Midnight Reading(Open, looking for a Master)

[Baralai Lotus]

Baralai walked the large halls of The Sith Order, scanning its large columns and ornate stones that gave the hall its amazingly powerful feeling. The moon was high this evening, being that it was approaching two in the morning. Baralai didn't sleep much, but he was used to studying.

He was headed for the library and as he was walking he began to feel slightly winded. His chest cramped slightly and coughed hard, coughing up nothing. As he was coughing he pulled another cigarette from his coat and lit it up, taking a deep inhale. His coughing calmed and he continued walking.

He reached the Sith Library and looked at the massive amounts of books that were held within its many shelves. Volumes upon volumes of works. . .surely there was something about Alchemy within one of these books. And, since Baralai had no master, he would read about the Sith ways. There had to be a book that taught one how to use the force, how to do it without the help of anyone. After all, someone had to discover it first. . .

Baralai began to walk the halls of the library and pulled books that he found interesting. He pulled several different titles. From everything to Force Sensitives to Sith History. There were books on everything within these walls, and the knowledge was at his finger tips. The knowledge that was indeed power and would help him acheive the goal he so desired.

After grabbing several different books he went and sat down, pulling the top most book and beginning to read. It was a book on the history of the Sith Wars and it led up to the present. Within an hour, he was halfway through the book, which was in no way small. He still had several titles to read before he woud leave however.

[Sasha Kovalev]

Sasha had been there for a few hours now. The lingering scent of smoke had carried into the library perhaps about an hour ago or so. Maybe more, maybe less. He had glanced up from his reading for only a brief moment at the entry and then turned back to it. It was interesting to find the notes that had been kept on him while he had been not only a member, but while he had been with the Black Hand and then on Balmorra. The notes were fewer and far between, but they were still there. To some degree it was a bit disconcerting to know that his every move was on file somewhere. In another way it was maybe comforting to know that the place he called home had kept tabs on him in his absence.

It was not surprising to see a new face. He had been absent for a few years and only recently returned. New faces were common these days to Sasha and he did not give them much more than a brief pause to commit them to memory. His first distinct memory of this person in the library with him was the scent of smoke that had carried in. Sometimes a smoker himself it was not an unwelcome scent, but it had been somewhat distracting for a moment or two. It had given him a moment to decide whether to leave the library to smoke or to forego the break for a bit.

He had chosen to remain for a bit to finish reading the notes he had come to find. And having finished that task he was prepared to make his way back to his quarters and crash for the night. In the morning he would go and find Lady Vader, his master. He had a few questions for her about some of the observations that had been placed in those files. But something stopped him as he passed by the member of the order perusing one among a pile of books. It was not anything overly distinct that gave him reason to pause, but there was a feeling of question. The feeling of questions lingering there and not yet answered.

Violet eyes settled upon his brother of the order. Sasha’s face bore a serious sort of expression. It was not unfriendly, but it was not altogether inviting, either. This was perhaps out of habit, for Sith tended to be loners and not the most friendly or trusting of individuals.

“I’m heading out for a smoke if you want to join me.” This was as much of an invitation as anyone would get from him. He had been trained by Lady Vader, had taken some time to explore the other beliefs out there in the galaxy, and finally returned to where his head and the force demanded he be. Back where his anger had the appropriate outlet. He had much to offer, but was not a braggart who would run about spewing forth his knowledge. Rather he was one who chose to lead by actions and examples. Understated, perhaps.

[Baralai Lotus]

Baralai looked up from his books to see the figure before him. He smirked at the newcomer. It was a pleasure to see someone else in the library, someone who smoked was even better.

Baralai bent the corner of the page and closed the book. Pushing back his chair as he stood up, he pulled his cigarette pack out from his coat and started motioning for the door. With a cigarette half-dangling from his mouth, Baralai introduced himself.

"Baralai Lotus, Sith Apprentice, future alchemist. So then, who are you stranger and what are you doing in the library?"

[Sasha Kovalev]

"Baralai Lotus, Sith Apprentice, future alchemist. So then, who are you stranger and what are you doing in the library?"

Though only a few words had been spoken, much information had passed between them. Sasha was introspective and did not immediately react to respond to the statements or questions. Rather, when he spoke, it would be a deliberate response. Some time ago he might have been more rash. Had, in fact, been that way. But life’s lessons had taught him the power of patience – the hard way, mostly. From making a mistake that cost him his own hand to destroying a relationship with a mentor with a few angry, drunken words. He had learned. And he would not make those mistakes a second time.

So, apprentice. He could easily recall the feeling of being an apprentice. Of having so many questions unanswered, of wanting to know the secrets to harnessing the power of the dark side, of desiring an outlet for anger, and being impatient to gain power. Even now, though a knight, he had those feelings, for there was always more to learn. Always there was a desire to know more of power, to know more of the secrets of the force. Never would this cease. But it was tempered. It was trained, this desire. Trained to obey his command.

Future Alchemist. Sasha had allowed the faintest of smiles at this. He was by no means an alchemist himself, but he had certainly studied the different philosophies related to the dark side. Alchemy he knew as a form of spiritual and or physical transformation. Of the physical he was less inclined or interested. But in the spiritual he was a bit more informed. Basic studies of it brought to mind the idea of self transformation of the soul, of bringing it to its purest form akin to gold. A first thought regarding purity had almost made him dismiss the idea of alchemy as a credible course of study. But further readings had introduced the idea of the ‘shadow of the sun’, an alchemic reaction, and this had interested him.

The idea that the dark side represented all that one refused to acknowledge about themselves, and that if one encountered this shadow, this dark side and those primal, built in needs were then imprisoned by societal standards, an alchemic reaction would take place. That in some, a self transformation might occur. And then the interpretation of purity came into place.

Some would consider a pure soul to be one without sins upon it. Sasha had translated the idea of purity of soul to mean truth to oneself, acceptance of what one truly was. If indeed his soul had those urges, had those dark desires that most would not acknowledge, if he could acknowledge these things, could accept them, could let them lead him and not imprison them with societal expectations, he would become one with the dark side. His soul would be pure, then, akin to the most treasured of precious metals. And with purity would come power.

He did not limit himself to such a philosophy, but he was open to it as a means of attaining the power that he desired.

As they left the library, he too, had reached for a smoke.

And that was when he chose to address the questions asked of him. His true name was Alexander Millard. It had been the name given to him at birth and modified when his mother had fled with him to be free of the Templis Cult, a group that his father had once joined and died in while attempting to defect. He had been known by the name of Sasha Kovalev for so long now, and by those at the Sith Order, that it was the name he would likely die by. Though his uncle called him by his birth name.

“I am called Sasha.” He had responded, giving no more information than necessary. Not because he felt it proprietary information, but because he had his own conflicts about what he truly preferred to be called. He was angry with his uncle at the moment, yet still could not refuse to acknowledge that he was in fact, a Millard.

“I am a knight of the order and apprentice to Lady Vader.” Though he had been knighted it did not mean that he did not still call lady Vader his master. It was she who had taught him and she who would continue to mentor him long after he had advanced in the ranks. The title of knight did not speak for all of his experiences, for he had left the Sith Order for some time to join a band of Dark Jedi called the Black Hand, and then moved on to spend some time on Balmorra learning from a Dark Jedi Master named Wargrave. In due time he would be given the rank reflective of his accomplishments. He was in no hurry, for he was confident in his skills and now that he had returned would in time prove to his master that he was deserving.

“What generated your interest in Alchemy?” He asked, for it was not a subject that he often heard mentioned. He did not mean to avoid answering the question of what he had been doing in the library, but he considered it no ones business of his own, given the nature of what he had been reading. And rather than be rude to a brother of the order, he chose to move on.

[Baralai Lotus]

Baralai smirked and looked over at Sasha, "There are many tales that lead to my interest. For most people, I simple tell them I thirsted for knowledge, but for you my friend, I will make an exception." Baralai took a drag from his cigarette and looked into Sasha's eyes, reading him, trying to make a connection for the story he was about to tell.

"You see," he uttered, blowing smoke from his lips, "I took an interest in power to begin with. I was always interested in life as a child, and when I realized humans had the power to heal life, I took an interest in medical science. But, as I aged, I realized something greater." Baralai's eyes lit up with a fiery magnificence. He recalled the days he discovered alchemy and the years he spent studying the basics.

"I discovered the ability to creat life, to reanimate the flesh. And through even more studies I discovered the Sith were once the greatest at this art. This drive for more knowledge and power kept me going. But I needed my first guinea pig, I needed somewhere to get dead tissue from. That is when I found her." He smirked and took another drag from his cigarette.

"She was beautiful and she loved me, so she did whatever I pleased. And what made it even more beautiful, she was a masochist. 'Get on the table,' was all I had to say and she would do it. She would love the pleasure I gave her, little too late did she realize I had begun stealing her organs. I got the pleasure from knowing more about her and she got the pleasure from the pain." He chuckled softly and and blew the smoke from his nose. This was his favorite part of the story to tell, there were always such amazing reactions at that point.

"She died, but her organs went to use. I used all of them that I could. Stomach, liver, heart, lungs, anything. The first four experiments failed misserably, it wasn't until the final one, when I discovered the secret. A reanimated human, but only the organs. That is how I made Victor. He carries human organs, eats like a human, but. . .he is under my control. He has a robotic mind, their strength and their willingness to do anything their master asks." He began to laugh as he threw his cigarette into the air, not caring where it landed.

"Then, Victor and I travelled, killing the sinners for more knowledge and power. For those my friend are the only constant in this universe. To gain more knowledge and power there must be pain and suffering however. I realized this at an early age and came here, knowing the Sith would give me what I needed." He looked at Sasha, doing his best to read his reactions.

"You see, in a few years, I will be the greatest alchemist ever, unafraid to sacrifice anything I need for power. But then, no one will call me by this name. They will all know me as Darth Ouroboros. The Sith Lord who caused suffering for himself, but never did he fall from power. I am the eternal serpent." He laughed insanely until he began to cough. He pulled another cigarette out and lit it up, taking a small drag.

"So then," he said as the cigarette half dangled from his lips, "what's your story?"

[Sasha Kovalev]

He had shifted his gaze momentarily to look at his new acquaintance as they walked. There was much to be gleaned at times from studying the expressions of someone, though he was more likely to trust his feelings than a first glance. And something told him that this one was a live wire. This one was truly crazy. It was not only the tales Sasha heard moments later, but it was the maniacal laughter, the pride in his voice at the tale that he told, the arrogance that seemed to drip off of the man like freshly fallen drops of dew. Something warned Sasha to be wary perhaps, of this one. Or at least aware. He did not fear Baralai. Rather it was that despite this man being a brother in the order, he did not trust him. And instantly he could understand why it was that upon his return Lady Vader had insisted upon him having an escort. The primal need, the urge to protect. For he felt it now, the instant feeling of defense of the Order.

At times Sasha felt that perhaps he was the only sane one of them all. His master had asked strange things of him at times, the others had tales equally as disturbing as Baralai’s. All of them, all of them had a blatant disregard for any life that was not theirs.

Briefly he wondered if he, too, was truly like this at the core.

His smoke did not burn so quickly as Baralai’s. Neither did he suck the smoke in as if it would give him wind for an eternal life. Rather he enjoyed it, taking a drag, tasting the smoke there upon his tongue, within his throat, feeling the heat of it as it settled in his lungs, and then he exhaled.

“That depends on the author.” He replied as the question was asked of him as to what his story was. And truly it did. Ask Lady Vader and she would have one response. Ask his Uncle, who would have yet another. Ask…well, there were any number of people that could be asked the story of his life. And all of them would have a different response.

He took another drag, inhaling fully, and then exhaling, blowing the smoke off away from the one he walked with.

“I found my way here after the death of my mother and spent some time learning from Lady Vader. Took a few years away to study the ways of the dark jedi and have recently returned to the Order to keep a promise I made to my master some time ago.”

A promise to be loyal to the Order. To be loyal to the ways of the Sith. A promise he had made when she had ordered him to cut off his own hand, a hand that had touched the blood of a jedi in a pact of friendship, to cleanse himself of sins against the order. And in doing so, he had promised to honor the ways of the Sith. He had deviated from that path, perhaps, in learning from a dark jedi for some time – at least, in the eyes of Lady Vader. He did not believe he had ever been disloyal – had only taken the time necessary to become a more knowledgeable student. To learn ways and methods the Sith could not have taught him. To know, once and for all, that at the core, this was the way the force called to him. Through the Dark side. Through the beliefs of the Sith.

His story was not so detailed as his companion. Perhaps at some point in the future he would reveal more. Certainly if prompted, he likely would.

“You,” He stated after giving his brief story, which was, truly, very brief for all that he had experienced in his thirty something years of life, “Are ambitious.”

It might have sounded somewhat like a scolding. As if he disapproved, maybe. This was not the case. He entirely approved of ambition. But as a teacher, as one who had taught apprentices of his own, he approved of ambition that was realistic. For those who were not realistic were always thinking too many steps ahead, and never had their heads in the present, focused on the skills needed as a foundation from which to launch those ambitions.

[Baralai Lotus]

Baralai looked at Sasha with darkened eyes, taking another drag from his ciggarette. "Ambitious maybe, but," he stopped and twirled his fingers as if he held the universe in his hands, "with patience and willpower, ambition can make one a God, wouldn't you agree Mr. Kovalev?" Baralai smirked and stood up, his whole form basking in the light of the moon.

Baralai looked over at Sasha, "You know, ever since I came to this order I have seen great power. Such a wonderful use of life, people truly living for their dreams. That is the key to everything, power and knowledge. Without those, they're is nothing. No order, no anything. It all crumbles. And as an alchemist and a Sith, I have such great power. The power to create life. . .and just as easily take it away. It is truly wonderful." Baralai smiled as he took another drag off the cigarette. There was nothing quite like knowing one's own power, and although Baralai's was limited, he knew that it would one day be great.

[Sasha Kovalev]

Was it a wry expression that had crept over his features at the suggestion that ambition tempered with patience and willpower could make one a God. He supposed that maybe, in some circumstances it could – in the eyes of a particular beholder. God-like was perhaps more what Sasha believed. But that was a philosophical debate and depended entirely upon your point of view of Gods, how they were created, what they were, if they even existed. He took a last drag of his smoke before stubbing out the butt of it. He held onto this until he found a suitable place for which to dispose of it. Always conscious of the Order and maintaining all that was Holy and Pristine about it. The only litter to be found there by him would be the blood of a traitor to the Order.

And, while Sasha did not share the same ambitions as Baralai, he could at the very least understand the love for power. It was not the title of master that Sasha sought, but what lay beneath such a title – complete mastery of the force, of the dark side and the rush, the adrenaline it could provide when employed and made to do ones bidding. He cared nothing for titles, and his rank as a knight meant nothing to him. It meant, of course, that those in the Order found him fit and deserving of the title, this was of course an honor, but in the grand scheme of things, he cared little about the awards and more about the personal rewards that his own ambition, his own willpower, his own patience had brought to him.

“I was warned once as an apprentice not to let the lust for power devour me.”

This was true. When he had been younger and when he had been more easily frustrated he had sometimes walked a fine line between a desire to reach a particular point and the possibility of destruction of himself.

“You are already a step ahead of most if you are truly able to recognize the need for patience and willpower.”

Eyes such an odd shade of blue that they were sometimes considered a hue of violet focused upon his comrade as the light from any one of the seven moons that orbited Korriban looked down upon them.

“Have you sought out a master yet?” He asked, wondering who it was, who the match for this one would be. It was important, the bond between master and apprentice. Sasha had begun with one master and the relationship had been such an odd one. such an absent one that it had only led Sasha down a dangerous path. One that his current master, Lady Vader, had saved him from.

[Baralai Lotus]

Baralai looked over at Sasha, "I am currently looking for one, should one wish to take me." Baralai smirked and took a slow drag from his cigarette, this time, letting the smoke roll on his tounge. Tasting the carcinogens on his palette. This was his guilty pleasure. . .and he loved it.

He looked back at the seven moons of Korriban, floating listlessly in the sky. As they floated in the air, suspended by strings of cosmos, Baralai took one last puff of his cigarette, exhaled the smoke, and watched it dance between the several moons.

[Sasha Kovalev]

Sasha had maybe allowed the faintest of expressions of amusement as the suggestion that Baralai was looking for a master – if one would have him. He would not have been admitted had they not seen something in him worthy of spending the time and effort to train him in the ways of the Sith, in the powers of the dark side. Someone would have him for a master. Most certainly someone would.

“What is it you are seeking in a master?” The knight of the Sith asked as he considered smoking one last cigarette. It was not like him to chain smoke for the sake of chain smoking. With him, the habit was brought on from drinking, or because he was deep in thought over something. Such as earlier this evening when he had been reading the records that had been kept on him.

[Baralai Lotus]

Baralai looked at Sasha, "Someone strong, who knows power when they seek it. But, they need goals. They cannot lie around with no place to go. . .that is sinful. Idle hands are the devils. You have to do something. They must beleive there is no barrier between good and evil, that these are only frames of mind. For as I have said, power and intelligence are the only constants in this world."

Baralai smirked, "I need a master who is willing to teach one who will someday be great. I am hopefull that someone will teach me. After that, I wish to pursue my studies into Alchemy even deeper."

[Sasha Kovalev]

Good and evil being frames of mind was an interesting concept. Wasn’t creating them as frames of mind creating a barrier between the two? For you would have to be in one frame of mind or the other. Unless you were one of multiple identities all at once. And in that case, you were probably a little crazy. But then, Sasha had pegged this one as somewhat of a loose cannon from the beginning, anyway, so such a concept did not seem all that surprising.

“Are you suggesting that they are different frames of mind, or rather than neither good nor evil exists?” He questioned, interested to hear what this alchemist had on his mind. It was a late night discussion and possibly one to be had at a different hour when both had had a good night of sleep. But perhaps such discussions were best had at this time of the night, for that was about the only time they really made sense.

He was not ignoring the other statements of Baralai, he had taken them in, considered them, and would address them at a later time.

[Baralai Lotus]

Baralai smirked and looked at Sasha, "They don't exist. They're barriers that people put up to distinguish differences in time. In my studies of ancient history I discovered it was fine to posess many wives or the sacrifice of humans in some cultures." Baralai rolled the cigarette over his fingers and flicked it into the moonlight.

"You see, now those things are murder and polygamy. Evil things, but back then, they were holy. What makes them different? The frame of mind. . .that makes everything different. And the boxes of good and evil the world restricts on itself are sinful. Sinners ignorance should be purged, and I take it upon myself to purge them." Baralai looked over at Sasha as a wave of complaceny came over his entire being.

"Why do you ask?" He said with a slight grin on his face.

[Sasha Kovalev]

Baralai’s explanation made a bit more sense now. And in that context it seemed that the entire galaxy would have to readjust its frame of mind. For currently there were those who believed in the Empire, with one frame of mind, those who believed in the rebellion and had another frame of mind, those who did not quite fit into either category, and, well, the Sith, for they too, had their own frame of mind. Had their own unique view of the galaxy and they way it should be run. What was right and what was wrong.

It was too bad the acolyte had that smirk upon his face all the time. The smug expression occasionally made it difficult to accept the words for what they were. Instead it sometimes made the listener want to wipe that smirk right off the speaker’s face, for it seemed a bit condescending, and entirely all too cocky.

It reminded him briefly of a time when another Sith had turned upon him to teach him a lesson. It had been back when he had been a bit more innocent and the lesson had been to teach him of the darkness that he entered. To some degree Sasha drew a parallel here, for this man seemed to think himself so above and beyond all of them with his talk of what was a sin, or sinful. Perhaps he deserved a lesson about casting stones – learning that his own damn frame of mind might need a bit of adjusting itself.

But he refrained, for he was suffering a probationary period, and was not foolish enough to in any way endanger the final decision. He knew it was frowned upon to fight within the Order and would not have wanted anyone to mistake a lesson for unfounded aggression against a brother. And besides, in time, the one who took this man to be his apprentice would likely teach his own lessons.

“I ask because your concept is an interesting one. I would be wary of assuming your ways are the only way – that your frame of mind is the only one devoid of sin.” He offered the slightest of shrugs, “But you’ll learn your own lessons.”

He moved to stand near the ledge, his mechanical hand coming to rest upon the cold, smooth stone and turned back to Baralai.

“For all your talk of ambition and of idleness being a sin, you are slow to seek out one who can forward your ambitions.”

This was Sasha’s way of saying that he who lives in a glass house should perhaps not be casting stones. For all of Baralai’s talk of ambition, of the traits his master should have, of the traits others should have, it seemed that maybe he wasn’t holding himself to this standard.

[Baralai Lotus]

Baralai looked Sasha over, "Slow to seek out one? Nonsense, I am simply seeking the perfect candidate. They will come to me, fate my dear friend, always works out for the fated." Baralai chuckled softly and walked to the banister.

"I may seem idle as of now, but do you see the books that lie within the temple? Thos are how I learn and how I have learned for years. Should no master take me, I will do my best to learn from those books." He smirked slightly, "You seem to have forgotten one key word from our conversation. Patience. . .patience is just as much the key as the ambition. You have to be patient to reach your goal. Do not think me unwise Sasha, you will find yourself terribly dissapointed." Baralai laughed, almost mockingly, at Sasha. He smirked and brushed the hair from his face.

Pushing himself up onto the banister and sitting down softly upon it, he pulled another ciggarette from his pack. "What interesting conversations one can have at two o'clock in the morning."

[Sasha Kovalev]

”Slow to seek out one? Nonsense, I am simply seeking the perfect candidate. They will come to me, fate my dear friend, always works out for the fated."

Sasha snorted in disapproval of this concept. Your fate was what you made it. And waiting around for Fate to take care of everything only displayed to him an indifference and lack of ambition.

Yes, patience was important. Necessary, even. But there was a very big difference between being ambitious and being impatient. One was a hard working attitude tempered with the ability to understand it would take time to reach a goal, the other was a short-sighted inability to bear through the time it took to accomplish some things.

His teeth grit together, grinding perhaps in his efforts to tolerate such a foolish conversation.

Talk of learning from books…..there was only so much to be learned from a lesson in a book. And he knew this all too well. He knew the power the dark side could wield – had used it upon others, but more importantly, he had had it used upon him. By Mu, by Live Wire, by his former master Lord Dyzm, by his current Master Lady Vader, by the Dark Jedi Maester Wargrave. And those were far better lessons, far more thorough lessons than any book could ever possibly provide.

But that sort of talk could be tolerated. Sasha considered Baralai ignorant to believe that he could learn as much from a book as he could from a true master of the force. Ignorance he could maybe deal with. But what truly got to him was the irritating laughter and the smug suggestion that Sasha would find himself disappointed for thinking Baralai unwise.

Unwise, no.

Foolish, perhaps, to think he could learn everything from a book. To think it wise to mock one of his brothers in the order. To mistake tolerance for the sake of the Order for a weakness.

"What interesting conversations one can have at two o'clock in the morning."

Violet eyes gazed seemingly impassively through the moonlight towards Baralai. He considered just leaving it well enough alone and leaving. But for the sake of his new brother in the Order, to help him to learn and not make this mistake outside of the Order where perhaps his life would not be considered so sacred, to teach a lesson once taught to him by other members of the Order, he chose to react. Without warning a rough shove passed through the force towards the one who had chosen to sit upon a banister.

(ooc: This action should not be taken as in-fighting. The point is a lesson of sorts, you are free to rp it as you like, of course. Sasha’s character will only take so much of someone mocking him before he sets them straight. Character history if it helps:Was with the Order for 8 years before leaving to study under a dark jedi for 5 years. Returned several months ago to TSO. PM me with questions.)

[Baralai Lotus]

Baralai felt a strong push hit him in the gut as he lost balance and fell from the banister. He began to fall further and further down into the darkness of the night. He looked up at Sasha, and more than ever, he felt a need to strike back.

Baralai reached into his coat and produced his whip from within. Aiming for the banister, Baralai threw his chainlink up toward it. The satisfying clink of metal was heard upon the concrete. Baralai looked down into the darkness below and looked back up at Sasha. Baralai was hanging from the end of his whip, and now he needed his help.

As prideful as he was, as much as he wished Victor was there. . .he called out to Sasha, "Help me up! I need you to hold the chain while I climb it. Please, I beg of you." Baralai hated to beg like that, it showed so much weakness, but there was nothing else he could do.

He stared up at Sasha, hoping, praying that he would not let him die like this. Baralai wanted to beg him, would swear his life to him if he would help him. Don't let him die, not when he had taken the first step to acheiving his goal. . .

"Don't let me die like this!" Baralai said, almost like a child. "I will swear my life to you, don't let me die when I have finally begun my ascent." Baralai didn't know how else to ask, surely the man had some sympathy. . .some ounce of respect for a fellow brother of the order. . .enough to save his life.

[Sasha Kovalev]

There had never been any intent to kill. Certainly not to kill a brother of the Order. And if there had been, it was unlikely the conversation would have gone on for as long as it had. Or that the knight would select shoving someone off a banister as a means for destroying their life. No, Sasha would choose to be far more creative than that. But more importantly, Baralai’s life was one that, due to his membership to the Order, Sasha had a responsibility to protect. And as one who wanted to see the Order prosper and rise to power, for personal reasons he wanted Baralai not only to remain alive, but to become a powerful Sith.

Yet, there was a lesson being taught in this case, and so with the first request for help he did nothing but move to the edge to look over. Violet eyes stared evenly. There was no triumph in them, no mirth, not even a hint of pleasure at the display.

But he did reach out through the force to secure the whip. Held onto it and would not let it slip from the grasp it had upon the concrete.

He did not intend to let Baralai fall to his death. No, he had far greater plans in mind.

"Don't let me die like this! I will swear my life to you, don't let me die when I have finally begun my ascent."

He could have demanded that Baralai swear it then and there. But Sasha was not the type who would have apprentices sworn to him out of necessity. Out of a plea for their life. He would take apprentices that sought him out on their own free will. Apprentices who would respect his abilities and the lessons he taught. If Baralai chose to swear this once he was upon solid ground, so be it. If he chose not to, well, that wasn’t going to bother him either. All that really mattered to him was that Baralai learned a lesson from this and that ultimately it made him stronger and wiser.

“You will not die.” He finally answered. His tone was even. Some would consider the plea a weakness. He did not. He considered it a wise move to be able to put aside one’s ego and pride to survive.

“Use the gift that you have been given,” He began, referring to Baralai’s abilities with the force, “And climb.” Had they been anywhere else, had this been anyone but another Sith, he would have suggested they climb and then knocked them off part way up. But this was a brother in the Sith. And it was important that he begin to recognize and employ the powers he possessed, for that was one of the basics of the beliefs of the Sith – that the force is a tool to be used.

“Give in to the fear that you feel – use your fear as a conduit. Use it to channel the force to give you the strength to pull yourself up.”

These words were coming from a teacher who had done this often – for he had, in his thirty years of life, been exposed to situations in which he felt fear.

“Give in the anger you feel that you’ve had to lower yourself to a plea for your life.” He added this not to mock Baralai but to drive him to a point where he could unlock the power that lay within. For unlike the jedi, the Sith accessed the force through their emotions. Any emotion with enough passion behind it would be enough to access the Force. Their true power derived from their passion, from an obsession. And later Baralai would find that his passion for alchemy, his passion for the removal of sin, could serve as a way to access the force – if only he would open himself to learning this concept. A concept that would likely not be found in books.

[Baralai Lotus]

Baralai wanted to smirk, but given the situation, knew that he couldn't. He listened as Sasha's emotionless voice spoke to him, assuring him everything was alright. As much as he would've liked someone to simply pull him up, it appeared that to get out of this situation, he would have to do as he was told.

Baralai closed his eyes, letting his mind sink into the fear for his life. . .letting it fall into the anger he felt for having to put aside his pride, the one thing that differed him from all other things. His own intellect had lowered, and he had to rely on the good will of another. He had to rely on good. . .a concept he despised, not because of what it was, but because it was a sinful train of thought. The anger swole up inside of him, and he had no desire more than to destroy Sasha for this.

His body got lighter and slowly, his left hand reached up for the chain link. It grasped it firmly and then was followed by the right, with each step closer to his goal he felt his own weight get lighter and lighter. He was physically stronger. . .stronger through the force. He pulled himself to the top of the chain in a matter or moments, and when he got to the top he rolled his whip back up after stepping onto the firm solid ground of the balcony.

He pulled out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth when he was back on the ground. Half of a smirk came across his face until he remembered being launched off the banister for God knows what. Best not to make any rash moves around this one. He put the cigarette back in the pack, wiped the smirk from his face, and looked at Sasha, "Thank you for helping me. It was much appreciated." Baralai looked at him and ran his eyes up and down. No laughter, no smirks, but for some odd reason. . .respect.

Respect for a man who had endangered anothers life. . .to show him how wrong he was. Although whatever Sasha was trying to teach didn't completly make sense he knew he had tried to teach something. Baralai knew that he had made his power greater, Sasha had made Baralai's power greater. . .through the force and through pushing him off. He realized he had waited, patience had been employed, until the right moment to push him off. This was truly a wise man, and one cabaple of understanding Baralai's power and ambition. And if all went well then Baralai would rise to the greatness to which he knew he was destined for.

He looked at Sasha and thought back on his own words, that fate would work out for the fated. This moment was those words in action, and if not, it was at least a chance for him to realize that before him stood power, ambition, patience. . .everything Baralai sought out.

In a tone of respect Baralai spoke to Sasha, "I have a request to make. I request for you to be my master, if you will take I, an unwise apprentice under your wing. . .into your tutelage. I ask of you, as a brother of the Order, but also as a student. Will you have me?" Baralai was trying to ask in the most respectful and formal tones, which was highly uncommon for him. He hated doing things like that, but in this case it was an exception that had to be made.

[Sasha Kovalev]

He watched as Baralai hung there. Though there had been no expression before now of the actual ability of this one, there had been a signature, an identifiable signature within the force. Masking a force signature was not something that most beginners had the ability to do, nor the wherewithal to do. It was this presence that Sasha had been considering as he and Baralia had conversed, and from it Sasha had determined that Baralai could become a powerful Sith one day. There were abilities there, lingering beside the signature. They needed only to be put to work.

A small smile appeared on the knight’s lips as the acolyte began his ascent. Good. Good, he thought. So there was ambition there. It was not only words, but something heartfelt. That would be a key player in Baralai’s rise to power,if he so chose to use it. And it seemed that he would, for a few minutes later that ambition had returned Baralai to solid ground.

He had only stood there, dark robes being caught gently by the wind, moving the hems of them the slightest bit. There was no further move. His hands rested at his sides as he watched the man pull yet another cigarette out. This was somewhat cocky, but nothing offensive necessarily. What was somewhat offensive was the smirk that had begun to creep back to the man’s face.

Though Sasha was experienced enough in life to know the smirk was maybe one born out of surprise, nervousness, or maybe insecurity – at least, in this particular moment. It was a steadfast expression of Baralai and returning it to his face maybe brought to him some sense of things having returned to normal.

Sasha could understand that, certainly, for he had had more than enough moments of insecurity over his years of training. His masters had not been unkind, necessarily, but they had not been easy on him either.

And so Sasha had waited for Baralai to make the first move, truly. There was no need to do anything further…yet.

And when a moment later the cigarette disappeared along with the smirk, and words of thanks were issued, Sasha had smiled inwardly. He was not one who would never show emotion – for he knew all to well the power of them. But there were times he felt, when it was best to keep them hidden. And right now was one of those moments.

“You’re welcome.” He had responded, echoing Barali’s tone. There was no mockery to it, no condescending tone, but rather there was…..Respect. Respect for one who had made wise decisions and worked hard to access a power, a strength within.

"I have a request to make. I request for you to be my master, if you will take I, an unwise apprentice under your wing. . .into your tutelage. I ask of you, as a brother of the Order, but also as a student. Will you have me?"

He did not respond immediately. Sasha was not one to rashly jump into things. Impatient, yes, at times he could be impatient. But he was not rash. If anything, he had learned from the foolishness of saying things before they had been well thought out. It was how the relationship between he and the Dark Jedi master he had been learning from had gone south. Foolish words in a drunken, angry moment.

And while he regretted that he had been so foolish about them, he did not deny himself the right to having felt the emotions that he had felt. And this was perhaps what had brought him back to the Sith, the core belief that emotions, that passion was perfectly acceptable. The belief that if those emotions existed they were meant to be used.

“I do not think you unwise.” He stated as he began his response.

“I think you are one of much ambition and potential. I think you have the tools and simply need someone to teach you how to use them.” He released a quiet sigh, raising his hood and moving to look out over the banister towards the expanse of craters and valleys visible in the light of the moons above.

He had only since returned to the Order and had much that he personally wished to focus on. Taking an apprentice meant time, meant effort, meant a giving of oneself for the sake of building an Empire. It would mean that for some time, he might not have the time to focus on his own personal goals, but rather would have to put the goals of the Sith Order first.

And this….well, this he was willing to do. Willing to do as proof to the Order of his intentions in returning. Proof to his master that he was dedicated. But more he was willing to do it because he believed in the Order, believed in its cause, and had sworn to do everything in his efforts to further it.

He turned back to Baralai, violet eyes staring out from beneath the hood and much of his face shadowed by the cloth and angle at which he stood beneath the moonlight.

“I will take you as my apprentice.” He answered finally. He made no demands, set no limitations, required nothing immediately. These things would come in time as Sasha pushed his apprentice to be the best that he could be – and more.

[Baralai Lotus]

Baralai bowed respectively to his new master. As he stood back up he looked out over the banister and saw the seven moons of Korriban lighting up the night sky. What a wonderful night it was, what a beautiful night it was. Baralai now had a master and as such. . .he was going to begin his ascent to the greatest of all powers.

One step closer, is all he could think about. One step closer to being the God he knew he was. He looked back at Sasha, "Once again I thank you." Baralai had to show his thanks and his respects, for Sasha was no longer his brother in the order or his master. . .Sasha was also a friend. He just looked up into the sky, smirking not at the situation but at the beauty and glory of what would happen in the future.

[Sasha Kovalev]

Sasha’s hooded head turned to look at Baralai and a sincere smile appeared.

“Im sure you’ll want to take those words back at some point…” He replied, his tone light enough to suggest that he was making a joke. There was some truth to it, he supposed. He did not consider himself an unfair teacher, and neither did he consider himself particularly cruel. But Baralai should not be mistaken - the training was not going to be easy. And there would likely be times when he wondered what it was that Sasha was getting at. Or why he was teaching it as he was.

At some later point it would be clear, but some lessons were not learned until the result was obvious.

“I will come and find you tomorrow.” He added a moment later, “And we can continue what we have begun.” He was referring to the beginning of the creation of a powerful Sith. Tonight it had begun with a first lesson. And tomorrow and the day after and the one of that it would continue.

And then he turned from Baralai and began the journey back to his chambers. He had much to address tomorrow – a meeting with his master and the training of his apprentice. And somewhere in there, a bit of rest and meditation and work on his own goals. It would be a busy day.

OOC NOTE: The first training is posted here:
http://www.sw-fans.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=722832#post722832