Darkness Falls (Malfius, other Sith)

[Darth Nexus]

The ship entered into the atmosphere of Korriban wit no trouble, the young female pilot of the Divine Wing carefully guiding the small transport threw Korriban’s atmosphere. She flipped over a couple of switches and the vessels’s air brakes opened, slowing the ship to a suitable speed for surface travel. The whoel thing shuddered as the air brakes came open to one-hundred percent and the ship's engines lowered, bringing the whole craft into a light guide. A sudden drop in air pressure had the thing shuddering and the pilot trying to regain control over the old girl. Far below the surface grew larger and larger until finally it seemed the ship would smash into the ground. The pilot quickly tapped the ground thrusters and the whole thing once again shook as the glide turned into a hover, roughly fifteen feet off the ground. Soon the ship touched down and the Back Bay doors opened, revealing a small seating area and quite a few small boxes.

The pilot flipped off the engines, the life support, and even the stabilizers as the ship came to a full power down. She carefully unhooked herself from the the pilots eat and whirled around, taking off her helmet in the same motion. Raven black hair flooded out from under the helmet as she moved to leave the ship, but a chilling hand on her shoulder stopped her dead. She gulped and turned, looking up and into the featureless mask of Darth Nexus she bowed her head and moved, letting him pass.

Darth Nexus, self trained Sith and Dark Lord stepped out onto the surface of the darkened Korriban. His bright yellow eyes, staring out from behind his mask, roamed over the landscape and in the near distance sat a large temple, a temple that emanated with the powers of the Dark Side. Nexus didn’t change, didn’t let any emotion come over him as his feet moved forward, carrying the six foot two inch frame of Nexus along. Behind him the raven haired women from before followed, being sure to close up and seal her ship. She turned and ran to catch up to the already retreating form of Darth Nexus, his feet carrying him along at a slow yet steady pace.

“Umm… Darth Nexus… if you don’t need me anyone could I get my pay and go?”

Nexus stopped walking, the woman caught up to him and he turned to face her, his cold and unforgiving eyes staring down at her small five foot seven figure. Not even skipping a beat his hand came out and caught her about the neck, lifting her up t him he spoke, his voice even as if this were a normal every day thing for him, and to be truthful I was.

“You will get your pay when I say I am done with you, not a second before.”

He released her from three inches off the ground and she fell, collapsing and choking for air she watched him turn and start off for the academy again, his outline once more becoming smaller against the horizon. She was soon up and chasing after the Dark Lord, his steps still even and steady she had no trouble closing the gap between them with a light jog.

Several minutes later the two of them reached the steps of the temple and Nexus raised a hand, his Force Push came into effect and the doors to the Sith academy opened. He had no trouble and no regret in his actions, he was here to see one man and one man alone, the new Dark Lord of the Sith. He had no idea of the man’s name or his intentions, but finding out for himself would be far easier than trying to delve it out of some lowly Sith Assassin or some peon. Quiet frankly if he wanted information he would go to the head for it. This had been his thinking all along and would remain that way, his shadow games did no good around here, not with an all seeing Dark Lord around.

“Wait here.”

Nexus said to the women and she immediately stopped next to one of the many pillars lining the room, her small body barely visible against the massive stone pillar. She watched as Nexus approached the large stone throne at the back end of the room.

In his mind Nexus was already feeling out the room, searching for traps, sensing the great darkness that the man ahead of him had to offer. Indeed this room was filled with the greatest concentration of Dark Side Power the Dark Lord had ever felt, and Nexus was sure that within this room, on that throne, sat the grand and noble leader of the Sith. Shadows cast over the throne however could not tell Nexus if the man was indeed there or not, and with so much dark energy about Nexus was almost overwhelmed with the feelings accompanying it. He stopped roughly six meters away from the throne, the shadows still cast across it made it had for Nexus to see anything but he was now sure of an outline sitting their. Nexus didn’t bow, didn’t show any signs of hate or malice or respect, merely an understanding that his man was much greater than he, and that he would be the one to guide Nexus now.

“I have come, to the call of the Dark Side. What is it you wish of me?”

His voice hallow and unwavering as ever, still void of emotion or caring, still in that same state that always accompanied his haunting presence to most. He knew this man would not be intimidated by his appearance, nor his presence, but many others would, maybe even a couple of the other Acolytes. His mask his face well, only the yellow eyes piercing out to stare at this new man, this Dark Lord of the Sith.

Meanwhile in the background a certain pilot had retreated behind the pillar, hiding her body from the other two, Darth Nexus alone scared her, with his unending, and uncaring voice. With this new man, who was obviously more powerful than Nexus, she was afraid to even show herself. Yes she could become a welcome minion, but for now she would stay as Nexus’ personal assistant, doing his bidding and obeying his word.

“I have a bad feeling about this…”

[Darth Pandoras]

As Nexus made his way through the halls toward the throne room, a massive rock wall fell in his path, directly followed by another a distance behind him. The trap had been sprung, and Pandoras watched from the safety of the security monitor, looking down at his new guest with delight.

"I'm sorry, the Master has specifically stated that no one is to enter the throne room before he summons them, and I doubt a wretch like you is special enough to change his mind. Your choices are to either go back into this hall the way you came, or have me open the poison gas valves to suffocate you. To answer the first three escape attempts that come into mind, the answers are you can't, far too slow, and they're hidden."

Pandorases hand hovered over the gas button, spinning in a toying manner.

"Now please, disobey my master show I can push this."

[Darth Malfius]

Suddenly, an ominous voice began to echo through the skulls of both Sith candidates. “Hal'rath Fresto… You will leave the woman in the service of the temple, and you will wait until the time that Pandoras opens the doors to the throne room. Until then, you will wait…” His cold voice was without emotion, and spoke directly to their minds. The Dark Lord had not left the chamber since he had instated the 24-hour timer, and all that anyone could tell, was that whatever he was doing in there, the room felt to be so soaked in the dark energy’s, that one felt as though they could fall dead at times simply by breathing the air around it.

And like that… The voice vanished. His probing presence was removed from their minds, as quickly as it had arrived. Such was the mysterious ways of Malfius. He would acknowledge newcomers… But perhaps simply to put them in their place. To show them why they should bow down to him and beg for forgiveness whenever they incurred his wrath. And so he had sent forth his message… It was up to the 2 to decide upon their own course of action from this point. Malfius wasn’t in the habit of baby sitting…

[Darth Nexus]

So this was how it was to be, to be cut off from even entering the temple? What was the arrogance of the one known as Pandoras? It seemed he had sneaked his way into the good grace, or at least service, of the one who was in charge. Then again Nexus didn't like hearing his full name used, not by the man who was evidently the Dark Lord of the Sith. Not revealing his emotions for what they were Nexus quickly retreated off, leaving the woman in the care of the palace, damn it all.

Walking back by her at his ever slow pace she moved to follow but Nexus rose a hand, halting her in her tracks. Turning his eyes on her they glowed brightly, showing a twinge of anger in the being behind them but nothing more. Indeed he was angry with the fact that he would not be permitted to speak to the Lord yet, even more angry that someone from another room dare threaten him. If one was to threaten someone it should be at least witha bargaining chip, and this Pandoras only had Nexus' life on the line. What a fool he was to think Nexus wouldn't find a way out of such a trap.

"You will remain in the service of this temple until such time as he deems it fit for you to leave... I would get comfortable."

With that the being known as Darth Nexus would leave her standing their, but she would still follow, deciding touring the Sith Temple would be safer with this man than wandering about herself, at least Nexus still found her useful.

Nexus, still a bit angered by the actions of the Sith Acolyte wandered about the Sith Temple for a good hour, taking in this and that, slowly taking his time to read over inscriptions and freezes of long ago fought battles. He examined each and every little piece of information he could and at the end of that hour he had found his way to the library, where he assumed someone would be to take care of all the books.

For now though he saw no one but felt someone close by, his force sense alerting him to the fact that there was definitely someone here. His eyes scanned over the room and with a wave of his hand a pair of books flew off the shelves and came to float roughly a foot in front of his face, at a slight angle so it would be easier for the Dark Lord to read.

The girl from before, having followed Nexus around, now took her careful time to look around the library, noting a small, somewhat ragged camp site on one side she figured another Sith must be here, but not being Force sensitive she would not realize the presence of others was about. She ran a hand over a few book and moved to pull one out when from behind the hovering books Nexus' voice rang out.

"Don't touch. You are not a Force user and you never will be. Never touch those books again if you value your life."

Nexus flipped a page mentally, his telekinesis his greatest ability by far. He was almost to the point of lifting whole beings with both hands, but it took extreme concentration right now and to do this was a strain on his mind to begin with. If he was forced to watch this female's every little move he would surely lose his concentration and drop a book.

The two books were both ancient, far older than anyone alive today and definitely left here by a long forgotten Sith librarian. Nexus however reveled in the knowledge he was already absorbing from them, more in these two little books than even the Holocron on Naboo had given him.

The pilot now took to sitting in a corner near the Dark Lord, her body curled up to protect herself from whatever may lurk in the shadows of this place, and indeed there were things lurking, thing Nexus could feel. Shutting one of the books it shot across the room and then stopped before it should slam into the book case, where it gently fell into place. Now interested in apparently only one book Nexus found a chair and sat down, his cloak falling open to reveal black gloved hands, his black robes that seemed so simple yet fit so well with the Sith Acolyte (picture Dark Nihilus' basic wardrobe). He set the book down on a small reading podium on the table and moved the whole thing over with a light Force Pull, the podium groaning under new movement in years.

Finally Nexus set himself more comfortably and set about reading the book, cover to cover, but not before addressing whatever presence it was in the room.

"You can come out now."

[Darth Pandoras]

Pandoras pressed a button on the console, the back wall of those that trapped Fresto sliding back up into the ceiling. He quickly ran his hands across the console, using the force to push the key sequence necessary to set the trap to automatically activate if someone tried a similar stunt again. It would take a Sith Lord of his Masters quality to escape that trap.

Leaving the security room, locking the bulkhead to it to make sure no one could access it besides him. He doubted his Master would be unable to take the code from his mind, but now the throne room would open automatically at the assigned hour.

Pandoras went about finishing a few more odd jobs before making his way back toward his small camp in the library. He had finished organizing it back to its original splendor, and he would no longer need to spend his nights there. He would go to collect his few belongings he left there, such as his lamp and pazzak deck. After that it would be back to his room for his private studies and to try to gin more ground in cracking the millennium old encryptions guarding the computers best files.

When he arrived at the library, he immediately noted Frestos presence. It seemed like all those who came to the temple before him, he had immediately headed to the library. A good plan, as it had more knowledge than the other facilities could teach. Then again, Pandoras had been here before all the others, and the best the library had to offer were kept in his room, behind the sturdiest door in the temple. It had been the former academy masters, so it was understandably designed to keep assassins and upstarts out. He was still unsure how he had acquired the room, and the only explanation he had so far was that his master simply didn't sleep.

It was t this moment Fresto spoke out to him, sensing his presence. Apparently he had been tracking him for some time, as he hadn't been here long enough to warrant his choice of speech and hadn't been hiding. The Sith had probably tracked his progress through the temple. It was good exercise Pandoras guessed, but he had grown tired of such things lately after tracking every newcomers progress on the way to the temple.

Pandoras walked toward the voice, immediately taking notice of what book he was reading on instinct. He was familiar with what the tome contained, teaching advanced knowledge of how the force acted, though nothing particularly noteworthy.

"I see you found the library...."

Padorases gaze followed the floor to the girl, taking in her form. She was wearing a pilots clothes, though Pandoras was more concerned about why she was kept alive. Pandoras made an effort to kill everyone who came with the Sith students, not wanting the location and happenings of the temple to be revealed to the world yet, as every force blind fool would come to try and gain power. The Master had let her live though, so he would do the same.....as long as she made herself useful.

"I fixed the hanger bay door a week ago......she can pilot your ship inside if she has nothing better to do."

[Darth Nexus]

Nexus having been sitting here reading on advanced Force use and understanding, was still mid flip of a page when the assassin’s voice cut the air. He was definitely a bold one, this Pandoras, as he had not even bothered to check if Nexus would try and kill him or not, not that Nexus would now, a straight out attack was not his style. He would wait, oh yes he would wait, for this one to slip up and then Nexus would have his chance to lash out and take down the man.

For now however, keeping him alive and using him to his fullest was the best thing the Dark Lord could do. Assassins had their uses, assassins also had their own schemes and that meant keeping close tabs on this one, for if Nexus let his senses trick him, if he let this assassin slip to close, his own life could come to a sudden and unwanted end. So he had a few options to chose from; he could let this man continue on as he was now (probable), he could try and dominate his spirit (very unlikely), or he could try and become his ‘friend’ which to Nexus meant an understanding between the two that at some later date they would probably try to kill each other for power.

His eyes flickered over to the pilot once more as Pandoras spoke of letting her go and retrieve the ship. It was obvious from the Sith’s actions and mannerisms that he wanted the girl dead, saw her as some sort of threat to the Sith temple, but Nexus knew better. Nexus had heard the will of the Dark Lord of the Sith and he had deemed this girl had enough to remain on as a servant. Nexus would still have his personal assistant, someone to run about doing the things that would set his own actions into place, but he would also have to let her do her duties as a temple lackey now. All of that boiled down to Nexus loosing a piece of his puzzle, and a piece of his plan.

However now came the more important issue, of whether or not to let the girl go, to let her roam free on the surface of the planet. No, she would most likely run, finding her life more valuable than her pay. So someone would have to go with her to ensure that she was able to bring the ship back to the docking bay and leave it their. Nexus had no trust in others, so he would have to go himself to ensure the men before him did not kill the usable pilot. Closing the book it slowly rose and then slid back across the room to its spot on the shelf, where it lay crooked so Nexus could easily find it again.

“Yes, although it was not my first stop. As for the girl… you just enjoy making my life harder now don’t you?”

His eyes flickered back over to Pandoras as his hands slowly pushed off the arms of the chair, his body rising up to once again become hidden behind the icky blackness of his cloak. Nexus let his eyes wonder around the library once more before he slowly turned and move, wading past the girl he brought his right hand out, flicked two fingers upwards, and she was brought to her feet. She already knew what to do, and within a second she was in line behind Nexus.

“Oh, and if you’d be so mind as to return the books you removed, that would be most appreciative.”

Yes Nexus knew about the missing books, most likely the most powerful and knowledgeable ones in the entire library. Since it appeared that Pandoras was the only other Sith about who had any real desire to learn, it was obvious who would take such rare and useful artifacts. However if he man was not willing to co-operate, Nexus just might have to break the will of some other acolytes and bring them under his sphere of influence. Of course he would not go against the Sith Lord and openly recruit Sit to his own influence. No it would be subtle and an act committed from the shadows of the Sith Academy. In his eyes a flicker of knowing passed by and he rounded the corner to the library and set out at his usual pace to go to the sip and have the pilot bring it around.

The girl meanwhile was wondering how long she would stuck in her pilots outfit, the red and green material was not the most comfortable thing in he world and she would be much happier in a shirt and pants, something that would allow her movement to remain yet let her body keep warm in this ever chilling temple. She was following Nexus to her ship, no it was no longer her ship, it was his ship. She had just lost her beloved Divine Wing . However Nexus seemed to be keeping her close for a reason, although she did not know why he was protecting her in a way, for if she had been allowed to come out here alone who knew what kind of animals might find her and attack her.

Nexus spent the next few minutes leading the soon to be Sith Temple Servant back to her ship. He walked forward, past crumbling monoliths and statues, past caves that would house the most deadly beings known to Force Users, past the long forgotten tombs, the places where the ancient Sith Lords lay, yes this was a place of absolute darkness and a place where Nexus belonged. Here he could gain powers that were once cut to him, abilities that would aid him in his goal to further the Sith throughout the galaxy. His mind teemed with the possibilities this planet and its academy offered.

Finally they reached the transport Divine Wing and the pilot activated the rear door, the solid piece of hull alloy sliding u to reveal a dark interior. Nexus pushed past the woman and made his way into the ship’s halls, quickly he found his seat from before and sat down, his cloak showing that his arms were now crossed over his chest.

The pilot quickly took her spot at the controls and a matter of seconds later the vessel lifted off the ground and carefully, precisely, the woman took the ship back to the Sith Academy and soon she was setting the ol’ bird down in the docking bay. It was a flight that Nexus would not forget; the entire time the woman was at conflict with herself as to whether or not she would be able to survive crashing the ship into the planet and maybe killing the Dark Lord sitting five feet behind her. Nexus of course would not allow such a thing even if it meant killing the woman and taking control of the ship himself.

As the back door opened up once more the woman was stopped before she could go farther than Nexus, his hand coming out to stop her at the waist. Nexus stood, and from his movements it was apparent he was after something. She waited, wondering exactly what the man that could probably kill her at any time was doing. Soon enough though she watched Nexus float a crate, probably filled with books or something she had heard Nexus refer to as a ‘holocron’, down onto the floor. From there he seemed to flip two fingers up and the lid popped open, revealing black robes. She was curious for a moment but then it hit her. She was gong to wear these robes around the Academy, she was here to stay. She carefully grabbed up a set of robes and changed, her ships quarters, while tiny, did the job and soon she came out holding her pilot suit. Nexus quickly took control and the suit floated into the top of the open crate. Soon it was closed again and put back on top of its stack, Nexus taking the time to check her over for anything out of place. Nothing was and nothing ever would be under his careful eye, and so the two of them set back off for the library.

Leading on again it took them a scant ten minutes to traverse the halls between the hanger and the Sith Library, and a total trip time of thirty four minutes was not bad for the Dark Lord and his Servant. Yes he could still use her as ‘his’ but she would have to remain at the temple, r become a full time pilot, which Nexus did not like the prospect of. He once again entered the library and sat down in the same chair, flicked his wrist and the same book came to him, and Nexus began to read once more, but now th woman sat next to him, her hands in her lap and her eyes fixated on the many books and databanks.

“You should get used to standing for long periods of time now. If I’m going to be the one who brought you here, I’m also going to be the one to train you to be a proper Sith Servant. Now, stand behind me and on my right, now.”

She complied and moved, standing behind Nexus, on his right, she kept her gaze ahead and her arms fat her sides. She figured this as the proper way to stand, and as such she figured this might appease her new ‘master’. Nexus however paid no heed and gave her no compliments or pointers, just let her stand there. He was more worried about where that Sith Assassin might have wondered off to and so he let his thoughts go ad began to feel for Pandoras.

[Darth Pandoras]

"Actually, I just want to make sure the remote opening system was actually fixed, as I had to improvise somewhat in its repair. Just be sure not to crash into the door."

Pandoras then watched as the new student left, only taking enough notice of his request for the books long enough to dismiss it completely. He did not like this one, he was full of ambition. Though he would most likely get himself killed with his foolishness eventually, it was Sith like him that made empires crumble, plotting to take down the others while lacking the power to adequately replace them. Pandoras would have to watch him slightly, to make sure he fit the role of obstacle instead of thorn.

Pandoras gathered his things shortly after, and headed back to his room. Setting them beside his bed, not bothering to unpack them until he needed something. He sat down at a chair near the console in the room, where the former master kept an ever-watchful eye over the facility. He could see the ship arrive, pleased at his job with the door. After watching them for awhile going about mundane things, he lost interest and returned to trying to crack through the security on the temples deepest files.

The only reason he was able to even access the files were because he had gotten past the computers security to the point that he was able to control it, the fact that he still couldn't access this section worried him. Whatever it was held value, though Pandoras began to worry whether it was sentimental. After all, if it really was important why was it recorded in the first place.

[Darth Nexus]

It seemed that Pandoras was no longer in the library, nor was he anywhere close by, at least not that Nexus could immediately feel. So the Dark Lord sat and waited, hoping that eventually the man would return with a load of books in tow, but it did not seem that would be the case. Luckily there was an archives station close by, something that would offer Nexus a look into the past of the Sith and scan hundreds of bits of information in a matter of seconds. It was a marvel what these archives could hold. Maybe they would present him with long lost facts that most would kill for. Maybe h would be able to larn the past of the Sith, find out where they started and how their beginnings rocked the galaxy.

Oh well, it seemed as if the Sith would remain in the dark forever with someone like Pandoras in charge of the Library. Maybe Nexus should seek him out and discern from him why exactly he would hide such knowledge. Was it not the will of the new Dark Lord of the Sith to share his knowledge with all who sought it? Was it not the duty of each and every Sith to ensure that the new order survived? If so why was Pandoras hiding away so many books, and what was he hiding them for? All of these questions would be answered when there time came, Nexus knew they would, and so he waited with the patience he had developed so long ago.

The girl however was a bit less patient and as the time rolled on and Nexus still continued to be silent she was beginning to feel the numbness climb her legs, then become a part of hr spine, and finally she felt herself start to waver. Nexus waved a hand and released her, allowing the woman to sit and await further instruction. Nexus still did not speak, merely continued to look threw the book and wonder about going to find a holocron or two, maybe even search the libraries archives for some information. However the present had him sitting, reading, and waiting for the time to pass.

If this Pandoras were to find a way to tap the powers of the Dark Side before any of us it would put a serious stop to my plans. He must have something he wants to keep hidden… maybe now would be the time to find out how well he keeps himself locked away… or perhaps find quarters of my own.

Nexus ‘ eyes floated from book to woman and then to door, wondering, searching, waiting for anything to come threw that portal. Nothing did however and soon Nexus was rising, book sliding under his cloak to be slid into an undetermined fold. He left it there, the book sitting in a strap he had made for just such occasions, and he began to walk out of the door. The woman moved to follow but Nexus rose a hand, his fingers curled slightly, and he spoke.

“Follow me only as far as I say, from there you shall find your own quarters.”

She didn’t speak, only nodded knowing she was to follow his every command, his and every other Sith that happened upon her would be able to give her commands. Nexus let his hand linger a moment before it fell and he started off again, his pace a bit more rapid due to his yearning to learn more. Taking a left out of the library Nexus found a way down, deep down, someplace where he could be alone, the basement. It wasn’t long before Nexus happened upon a hallway of the Academy which contained a long row of doors, many of them had metal bars across a small front face, obviously the prisons, but at the very back was a door, and this door was solid. Nexus proceeded down the hall, moving rather quickly his cloak blew open as he walked and the girl was quick to follow.

Pushing open the door Nexus’ eyes rolled over the room. There was a rather spacious bed on the back wall, obviously the previous Warden had been rather material. To the left of the bed and against the wall was a desk, a few papers strewn about it, many half decade and more of them pure dust now. On the same desk was a tablet, a rather old version that was still probably usable. To the right of the bed sat a few spacious chairs, plush and more than likely comfortable to all. Against the door with the wall was a rather simple display of old lightsabers, probably ones from captured or killed Jedi of days long past. Picking one up Nexus quickly examined it and then hit the activator plate, nothing happened. Checking the inside he found the crystal gone, most likely whoever had bee here last horded those precious crystals.

“You can have one of the cells if you wish.”

Nexus said as the woman was about to speak, she was apparently wondering where she would stay. Nexus was not the least bit worried with what the woman wanted or desired, soon she would have no sense of wealth, she would be stripped of that and her spirit. She would no longer wish to disobey her masters and run away, she would come to embrace the darkness that now surrounded her life. Nexus felt her presence leave and knew she was going to take the cell closet to his door, right now he was the closest thing to a friend she had, not that that counted for much around here. Nexus meanwhile closed the door and examined his new room, he would need to get his stuff brought down, but for now… this would work. He also mused with idea of taking over the previous occupants job, which would entail interrogations and punishments of prisoners… not a bad way to earn your keep.

OOC: I will mark this as the end of the thread unless someone else wishes to seek out Nexus