Lunar Training Faciltiy Arx Minor 40 BBY
Marick Tyris Arconae tapped idly on the datapad as he looked around the Simulation Grid room. Why did this all seem familiar? How long had it been since he had tried, his best, to prepare members of the Brotherhood by testing their mettle in the Combat Center? And yet here he was again, trying in a much different and possibly dangerous way.
The metal sliding doors opened and two members of the Brotherhood entered, both looking around curiously. The first was a very tall Human with a muscular physique. The second was the more familiar white-furred face of Mune Cinteroph.
“Cinteroph, thank you for volunteering,” Marick nodded. “Hector Von Ricmore, I’ve read your files. Impressive,” the former Voice of the Brotherhood nodded respectfully to the Vizslan.
As the two studied the room, the first thing they noted was the muddled, green-hued hexagonal metal plated cubic arena taking up the middle of the rooms floor just behind the Hapan. Along the far wall was a series of lockers, as well as a vending machine. On the opposite side are a set of four transparisteel windows that offer visibility both ways into the Observation area.
“You’ve been briefed on the basics, but I’m here to explain further and answer questions. In short, please place your weapons and armor in the lockers over there. They will be stored securely. You can also leave your armor on if you wish, but the simulation is a full sensory illusion that will let you move freely in space while acting out the scenario.”
“Any damage you take will not be real, but the technology is very new and still being tested. The goal is to be able to provide real scenario training to prepare you for the new threats to the Brotherhood. Any questions?”
Hector took a moment to take in the situation as he returned Marick’s respectful nod. The technology they were to test was of the upmost importance, perhaps the greatest thing the Brotherhood had ever produced. The galaxy was a dangerous and terrifying place; the wild space they inhabited even more so. Simulation technology could be used to properly prepare the Clans for various threats. And if the rumored bleeding effect he had heard about, the risk of sensations and experiences in virtual being felt in reality, could be properly controlled and harnessed then the Brotherhood and safely train and empower their forces without the risk of losing a single sentient in live combat. The Sith had personally never fought besides Mune Cinteroph but the brief dossier supplied by the Exarch’s office painted a pleasing picture. Hector hoped that his companion had also taken the chance to study up on his abilities but he had faith the two of them would work well together.
Mune nodded in greeting to the Hapan. When they heard Marick was looking for volunteers to test some new technology, Mune had put their name forward. Their eyes scanned the room, taking in the fascinating grid. “Happy to be of service, Tyris.”
They were already slipping their lightsabers from the holsters on their lower back. Their jacket hid them from view. They placed both in a locker. The amethyst khukri and sith dagger were next, removed from their thigh holsters and stored. Then came the sapphire blade from its spine sheath. They did not bother removing anything else.
They turned their ruby gaze on Ricmore. The Shista nodded politely and added softly, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Von Ricmore.”
Whether they knew anything about Von Ricmore or not, Mune did not mention. They knew plenty, however. They were an intelligence officer, after all… among other things. Their tail gave a light swish as they walked out to the middle of the floor.
“I assume you are as curious as I am to test out this new technology?” He grinned at Von Ricmore.
Marick nodded. “You’re doing us all a great service. You’ll be able to access the data for yourselves at the conclusion as well to share and use as you see fit. This technology will be protected by the Brotherhood, but not gatekept.
"Step onto the grid when you’re ready. I will be in observation. Cee-Dee, will take care of the rest.”
“` "Greeeetings mortals!” a disembodied robotic voice chirped. “That’s right, that’s right, step on up it’s your lucky day..s.”
“`
C3D3 was one of the most advanced AI’s to come out of the Brotherhood’s research into Children of Mortis technology, second probably only to EDI, from which he was forked from the coding.
Marick sighed a bit as he moved to the lift that lead to the observatory, tapping away at his datapad.
“I am pleased to meet you as well Mune.” Von stated as he placed his weapons in the assigned locker. “I’ve heard of your capabilities with Farsight. Perhaps you would be willing to instruct me in how to decipher the visions at a later date. Marick, I assume it is safe to bring my animal companion onto the grid?”
"Pets, I love pets!" the AI voice exclaimed. "The technology is meant for bipedal sapients. Rest assured, though, your comrade will join in the simulation!"
The statement was a bit worrying, but things would probably work out in the end. If the simulation would handle the presence of his wolf Russ then there was nothing left to do to prepare. Hector stepped onto the grid, ready to face whatever came next.
The White-wolf Oracle grinned toothily, their ruby eyes glinting softly. Did they know how the simulation would turn out? If they did, they did not say one way or the other. “I am sure I could give you some instruction. Certainly, later, though.”
They nodded as the Human joined them. Their curiosity was peaked, eyes studious of the arena. There was no doubt they’d be mentally noting their observations.
“Ready when you are,” Mune called out to Marick.
When the two entered the grid, they became bathed in an almost blinding light as the world around them seemed to fade away. The grid flickered and then where once there was squares and geometric patterns of light, there was…
A forest on a temperate planet. To Von Ricmore, it might have been unfamiliar but Mune Cinteroph recognized it immediately. The Forests of Selen, just outside of Fort Blindshot, where the Children of Mortis had launched their attack on Clan Arcona.
A mountain military based loomed in the distance and seemed under siege. But something felt…wrong in this forest. There was no wild life and it was eerily quiet. Too quiet…
“` CD3D announced in a more formal, routine voice:
<> Battlelord Hector Von Ricmore.
…Biometrics: Confirmed. …Loadout: deploying…”.
<> Adept Mune Cinteroph…
…Biometric scans: confirmed. …Loadout: deploying…
“`
Their armor and weapons, and even Von’s wolf Russ, materialized onto their persons. Even a blink, or a flicker of the eyes and one second there was the body suits and the other they were back in full armaments.
In the distance, just at the edge of their view, they did not need to Force to know that something had appeared and was making its way towards the duo with malicious intent.
Mune scanned the change of environment, their eyes a little wide in astonishment. Reading up on the concept and specs did not prepare one for the actual thing. They sniffed the air, filling their nose with the scent of the forest.
“Impressive,” Mune stated, knowing full well it was quite the understatement in that moment.
They felt a gentle breeze rustle their fur and jacket. The sensory input was beyond incredible. They were not the most tech-savvy but knew enough from their younger brother to know… this was something amazing.
Their ears twitched. They frowned. Where were the creatures? The simulation was far too accurate to have missed something like the native creatures. The sound of birds. The rustle of critters in the brush and trees. They were not alone, Mune realized, and reminded himself then just what it was the facility was built for.
Where are you coming from… Mune thought, eyes searching the deep shadows of the forest.
Hector’s eyes opened wide in astonishment. He knew he was in a simulation but everything felt so real. His armor, his weapons, had the proper weight. He could not feel the body suit that he knew he was wearing in reality. His wolf, Russ, felt like a living, breathing creature. The environment the simulation had formed was alien to him but he did not have to face the trials of this unknown place alone. He looked towards Mune who appeared to be searching for something. Comfortable with allowing his ally to take the lead the Sith drew his alchemical sword from its sheath and waited for any instruction or input.
The silence seemed to be a warning of its own. The threat made its way through the bramble and branches of trees and shrubbery without much need for stealth or subterfuge.
The Children of Mortis converted soldiers trended towards Humans, but in this case, the adversary that approached was of Twi'lek descent. At least they had been…at one point. The blue skin and headtails were all there were really identifiable. Their lithe body moved like a normal body, but was covered in crystalline plating with sharp crystal growths appearing out of most of their joints.
It didn’t bother or seem worried about either of the two new challenges to its presence.
“` "Who’s that Child of Mortis??” C3D3 asked rhetorically.
A pause.
“It’s a Purified Ascendent Trooper. Oh no.” “`
The Ascendent didn’t seem to hear, but did tip its head back, brandish its jagged Sith Sword, and cackled with a dark sound like the voice was rolling through broken glass like a distorted wheeze.
Hector was aware of the fact that when it comes to combat making the first move can be very important. Achieving an advantage over your enemy through striking quickly but ensuring that one did not overextend oneself was a strategy applicable to both larger scale conflicts and individual fights. The Sith felt his body tempature begin to lower as the cold of the Dark Side of the Force flowed through him. He directed this darkness like invisible tendrils towards the mind of the Ascendant trooper; calling upon the Force to drag the Twi’lek’s fears to the surface and paralyze it into inaction. The mental attack connected with the Twi’lek who appeared to be largely unaffected. No doubt the experiments and rituals which produced such a crystal monstrosity gave it an edge in resisting conventional uses of the Force.
The Trooper felt the wave, but tilted its head slightly, like a Loth-cat seeing some new trinket or item of interest and deciding whether it was worth pursuit and attention. Instead it simply laughed again, dark and broken, and let out a silent scream of its own that resonated through the living Force itself.
Glowering at Von Ricmore, the Trooper activated its lightwhip. Florescent light hissed to life, and in the same quick motion it lunged and struck out with like a serpent striking at its pray.
Hector felt a chill in the air. The Dark Side had grow even stronger. He couldn’t help but feel like an animal, prey caught in the gaze of a predator. This feeling was unnatural, a byproduct of the Force. The Sith made use of Force Terror often enough to recognize the power but knowing the source of the unnatural feelings did not aid him in his fight against them. This was a level beyond him, to emit Terror passively as one lives and breathes. It was humbling; that even a simulated enemy could eclipse his strength so thoroughly. Unnerved by his enemy Hector almost didn’t catch the glowing whip hurtling towards him. The Force urged him to move; the human stumbled back as the whip narrowly missed, passing through the space his head once occupied.
Mune made no hasty moves. Instead, they stood their ground. Hector did not need their help right then. The Shistavanen spread their feet and bent their legs slightly, getting into a loose battle stance. Their center of gravity lowered, Mune drew both lightsabers from within their jacket and held them at the ready. Waiting silently to burst to life at a moment’s notice.
Their breaths were slow, and even, the dark aura that permeated the air affected them far less than it could have. The terror the creature’s aura induced, seeped like an infection into the recesses of the Shista’s mind. Mune’s will pushed back against it, calling up the memory of the serene, snow-blanketed orchards of their youth. Awash in the Force, they waited. Opened to its ebb and flow, their body thrummed with it.
The Arcanist watched and waited. Mind analyzing, eyes studying, and already thinking about how to get around that diseased aura.
Hector’s eyes flashed yellow as his mind melded with Russ. Two hearts beat in sync as ground rules were laid out. The two legged crystal was prey. The white furred two legged and black haired two legged were pack. The Sith loosened his hold on the Wolf and lunged forward swinging his alchemical blade in an arc. The Twi'lek made no motion to dodge or block, allowing the blade to scrape harmlessly across its crystaline form as it opened its maw of jagged teeth in a twisted approximation of a smile. The human stepped back and raised his blade in a guard.
“` The Ascendent laughed again at the feeble attempt. Bolstered in its confidence, he pointed at the furred-one and started to cast a sphere of darkness. The Father demanded it…
But the Shistavanen was ready, having bided their time for the right moment to strike.
As they launched in to close the range between them and the Trooper, Mune stumbled over an upturned root.
He fell prone, but the sphere of darkness seemed to coast over their head where they were supposed to be standing.
Then it flexed the fingers of its right hand, headtails twitching with crystals protruding, and a stone unlodged itself and hurled it at the pesky Human.
The rock, however, flew way wide and over Von Ricmore.
It sneered at its bad luck. ”`
Mune placed their palms flat on the ground and levered themself up. They hadn’t intended to become intimate with the forest floor by any means. It seemed fate had other plans, however. With upturned eyes, they focused on the enemy. The Force itself, though, seemed to be laughing at Mune’s folly in that moment. They reached for one of the powers they made little use of and the power escaped them altogether.
With a muttered curse, Mune rose completely to their feet and wiped some dirty from their nose. Perhaps the perfect first impression to give Von Ricmore… A Shistavanen that takes a lay down in the middle of combat.
“I was just… confirming how real the soil feels. They missed nothing in the making of this simulation…” Mune announced, trying for cheery; sounding embarrassed.
Russ knew two things for certain: pack was in danger and it was time to hunt. He bolted forwards, leaping and lunging towards the shiny two legged one. Claws scraped crystal and his jaw closed shut around hard, brittle, bleh instead of the familiar taste of flesh. Releasing its jaw the Wolf backed up and growled in frustration at the denial of its meal.
Hector Von Ricmore thoughts raced. If he couldn’t best his foe physically then he would have to keep picking away at its mental defenses. Reaching out through the Force the SIth did not merely stoop to ordering the Ascendant, he attempted to forcefully take control of its body and drive the blade it held into its flesh. Hector could feel the Dark Side pur in anticipation at the attempt, sending a shiver of pleasure up his spine for seeking the subjugation and injury of his foe.
“` The Ascendent sneered as it felt its body being compelled to…do something it did not intend. It found itself taking its own Sith Sword and angling the point at itself. It slowly pressed the pointed tip and drove it into the part of its remaining fleshy thigh that wasn’t covered in crystals. It hissed in pain and sneered as it felt the agony course through it.
And then it stopped, regaining control and walling off the influence of the Human. It pulled the blade free, and, beneath the crystalline formations around its body, started to knit the wound closed. ”`
“` The Ascendent Trooper sneered and let out a shout of fury. It converted that raw primal power into energy through the Force, twisted and distorted it. His extended one hand and forked its fingers like talons around the hilt of its sword, and unleashed a storm of Force Lightning that arc’d out towards all three of its attackers.
"Per…ish!” “`
Hector held out his blade to absorb the lightning. In the chaos of the moment he had forgotten something important, his Sith sword was metal and metal conducted electricity. The blue lightning traveled up the blade and into Hector who began to convulse and scream in agony, dropping his blade to the ground in shock. At the same time blue lightning forked into Russ who twitched and fell to the ground with a sharp yelp.
Mune saw the initial surge of energy. They reacted on instinct, grasping at the Force and thrusting it forward to coalesce into a protective wall of power. They knew something was wrong immediately. For a moment, the calm of their mind became a raging blizzard that engulfed them. The Force snapped back, the barrier like so much fractured glass instead of a sturdy barricade against the ferocity of their foe’s assault.
The yelp exploded from them. The lightning made contact and dropped them to their knees as spasms racked their body. They grit their teeth, vision swimming. They tasted copper at the back of their tongue.
Ears back, they focused. Unwilling to waver. Within their place of calm, they planted themself. Ruby eyes narrowed, vision snapping back into sharp focus. The Force responded, and their nerves ceased screaming in pain. On the other hand, their tail fur required brushing, fluffed out awkwardly from the shock.
They slowly rose, lips pulling back in a menacing growl. Hackles raised, their fur bristled for another reason other than the nasty zap they received. They were getting angry.
With hands that shook slightly Hector drew his lightsaber from his hip, igniting the crimson blade. He knew the group needed breathing room and had a good way of making some. Gathering the Dark Side within him he once again sent a tendril of dark energy towards the abomination. Hopefully its fears would keep it at bay long enough for the group to recover.
“` The Ascendent hissed and reared back as if stepping on hot coals. While fear was not something it recognized, it simply knew, primally, that it has to back off a distance.
This gave the two Brotherhood members some breathing room. For now. ”`
“` Then, it reached out through the Force and, safely from a distance, levitated two large boulders and then sneered a guttural grunt as it hurled each bolder at one of the two Brotherhood pests.
"Die…”
“`
“No, you…” Mune growled out under their breath.
They called, and the Force responded. It responded as they willed it, unlike it had since the beginning of the battle. They may have been angry, but the anger was held at arm’s length. They dropped their center of gravity and braced themself, feet apart. They could see from the corner of their eye that Ricmore would not escape the boulder’s path in time.
The Force pulsed through them. They let out a breath, and with it, the Force gathered and coalesced. Woven were its strands; within an instant, the protective wall surged outwards to forge a barricade between the Brotherhood members and their enemy. The boulders struck and the barrier rippled. The ripples spread outwards, the force of the impact making the wall shudder violently.
The Shistavenen ground their teeth, ears back, eyes narrowed. Focus. Their mind was focused on the sole purpose of maintaining the barrier in those seconds. Their tail was rigid behind them, and the muscles of their legs strained as if they were physically holding the barricade in place.
The energy dispersed across the surface, and as the ripples melted back into the barrier’s surface, the boulders slid down to crash into the ground at its base. So too did Mune exhale sharply. The Arcanist held their bastion steady so Ricmore and Russ could recover.
“Unpleasant fellow, this one,” Mune called out to the Human.
“Unpleasant indeed.” Hector responded as he took the chance to catch his breath. The Sith watched Russ climb back to its paws, the wolf making its way behind the barrier. Hector looked back to the creature. He could feel the fear roiling in his gut, a byproduct of the aura surrounding the creature. But this fear was caused by something that wasn’t even real and he refused to let it hold him back any longer. Hector immersed himself in the Dark Side; filling himself with hatred. Hate for the creature which imposed such weakness upon him. Hate for himself, for being weak enough to be intimidated by falsehoods. “You have no power over me.” Hector declared to the creature as he raised his blade with hands which no longer shook.
“` The Ascendent hissed at the defiance. In that defiance, it found rage. The Dark Side whispered, but the light of the Father spoke louder. Rage lead to anger, hate, and then POWER.
With a surge of distorted energy, the Ascendent draw its lightsaber finally, and shifted its Sith Sword to the other hand. With a broken roar like shattered glass split the forest, it lets its rage consume it and bolted forward with preternatural speed.
Its lightsaber struck with such terrible Force that Mune’s barrier was not able to hold. As it fizzled out, the creature swung its Sword at the now exposed Von Ricmore.
The Human did not fear it? So be it. Then it must be CRUSHED. ”`
The human attempted to parry the incoming blow, his crimson lightsaber colliding with the creature’s blade. Hector was not prepared for the power behind the blow, which pushed his saber aside and slammed into his armor.
Mune felt the Barrier give the instant the monster crashed through it. It was like so much shattered glass. The shock of the blow lanced through their skull. The Shistavanen bristled, and reflexively, they reached for the Force. They saw the creature swing and saw Ricmore take the blow upon his armour. Luckily the hit was not more serious.
“You dropped something!” Mune yelled at the beast.
The Force responded to Mune’s beckoning. A hand out, they grasped one of the boulders with their mind. Their head pounded, and their vision swam. That’s not right, they thought through the ache. The boulder lifted, but rather than flying through the air at the enemy, the boulder flew at the Shista.
Mune yelped and dropped to the ground with their hands over their head. The boulder sailed over them with a resounding crash and into the trees beyond. Their ears burned with embarrassment.
Having recovered from the hit the Sith once again rushed the creature with lightsaber in hand. He swung towards the creature intent on ending the menace once and for all. The monstrosity was unfazed, causally parrying blow after blow with its own saber. Deciding to help its master, Russ the wolf pounced on the mutated Twi'lek. The Ascendent caught the teeth of the wolf on his blade and causally threw the wolf away with a swing of his arm; not concerned at all by the failed assault made by the duo.
“` The Ascendent sneered and with a blood thirsty rage and lack of regard for anything other than inflicting damage and pain, it struck out with its sword at Von Ricmore, while reaching out towards the Shistavanen with the Force, trying to get ahold of their neck and choking off the air flow….
"Per..ish…” it hissed.
“`
Von blocked the swing with his saber, struggling against the monster. The creature brought forth its full strength. The lightsaber was forced upwards as the sword slammed into Von’s torso, shattering armor and bruising the flesh beneath.
Mune’s eyes widened when they felt the creature’s grip around their throat. The Force curled phantom fingers around their larynx. They struggled to take a full inhalation of breath, but their lungs found little to fill them. The Shistavanen reached for the Force once, felt it slip from their grasp and began to panic.
Control yourself! They mentally screamed at themself.
They grasped for the Force again, calming enough to draw upon it and will it to build within their body. With a strangled growl, they built that power until with a surge from within, the invisible grasp upon them was shaken. Force back was the monster’s power.
Mune gasped. Their eyes saw the loose dirt under the creature’s boots. On instinct, they lashed out with the Force. Leaves and dirt and soil surged up in a mess of debris. The screen of debris intended to obfuscate and give Russ and Ricmore the opportunity they needed.
With ample time to recover the duo rushed the monster once again. Russ darted left and right around the creature but did not commit to a lunging bite. Taking advantage of the distraction, Hector tore off the remains off his chest piece. Having committed to ending the battle one way or another he unleashed a flurry of saber strikes, neglecting defense entirely in favor of striking a killing blow, or affording his allies the opportunity to do the same.
The Ascendent reeled backward with a hiss, its rage blinding it from thinking very clearly.Its armor held, but it was driven back, and its movements did seem to be slowing.
“` With a sneer, it lashed out with a torrent of Force Lightning at Von and Mune.
"PERISH” “`
.
“` Perish would be the last words the Ascendent muttered.
Falling into sync with one another, Mune managed to throw up a barrier just in time. It fizzled and
But somehow, Mune had seen this happen before. A farsighted vision, subconsciously triggered. Always in motion, the future was, but sometimes beats and moments aligned.
"Hector!” the Shistavanen called out.
Hector felt compelled by something. A greater synergy through the Force.
Something was WRONG about this creature, and the living Force wasn’t having it. Also, the creatures rage seemed to be having its drop off point.
Von Ricmore managed to get his Bilari Electro-chain Whip out. While his wolf, flashed in their peripheral.
Force Lightning crashed against Mune’s barrier.
Russ, managed to distract the creatures attention with a teeth-gnashing strike that it managed to feint and retreat before the Ascendent could strike it.
And then Von Ricmore’s weapon linked around the Ascendents neck, coiled, and tightened like a serpent. “`
The creature cried out in horror and rage but it couldn’t move. Mune smartly dropped their barrier, and moving on instinct moved with serenity and purpose and drove their lightsaber into the creatures face. Straight through it, so the plasma blade jutted out behind it.
The creature slumped, slouched, and then crumbled away into shattered particles of shard.
"SIMULATION COMPLETE. Congratulations, bipeds, you have solved my Ascendent Trooper puzzle!" a robotic voice droned cheerfully.
The simulation faded out and all of a sudden the mountains and forest disappeared.
Marick entered from the door at the side just as the room became boring, bland, and just as it had been before the simulation.
"Clever thinking,” the Exarch nodded. “Great work.”