The older Sith watched his apprentice's victim slump to the ground in front of him. Zednich had completed his trials and constructed his own lightsaber. The young Plagueian showed no remorse when Valhavoc had ordered him to slay the captive, never wavering from his goal. His anger had tempered him into a fine instrument of warfare, rage increased his strength and prowess beyond the capabilities of a normal human.
"Very good my apprentice. There is hope for you yet," the Correlian commented.
As Zednich powered down his lightsaber Val approached him, no doubt the Journeyman though the captive was his final trial. They always did. Stopping a few paces from his apprentice the Fist looked him over a final time.
"You fight with rage Zednich, but that is not the only emotion in our arsenal. Tell me, have you mastered your fear? Can you bend it to your will or when pressed will you succumb to it?"
Horrifying memories and thoughts assaulted Zednich's mind. His platoon screamed for his help while he lay unconscious on Athiss as a deranged Jedi stalked among them killing each one. Suddenly he was watching as the mine his father worked in on Garnib collapsed, crushing his father's body, eyes blankly staring into the void. His trial on Iridoniato ended with another student retrieving the relic and him failing to prove himself at the Shadow Academy.
The Jedi Hunter dropped to a knee, grasping at his head, "No... that's... that's... not what happened. The relic... was mine..."
"What if you had failed then Zednich? What if next time... you make a mistake..."
A vision entered his mind of his mother's farm on Taanab, a group of Jedi and Soldiers had tracked him there. A fight ensued, Zednich mercilessly slayed them all... only to find his mother was killed during the battle. The former Lieutenant roared with rage, and ignited his lightsaber. His Master followed suit, and continued the mental assault as their duel began.
Sabers clashed and furniture turned into projectiles as the two clamored across the richly decorated office. Valhavoc's cruel smile constantly taunting him, just as the implanted memories and visions chipped away at the Jedi Hunter's psyche. Slowly Zednich was learning to turn his fear into a weapon, to twist it to strengthen his own attacks.
The pair locked blades, faces inches apart. The journeyman was entirely focused on his opponent. Suddenly his master leapt back from him. Zednich's moment of surprise gave way to the realization that the Fist's desk had just been thrown into him, pinning the human to the opposite wall. Zednich's lightsaber leapt from the floor to Valhavoc's hand as he approached the younger man. Unsure if the test was over Zed pushed the desk off of him and stood ready to engage his Master yet again, unarmed.
Valhavoc stopped an arms reach from the man and spoke a single word, "Kneel."
Zednich complied, bowing his head to the floor of the decimated office.
"Now rise, as a Dark Jedi Knight," Zednich lifted his head to find Valhavoc's gloved hand, with the lightsaber Zed had carefully constructed resting in his palm. As the Knight grasped his weapon the realization of this new larger world he had entered began to sink in and he smiled.
Zed has torn through the final requirements for his promotion like a hurricane. Since he joined just over six weeks ago he's jump right into the DJB and never looked back. He has already earned two merit awards, six Crescents, and one Gold Nova (for his first fiction, written within days of joining) after participating in a staggering seventeen total competitions. Zed continued to show he was not content to merely participate in events, but wanted to organize and create opportunities for other members to participate as well. He set up "The Battle of the Bakers" (creating the most realistic Star Wars Christmas Cookie) and "Darth Poe" (comedy focused poetry about the Force) events for members to participate in.
Zed has made the Shadow Academy his second home completing a total of 43 courses, including both Leadership Courses, and earning four Dark Maven Degrees. At Rank 4 in the Shadow Academy Society he shows no sign of slowing down. Currently he's one course away from earning a Dark Savant in Writing and Philosophy as well!
Zed has expanded on his character background by completing his character's Wiki Article and gaining approval of a Wiki Staff member for it. This did not sate his desire to dive further into character fiction however, writing a 3,000 word fiction which was approved by his Summit and myself, and earning a Dark Side Scroll for contributing a ACC venue in the Voice competition which completed earlier today. Zed has his character sheet completed (until he gets this promotion!) and ready to begin taking the battle to the other writers of the Brotherhood in the ACC as soon as the Open Beta launches.
Congratulations Zednich Wolfram, on your promotion to the final step in your Journeyman career! You've earned yourself your own Lightsaber on your Dossier, and access to some pretty sweet new Robes. Continue on the path you've begun, maintain activity within your House and the Brotherhood, and keep a positive attitude. These will be the keys to entering the ranks of the Equites, and become a full member of the Sith Order. Well done!
-Valhavoc, Fist of the Brotherhood
Valhavoc, 2014-01-06 01:48:03 UTC