Mechis III

[Alpha Fett]

Alpha Fett's rifles were doing there job, keeping the Sith away. That was, untill a blaster shot gat deflected back at his head. His helmet protected him from death, but that was all. His head burst in to flames as his hair caught fire. The kid tore off his helmet and pated his head down as fast as he could to prevent tne Sith from coming closer. He didn't knowtis, but he had a deap would in his head. Probaly because of the adrenaline that was surging through his body. Alpha relized the Sith was still there, and in a split second his pisol was in his hands fireing at a container of the vulture droids solid fuel. A loud "BOOM" was followed by flames that sent both of them flying in to two oppisite walls. Alpha was up as quick as he could racing to his guns. He grabbed his DLT-19 and fired at the Sith.

 

((2))

[Marth Rylus]

Marth certainly wasn't expecting such a force ramming into him. This one was certainly resourceful. His full weight slammed into the wall behind him, his massive frame creating a slight indentation in the metal. The young Sith got to his feet, his back aching slightly. He didn't have time to even acknowledge the pain however as more laser fire rushed to meet him. Fortunately, the tatooinian man was able to retain his grasp on his lightsaber. His wide beam came into existence once more, batting the blasts away. More and more bolts came as Fett simply flooded the room with laser fire. Marth was no expert at lightsaber deflection. His muscles contracted and relaxed in rapid succession as his saber spun in a blur, looking to intercept as many shots as it good. The only thing keeping the man alive was the great distance between the two fighters. It was difficult to retain precision across such a large room. Laser fire flew everywhere, ravaging the ground and walls surround Marth. He was able to dodge and deflect the few blasts that were causing direct danger.

 

Sweat began to form on Marth's brow. The intense physical demands of his training still left fatigue in his veins. He was starting to tire. Knowing he could not hold up much longer, the young Sith dived behind a rather vibrant fusiloge pile. Alpha followed his movements, pumping an endless stream of blaster fire into the motionless pile of rubble. The cover would give Marth some time to think.

 

Knowing sticking his head above his haven would be suicide, the Sith drew on the skill he possessed that his enemy didn't; the Force. He stretched out with his being, sending tiny particles of the Force on a reconnaissance mission. The data retrieved offered a detailed vision of the room. Small droid parts emitted sparks as they withered away in their own obsoletetion. Light fixtures hung on the ceiling, their power sputtering on and off. It looked as if they were deciding whether or not to just give up. Marth was about to move on to the next detail when he realized the answer was right in front of him.

 

He closed his eyes and concentrated on the Force. The strain of the blaster fire tearing through his fusiloge pile was nothing new. Training under Kakuto Ryu himself had assured immunity to that particular weakness. Unbeknownst to Fett, a light fixture directly above his head began to rock back and forth. It gradually gathered momentum as it removed itself from the hinges keeping it attached to the ceiling. A loud crack could be heard, describing metal breaking from metal. The light fixture came sprawling towards the ground, looking to smash into Alpah Fett.

 

 

((2))

[Alpha Fett]

The Mandolore unknowingly aved himself from a knock-out blow by moving slightly right before the light hit him. He slammed down on his shoulder, sending him slamming into the ground. His DLT-19 slide out of his reach.

 

He pulled the light off of him and grabbed his thunderer out of its holster and gave himself cover fire while he ran over to a pile of rubble. There was a sheet of durasteel on the pile. It had two loops on it and a slit that terminated in a small hole. He put his left arm throught the loops and put his gun's barrel in the hole. He used the slit the see and headed toward the Sith.

 

He knew that the closer he got, the deadlier it was for both of them. He also knew that that was what he had to do because he was running out of ammo and if that happened, the Sith would be able to walk up to him and cut him down.

 

((3))

[Marth Rylus]

As time slowly past, Marth could feel his protection getting weaker. The sheer power of the blastds began to wear down the ancient metal keeping Rylus alive. His breaths began to sink back to their normal rhythm, having received ample time to catch his breath. His mind was spinning. A simple job as a mechanic on Tatooine never required this much thought. Marth kept his awareness running, letting the Force track Fett's movements. Apparently the young boy kept hold of a metal blank, looking to cover himself from any counter attack. A smile graced Marth's face, its sadistic facade hidden from Alpha's vision. If only he could see it...

 

Rylus' purple blade suddenly came alive, bathing the chaotic wreckage with its soothing light. The purple stream mixing with the red carnage of Fett's blaster created a murky aura. 3...

 

Marth's eyes were closed, the blaster fire ringing through his mind. He could feel it breaking through. 2....

 

 

There was only a few inches left now, his protective shield failing. 1...

 

Rylus spun, pivoting on his right heel. Continuing his fluid motion, he launched his massive blade, letting its carnage tear though whatever shield was left. The purple pillar of light punctured the metal sheet, driving into his flesh. Fett's own skill and resourcefulness would determine how deep the wound would progress....

 

 

 

((3))

[King Kheldar vos Correlli]

On Marth Rylus vs ms, the winner: Marth.

[Alpha Fett]

The Sith's skills out matched the Alpha's and Alpha Fett died on Mechis III to Marth Rylus's blade.

 

((Just wanted my 3 days to start.))

[Marth Rylus]

Purple tore through flesh and bone as a whole the size of small cocanut formed within Alpha's stomach. They boy fell to the ground instantly, his eyes glazed with the ghoustly apparation of death. Marth's flouresent blade reverted into inexistance as the hanger sunddely plunged into its innate metalic darkness. Fett's body crumpled to the ground, his resolve eternally broken.

 

Rylus got to his feat, his face bore no scratches or bruises. "That fight was no harder than the droids..." Rylus spoke for the first time sense the battle began, his words cutting through the melencholy hanger like fingernails on a chalk board. His tone only seemed to fit his surroundings as its drab nature continued to pump droid after droid into existance. This place was getting on his nerves.

 

Marth made his way inside the Mechis facility once more. His Master was soon to appear at any moment. Perhaps he will not make a wrong turn this time...

[Alpha Fett]

On board Alpha Fett's YT-2400...

 

The rumble of the engene is heard by Ace, Alpha's protocol driod. An image appears on the holo-display. It is a prerecorded message of Alpha Fett.

 

"Ace, you may have noticed that the starship has started up, it will now head to Kamino. It is your job to take a file from the ship and have me cloned. It contains my memory. You are to guard it with your life."

 

The starship lifted off and headed into space then hyperspace. A file poped out from under the holo-display. Ace picked it up and head firmly in his hand, nothing will take it from him.

[Alpha Fett]

Alpha Fett landed his YT-2400 at the same place he had as before.

 

He got out and causously made his way into the building. He saw his old body laying limp on the floor. He turned to see the cart that held the droids he had to bring back. He pushed it out and into his starship. He then took off and went into hyperspace heading for Tantorine.

[Marth Rylus]

The workings of Mechis III thrummed eternally as droid after droid worked its way into existance. The planet pumped its self reliance into a stream of oncoming noise as metal's clanged together, the lifeblood of the world. Yet even through this ever present sound, came a profound silence.

 

Marth Rylus sat motionless in the hanger of Mechis III, his chest rising and falling in rythem witht he constant beating of time. He was the only being on the entire planet who had an inch of carbon within him. Droids scruffled around him without a second glance; as if their artificial perceptions were even capable of truly glancing. Kakuto Ryu was no longer present on Mechis III. Marth had created his lightsaber, a purple pillar capable of vast destruction unbeknowst to any conventional weapon. Yet after charged with this task, the Sith apprentice had carried it out with perfection. He even managed to test his new piece of equipment on a rather foolish bounty hunter. Yet that momentarily encounter was not enough to quench Marth's need for more. He was alone, profoundly, purly, totally alone.

 

"KAKUTOOOOO!" Marth's desperate yells echoed into oblivion as he again recieved no response. Was this some kind of test? If he decided to make a break for freedom, would the Dark Lord eliminate him for such an attempt? The Sith apprentice's pulse began to speed up, as if his heart was pumping adrenaline through his veins. If this was a test, Marth would take it head on. He would no longer cower in fear while drowning in lonliness. He would break free.

 

The Sith apprentice grabbed a simple star fighter, unused within the hanger. He gunned the engine on as blue flame erupted from the end of the vessel. The flames tore through the hanger, melting a passing droid. The remaining droids within the base all turned in astonishment as one of their own fell to a heated fate. Those with blasters let lose their shots, hoping to bring down what had caused the anomoly.

 

Marth poured over his control yoke, the flashing lights and doodats looking quite foreign. Nothing was familiar here. His momentary panic soon melted into conentration as he opened himself to the familar presence of the Force. The Dark Side took hold of him, grasping his concentration into an art of sublime skill and controlled breathing. Rylus hit the first button he found. The ship slowly began to rise, its repulserlifts spewing smoke into the ground.

 

Marth grasped the joy-stick so tightly his knuckles turned white. As his small fighter cleared the hanger, a feint alarm resounded through the mechanized world. Within moments, several other fighters took the skies. "Not good," Moric thought to himself as he surveyed the rest of his dash. He punched his ship to the right, heading right towards his attackers. Running in his situation would only result in a prolonged death. It was either fight or die. "Weapons...weapons," Moric muttered softly under his breath as brilliant laser blasts exploded around him. His previous knowledge of Tatooine speeders provided the only means for which he could compare his currenty system to that of which he remembered. His fingers flushed over the soft red trigger, resting in the small pocket attached to the back of the joystick. Marth jammed the button down probably harder than he ment to. Brilliant green blasts exited his own ship and sailed magnificaintly through the greying atmosphere. His adversary could do nothing but change course as it barely avoided a terminating shot.

 

Guided by the ever present hand of the Force, Marth saw his oppertunity. He punched the throttle forward (at least what he though was the throttle). His ship converged into the attack formation that his enemy was once in. This time however, Marth's own vessel was facing the other direction, bursting through the ranks of his opponents. By the time the droids had the oppertunity to turn around and persue, Moric was far out of their range, and increasing in speed.

 

His ship bursted through the atmoshpere into the serene nothingness of space, acosted by frailing shots from below, none of which could touch him. He didn't care where the hyperspace computer was programmed to go, but simply puched in the coordinates that first appeared on his dated Navi computer. His ship soon blasted into the deminsion of hyperspace with a flash of psudomotion. He headed into the black abyss of the ownknown...to freedom.

[Zadkiel]

Zadkiel stepped out of the stolen medical transport, surveying the machine world of Mechis III. He hadn't been here in quite some time, in fact last time he had been here it was for much the same reason as he was this time. To receive new cyberware and upgrade the digital copy of himself he had left here. The latter of the two would be a relatively simple task, but the former required extreme force of will for what he planned.

 

He could feel the cold, calculating gaze of the machines on his scarred body. They would not attack him, for they knew who he was and that he worked for the Master, but that did not mean they liked him being there. Zadkiel was indifferent really; they were robots and as such they had no feelings beyond those that they were programmed to experience as best as their digital minds could replicate.

 

His steps went unheard in the depths of the planets factories. He entered the medical bay and began programming what he required into the computer. The last piece was only a replacement; he would remove that portion himself. Once everything was ready he pulled put his lightsaber and stripped out of his clothes. He took in a deep breath”¦holding it”¦

 

It is a distraction. It only serves to hinder.

 

The room was dim; his face was bathed in the crimson light, making his blue eyes appear to be covered in blood.

 

It allows others to manipulate”¦it's a pain in my ass!

 

In one swift motion the Sith removed his own genitals. They dropped to the ground with a plop. He gritted his teeth as his mind reeled from the pain and the stench of charred flesh saturated the air. He dropped his deactivated weapon to the ground and placed his hand against the medical room wall to steady his body. He hadn't expected the pain to be so potent”¦but all he could do was chuckle.

 

His chuckle soon turned to a full blown laugh as he stepped back from the wall, his eyes wide and his mouth letting out his psychotic laughter. He extended his fingers and lightening jumped from them, sending the organ into a spasm as it flopped around much to his twisted glee.

 

It was a testament to his sanity after coming so far in the force.

 

__

 

Zad's eyes opened slowly to see the face plate of a medical droid. He blinked the sleep out of his eyes and threw the robot off to the side. His body ached, at least the parts that had the feeling back in them. He flexed his right arm, feeling his altered bone structure. It would be a lot harder for anyone to snap, but that wasn't why he had his arm altered. In the palm of his right hand, under a thin layer of regenerative syntha-flesh was a hole large enough for his hook shot to fire out of.

 

He looked down at the external cyberware he was no equipped with. It's only true purpose was to keep his body from poisoning itself; something that would have happened would he not have had it installed. He let out a groan, rubbing his head as he stood up. He made his way across the room and equipped his, now repaired, armor. His weapons were placed on his body and soon he made his way to a station he could tap into.

 

A wire extended out of the back of his neck, coming around and hooking into the dataport. In a flurry of images his brain was copied and digitized. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as some thoughts passed his minds eye faster then others-the end result was certain memories being ingrained into every fiber of his being, to the point he couldn't forget them if he tried.

 

Soon he was on board a star fighter, programming the data for his next stop into the ships computer. Five minutes later he was gone.

[Ason Antilles]

((Random post.))

 

The thrumming roar became audible, a guttural cry bubbling outward from the belly of the avian monstrosity descending from the void of infinite oblivioun from which it was born. Its talons spread outward in a fixed posture, malice seething through them as the nails whistled through the cutting air. The Shrieking Talon lived up to its name as usual as it swooped downward to the factory below.

 

At the helm was a confused man.

 

He landed.

 

He found a dark room and silently waited there for a while in utter darkness. The edges of his vision faded to obsidian as he slowly sank into the stygian stupor from which he would find salvation.

 

He heard the voice.

 

The voice heard him.

 

They'd have to find who they were as one being, two forces coexisting within one. The blood of the Alliance still rested upon their hands, and the schizophrenic entity rested with a talisman and amulet tangled together upon its chest. He would have to find out what to do. Because that is what people do. Sometimes they need time to think. Sometimes they need privacy. Sometimes they need to be left alone and feel the darkness for what it is... the misery... the pain... the suffering...

 

And they find a way to not only become that, but to surpass it.

 

Existence on a separate plane.

 

And from that, absolute power can be ascertained.

 

--------------------------------------([June 8, 2007 12:00 PST]])------------

The deep, capacious recesses of darkness laid host to resounding epiphany within the bowels of the planet's industry. There was once again that birth that had drawn delight from all the minions of Hell, rejoicing in their champion's renewed vigor. As his cloaked form neared the threshold of luminance, it appeared merely as though he were an extension of the shadows himself. His hand stretched outward, the dark side's own ebony digits spread and it was like the darkness it self was reaching it out.

 

Maybe it was the darkness”¦

 

With every ounce of sallow flesh drenched in the viscid darkness, the flawless figure glided toward the laboratories of the facility. He had heard the voice of Oblivion, and now this industrial playground was his to command. As the perpetual bombination of gears deadened in his ears, this sith lord placed his immediate orders for some of the projects he was to undertake to dispel this repulsive stagnancy that had settled upon an area of such potential.

 

Immediately, the subservient minions shook the rust from their mechanical limbs and danced about the facilities, getting to work on their projects. Their will and determination was unfaltering, the perfection of their ignorance displayed in the wondrous grandeur of their creation. Soon his own personal project's technological aspects would be underway, and so would the protection of the facilities.

 

Until then, the monstrosity entered the same ship he had arrived in and sped off to answer a calling.

 

Mustafar”¦

[Ason Antilles]

((Mleh, just checking up. Was going to wait 2 weeks from my last post here, but oh well. I'm bored.))

 

A bustling center of activity greeted the returning sith lord. Before the eyes of Ason Antilles, his vision was being formed with mechanical precision. Scurrying insects wove their paths through the construction zones, and though it was masked under the cloak of darkness, the corners of the man's mouth turned slightly upward at the sight. His ship touched down and his otherworldly form glided down the landing ramp.

 

He made his way through the hangar to the adjacent courtyard and stared up at the nearly completed observational tower. Soon the entire facility would be transformed into the epitome of opulence, and this tower was where one could survey it all. After climbing the stories, the man arrived at the place where he would oversee the work below, and from such heights, he began designing a project.

[Heero]

Heero watched from the shadows, one of two living beings on the entire planet now, as the new arrival moved out of the courtyard and into the observational tower. He had heard rumors of the Sith coming to this place to train and hone their skills and after his adventures with the psychotic Sith female he had opted to come here and seek out more traditional training to complete his training. He had developed his abilities considerably, but still lacked a lightsaber.

 

He had been to the temple at Cardia, finding that it had been completely abandoned just as the Imperial base had been. His Prussian blue eyes shined with a cold intelligence and his starkly neutral face concealed his true intentions deep inside. He moved to follow the path that the mysterious figure had taken. It was highly probable that he was a Sith, but there was still a chance that he was merely a ”˜visitor' upon this mechanical planet.

[Ason Antilles]

Mechis III was once again crackling with vitality as the droids' projects proceeded into their closing moments. The droid facilities were already beginning to crank out cybernetic skulls which floated along the sides of the academy's halls as well as throughout the droid facilities. Glaring crimson orbs fluctuated within their unyielding expressions as they waited to beam with blaster-bolt fire with the infinite patience of a machine. They were also programmed with knowledge of the temple to instruct the ignorant acolytes stepping upon their grounds. Their words were robotic as each of them floated toward their assigned areas with a simple statement: ”œActivated.”

[Heero]

Heero's face kept the same neutrality he had approached the figure with. A hint of surprise would be felt through the force, but only because the boy had not yet perfected his skill in concealing his emotions in the energy currents that stretched out of him as he had mastered keeping them hidden rather then letting his body or face say too. He calmly observed the curious figure, his eyes a stark contrast to his darkly tanned, almost yellowish skin.

 

”œI never begin something I won't be able to finish; I'm here to complete my training.”

[Ason Antilles]

An unwavering mask of apathy had been carved upon the face of the boy, his every feature betraying no tinges of fear, resolve, arrogance, hate, or anything else that would deem him as a human. In a sense, this boy's cold expression was reminiscent of Ason's own master, and it had begun to rub off on the sith lord as well. Still, even the miniscule spark of surprise that the boy had given could've gotten him killed if it were to give away his position. He was skilled at masking things, yet he had not been pushed to perfection...

 

...yet.

 

The sith lord glided toward the boy, the robes he donned merely floating right above the floor in a rather eerie display.

 

”

[Heero]

Heero nodded his head at the Sith, partially out of thanks for his assistance in completing his training and partially out of understanding his directions. He turned and left the room, descending down the stairs and letting his feet carry him through the temple to the libratory. His footsteps echoed off of the walls and came back to him, whispering of the solitude one could find here. For a moment he mused that perhaps he and the Sith were the only living beings on the entire planet.

 

He looked around the room, walking aside the various work tables and looking over the tools. He had studied how to construct a lightsaber; the hilt would come after the crystal. There were far too many types of lightsabers for him to have studied about all of them, though he had read about a great deal of various types. The basic model was the easiest to construct if it was a person's first time, but he didn't want something that was easy . He wanted something that would fit his style of fighting and be more useful then just a weapon on the battlefield.

 

He came to a small grouping of drawers on top of a work bench. He gazed upon it thoughtfully for several long moments until his preternatural senses revealed the currents hidden to all but the third eye of a chosen few. It swirled around one drawer in particular, piercing the chest and pulling him towards it. He waved his hand, popping the small lock and opening the drawer. A tiny gem sat inside with a glow radiating from its very center. Jedi found crystals and used them, but a Sith created their crystal-yet he had been drawn to this gem.

 

He lifted it up, clutching it in his hand and feeling the latent energy inside of it. It was a rare gem used in the crafting of weapons, armor, and other pieces of gear. It was valuable beyond measure to many people in the Galaxy, yet his plans for it would make many of them faint out of shock. He found a small chisel and began tapping away at the gem, trying to find the proper point. It would be tiny, but he'd know the instant he found it.

 

The process took over an hour, but with what turned out to be his final tap the gem shattered into hundreds of shards. He gathered them up, making use of the force to do such. The furnace had already been ignited before he had even arrived, so when he took a seat in front of it he could feel the heat against his face and sea it pulsating in the air. Using one of the shards, he pricked his palm and let the blood float up in goblets into the tiny sphere that contained what had used to be a valuable gem.

 

Grains of sand joined the mix just before he focused all of his energies on the item. He focused so that he could imbue the group with his power, his unique signature so as to make it his before he even created it fully. Very little had ever truly been his, so the crystal would be a special creation not only due to its smaller then normal structure, but also because it would be his and only his. Something valuable, something exceptional, something powerful.

[Ason Antilles]

Glowing red flames extinguished themselves back into darkness and Ason's voice returned to normal as his eyes trailed the persistent boy. This one was direct, getting to his task in the expedient, unquestioning form of any other on this planet. Efficiency was quite the important trait for a sith to possess, and this one was making quite the impressions regarding such. However, merely getting trait through the task revealed only diligence and will. Completion would be a far different matter.

 

Ason went back to designing the figure he had become so engrossed in previously with the utmost care. The Dark Side itself maneuvered his quill as the thick lines of black trailed and formed the blue-prints of this next creation to be undertaken. The sith lord had already taken a datapad from the folds of his sleeve and given it to a utility droid to begin constructing the mechanics of.

 

This place is quite handy...

 

While the faceless entity proceeded to design the structure of his next vision, his apprentice had discovered a priceless jewel. Its radiance was nearly unrivaled and its shear value alone would've enticed even the truest to sell their souls to the devil in exchange. Heero had the choice to pocket it and assume a life of unimaginable wealth, but he chose the wiser path: sacrifice something tactically useless for something better. He knew he was obligated to create a lightsaber, and so nothing would deter him from that charge.

 

However, as the boy attempted to imbue the mixture with his very essence, a metallic clanking resounded outside and traveled into the boy's ears. Walking through the frame with an electro-staff in hand came a Magnaguard. Its optical receivers bore holes through their target, the ends of the staff beginning to crackle with a flurry of purple. Within seconds, the droid pounced with a swinging staff, the energy's coursing violet seeking to consume this figure.

 

THE PURPLE HAS YOU

[Heero]

Heero closed his fist, tightening the hold he had on the items until it was thick enough to hold on its own without his complete concentration. He left the small bubble of gathered materials lower to the ground, the force protecting it from becoming contaminated as he focused on the droid. His eyes were cold as his mind processed his options. The apprentice was unarmed, unprepared, and in unfamiliar territory against a warrior machine. Machines were uncaring, easily some of the quickest thinking fighters, and in this case highly adept at fighting.

 

He lifted his hand, wrapping an extension of his hand around the droid's arms and locking them in place. Despite the droids strength, the force was able to keep its arms locked as Heero manipulated them. He stepped out of the way, aiming the droids weapon so it would impale its own face when it came down. Sparks flew outwards in every direction, but the droids back up system in its chest kicked in and it moved to pull the weapon of its chest.

 

He called a half completed sword to him, noticing the dull blade as he grabbed the hilt and forced the tip through the droids back; destroying his back up systems. The blade acted as a conductor and with the hilt only being partially completed, it transferred the energy into his arms. The young man gritted his teeth, focusing himself so he could gather the strength to compel his muscles to cease contracting and release the weapon.

 

Pain is only physical. The more I experience the more I can resist.

 

The smoking mass of a machine fell to the ground when he released it. Thin, barely perceptible smoke was rising off of the flesh all the way up to his forearms; his eyes were still focused, already scanning the area for another threat. Stepping forward, he kicked the droid over and pulled its staff out of its face. He placed it on one of the work benches, should he need to defend himself again. Apparently not all of the droids on this planet were loyal to the Sith.

 

Spreading his digits, he called the tiny sphere of the force to him and observed its contents with a calm disposition. Closing his eyes, he let the pain that was a result of being electrocuted flow into the sphere to complete the first portion of his task. He stepped over the droid and to the furnace, opening it up and sending the small sphere inside. It would take a long time for the crystal to be forged and it would only be possible with him focusing on it for the entire time.

 

He took a seat in front of the furnace, leaving barely a hint of his perceptions on his surroundings just in case a rogue droid came for him again and pushing the rest of his focus into the forging of the crystal. His mind slowly traveled through his memories as the minutes, and then hours passed. The emotions that came along with such memories were potent and aided in his task-in fact that was the only reason he allowed such memories to surface.

 

Soon he was aware that the crystal had been forged and that it was time to design his hilt. The door of the furnace opened seemingly of its own accord, the crystal floating out and hovering before Heero as it shimmered in the light. It was blood red, but in the very center he could see tiny blue sparkles.

[Ason Antilles]

These events held a sole spectator, a featureless demon sitting atop his throne with an instrument of creation breaking its frantic sketching to view the unfolding events before him. Such combat prowess as this boy had displayed was commendable to say the least, especially for one of such a young age and fragile profile. This was the power of the Dark Side, the slithering deception that forced underestimation and ignorance to those who viewed its master without proper knowledge as to the magnitude of their power. This droid was a test, one that the student had passed with relative ease.

 

Within the mind of the apprentice resounded a satanic voice, similar to the one that he had heard last coming from the sith. However, this one held no physical limitations and was the pure voice of undiluted monstrosity.

 

Good.

 

When the crystal was ready to take out and the echoes of his voice had subsided the flames would jet outward and seek to consume their morsel whole.

[Heero]

Heero raised an eyebrow when he heard the voice in his mind. The thought of someone so effortlessly enter the only place he could ever call his sent a shiver of rage through his body. The shiver was barely noticeable, but the fact that there was even a shiver in the first place spoke volumes of the potency of the rage he felt. His mind was his sanctuary, his home, and the one place he could retreat to without fear of being found and now”¦it had been compromised.

 

He was unable to dwell on that thought as the flames from within the furnace roared out, coming straight at him. The fire consumed his crystal as he ducked below the torrential onslaught that was the flames. The heat from the fire just inches above him could be felt as it tested the limits of his heat resistance. His hands were flat on the ground, palms up, and digits spread as he manipulated the force around the fire. He encased the heat and directed it upwards as the force closed in around it to suffocate it. It was denied oxygen as many Sith denied sentient beings oxygen; neither could survive without the precious gas.

 

He blinked once; the door slammed shut and cut the flames off at their source as the remaining hints of it vanished from existence. He stood up, brushing himself off and looking at the furnace. His calm, cold, and calculating demeanor had already returned to him. He pulled his crystal out of the air and pocketed it before walking over to one of the work benches. It took all of five minutes for the young man to go through all the drawers and find the proper components to construct his lightsaber, or at least all the components he would need to build a mundane one.

 

He moved about the lab, gathering several more items before he had everything he would need. He had spent many nights alone studying the designs of a lightsaber before he knew them well enough to make modifications to the base model. He pulled up a stool and began working with the durasteel cylinder he had found in the laboratory. He took the exact measurements of it before working on the inner components.

 

The finished product of the insides was three inches shorter then the hilt, leaving enough room for the second function to be installed. This portion of the construction was the easiest, as he was familiar with the technology required for discreet entry into another's property. The inner workings were soon complete, leaving him to focus on the cylinder and cut several openings in it for the activating studs for the two different functions as well as a locking mechanism to keep it activated, or deactivated regardless of where the activating stud was at. He slipped the gripping over the cylinder, and then turned back to the inner workings.

 

The most difficult part would be the positioning of his crystal. If it was off by even a hair it could prove disastrous down the line. He found a small lamp that would give him a bit of extra light and set to work, concentrating completely on positioning it perfectly. The task was far from easy, but he was able to get it done in only a few hours. He felt it had been perfectly aligned, but knew only time would tell. He fit the components into the durasteel cylinder, making a mental note to add a few modifications to the saber down the line, and twisted it into place.

 

Pulling out a tiny tool, he set to work using a combination of a laser and the force to weld the weapon parts together permanently. It was possible to open it up, but it wouldn't be easy. Last came the instillation of the activation studs. He spent half an hour working on getting them set up properly then held the weapon, feeling a bit of pride at his accomplishment. He stood up and thumbed forward the activation stud. The weapon came to life; a pulsating scarlet blade that had a hypnotizing quality. The soft hum of the weapon filled the air for the few seconds before he shut it off.

 

Holding the weapon tightly, he left the laboratory and searched out through the force for the man who had set him to this task.

[Ason Antilles]

Approaching the wraith of a figure came the apprentice with his newly created weapon. His inventive usage of the force proved both prudent and satisfying beyond the potential of many students. Truly this boy held quite a bit of promise within him, and perhaps the fulfillment of his destiny would come soon at hand.

 

An assiduous eye measured the sleek weapon and had noted during creation that it possessed more functions than strictly that of a lightsaber. What these functions were exactly was information beyond his current knowledge. However, he was impressed that this student had the skills to produce something more than the non-descript, unremarkable saber that seemed to be found like candy everywhere in the galaxy. He had taken the concept and transformed it into his liking, and the sith lord would have to later inquire where he acquired such knowledge.

 

No words passed between the two until Ason allowed himself to enter Heero's view. His own voice shattered the quiet in the hall, sheltered from the roar of construction and the like.

 

”

[Heero]

((You've succeeded and utterly confusing me with this method, so I'm going to take a little liberty here and take this in a slightly different direction.))

 

Heero extended his weapon, igniting it and watching the hypnotizing blade of his scarlet weapon come to life. He could feel that the Sith was trying to show him something, but wasn't forcing it on him. He accepted it and let his hands follow the motion it showed him. A shower of sparks rained onto the cold ground around the lifeless droid and the young apprentice. He was completely focused on his task, his eyes never leaving the advancing droid.

 

The defensive movement, while effective felt forced. It was unnatural and he knew that if he fought using techniques that didn't come as second nature, his life would be cut short before he could reach even a fraction of his potential. He had only read a single paragraph about the known forms of lightsaber combat and hadn't felt particularly drawn towards any one of them, or even several of them. They all felt as if they were”¦lacking. Such widely known forms meant for duels that were as simple as identifying what their opponent was using and countering it with the proper form, but if one were to use a form all their own”¦the results had the potential to be potent.

 

The droid was preparing for another attack as Heero stepped backwards in an attempt to barter for a few more seconds. He closed his eyes lightly, letting the chaotic torrent of the force flow through his veins and guide his hands. His saber was above his head in a single movement, deflecting a blow from the droid and pushing it back at the same time. Heero advanced on the droid, opening his eyes as he brought his saber down twice, once from above and once from below. The droids movements were precise and predictable; a trained warrior, or in this case an acolyte with access to the force, would be able to see the moves coming before they made them. Very few droids could operate outside of that range of predictability.

 

His mind was closed to Ason and completely focused as he brought his body out of a graceful spin that displayed his preference of agility over power. The pulsating scarlet red superheated the material the droid was made of as it plunged into its chest. He withdrew the weapon as quickly as he sank it in, then shoved the weapon into its head as well. Too many droids could operate after such an attack that would take any sentient out of a fight.

[Ason Antilles]

The boy was developing a style all of his own, which was perfectly acceptable to Ason. If something felt unnatural, forcing it could mean devastating consequences. Upon sustaining what would've been a fatal blow should the droid have been a sentient, the aggressor disappeared from sight, but not before allowing the victor ample time to retrieve his weapon and prepare himself for the oncoming onslaught. Soon three sabers surrounded the man in a triangle formation, each one slashing away vigorously at their target. Defeating all three would be an incredibly difficult task, but Ason had faith the boy could do it. He saw how they telegraphed movements so easily before, so perhaps he would fair well. Perhaps he should've given the droids training sabers though... oh well.

 

"What doesn't kill him will make him stronger... lets just hope it doesn't kill him."

[Heero]

Heero's eyes moved from one droid to the next as he turned in a complete circle. They were all exact replicas of each other. Not one of them weaker then the next, leaving him nothing to exploit but on the other hand none of them were stronger then the others. He would have to find a weakness that all three possessed or merely fight them back until they dropped or he dropped.

 

His hands twirled the saber, deflecting one attack, two, and then the third of the first three. His movement, even when letting the force guide his hands, were far from easy. He wouldn't be able to hold off all three of them and attacking would be difficult at best with all of them taking up aggressive positions.

 

The boy's leg muscles tensed and he sprang upwards as the droid in front of him brought his weapon down to attack him again. With two manipulations of the force, the droid was pushed forward while his legs hit a barrier just potent enough to cause his upper body to fall forward and his lower half to stay in place. The result was the droid's weapon almost cleaving another droid in half as it fell onto its chest plate. Heero came down on top of it. His scarlet blade, held in his right hand, was buried in the droids back as his left hand was held up. A blast of the force carried the third droid backwards.

 

Without a thought he pulled his saber out of the first droid, knowing it was out of the fight, and moved towards the second one. He beat it back with fast attacks that if landed, would leave nothing but superficial wounds that would have no effect on a machine that felt no pain. Suddenly the second droid was flying backwards into a wall as the third came at him. He lifted his weapon to block the blow, the power behind it nearly snapping his wrist. His teeth clenched and his left hand squeezed shut, forcing the droids hand to crumple and close around its weapon until it was crushed so much that it shut down. With nothing left to defend itself, he made short work of it and turned his attention back to the second droid.

 

Their sabers clashed, but this time he made sure that when he blocked both of his hands were on the weapon. The droid wouldn't tire as he would; he knew it'd be best to make quick work of the thing. He brought his weapon down in an arc, slicing halfway into the droids right leg before the machine's saber stopped his. Inside of pulling back, he lifted upwards and cut up into the machine's chest. He thing brought it's saber down at Heero's head, trying to slice him in half to prevent anymore damage to its structure but with its leg out of commission, Heero was able to side step out of the way and finish off the droid.

[Ason Antilles]

The droids had been bested and the boy that had done so now stood victorious over the heap of seared metal clumped upon the metal floor beneath him. His form was quite effective as far as Ason was concerned, and that would conclude the mindless violence portion of the training that seemed to be ever present within every apprenticeship.

 

Suddenly, Heero heard the voice inside of his head again. Reality faded at the corners until all in sight had become completely consumed by the obsidian veil, a blind darkness resting over his every thought. His muscles felt sharp needles of sensation until eventually they dulled to an unpleasant numbness and he was lost in this echoing world of sound and nothingness all at the same time. And the guttural cry resounded.

 

”

[Heero]

The sudden sensations that over came Heero were less then pleasant and certainly not something he wished for. The fact that the man so effortlessly invaded his mind perturbed the boy. He was quite adept at hiding his emotions, but if a person could just pull thoughts from his mind or casually scan his surface thoughts then what good was that talent?

 

He tried to focus on the memories that he could see and doing such made them much more vibrant, much more real. As if pulling his thoughts up on his own sharpened them, but leaving another to pull them up would leave them dull and not all there. The man spoke of dominating his mind, invading his domain. No one dominated Heero's mind and he'd put a stop to this invasion. He let his memories fade, watching as they became dull. The figure of Ason was still approaching him, but he paid the man no regard.

 

Close your third eye

 

Heero did just that, shutting out the memories, the figure”¦all thought. There was nothing in his mind left to be manipulated and no room for fabrications of a pseudo-reality. His mind was his and his will was indomitable. Ason would find nothing but darkness, yet he was still connected to the apprentices mind. Heero formed an image of a computer as he pushed his way threw the link and into Ason's mind. The computer represented Ason's brain in its entirety; the image of the boy approached it and began to pummel it with a blunt instrument.

 

If the Lord wished to invade Heero's mind, then he'd leave with nothing but a headache after having his own mind assaulted. He felt a natural affinity for this sort of technique, as if invading someone's most private domain is what he was created to do. As it was, it wasn't exactly easy...more akin to a baby trying to take its first few steps, so he doubted he'd do any real damage to the man but it was a start. He'd see that the man suffered some time down the road for his careless invasion of another's mind.

[Ason Antilles]

Vicious blows pounded the machine as its display screens shattered and its framing dented. This boy was taking to the task rather quickly, much to his delight, and had taken a pleasant step: not only did he defend his mind, but began lashing out at Ason's own. It was like taking your kid out on his very first swoop bike and him going about with ease, and then he tries to run you down”¦ that's the part where the comparison sort of fails.

 

The computer, being Ason's mind, now sprung together with a vitality of its own. Conduits sprang loose and miniscule sparks of flame burst into clouds of fire. Electricity rattled the nothingness and would undoubtedly send shocks through the man's system. It had come to life. And then”¦

 

Wham!

 

On the physical plane, a black figure with blaring red eyes socked the man in the face. He then severed the connection he had opened with the boy.

 

”

[Heero]

Heero stumbled backwards from the force of the blow. The fist had collided with his left eye and would surely cause it to swell up soon. He blinked a few times, letting the pain disperse throughout his body as he listened to the curious figure. It wasn't exactly a common method of severing a connection, but this man seemed to be anything but common. His words were taken to heart, knowing that he spoke the truth.

 

The boy felt that forging a connection would be simple and expected, he wished to find something that might catch the man off guard and really get him. He looked into the darkness of the figure's hood, letting his dark presence expand outwards until it enveloped both of them. Tiny, barely perceivable tendrils of the force began to touch the man all over and pierce his flesh as if it was a completely permeable membrane. Heero's presence mixed with Ason's, making its way towards the man's mind.

 

Like a dagger sliding between a man's ribs, Heero pierced the figure's mind. Suddenly clamps were placed on the blood vessels within to prevent the flow. In seconds they would swell with the crimson fluid then explode; an aneurysm would take place. Chances were it wasn't what Ason had expected at all, but that was what Heero wanted. If Ason couldn't prevent himself from being killed in such a way, perhaps Heero would have to find someone else to train him.