The Dark Academy on Korriban

Jun-Tsu had spent much of her day traveling the ship which was, admittedly spacious to accommodate such things, but was, nevertheless, a confined vessel. So, she retired to the quarters set aside for the returning academy students so that she might glance at her lessons, meditate upon the future, and prepare herself for their inevitable arrival at Korriban Station.

The space would have been, in her mind, ample enough were it not for sharing the room with three other beings. It gave it an even more cramped quality, which was, she opined, the point. The Academy did seem to enjoy its petty torments. Her lips drew into a fine line momentarily as she found her bed. Taking up her trailing veil, she sat and rummaged through her small satchel filled with little of consequence save a few datapads, one of which she pulled out to review.

Remmington soon walks into the room. He had deposited his pack and other travel items in one of the top bunks early and went about exploring the ship. He notices a familiar face when he returns and smiles and offers a bow to his fellow Sith.

"Ah, Sith Jun-Tsu. It has been a while. Has the Force been good to you since we last spoke?" He asks.

The chipper manner was met with a rather blase look. Jun-Tsu raised her eyes, and to most it would be a look of irritation that crossed her face, but it was a dynamic that the two had shared for well over ten years. Her lips filled out from their fine line and she set down the data pad.

"Sith Thalalas, it iz good to see one again. I apologize dat I could not wisit [visit] over the past foo [few] months. My training 'as [has] taken all my time in preparation for de Academy. Still, my great-grandmuter [mother] sent her apologies. She vanted [wanted] House Thalalas to know that day [they] remain in our thoughts." Her thick accent from being so isolated on Korriz, was as noticeable as ever.

Remmington shakes his head. "It is quite alright Sith Jun-Tsu. I know how dedicated you and your family are. Please extend my well wishes and thoughts towards your great grandmother and the rest of your family."

He smiles. "Still there is no need to act like a stranger. No need to act so formal between the two of us. By the way, you never answered any of my CommLink calls when I tried to see how you were doing." He frowns a little at that.

"Also it is kind of you to say so but sadly House Balmung has been finally laid to rest since my father, Lord Seig's death some years ago." He grimaces a little but it is also old news at this point.

"I have been busy with training too. I have been studying up on mechanics as well and recently taken up some interest in the healing arts."

"Vorthy endeavors that vill, no doubt, serve you vell here," she folded her hands into her draping robes, looking every bit the vestal handmaiden. Though her clothing was antiquated, it still radiated much of that connection to the Sith temples, and in some ways its anachronistic style harkened back to a time when devotion to the powers of the force were more prominent, before the war.

"I vould have answered but..." she trailed off. "Time was limited. I vould have enjoyed speaking vith you, but training comes first. And I just knew ve vould see each other soon."

She avoided speaking about the limited resources on her family's planet, or that she had to share such long-range devices with her eight siblings, when a wealthy Sith bloodline would have dozens of such devices.

Remmington nods. "I hope to explore the wastes to see if I can find something of value once we get down to Korriban and get some reprieve from training or at least time for self study."

He smiles openly. "You are as studious and dedicated as always. I may need to rely on you help increase my knowledge base. Also feel free to call me if you ever need anything. I am here for you."

"Of course," Jun-Tsu took on a smirk finding a hidden charm to the young man's hopeless naivety. Though she enjoyed the devotion, she also hoped he might not find himself dead. At least not without it being on her account.

"If you go to Ze vastes, let me know. Zey are dangerous, but full of who knows vhat. I might even find something useful. A comlink, perhaps, so I do not have to constantly use ze school terminals."

"Or jus't maybe ve find some lost Sith talisman, who knows."

"Wait... you don't even have a CommLink?!?" Remmington facepalms at the revelation. "Well I suppose that explains some things. Alright Jun-Tsu, I'll keep my eye out for a CommLink for you and fix it up good. I will probably need you to watch my back since I didn't bring a spare weapon with me."

He cracks a wide grin. "I am getting a little excited at the prospect of finding something good to make a lightsaber with though."

Jun-Tsu gave Rem a mixed look, "A touch early for such thingz iz it not? I would imagine ze Academy, if the Dark Council is examining us, will see to such training in time. But, I suppose zey vill approve greatly of such ambition, und....given the opportunity I suppose I vould not mind seeking such a veapon. My training sword vas the height of style in ze days of ze old Empire, but now iz....vell, I do not yet 'ave ze skill in ze Dark Side to make it ze deadly weapon it aught to be."

"Well there is nothing wrong with being a little excited. Plus we need to get ahead of the other students before they claim all the good ones." Remmington remarks with a nod.

"I'm looking forward to developing my saber skills and abilities with the Force. Though I suspect you are probably further along than I for the latter. I will be happy to be your sparring partner. An ancient sword is a fairly heavy thing to be carrying around."

"Consider it a form of physical training," she reached behind her shoulder, pushing aside her veil, she pulled the sword from a back scabbard. Seamlessly concealed by her ornate robes, few would have ever known that she was even carrying it on her person. Drawing it fully from its scabbard, she laid it over her lap to admire the polished finish and the elaborate filigree on the hilt.

"It may be no lightsaber, but it iz still an elegant weapon. But as you may feel limited in your knowledge of ze force, I 'ave mastered only ze basics of such physical arts."

Remmington examines the ancient sword on Jun-Tsu's lap. "Hey... I think this is made from Dallorian alloy. It is pretty popular with the Mandalorians I hear for it's resistance to heat. Very nice lines. I can see the craftsmanship behind it. You got a pretty good sword there." He nods after his summary.

/ I'm just totally making this up. Not the name of the alloy though. /

Jun-Tsu offered a chagrined look at the analysis half-irritated at being told a family relic was of quality. Something she was eminantly familiar with already. Still, she gave an amused sigh when he was finished.

"Anything more you vould like to tell me about an item zat 'as been in my family for over sree [three] hundred years?" She smirked as she spoke.

"Ah sorry about that. Bad habit. I just excited sometimes when I see something good." Remmington half admonishes himself.

"So did you meet any interesting people heading to the Academy? Or heard anything about the faculty staff?" He asks.

"Nothing more zan you likely know. Our alien headmistress und the like. But I 'ave managed to meet a few of our new peers. Both vere those of good breeding. One of House Deathwright, another, an imperial noble from ze capital. Well connected individuals it vould seem. No doubt interested in the connections they can make vhile here."

Remmington nods. "I didn't meet this Deathwright. What are they like? Imperial nobles are not that uncommon."

Folding his arms. "I met a True Sith of from House Tsaikzu, a new Force sensitive Imperial clerk, and probably a former slave or criminal since she didn't even know about the Sith or the proper name of a lightsaber."

Jun-Tsu narrowed her eyes in something akin to confusion. "'Ow [How]....'Ow did she find 'erself admitted to the Academy? Zat seems remarkably unlikely. Only zose of influence und skill find themselves at ze Academy, und I doubt wery [very] much zis woman 'as either. Vould zey truly bring in some rube from some backwater to ze most prestigious academy in ze Stygian Caldera?"

"Judging from her aura I guess she must gotten in due to her combat ability. The Imperial clerk on the other hand is probably the opposite getting in through pure academics. Either they will learn to adapt or they will probably end up as stepping stones to other students." Remmington surmises.

"Tenacity can be a strength all its own, but strength untempered by wisdom makes one little more than a beast. Perhaps she will be useful if we can harness her....prowess, and guide her in the right direction." She gave a sly eye to Rem who she knew to be rather apolitical. She was hardly interested, herself, but she was on her way to Korriban, you played the game or you died.

"Well there is nothing wrong with getting some allies. I am sure some of the other students will be thinking the same thing. More like useful tools." Remmington replies.

"Though sometimes a wild beast will bite the hand that feeds it if one is not careful." He wasn't too interested in playing the game either but having less people stabbing him the back wasn't a terrible prospect.

"One can tame a beast. Ve just need to find out vhat zis creature desires. Security, influence, knowledge. Our families have chosen to divorce themselves from the politics of the Empire as of late," a polite way to apply that they had fallen from grace, "but ve can provide enough to impress a single simpleton slave if ze need arises."

Remmington smirks at that. "While that may be true. On the other hand I do not particularly care to play that kind of game. It will distract me from what I want to do. If our interests happen to coincide then that will be beneficial. Besides I imagine some of the others will think of the same thing. So it may become an auction and she'll be the one laughing about it all."

"Assuming she's smart enough to understand her predicament," the witch seemed unsure of that.

"Still, 'aving un attack dog vhen wenturing into ze wilds isn't the vorst idea in ze universe. At ze wery least someone ve can toss to ze wolves, perhaps literally."

Remmington chuckles. "Well no loss to us if they fall. At least I can be certain that she doesn't have an interest in machines like I do. In fact I don't think I have run into anyone else like that. Though she doesn't want to go ruin exploring from what she said."

"Of courze she vouldn't. She'z no knowledge of zhe powver zhat lies vithin zhose ancient placez. She, apparently, barley knowz vhat her powver's are, let alone h'ow to grow zhem. Poor, idiot zhing." She shook her head in pity.

"Vhat zhat I could zay I share your passion for machinez but you know I do not. Not zhat I don't appreciate your tinkering, but you know my homevorld. Ve are better vith our shpells und majick."