Star Wars: The Sith Zero - [Reverse Summon, Familiar of Zero/Star Wars]
- Thread starter Advena Phillips
- Start date
- Crossover
Xero Key
Flying high, spinning webs!
Nope. Louise has jiggle physics now and enjoys it.
Xero Key
Flying high, spinning webs!
Lose the tie, make the brown black and gold trim into silver, got a pretty good outfit for a Sith. Just needs shoulder pads and maybe a cape.I was Googling around to see how would an adult Louise would look like, and I found this:
Not bad I guess.
Advena Phillips
God-Emperor of all that is Void/Eldrich Horror
- Location
- The deep dark void that is my personal domain.
Payback for A, fighting her, and B, saying he's going to eat her all the time.Being Khem is suffering
Louise playing with them like a child. Booping them and giggling as they jiggle.
I was Googling around to see how would an adult Louise would look like, and I found this:
Not bad I guess.
Source? It's a good image... similar to Louise in many ways (Louise's hair is a bit longer and her boobs are a bit smaller, but eh), but I don't think it would be a good outfit to fight in. For show, yes, but no fighting. Heels, and the skirt are not for fighting.
MaHaL
Conductor of the Choir of Death
- Location
- Canada
You'd never know it from video games though.
NephyrisX
Luck is my dump stat. And the dice shows.
- Location
- Singapore
I just found the pic off Google after searching for 'familiar of zero adult louise'. It's probably a character from an altogether different series.
- Location
- Portugal
I ship LouiseXLyira very hard, the definitive OTP to me.
Also, Louise getting more training...excellent, i want her to come back to Halkeginia as OP as possible.
Also, Louise getting more training...excellent, i want her to come back to Halkeginia as OP as possible.
jesus
Arasaka VTuber PsyOps
It's one of the Operators (specifically Operator L) from SD Gundam Online Capsule Fighter.
オペレーター - SDガンダム カプセルファイター オンライン Wiki
Advena Phillips
God-Emperor of all that is Void/Eldrich Horror
- Location
- The deep dark void that is my personal domain.
Found it amongst a lot of scantly clad, and even naked Louises, Tabithas, Tiffas, and Siestas.
Tatooine...
Louise is already OP by mage standards if she goes about it the smart way by summoning their wands from their hands and then snapping their necks.
jesus
Arasaka VTuber PsyOps
Speaking of, is she going back to Halkeginia at some point?
Advena Phillips
God-Emperor of all that is Void/Eldrich Horror
- Location
- The deep dark void that is my personal domain.
Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Yes, but it won't be until later on, a time after the Shadow of Revan expansion pack and before Knights of the Eternal Throne. The details are a bit fuzzy, but I know a few certainties, such as Louise having her companions with her, and Louise's drive to get back to the Sith Empire, her home, as fast as possible.
BloodRevan
Grimm Reaper
- Location
- USA
Does "Companions" include Lyira?
jesus
Arasaka VTuber PsyOps
Sweet. As much as I liked all the stuff that happened after her homecoming in Poliamida's Zero Summing, I was still pretty devastated that I missed out on the majority of Louise's adventures in Skyrim. I'm really enjoying this by the way, so I hope you'll keep finding time for it.
- Location
- Portugal
I sure hope so, i want Louise to introduce her hopefully alien girlfriend to her family and see how they react.
Halkeginia is typically very conservative so that should be interesting, though i doubt Cattleya and Karin will have a problem with Louise being in a lesbian relationship, as Cattleya is too nice to care about that and Karin had some experiences in her younger years that means she likely won't judge, it's Eleanore and Louise's father's reactions that i want to read.
Xero Key
Flying high, spinning webs!
Probably include her capital ship Doombringer (The Silencer) and has Louise's and Lyria's personal ships on board. Which means the Inquesitor companions and Lyria and her companions.
- Location
- Texas
I'm actually looking forward to Louise's blood soaked (and also somehow hilarious and rom-com) rise to the very top of the Sith Empire hierarchy much more than I am her returning to Halkeginia. I hope it doesnt get cut short at some point like it did in Zero Summing. In fact I'm hoping Louise rising to the top and (presumably) ruling her slice of the Sith empire with her companions and girlfriend/life-partner Lyira will be able to be read as its own self contained story, then Louise returning to Halkeginia almost being a sequel or just a very different Part 2.
Chapter 15 -Act I-
Advena Phillips
God-Emperor of all that is Void/Eldrich Horror
- Location
- The deep dark void that is my personal domain.
Chapter 15 – A slice of Sith life
Note to self: Don't neglect training again. Louise thought, standing in the centre of a large training room. Her arms, legs… her whole body would have been aching had the runes not dulled the pain, and she would have felt exhausted. It had been around twelve hours since she had arrived at the training room with only a short break for food. Had one seen her body under her clothing, they would have just found welts, bruises and sweat.
Currently, he was teaching her Sorcery, getting her up to the level someone like her should be at.
"Again!" Lord Krillis shouted, jolting the Pinkette into action as four combat droids sprang into action, firing a barrage of -thankfully non-lethal- plasma at Louise. Her lightsaber was flourished in a wide twisting arch, deflecting some of the blasts safely away from her, before reaching out in the Force and summoning a bolt of lightning, striking the closest droid. However, instead of just leaving it at that, she bent the Force to her will and commanded the lightning to arc from that droid to the others.
All four collapsed as the electricity activated the training kill switch.
But before she could take a break, four more combat droids activated behind her, firing her blasters at her. This time, instead of just deflecting them with her lightsaber, she tried to deflect it with her hand, only to fail miserably. With a roar of pain and frustration, she struck out with the Force, crushing the sensory module of one of the droids before throwing it at one of its companions. The third was destroyed by her lightsaber which she had thrown in a wide arc, decapitating it.
Suddenly, her senses flared, warning her of impending danger, with a quick pirouette, she turned to face the unknown attacker who had sent a blast of lightning towards her. With one hand, she absorbed the incoming lightning, and with her other, she shot it out towards the last active droid before summoning her saber to hand. Without thinking, she leapt towards her would-be attacker and brought it down, only for it to be blocked a crimson saber.
"Impressive." The cheerful voice of Lord Zash said, looking at the Pinkette with amused eyes.
Louise, shocked at the sudden appearance of her master who was currently blocking her lightsaber from descending onto her skull, recoiled back, "Master?"
The Sith Lord smiled, holstering her lightsaber, "I came down here to see how my apprentice is progressing. Evidently, she is progressing nicely."
"Lord Zash, it is a pleasure to see you." Krillis greeted, "I'm just catching your apprentice up on skills and abilities she should have learned instead of missing out on a weeks' worth of training."
Louise bowed her head shamefully again, she did not need a reminder of what she had done. It was very unlikely that she would do it again, especially after this training session.
"So, you weren't the only one neglected by Louise." Zash said, before turning to Louise with an expression of mock hurt, "I was so hurt when you didn't try and visit at all the past week."
"I apologise, Master." Louise said respectfully, "I got too caught up in studying Alchemy."
"Yes, though despite this, she has taken quite the shining to Sorcery, my Lord." The Cyborg supplied.
"It was one of the main things I researched in detail at the Academy," Louise explained, mentally preparing herself for the pain she was about to experience upon holstering her lightsaber. The pain, once the runes ceased to work their magic, was great. Louise had to put all her effort into making it not show in front of the Lords before her.
"Have you finished up here?" Zash asked, oblivious to the pain Louise was trying to hide.
Louise nodded while Krillis gave a more verbal response, "Yes, we have, but Louise" he added, turning to the Pinkette, "I want you to come down here and train with me at least three times a week. To miss one day of the three will bring about a training session much like this, and do you really want to spend twelve hours extensively training?"
"No, my Lord."
"That's what I expected." Krillis replied, "May the Force serve you both well."
"Come along apprentice," Zash beckoned, "I'll walk you out. It would be nice if, as master and apprentice, we actually spent time together."
Master and apprentice walked side by side down the halls of the training room at a deliberately slow pace set by Zash, "So, Louise, how are you settling in on Dromund Kaas?"
"Quite well, thank you. It's a bit dreary, but I like it." Louise replied, her eyes drifting from room to room, watching the other apprentices go about their days.
"That's wonderful news," Zash said, "I've been quite busy myself, trying to get everything in order for the next stage in our plan, but I decided to take the day off to chat."
Louise was about to respond, when, oddly enough, a voice called her name, "Louise, is that you?"
Spinning on the spot, her eyes locked on to the one who called her name. A human male with a lean build hidden under a scholarly robe of reds and blacks. He had only a thick strip of long red hair down the centre of his head, tied up into a ponytail, but it was his eyes that hit her the most. Icy blue eyes… familiar icy blue eyes.
Completely forgetting her master, Louise began walking cautiously towards the Sith -for he had a double-ended lightsaber at his side- who called her name. It was only then that a part of her mind recognise who it was, "Alif?" she asked hesitantly, not completely sure if she was correct or not.
His smile sold her on his identity, "You've changed!" He exclaimed, looking her up and down.
"I could say the same to you," she replied, the image of a tortured acolyte was completely smashed by this new person who wore Alif's face.
"Why didn't you tell me you made it to Kaas?" he asked, though there was no negativity in the question.
"Must have slipped my mind," Louise replied truthfully.
"It doesn't matter, you're here n-"
Before he could finish whatever he was about to say, another Sith, dressed in similar but much more stylistic robes, strolled up to them. An ageing female Pureblood, if the greying cropped hair, red skin and facial tentacles did not deceive, "Apprentice, are you going to introduce me to your peculiar friend?"
Experience told Louise that the Sith was referencing her hair and eyes, but did not let her annoyance show.
"Ah, yes, master." Alif said, inclining his head in her direction, "This is Darth Eda of the Sphere of Sith Philosophy. And this is Louise; she's the one who made it possible for me to be your apprentice."
Upon hearing the name Eda, Louise perked up, recalling Umbris' advice to find such a Sith on Dromund Kaas. It was quite surprising that Eda just so happened to be Alif's master. Though, to be honest, she had almost forgotten about the entire thing.
"So, you're the pink-haired acolyte he's talked so much about." Eda said pleasantly, "I thank you for that, he's much better than my previous apprentice. Got lost in the Tatoo system, the fool. And it is such a bother to wait a year for a new one."
"You're welcome, my Lord," Louise said, inclining her head similarly to how Alif did.
"Darth Eda, it is a pleasure to meet you," Zash greeted, finally joining the conversation.
"Lord Zash," the Dark Lord replied cordially, "I hope you are well."
"I am," Zash replied, turning to the Pinkette, "Are you going to introduce me to your friend, Louise?
"This is Alif, master. He was my… uh… subject for my second trial." Louise informed.
Lord Zash paused in thought. If Louise was to guess, she was trying to remember the second trial. After a moment, Zash looked as if realisation struck, "Ah, you're Alif. It must have been dreadful with dealing with the Dark Council."
"It was, my lord. But now they're both dead." Alif said, barely hiding the look of satisfaction on his face.
Thinking now was a better time than any, Louise decided to broach the subject of her lightsaber, "Darth Eda, there was something I needed to discuss with you."
"And that is?" Eda replied.
"My lightsaber," She said, "Lord Umbris had told me to talk to a Darth Eda about my lightsaber."
"Let me see." The Darth asked, holding out a hand which Louise quickly filled with her lightsaber. She pulled it close, examining each and every angle before handing it back, "Hmm… well, we've just finished up here. I could answer your questions right now if you'd like."
"We also just got finished a little training session," Zash piped in, "I wouldn't be too much trouble if we could take this discussion to my apprentice's apartment."
"That would be easy enough."
Of course, with such an easy plan in mind, something inevitable had to ruin it. After travelling up stairs and turbolifts, they arrived at Louise's apartment, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, though that changed upon entering. Inside, the quartet found that Louise had an uninvited visitor… and that Khem was trying his hand at redecoration.
Blood stained the Pinkette's bedroom door, a mangled corpse of appeared to be a trandoshan was limp in the corner of the living room… well, its top half. The rest of it was nowhere to be seen. And there Khem stood, looking bored as his sword dripped a small amount of blood onto the floor.
Strangely enough, the first thought in her mind was. Thank the Force I don't have carpet. Her second thought, however, was much more vocal, "Khem," she began with a calm voice, "Who is that?"
"An assassin." The Dashade supplied simply.
At that, Louise's calm exterior broke, "An assas- What!?"
"It seems the machine man wished to try his hand at killing you, again." He explained further.
A strangled growl emanated from behind her. The culprit? Lord Zash, who looked positively -and literally- murderous at this point. Her apprentice could sympathise because it was her head on the line, "Wh- he… uh…" Louise was at a complete loss on how to continue, until a stray thought came to mind, "Well, you could have been cleaner about it!"
"The droid will take care of it," he said dismissively.
"3E!" Louise hollered, summoning the droid from the kitchen-slash-droidbay.
"Is there anything you requi- Oh good heavens, there's blood on the floor!" The droid exclaimed, sounding far too pleased than anything else, "Would you like me to clean up this mess, master?"
Of course, the Imperialdroid would sound pleased about a dead body. Louise groused before answering the droid, "Yes please."
"Right away!" and with that, it got to work, cleaning the blood up with one hand, and the corpse with the other.
As 3E did this, Eda decided to speak up, "Well, things are certainly exciting here. Shall we retire to the dining table?"
With all in agreeance with that idea, Louise, Zash and Alif joined the Darth at the table while Khem left to clean his sword before slinking into his room. Not that Louise could judge him. It had just been ten days since he had been released from his imprisonment, not only that but… well Lord Zash was in the apartment. The Pinkette was just happy that he had heeded her words and not attacked Zash.
"So, your lightsaber," Darth Eda said, getting right down to business.
Louise quickly produced her lightsaber from her belt, handing it to the inquisitive Dark Lord.
Eda twisted the saber around for a moment, analysing it from every angle before dismantling it with the Force, "Tell me, what are the origins of this lightsaber." She asked, appraising the amber crystal closely.
"Well, I don't know it's entire history," Louise mumbled intelligently before saying, "But it was once a Jedi's. I found it in the tomb of Ludo Kressh."
"Is that all you know?" The Pureblood probed.
"Yes. I think the lightsaber has been there for over three hundred years," she explained, adding, "if that helps. Around the Jedi Civil War."
"Yes, it does," Eda said, before becoming quiet for a time, "This is strange… really strange. There are a few crystal laws that both the Sith and the Jedi can agree on. One, is that the better lightsaber crystals bond with their owners, usually for life. Two, is that once a crystal chooses its alignment, light or dark, it will stick to that unless it is dominated by its opposing side. Three, is that some crystals have some primitive form of sentients. And the rest I will not bother you with. This crystal breaks two of these laws and strengthens the last."
"What does this mean?" Louise asked.
"It means that this crystal, one of the rare types which bond with its first owner, a Jedi of the Light Side, even in death, has bonded to you of its own will."
"How?" Zash asked, voicing the question running through the Pinkette's head.
"I have a theory as to what happened," Eda continued, "After centuries of being trapped in a tomb, one that is as permeated with the Dark Sided as Lord Kressh's, has destroyed any connection to the Light and its previous owner." her lip quirked, "Quite like how some Jedi fall. But I digress, the crystal might have called to you, as you were the first being in centuries to enter the tomb. I must say, I am jealous of you, apprentice. If you die, could have your crystal?"
"Uh…. Okay?" Louise replied, baffled by the bluntness of the morbid question, "But… what's wrong with my lightsaber? Umbris said that it was resisting me."
"Oh, that's simple," The Pureblood said, "Lightsaber crystal, like all things, are connected to the Force, some stronger than others. This leaves an imprint on the casing along with whoever used it. It also doesn't help that whoever wielding this lightsaber was a mountain of a Jedi. To put simply, I would advise designing and buying the parts to craft your own lightsaber, but it is much too early to craft your own. The best you could do at this time is buy a standard casing."
So… I need a new case for my lightsaber...that's pretty much what… Umbris said, though it's no matter. Perhaps I could use the other lightsabers I had collected. Louise was about to comment on this line of thought, but before she could, a knock on the door diverted the Pinkette's attention.
Politely removing herself from the table, Louise went and answered the door, perhaps a bit more guarded than usual considering the dead assassin that had occupied her apartment. Opening it, Louise found herself accosted by a worried looking Lyira, "Are you hurt?"
"Wha- ah Lyira?" the pink apprentice questioned, backing off a bit, "What are you doing here?"
"I saw the body of a trandoshan being carted away by a droid from your tower, I got a bit worried," Lyira informed in a haste, her eyes travelling around Louise's body, trying to find any injuries.
"Well, I'm fine, I wasn't here when it happened." The Pinkette informed, "Khem took care of it."
A sigh of relief filled the air, "Oh, thank the Force." The Sith exclaimed.
"Louise, are you going to introduce us to your friend?" The, relatively, cheerful voice of Lord Zash spoke up from the table.
"This is Lyira, she was… my roommate from Korriban." Louise introduced somewhat awkwardly, "Uh, Lyira, this is my master, Lord Zash, Apprentice Alif, and his master Darth Eda,"
"I didn't know you had company, I'll be going."
"Nonsense, I've finished up here, unless there's something else?" Darth Eda asked getting up from the table, only to receive a negative from Louise, "No? Well, then I guess I'll be going. Apprentice, you may stay here and socialise."
"I think I might go as well, apprentice," Zash said, following the Darth.
With a bid of good-day, Eda left the apartment with Zash trailing behind. But before Louise's master left, she pulled Louise just outside the apartment, gesturing for some privacy from Lyira then who went to join Alif at the table. With one hand, the Sith Lord pulled her lightsaber from her hip, cradling it with a look of nostalgia, "I did not know why, but my dreams told me to bring the lightsaber I had as an apprentice. I guess this was the reason. I am giving this to use I for parts. I hope it serves you just as well as it did me."
A puzzled look crossed the Pinkette's face as she tried to understand what 'dreams' had to do with anything. She supposed it could have been a vision, but it was just a lightsaber. Nevertheless, Louise looked down at the rust red lightsaber in her hands as a small smile graced her lips. The gesture was a show of increasable sentimentality, one that she appreciated greatly, "Thank you, master." She said with utmost gratitude.
"You are most welcome, my apprentice." Lord Zash said sincerely. And with that, the Sith Lord left.
Returning to the room, Louise found Alif and Lyira chatting pleasantly to each other. It was a nice scene, one that made her forget the hell she had gone through and only filled her with bliss. Of course, the universe did not like the Pinkette being happy, so something inevitably must end it.
This came in the form of Khem Val, "Is the witch gone?" he asked, his head popping out from his bedroom.
A sigh escaped Louise's lips. Of course, it couldn't last. "Please don't call her a witch, Khem. She just gave me her old lightsaber."
Khem only grumbled another comparison to Tulak Hord before slipping back into his room again.
I swear, he's going to be the death of me… Louise grumbled mentally before thinking. I should probably take him out more. Spending that long in his room is not a good thing. Turning away from the Shadow Killer, the Pinkette joined her friends at the dining room table.
"Green eyes are an oddity among Purebloods," Alif said, continuing whatever conversation they were having.
"Yeah," said green-eyed Sith replied, "my dad used to go on and on about how it made me a descended of Naga Sadow, not that I bought into it, but quite a few thought it was true."
"…Are you?" He questioned.
"I don't care about that."
Thinking now was a better time than any to find out what they were talking about, Louise said, "What you guy's talking about?"
"Just getting to know each other." The only male in the room supplied.
"Speaking of, what have you been up to since we first met?" Louise asked.
"Not much, mostly catch up training." He explained, "I'm just happy that I was far enough into my trials that I wouldn't be a burden. I did leave Kaas a few times, though. Me and my master visited a system off in the outer-rim to investigate a Light Side sect of the Sith Order, and even stopped by Odacer system on an errand. Other than that, it's been a bit slow. What about you?"
The Pinkette smiled, "Well, I'm sure you're curious as to why I'm living with a grumpy Dashade."
"Yes. That would be quite the story."
"Well, after my second trial…" And so, Louise went on about her trials, mostly her third, fifth and sixth trial. When questioned about her fourth, she told him straight up that her fourth trial was a difficult one and to leave it at that. The rest of the day was spent chatting about menial topic until Alif decided to leave to his own apartment.
After pestering Louise about the assassin, Lyira followed soon after.
Once alone, Louise took both her lightsaber -which she reconstructed during her chat with Lyira and Alif- and her master's former lightsaber into her bedroom. Placing them carefully on the bed, she pulled out the two other lightsabers she had. Two Jedi's two Sith's.
Her's was the thick and old lightsaber, built for a very large Jedi. Vemrin's lightsaber was one of the standard ones, ones that overseers would present to the graduating Acolyte should they not already have a lightsaber. The Padawan was thinner, sleeker, personalised by the Twi'lek who wielded it, much more suited to Louise's hand. Zash's was similar to the Padawan, in that it was thinner and had some personalization, it was not one of the standard ones Overseers gave, but different. Louise did not know where Zash had gotten it, but Louise assumed it was probably how she had gotten her three.
But only one could be her new lightsaber. Had Zash not given her lightsaber to Louise, it would have been a choice between the Padawan's and Vemrin's. Ultimately, the Padawan's would have one out, but now she had her master's former lightsaber.
Her mind was made up. It was a bittersweet choice, but she decided that she would use Zash's. It felt like an obligation, one that Louise was pleased to fulfil. Deconstructing her, now, former lightsaber and her masters, she switched the crystals around. After a bit of adjusting to properly set the crystal, she was done.
Igniting the blade with the almost iconic snap-hiss, Louise gave her masters former saber a few practice swings. While not perfect, it was better than her previous.
With that, she put away her lightsabers and collapsed onto her bed, groaning as the comfortable bed eased the aches out of her.
One night, four days since meeting Alif and Eda, Louise received an odd knock on the door.
She was seated at her dining room table, partaking of 'authentic Corellian cuisine' while also reading through her notes on Alchemy and Blacksmithing when the knock sounded on her door. Pushing herself from the table, she called out to the robotic inhabitant in the house, before it decided to answer the door for her, "I got it!"
Making it just in time to interrupt another round of senseless knocking, she opened to door to find a very pragmatically designed worker droid with a package in its lower set of hands. Louise was about to open her mouth to question why the droid was knocking on her door, when it cut her off with a jovial yet genderless voice, "Hello, I am D2-22-A, I am here to deliver your purchase of three sets of Sith Apparel you had ordered. That will be two-hundred and sixty-three credits, please."
Immediately, the night's mood seemed to pick up drastically. It's here! It's here! It's here! Repeated the excited mantra as Louise tried to hide the very noticeable glee in her voice, "Just wait here and I'll be back with some credits."
With controlled footsteps, Louise walked back to her room, only to pause momentarily at Khem's. Opening the door to the Dashade's room, she found the giant, rag in hand, tending to his Sith Sword with complete care, "What is it, pink Sith?" the giant asked, looking up from his work.
"Khem, could you please contact Lyira," she asked, "Tell her my robes have arrived."
Receiving a nod from Khem, Louise resumed walking to her room, a lot faster than before. Once inside, she dashed to her desk, opening one of the few draws and removing a small container before leaving the room. As she sped back to the delivery droid, she opened the container, finding it filled with finger sized, gold and silver cards with the Empire's emblem etched on one end, and a number on the other. They were credit-chips, small cards that represented the physical manifestation of the Empires currency.
It had been a suggestion from Lyira to exchange some of her credits from digital to physical, one Louise found much more comforting; she might like technology, but it felt safer, and practical, if she had her credits on her persons instead of an account.
Once back at the droid, she dug through them, finding the correct amount of credits to use before handing them to it, "Here's the credit's."
D2 analysed them in his upper arms, making sure she had the right amount, before depositing them… somewhere on its persons, "I do hope you enjoy your product, ma'am. Please shop with us again." It said, raising the package for Louise to take. With grateful arms, she took the package, bid good-day to the droid and took the box to the dining table.
Temporarily, it was placed on one of the chairs, as Louise began cleaning the table; the notes were stacked, and the food piled in the kitchen for the droid to take care of.
Khem soon joined her, "I have contacted the Sith. She will be here soon."
Louise nodded, looking at the box with anticipation. Her hand were wringing together as she fought the urge to open it then and there. I mustn't, I must wait for Lyira. Don't touch the box. She repeated to herself as the time passed.
It was about ten-fifteen minutes before Lyira arrived with a similar package in her hands, and a grumpy looking Vette trailing behind, "Ignore her. She's just upset because she couldn't finish the holodrama she's infatuated with," the Pureblood explained.
"I am not infatuated with it!" The Twi'lek denied, "Jerod was about to be voted off the show! You Sith always ruin everyone's fun."
A playful smirk wormed its way onto Lyira's features, "Oh, I guess I'll just stop recording it then." She said, making a move for the front door.
"You di-" Vette paused for a second before rushing up to the Pureblood, hugging her arm like a child would an elder sibling, "No, no, you're an awesome Sith. My bestest buddy, the Sith!"
"Well anyway," Lyira said, pulling herself free from the Twi'lek, "I brought my own outfit so we can compare."
"Great!" Louise said, picking up her packaged and turning it over carefully to try and find a way to open it. Though it appeared to be sealed shut by adhesive tape, "Damn, I need a knife."
"Here, use this," Vette said, producing a small knife, barely longer than her own hand, from her boot.
"Why do you have a knife in your boot?" the Pinkette questioned, giving Vette an odd look.
"Why don't you?" She retorted, spinning the weapon masterfully in hand, "A spare weapon is always good to have."
Louise could not really argue that logic, "Fair enough," she replied with a shrug. Might get one myself.
Taking the weapon in hand, Louise inwardly sighed in relief, glad she had taken to wearing a glove on her left hand everywhere. It appeared that, while it was quite small, the knife still constituted a weapon for the runes to work their magic on. It would have led to awkward questions should her left-hand light up in the presence of someone who is not Lyira. That was where a stray thought wafted to mind. I wonder if I could turn the runes off. Food for thought.
Spinning the knife in hand similarly to how Vette had, she began cutting the tape, allowing her to easily open the box. Putting the knife aside, she opened it. Inside was a thin, semi-transparent paper that covered what she hoped was her outfit. Quickly, it was removed, revealing her folded robes. As if she was picking up a baby, she carefully removed the article, letting it unravel to its full size.
A wave of euphoria washed over her as her eyes roamed over the piece. It was like the first time she was given her own wand -around the time where hope was strong, of course- or when she performed her first piece of magic. Sith attire was an important part of a Sith's identity, it was an expression, one that could mean a wide variety of things from wealth to nobility and status; the direct antithesis of the humble Jedi attire. And now Louise had her own, one that spoke of her origins and what was to come. The design of something she looked up to as holy, broken down and twisted by the trials she went through, forged into something she now saw as beautiful.
A tear came to her eye as she ran a hand down it. It felt nice beneath her skin, not as nice as silk, but better than her acolyte uniform, and much better than her slave garb.
The moment could not last, however, as Vette piped up, "You're not going to make-out with the thing, are ya?"
"Vette!" Lyira exclaimed disapprovingly.
"Jealous?" the Twi'lek said teasingly.
Lyira huffed, "No."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, denial is the first stage-"
"Vette." This time it was more of a warning
The Twi'lek pouted, "Okay…"
"Why must I be subjected to this." Groused the perpetually grumpy Dashade.
Louise was just as disapproving as Khem, "Well… I'm just going to put this on." She said, carefully putting the robe back in the box before picking it up, "Be right back."
"Same," Lyira said, once again jostling her package. The two apprentice both then headed off for some privacy, the Pinkette to her room, and the Raven-haired to the bathroom.
Immediately, Louise began removing what she was wearing currently, a long-sleeved shirt, pants and glove, replacing them with her robes. It was quite simple to put on when she figured it out, just slip it on overhead and put the arms through the sleeves. It took a bit of adjusting once done, but despite that, it was simple. Though that was when she remembered that it had pants as well, not like the priestess garbs that it was based off. Briefly the thought of prancing around in the living room without the added pants, but brushed the scandalous thought away.
With a tinge of blush, she slid the simple but durable pants that arrived with the robes onto her legs, before pulling a belt from her drawers. Deciding to go all out, she donned her belt, imperial boots, vambraces as well as her lightsaber and her blaster. Louise also grabbed one of the over robes, just in case, and headed out of her room.
Lyira and the others were waiting for her, but it was the former who caught her eyes. It was a simple thing, a lot less that what she 'flashy' than what Louise was wearing. A black sleeveless tunic with a low-cut neckline that seemed to cause the Purebloods red skin to glow. A similarly dark long skirt covered her lower half, with a wide split at the front, tapering to a point at that back.
As for armour, it was only boots, gauntlets and a singular pauldron on her left shoulder which was thankfully not as big as some Sith Lords. All in all. it reminded the Pinkette of Darth Baras' outfit from the pictures she had seen… before he became as large as a bantha. I do hope Baras never finds out about that thought…
Despite this comparison, Louise could not help but think that Lyira looked radiant in her outfit.
"You look nice, Lou." Lyira said appraisingly, "It looks very regal on you, considering your noble birth, I would say it suits you."
"You do too. Black suits you," the petite Apprentice replied with a similarly appraising eye.
"Wait… your nobility?" Vette blurted out, looking a tad shocked by the revelation, "I thought you were a slave."
"I was nobility, the daughter of a duke. But," she added bitterly, "I ended up becoming a slave."
"So… should I be calling you, milady?" Vette asked her tone matching the exaggerated curtsy she performed.
Welcoming the change in topic, Louise raised her nose snootily before putting on a posh accent, "No, I am a Sith. 'My Lord,' should suffice." She said, the smile on her lips ruining the illusion of a prideful noble.
"Well, I do declare, Lord Louise," Vette replied using a similar snooty tone, though "that you look positively dashing in that robe. Black certainly does go with everything."
"Oh my, Lady Vette," Lyira said, joining on the snooty, "I didn't know you knew such sophisticated language."
A smirk crossed the cheerful Twi'leks lips, "It's wonderful what can be learned from the holotelevision."
"If you wish, Lady Vette, you may use mine for your viewing pleasure," Louise added, gesturing to the underused and almost hidden viewscreen facing the lounge in the living room.
"Really, Lord Louise?" Vette asked hopefully.
"Yes," the former noble replied, "Lord Val, Lord Lyira, why don't you join us as we peruse our selection of holofilms or shows?"
Lyira looked completely onboard with the idea, though Khem was less so, "I am no Sith," he said, though Louise could tell there was something more to the statement, "and I'd much rather return to my sword."
"For the sake of this roleplay, you are a Lord, Lord Val," Louise said seriously. It would do for you to actually socialise.
"Kinky." Deadpanned Lyira, losing her exaggerated noble persona.
Either way, the comment seemed to get the desired reaction from the resident apprentice, "Lyira!" Louise shouted scandalised.
"Yes, Lord Louise?" The raven-haired Sith asked, smiling innocently.
"Don't 'yes Lord Louise' me!" She retorted, "I know exactly what you meant!"
The Sith's smile began to grow as she said, "And how, pray tell, do you what I mean."
"I-" she stopped herself abruptly upon realising what she was going to say. It was when the Pinkette realised she had backed herself up into a metaphorical corner, that her blush grew three times that night, "I-uh… I was curious!"
"Bi-curious?" The emerald eyed Sith joked, only sigh upon seeing her pink haired counterparts pout, "Oh come on, Lou, I'm just playing around."
"Guys… uh… could we watch some holotv?" Vette asked, hoping to move away from the direction the conversation was moving.
"Fine," Louise said, before pointing an accusing finger at the Pureblood in the room, "But you're staying away from my personal holoterminal, lest you want me to go through yours."
"I haven't been on anything like that for a couple of months." Lyira replied seriously, only to recoil at the combined power of Louise's and Vette's glare, "Fine, let's watch some holotv."
Vette, being the one who had any idea of what they wanted to watch, was the one chosen to handle the technical aspects of working the viewscreen, connecting it to the holonet and subsequently the holotv. Louise, using her power over Khem, forced him to stay and watch with them. Though it was not as happy as one might expect, as Louise set about sitting in the corner of the couch with Khem between her and Lyira, who she was not happy with. But other than that, they settled in and watched whatever holodrama the Twi'lek wished to subject them to.
It was late at night when Lyira and Vette vacated the premise. Louise had then spent the rest of the night carefully folding and putting away her robes, made a note to further test the capabilities of the runes, and finally, researching how to delete ones holonet history. Even then, the overbearing feeling of paranoia and guilt hung over her, as if she had just committed a great crime punishable by a slow and agonising death. The thought of a bunch of armed Imperial agents barging down her doors and arresting her was one that kept her awake for an hour or so. I swear, I was only curious, I swear!
It was two days, and a bit of coaxing for Louise to finally accept that she had learnt enough to finally return to a surprised Paracelsus. He had honestly thought the Pinkette would have taken a few more days or another week to return; she was just curious as to why Lyira was so interested in her studies. What the Darth did not realise that, despite working herself to exhaustion for a week, she retained most of the information. It was a skill cultivated over her long study sessions back at the Tristain Academy and only strengthened by her connection to the Force. Though it was not an all-powerful skill, as some of the information slipped through the cracks, but the Alchemist did not mind her laps in memory.
In fact, he was so entranced by her drive, he decided to start the next step in her training as soon as possible, which to the eccentric Darth, meant right now. A decision that Louise criticised, "Right away?" she asked, the familiar self-doubt setting in.
"Of course!" He replied boisterously, his maliciously red eyes glinting with joy, "The Dark Side is built upon the foundations of passion, and you, Louise, have passion! I could not allow this skill to atrophy." It seemed he was in a theatrical mood, today, "Now follow!"
Sighing in indignation, Louise followed, "Yes, my lord." I was looking forward for some me time, but…
Out the office, the two walked, down the bright halls and up to an odd door that's apperence contrasted the rest of the halls., which Paracelsus proceeded to open. Entering, Louise was introduced to what she could only call a blacksmith's forge; a blast furnace took up the far-left corner with a large anvil and water vat nearby. A few other machines sat around the room such as a grind wheel, large cupboard filled tools and materials of varying types, a wide desk filled with a random assortment of things. Though, there were a few machines she knew no purpose for.
"Welcome to my personal workshop, apprentice." Darth Paracelsus said, gesturing grandly to the room, his robes sweeping around him. As his hands swept across the room, the furnace burst to life and a large hammer launched from the cupboard into his hand, "Now," he continued, "I shall only show you this once. A demonstration of what want you to do. From there, you will take over, but I will guide you along."
With that, he swept to the table, picking an ingot of metal from it with the Force and dragging it along to the furnace before holding it the flames. Louise moved closer to the Darth, wanting to not miss a second of his demonstration, watching him as he moved the metal around in the fire and felt what he did with the Force.
Time passed, and the piece of metal began to glow as he twisted it around, allowing it to heat evenly. Once Paracelsus saw that it was correctly heated - Louise made a mental note of its colour- and took the glowing metal out, levitating it over to the anvil. The Pinkette followed suite.
The metal was placed squarely down on the anvil where he began hammering away. Though, Louise could not really concentrate at this point, as the sound of metal striking metal assaulted her ears with each painful strike. Louise was no stranger to loud noises; being able to summon explosions with a single word and a swish of a wand lead to broken windows and hurting ears, but this was different. It felt like a nail was being… well for lack of a better word, hammered into her head.
But she tried to ignore the painful sound of hammering and focus on the technique Paracelsus used, the angles, the amount of strength put into the strikes, and so on. Soon, the metal cooled, and the Dark Lord renewed the heating process. He repeated the steps several times, heating the slab of metal then hammering it out, turning it on its side and back so it would not become flat, but lengthen it. As he did this, Louise began to realise what he was forging, to put it quite crudely, he was making a stick; a straight metal rod.
About half an hour to an hour later, he had finished shaping it, dousing it in a vat of water to rapidly cool it.
"This should be your final product," he said, presenting the rod to Louise for inspection.
Taking it in hand, Louise could tell it was made with time in mind, not quality. It was not perfectly round, nor was it by any means perfect. She could see where the hammer had hit the piece, where it had lengthened it. Yet she could honestly say, that despite its lack of quality, it was made by a master smith.
"Now," Paracelsus he began, taking the rod in hand, "If you ever have a problem where you've made a mistake and ruined the iron; you overheat it, or shatter it somehow. Just put it on the table, and get a new ingot from the bottom draws of the cupboard. You may begin when ready," he held out the hammer to her.
Louise took it into hand with apprehension. She just knew she would fail, he had even said that she would fail, not that it made her feel any better. Grumbling internally, Louise walked up to the cupboard and took out a few ingots of iron, bringing it to the table before picking one and beginning the heating process.
Oh Chaos, I would take mining over this any day! The Pinkette whined internally, wincing as she swung down a hammer with all her might, down onto the glowing hot bar of metal. At least with mining, my ears aren't assaulted by the sound of metal screaming in pain. And let's not get started on the heat! Oh, Force!
Clang. Clang. Clang. Clang.
Briefly, she paused to wipe the sweat from her brow, looking down at her handiwork: A malformed two-foot bar of metal heated inconsistently that, in her mind, could only pass as a rod if one were to squint at it behind a stain glass window.
Clang. Clang. Clang. Clang.
Off in the corner, Darth Paracelsus was somehow fast asleep on the desk amongst the clanging metal. He had fallen asleep sometime after the twelfth failed attempt, not that Louise cared. Her focus was designated wholeheartedly to shaping the lump of iron to a long and -relatively- straight rod. Again, the metal cooled beyond a point where she could no longer shape it. So, ceasing her hammering, she carried the iron over to the forge to begin the heating process anew.
Despite the horrible conditions and her protesting ears, she found smithing an… odd art. Much like knitting, it played to a similar love, for when she could not create using a wand, she tried with her hands. The only thing that put her off blacksmithing, was the aforementioned conditions and the number of steps needed.
She took the iron out of the forge to make sure it was properly heated. Pleased with the much more even glow along its length, she took it back over to the anvil and renewed her hammering.
Clang. Clang. Clang. Clang.
This time, she felt she was making actual progress. The odd disfigurations were being hammered out, and it was much less curved and twisted than it was before. A half-hour later, and she had something that could pass for a rod. Walking over to a particularly neglected part of the room, Louise submerged the piece of iron into the vat of water, recoiling back from blast of steam.
"So, you've finally finished with your piece?" The Dark Lord spoke up suddenly, startling the Pinkette.
Louise had to hold down the urge to shouting at Paracelsus. Why is it that these Sith always enjoy startling people! She shouted mentally. First Lord Umbris, now Darth Paracelsus. But on the outside, she only jostled slightly, "To the best of my abilities." She grumbled, hiding it behind her exhaustion.
"Let me see." He ordered. Louise obeyed.
Lifting the rod from the water, she carefully presented it to the Darth. He ran his crimsons eyes over the piece with an analytical air, humming slightly before he piped up, "Not a masterpiece, but I did not expect you to master this after a day. I advise that you practice smithing at least twice a week, create something new on those days, a spiral, a spring, experiment! Once you feel like moving on to something else, come back to me and I will begin teaching you some more complex things. I'll send you the access codes later today."
"Yes, my Lord," Louise replied, though she really wanted to sigh exaggeratedly. On top of training with Krillis, she now had to visit the Alchemist Hub to practice blacksmithing. My life is more bogged down than when I was at the Tristain Academy!
"Well, off you go. And take this with you." He said, passing the rod back to her.
It was early in the morning, much earlier than should be legal, that Louise was thrust from her sleep by a loud and obnoxious beeping sound. Thirteen days had passed since she was given her task from Paracelsus, and it was leaving a mark. She had not burned herself… yet… but she could still feel them aching from yesterday's work. Groggily and petulantly, she flung her bedsheets from petite, though mature, form, and began to search for whatever was making that infernal sound.
After knocking over an iron spring-thingy snake she forged -and for some reason, decided to keep- she found herself with her datapad in hand, glaring down at the despicable thing. It had never made that sound before, so she was completely befuddled by what was happening. Switching it on, Louise quickly found herself accosted by a notification; an urgent message from her master, Lord Zash.
She opened the message. It was short, blunt, and one that she had been subconsciously dreading:
'Louise, I have some news concerning our mutual friend, Skotia. Get to my office at the Citadel, as soon as possible.
– Lord Zash'
The effect was immediate. Louise snapped alert, dropping the datapad unceremoniously onto her bed and dashed out of the room to get cleaned up, only to stop upon realising her indecent attire… and lack thereof. Slinking back into her room, she slipped on a pair of panties and used her black over robe as a bathrobe before leaving to the bathroom.
After a quick shower and dental cleaning, she slid back into her room and began getting dressed in accordance to the urgency of the missive. Off came her nightwear and on came her pants, boots, robes, vambraces, and again, the outer robe. From her desk, she summoned her lightsaber and blaster before retrieving her datapad from the bed. All set, she walked purposefully out the door.
For a moment, she thought of waking Khem but stopped herself just outside his door. It was much too early in the morning and, despite his warning, she doubted Zash would do anything questionable this early into her training. So, she quickly told 3E to inform the Dashade that she would be meeting up with Lord Zash. She just hoped he would be fine with it.
A quick check to make sure she had everything on her, and Louise headed out of the apartment.
However, it appeared the Force, long dead Sith Lords, or any deities that existed really wanted to make this morning as unbearable as inhumanly possible. By the time she had descended the stairs and turbolifts, it had become raining heavily. The Pinkette let out an incomprehensible growl, a mixture of curses in all the languages she knew spouted from her lips, just behind the entryway.
With one hand, she produced a bobby pin from a pouch in her belt, with the other, she began to wrap her ponytail around its base, creating a bun, before pinning it in place. Pleased with her quick work, she pulled her hood over her head and stepped out into the pouring rain.
The trip, while wet, was quite uneventful. Several times she had praised technology, the first was for her water-resistant robes, the second was for the convertible roofs of the skycars. Eventually, she arrived at the Citadel. Once safely inside and away from the downpour, she sped towards her master's office, wanting to get inside and out as fast as possible.
Thankfully, Zash's office seemed to have some form of indoor heating -a third praise for technology wordlessly left her lips. The Sith Lord, herself, was seated at her desk reading a hardcover novel, though this was until she realised someone else was in the room with her. The blonde Sith's reaction was humouring as it was worrying as she slammed the book closed, shoving it into a drawer in her desk with utmost haste, "Apprentice, I did not expect to see you so soon!" she said in her usual grand manner, trying to make what she was doing look natural, but failing miserably.
Ignoring the rancor in the room as best she could, Louise got right to business, "My datapad seemed to demand my attention. What is it you wanted to tell me?"
Pleased that her actions were not being questioned, Zash began, "I have wonderful news, my apprentice!" She pushed herself from her desk, walking around it to Louise, "Darth Skotia has left the Dromund System on some important business, not only that, but I have discovered something that will make killing him relatively easier. Out in the jungle, a group of slaves have recently revolted. They were working on a colossal statue that has since gone unfinished. I believe Skotia is hiding something of great importance nearby. Get the archaeological plans to the area from one of the slaves, and contact me by holocommunicator."
Louise hid her grimace unde3r a mask of careful indifference, "As you wish, my master," But inside, she felt like stabbing something repeatedly. The very last thing she wanted to do was to be given a job with slaves in the mix, it made her sick to her stomach, but she continued to hide it.
Zash then bid her ado, gesturing for the Pinkette to get a move on, which Louise gladly took.
Her whole journey back home consisted of her seething in anger. She did not want to do this. She did not want to meet the rebelling slaves. She absolutely loathed the fact that the Empire had slaves. The thought of even harming one was completely abhorrent to her, and she knew that with her luck, the mission would descend into a fight. She could not try diplomacy with her status as one of their 'oppressors' nor was she willing to harm them. It was a lose – lose scenario and Louise hated it.
The idea of bringing Khem was just as unappealing as what she was being told to do, especially considering the mess he usually leaves behind. Though… perhaps she did not need to go alone… and perhaps… it did not need to end in a fight.
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Note to self: Don't neglect training again. Louise thought, standing in the centre of a large training room. Her arms, legs… her whole body would have been aching had the runes not dulled the pain, and she would have felt exhausted. It had been around twelve hours since she had arrived at the training room with only a short break for food. Had one seen her body under her clothing, they would have just found welts, bruises and sweat.
Currently, he was teaching her Sorcery, getting her up to the level someone like her should be at.
"Again!" Lord Krillis shouted, jolting the Pinkette into action as four combat droids sprang into action, firing a barrage of -thankfully non-lethal- plasma at Louise. Her lightsaber was flourished in a wide twisting arch, deflecting some of the blasts safely away from her, before reaching out in the Force and summoning a bolt of lightning, striking the closest droid. However, instead of just leaving it at that, she bent the Force to her will and commanded the lightning to arc from that droid to the others.
All four collapsed as the electricity activated the training kill switch.
But before she could take a break, four more combat droids activated behind her, firing her blasters at her. This time, instead of just deflecting them with her lightsaber, she tried to deflect it with her hand, only to fail miserably. With a roar of pain and frustration, she struck out with the Force, crushing the sensory module of one of the droids before throwing it at one of its companions. The third was destroyed by her lightsaber which she had thrown in a wide arc, decapitating it.
Suddenly, her senses flared, warning her of impending danger, with a quick pirouette, she turned to face the unknown attacker who had sent a blast of lightning towards her. With one hand, she absorbed the incoming lightning, and with her other, she shot it out towards the last active droid before summoning her saber to hand. Without thinking, she leapt towards her would-be attacker and brought it down, only for it to be blocked a crimson saber.
"Impressive." The cheerful voice of Lord Zash said, looking at the Pinkette with amused eyes.
Louise, shocked at the sudden appearance of her master who was currently blocking her lightsaber from descending onto her skull, recoiled back, "Master?"
The Sith Lord smiled, holstering her lightsaber, "I came down here to see how my apprentice is progressing. Evidently, she is progressing nicely."
"Lord Zash, it is a pleasure to see you." Krillis greeted, "I'm just catching your apprentice up on skills and abilities she should have learned instead of missing out on a weeks' worth of training."
Louise bowed her head shamefully again, she did not need a reminder of what she had done. It was very unlikely that she would do it again, especially after this training session.
"So, you weren't the only one neglected by Louise." Zash said, before turning to Louise with an expression of mock hurt, "I was so hurt when you didn't try and visit at all the past week."
"I apologise, Master." Louise said respectfully, "I got too caught up in studying Alchemy."
"Yes, though despite this, she has taken quite the shining to Sorcery, my Lord." The Cyborg supplied.
"It was one of the main things I researched in detail at the Academy," Louise explained, mentally preparing herself for the pain she was about to experience upon holstering her lightsaber. The pain, once the runes ceased to work their magic, was great. Louise had to put all her effort into making it not show in front of the Lords before her.
"Have you finished up here?" Zash asked, oblivious to the pain Louise was trying to hide.
Louise nodded while Krillis gave a more verbal response, "Yes, we have, but Louise" he added, turning to the Pinkette, "I want you to come down here and train with me at least three times a week. To miss one day of the three will bring about a training session much like this, and do you really want to spend twelve hours extensively training?"
"No, my Lord."
"That's what I expected." Krillis replied, "May the Force serve you both well."
"Come along apprentice," Zash beckoned, "I'll walk you out. It would be nice if, as master and apprentice, we actually spent time together."
Master and apprentice walked side by side down the halls of the training room at a deliberately slow pace set by Zash, "So, Louise, how are you settling in on Dromund Kaas?"
"Quite well, thank you. It's a bit dreary, but I like it." Louise replied, her eyes drifting from room to room, watching the other apprentices go about their days.
"That's wonderful news," Zash said, "I've been quite busy myself, trying to get everything in order for the next stage in our plan, but I decided to take the day off to chat."
Louise was about to respond, when, oddly enough, a voice called her name, "Louise, is that you?"
Spinning on the spot, her eyes locked on to the one who called her name. A human male with a lean build hidden under a scholarly robe of reds and blacks. He had only a thick strip of long red hair down the centre of his head, tied up into a ponytail, but it was his eyes that hit her the most. Icy blue eyes… familiar icy blue eyes.
Completely forgetting her master, Louise began walking cautiously towards the Sith -for he had a double-ended lightsaber at his side- who called her name. It was only then that a part of her mind recognise who it was, "Alif?" she asked hesitantly, not completely sure if she was correct or not.
His smile sold her on his identity, "You've changed!" He exclaimed, looking her up and down.
"I could say the same to you," she replied, the image of a tortured acolyte was completely smashed by this new person who wore Alif's face.
"Why didn't you tell me you made it to Kaas?" he asked, though there was no negativity in the question.
"Must have slipped my mind," Louise replied truthfully.
"It doesn't matter, you're here n-"
Before he could finish whatever he was about to say, another Sith, dressed in similar but much more stylistic robes, strolled up to them. An ageing female Pureblood, if the greying cropped hair, red skin and facial tentacles did not deceive, "Apprentice, are you going to introduce me to your peculiar friend?"
Experience told Louise that the Sith was referencing her hair and eyes, but did not let her annoyance show.
"Ah, yes, master." Alif said, inclining his head in her direction, "This is Darth Eda of the Sphere of Sith Philosophy. And this is Louise; she's the one who made it possible for me to be your apprentice."
Upon hearing the name Eda, Louise perked up, recalling Umbris' advice to find such a Sith on Dromund Kaas. It was quite surprising that Eda just so happened to be Alif's master. Though, to be honest, she had almost forgotten about the entire thing.
"So, you're the pink-haired acolyte he's talked so much about." Eda said pleasantly, "I thank you for that, he's much better than my previous apprentice. Got lost in the Tatoo system, the fool. And it is such a bother to wait a year for a new one."
"You're welcome, my Lord," Louise said, inclining her head similarly to how Alif did.
"Darth Eda, it is a pleasure to meet you," Zash greeted, finally joining the conversation.
"Lord Zash," the Dark Lord replied cordially, "I hope you are well."
"I am," Zash replied, turning to the Pinkette, "Are you going to introduce me to your friend, Louise?
"This is Alif, master. He was my… uh… subject for my second trial." Louise informed.
Lord Zash paused in thought. If Louise was to guess, she was trying to remember the second trial. After a moment, Zash looked as if realisation struck, "Ah, you're Alif. It must have been dreadful with dealing with the Dark Council."
"It was, my lord. But now they're both dead." Alif said, barely hiding the look of satisfaction on his face.
Thinking now was a better time than any, Louise decided to broach the subject of her lightsaber, "Darth Eda, there was something I needed to discuss with you."
"And that is?" Eda replied.
"My lightsaber," She said, "Lord Umbris had told me to talk to a Darth Eda about my lightsaber."
"Let me see." The Darth asked, holding out a hand which Louise quickly filled with her lightsaber. She pulled it close, examining each and every angle before handing it back, "Hmm… well, we've just finished up here. I could answer your questions right now if you'd like."
"We also just got finished a little training session," Zash piped in, "I wouldn't be too much trouble if we could take this discussion to my apprentice's apartment."
"That would be easy enough."
Of course, with such an easy plan in mind, something inevitable had to ruin it. After travelling up stairs and turbolifts, they arrived at Louise's apartment, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, though that changed upon entering. Inside, the quartet found that Louise had an uninvited visitor… and that Khem was trying his hand at redecoration.
Blood stained the Pinkette's bedroom door, a mangled corpse of appeared to be a trandoshan was limp in the corner of the living room… well, its top half. The rest of it was nowhere to be seen. And there Khem stood, looking bored as his sword dripped a small amount of blood onto the floor.
Strangely enough, the first thought in her mind was. Thank the Force I don't have carpet. Her second thought, however, was much more vocal, "Khem," she began with a calm voice, "Who is that?"
"An assassin." The Dashade supplied simply.
At that, Louise's calm exterior broke, "An assas- What!?"
"It seems the machine man wished to try his hand at killing you, again." He explained further.
A strangled growl emanated from behind her. The culprit? Lord Zash, who looked positively -and literally- murderous at this point. Her apprentice could sympathise because it was her head on the line, "Wh- he… uh…" Louise was at a complete loss on how to continue, until a stray thought came to mind, "Well, you could have been cleaner about it!"
"The droid will take care of it," he said dismissively.
"3E!" Louise hollered, summoning the droid from the kitchen-slash-droidbay.
"Is there anything you requi- Oh good heavens, there's blood on the floor!" The droid exclaimed, sounding far too pleased than anything else, "Would you like me to clean up this mess, master?"
Of course, the Imperialdroid would sound pleased about a dead body. Louise groused before answering the droid, "Yes please."
"Right away!" and with that, it got to work, cleaning the blood up with one hand, and the corpse with the other.
As 3E did this, Eda decided to speak up, "Well, things are certainly exciting here. Shall we retire to the dining table?"
With all in agreeance with that idea, Louise, Zash and Alif joined the Darth at the table while Khem left to clean his sword before slinking into his room. Not that Louise could judge him. It had just been ten days since he had been released from his imprisonment, not only that but… well Lord Zash was in the apartment. The Pinkette was just happy that he had heeded her words and not attacked Zash.
"So, your lightsaber," Darth Eda said, getting right down to business.
Louise quickly produced her lightsaber from her belt, handing it to the inquisitive Dark Lord.
Eda twisted the saber around for a moment, analysing it from every angle before dismantling it with the Force, "Tell me, what are the origins of this lightsaber." She asked, appraising the amber crystal closely.
"Well, I don't know it's entire history," Louise mumbled intelligently before saying, "But it was once a Jedi's. I found it in the tomb of Ludo Kressh."
"Is that all you know?" The Pureblood probed.
"Yes. I think the lightsaber has been there for over three hundred years," she explained, adding, "if that helps. Around the Jedi Civil War."
"Yes, it does," Eda said, before becoming quiet for a time, "This is strange… really strange. There are a few crystal laws that both the Sith and the Jedi can agree on. One, is that the better lightsaber crystals bond with their owners, usually for life. Two, is that once a crystal chooses its alignment, light or dark, it will stick to that unless it is dominated by its opposing side. Three, is that some crystals have some primitive form of sentients. And the rest I will not bother you with. This crystal breaks two of these laws and strengthens the last."
"What does this mean?" Louise asked.
"It means that this crystal, one of the rare types which bond with its first owner, a Jedi of the Light Side, even in death, has bonded to you of its own will."
"How?" Zash asked, voicing the question running through the Pinkette's head.
"I have a theory as to what happened," Eda continued, "After centuries of being trapped in a tomb, one that is as permeated with the Dark Sided as Lord Kressh's, has destroyed any connection to the Light and its previous owner." her lip quirked, "Quite like how some Jedi fall. But I digress, the crystal might have called to you, as you were the first being in centuries to enter the tomb. I must say, I am jealous of you, apprentice. If you die, could have your crystal?"
"Uh…. Okay?" Louise replied, baffled by the bluntness of the morbid question, "But… what's wrong with my lightsaber? Umbris said that it was resisting me."
"Oh, that's simple," The Pureblood said, "Lightsaber crystal, like all things, are connected to the Force, some stronger than others. This leaves an imprint on the casing along with whoever used it. It also doesn't help that whoever wielding this lightsaber was a mountain of a Jedi. To put simply, I would advise designing and buying the parts to craft your own lightsaber, but it is much too early to craft your own. The best you could do at this time is buy a standard casing."
So… I need a new case for my lightsaber...that's pretty much what… Umbris said, though it's no matter. Perhaps I could use the other lightsabers I had collected. Louise was about to comment on this line of thought, but before she could, a knock on the door diverted the Pinkette's attention.
Politely removing herself from the table, Louise went and answered the door, perhaps a bit more guarded than usual considering the dead assassin that had occupied her apartment. Opening it, Louise found herself accosted by a worried looking Lyira, "Are you hurt?"
"Wha- ah Lyira?" the pink apprentice questioned, backing off a bit, "What are you doing here?"
"I saw the body of a trandoshan being carted away by a droid from your tower, I got a bit worried," Lyira informed in a haste, her eyes travelling around Louise's body, trying to find any injuries.
"Well, I'm fine, I wasn't here when it happened." The Pinkette informed, "Khem took care of it."
A sigh of relief filled the air, "Oh, thank the Force." The Sith exclaimed.
"Louise, are you going to introduce us to your friend?" The, relatively, cheerful voice of Lord Zash spoke up from the table.
"This is Lyira, she was… my roommate from Korriban." Louise introduced somewhat awkwardly, "Uh, Lyira, this is my master, Lord Zash, Apprentice Alif, and his master Darth Eda,"
"I didn't know you had company, I'll be going."
"Nonsense, I've finished up here, unless there's something else?" Darth Eda asked getting up from the table, only to receive a negative from Louise, "No? Well, then I guess I'll be going. Apprentice, you may stay here and socialise."
"I think I might go as well, apprentice," Zash said, following the Darth.
With a bid of good-day, Eda left the apartment with Zash trailing behind. But before Louise's master left, she pulled Louise just outside the apartment, gesturing for some privacy from Lyira then who went to join Alif at the table. With one hand, the Sith Lord pulled her lightsaber from her hip, cradling it with a look of nostalgia, "I did not know why, but my dreams told me to bring the lightsaber I had as an apprentice. I guess this was the reason. I am giving this to use I for parts. I hope it serves you just as well as it did me."
A puzzled look crossed the Pinkette's face as she tried to understand what 'dreams' had to do with anything. She supposed it could have been a vision, but it was just a lightsaber. Nevertheless, Louise looked down at the rust red lightsaber in her hands as a small smile graced her lips. The gesture was a show of increasable sentimentality, one that she appreciated greatly, "Thank you, master." She said with utmost gratitude.
"You are most welcome, my apprentice." Lord Zash said sincerely. And with that, the Sith Lord left.
Returning to the room, Louise found Alif and Lyira chatting pleasantly to each other. It was a nice scene, one that made her forget the hell she had gone through and only filled her with bliss. Of course, the universe did not like the Pinkette being happy, so something inevitably must end it.
This came in the form of Khem Val, "Is the witch gone?" he asked, his head popping out from his bedroom.
A sigh escaped Louise's lips. Of course, it couldn't last. "Please don't call her a witch, Khem. She just gave me her old lightsaber."
Khem only grumbled another comparison to Tulak Hord before slipping back into his room again.
I swear, he's going to be the death of me… Louise grumbled mentally before thinking. I should probably take him out more. Spending that long in his room is not a good thing. Turning away from the Shadow Killer, the Pinkette joined her friends at the dining room table.
"Green eyes are an oddity among Purebloods," Alif said, continuing whatever conversation they were having.
"Yeah," said green-eyed Sith replied, "my dad used to go on and on about how it made me a descended of Naga Sadow, not that I bought into it, but quite a few thought it was true."
"…Are you?" He questioned.
"I don't care about that."
Thinking now was a better time than any to find out what they were talking about, Louise said, "What you guy's talking about?"
"Just getting to know each other." The only male in the room supplied.
"Speaking of, what have you been up to since we first met?" Louise asked.
"Not much, mostly catch up training." He explained, "I'm just happy that I was far enough into my trials that I wouldn't be a burden. I did leave Kaas a few times, though. Me and my master visited a system off in the outer-rim to investigate a Light Side sect of the Sith Order, and even stopped by Odacer system on an errand. Other than that, it's been a bit slow. What about you?"
The Pinkette smiled, "Well, I'm sure you're curious as to why I'm living with a grumpy Dashade."
"Yes. That would be quite the story."
"Well, after my second trial…" And so, Louise went on about her trials, mostly her third, fifth and sixth trial. When questioned about her fourth, she told him straight up that her fourth trial was a difficult one and to leave it at that. The rest of the day was spent chatting about menial topic until Alif decided to leave to his own apartment.
After pestering Louise about the assassin, Lyira followed soon after.
Once alone, Louise took both her lightsaber -which she reconstructed during her chat with Lyira and Alif- and her master's former lightsaber into her bedroom. Placing them carefully on the bed, she pulled out the two other lightsabers she had. Two Jedi's two Sith's.
Her's was the thick and old lightsaber, built for a very large Jedi. Vemrin's lightsaber was one of the standard ones, ones that overseers would present to the graduating Acolyte should they not already have a lightsaber. The Padawan was thinner, sleeker, personalised by the Twi'lek who wielded it, much more suited to Louise's hand. Zash's was similar to the Padawan, in that it was thinner and had some personalization, it was not one of the standard ones Overseers gave, but different. Louise did not know where Zash had gotten it, but Louise assumed it was probably how she had gotten her three.
But only one could be her new lightsaber. Had Zash not given her lightsaber to Louise, it would have been a choice between the Padawan's and Vemrin's. Ultimately, the Padawan's would have one out, but now she had her master's former lightsaber.
Her mind was made up. It was a bittersweet choice, but she decided that she would use Zash's. It felt like an obligation, one that Louise was pleased to fulfil. Deconstructing her, now, former lightsaber and her masters, she switched the crystals around. After a bit of adjusting to properly set the crystal, she was done.
Igniting the blade with the almost iconic snap-hiss, Louise gave her masters former saber a few practice swings. While not perfect, it was better than her previous.
With that, she put away her lightsabers and collapsed onto her bed, groaning as the comfortable bed eased the aches out of her.
-------
One night, four days since meeting Alif and Eda, Louise received an odd knock on the door.
She was seated at her dining room table, partaking of 'authentic Corellian cuisine' while also reading through her notes on Alchemy and Blacksmithing when the knock sounded on her door. Pushing herself from the table, she called out to the robotic inhabitant in the house, before it decided to answer the door for her, "I got it!"
Making it just in time to interrupt another round of senseless knocking, she opened to door to find a very pragmatically designed worker droid with a package in its lower set of hands. Louise was about to open her mouth to question why the droid was knocking on her door, when it cut her off with a jovial yet genderless voice, "Hello, I am D2-22-A, I am here to deliver your purchase of three sets of Sith Apparel you had ordered. That will be two-hundred and sixty-three credits, please."
Immediately, the night's mood seemed to pick up drastically. It's here! It's here! It's here! Repeated the excited mantra as Louise tried to hide the very noticeable glee in her voice, "Just wait here and I'll be back with some credits."
With controlled footsteps, Louise walked back to her room, only to pause momentarily at Khem's. Opening the door to the Dashade's room, she found the giant, rag in hand, tending to his Sith Sword with complete care, "What is it, pink Sith?" the giant asked, looking up from his work.
"Khem, could you please contact Lyira," she asked, "Tell her my robes have arrived."
Receiving a nod from Khem, Louise resumed walking to her room, a lot faster than before. Once inside, she dashed to her desk, opening one of the few draws and removing a small container before leaving the room. As she sped back to the delivery droid, she opened the container, finding it filled with finger sized, gold and silver cards with the Empire's emblem etched on one end, and a number on the other. They were credit-chips, small cards that represented the physical manifestation of the Empires currency.
It had been a suggestion from Lyira to exchange some of her credits from digital to physical, one Louise found much more comforting; she might like technology, but it felt safer, and practical, if she had her credits on her persons instead of an account.
Once back at the droid, she dug through them, finding the correct amount of credits to use before handing them to it, "Here's the credit's."
D2 analysed them in his upper arms, making sure she had the right amount, before depositing them… somewhere on its persons, "I do hope you enjoy your product, ma'am. Please shop with us again." It said, raising the package for Louise to take. With grateful arms, she took the package, bid good-day to the droid and took the box to the dining table.
Temporarily, it was placed on one of the chairs, as Louise began cleaning the table; the notes were stacked, and the food piled in the kitchen for the droid to take care of.
Khem soon joined her, "I have contacted the Sith. She will be here soon."
Louise nodded, looking at the box with anticipation. Her hand were wringing together as she fought the urge to open it then and there. I mustn't, I must wait for Lyira. Don't touch the box. She repeated to herself as the time passed.
It was about ten-fifteen minutes before Lyira arrived with a similar package in her hands, and a grumpy looking Vette trailing behind, "Ignore her. She's just upset because she couldn't finish the holodrama she's infatuated with," the Pureblood explained.
"I am not infatuated with it!" The Twi'lek denied, "Jerod was about to be voted off the show! You Sith always ruin everyone's fun."
A playful smirk wormed its way onto Lyira's features, "Oh, I guess I'll just stop recording it then." She said, making a move for the front door.
"You di-" Vette paused for a second before rushing up to the Pureblood, hugging her arm like a child would an elder sibling, "No, no, you're an awesome Sith. My bestest buddy, the Sith!"
"Well anyway," Lyira said, pulling herself free from the Twi'lek, "I brought my own outfit so we can compare."
"Great!" Louise said, picking up her packaged and turning it over carefully to try and find a way to open it. Though it appeared to be sealed shut by adhesive tape, "Damn, I need a knife."
"Here, use this," Vette said, producing a small knife, barely longer than her own hand, from her boot.
"Why do you have a knife in your boot?" the Pinkette questioned, giving Vette an odd look.
"Why don't you?" She retorted, spinning the weapon masterfully in hand, "A spare weapon is always good to have."
Louise could not really argue that logic, "Fair enough," she replied with a shrug. Might get one myself.
Taking the weapon in hand, Louise inwardly sighed in relief, glad she had taken to wearing a glove on her left hand everywhere. It appeared that, while it was quite small, the knife still constituted a weapon for the runes to work their magic on. It would have led to awkward questions should her left-hand light up in the presence of someone who is not Lyira. That was where a stray thought wafted to mind. I wonder if I could turn the runes off. Food for thought.
Spinning the knife in hand similarly to how Vette had, she began cutting the tape, allowing her to easily open the box. Putting the knife aside, she opened it. Inside was a thin, semi-transparent paper that covered what she hoped was her outfit. Quickly, it was removed, revealing her folded robes. As if she was picking up a baby, she carefully removed the article, letting it unravel to its full size.
A wave of euphoria washed over her as her eyes roamed over the piece. It was like the first time she was given her own wand -around the time where hope was strong, of course- or when she performed her first piece of magic. Sith attire was an important part of a Sith's identity, it was an expression, one that could mean a wide variety of things from wealth to nobility and status; the direct antithesis of the humble Jedi attire. And now Louise had her own, one that spoke of her origins and what was to come. The design of something she looked up to as holy, broken down and twisted by the trials she went through, forged into something she now saw as beautiful.
A tear came to her eye as she ran a hand down it. It felt nice beneath her skin, not as nice as silk, but better than her acolyte uniform, and much better than her slave garb.
The moment could not last, however, as Vette piped up, "You're not going to make-out with the thing, are ya?"
"Vette!" Lyira exclaimed disapprovingly.
"Jealous?" the Twi'lek said teasingly.
Lyira huffed, "No."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, denial is the first stage-"
"Vette." This time it was more of a warning
The Twi'lek pouted, "Okay…"
"Why must I be subjected to this." Groused the perpetually grumpy Dashade.
Louise was just as disapproving as Khem, "Well… I'm just going to put this on." She said, carefully putting the robe back in the box before picking it up, "Be right back."
"Same," Lyira said, once again jostling her package. The two apprentice both then headed off for some privacy, the Pinkette to her room, and the Raven-haired to the bathroom.
Immediately, Louise began removing what she was wearing currently, a long-sleeved shirt, pants and glove, replacing them with her robes. It was quite simple to put on when she figured it out, just slip it on overhead and put the arms through the sleeves. It took a bit of adjusting once done, but despite that, it was simple. Though that was when she remembered that it had pants as well, not like the priestess garbs that it was based off. Briefly the thought of prancing around in the living room without the added pants, but brushed the scandalous thought away.
With a tinge of blush, she slid the simple but durable pants that arrived with the robes onto her legs, before pulling a belt from her drawers. Deciding to go all out, she donned her belt, imperial boots, vambraces as well as her lightsaber and her blaster. Louise also grabbed one of the over robes, just in case, and headed out of her room.
Lyira and the others were waiting for her, but it was the former who caught her eyes. It was a simple thing, a lot less that what she 'flashy' than what Louise was wearing. A black sleeveless tunic with a low-cut neckline that seemed to cause the Purebloods red skin to glow. A similarly dark long skirt covered her lower half, with a wide split at the front, tapering to a point at that back.
As for armour, it was only boots, gauntlets and a singular pauldron on her left shoulder which was thankfully not as big as some Sith Lords. All in all. it reminded the Pinkette of Darth Baras' outfit from the pictures she had seen… before he became as large as a bantha. I do hope Baras never finds out about that thought…
Despite this comparison, Louise could not help but think that Lyira looked radiant in her outfit.
"You look nice, Lou." Lyira said appraisingly, "It looks very regal on you, considering your noble birth, I would say it suits you."
"You do too. Black suits you," the petite Apprentice replied with a similarly appraising eye.
"Wait… your nobility?" Vette blurted out, looking a tad shocked by the revelation, "I thought you were a slave."
"I was nobility, the daughter of a duke. But," she added bitterly, "I ended up becoming a slave."
"So… should I be calling you, milady?" Vette asked her tone matching the exaggerated curtsy she performed.
Welcoming the change in topic, Louise raised her nose snootily before putting on a posh accent, "No, I am a Sith. 'My Lord,' should suffice." She said, the smile on her lips ruining the illusion of a prideful noble.
"Well, I do declare, Lord Louise," Vette replied using a similar snooty tone, though "that you look positively dashing in that robe. Black certainly does go with everything."
"Oh my, Lady Vette," Lyira said, joining on the snooty, "I didn't know you knew such sophisticated language."
A smirk crossed the cheerful Twi'leks lips, "It's wonderful what can be learned from the holotelevision."
"If you wish, Lady Vette, you may use mine for your viewing pleasure," Louise added, gesturing to the underused and almost hidden viewscreen facing the lounge in the living room.
"Really, Lord Louise?" Vette asked hopefully.
"Yes," the former noble replied, "Lord Val, Lord Lyira, why don't you join us as we peruse our selection of holofilms or shows?"
Lyira looked completely onboard with the idea, though Khem was less so, "I am no Sith," he said, though Louise could tell there was something more to the statement, "and I'd much rather return to my sword."
"For the sake of this roleplay, you are a Lord, Lord Val," Louise said seriously. It would do for you to actually socialise.
"Kinky." Deadpanned Lyira, losing her exaggerated noble persona.
Either way, the comment seemed to get the desired reaction from the resident apprentice, "Lyira!" Louise shouted scandalised.
"Yes, Lord Louise?" The raven-haired Sith asked, smiling innocently.
"Don't 'yes Lord Louise' me!" She retorted, "I know exactly what you meant!"
The Sith's smile began to grow as she said, "And how, pray tell, do you what I mean."
"I-" she stopped herself abruptly upon realising what she was going to say. It was when the Pinkette realised she had backed herself up into a metaphorical corner, that her blush grew three times that night, "I-uh… I was curious!"
"Bi-curious?" The emerald eyed Sith joked, only sigh upon seeing her pink haired counterparts pout, "Oh come on, Lou, I'm just playing around."
"Guys… uh… could we watch some holotv?" Vette asked, hoping to move away from the direction the conversation was moving.
"Fine," Louise said, before pointing an accusing finger at the Pureblood in the room, "But you're staying away from my personal holoterminal, lest you want me to go through yours."
"I haven't been on anything like that for a couple of months." Lyira replied seriously, only to recoil at the combined power of Louise's and Vette's glare, "Fine, let's watch some holotv."
Vette, being the one who had any idea of what they wanted to watch, was the one chosen to handle the technical aspects of working the viewscreen, connecting it to the holonet and subsequently the holotv. Louise, using her power over Khem, forced him to stay and watch with them. Though it was not as happy as one might expect, as Louise set about sitting in the corner of the couch with Khem between her and Lyira, who she was not happy with. But other than that, they settled in and watched whatever holodrama the Twi'lek wished to subject them to.
It was late at night when Lyira and Vette vacated the premise. Louise had then spent the rest of the night carefully folding and putting away her robes, made a note to further test the capabilities of the runes, and finally, researching how to delete ones holonet history. Even then, the overbearing feeling of paranoia and guilt hung over her, as if she had just committed a great crime punishable by a slow and agonising death. The thought of a bunch of armed Imperial agents barging down her doors and arresting her was one that kept her awake for an hour or so. I swear, I was only curious, I swear!
-------
It was two days, and a bit of coaxing for Louise to finally accept that she had learnt enough to finally return to a surprised Paracelsus. He had honestly thought the Pinkette would have taken a few more days or another week to return; she was just curious as to why Lyira was so interested in her studies. What the Darth did not realise that, despite working herself to exhaustion for a week, she retained most of the information. It was a skill cultivated over her long study sessions back at the Tristain Academy and only strengthened by her connection to the Force. Though it was not an all-powerful skill, as some of the information slipped through the cracks, but the Alchemist did not mind her laps in memory.
In fact, he was so entranced by her drive, he decided to start the next step in her training as soon as possible, which to the eccentric Darth, meant right now. A decision that Louise criticised, "Right away?" she asked, the familiar self-doubt setting in.
"Of course!" He replied boisterously, his maliciously red eyes glinting with joy, "The Dark Side is built upon the foundations of passion, and you, Louise, have passion! I could not allow this skill to atrophy." It seemed he was in a theatrical mood, today, "Now follow!"
Sighing in indignation, Louise followed, "Yes, my lord." I was looking forward for some me time, but…
Out the office, the two walked, down the bright halls and up to an odd door that's apperence contrasted the rest of the halls., which Paracelsus proceeded to open. Entering, Louise was introduced to what she could only call a blacksmith's forge; a blast furnace took up the far-left corner with a large anvil and water vat nearby. A few other machines sat around the room such as a grind wheel, large cupboard filled tools and materials of varying types, a wide desk filled with a random assortment of things. Though, there were a few machines she knew no purpose for.
"Welcome to my personal workshop, apprentice." Darth Paracelsus said, gesturing grandly to the room, his robes sweeping around him. As his hands swept across the room, the furnace burst to life and a large hammer launched from the cupboard into his hand, "Now," he continued, "I shall only show you this once. A demonstration of what want you to do. From there, you will take over, but I will guide you along."
With that, he swept to the table, picking an ingot of metal from it with the Force and dragging it along to the furnace before holding it the flames. Louise moved closer to the Darth, wanting to not miss a second of his demonstration, watching him as he moved the metal around in the fire and felt what he did with the Force.
Time passed, and the piece of metal began to glow as he twisted it around, allowing it to heat evenly. Once Paracelsus saw that it was correctly heated - Louise made a mental note of its colour- and took the glowing metal out, levitating it over to the anvil. The Pinkette followed suite.
The metal was placed squarely down on the anvil where he began hammering away. Though, Louise could not really concentrate at this point, as the sound of metal striking metal assaulted her ears with each painful strike. Louise was no stranger to loud noises; being able to summon explosions with a single word and a swish of a wand lead to broken windows and hurting ears, but this was different. It felt like a nail was being… well for lack of a better word, hammered into her head.
But she tried to ignore the painful sound of hammering and focus on the technique Paracelsus used, the angles, the amount of strength put into the strikes, and so on. Soon, the metal cooled, and the Dark Lord renewed the heating process. He repeated the steps several times, heating the slab of metal then hammering it out, turning it on its side and back so it would not become flat, but lengthen it. As he did this, Louise began to realise what he was forging, to put it quite crudely, he was making a stick; a straight metal rod.
About half an hour to an hour later, he had finished shaping it, dousing it in a vat of water to rapidly cool it.
"This should be your final product," he said, presenting the rod to Louise for inspection.
Taking it in hand, Louise could tell it was made with time in mind, not quality. It was not perfectly round, nor was it by any means perfect. She could see where the hammer had hit the piece, where it had lengthened it. Yet she could honestly say, that despite its lack of quality, it was made by a master smith.
"Now," Paracelsus he began, taking the rod in hand, "If you ever have a problem where you've made a mistake and ruined the iron; you overheat it, or shatter it somehow. Just put it on the table, and get a new ingot from the bottom draws of the cupboard. You may begin when ready," he held out the hammer to her.
Louise took it into hand with apprehension. She just knew she would fail, he had even said that she would fail, not that it made her feel any better. Grumbling internally, Louise walked up to the cupboard and took out a few ingots of iron, bringing it to the table before picking one and beginning the heating process.
Oh Chaos, I would take mining over this any day! The Pinkette whined internally, wincing as she swung down a hammer with all her might, down onto the glowing hot bar of metal. At least with mining, my ears aren't assaulted by the sound of metal screaming in pain. And let's not get started on the heat! Oh, Force!
Clang. Clang. Clang. Clang.
Briefly, she paused to wipe the sweat from her brow, looking down at her handiwork: A malformed two-foot bar of metal heated inconsistently that, in her mind, could only pass as a rod if one were to squint at it behind a stain glass window.
Clang. Clang. Clang. Clang.
Off in the corner, Darth Paracelsus was somehow fast asleep on the desk amongst the clanging metal. He had fallen asleep sometime after the twelfth failed attempt, not that Louise cared. Her focus was designated wholeheartedly to shaping the lump of iron to a long and -relatively- straight rod. Again, the metal cooled beyond a point where she could no longer shape it. So, ceasing her hammering, she carried the iron over to the forge to begin the heating process anew.
Despite the horrible conditions and her protesting ears, she found smithing an… odd art. Much like knitting, it played to a similar love, for when she could not create using a wand, she tried with her hands. The only thing that put her off blacksmithing, was the aforementioned conditions and the number of steps needed.
She took the iron out of the forge to make sure it was properly heated. Pleased with the much more even glow along its length, she took it back over to the anvil and renewed her hammering.
Clang. Clang. Clang. Clang.
This time, she felt she was making actual progress. The odd disfigurations were being hammered out, and it was much less curved and twisted than it was before. A half-hour later, and she had something that could pass for a rod. Walking over to a particularly neglected part of the room, Louise submerged the piece of iron into the vat of water, recoiling back from blast of steam.
"So, you've finally finished with your piece?" The Dark Lord spoke up suddenly, startling the Pinkette.
Louise had to hold down the urge to shouting at Paracelsus. Why is it that these Sith always enjoy startling people! She shouted mentally. First Lord Umbris, now Darth Paracelsus. But on the outside, she only jostled slightly, "To the best of my abilities." She grumbled, hiding it behind her exhaustion.
"Let me see." He ordered. Louise obeyed.
Lifting the rod from the water, she carefully presented it to the Darth. He ran his crimsons eyes over the piece with an analytical air, humming slightly before he piped up, "Not a masterpiece, but I did not expect you to master this after a day. I advise that you practice smithing at least twice a week, create something new on those days, a spiral, a spring, experiment! Once you feel like moving on to something else, come back to me and I will begin teaching you some more complex things. I'll send you the access codes later today."
"Yes, my Lord," Louise replied, though she really wanted to sigh exaggeratedly. On top of training with Krillis, she now had to visit the Alchemist Hub to practice blacksmithing. My life is more bogged down than when I was at the Tristain Academy!
"Well, off you go. And take this with you." He said, passing the rod back to her.
-------
It was early in the morning, much earlier than should be legal, that Louise was thrust from her sleep by a loud and obnoxious beeping sound. Thirteen days had passed since she was given her task from Paracelsus, and it was leaving a mark. She had not burned herself… yet… but she could still feel them aching from yesterday's work. Groggily and petulantly, she flung her bedsheets from petite, though mature, form, and began to search for whatever was making that infernal sound.
After knocking over an iron spring-thingy snake she forged -and for some reason, decided to keep- she found herself with her datapad in hand, glaring down at the despicable thing. It had never made that sound before, so she was completely befuddled by what was happening. Switching it on, Louise quickly found herself accosted by a notification; an urgent message from her master, Lord Zash.
She opened the message. It was short, blunt, and one that she had been subconsciously dreading:
'Louise, I have some news concerning our mutual friend, Skotia. Get to my office at the Citadel, as soon as possible.
– Lord Zash'
The effect was immediate. Louise snapped alert, dropping the datapad unceremoniously onto her bed and dashed out of the room to get cleaned up, only to stop upon realising her indecent attire… and lack thereof. Slinking back into her room, she slipped on a pair of panties and used her black over robe as a bathrobe before leaving to the bathroom.
After a quick shower and dental cleaning, she slid back into her room and began getting dressed in accordance to the urgency of the missive. Off came her nightwear and on came her pants, boots, robes, vambraces, and again, the outer robe. From her desk, she summoned her lightsaber and blaster before retrieving her datapad from the bed. All set, she walked purposefully out the door.
For a moment, she thought of waking Khem but stopped herself just outside his door. It was much too early in the morning and, despite his warning, she doubted Zash would do anything questionable this early into her training. So, she quickly told 3E to inform the Dashade that she would be meeting up with Lord Zash. She just hoped he would be fine with it.
A quick check to make sure she had everything on her, and Louise headed out of the apartment.
However, it appeared the Force, long dead Sith Lords, or any deities that existed really wanted to make this morning as unbearable as inhumanly possible. By the time she had descended the stairs and turbolifts, it had become raining heavily. The Pinkette let out an incomprehensible growl, a mixture of curses in all the languages she knew spouted from her lips, just behind the entryway.
With one hand, she produced a bobby pin from a pouch in her belt, with the other, she began to wrap her ponytail around its base, creating a bun, before pinning it in place. Pleased with her quick work, she pulled her hood over her head and stepped out into the pouring rain.
The trip, while wet, was quite uneventful. Several times she had praised technology, the first was for her water-resistant robes, the second was for the convertible roofs of the skycars. Eventually, she arrived at the Citadel. Once safely inside and away from the downpour, she sped towards her master's office, wanting to get inside and out as fast as possible.
Thankfully, Zash's office seemed to have some form of indoor heating -a third praise for technology wordlessly left her lips. The Sith Lord, herself, was seated at her desk reading a hardcover novel, though this was until she realised someone else was in the room with her. The blonde Sith's reaction was humouring as it was worrying as she slammed the book closed, shoving it into a drawer in her desk with utmost haste, "Apprentice, I did not expect to see you so soon!" she said in her usual grand manner, trying to make what she was doing look natural, but failing miserably.
Ignoring the rancor in the room as best she could, Louise got right to business, "My datapad seemed to demand my attention. What is it you wanted to tell me?"
Pleased that her actions were not being questioned, Zash began, "I have wonderful news, my apprentice!" She pushed herself from her desk, walking around it to Louise, "Darth Skotia has left the Dromund System on some important business, not only that, but I have discovered something that will make killing him relatively easier. Out in the jungle, a group of slaves have recently revolted. They were working on a colossal statue that has since gone unfinished. I believe Skotia is hiding something of great importance nearby. Get the archaeological plans to the area from one of the slaves, and contact me by holocommunicator."
Louise hid her grimace unde3r a mask of careful indifference, "As you wish, my master," But inside, she felt like stabbing something repeatedly. The very last thing she wanted to do was to be given a job with slaves in the mix, it made her sick to her stomach, but she continued to hide it.
Zash then bid her ado, gesturing for the Pinkette to get a move on, which Louise gladly took.
Her whole journey back home consisted of her seething in anger. She did not want to do this. She did not want to meet the rebelling slaves. She absolutely loathed the fact that the Empire had slaves. The thought of even harming one was completely abhorrent to her, and she knew that with her luck, the mission would descend into a fight. She could not try diplomacy with her status as one of their 'oppressors' nor was she willing to harm them. It was a lose – lose scenario and Louise hated it.
The idea of bringing Khem was just as unappealing as what she was being told to do, especially considering the mess he usually leaves behind. Though… perhaps she did not need to go alone… and perhaps… it did not need to end in a fight.
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The only thing more seductive than the Dark Side.... The Slinky!!
Advena Phillips
God-Emperor of all that is Void/Eldrich Horror
- Location
- The deep dark void that is my personal domain.
Fuck it, it's canon now, just with a snake motif
- Location
- Texas
Fun update. Yeah, I can't really see Louise as a blacksmith. The mental dissonance of seeing tiny Louise with a huge hammer working metal with an blacksmith apron is kind hilarious. I dont think its bad though. If anything its interesting seeing her pushed out of her comfort zone. Wonder how many noble ladies from back home ever did something like THAT?
Also, call be a shameless shipper, but I was a bit dissapointed that we didn't see any of Louise's thoughts or reactions about Lyira. For some reason previous to this chapter I though she might be at least a little interested. However with how much attention she paid Lyira this chapter now I'm thinking she's not interested at all? Meh, I guess that's fine if she isnt, it just feels weird having no clue if Louise has any actual girly feelings for her friend or not.
I never played TOR but briefly skimming Zash's wiki article I can't help but constantly look for the probable sudden and inevitable betrayal. One suggestion is that I'd like to see more of Zash's personality, since she's at least a major supporting character for now and I feel like I don't have any kind of idea about what she's like. She's just kind of "meh" there for me right now, I couldn't name a single outstanding feature. Just a little suggestion.
Also, call be a shameless shipper, but I was a bit dissapointed that we didn't see any of Louise's thoughts or reactions about Lyira. For some reason previous to this chapter I though she might be at least a little interested. However with how much attention she paid Lyira this chapter now I'm thinking she's not interested at all? Meh, I guess that's fine if she isnt, it just feels weird having no clue if Louise has any actual girly feelings for her friend or not.
I never played TOR but briefly skimming Zash's wiki article I can't help but constantly look for the probable sudden and inevitable betrayal. One suggestion is that I'd like to see more of Zash's personality, since she's at least a major supporting character for now and I feel like I don't have any kind of idea about what she's like. She's just kind of "meh" there for me right now, I couldn't name a single outstanding feature. Just a little suggestion.
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Advena Phillips
God-Emperor of all that is Void/Eldrich Horror
- Location
- The deep dark void that is my personal domain.
I didn't add any thiughts to Louise about Lyira because she doesn't want to think about that at all. Louise is doing one of the most horrible things i think she could do and is pushshing it from her mind, even if she is interested.
As for Blacksmithing, remove the apron, the Sith care little for Health and Safry as we know it.
As for Zash, I might just fix it, having her a bit more screen time.
Well, your in for the long haul.