible to the eye and had tricked many jedi knights. Orik created this trap for a purpose. First off: He wanted to learn how to create them. The one that the sith lord had just created was rather weak being that it was his first attempt at it. Secondly: He wanted to see the devotion of his apprentice and the strength and will of Marcellus. Since the trap was weak, it would be possible for the man to escape it, but it would be a great struggle. Now I shall sit and wait for my apprentice...

A freshly cloned Orik Bendan walked around the sith academy without aim or purpose. He had been killed in battle by a jedi master, and an overwhelming sense of failure seemed to swallow the Kel Dor whole and refuse to let him out until he had bathed in his shame. He stood there without the sword that he had held so dear, and without any of the sabers that he had acquired from the jedi at the temple. Now he was just a nearly broken sith lord. Why do I sense the stench of failure upon you? It was a little voice in the back of his head that the sith lord had heard befoer and could only begin to describe its presence as a manifestation of the dark side in his mind. It seemed so real though that the thought that no one else could hear it was unbelievable to the Kel Dor, but obviously it was so. Now Orik resumed the self-loathing that he had maintained ever since falling to the jedi. Why do you continue you to fail even as you walk among these grounds? Now a little spark had surfaced to the sith lord's mind as he started to realize what the failure actually was. The failure was not just him falling to the jedi master. No, that was only the start of it. The greatest error came with the fact that instead of becoming stronger to go back and defeat that jedi master, he was walking around dwelling upon the past which would give him no good thoughts and wouldn't give him any strength to combat the jedi at all. If anything, it would be a weakness. When he was a hopeful he had been foolish enough to take on a jedi knight and had been embarrassed horribly. What did he do back then, even before he was a sith? He took the scar on his right hand and used it as a reminder to grow powerful enough to defeat that jedi knight when he was ready...and that is exactly what happened on the sands of tatooine. Orik dropped by where he believed Marcellus would land the Shrieking Talon and gave instructions to the men to install a stygium cloaking device on his ship and to also upgrade the sublight drive engines greatly. The cloaking device would make his ship invisible to the sensors of others and the sublight drive upgrade would give his ship great speed. The man he had approached asked how Orik planned on paying for the equipment, and the sith lord merely gave a datapad that gave the location on where he had stored the necessary supplies. He said that the man would be payed with his life and the knowledge that his services would be benefitting the sith. On that note, the men went to recover the supplies so that they would greet Marcellus, inform him that Orik was in the jungles of Cardia and that finding him would be a test, and so that while both Nero and the sith lord were gone they could get to work on the escort shuttle modifications. With that, Orik left the academy for the jungles of Cardia. Now he would become stronger while he awaited the presence of his apprentice. The more he thought about it, the less fitting the word apprentice seemed to be when describing Marcellus. If anything he was ready to be a sith lord just about. All the tests that had been laid before him had been accomplished in time so far, and it would appear that his skill with a lightsaber must've been exceptional to defeat the dueling droid in one of the Kel Dor's tests. "I shall see first hand his improvement when I meet him in the jungle...if he can find me."