The Dark Academy on Korriban

Zeno sat in his room after a bite to eat. He held the holocron in his hands and looked at it for a long moment. It had been a long time since he held it. Nearly 2 months. And the last time he had it hadn't worked. And the one time he got to speak with Gyn he wasn't alone. He was a bit excited as he reached out to it and willed Hazzan's apprentice to appear.

Gyn returns and says, “Oh you are not the woman, why have you roused me?”

"Greetings," he starts with. "Been a while."

"I am the new holder of this holocron, and am interested in learning what you have to teach," he says to her. "And about you."

The holocron replies defiantly, “Why? I am not terribly impressed with the Sith of this modern age.”

"Exactly Lord Hothe. We need improvement," he states flatly and honestly. "I wonder. Was Death's Shadow present on Korriban when you lived?"

“I am guessing that is supposed to mean something. It means nothing to me,” Gyn says when he mention’s Death’s Shadow.

“We should focus on improving these Sith.”

"Then he's not that old. Just curiosity," he says with a shrug.

"Yes, lets. It's a matter I've spoken on with others in my weeks in the academy. Too many are focused too much on creature comforts, chasing money simply for diversions and not paying enough attention to what truly matters. Passion, strength, power, victory and freedom," he states flatly. "There is much to learn and master of the dark side."

“And your point, is that lacking in the Sith? Your Master seems to embody these elements,” the holocron replies.

"She does," he says. "That is why we chose each other. He says. We both seek strength. Though in our own ways. We are complementary as master and apprentice and I approve of her dogged search for knowledge. But she is not the only source from which I can learn and grow. If I were stupid enough to allow that I would only become what she wants me to be and not gain the strength I seek."

“And what is it that you seek?” he says.

“What path do you see for yourself.”

"To become the living blade of the dark side's will. To bring conflict, violence and death to those that would stand against it. To allow the scholars and mystics of it's secrets flourish under my protection and share in their knowledge," he says states, his tone serious and.

“So you want to fight people and protect other weaker people. The weak do not deserve your protection,” she responds.

"I don't want to protect the weak. I want to prevent the diversion of those who seek the secrets of the dark side. I would give them more freedom to learn to wield it's power," he states flatly. "I much like a guard protects the command tent or the starfighters and corvettes protect the flagship."

“Is that all you wish to be?” she asks.

"I wish to be the deadliest blade the dark side can wield. To have Jedi hear my name and forget their code, so overwhelming is their fear. To stroll leisurely through hordes and leaving wakes of corpses. To cut down structures with single swings. To have my sound of my footsteps towards the enemy to be the warning that precedes destruction, despair, lamentation and death," he states. "I want to be a living breathing torrent of conflict and violence that cannot be halted until I no longer have enemies. And at that point I would rejoin the dark side in it's triumph."

“Then you have a great deal of work ahead of you and possibly a short life span,” she said with a chuckle.

"Agreed. But if you would be willing to share your knowledge of the dark side with me I become that much closer to crushing the light under my boot heel one day," he replies. "And you don't have to be stuck in a little box all the time, able to help me guide the unimpressive sith of today to former greatness."

“I find those terms acceptable,” she says after a moment of thought.

"It will be good to work with you Gyn Hothe. Don't know if I told you my name before. Zeno Deathwright," he introduces.

Gyn nods and begins her instruction focusing on dominance and power and never abiding weakness even in those above you.

This was his kind of lesson. He needed it. He knew he was often too soft on people and he should know better after Deathwright training and months of Sith training. He'd killed a dozen men and seen trainees die by the score by this point. He really should know better. Gyn would help harden him.