Way of the Sith

[Ayen]

Peace is a lie, there is only passion
Through passion, I gain strength
Through strength, I gain power
Through power, I gain victory
Through victory, my chains are broken
The Force shall free me

The words of the Sith Code repeatedly played in June's mind as she sat alone at the center of the shrine in the new Sith temple built in the mountain area between two technological paradises in the form of Kari and Isafaro. Her legs were folded and her hands rested on her lap while her eyes were closed as she meditated on these words. Though even as she did so, the events that happened during the raid of the city kept replaying in her mind. The order Ira had given both her and Cazador were quite clear: there were to be no survivors. And while Cazador himself was all too able to mercilessly kill the citizens that lived here, June herself had hesitated. She was unable to land a single fatal blow with her lightsaber and instead defied her master allowing one of the farmers to escape. June did her best to suppress those thoughts and the emotions that came with them, not wishing for her new master to learn of her defiance in fear of what the punishment may be. She hoped that wherever that man and his children were now, they were far away from here and out of harm's way. His daughter had looked so much like Tori that it was just uncanny and played a center role to why she hesitated as well as the thought of killing someone.

June heard the sound of distant footsteps and was broken out of her meditation because of it. She could only assume that it was either Master Ira or Cazador (otherwise known and only referred to as Darth Harbinger among the Sith) as she figured one had to be crazy or oblivious to the facts in order to take a step inside this temple. June stood up to her feet and turned around to greet the person who had walked towards her, and they were...

[Ira]

None other than the woman who had recruited the girl. The Sith Lord came to a short stop as June rose and turned towards her. Strange. Ira raised a brow towards the apprentice. However, she simply sighed and closed her eyes for a moment before looking back up at her apprentice.

"You look like hell," Ira told her flatly. However, something seemed to change in Ira's eyes. The briefest flicker of motherly care and concern for her apprentice could have been seen before she closed her eyes once again and opened them once more, the usual hunger in her gaze returned, empty of any warmth.

What reason did her apprentice have to be in such a state? There was no reason other than doubt, guilt, remorse.

The echo of a snarling growl could be heard and felt within the woman's Force aura as it spread through the room like a quickly expanding thick fog, a deep chill moving with it. Flickers of annoyance and the heat of a budding anger could easily be felt as her aura spread through the room. However, her voice remained the same - pleasant; "What's wrong, darling?"

[Ayen]

"You look like hell."

“D-do I?”

June was displeased with herself. The last thing she wanted was to show any sign that something was wrong. That anger soon turned to fear when she heard and felt the snarling growl come from her master. A chill shooting down her spine as a result. Did she know? No. She couldn't have had. Surely she would be on the receiving end of a Force Choke if she did.

"What's wrong, darling?"

“Nothing. Nothing is wrong.”

[Ira]

"I sense you're lying to me. Not only Jedi can tell emotions and feelings, or lies, through the Force, my dear." Ira said moving to begin circling the apprentice. She widened the radius of her circle around the apprentice, her lead lowered slightly though the Sith Lord kept her eyes upon her apprentice. She paced like a predator circling its prey.

"And I cannot help you to overcome your difficulties, I cannot teach you, unless you tell me your issues."

[Ayen]

"I sense you're lying to me. Not only Jedi can tell emotions and feelings, or lies, through the Force, my dear."

June tensed up and as much as she tried to remain cool her own feelings betrayed her. She didn't like the way Ira had began to circle her, like a predator circling its prey.

"And I cannot help you to overcome your difficulties, I cannot teach you, unless you tell me your issues."

“Why do I get the feeling you'll do more than teach me?”

[Ira]

"Whatever do you mean? Look, unlike most Sith, I take training my apprentices seriously. I want for them to surpass me, and I want to serve as their apprentices. A vicious cycle which is never meant to end, but to guide us to ultimate power for we will continue to better ourselves - how cunning we are, our physical strength and our strength through the Force - it will all grow in time," the entire time Ira spoke though, she continued to pace about the girl.

"I, unlike most, tolerate failures. I expect work to be done though to over come failures. Other Sith Lords would not be so kind. To fail them would invite certain death. However, there is one failure that I cannot live with, and perhaps you would do well in remembering this;

The failure to commit to this path. And you seem to be struggling. But never fear, for I do not give up so easily on an apprentice. I am willing to guide my apprentice back to the proper path if they seem to be losing heart. What are your issues, darling?"

[Ayen]

"Whatever do you mean? Look, unlike most Sith, I take training my apprentices seriously. I want for them to surpass me, and I want to serve as their apprentices. A vicious cycle which is never meant to end, but to guide us to ultimate power for we will continue to better ourselves - how cunning we are, our physical strength and our strength through the Force - it will all grow in time.

"I, unlike most, tolerate failures. I expect work to be done though to over come failures. Other Sith Lords would not be so kind. To fail them would invite certain death. However, there is one failure that I cannot live with, and perhaps you would do well in remembering this;

The failure to commit to this path. And you seem to be struggling. But never fear, for I do not give up so easily on an apprentice. I am willing to guide my apprentice back to the proper path if they seem to be losing heart. What are your issues, darling?"

“I...”

June trailed off, hesitant to answer Ira's question but knew that no matter how hard she tried she wouldn't be able to hide the truth from her much longer.

“I hesitated... When it came time for me to plunge my lightsaber into those people's bodies, I couldn't bring myself to do it. Furthermore, the daughter of the man reminded me of someone I once knew... I let them get away, just a farmer and his two daughters. H-hardly a threat...”

[Ira]

Good. They were making progress. Ira continued to pace and cirlce. "Hardly a threat at the moment, I agree. But long term, more than likely not. Consider serveral things, apprentice;

The first thing they're going to do if they run into a person is more than likely tell them what the hell happened out here. That's problematic. Could led to investigation of my home and attacks against it." Ira paused for a moment.

"But then also consider the state they have put you in and how they have stopped you. While we embrace the passions of emotions as Sith, we do not simply let them hold us back or tie us down. You must over come that feeling or thought which will hold you back. You must destroy that chain. Understand that keeping it, you will never be completely free.

With that said, my apprentice, you have a task. And I expect it done properly; Find the survivors and kill them. Return when you've something to prove their deaths to me."

[Ayen]

"Hardly a threat at the moment, I agree. But long term, more than likely not. Consider serveral things, apprentice; The first thing they're going to do if they run into a person is more than likely tell them what the hell happened out here. That's problematic. Could led to investigation of my home and attacks against it."

June already felt like a fool. How could she have missed that as a possibility? Or did she just not want to acknowledge it because of what it meant she may have to do in the future?

"But then also consider the state they have put you in and how they have stopped you. While we embrace the passions of emotions as Sith, we do not simply let them hold us back or tie us down. You must over come that feeling or thought which will hold you back. You must destroy that chain. Understand that keeping it, you will never be completely free. With that said, my apprentice, you have a task. And I expect it done properly; Find the survivors and kill them. Return when you've something to prove their deaths to me."

“Must they die, master? Perhaps they can be pursued not to talk.”

[Ira]

"And why shouldn't they?" Ira asked, turning and looking towards the apprentice, finally stopping her pace about the girl. She folded her arms behind her back and looked expectantly towards her.

"It's not only them talking that I care about. It's about you. You are my apprentice. My reputation and my legacy rests on your shoulders. It is the future of the Sith here which rests upon your shoulders. Your future and your training here, as a Sith, is my main concern.

And look at what they've done to you."

[Ayen]

"And why shouldn't they? It's not only them talking that I care about. It's about you. You are my apprentice. My reputation and my legacy rests on your shoulders. It is the future of the Sith here which rests upon your shoulders. Your future and your training here, as a Sith, is my main concern.

And look at what they've done to you."

It looked like there was no avoiding it. If June wanted to avoid being made an enemy by the Sith she was going to have to seek these people out and slaughter them without remorse or hesitation. Why did she have to embrace the Dark Side so willingly without any thought? Why did Utena have to hurt her so? Why?

“I understand, Master.”

[Ira]

"Then hop to it," Ira said turning to leave her apprentice.