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22-04-2023, 04:31 AM
Sam Uvac: First Entry
To those who accessed this documentation they’d soon find the insignia of the Empire proudly emblazoned upon it, despite the earlier documentation display that this was infact written. It really wasn’t, soon upon the Holocom the beaten figure of a Man with a cybernetic gaze eternally boring into the camera appeared. His hard spoken dialect coming through his icy expression, and with it he demanded the watchers attention.
“I visited my home world recently, how proud I was to see that despite my many, many, years away from my fellows they were still as virile as ever. I couldn’t be prouder of the poor sods labouring under the Republic, I watched as the Republic Soldiers died before my eyes by my thrown grenade or blaster fire, bathed in the fire of battle as I was.
They were willing to die for their cause, as I am for mine. I will not halt my advance until that scum who took my eyes pay for their crimes upon my humanity, and the Republic pay for those upon my former brethren.”
The Man clenched a fist before the device, his hand a black gauntlet common with his Acolyte robes, strewn upon his torso dragging all the way down his knees and spilling across the floor.
“Be my beliefs futile. There is no doubt in my mind. I cannot look back, my stomach may heave on occasion, my bones may break, my skin may rupture, I may bleed, but. If the Republic think that’ll make me give up, they’ve got another thing coming for them.
For the eternal dream of an Imperial Ord Mantell, the beacon of light in a Czerka cell, and to make the dogs suffer for the hell brought forth… And to you, my proud parents who I was this…”
*His fingers would thin into a small space in gesture, his expression dropping from a determined and demanding one into the depths of a contemplative sadness.*
“Close, to seeing your faces once again. For the Empire. All shall kneel before House Horuset.”
With those fateful words. The recording cut swiftly out.
Sam Uvac: Second Entry
Apprentice Black is apparently punishing people for using a Blaster. I… While I understand his views and do believe some Acolytes could do with be more involved with the violence. However, I can’t help but disagree a Blaster is a fine weapon and as a Acolyte we should use every weapon we can possibly get our hands upon.
I know this more than anyone, during my youth the tensions were still high between the remnants of the Separatist movement and it was those that would on occasion allow us to launch attacks against those dam Republic Soldiers. But unlike their pitiful Men with equally pathetic resolve, we had a cause we believed was worth dying for and were willing to do absolutely anything to succeed in achieving our freedom and executing our justice upon those kriffing karkheads.
It was one specific instance that I still remember despite the torment I endured since then under the reigns of the Republic. One, that stands out from my past life and it is quite relevant to this and since I don’t have it wrote down anywhere I might as well remind myself of it.
It was just after a bomb had gone off, that wasn’t our doing, in fact it was one of the gangs that hung around it, it was a karking terrible neighbourhood you might say so it wasn’t really anything but a bubbling over of tensions likely from the local gangs, this would lead towards open violence between two opposing factions one of Alien descent the other strictly Republic Humans, known respectably the Acklay Reapers and Vu'seyosivi.
It represented something the Republic wanted, an excuse to crack down on the sector, they would first have to evacuate so called civilians who got caught in the cross fire. All this meant we’d have to move, and it split the leadership of our cell, my Father… I still remember him chiding Hugo our current leader for being a coward as he wanted to vanish with the crowds and disappear to another sector, something that had to be done sure but not before we made a mark.
This amounted to them conceding to my Fathers words, with the backing of most of our lot. We would strike them during daybreak as they prepared to move the transports.
Now, you must understand the Republic had fortified a landing pad with a mass of the Republics people moving to transports from spread out groups that were camped just behind the security forces lines, they’d have several stabbings and traded blows with the various gangs who made several attempts to sneak in or just open fire on Republic personnel making them incredibly cautious and unlikely to let in any more as they were already close to capacity anyway.
We knew the Republic doctrine, they weren’t going to be the only evacuation crew set up around the area. Merely the first, and so they made it very clear the Men could handle no more numbers and refused to let access to a majority of the needy directing them to another location where they would likely set up in the next few hours, while we could have waited to strike that camp instead, but the real problem was that it could take days for it’s transports to arrive as due to our tip the Republic was naturally prioritising it’s own, several very important people were to be evacuated at this location, some diplomats who had been working to speak with the Gangs apparently.
So, two Mynocks with one shot. We figured we could get in the crowd, or at least some of us could. That included me, and two other boys, Ross Vatic who was around ten and another we knew only as Bitsy, who was quite small even for a seven year old. I was the oldest and most experienced of us, so they designated me to do the talking.
We came directly in from the left, the Soldiers the fools they were after some talking about how we didn’t have any family and some such, eventually decided to be kind and let us in, they didn’t know we were concealing several Baradium charges and a Blaster Pistol each within our baggy clothing, commonly used for mining as Cademimu was that kind of kark hole to the Republic.
We managed to slip apart, getting through the crowd and joining the others, I personally decided to loosen up the atmosphere around us, and push away the odd looks that the less experienced of us got, with their sweaty foreheads and all that stuff.
Struck up a conversation with a young Woman, a Mother of one who’s incredibly young child she cradled throughout, I believe we spoke of something foreign to the situation, I remember her telling me about how nice I was, I felt guilt clog up my throat but I knew at the end of my day where my loyalties lay and what I despised.
It was at least a few hours of chatting with… That Woman, who I refuse to name until sailing through the sky came the Republic Vessels, we were forcefully moved back to clear the landing zone for the dogs. But, it was as soon as they landed they began to cram the various people on. This crowds frenzy was rather hard to control, they were fighting to escape to survive but in entering the arms of the Senate they instead fell into another to control their fate.
Mine. This crowd was a perfect distraction for us, there were four and we couldn’t plant them on all, so instead we each paired off taking one each. I managed to wriggle my way under the vessel, but in doing so I managed to somehow catch the wandering gaze of a Solider, so just as I was planting the charges each landing and secured the metal with a thunk, his gaze appeared blaster rifle in hand before me.
He spoke, and as he did I cannot forget his blue gaze they fell softly upon me, ‘Come on, get out from there,’ he hadn’t noticed what I was doing, but in a panic I reached into my jacket procuring the Blaster just as the shuttle was humming into life, but as soon as he saw it all he had to do was move a fraction to point his rifle at me, ‘Kid, put it down,’ still refusing to believe, I a mere child could shoot him… But I did. I pulled the trigger first, and at close enough reach the round marked the centre of his head, he could have fired, he could have, but he didn’t have the will to act and as the round dug a massive black hole in his foes head only then did the camp erupt in chaos.
Thing was, the ships only took off faster at first those who remained didn’t realise where the shot had come from. They were preparing their defences, only for some who had decided to search the Camp seconds after it had gone off found me, my cover disappearing above.
Despite being outnumbered heavily, it was as the first bomb went off the odds turned in our favour, the charges we had were relatively small and had only a small amount of power. It wasn’t enough to destroy the entire vessel, unless naturally it was on the engines, which we had targeted this is important because rather than blowing up, what happened next was rather violent they ruptured the engines and came plummeting back down.
Those who had once focused on us were soon occupied with the apposing vessels; or rather two of them were suddenly brought down in a rain metal crashing upon the dock with vigour as screams broke out amongst them and those its bulk would soon ram into. It came over my very head, and soon I was far from the centre of attention.
My former brethren who had gathered around the entrance sudden revealed themselves and the hail of fire began. It was short, but deadly. Much of those on the transports died either by the impact, smoke inhalation, a stay round or shock once they realised that by a twist of fate the door of the shuttle I had personally taken down was jammed, broke by the impact.
I never did find out what happened to Bitsy, but his charge was the only one that never went off, Ross on the other hand survived and I haven’t seen him in years, might be nice to catch up with him someday if he even lives. And if you are reading this me or whoever, you know what happens to me.
It would be at least a few years from this I lost my eyes, but that’s a story for another journal.
The point of my regaling this tale to myself, is the effectiveness of what might be seen as weakness or in other terms the use of unconventional tactics, being a child is what saved me there, it allowed me to do my task perhaps if the karker wasn’t as foolhardy I would have died.
He was though, I was a child and naturally we used that to our advantage. As an Acolyte it is no different, everything you can get your hands upon is a possible weapon against your foes we aren’t expected to use standard equipment often times and have to rely upon our wits to survive. Our job in the field is to prove ourselves and ensure the Empire succeed on whatever front and I will try to ensure this by any method.
When you need to win, it in my opinion shouldn’t matter the method.
All shall kneel before House Horuset.
Sam Uvac: Third Entry
I really am making a habit of encouraging Acolytes to walk to the medbay, first Kaidar who asked to do it, now another Pureblood who’s name actually escapes me, well, whatever point is and has always been if you can move, move. I told the story of the Master of nothing a cautionary tale I… entirely made up thinking about the Jedi, and my former brothers in the Separatist alliance and their battle against the Republic.You could say it was a tale of complacency, one that seems more relevant that ever, because of course it was. I made it up… But that’s really not the point; the point is that a sense of complacency is, bad, very bad. It has no purpose and allows even the high and mighty to fall to people like me.
Though, the life of conflict and strife has it’s own kark to deal with and that’s the whole point, pain, loss, suffering and all that good stuff that may seem negative at first, something to avoid but it’s just how we learn, rumour was the Jedi trials were originally brutal it seems they trained through that very same method despite the opposite goals. One to become stalwart, and one using that suffering to forge you and ensure your blood is red hot, prepared to do whatever it takes to succeed.
It comes at sacrifices, sacrifices I’ve come to terms with long ago, the pain of loss both from myself and from my friends. Czerka ironically let me feel this stronger than ever but, to say there isn’t a stronger memory in mind of torment than my experience in their facility I’d be lying, because that came just before, that representation of what the Corellians would call the Nine Hells was merely an extension of that one memory trapped. Right, but that’s not the topic I want to remind myself about here.
It was during this period I still followed my Separatist brethren, or rather what remained I was coming into my own as a possible future leader for our cell, to follow Hugo’s and at that time my Fathers legacy as either their second in command, or in charge myself depending on how the situation changed. However, it turned out to be neither, instead what I got or more accurately lost was both my eyes and the operation in my right leg(I get this back), as I’ve said before and will continue to say throughout this, we were willing to die to achieve our freedom. Death would have been a mercy.
This will be all about the last sight I saw.
Well, to understand our current predicament you must first understand the aftermath of our attacks on the Republic a grand total of five of them in the past six years, a good number for a healthy cell who actually wants to live, with others taking the heat off with their own assaults whenever they occurred, sometimes mere days apart… the schedule was never really set, it was mostly around what days we could rather than what our structure was, these erratic times would alleviate the problem of the Republic guessing patterns.
Even with our best efforts, the last months had been silent of any attacks the Republic was cracking down hard on the remaining separatists, we’d heard of several other groups being captured via the public network, this along with new security measures across the city, particularly so in important areas. All this combined to make it extremely unlikely for any of the cells to raise their heads, in the now restrictive system to force the Planet under their boot but just as before, my Father taught me yet another lesson.
When trapped under a boot, attack it and so we did, our next target was a daring assault on several senators who had been responsible for pushing the new restrictions and their Republic security, this would serve both the purpose of a blow and a rallying cry to prove once more the fallibility of the pathetic dogs.
It was a challenge to be sure, and was far from as easy as the last assault I spoke about; this required far more careful planning, so the plan was complicated to say the least they were staying at a high end hotel sitting upon their greed, it had a pool, sauna and other luxuries afforded only to the rich and lazy, it wasn’t earned instead they merely used the poor fools of the planets backs to serve themselves in a corrupt system of government, each of the Senators had names but I will refer to them as we did, Green, Spicehead, and Slob.
We had managed to get our hands on new identities, how we got them really wasn’t our job and so we never found out. Keeping secrets, lying to your allies its so bullshit when you should be able to trust your allies, little tangent there but hey, we gotta get into the mindset. Our plan was to over a Month or two, use our fake identities to worm are way in, three one for me, Ross you’ll probably remember him and Jamie the new boy.
So, since whoever is reading this you need to understand who both Ross and Jamie are, as well as our covers. Mine was a Man called, Richard Sandav a young Corellian wannabe butler with high marks from a rich academy, who wants to get into the hotel business, slightly older than me, but I could pass off as it. Ross the sly bastard managed to get the identity of a guest, a rich business man named Ozuna Kahan all the way from Coruscant with plenty of credentials to back it, up a impressive amount as if these people were once real.
Jamie was new, our only Twi’lek, so they decidedly got him a less talkative and easier role comparative to the rest of us, he’d recently been drawn into the crowd through a friendship we developed when we hung out around the local cantina. A security guard, whose name I’ve forgotten but, don’t forget this guy he’ll be very important, actually we all will.
With these covers we were ready for our job proposals. Jamie had it easy, he chatted up several of the local thugs who had been allowed into the hotel to up security. They believed he was trustworthy pretty quickly. Allowing him to join them to take up staff duties that had fallen ill recently due to a flue outbreak (This was something we noted and planned), a few days, this gave us a timeline. Ross and I, presented our best selves before the hotel staff, I was given a job as the “Apprentice Butler,” to a Man I will refer to as the Butler throughout. It was Ross however that had a difficult time; payments had to be delayed because while we could pretend to be a guy who’d paid for the hotel, we couldn’t after a while keep up that end.
It was a start to a situation that would develop through the time we were there. Jamies job was to take over on some specific dates, in three weeks. We have seventeen days to gain trust, sneak or find another way to kill at least one of our three targets, we’d suss out the plan and method. Jamie would deliver the gear we wished for and aid in the execution.
Day 1: I had arrived to learn about my job, role and play the normal part of Richard under the Butler, getting into the part of the young Corellian which was easy. I managed to have several casual conversations with the Butler who took a liking to me instantly.
Day 2: I had begun to build up a understanding of my routine, getting into the flow of this temporary snippet into plenty of peoples lives. Spoke about more nonsense to the Butler, lightening the relationship between us further.
Days 3-4: I remember taking a liking to this whole situation, the beds were more comfortable, the chairs were to, people spoke smoothly, I got into a structured sleeping pattern… something I wish I could have again.
Day 5: I take a look around, the Butler spills something about the upper levels being hidden from all but the”trusted staff,”, I met with Ross, he told me something that I never forgot, “If you get comfortable, look out the window,” and so I did, a ever present reminder of despite the pleasantries, despite the front, the comfort the job. People were suffering under these slobs who sat on their asses, living comfortable lives.
Days 6-7: These days were far calmer than most, allowing for more freetime, we took separate looks around. I found a route up the outside of the building, towards the rear spa and balcony, overlooking the glorious city outside from its heights water piping was somewhat exposed, difficult but not impossible to climb. At least for Ross. We communed, he’d found something else the power room was well secured in the basement, they only allowed in security personnel or technicians.
Days 8-9: These days were hectic, I still remember rushing to serve the various hotel guests on the lower levels including but not limited to; a bloody artist who is well known for painting Women nude his work was hardly unpleasant to the eye, a stupid religious Women chattering about nonsense about repent and a hard drinker who’d constantly offer me whiskey as you entered his room that smelled like a Bantha had long since decayed.
Day 10: Ross almost got caught in a daring move to explore the piping I’d pointed out, the Drunk had bumbled out onto the lower levels surprisingly and he’d had to pretend he was checking out some repairs, of course the moron bought it. In actuality Ross had found there was shielding over the balcony.
Day 11: A plan was slowly forming; it however took a small backseat in my mind as a weakness of mine flourished into being. Women. Often time’s horrible times have great moments of liberation before they occur, I was speaking to one of the Women who modelled for the Artist. Eventually one thing went to another, I spent that night in perfect comfort and being a bit of a lad, the Butler turned a blind eye, despite the man obviously knowing. Can’t help but feel kinda bad for the guy.
Day 12: Ross relatively oblivious to the situation, had spent the last day working up some more intelligence, the hot tub often received check ups, one would be happening on the fifteenth which didn’t give them much time to do anything to it. The people might not even go there. It was all becoming, ifs, cans and whatnots. Someone needed to get up to the next level. So of course it was up to me.
Day 13: I knew the Butler was growing fonder of me, we had a sense of humour that just gelled, he’d have likely given me the ability to tend to the upper rooms soon rather than later, but soon wasn’t good enough. So, I used the other contact I’d indulged myself in, the Female model, I approached her on my rounds and I convinced her to aid us, though not that she knew our real intents.
Day 14: I finally ascended to the top level, it wasn’t because of the Butler but the Artist suddenly decided to get a better room on the top level, the Women with him naturally she requested me. The Butler gave me a look, as if I’d betrayed his trust to get where I wanted to go, but complied all the same. Our connection was broken, while serving the upper rooms I noticed several key details, Slobs room was the balcony room, the one with the hot tub. Apparently he had one everyday at a certain time, a lucky break. I managed after sometime lulling around; to catch the right time he was there. The other two however they were further away, in the block of around five rooms with four adorning each side, the fifth room, lonely on it’s own being a well secured room for obviously the most important of the three, Green, guarded by two viscous looking bruisers they wouldn’t have let me anywhere near him. If this was a Game, Sloth was bronze. The silver medal Spicehead was located next to my Girls room.
Day 15: Jamie has his first arrival, it was mostly an introduction session on their duties and beyond a glance we didn’t see him. Ross and I formed the plan and requested the required materials, asked him to ready an escape speeder outside.
Day 16: Jamie, Ross and myself colluded with the gathered materials in the washer room, we had three detonators, a blaster, knife and led lined bag. It was all we thought we needed, the Men would retreat with the Guests inside the room who were assigned to, while the main forces would quickly spread out searching for the enemy.
The speeder was outside and ready to take off to where we needed it.
The Plan was as follows, Jamie as a Guard would walk into the generator room, using his led lined bag to pass the scanners plant a explosive exiting, he’d then set it off, the power killed. With both Ross and I already situated, on or near the upper floor we’d be ready, Ross would use the vanished shield to drop in on his little me time. A knife to the throat would solve all our problems. I on the other hand had a different mission, we wanted to take out at least two, so, Spicehead was next, unable to take the Gold we settled. I was gonna blow out the wall next to Spicehead, take my pistol and kriff silence. Take out anyone I saw, with my, what I know now Force Sensitivity then, we were pissing off quicker than we arrived, the bruisers and company likely inside the room would retreat to protect Green keeping them out the way.
Day 17: It all went as planned, the satisfying booms of explosions and smoke filled the halls. I shot down a single guard, along with my target leaving the Girl I’d been dating alive with only a stun round for her, she had nothing to do with this, brought here by the collar by a artist, in exchange for getting off the street. She was wrong. He left her with a few words of caution to advise her to improve.
We exited over the balcony, passing the floating blubbery corpse bleeding out as Ross told me with a small smile that it wasn’t all, as they left a fountain of blood and water was left behind them spraying the street in a rain of blood, I managed to catch the eyes of a Butler pointing us out to several Republic Soldiers watching the carnage unfold from behind them. It was that moment his suspicions were confirmed and I released my mistake. It was seconds before it would come down, the grenade clattered at his feet and the smiles faded, Jamie launched himself upon it.
The flash was the last thing I saw.
What was the point of this story? Don’t fail? Keep moving through suffering? We haven’t even gone to the point where I learn this. No this is just how I lost my eyes, a tale of sacrifice to a cause. I died once. The fact I exist today is a kriffing testament to what a Person can push through.
I miss my eyes. I’ll miss being able to see as I once did.
I push forward because that’s all I can do; otherwise I might as well have rotted with Jamie.
All shall kneel before my will.
All shall kneel before House Horuset.
Right, the first trial was to get Scyk teeth I grouped up with the lads, we after what seemed like a short time tracked down the beast while another Acolyte went searching for a local Sand-Fish Jawa thing, yeah I don’t know, he tried to fight a powerline with a umbrella… and one of the dumbest purebloods probably died, don’t ask. Ended up with us defeating the beasts, note to self, force pulling legs are quiet effective most times with Odacai almost falling of the ledge. I saved him. They got the best teeth, blah, blah, blah. Most important part is...
There is an importance to be placed on mutual respect. Be it offering the enemy a clean death or be it aiding your ally out of the fire, I did so in Plooma and I did so on the first and most recent trial. I had the chance to kill Odacai, yet I didn’t because that’s just what Friends or, well, whatever two Acolytes could call each other do. If someone were to ask if I regret it, yeah, kinda he succeeded while I kriffing failed. Him and his Girl Joslae. Seriously, no matter what people do. Shagging will happen no matter where you are, gotta respect that. There is always another side to people.
Anyway, this’ll be what I’m on about in this log, relationships, caring and how it’s all bullkark that people abuse but still something all people need at the end of the day. The fact I need to remind myself of that speaks volumes to how much I’ve changed.
So, we covered the attack on the Senators, mostly a success killing two of them but losing so much in the process. I might as well have died there but I didn’t, we were dragged from the fire hidden in one of the local buildings by sympathisers and Ross who, while injured was still awake. I only learnt this long after. Though to my knowledge they searched the streets, several us were found, or couldn’t get to cover and clashed violently with law enforcement, going down with some balls.
The Butler wasn’t even mentioned, I was to him, a random man he interrupted and who fought back against heroes. The bastard was scum. He ruined it for the wrong people. He’ll get what’s coming to him, with the rest of the traitors eventually.
When I awoke in a place, where my wounds were being treated as best they could, unable to operate my legs or see, no matter how I tried through the veil of darkness yet despite my inability. Ross was beside my side, my Dad was beside my side. They held my hand, promised me it’d be ok, told me stories of their adventures, some I’d heard since childhood others far more recent. Eventually they’d just become were just simple stories of how they managed to get food or medicine. Often times I was awoken from my slumber by the painful and crude operations that tore through my flesh, inefficient but trying. Nothing the ‘Doctors’ tried was effective in the slightest.
If anyone thought some back alley hospice saving injured freedom fighters who wanted to keep themselves with sympathies to the cause would offer anything in way of proper aid to the scale of damage that scarred me. They were talking out their arse, in fact, their care, hope, dreams kept me and others alive for what seemed like years. It was a few months in reality, of agony, that I had to push through to find salvation.
News came slowly, it helped me let out a sigh of relief to know I did something. The attack had put the Republic on high alert, yet it had shown the others cells something, there was hope. More attacks. With more and more people landing in critical position before the hype across the planet finally cooled down saw Czerka, the bastards, offer an almost angelic hand out towards those suffering the snakes promised top of the line treatments.
With my foolish wishes we went for it. Hindsight truly is something, should probably have been shot there I might have missed that funny story from my Dad all about the Corellian hells, do anyway. I was given a ride in the back of what I presumed was a speeder, guided slowly inside I can still remember hearing the mumbling of people I couldn’t see talking over how they planned to use me and I could do nothing. It was that helpless feeling that would persist through much of my time in my own hell.
They didn’t bother to sedate me until I had lashed out at one of the guards. It was agony beyond that describable by anything I could karking say, the metal ripping into my skin, holes sliced open, digging around inside muscle and tissue until they found shrapnel shards to tear through the surface. I might have passed out but something kept me there in that moment. My refusal to surrender kept me there. It was something to learn from and in the moments blind anger, I screamed and I wailed and my arms were unable to reach those tormenting me due to restraints binding my wrist. It was only in that moment of raw pain, raw emotion, that I could channel something I could swear that had been with me, only the quietest moments. I could only tell you now, what that was. I used the Force. It wasn’t powerful, it wasn’t like the stories you hear of Children with screams that shatter glass, or the moment where everyone is blown away by a suddenly repulse. It was small, a rebellious movement, one I know now was a ‘Force Push’ one of the most basic things you can do. I’d laugh it off today, but merely writing cannot convey the panic of the time.
I remember waking up. My whole body licked by flames of stupid agony that made thinking hard. The only thought that I could manage to get through my racing mind, was ‘I could see’ and it felt so very wrong. I now had ice cold metal that tore apart my flesh where my eyes once were, intrusive, wires twisted beneath the skin I was watching through a screen. Life was so unreal back then, when I was sedated yet again trying to rip the foreign object from beneath my skin, tearing at them, dragging them from my eye sockets. I swear I was close it probably would have killed me. This charade was something I never truly grew out of in the facility. Yet the days grew long, and I grew tired. I needed to think beyond the simple sensation of the cybernetics if I wished to have my revenge. So the next day I waited. I remember the room as if it were yesterday; it was clean as if all the torment within it just washed away because they wiped the floor. A single bed with bindings waiting to be wrapping around sleeping hands, I chose to avoid it at first. There was a sink that served only cold water and a shower that served only warm, a toilet and finally the only thing that brushed the pure white was he reflected in a mirror. The only thing that shouldn’t be there. Food was pushed through the door I remember starving I ate it, I had a shower and I shat. That was it for a few days. There wasn’t much else to do, just after I found I could walk, the bastards had fixed my legs. I was way too tired to move from my spot when people finally walked in. It was someone I came to call “Sleen” and his two armoured thugs I couldn’t see behind the helmet, she told me something I barely remember: to stay on the floor. I didn’t move or even respond so Sleen kept blabbering, she explained something about how they saved me, that I owed Czerka now and I would be let free if I complied with their tests and if I didn’t they wouldn’t feed me. With the lovingly deceptive glass of Reactor Core dangled before my maw, I reluctantly agreed to their terms and they had me sign something. Whatever it was I had agreed too I’m still not exactly privy too, yet it didn’t matte compared to so much of the experience.
The next Months began what was an array of tests. Each pushing both the technology they’d implanted and myself to the limit. It was crude, they handed me a low power rifle gave me targets that if I didn’t hit I’d go hungry. I missed every shot, I had yet to get used to my new vision and so I went hungry. The other tests were simpler; they tested pain thresholds, changes in light, even my skill in the Force to the best of their abilities(They failed). Despite being alone for so long, exposed to dehumanising experiments. I sat there still alive or whatever was left to live for, I could feel that it went nowhere, did nothing, that was the worst time in my life so far. I had my sight taken from me and replaced it with technology. I was subjected to experiments that made me feel like the only real man alive, if barely. Beaten by two of the guards for even the smallest infraction and horded into labs where I physically exerted myself beyond measure. It was then I realised I wasn’t the only one here, the only one suffering, only after the tested me with what they think they put me in another larger white room as opposed to the many others, this was different I was promised. They were correct, in ways but in others it was exactly the same, just this time there were other people.
There were three others. I do remember their names, ones I won’t forget. Once again to understand this story, it’s essential that you remember the people within it. They are always the most important thing in real story.
Penisla it’s what we managed to get from him as a name. He was slightly younger than me at that time, he was ever so slightly younger a more timid character than the rest of us. The Twi’lek lost his leg only to be replaced, in what I can only guess was a warzone somewhere.
The second, a lad named Tom was even younger and even smaller, he made up for that difference with his balls. Hailing from Xa Fel he was a ugly creature that due to Czerka tampering had been made into something that could be considered vaguely appealing to the senses. He stood up regardless.
Finally our eventual leader. She was a Clawdite who we were introduced to as a pretty young blonde she apparently wasn’t keen on her original species nor was she keen about merely going about her days here. I definitely remember Rachel, she was the most competent of the lot and her shape shifting abilities came in real handy during those days.
The trial was simple. We were tossed into ‘the pit’ and had to make our path through a shifting maze that started with but a simple small tunnel we’d have to crouch through. This was the first time in months I’d spoken with people who actually treated me like a person. I can’t describe how refreshing it was to finally do that. It was like finally touching a part of myself. I was awkward, the only one who wasn’t was Rachel who seemed completely confident, cocky and sure she’d escape. When she confronted us about it. I was completely baffled, as if I’d forgotten what escape even meant at this point. Pensila disagreed, I could tell because he babbled shaking his head but, long before we could even consider this we were pushed along by a wall of red that would surely burn us to ash. I hadn’t seen red besides blood in a long time, I stood there until I was pulled along by Rachel. Rachel pulled along everyone, as she’d eventually tell me. You can’t surrender, work with, never for. Once exiting they barely had anymore time to talk, they were immediately placed behind a square wall, something to keep the several yellow blaster rounds that struck it rather than the small Twi’lek that exited first. He was stupidly irritating, trying to get back in and all the coward almost got us killed.
We escaped this room barely. Rachel had me pick up a Rifle, there was only one in the room and somehow she thought I would do best with it. We dodged throughout, a single shot disabled each droid, I was naturally accurate. I still loved the feel of their kick. It was relatively simple once she figured it out, taking pot-shots in the breaks they made their way through the second trial. The third trial happened, it was one we failed on a few times later. It was a path upwards across the shifting blocks that jumped out and shrunk back in. Rachel went led the way, I’d eventually find out how she nimbly anticipated where each was coming from landing on the ledge that remained unmoving. It was impressive far better than my attempt, I did well enough, I defiantly had improved since requiring Ross to do it for me, but a few slip ups might have led to my fall if not for the hand of Rachel saving me from my descent. Using the rifle Rachel helped the other two who had a extremely hard time getting but on the slowest setting they did get up.
That was it. With it I was dragged back to my room, leaving them behind. But I remembered every word from Rachel, a spark that lit the bloody forge once more. The next day it was the same thing but faster. The wall, the bolts and the staircase. And again. More talk of escape, finally the truth came out. She had someone who wanted to save them, one of the guards. I couldn’t believe, I couldn’t trust her I knew that then. Yet, she once again taught me another lesson. It was always more complicated than that. I felt that spark. There was a chance to escape.
The next day brought me the chance, the first few trials we passed yet again by working together. The last moment was the only thing that changed, as finally reaching the guarded ledge where the examiners awaited for us with an Astromech. I’ve been waiting to talk about this moment. Rachel made straight up the stairs, I was no longer stumbling but trying to keep up, Tom could do it. I still remember it as clear as day, hatred filling my entire being; I was fuming at his pathetic cowardness. The temptation to have him left had been the only thing on my mind. But Rachel told me to help him up, with a thumbs up and smirk I manage to coax him out of his shell and he joined us, but true to our relationship at the time I had to grab him once he reached the top. Finally reaching the top, it was about to go the same as usual until our hidden ally bloody blasted one of the guards in the back. The feeling of his death was something I could definitely do with again, then I unfortunately had to move instantly pinning down another before he could come to his senses. I killed him with his own knife, how ironic.
We dressed up as them. Rachel was slightly smaller than Sleen but they didn’t notice that when she had morphed into the appearance she despised. Directing the guards that naturally came to check away was my Job as she couldn’t change her voice, we used this as a opportunity to slip down the hallway. Apparently our rescuer was a Guard who’d finally biged up to admit he gave a dam, I never did find out the truth behind that. I have no reason to doubt it though. Tricking the enemy would eventually become my speciality but just before we managed to reach the ship we were accosted by Guards. Immediately we were tossed back into the tiny white cells where I suffered once more. I had however seen the exit, thanks to Rachel I could only think about her, Tom and others surviving. I knew we could all escape and soon we would but, it wasn’t because of us. That irritated me. It was just so pointless, there had to be a meaning to it all, there had to be something more but when we awoke there was nothing you could easily escape, nobody was around to stop you. It took me about an hour to figure out I could just open the door. Perhaps it was because we escaped it proved it could no longer function in Czerkas eyes, that’d be something, I honestly don’t know. It took us almost the entire day to figure out our plan, the guard who’d helped us was gone, he probably died I don’t think I’ll ever know but it was Rachel who convinced us to leave in one of the Ships that remained and started me on the next step of my life.
It was our relationship that repaired things for me. So when I woke up that morning I stood up and moved towards me true goal, rather than going home I knew I had to take revenge, but I was no where near prepared, to pay them back in style; both the Republic and the Czerka. I’d stand over their corpses and retake my people for me and eventually, as it’d come to pass thanks to my relationship to the Clawdite the Empire.
I shall write in you again.
Long live the Empire.
Long live Darth Horuset.
Sam Uvac: Fifth Entry
Corran Kyrell, thanks you. I can’t pretend like my success in my second trial wasn’t because you just happened to be there. Of course I won. It was my scenario to win, we didn’t succeed the main objective but what I found was equally valuable to Lord Sangunis the Sith who seems to like me. If not because he’s one of the few that despite his persistent reminders puts up with my humour and actually having the balls to say thing. Anyway, I had some banter with the cowardly Corellian bastard I can’t say I wish him death but, he had his chance. I’ll now have mine for revenge, my soon to be Master will make sure of this. I didn’t win the third scenario, I don’t think anyone did. I can’t believe I didn’t figure out we were just supposed to present our own ways of pleasing the Sith, I can’t believe nobody did. Instead I did act, so did Vyrinne, she thought she could seduce me in the middle of the trial. Did the rumours that brushed my oh so handsome face make her think I was that gullible, of course I wasn’t, she was a much better fighter than a flirter I’d probably have won but, I don’t know. I wondered if she’d actually be interested, even as her new Apprentice self she seemed to engage. One for the future huh, slipping one past Soti might be fun.
She wasn’t the only one who rose after the third trial. Odacai; now Runil and Zeldris, I didn’t know Lord Kalkoran was looking for canon fodder but it’s nice to see even the dumbest, almost dead Acolytes managed to get Apprenticeship. It’ll be merely days before I get there and I can finally escape Acolytehood; again. I’ve done it once before. It in its self an escape before what came before.
It was as we left, a tiny world all located in a facility that was mostly barren as if the people had evacuated I remember seeing another vessel passing us over in the void. I knew it was others escaping the nightmares of the facility. Yet they were going another way. Yet at that moment we didn’t kriffing have one so we gathered up in what little space the ship had given us and finally just had a conversation about where to go next. I remember the difficult argument that followed. Tom had instantly suggested they all go home, it was something I’d considered but I knew that going there would likely see us meeting the Republic. It was a hard choice but we couldn’t go back. Rachel came up with the most logical solution, that they find a new planet. I couldn’t do that either. I still felt that rage, that thing that had kept me going; now there was a chance for revenge; to keep going.
Originally the Empire was just as much of the enemy to both myself and my people. Yet over time the desperation swept over us, it soon turned from cries of striking down both to ‘the enemy of our enemy’ they weren’t wrong. So we went straight for the sandy world of Korriban. It was the place we knew. We barely had enough fuel to get there and so we were hovering in space when we were welcomed onto a Terminus-Class Destroyer. When they interrogated us about corporate espionage we explained our situation it took sometime but we were eventually met with a Sith Inquisitor who recognised three of us as Force Sensitive we were delivered to our karking destination. It was great but one of us were left to a fate unknown the Twi’lek probably got enslaved knowing the Empire. It was a bitter sweet ending to the start of what will eventually take me to the revenge I so desperately seek.
What they don’t tell you outside the Empire, is a little secret: Korriban is cold, I guess we all just assumed that a desert was hot. Not that many people expected to go there so when we finally exited the shuttle it was a surprisingly welcome breath of fresh air, after being cooped up in metal cells, ships and bigger ships. Even with the soothing lull of hyperspace it was liberating, but it almost blinded me at first not literally. Just, felt a little weird but Rachel and Tom were still with me so we managed to nuzzle in with the group of Acolytes. There were four others there. I remember each of them. They were my enemies and allies throughout my time in the academy.
Boolon was one of the stranger sights I in all my time as an Acolyte have yet to see; a young Ithorian who are often known for being pacifists was here, being one of the most violent lackeys for Hugh Thomarc the most common sight through my Acolytehood, Imperial born aspiring Acolyte. Despite them, every morning we woke to music from Diva a Theelin who made her best efforts to keep spirits high, I’m thankful for her… somewhat. Finally a Pureblood Keletath the greatest surprise of my time on Korriban.
So that was our group. Including us three and we all stood before Overseer Os for once I remember being pretty confident we had a chance. It couldn’t have all been for nothing could it, I need to keep remembering that same feeling it’s who I am and if I’m ever not I might as well die, we just keep going.
I shall write in you again.
Long live the Empire.
Long live Darth Horuset.
