Koyu does not seem to notice.
Täbris hopes that it is not seeable through the holocom that her skin turns white when she hears the pleas of the man "I got the information you asked me to obtain. Do you allow me to report to you in person or do you prefer it through this medium?"
Koyu nods his approval. "In person. What is your position?" The man's pleas have turned a soft sobbing. Koyu, still not acknowledging the voice.
"I am on Balmorra, Master. In the imperial zone." she looks straight at Koyu. "Do you wish me to stay there or shall I travel to you?"
Koyu maintains eyecontact."I will come to you." Koyu switches off the holocom unceremoniously.
Täbris frowned when leaving the base. Her master had ordered her to come back on his ship. It was a slight surprise as Täbris had expected him to meet her on the base. She supposed the worst, bad food - which was not even worth to be called food, hours of demanding training and meditation. And she remembered that her behaviour had not pleased him the last time they had met in person.
After entering his ship, she quickly went to her room to place her luggage there then went to Koyu's chamber to greet him.
Koyu watches her pass him by without even so much as a bow, making mental note of the individual slights she had made since his return from captivity. As she hurriedly passes him by, two HK droids can be seen dragging an unconscious, broken man toward the air lock. The mans face is battered and bloodied, while his clothes are in tattered, the scraps are charred and burnt
Koyu folds his arms over his chest and waits patiently for his apprentice to return to the main room.
He reminds himself to make time, after this hunt is over, to remind his apprentice why he is a Lord of the Sith and she is still an apprentice.
Täbris returns to Koyu and bows "Greetings Lord Koyu thank you for comming in person" she does not look at the broken man and focuses on her master.
"Report." Koyu's voice is gruff, and low. The irritation in his voice is practically tangible. The extensive corruption caused by his intimacy with the dark side is particularly visible at the moment as his eyes shine red and black veins spider-web their way from his temples and the corners of his mouth.
Täbris nods "The person who hired Odd to torture and kill you is a female jedi with the name Natrissa Sinerius. She is a pureblood" she looks into Koyu's face to see if there are any reactions. "Odd was not very willing to talk I had to promise him that he would not be hunted for his actions as well as I had to pay him but I was able to hagle". She folds her hands behind her back and waits on eventual orders.
Koyu furrows his eyebrows briefly when she mentions the Jedi's name. "Sinerius... Interesting." He returns his attention to his apprentice, "Pay the fool whatever he asked. I have no interest in hunting down some Jedi bitch's lackey. After the damage I did to his organization he wouldn't dare take a contract on me again."
Koyu rubs his chin thoughtfully. "You've done well apprentice. You're abilities in reconnaissance and information gathering are coming along nicely. Your awareness, and sense of self preservation desperately need work. You have grown arrogant in my absence. This is unacceptable. Things are beginning to get dangerous for us and your childish, rebellious attitude will get you killed." He returns his gaze to Täbris, making eye contact. His eyes, glow like smoldering coals. "Keep in mind, young apprentice. You are replaceable."
Täbris does not move while listening to her master's words. "I will make sure that the transaction is being fulfilled" she repeats the words she already had said to Odd earlier.
Her eyes do not move away from his face during the feedback he gives her about her abilities and behaviour.
When he tells her that she is replaceable she lifts her chin and glares at him "I am well aware that I am replace able for you, you made sure that I would learn about the apprentice you had before me. Isan, that snitch, was very eager to inform me that she ended under his hands".
Her hands find their way to her sides while she squares her shoulders "I have not failed you and also not abused the weakened state you were in. And I kept training, I am not arrogant as that would keep me from learning".
Koyu quirks an eyebrow, "Not arrogant? Just disrespectful then. You have no idea how fortunate you are to have me for a master. For numerous reason, not least which is my seemingly bottomless well of patience concerning your attitude. You appear to be mistaking my leniency for weakness; other Lords would tortured you and then killed you had you treated them as you have treated me. Lucky for you, I still see value in you. You're a raw iron lump, useful in itself, but yet to be refined and hammered to perfection."
He takes a sudden step forward and attempts to grab her under her chin.
Her eyes follow his eyebrow but her features stay calm while she listens to his point of view on their relationship. Täbris nods slightly although she furrows her brow while pondering about the question if she really had shown a lack of respect. "I am sorry, I had understood you in a way that you would dislike formalities."
Her eyes flicker in surprise as he grabs her under her chin. Expecting to be choked or something similar she takes a deep breath while forcing herself to focus on her Master's face instead of on the wall behind him.
Koyu's grip is firm, but not painful. His touch his almost tingly however, you begin to realize why as you see arcs of electricity crawling over his face and arms. "We have a great deal of work ahead of us. The Sinerius family is dangerous and very... muddy. You are not ready." Maintaining his firm grip on her chin he turns her head to the side in an effort to expose her neck.
((He's trying to sense her emotions, this is something he's very good at. You can try to resist, or you can just tell me how she feels outright and out of character. If you want to resist I'll will find a dice rolling program we can use simultaneously.))
Not really understanding or knowing what was happening Täbris strained her muscles to be prepared for eventual pain. She did not want to show her confusion and fear at all. Having to deal with Isan and Odd who both had treated her in a way she had not expected, had been stressful for her, especially Isan whom she had seen kill. She had been glad when Koyu had reappeared. The time without him had been calm without real challenges but an apprentice with a weak master would not be taken serious, at least not in her opinion. So she wanted him to be strong. Now he seemed to question her loyality and her respect which was even more confusing. She had the impression not to be able to communicate with Koyu which frustrated her deeply.
"This pureblood I observed on Nar Shaddaa belongs to it, does he?"
She did not move her eyes when he turned her head to the side.
Koyu leans in close to her neck and inhales deeply through his nose, "You stink of uncertainty. You are confused, apprentice." As he pulls away you may note his countenance has suddenly changed. No more does his visage represent the barely restrained hostility you witnessed just moments before. Now, your master Koyu, his skin pale and eyes silver as you remember them. "Perhaps I have been mistaken..." He gestures to the HK droids waiting patiently by the airlock with the unconscious man still held tightly in their grasp. The droids promptly jettison the sleeping guest into cold space.
"Yes, the pure-blood, Zurseer Sinerius. Last of his line of rogues. His mother is a turn coat Jedi... Apparently still nursing her maternal instinct. She must have found that I have been closing in on Zurseer for some time now." At this point Koyu realizes he is still holding Täbris' chin and releases her unceremoniously. "You need training. Zurseer is an extremely deadly opponent... and his mother was a Lord of the Sith while I was still an acolyte. Together, they would be extremely difficult to bring low..." Koyu takes a moment to rub his own chin in thought. "I will need to time to think up a proper plan of action. In the mean time, you will return to living with me on this ship. And we will continue your physical training."
Koyu turns to walk towards his chambers.
Täbris holds her breath when Koyu inhales the scent of her neck. She does not twitch when hearing the sound of the airlock and only nods to his words.
When hearing that Zurseers mother is a jedi she slightly raises her eyebrow. "If she was able to set up such a scheme she might still be touched by the dark side".
She does not question his words about her need of training although she remembers the state the pureblood was in when she saw him the last time.
"He did not seem like somebody who has a family".
When he moves away she slightly bows "Yes, Master" asuming that he is aware of what she does no matter where he is looking at.
Täbris went back to her room after Koyu left. She put her luggage back to the places it belonged to then set down on the floor to meditate on the dark side. Her eyes were orange as she opened them again to go to take a shower, brush her teeth and get ready for sleep. After an other 15 minutes of meditation she went to sleep in her bed.
Koyu enters his apprentice's room approximately 4 hours later, switches the lights on and barks orders loudly, "Wake, apprentice! We have much to do, and you have training." Koyu is clad in just a pair of trousers. His chest is bare, as are his feet. Now visible, you can see the further extent of the mercenary's tortue as long scars snake their way across Koyu's chest. On his shoulder he carries two long staffs, clearly he has his mind set on combat training. "Get up, Täbris. Wear something you can move in. I will be in the main room." As he turns around, you may note his back tells the tail of a thousand whip lashings. Some newer, but some much, much older.
Täbris makes some protesting noises and squints her eyes while adjusting to the sudden brightness. She pushes herself up so that she can turn and sit on her bed. The orange glow in her eyes has not completely disappeared yet but it had become less intense. She spreads her toes for a moment then moves forward to stand up and nods "I will be right there". Her voice is still filled with sleep.As her master leaves the room she looks at the scars on his back. She is not sure if the scars were caused by the torture Koyu had gone through or if they were older but she does not ask.
After she is alone again she slips out of her nightdress and into her training outfit. She also does not put on shoes and heads to the main room to meet Koyu there.
Koyu waits patiently for his apprentice to make her way into the room, as she enter he tosses her one of the training staffs. It's much heavier than a lightsaber, but well balanced. "Our primary target is an incredibly skilled melee combatant. You and I individually are no match for him, but together, we may bring yet another traitor down in the name of emperor. Before we have any hope to handling Zurseer, we must train your mind and your body."
He twirls the heavy steel pole effortlessly over his head, then behind his back and swings it horizontally bring it to an abrupt stop at his side. "From this point on you will cease to use your lightsaber, while either training your technique alone or sparring with me."
Täbris reaches out to catch the staff with one hand then makes a step backwards to balance out the impact of the throw and the weight of the training staff. She lifts it testingly to see how the different weight might influence her movements and nods "I will become way faster and stronger".
Koyu takes a casual step forward, the staff rests under his arm. "Combat stance. I assume I do not have to tell you, that I require you to always be in the centered state?" He looks over his body, eyes her muscles and potential weaknesses in her form.
Täbris gets into combat stance as soon as she is asked to do so. She nods when he tells her that she is supposed to be always in the centered state. It seems like she is looking at him while she is using the centered state to look for possible benefits the room could give her. Her stance is calm and only the slight movement of her toes show her eagerness to fight.
Koyu jabs the staff forcefully into the backside of her upper thigh, just beneath her buttock. "You're putting too much weight on your front leg, you must evenly distribute you're weight and shift from front leg to back leg. Constantly and subtly." He drags the staff over her buttock and up her spine, painfully. "Straighten your posture."
Täbris straightens her posture and makes sure to shift her weight to her back leg and back to her front leg while still holding her staff in position. Her feet are flat on the floor and her movements are subtle.
Her eyes are directed forward and her fingers closed around the staff while her thumb is pressed against it.
Koyu continues to circle her, appraising her new poster. He strikes the heel of her foot sharply with the staff. "Stay on the balls of your feet."
Täbris bites on her lower lip as the staff hits the feel of her foot and moves on the ball of her feet. Her toes no curled and pressing against the floor.
Koyu circles around to the front of her, sliding easily into his own stance. He keeps the staff tucked under back arm and extends his front to her with his palm outward, toward his apprentice. "You're ready..." Koyu closes his eyes and inhales through his nostrils. "Strike me."
Täbris closes her eyes as well to avoid to get confused by having to deal with two ways of seeing at once. She takes a deep breath and uses her staff to stab forward aiming at Koyu, not even caring if she would hit with that strike or not, imediatly after stabbing forward she pulls the staff back and moves it around her back so that it turns and grabs it with her left hand to try to swirl it against Koyu's side.
Koyu absorbs the blow to his midsection with a slight wince as the impact surprises him. Taking the opportunity while he staff is extended to strike the inside of her knee and follow it with a short jab with the top of his staff to her mouth.
Koyu: 1D100+20 => 65
Koyu: 1D100+15 => 79
Täbris: 1D100+10 => 58
Täbris: 1D100+5 => 97
Täbris takes a sharp breath when Koyu's staff hits her at the back of her knee. She shifts her weight on her other leg and lifts her staff so that she she can use it to deflect Koyu's second stroke. She makes a step to the side and moves her staff so that she can grab it with both hands and stabs it forward aiming at koyu's hip.
Täbris: 1D100+5 => 96
Koyu: 1D100+30 => 58
Koyu plants his feet in anticipation of the blow, surprised by her speed and finesse. He takes blow the to hip with a grunt, using the force of the blow to piroutette while twirling the staff over head and bring the staff hard against her elbow.
Koyu: 1D100+20 => 22
Täbris: 1D100+10 => 28
Täbris watches him move his staff and ducks supposing that he was aiming at her head. At the last moment she manages to turn to the side that the his staff does not hit her elbow. Using her turn she makes one step backwards and shifts her weight from her back leg to her front leg using the movement to aim at Koyu's knee.
Täbris: 1D100+5 => 57
Koyu: 1D100+30 => 73
Koyu easily deflects the low blow with a twirl of his staff. Maintaining the twirl he spins quickly, building speed and momentnum by continuing to twirl the staff; he brings the staff down onto her shoulder.
Koyu: 1D100+20 => 48
Täbris: 1D100+10 => 65
Täbris watches Koyu deflect her blow to keep his technique in mind to see how it would suit her to use it. Then raises her staff to keep him from hitting her shoulder. She uses the impact of his weapon on hers to turn her staff around and try to move it up to hit his elbow.
Täbris: 1D100+5 => 21
Koyu: 1D100+20 => 51
Koyu blocks the blow with the center of his staff and with circular motion quickly strikes at her hands with one end of the staff then using the other end for a quick jab at her eyebrow.
Koyu: 1d00+20
Koyu: 1D100+20 => 72
Koyu: 1D100+15 => 40
Koyu: ((Wait for the second roll if you get hit by the first.))
Täbris: 1D100+10 => 63
Koyu: ((BEat 60))
Täbris gasps when being hit on her hand and bites on her lower lip to even out the pain. She takes a deep breath and lifts her staff to try to defend herself against the hit against her eyebrow.
Täbris: 1D100+10 => 99
Koyu: ((Cool, you don't get disarmed. But you still take -5 on your next defensive roll.))
Täbris: 1D100+5 => 18
*a cut opens over your right eye, you can feel the warm of fresh blood beginning to flow freely*
Täbris strains the muscles in her face when the staff hits her eyebrow. She struggles for balance for a moment and makes two steps backwards. Her nostrils widen when she can smell the scent of her blood. She does not care about the blood and tries to stay away from Koyu as long to find her balance again then. Runs forward and attempts to stab at his chest before moving her staff to try to hit him at his ellbow.
Täbris: 1D100+5 => 57
Täbris: 1D100 => 62
Koyu: 1D100+30 => 129
Koyu: 1D100+30 => 81
Koyu smirks as she runs in recklessly easily blocking the first blow and then side-stepping the second. As she rushes passed him with the missed attack, he tries to use her momentum against her by striking out at her ankle in an attempt to trip her.
Koyu: 1D100+20 => 32
Koyu: ((beat 50 before your next attack.))
Koyu: ((Roll defensive roll normally.))
Täbris: 1D100 => 75
Täbris: 1D100+10 => 88
*As you move blood drips from the cut over your eye and onto the floor*
Koyu:"Focus, appentice. Use your anger, but do not become reckless."
Täbris glares when Koyu tries to make her trip. She moves and jumps over his staff and tries to move behind him and uses her staff to try to stab him at his kidney. Her tongue escapes her mouth and she licks some bloods of her blood away. Her eyes still closed as she still is in the centered state.
Täbris: 1D100+5 => 68
Koyu: 1D100+30 => 47
Koyu moves to block the blow, but ultimately fails as the staff connects with the intended target. He stumbles forward and spins to face his apprentice, swinging the staff upward from the ground in an effort to catch her under the chin.
Koyu: 1D100+20 => 41
Täbris: 1D100+10 => 44
Täbris moves her head back to make sure not to get hit on the chin. She makes a step to the side again and moves her staff around her back to try to hit Koyu at the side again before pulling it back and aiming at his hand
Täbris: 1D100+5 => 87
Täbris: 1D100 => 24
Koyu: 1D100+30 => 83
Koyu: 1D100+25 => 106
Koyu absorbs another blow to the midsection; this time without the grimace, but instead he has a smile on his face. He deftly jerks his hand away from the second blow pulling it into a tight spin and finishing it with a sharp thrust into Täbris' throat. He follows the attack with another thrust from the other side of the staff into the top of her bare foot.
Koyu: 1D100+20 => 34
Koyu: 1D100+15 => 37
Täbris: 1D100+10 => 102
Täbris: 1D100+15 => 64
Koyu: ((A proper deflection would mess up my momentum and/or my balance thius making the follow up attack more difficult))
Täbris moves her staff to use it to protect her throat and to push Koyu's staff away. She keeps watching him and pulls her foot away and jumps to the side and forward to get behind his back again. She swirls the staff around her and tries to hit him on the upper section of his back again to try to push him forward and to make him struggle for balance.
Täbris: 1D100+5 => 29
Koyu: 1D100+30 => 101
Koyu ducks beneath her next attack and swings low at her feet in an attempt to sweep them from under her.
Koyu: 1D100+20 => 48
Täbris: 1D100+10 => 107
Täbris jumps again over his staff and moves forward again aiming on his hand with a stabbing move.
Täbris: 1D100+5 => 63
Koyu: 1D100+30 => 95
Koyu jerks his hand from his staff allowing her blow to clang uselessly off o fit. He smirks, realizing the objective of her last few attacks and returns the favor in kind with two quick swats to the fingers of both hands on her staff.
Koyu: 1D100+20 => 94
Koyu: 1D100+15 => 107
Täbris: 1D100+10 => 20
Täbris: 1D100+5 => 6
Koyu: ((Woah, looks like you're using my dice.))
Koyu: ((Alright due to the double failure, beat 90 to not drop your staff.))
Täbris: (what kind of dice should I use?)
Koyu: ((just 1d100))
Täbris: 1D100 => 18
Koyu: ((You are disarmed))
Täbris bites hard on her lower lip as Koyu hits on her fingers. But she does not manage to keep holding her staff and lets it fall onto the floor nearly hitting her feet.
Täbris' Hands turn red but she moves her toes under her staff and tries to bring it up to her hand with a kick
Koyu sees her switch her focus from him to rearming herself and takes the opportunity to wind up another attack, adding a leaping spin and swinging his staff hard across her temple.
Koyu: 1D100+20 => 100
Täbris:1D100 => 7
Täbris does not manage to react fast enough. Still disabled by the burning pain in her hands she is slowed down and gets hit in the middle of her temple. Her eyes do not even flutter as she goes down like a stone and becomes unconscious before hitting the floor.
Koyu straightens his posture and pop his neck. He watches her unconcious form for a few moments with a smile that could be considered pride. He set the his staff down, scoops her up into his arms and carries her to her bunk; placing her gently into. He leaves briefly, only to return with a wet rag to clean the blood from the cut above her eye and side of her head from the final blow.
The wet rag on her forehead wakes Täbris. Her features show her confusion and she has problems to focus her gaze on Koyu. After a moment she realizes where she is "I am sorry to have failed, I should have protected my hands better and aimed at your joints instead of your torso." She tries to push herself up in the bed but falls back and closes her eyes again.
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