“Alright, open the holocron and we'll see what our forebears left for us.” The Zabrak paced behind the Krath sorcerer in his black armor, boots scuffing a path in the dust of the ancient temple. After a long year of searching, the treasure of Sadik Deris was finally about to be his. Legends held that whoever opened it was granted tremendous power, the usual spiel one might hear. However, Deris was rumored to have discovered a way to affect spacetime itself, manipulating its essence through the Force. Such knowledge would be instrumental in securing the Knight’s position within Plagueis.

The sorcerer nodded and placed her hands over the artifact. Crinkling her fingers in concentration she fed the Force through it, small waves of energy pulsating from it in response. She paused to make sure she had not set off some sort of defense mechanism, but after nothing eviscerated either of them for a second she continued. Kul’tak watched in bemused interest. He could feel the power emanating from the device. It was repressing yet alleviating all at the same time.

He almost went into a defensive stance when the sorcerer cursed under her breath.

“What's wrong, Rusa?” She bent her Togrutan head and gave a small laugh.

“I did it. I think I actually unlocked the thing. Ha ha! That knight promotion is in the bag!”

The Zabrak grinned from behind her as the holocron cracked and light spilled from its seams. Indeed, she had unlocked its secrets.
He reached a hand into his cloak.

“Well done…my apprentice.” His crimson saber burst to life and swiftly relieved the girl of her head. “Unfortunately, someone from Odan Ur has no place here. Plagueis spares no room for the weak.” He lifted a foot and pushed the decapitated cadaver to the ground.

He focused again on the holocron, which was beginning to hum and shake. Fluorescent light poured forth more violently than before. It began to rumble and rattle incessantly, making Kul think it was getting ready to explode. He ducked behind a crumbling onyx pillar and watched as the device burst open in a blinding flash. Air began to sluice into the opening, creating a vortex of sharp wind. It made a loud sucking noise, before exploding outward again. This time, however, something flew out.

Kul blinked to regain his sight and peered around the pillar half expecting to see the Sith himself, most likely enraged at being summoned from his eternal prison. If the being before him was indeed Sadik, he did not exactly cut an impressive figure. Short brown hair covered an oval shaped face, circling his cheeks to form a thick, scraggly beard. He stood approximately 1.7 meters, and wore some sort of blue coarse fabric on his legs, while adorning a durasteel colored jacket. He was most likely human; he bore no signs of being otherwise.

The boy (he appeared to be not much older than Kul’tak) stood and brushed himself off, wide eyes taking in the scene around him. He reached a hand up and twisted the skin on his arm. When he didn't wake up he muttered to himself: “Ohhhhh crap, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto.” His language was Basic, but there was a sort of twang to it. It reminded him of the tribal accents on Iridonia. He’d never heard of a “Kansas” before. The boy looked harmless enough; his presence in the Force barely registered. Kul stepped out from behind the pillar and approached, still holding his saber hilt, the blade withdrawn.

The boy immediately focused his eyes on the Knight, suddenly emanating a wave of surprise and fear. There was also a twinge of recognition. Kul couldn't understand why, he'd definitely never seen this human before. It began to fade a little as curiosity replaced the initial terror. The boy cocked his head slightly and rearranged the black-rimmed glasses on his face.

“Afternoon. You wouldn't perchance be a Zabrak, would you?” Kul lifted an eyebrow.

“Of course I'm a Zabrak. You mean to tell me you've never seen one of my race?”

The boy gave a soft laugh. “You might could say that. Not in person, anyway. You seem sort of familiar, though.” His eyes widened again as a thought passed through his mind. “For the love of...you're name wouldn't happen to be Kul’tak, would it?” Again the Knight was thrown off by this stranger.

“How do you know my name, human? Was Sadik aware of my coming? Or perhaps you were sent in his place to prevent me from finding his secrets? I will have them.” He took a step forward at the last question and pulled the boy into the air above him.

“Whoa, whoa, chill bruh. Who's Sadik? I don't even know where I am much less some random person you just mentioned. Though, I suppose I do know where I am in a sense. And I definitely know you, Drol.” Kul set him down. He just wasn't entirely sure how to react to this.

“And how do you know me?”

There was a brief pause as the boy mustered the courage to reveal his knowledge. The Knight was an imposing figure in his armor. “Because Kul, I created you. Technically. There's some biological stuff I didn't help with, the whole ‘when a man loves a woman’ spiel. But yeah, there ya go.”

Kul blinked as he processed this new information. His temple throbbed as his anger ebbed and flowed in spurts. Was he seriously supposed to believe this? His creator?! He said as much.

“Well let me prove it then. We’ve never met before, we're agreed on that?” Kul nodded. “Ok. Your master is Taranae Rhode, redhead extraordinaire. You practice Jar’kai but only wield one saber because you're not an Equite yet. You have a pet Vornskr named Shar’kala. Aaaand something no one else would know: your tattoos signify the loss of your family and the pain you try to hide as you struggle with your loyalties to their memory and your loyalty to Plagueis.” He tapped a finger at each one to outline them as a list.

Kul felt his mouth drop slowly as he gaped dumbstruck at this boy who claimed to be his creator. Everything he had said was true, and certainly not just anyone would know this information. But how was this possible? The sorcery of Sadik, perhaps? One puzzle revealed another.

“I don't know how you came to know this information, human, but you've peaked my curiosity.” Kul placed his saber back within the folds of his cloak.

“You aint the only one confused right now, bud. I just left a world in which there's not even space travel per say and the Force is a fictional story element.”

Kul and the boy blinked at each other in perplexed confusion. Kul spoke first.

“Say I agree to believe this. What now?”

“An excellent question, my friend. Or son? Does being your creator make me your father in a sense?” The boy stopped when he received a deadly look. “Friend it is. Anyway, you wouldn't happen to have a black hole nearby, would you? That's the way some people get back in movies.”

A grin passed over the Zabrak’s face. “No, but I'd be happy to find one and toss you in if you want.” Something about his tone made it understood he'd enjoy that outcome. The boy sighed.

“Nah forget that. I suppose if I can't get back I may have to make the best of being here.” He turned and picked up the holocron. “Better bring this just in case.” Kul immediately snatched it from him and stuffed it in his cloak beside his saber.

“I'll be the one to carry this. If what you say is true, and I'm not saying I believe it just yet, perhaps you could be of some use. It appears I'm not getting what I originally wanted from the holocron, in any case. Come, I'll bring you back with me to the *Anchorage.*" He paused and tilted his head. “I don't suppose you know what that is already?”

“Large metal station recaptured by Plagueis to use as a headquarters. Currently still possesses some sorts of dark energy and possibly beings. I might have heard of it.”

The two began walking to the shuttle awaiting Kul'tak to return to. The boy stayed a step behind, cautiously trying to stay aware of his surroundings. Upon boarding, he was tackled as a small black blur catapulted their way. A quadruped with short fur and wicked teeth pinned him down with a warning growl daring him to make a move. Kul laid a reassuring hand upon the Vornskr.

“It's ok, girl. He's with us. For now, anyway.” She backed away and sat, watching the newcomer curiously. The boy rubbed his backside and winced.

“So this is a Vornskr. She is indeed a beautiful specimen. Hello, Shar’kala.” He offered a hand for her to sniff. She refused at first, but curiosity eventually won out and she approached slowly. She huffed around him to his great amusement. Deciding he was indeed worthy to remain alive a bit longer, she padded over to her master and laid at his feet. The Zabrak took a seat in the pilot’s chair, spinning it to face his new acquaintance.

“If Shar’kala thinks you're ok, then that will satisfy me for now. You will remain with me, however. Until I decide if you're worth keeping around.”

The boy looked up from the Vornskr, who he had sidled up to and preceded to pet. “Oh I can be of great use to you. In fact, I believe I can give you a way to become great within Plagueis.” The boy stood slightly, putting him eye to eye with the Sith. “How would you like to know your enemy’s greatest weaknesses? Or better yet, your Clan’s weaknesses? You would be able to achieve the revenge you crave for your family.” Kul's eyebrows rose at that. His family had perished at the hands of a Jedi after being found by a Plagueis inquisitor. He'd never forgiven either side for that slaughter. “I can help you achieve all of this.”

“How?”

The boy tapped the side of his head. “It's all in here. Remember when I said I created you? Well the same place I did that has what you might call datacrons of information on everyone within the Brotherhood. Including their strengths and weaknesses. So you might say I could theoretically assassinate everyone in the Brotherhood, as long as I had the power to do it. That's where you'd come in. So how bout it? Wanna rule the world?”

Kul'tak pursed his lips and rubbed his face. The boy could be lying, but he'd sensed no deceit in him. If that was the case, his proposal was indeed a bold one. Taking on his own superiors? Normally the Knight would never have even considered it, but with the secret to their defeat so readily available he could not help but dwell on the possibilities this could open up for him. Striking a deathblow to his clan went against everything his father had taught him, but it was they who sanctioned his father’s death to begin with.

The boy knew his decision as soon as his tattooed hands tensed and curled around the armrests of his chair. “Yes. Tell me everything.”

Blinking eyes snapped open in the night, blinded by the expanse of darkness they could not yet pierce. Dilated pupils searched desperately for light, leeching it in. Some sense of awareness pricked at the back of the awoken Zabrak’s neck, the intensity building: the instinctive klaxon within the mind that forces the body to respond to its surroundings. Something had triggered these defensive actions, and his time spent within the Anchorage had taught him nothing if not let his guard down. He was unable to sense anything strange through the Force, but that had never been a forte of his anyway. He did not need expertise to realize the truth of the matter, however. He was not alone.

In lieu of having a complete cone of vision, he remained still in an effort to fool whomever, or whatever, had managed to sneak into his quarters. Straining with his ears he thought he caught the sound of a faint whisper, the sort of greeting fabric gives to an object when they meet. He began preparing himself for a leap of surprise; his saber rested neatly in his hand, taken from its spot beside him. Just as he decided to make his move, he froze as a distorted voice echoed throughout his durasteel room.

“I know you have been awake for the past six minutes, Hunter.” Whoever it was already knew Kultak’s identity, putting the Zabrak at a disadvantage. “Oh, and there’s no need for the saber. I’m here on business.” That’s hardly reassuring if I am your business.

He did not like the idea of putting himself in an even more one-sided meeting, but he supposed if the intruder had wanted him dead, he’d never have woken in the first place. He turned over to face where he thought the voice originated from, poking a hole in the pillow with one of his horns in the process. Another trip to Supply his Master would goad him for.

The being who stepped out of the shadowed corner was exactly what Kultak would have thought an assassin to appear like: covered from head to toe in dark, concealing clothing, a hood and mask covering any resemblance of a face. He could not discern if they were even male or female, though the distorted voice had something of a bass touch to it. The intruder swept aside their cloak and rested their side against Kultak’s supply dresser.

“I’ve been sent here by a group of like-minded individuals, a group who delves in secrecy and shadow. You might ask why then did I come in person? Some initiators feel differently, but I like giving new initiates a body to place with the organization. Helps them meld smoothly into the work flow.”

Kultak raised an eyebrow at the words “new initiate.” Was this person here to try and recruit him then? And to what purpose?

“I sense your curiosity, Hunter. Yes I am indeed here to offer you a place in our fold. Your loyalty to the Brotherhoods’ cause has been noted. I can officially grant you a position right now; however, protocol demands you be tested. Let’s play a game shall we? You run, and I try to kill you. Go.”

Kultak barely had time to process the meaning of such a challenge before a mass of black and silver cloth lunged at him, a saber extended in full lethality. Trying to think quickly, the thumping of a shocked heart drowned out any chance of a speedy retaliation. He did manage to roll off the left side of his bunk, landing in a crumbled mess of blanket. A glance above him saw the saber burning a hole in the wall where his chest had been seconds before.

“Good, you can react. Stage one cleared. Now, stage two.”

Kultak did not know what stage two was but he wasn’t going to wait around to find out. Scrambling, he practically rolled out of his chambers just managing to remember to call his saber to himself with the Force. Unfortunately, in his rushed state, the saber clanged against the wall and fell to the floor. He had forgotten to consider his momentum and timed the pull wrong. He would have to make it through weaponless then. He sprinted down the hall, thoughts now clear enough to attempt a coherent plan.

How to escape a dark jedi of higher caliber with just the Force? Kultak’s specialties lay in illusory effects, so he would just have to trust in the dark side and his own ability to wield it. Perhaps that was what the initiator wanted in the first place? It would possibly keep him alive, anyhow.

The Zabrak sprinted into a large room blacked out for the night cycle. He listened for any sound of the approaching initiator but heard nothing. Not that he expected to. He only had one choice then: hide. Hoping he had enough time, Kultak concentrated on the area around him. The air began to ripple and flow around him so that his body seemed to be one with the room. The struggle began then. He must not move or the ploy would be useless. Had someone passed by the room and just casually peered in, it would seem as if it were empty, but would it fool the initiator? Highly doubtful.

His body began to complain at the stress the concentration required, but he tried to ignore it. A few minutes more and shivers began to rack his body, contorting the cloak. Where was the dark jedi? It wasn’t until a few more minutes went by that Kultak thought he might actually have to let go of the cloak. His body was tensing horribly and aching muscles screamed from him drawing too much oxygen to support his endeavor. Just as he thought he was going to pass out, a voice behind him spoke up.

“Well done, you’ve made it through stage two. Being able to escape is just as important as being able to get into a place or finding your target. Remember that, you can’t reveal secrets if the enemy don’t catch you.” A hand reached down to where Kultak was bent over trying to suck up as much air as possible. In it was an envelope. “Your first assignment, as well as your congratulatory letter from the Grand Inquisitor. Welcome to the Inquisitors, initiate. Good luck.”

###
Kultak grasped the document within and read over the details. “Details,” if that was what they were. A single line gave a name and location with a single blood drop on the page for emphasis. The Zabrak raised his head questioningly.

“How am I suppose to know who this person is? Or how to even get inside?” He realized the initiator was gone. Sighing, he folded the envelope in half, to find there was something written on the back. Turning it over he saw only three words: Figure it out. He sighed even harder.

Manually added

Nicht Ka Orbit

Aboard the NSD Ascendancy

38 ABY

The planet of Nicht Ka looked on defenselessly as formations of warships blinked in-system from hyperspace. It swirled helpless and alone, a clouded marble of dust and rock, gazing as if an eye watching an approaching needle. A slight, invisible shudder ran over its surface as the tiny beings already on the ground detected the intrusions as well. A large cloud of ammonia rain began to develop around the southern hemisphere of the planet, the pressure systems converging into a solid mass. This storm was not going to be minor.

Thousands of bodies packed into tight landing craft poured from the sides of these warships like sated flies from a carcass. Standing at one of the available portholes, a Zabrak cloaked in his Plagueisian attire watched the warships begin a descent to allow their second wave of landing parties quicker access to the ground. Not that he would be aboard one, though. His bright yellow eyes flicked downward and picked out the storm system making its way across the planet, and his brow twitched. From here, it looks awfully like a frown. So even the planet could feel his trepidation. Bah, not likely, now he was just being childish. He could not deny the anger that welled up inside him, however. He should have been aboard the LAAT/c with the rest of his battleteam. Instead, he found himself playing chaperone to a warship capable of destroying cities. He suddenly felt small, and useless. A rattled sigh saw him returned to his usual state of placidness. It would not do to complain over the truth. His master had had a point when she left him behind.

#

NSD Ascendancy, just before exiting hyperspace above Nicht Ka

38 ABY

Where moments before there had been a smiling master, now a grim-faced Dark Jedi Knight stood toe to toe with the larger Zabrak before her. Her fiery red hair matched the pulse of her emotions roiling unchecked now.

“I've already told you, Kul, you're not getting on this Larty. You should have considered the consequences when you decided to skip town on us for so long. Your selfishness has cost you, so be patient and learn from your mistakes, Apprentice.” The last word was flung forward with seething disappointment.

Kul'tak's face shifted into a wince as he realized everything she said was true. He didn't deserve to get on that landing craft after what he had pulled, even if it had been important to him. Betraying his comrades was no small thing, something he would have never done had it not involved his past. That was just it, though, wasn't it? The past should remain there. A Sith had no need for such tethers. But then again...what if those tethers were the seeds for his passion?
#

The landing craft approaching the planet closed to formation, fighters and bombers flanking to either side. Larger gunships, like Ajunta Pall's own Nightmare, slowly followed at a distance, prepared to engage any resistance that might require a heavier touch. None so far had arrived from the surface, a fact Kul'tak found strange, but not entirely without precedent. As if to answer his uncertainty, large bolts of condensed energy flung themselves at high velocity towards the warships. Fortunately the forward shields on most of the larger craft held up, but a few explosions appeared throughout the lines of the smaller vessels. The first blood of Nicht Ka had been drawn. Kul'tak recalled a report about the fortress they were assaulting having ion cannons in place. A downward crease of his brow and a huff of breath revealed his feelings on the matter.

The Zabrak moved away from the porthole with visible distaste, his body tense. He may not be allowed to go personally to the ground, but that didn't mean he couldn't support from the sidelines. The thrumming bass ring of his boots on the durasteel floor lead his feet in the direction of the command room. Maybe no one would mind if he sat and listened to the events taking place. Plus, he would like to know if his compatriots were among the living to hit the ground. On his way he passed several fellow Plaguesian Dark Jedi, leading their respective squads to the transports for the second wave of the assault. Kul'tak was not sure if the preparations for take off this soon after the first wave was a good or bad thing, but he assumed he'd find out shortly.

After what seemed like an endless trek through the cold hallways of steel, Kul'tak finally arrived at the command room. Without the door even opening, a thick cloud of tension rolled over him from within. Only to be expected, of course, with the men and women inside leading part of the assault against the One Sith. At first he was surprised that trained Dark Jedi would so easily reveal their feelings, but as the blast door slid open with the release of air pressure, he realized his Clan superiors were not actually on board. Who could blame, them? This is the perfect time to earn some personal glory and power. Yet, I remain here...apparently alone. The yellow tinge of his eyes became darker as his anger swelled up within him, but he quelled it as this was neither the time nor place to grow lax in discipline. He raised his head, which had been hung in concentration, and watched the deck officers and aides running to and fro with lots of energy. Maybe a little too much energy. Kul took the time to concentrate on the crew members' expressions and body language, their creased brows and pursed lips all the sign he needed to know something was amiss. Now completely concerned, he strode over to the command area in just a few strides of his legs' considerable reach. The pounding of his heart echoed with the explosions he could now clearly see taking place on the screen before the deck officers. Taking it all in, he listened as the officers struggled to get a grasp on the situation from the cries echoing from multiple comm receivers.

“That's right, we're not sure where they came from, but they're everywhere! You need to send the second wave ASAP!”

“Multiple One Sith artillery pieces are jutting out from around the fortress, sir! Our teams can only get so close. We're not sure what kind yet, no one's made it inside to verify.”

“I'm telling you, they're more prepared than initial intel stated! We have multiple reports of confirmed teams going silent--”

“Battleteam Sorzus Syn, reporting in! We have several wounded, with no support in the area. We lost contact with Battleteam Dreypa upon engaging, no knowledge of their status yet, over...”

Black rage that had been pent up inside the Zabrak suddenly snapped as his body prickled with a layer of small, intense electrical discharges. He made to move for the exit when one of the officers spotted him. He crossed his arms as he stood in the Sith's path and gave him a stern lookover.

“You're the Sith that's been ordered to stay aboard ship, right? I hope you weren't planning to head for the hangar bays just now?”

At this point Kul'tak could care less about some servant of House Ajunta Pall, his desire to aid his comrades emboldened by pure rage swirling within. With one sound movement he stepped forward and took the man's throat in his right hand, pulling the shorter man eye-to-eye with him. The officer could only respond with a croak as he dangled helplessly. The Sith applied pressure to his wind pipes.

“Try and stop me.” With a flick of his arm, he cast the man to the ground who immediately crashed into one of the comm machines, the impending snap loud enough of a deterrent for any other would be pursuant. Kul'tak strode from the room and made a quick stop by his quarters to grab his armory saber and war sword, which he slung over his back. Upon exiting, he began a sprint for one of the side rooms of the Engineering bay. Once there he looked up at the directory sign which read: “Escape Pods.” A wave of his hand had one of them opened, and another closed it behind him. Punching in the last known coordinates of his fellow team members, Kul'tak sought to regain his balance and composure as the pod ejected from its host. Through the pod's viewing panes, he could see the storm that had formed near the assault site roiling with passion.

Surface of Nicht Ka, 38 ABY

Kul'tak observed with some bitterness that his red skin stood out awfully well on this colorless and desolate planet. He took his hand off the escape pod he'd been leaning on and tried to fight the motion sickness he'd incurred upon reaching the atmosphere. A Sith who gets sick from flight, that'll put the fear of the Brotherhood into those One Sith, he mused.

A few minutes of rhythmic breathing helped get the nausea under control, so the Zabrak attempted to feel for any presences in the small area he could. Nothing, not even any forms of fauna. He had yet to become adept at detecting life forces through his Dark Jedi powers, so it was still possible someone was close by and just keeping themselves hidden with their own power. The only way to find out, though, would be to look for them the old fashioned way. Double checking his gear was still intact, he made his way up the incline the pod had gouged into the Nicht Ka soil. One more scar on a ravaged rock.

On an overhanging crag to the rear of the Zabrak, one of many on the craggy planet, a creature stirred. It's coal-black eyes locked on to the back of the hooded Sith as he made small bounds to cover the incline quicker. Its hide was covered in natural, spiky formations across its back, a tanned hue that helped it blend in with the surroundings. Three of these spikes rose from its face where it might have had a forehead, presenting a carapace-like crest. It was a large creature, standing tall enough and muscular enough to allow a rider on its back should they be able to tame such a beast. It possessed round eyes much like that of a reptile, but features of a mammal stood out as well. It flinched when a small, red-tinged hand placed itself on its flank. A woman's voice carried with the wind of Nicht Ka, a whisper alighting on the breeze as if to spread its message to several others nearby.

“Another Brotherhood mongrel come to play. Go my pets, and show him the hospitality of our Lord Esoteric.” With that the beast huffed before following after the Zabrak, and in two other close locations similar creatures rose from their slumber to obey their master's wishes.

#

Kul'tak decided he had seen enough of this planet, regardless of the fact he'd not been here long. Coming out of the impact area of his pod, he could now clearly see the Hexagonal Fortress several kilometers away, the area around it a raging inferno of blaster fire and concussive blasts. Here and there he could spot tiny glowing beams waving to and fro, most of them heading towards the heaviest patches of energy bolts seeking flesh. The planetary shield around the fortress prevented the patrolling LAATs and bombers from turning the fortress to rubble, but they found ample targets in the defending droids and One Sith forces. At certain defensive positions, anti-infantry towers blasted away with their revolving turrets, threatening to decimate any unit who dared get close. The trenches filled with more droids further reinforced the warning. Getting inside would be no easy task. Thinking back to his studies, Kul'tak knew the Brotherhood had been in worse situations before and come out victorious, but never unscathed. Powerful Sith were hard to replace in short periods of time.

He had begun to step in that direction, hoping to find some clues about his compatriots, when a large force of weight bowled him over. The impact sucked the wind from his diaphragm, causing him to suck in dust when he tried to replenish it. Coughing up nothing but pain in his lungs, the Zabrak rolled over and stood up, only to find a large Akk dog making another pass at him. Normally, he might have taken the time to wonder how he'd not felt the presence of an animal nearby, but seeing that the beast was large enough to deter an unfocused defense he leaped out of its path. Only to smack straight into a second one. Rubbing a now sore head, he rested on his knee as he got the bearings of his situation. Not only were there two of the creatures, but a third one was making its way around a jutting piece of rock connecting to a small mountain. The two before him began to circle as predators who knew they had their prey cornered. Kul'tak had encountered similar traits in his time on Iridonia, a sign the hunter was overly sure of the victory. It had meant the doom of many a would-be-killer of his. His red and black lips arched into a knowing smile. Reaching within himself, he mentally grasped at the creatures' inner selves. He felt his influence cover their wills in a shroud of dark power. The Akks gave a physical shudder at the intrusion to their mind, stopping for a moment in their tracks.

Kul'tak braced his focus as he attempted to penetrate their wills and command them. It was a large surprise when his own will was forced out of all three at the same time, by an unknown power. The weight of it was just too much all at once and he lost all contact with the animals. He fought through the shock and confusion to return his attention to the dogs lest they tear him apart. When his eyes became focused on the real world around him again he realized a woman was now standing before him, the Akks flanking her to either side protectively. Ah, so they had a master already. No wonder I was forced out, she radiates with power. He straightened his bent leg to stand as well. Her pink hair and red-tinted skin revealed her to be Zeltron, slightly shorter than his own athletic Zabrak frame. She appeared to be ready for combat as she was decked out in leather combat boots and loose fitting trousers. A leather jacket clung to her, closed halfway. Belted to her sides were a lightsaber and a handgun of some kind. Kul'tak thought it looked like Merr Sonn tech but wasn't sure. Either way it pointed out that she was a ranged, as well as close, fighter. He'd have to be careful if he wanted to get out of this alive. He pulled back the hood to reveal his horned head, covered in the claw mark tattoos of his family.

“You must be one of the adepts with Esoteric, Janni Kuran. We knew you'd be here, but I didn't think I'd run into one of you out here like this. The beastmaster herself. I wondered why the dogs did not respond to my touch.”

Standing with one hand on a dog, the other on her hip, the adept smiled. “And who would have thought I'd meet a rising beastmaster. After the boring chase of those other dark jedi, I thought my fun would be over, but I see it's just begun. I will enjoy breaking you, Plagueis slave.” At the mention of his clan, Kul'tak winced in surprise.

“You know which clan I'm from? How is that?” The woman threw back her head and laughed aloud.

“It would seem you still have much to learn, journeyman. I can gaze into your eyes and know your very soul itself. I'll admit, yours is somewhat...intriguing. I always have enjoyed meeting others in tune with the force in creatures.”

Without realizing it, Kul'tak relaxed slightly. There was something familiar about the woman, maybe she wasn't as bad as the council claimed she was...

His reverie was put to a stop when a pink fist connected with his shoulder, flinging him to the dirt in a sprawling heap. Janni stood above him, rubbing her wrist.

“I will say this, you Zabrak always have a thick hide. Maybe I'll keep yours and make a new jacket.”

Still unsure what had happened, Kul'tak knew he would have to fight smart to win against such an opponent. Even with his resistance to pain, he had felt that hit rather well. His shoulder pounded with an ache, like the pressure was trying to escape through his skin. With a flick of his legs, he attempted to kick hers from under her. However, they stood firm and absorbed the hit. It felt like kicking a tree. The Krath woman reached down and pulled him upright, only to send him back to the ground with another hit, this one to his other shoulder. Kul'tak imagined being hit by a Star Destroyer would probably hurt less.

He didn't have time to lay around and fret of small things, though. He quickly rolled a couple times and managed to stand up before the flurry came. Kuran came at him with her fists, punch after punch aimed for his upper body joints in a test of his agility he'd never faced before. His master had trained him at breakneck paces, but this adept was at a whole new level. He managed to dodge most of them, but every connected punch slowed him considerably. He continued to weave through her motions as the secret for her style began to reveal itself to him. She was a student of the Broken Gate style, which uses hard hitting punches and kicks to weaken vital parts of the victim's body. There was a chance he could retaliate, but it would take some time. Luckily his stamina had improved through training as well, so he felt he could handle it. The Zeltron obviously wasn't worried about tiring herself out as the punches kept flying and the occasional thrust kick sought to unbalance him. The plus side of his training in the Shadow Fist meant he used less energy to tire his opponent, the perfect style for his assassin-like preferences.

“You know, Sith, with your abilities I would make a great master for you. I'm sure you want to learn to master your attunement with animals, yes? I could help you do that. There's already one traitor amongst your kind, it wouldn't be too difficult to get you safe passage with us.”

Kul'tak wasn't surprised she was able to talk while moving so assuredly still, but he remained focus, striking blows where he could, even though they were not as powerful as hers. His hands sought flesh, reflecting her own attempts with swift repels--

“Wait, what? There's a traitor in the Brotherhood?” Even the slightest loss in focus gave her an advantage, and his falter allowed her to kick one of his knees in with her muscular leg. Falling to one knee, he managed to bring his arms up to block a nasty looking swing that would have crushed him to the dirt. The blow still managed to force him lower and he swore he heard the crack of splintering bone.

“I'm not surprised you weren't aware, journeyman. I suppose since you'll die here it won't hurt to indulge you. Yes, there is a traitor amongst your precious Council. Ha, and they claim us to be so imperfect.”

Kul'tak's head swam with an amalgamation of different emotions: fury, confusion and fear just a few. How could no one have realized?

“Oh well that's quite easy, Sith. You're Academy master, Aabsdu is one intelligent man. It's one of the reasons he was made head of your Academy to begin with. It wasn't difficult for someone like him to play friendly until the time came to strike. Revenge can make a man do things his colleagues could never guess.”

The Zabrak's eyes widened in absolute terror. The traitor was a high ranking member of his own clan! From his beginning as a novice, Kul'tak had seen nothing but teamwork and camaraderie from Plagueis. The headmaster had presented him with a datapad for the Zabrak's accomplishments in his studies himself. To think that such a powerful clan could hide a secret within its depths. Did the corruption end with Aabsdu? He knew he needed to get this information back to his superiors, but his emotions tore between finding his battle team and doing his duty. In the end, news like this would affect more than just Plagueis, it was bigger than that now. His mind was decided. First, howver, he needed to find some way to get by this woman. From what he'd seen, the adept could practically read his thoughts. He was going to have to defeat her in a way even he wouldn't know about. Easier said then done...

“I see you've made up your mind, Sith. Seeing as you won't join me, I will have to kill you. A shame really, I sense you could have been a great beastmaster.” As she swung a leg around high to pummel him into nonexistence, he took the chance to stand up, catching her leg in midair before it could make a full rotation to gather power. Her little hopping dance she did to try and remain balanced might have been amusing, but Kul'tak was now completely focused on his anger and threw the smaller woman, who landed deftly on her feet. He didn't give her time to prepare as he whipped out his armory saber, and attempted to batter her with it. While small, she was quick, and had her own saber in hand in time to block the Zabrak's downward strike. The light from her purple blade gave her skin a creepy dark tone in the shadow of his cloak. His own painted face resembled something from a nightmare, the grimace of his teeth and furrow of his brows all screaming his desire to kill.

Still working on mastering his own lightsaber techniques, Kul'tak was no match for the highly trained adept. She quickly parried a stiff swing and forced the blade from his hands. Stepping inside his reach she reached out with her unarmed hand and quickly closed it around his throat.

“That's it, journeyman? The Brotherhood doesn't train them like they used to it seems. A disappointment really. To think I offered you apprenticeship, too. Ah, well, can't be helped. No wonder your headmaster wants to leave so badly.” At the mention of Aabsdu, Kul'tak felt his rage take over. His insides felt as if they were broiling from within. He was close to the erupting point. Looking for a way out, he attempted to grab her with a free hand but she smacked it with the butt of her saber.

“None of that now. I won't have you trying to touch me pull something sneaky. Try it again and I'll cut it off before I kill you. Just hold still while I get some intel out of you.” Kul'tak could barely breathe, and was beginning to become lightheaded, the pressure in his head building as a warning of its lack of oxygen. Still, he was able to manage a smile.

He managed to expel enough air to croak out, “I'm already touching you.” Her eyes widened when she realized what he meant, and she attempted to let go of him. It was too late, however. He'd managed to cloud his thoughts long enough to build up his anger into a physical form.

During his training with his master, Kul'tak had become fascinated with the use of Force lightning as a tool in battle. No matter how hard he tried, though, he was unable to perfect its accuracy. This led to a break from offensive study to defensive. Most lightning users coalesced the energy within their hands in order to propel it towards an object. After many failed attempts and trips to the Brotherhood's seamstress, Kul'tak had learned a way to change the flow of the lightning's current, forming within the entire body instead of just his hands. In this way, it could be used defensively to send the lightning coursing from the owner into another person. The risk of such a technique required the user to be physically touching their opponent in order for it to work effectively. His master Taranae had received quite a shock when he tested a weakened version of it on her. The beat down she gave him afterward was worth it.

Janni thought she saw a spark zip across one of Kul'tak's eyes as he released the pent up energy within in one last ditch effort to prove himself. It happened fast, starting as a tickle like the presence of static, erupting into a burst of raw electrical power. The woman screamed as the current swept over her, every nerve in her body screaming out against the energy frying them from within. The pull of the electrical current would not allow her to let go, and so she was forced to withstand the full brunt of the assault. Kul'tak felt his energy drain away and the two collapsed beside each other when the charge gave out. He didn't think the lightning had been strong enough to kill her, but she wouldn't be waking up anytime soon. He could kill her here and now and be a hero. If only he could move. He gazed upwards at the sky as a large ammonia cloud rolled towards the fortress. If he didn't move he'd be caught in it.

He suddenly felt extremely tired, and his eyes threatened to close. He knew if that happened he'd be dead. Wait. I should already be dead. Turning his head, he looked for the Krath's Akk dogs, but they had for some reason fled the scene. He wondered if they had felt her pain through their connection and it had been too much for them. It was convenient in any case and he wouldn't complain. All he was worried about was how he was going to get in touch with someone from the Brotherhood and warn them of the danger to its very existence.

“Oh hey there's some one over here.” The sky was suddenly blacked out as a figure stood over him.

“What? Let me see.” A woman pushed her way into the small group that had circled around his body. Long locks of red hair dangled down and tickled his face, but he was too tired to sneeze. She tapped a foot as she realized she recognized him. She was wearing her battle ready face, and even exhausted, Kul'tak couldn't help but feel intimidated by his master.

“Of all the—Kul! I thought I said you were to remain on the ship. This doesn't exactly look like the Ascendency, now does it?”

In his weakened state, it took all his power just to respond.

“I did stay on the ship, Master. Then I decided to come down and pay you a visit. But nevermind that. Aabsdu is a traitor to the Brotherhood.” Everyone in her squad murmured at that, and the lady herself practically recoiled from her apprentice.

“Now where would a claim like that come from, Kul?”

The Zabrak pointed at the woman lying beside him. “She thought I would be an easy kill, so she told me. I'll admit she almost had me, but I remembered my training. I don't think she's dead, so you might can take her to an interrogation team once we get off this rock.”

The Naboo woman relaxed a bit and took on her usual light-hearted tone. “I might just leave you here, for disobeying me. Buuut since you did prove you've been listening to your studies, I'll let this one slide. But dont go thinking you can take on every Krath priestess from here to Antei.” She turned to her squad and began giving out orders, which were quickly followed. She did strike an imposing figure when she set her mind to a task. Soon a LAAT/c appeared to pick them up. Kul'tak figured that would have been dangerous with the anti-air presence, but he realized the skies were relatively quiet. He asked his master what was the state of the battle.

“Ah, well there's a massive ammonia storm headed our way, and we can't risk that many lives getting trapped in it so we're heading back until it passes to begin the assault anew. Now that we know their defenses we can more effectively neutralize them and get inside.” She followed the two troopers loading the body of Janni Kuran onto the LAAT/c with her eyes. “Though, with this new problem, I think the whole war is about to change.” She helped him to his feet and assisted his walk over to the shuttle. It wasn't until they had taken off that he felt like he had forgotten something.

“Oh, Master, were you able to hear any word about Team Dreypa? I heard we lost contact and...well it was the reason I ignored your orders to stay onboard. I had hoped to find them but got distracted.”

“Hm, oh, Dreypa? They ended up being sent back to the Ascendancy ahead of the main force. The battle was a drawn out mess anyway and they were reserves we didn't need until we could punch through the shield. I imagine they would have gotten back not too long after you left if time serves me right.”

She had to catch him when he almost fell out of the LAAT/c.