Sith Training Facility

[Ophelia Solaris]

Ophelia sat in the middle of the training facility in the lotus position, the backs of her hands resting on her knees. Her fingers were slightly curled inward toward her palms in a state of relaxation as she concentrated, eyes closed to heighten her perceptions. She strained her ears, trying to hear past the sounds of the stadium into the next room where a conversation was being held in heightened tones beyond the air-locked door. Sighing, the woman adjusted her position slightly and tried to push out all anxiety and superfluous thoughts. Slowly, she began reaching out with slow, tentative tendrils from her mind, her thoughts filled with visuals of the training facility as though she were actually walking around it. Her mind slowly inched toward the door, momentarily blocked from continuing until she envisioned the airlock opening with a hiss. Did her mind fabricate that hissing noise from her memory? The visions proceeded into the hall, turning to the open archway on the left. One more airlock opened and she was inside an extravagantly decorated room. Her lips twitched. Hideous. Sweeping the room, Ophelia spotted what she was looking for. Or rather, who.
He was sitting at the far side of the room in a plush chair, his elbows on a luxurious desk with his fingertips pressed together. He was shaking his head from side to side, his lips moving silently as he said something. Her heart began pounding as he looked directly at her. She slunk back, prepared to come up with an excuse for being in his office when she realized that standing directly where she had been “standing” was a man. His large frame was hidden beneath a cloak, but his hood was down so that his long, snowy hair cascaded down his back. Black ran in streaks down his tresses like ink. She saw a slivery hand gesture and realized he was speaking to the man at the desk. The woman concentrated on trying to figure out what they were saying, her head beginning to thrum from the exertion. Suddenly, the cloaked man said something that made the other man look surprised and then laugh, turning in his chair to look out of a large window that took up almost an entire wall to his right. His lips curled into an amused smirk, lips moving. Did he just say my name? She turned her mind to follow his gaze through the window which overlooked the stadium.
The glass only looked one way and looked like a concrete wall from inside the stadium, so it didn’t surprise her that she had never noticed it before. What did surprise her was that she could see herself sitting on the ground… and there was the cloaked figure standing above her, his arms crossed over his chest as he looked down. In a flash of blurred visions, she returned to her normal state of mind with a gasp, eyes opening to stare up at him.
“Master! I didn’t hear you coming, I was too busy… concentrating.”

[Ophelia Solaris]

(( I wasn’t sure if I should have asked to make her Master an NPC or not, but I’m just going to play him out here. Hope that’s okay. If not, just let me know and we’ll switch him over to NPC. Thanks, guys. ))

“Ophelia, you have been breaching secure walls again, I see.” His voice was slow and measured, each word holding importance. She hated it when he spoke that way because she was never sure if he was angry or pleased. The blonde slowly stood to her feet, inclining her head with respect. “Good.”
Her lips curved into a smile as she looked up at him. “Thank you, Master.” Inwardly, she was breathing a sigh of relief. If he had been upset, there would have been hell to pay. Her muscles ached from the memory of the last time she had done something to anger him. Yet, she had held her head high and reminded herself that she deserved her punishment, using the pain to strengthen her hate. Hatred made her stronger; her inconsistent powers more reliable. Ophelia often thought of her sister while training to keep the connection strong with the Force. Her cheek muscle jerked as she mentally fought to keep herself in control. Now was not the time. But soon… soon she would not even need to think of that insolent girl to sustain her strength.
“You have trained hard, Ophelia. But you try too hard.” Her smile faltered, a slender brow arching as she looked up at him. His angular face was held tightly and judging from the silvery sheen of his skin, he was not happy. “They are beginning to question whether you are worth training anymore.”
“Master…” She was trying hard not to completely lose it. So… very hard. It would dishonor the Solaris name if she did not make it to Sithood and she would not allow that to happen. That was not what she wanted and she always got what she wanted. Her crystalline eyes burned fiercely in anger. “What could they possibly know? I want to know,” she hissed, “why the Emperor himself would send someone for me if he didn’t think I was strong?”
Her usually pretty face was contorted by her anger, lips childishly protruding into a pout. Master Aeternus watched her in silence, his expression difficult to read, but Ophelia knew it as one of amusement. So he wasn’t taking her seriously? She bristled.
“Was it that fat, pompous leech of a man who has no right to interfere with our business? It was, wasn’t it.” She glowered, looking to the ground. “I’ll kill him. I will kill him for doubting the Emperor.”
The Sith Lord was smiling now, his pointed canines visible in the cadaverous smirk. “Do you feel it?” She paused to look at him as he spoke. “The raw power running through your veins.” He circled her, activating his lightsaber. Ophelia closed her eyes, listening to his movements behind her. Her fingers had barely grazed the handle of her training saber before Master Aeternus had struck.
Hitting the ground, she rolled to the right, bouncing to her feet as she activated her saber and held it out in the fending position. She was not used to training with a lightsaber because most of her work had been to extend the use of the Force with her mind. Her style and movement was awkward, but she had full confidence that with more practice it would be second nature. She was a Solaris, after all.
“Stop defending yourself. Hit me, Ophelia.”
In a downward arc, she moved closer to him in full attempt to sever a limb. There was a clash and his lightsaber easily deflected her hit. Without further warning, he began sending hits at her left and right. It took everything she had to concentrate on his movements, her mind working to anticipate a second beforehand where he was going to strike. Ophelia found that she could not back up any further and was therefore at a stalemate. Before she could think of her next move, her master had sent a blow to her saber that caused her to let go, the handle clattering to the ground as the blade deactivated. She glared up at him as he inched his blade close to her throat.
“Well? Go get it.”

[Ophelia Solaris]

Wary of the humming blade at her throat, Ophelia inched away from the wall. She knew that the instant she touched the handle, the duel would recommence and she did not want to be caught off guard. Keeping an eye on her teacher, she leisurely circled around her weapon, her body slowly sinking to the ground as she reached for the handle, fingers inches from it…
Suddenly, she found that her eyes were closed, a high pitched frequency squealing in her ears. Opening one eye, she found two blades very close to her face. One clashing downward against a parrying blade that was trying to desperately force it back up. As she opened her other eye she realized it was her blade that was keeping Master Aeternus’ from scarring her pretty little face. Where in the Emperor’s supreme power did she get the reflexes to do that? Her brow quirked and she smiled up at her teacher. His gaze met hers, but his expression denied emotion as he twirled his saber to get a better grip on his handle before resuming his brutal onslaught. Ophelia found that it was even more difficult to block attacks from the ground, but she continued sliding back until she felt she was at a safe enough distance to submit to vulnerability and tuck her body into a slantways roll, moving back to the right before bounding to her feet. There was no pause between each attack and he was beginning to move faster. Switching to offense was not an option. It was upsetting her that he was beating her so badly, forcing her into corner after corner as though she were a vrelt in an alleyway. Not to mention, she wasn’t the only one using this facility and she was constantly aware of watchful eyes evaluating her every move.
“Is that all you’ve got?” She snarled.
“My dear pupil,” he replied, hardly showing any signs of exertion, “this is half speed.”
Then, she felt something. It was slight. Something most would only notice as a pestering itch. She could feel him in her thoughts, searching… Searching. Searching for what?
“Perhaps they were mistaken.” His voice snapped her back to her senses, her eyes narrowing as she ducked beneath an attack. He continued, “Perhaps Lana had been the one they were searching for. She was strong.”
“She was weak!” Ophelia dropped her defense to take a swing at his head. He parried.
“Not as weak as you may think. She was strong enough to stand your abuse. She was strong enough to stand up to you, was she not?” His voice was so level. So calm. So annoying.
“Just shut up! If she was stronger, why didn’t she fight back?” She took another offensive blow. Clash of lightsaber against lightsaber. “Why?!”
“She was strong enough not to retaliate. Come on, Ophelia, does this upset you? You are weak. No wonder Commander Filch has doubts abut you.” He dodged another fatal blow and struck back. With satisfaction he saw she was quick to parry. “I’m sure the Emperor has his doubts too. And your family…” He clicked his tongue off the roof of his mouth. “Tch, well… Let’s just say they already think you are a disgrace to the family. Perhaps it would be better if you ceased calling yourself a Solaris.”
“Go to Hell!” She screamed, advancing upon him. “And get out of my head!”
There was a slight change and she could feel him coaxing her mind to fear all these things. She thought of Commander Filch and his lack of faith. Lana and her audacity to stand up to her. All of the sweat and blood it took to get this far yet she was not as far in her training as she would like to be… As they would like her to be. And suddenly, she was screaming. Yes, they were watching. Yes, she was going to prove them all wrong. A flame sparked in Aeternus’ eyes as the woman began to abandon all to advance upon him. Her strikes were reckless… and strong.
“Yes, feel your rage. Use it to destroy me.”

[Ophelia Solaris]

She wanted to kill him. How dare he use the simplest of mind games against her. Offended, embarrassed, and enraged she beat down upon him while blocking his attacks, brushing them away with her lightsaber as though they were flies. Well, if he was going to play that way, so was she. She began reaching out with the Force to penetrate her teacher’s mind, sure that if she could find the smallest weakness, she could bring him down. And end him, she thought bitterly. But she could not find his thoughts. Caught off-guard, he nearly disarmed her a second time, but she learned from her previous mistake and twisted her wrist in such a way they the impact could not force her weapon from her hand. She tried again to pierce his mind, but to no avail. He could easily deflect her attempts as quickly as he could strike with his saber. Aeternus chuckled and, firmly pressing one boot against the stadium wall, flipped over his opponent. She was in mid-turn when his blade was directed once again to her throat. Damn.
“Pity, I thought you were going to do much better. We’ll try again tomorrow… You’re dismissed.”
Ophelia glowered, breathing heavily as a bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face. Knocking his blade away with her own, she deactivated and clipped her weapon onto her belt. It took everything within her to force herself to incline her head in respect before turning on her heel and walking to the door. She tried to reassure herself that lightsabers were impractical anyway. That there had to be another way, a quicker way to kill an opponent without being at such a close proximity. Lightsaber duels were too intimate for her taste. Clenching her jaw, the blonde lifted her wrist and dragged the back of her hand across her upper lip. Master Aeternus would learn soon enough that he was an idiot for trying to teach her such a primitive form of melee. As she stepped through the airlock door, she looked over her shoulder. He was gone. She glanced to her left down the open corridor. Commander Filch… The slightest diversion from your orders and I will personally terminate you.
It would not be long now until she reached apprenticeship. Then she could prove to the Emperor that she was not a waste of his time. She would prove that she was meant to be at his right hand. The thought of reaching such power… she would be close enough she could practically rule the Empire. Eternal honor to the Solaris bloodline. Her name would be in the historical archives. But first, she will make herself a crusader for the Emperor. No one will be safe from his reign, she would see to it herself. This, she thought to herself, will be fun.

[Ophelia Solaris]

Gliding down the hallways, she felt so confined and sticky in her training jumpsuit. It really was tacky and useless. Not to mention, she felt common, just like all the other students in the academy. But they all knew she was not ordinary. They would keep their distance from Ophelia Solaris not out of awe or respect, but because they knew that she loved her playthings. And none of them wanted to have the same fate her ‘playthings’ suffered because once she was finished with them, they were not seen or heard from again.
“I saw it in the cages. Looks pretty mean to me, I wouldn’t want to mess with it.”
“What’re you talkin’ about, Miles? It sounds like fun. I’d love to have a go at it.”
Two men, who Ophilia noted were not students but rather Imperial militia, were walking down the hall in the same direction she was and speaking in excited tones. Although she could not see their ranking on the front of their uniforms, she could tell that they were probably not more than privates. What they were doing here was none of her concern, but she was interested in their conversation. With her hands clasped behind her back and her steps light, she slowed her pace so she could trail them.
“You see the size of that thing? There’s no way you could take down a terentatek. Kriff, not even with ten men.” Ophelia rose both brows, her lips puckering. A terentatek? Where did they manage to get a beast like that and how did they transport it here? “Besides,” he continued, “it took almost a whole farking fleet to kill its mother. I heard Captain Starbuck killed ‘er from the inside out. This one’s strictly for Sith training.”
“To Chaos with those kriffing Force wielders always getting into our business and-”
“Keep your voice down! It doesn’t matter what they do, they think they’re in charge. And as long as that’s the case, we ain’t got much say.”
“Y’don’t think I know that, Jarek? We lost a lot of good men on Kashyyk and a whole lotta help they were. ‘Specially that rogue Sith.”
Ophelia’s eyes narrowed. Rogue Sith? So this Sith was working against the Empire. She would have to pay this so-called rogue a visit when she began her apprenticeship. That is, if he was still alive. Having heard enough, she picked up the pace and walked around the two soldiers. She could feel their surprise and fear turn into relief as she continued walking without a glance behind her. There wasn’t any time to play. She had work to do.

[Jack Starbuck]

Jack made sure to make his dress uniform extra crisp and sharp. It was unusual for a low ranking officer such as a Captain to make an appearance at the training facility, he wanted to look as convincing as he could. Usually the only military personnel who walked these halls were higher ranking Generals or Admirals, teaching the Sith trainees about general military tactics and protocol, it didn't mean they actually took in the teaching like most Sith don't. He exchanged curious looks from the initiates walking by, and every glance he made he was constantly reminded of his past failures. The sooner he was out of here the better, but this mission wasn't about him, it was for the man who laid down his life for Jack's.
He walked up to the information kiosk and was greeted by a cloaked female AI. "How original"
"What is it you are looking for today Captain?"
He looked down to his data pad as if searching for a name.
"Yes I'm looking for a... Johanna Reis?" He looked up Charles' bio to find her name
"With respect Captain, she is currently being interrogated and no one is allowed to see her at the moment."
"That's why I'm here," he flashed his ID card and then showed her his panel with the interrogation orders on the main screen.
"Oh I'm sorry sir, I was not notified of your coming, let me notify the floor." The AI went out existence as Jack exhaled. He really hoped this worked, thanks to Janto he was able to produce the fake orders but if it didn't go through then he would be decapitated in an instant.
The hooded figure flared back after a couple seconds. "The interrogation commander was not notified of your arrival as well." She crossed her arms "Care to explain?"
"Of course," Jack stood upright. "I am Captain Jack Starbuck of the Imperial Gloom Walkers Heavy Infantry." "And what business do you have with this smuggler Captain?"
Smuggler? so thats what she was here for, good to know "As you might have heard my company has just come back from the invasion of Kashyyyk." "Yes, under the orders of Admiral Yularen, I suppose it's going well." Jack looked down "Yea you could say that, anyway she has some information that could prove useful to the attack on the enclave, I was personally assigned by Colonel Jones to find out from her and then to report back to battle." There was as long pause as her avatar froze in place, it was clear she was somewhere else then she became reanimated. "Alright, you have been approved, make your way to floor 23 subsection B." "Got it, thanks." Jack walked away from the kiosk "Holy kriff it worked."

[Jack Starbuck]

Jack continued down the hall cautiously until he reached his destination. "This is it." He opened to door to see a Bothan Sith instructor surrounded by his students perk up. "Captain Starbuck" Jack gave a quick bow. "This way." It was all he said and started down one of the many prison halls to the interrogation room, Jack said nothing and followed. When they reached the door the instructor turned around. "We have been trying to get some information from her for some time now, we have been using her for training for the more advance students but even they cannot break through. What makes you so sure you can reach her?" Jack kept looking at the door "When you are taken captive by Dougs, you go through a pain that can never be imagined and when experienced it leaves you scarred, they have reinvented the word torture." "You seem to be alright" The sith wasn't concerned about Jack but of their training tool. "Lets just say I didn't stay for that long." "Very well." The sith turned to leave. "Oh my lord." "What is it?" "I'm going to need the camera's to be turned off." "And why is that?" "Lets just say my methods are... unorthodox." A small smile came across the Bothan's face. "Very well Captain." As soon as he left Jack straightened up and opened the door.

[Jack Starbuck]

Jack walked in to see the woman he spent the pass two days trying to reach. In between them a metal table that wasn't ground to the floor. Before focusing on her looks he surveyed the area, nothing to much, it was just another interrogation chamber. He finally looked to Johanna. Broken down by the months of mind probing by the young Sith trainees she was a mess. Her head was down and covered by her long greasy brunette hair that went down just below her breasts. Jack looked up to the camera probe, hoping it was shut down already. There could have been a chance that the Sith instructor wanted to show his students different forms of Doug torture through this interrogation. Lets hope he didn't. He took a step forward and sat down in the chair and faced Johanna. "Johanna, my name is Captain Jack Starbuck." She looked up to see his medals and unit badge without making eye contact. "My brother is in your unit." Jack raised an eyebrow "Smart girl." "Just because I've been caught doesn't mean I'm stupid." She spat "Well its because of Charles that I'm here." She made eye contact and Jack noticed that her eyes were beautiful. "This is some new form of torture, whatever it is its not going to work!" Jack leaned back to look at the Camera then her. "I'm not here to torture you kid, I'm here on behalf of your Charles."
"Of course you are."
"Johanna...I'm sorry."
"Sorry? you will be."
"Johanna...Charles is...dead."
Jack could see the same horrified look in her eyes as he saw in her mother
"What? Agh! Kriff! no this won't work! You can't break me!"
Jack just merely stared at her sympathetically. "Johanna, I don't know how else to say this, or how else to get to you."
She just sat across from him with her arms crossed and a smirk on her face.
"I'll admit its a good try, but Charles can take care of himself, its not going to work."
It's when Jack pulled out the locket that he saw her face experience true horror.
"He told me to give this to you."
"no...no...he...no"
"I've already notified your moth-"
"You sleemo!!! You killed him to get to me! You, you killed him!"
She tried standing up but her leg cuffs kept her to the ground.
"You monster!"
"Johanna!" Jack stood up and slammed both hands on the table to get her to shut up
"He died protecting me...Yes it is my fault he is gone, but not for what your thinking."
"Sure you did"
"Charles was my brother too, I would never do such a thing, he died trying to protect me, to protect you." She slunk back in her chair
"I..I can't believe, I can't believe."
"It's hard for me too Johanna, but please, take this."
He held the locket in front of her "It was his last wish." She stared at him long and hard before finally taking it. Jack stood up to leave and then turned around and tossed her his I.D card. "What the hell is this."
"Charles saved my life, the least I can do is give you mine." He meant this metaphorically as she could use his card as a way for her escape, if the Sith ever found her with it he would be executed but he knew she would find a use for it. She only stared at him on his way out still with tears in her eyes.
He was greeted by the Sith instructor on his way out. For him time stopped, he didn't know if he discovered what he was planning, but relief came when he asked "I have sensed much pain, any progress?" Jack looked up with a smile "Yea,I'd say she's going somewhere."

[Jack Starbuck]

Jack made his way out of the facility with a load off of his shoulders. He hailed a taxi and made his way back to the barracks. During the ride he received a call from Admiral Yularen. He pulled out his holopad to see the spit and spam admiral appear before him.
"Good afternoon admiral."
"Ah good to see ya lad!" It was music to Jack's ears to hear the admirals heavy coruscanti accent.
(OOC: So apparently the Coruscanti accent is based off of Ewan McGregors' faint scottish accent.")
"Is it that time sir?"
"Aye recon it is son, are yeh busy?"
"No sir not at all, in fact I just finished an errand. I can meet you there in 30 mikes?" (OOC: mikes is a military term for minutes) "Good good, see ya then, can't wait to hear bout you your little mishaps with the wookies." Both gave a chuckle before ending the transmission.
Jack leaned toward the driver
"There's been a change of plans" he threw a couple of credit chips to his passenger seat. "Take me to the IA headquarters"

[Ophelia Solaris]

“I have decided to go to Tund.”
Master Aeternus stared at her, his expression apathetic. “Have you? Your training here is incomplete.”
The blonde sighed in frustration, slamming her hands down on the desk. She knew that this little tantrum would have no effect on her master, but she could not contain her rage. Her icy gaze met his, and she spoke slowly, voice shaking ever so slightly. “I don’t want to learn how to use a lightsaber. It’s too primitive. Too mundane. I am not here to be mediocre, Master.”
“That is not for you to say, Ophelia. You must master even the smallest of tasks if you wish to be truly powerful. Leave not a single weakness.”
The apprentice stared at him, dragging her palms along the desk until they slid off completely. She straightened. “I wish to go to Tund.”
“It seems as though there is no stopping her.” Ophelia glanced over at Commander Filch, glaring. The general was sitting back in his chair, one leg crossed over the other with his hands laced together in his lap. He received the glare with a bright smile and leaned forward to straighten the trinkets on his desk. “It seems to me, Miss Solaris, that you have more potential than we thought.” Ophelia simply glowered.
“You mean more potential than the Emperor thought? Or are you telling me that you doubted his judgement?”
Filch paused, his face briefly losing its color. He cleared his throat and continued, “Why do you want to go to Tund?”
“Sorcery,” she said bluntly, crossing her arms and gracefully sinking down into the chair across from him. He shot a glance up at Aeternus who was standing next to him on his side of the desk.
“And… who told you about this sorcery?”
She grinned, flicking a long strand of hair over her shoulder as she crossed her legs, mimicking the commanding officer. “Ask the Emperor.”

[Ophelia Solaris]

She knew they would not allow her to leave Corellia right away, but at least she had planted that seed into their minds. They had heard their request and now she was satisfied. Ophelia stepped lightly through the hall, reminiscing over that flutter of a heartbeat she had felt within Filch’s chest when she told him she wanted to study Sith magic upon request of the Emperor. The petite woman pranced her way to the locker room to change into her jumpsuit and prepare for the afternoon’s training. The sooner she improved, the sooner she would get out of this stupid academy and commence her project. She had plans and they were going to be big. Zipping up the uniform, she threw her long hair up into a ponytail and made her way to the arena where her master would be waiting.

[Ophelia Solaris]

Ophelia stepped into the arena and, to her surprise, found it empty. The lights were dimmed and the air was deathly still - something was obviously amiss. She slowly walked forward, her hand on her training lightsaber, eyes making slow, long sweeps of the facility. Trusting her reflexes, she allowed her muscles to relax and began reaching out with her mind, searching for the faintest glimmer of a thought through the Force. Suddenly, she felt one. There, in the darkness, she could feel his deepest secrets and allowed them to course through her, sending a pleasurable shiver down her spine. Her lips twitched and then spread into a grin as she took a step towards the figure in the shadows, imbibing his thoughts greedily in delirious dehydration. It was not her master. It was someone much younger. Male. Another student. A flicker of fear ran through their mind.

“Delicious,” she muttered. Her voice seemed so loud, resonating against the naked walls and bouncing back to her, ringing in her ears. Unclipping the lightsaber from her belt, she took another step forward, thumb ready to activate it. “Come out, come out wherever you are…” she sang tauntingly. Of course, she already knew where he was - she could, after all, read his thoughts - but that ruined the game. The person shifted, but before he could even activate his lightsaber, she had leapt at him and activated her own, holding the glowing blade to his face. Once again, that fear shone for a split second in the young man’s eyes.

“What are you doing lurking in the darkness, pet?” Ophelia trilled lightly. Did she even need to ask? He put up no barriers in his brain and it was all laid out so nicely. She breathed in his thoughts and exhaled, satisfied. It was as though he didn’t even know she was in there. “You’re a new plaything, then? What fun!”

“You’re that Solaris girl, aren’t you?”

“One and the same,” Her eyes sparkled with delight at the recognition. “And you would be..?”

“Falen. Master Aeternus told me much about you.”

She blinked, taking a step back. Her blue eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”

The boy had the gall to smirk and step around her blade, shrugging his shoulders. He was not going to play her game. Ophelia scowled and suddenly sprang towards him. With a squeal, their lightsabers clashed, screeching as they broke apart. Why was he not telling her what she wanted? It infuriated her that he had something she wanted and he was withholding it.

She stepped to the left. He stepped to the left. They eyed one another, circling, sabers humming menacingly. So he was going to play like that then… Fine. Game on.

[Ophelia Solaris]

“You know, I had heard that you were pleasant on the eyes, but I never imagined such a pretty little thing getting her hands dirty.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re the Emperor’s lapdog.” He shook his head, scoffing with a smile. “Pretty sad. You’re so young and beautiful.”

Ophelia tilted her head, heart burning with anger, but her face retained its frigid, emotionless expression. “Is there something wrong with loyalty to a friend?”

“Loyalty? Really, you would call it that? More like brown nosing.”

Something clicked inside the Sith apprentice and she felt a flurry of thoughts as her anger heightened into a delirium. The facility seemed to grow darker as the thing inside her thundered, threatening to erupt. Falen glanced at the dimmed lights as they flickered and smiled.

“He was right, you are powerful. But you have no idea how to harness that energy. The Force may run through you, but it does just that - you are not one with it.”

“Who are you?”

“Come, Ophelia! Let’s play a game.” He reached a hand up and the lights blinked out. Ophelia was given no more than half a moment before he made his first attack, only the glow of his lightsaber visible in the darkness. She dodged to the side, narrowly missing having her head sliced clean from her shoulders. Immediately, she opened her mind to the Force, trying to regain a sense of where things were so she would not collide with anything in the arena while her eyes adjusted. Twirling her saber, she launched forward, met with a strong parry that pushed her back. Laughter in the blackness.

“Is that all you’ve got? Come here, Emperor’s little marionette. Prove you’re worth it.”

Her jaw clenched tightly and she flicked her wrist, switching off her blade. She moved silently, sensing his surprise. For just a moment, he was thrown off guard enough that he was unable to see where she was. But his lightsaber was a beacon in the darkness and she was suddenly running at him, both hands clutching onto the handle of her blade as she pulled her arms back, ready to ignite and plunge the weapon into his back.

[Ophelia Solaris]

Something was suddenly pushing her back. It was not until she felt herself slamming against the wall that she realized he had used the Force to push her away. She was beginning to make out the shadows and could see his figure standing in the middle of the room, motionless. He was watching her. “You cheated.” She muttered, dejectedly. Falen laughed.

“I decided to change the rules a bit.”

“That’s cheating,” she pointed out as she pushed herself off the wall. Hands were pushing her back and she became aware that Falen was directly in front of her, his hands on her shoulders. Her eyes widened in surprise.

“You blinked,” he whispered.

“What do you want from me?” Ophelia glared at him, now able to make out his face in the darkness. Her eyes had adjusted quicker than she expected.


“I want you to feel afraid.” He leaned forward, so that their faces were mere centimeters apart. She could feel his breath and then his heartbeat, eyes staring up at him unblinking. Truth was, she was more caught off guard than afraid. He was a threat, yes, but he did not seem too intimidating. Merely frustrating. The woman sighed.

“Listen, you’re doing a poor job of-”

“Silence!” His voice was abruptly sharp and authoritative, all sense of familiarity melting away. It had caused her to twitch, startled by his rapid change in demeanor. She was now aware of his fingers digging deeply into her shoulders. It hurt.

“Let go,” her voice shook ever so slightly and he seemed to breathe in with satisfaction.

“See, Ophelia? You put on this act that you’re so tough but truth of the matter is that you’re weak. So fragile. It makes me wonder how violently the Force will rip you apart if you try to dabble with it too extensively.”

The woman felt her blood begin to simmer, bubbling with hate for Falen. He was so confusing. Her mind felt like it was twisting in on itself, tying into knots as she tried to figure this guy out. This was exactly what he wanted. The one thing about becoming a funnel for the galaxy’s thoughts and fears was that your own became sort of lost. She thought about this as she stared into his eyes and felt a strange rush of energy tingle throughout her body. She was not going to be defeated this time. These mind games Aeternus was putting her through were becoming tiresome and she had had enough. The corners of her lips curled into a smile and she leaned even closer to him, lips brushing against his cheek as she whispered into his ear.

“Falen, pet, you’ve missed something important. So very important.”

[[ This class so so boring... ]]

[Ophelia Solaris]

She did not have to see that look flash across his face, but she felt it and inhaled it voraciously, feeding upon his emotion. The darkness around them was being drawn into the small woman. The room seemed to ripple in subtle waves, pulsating in rhythm with her heartbeat; pulsating with the flow of her blood. So this was what raw power felt like… It was wonderful. Ophelia knew that it would need to be released, and soon because she was not used to harboring this kind of power, but she did not want to let go. The tide began to swell before her eyes and she felt as though she was being dragged under a strong current. It was so strong, so powerful, so delicious. But it was eating away at her insides. It was beginning to consume her brain. She could no longer feel Falen’s presence and suddenly felt very lonely. In a final effort, she released the pent up energy, the darkness expelling from her in a powerful wave. The student felt the ground move beneath her feet and swooned, falling to the ground. Her heart ached with longing for that power once more. Staring blankly out at the arena, she was suddenly aware that the lights were once again dimmed. Apathetically, she saw a body lying on the ground at the opposite side, moving slowly to rise to its feet. It was Falen. The door hissed open and two figures entered the training facility.

Ophelia’s head hurt. There was too much light and it stung her eyes so she closed them.

“Well, that was some tantrum. Wish she had told us what was so important though.”

“Do you think she’s ready?”

“She’s advanced and she doesn’t even know it. They’ll destroy her in Tund.”

“I just want her out of my hair.”

“What do you think, Master Aeternus? You saw what she did and you haven’t said anything.”

There was a pause and then the sound of robes shifting. “My student could use the extra initiative. In addition, they have strongly suggested that she leave soon, much against my better judgement. We have no choice in the matter; she will go to Tund.”

“They sure have filled her pretty little head up with skrag, haven’t they?”

“She is their experiment. They want to see how far she can be pushed.”

“Won’t be far. The girl will end up dead and the Emperor will find a new puppet that will be dumped into my affairs.”

I’m right here, she thought, I can hear everything you’re saying. But, Master, you already know that, don’t you? Why do you want me to hear this... Exhausted, she drifted to sleep.

[Ophelia Solaris]

When she came to, she was still on the ground of the training arena, but the stadium was empty. Groggily, she rose to her elbows and blinked, the light painful to her eyes. Her stomach growled and she had a throbbing in her cranium, but she was otherwise unscathed. Ophelia saw that her lightsaber was discarded to the side and grabbed it, clipping it onto her belt as she stood to her feet, not bothering to brush herself off. An emptiness filled her petite form, the impenetrable void gnawing at her, and she craved to be filled with the energy she experienced the night before. Pulling her hair down from the ponytail, she walked from the facility hoping to hit the fresher and grab something to eat. She raked her thin fingers through her hair, unsure what to think of this feeling of loss. She had never experienced such emotions before and it was throwing her off guard. Ophelia detected the presence of another and turned to see that Master Aeternus had fallen into step with her, his skeletal arms crossed, hidden within the billowing sleeves of his robe.

“We leave today.”

“Oh?” She looked up at him, having to tilt her head back to stare at the tall Firrerreo. Everything felt so surreal.

“Get a hold of yourself, Ophelia.” He was frowning and sighed, shaking his head. The girl smiled to herself. Her master was pouting and it was rather adorable.

“Will I feel it again, Master?”

“Yes.”

“Will he be there?”

“Who?”

“Falen.”

“.. Yes.”

“Wonderful~” she sang, “We will finish our duel on Tund then.” She spun around in a circle, prancing down the hall to find nourishment, sure she heard her teacher scoffing behind her. The emptiness would not be so bad once she ate something. And once they reached Tund, it would be gone completely.

[[ FINALLY, going to Tund. ]]