Inside the Sith Academy, Ali and Drogath sat in the vast dining hall, their table piled high with enough food to feed thirty acolytes. They ate silently, their attention focused entirely on the task of refuelling their bodies after the gruelling mission. Despite their isolation, they could feel the eyes of other acolytes glancing their way, curious about the pair.
Their quiet meal was interrupted by the sudden hum of their personal comms. A hologram projected from the small devices, revealing the stern figure of their Sith master, Lord Malgrith.
"Lord Malvok has informed me of your performance," Malgrith began, his voice as cold as ever. "You've done well. As a reward, I have arranged for you each to have an hour in the library and an hour in the training hall with our best combat droids. Make good use of them."
As the hologram faded, Ali leaned back in his chair, finishing the last piece of food on his plate. "Let's head to the library first," he said, standing up.
Drogath nodded, the massive rhino-like alien scooping up the last handful of food before following Ali out of the dining area.
The two made their way through the halls of the academy, passing droids and other acolytes along the way. Ali stopped to ask a passing maintenance droid for directions, eventually finding their way to an elevator that led directly to the library.
The elevator doors opened to a long, dimly lit corridor. Ali immediately noticed the heavy fortifications. Rows of sleek black battle droids lined the walls, their glowing optics tracking the acolytes as they passed. Above them, automated turrets hung from the ceiling, scanning the area in steady rotations.
'This place is locked down tight' Ali thought as they walked toward the massive door at the corridor's end. Two hulking black droids stood guard in front of it, each nearly as large as Drogath. They wielded enormous hammers, each one easily the size of Ali.
Ali turned to his companion as they approached the guards. "Give me your hour in the library," he said. "I'll read enough for both of us. In exchange, you can take my time in the training hall. I don't need it."
Drogath grunted in agreement. "Fine. I can't read anyway," he replied in his deep, rumbling voice.
Ali nodded. When they reached the towering droids, he stepped forward and spoke confidently. "We've been granted two hours here. I'll be using both. My companion will take my time in training."
The droid nearest to him scanned Ali briefly before responding in a monotone voice. "Understood. The library is a sacred resource of the academy. You are permitted only on the first level. Be aware: you will be monitored at all times. Do not attempt anything unauthorised."
Ali nodded and gestured to Drogath, who turned and walked back toward the elevator. With a hiss of hydraulics, the enormous doors to the library slid open, and Ali stepped inside.
The library was a grand, circular space with walls lined with towering shelves filled with ancient tomes and data tablets. A single spiral staircase wound upward, leading to the restricted upper levels. The air inside was cool and carried a sense of weight, almost as if the knowledge stored here had its own gravity.
'It feels heavy in here,' Ali thought, taking a deep breath as he took in the sight. He was the only person on the lower level.
Wasting no time, he approached a shelf marked Introduction to the Force and pulled down the first book he saw. Sitting at a nearby desk, he began reading at an incredible pace, devouring the material while committing every detail to memory.
One book after another, Ali worked through the section with relentless focus. When he had finished the introductory volumes, he moved on to another labeled Force Types.
His mind was already racing as he flipped through the pages, searching for anything that might help Drogath. 'Force strength,' Ali thought, narrowing his search. 'He's already using it instinctively. If I can find a way for him to control it, he'd be very useful to me.'
Far away in another star system, under the warmth of an alien sun, a blonde woman sat cross-legged on a grassy plain, her eyes closed in deep meditation. Her scarred face remained calm as she focused on the Force, reaching out with her senses.
'There,' she thought as her eyes opened and fell on a small stone nearby. With a slight movement of her hand, the stone rose into the air, hovering steadily.
Behind her, an older woman with a lightsaber clipped to her belt watched proudly. Her voice was warm and encouraging. "Well done, Natalya. Keep working hard, and you'll be a great Jedi one day."
The younger woman smiled and nodded in gratitude. "Thank you, Master," she said before returning to her training.
Back in the Sith Academy, Ali walked slowly down the fortified corridor outside the library, deep in thought.
'The Sith mold the Force into weapons of their own design, bending it to their will. The Jedi, on the other hand, believe in channeling the Force as it is, without altering it, claiming that manipulation is evil. Such narrow thinking.'
His mind raced as he processed the knowledge he had absorbed. 'The Force is everywhere, but Korriban is uniquely rich in it. That should make it easier for me to sense. The books also spoke of ancient tombs, places saturated with the Force where long-dead Sith are buried—or perhaps still reside.'
He frowned, contemplating his current position within the Sith hierarchy. 'Acolyte. Apprentice. Warrior. I need to master the Force and accomplish notable missions to rise in rank. Only then can I ascend through their ranks and complete the second personal mission'.
The elevator doors opened, and Ali stepped into the main hall, leaning against the wall of the elevator as he reflected.
'The books made it clear that the Force depends on many factors—talent being just one of them. Emotions are key. The stronger the feelings, the greater the power that can be drawn. And each person's potential in the Force is unique. Drogath, for example, uses Force strength instinctively. Malvok's telekinesis is incredible, but his speed and physical strength are most likely weaker in comparison. Most can wield the Force in multiple ways, but few will ever reach mastery in more than one to the extreme of those naturally gifted in that type.'
The elevator doors opened, and Ali stepped out into the bustling main hall. He made his way to the training area, where a crowd of acolytes had gathered around a sparring room. Curious, he pushed through the crowd to get a better view.
Inside, Drogath was battling two large droids simultaneously. His massive frame was covered in bruises and cuts, but instead of weakening him, the injuries only seemed to fuel his ferocity.
One of the droids seized an opening and swung its enormous hammer at Drogath with lethal speed.
'If that hits, it's over,' Ali thought, watching intently.
Drogath let out a thunderous roar, his voice shaking the walls. His eyes flashed red as he turned and punched the hammer mid-swing. The force of the blow sent the droid hurtling across the room, where it crashed into the wall and shattered into pieces.
Ali's eyes narrowed. 'Red eyes…signs of losing control for a Sith if it comes in flashes' he thought, noting the brief flash of red.
Before the second droid could land an attack, it froze mid-swing. "Acolyte, your two-hour session is over," it announced before retreating to the corner of the room and powering down.
Ali pushed through the crowd and stepped into the sparring room. "Drogath," he called out.
The giant acolyte was kneeling, breathing heavily from exhaustion. He didn't respond at first.
"Drogath!" Ali repeated, his tone sharper this time.
The rhino-like alien finally looked up, taking a deep breath before pulling himself to his feet. Together, they left the training hall, walking past the murmuring acolytes whose curiosity was clearly piqued. Rumours about the two newcomers were already spreading.
"What a Monster", that was the general thought of all the acolytes who saw Drogath fight.
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