The Dark Academy on Korriban

It was early when he made his way through the camp to find Shaisha. A personal call seemed more appropriate than a comm message. He noted Captain Harad's soldiers already starting to make preparations for the predicted battle. It would be a big day for everyone.

He knelt down on one knee outside the entrance to her tent and cleared his throat. "Shaisha. It's me, Jo'ren."

"Come on in then," her voice beckoned.

Inside the tent, she sat kneeling as she had done her finishing touches in getting ready for the day. The shadowsuit armor was being zipped up as he entered, and she even spared him a teasing glance.

"Is it a ghost, or the real Jo'ren in the flesh?"

There wasn't a huge amount of room for him, so it was a good job he wasn't wearing his armour right now. He brushed the door flap open and watched her appreciatively, but it was contemplative rather than a leering glance.

"It's the real Jo'ren." There was a confidence behind his words that made it seem like a more complex statement than it should have been. He entered and sat down cross-legged.

She reached out to touch him, which wasn't hard given the tight space. An appriciative smile spread on her face as she felt his warm skin.

"I'm relieved. Did you find what you were looking for?"

He smiled as she touched him for confirmation. A few moments of thought went into his response.

"Now there's a question. I found what I needed to find." He gave her a cryptic smile.

"I admit, I'm happy you came to let me know you're alright. And that I am also very curious as to what you were looking for, and what you found." She leaned in closer to feel his presence and his scent.

"If... You will let me know, that is."

He did not respond by wrapping an arm around her as he might have in the past, but neither did he shy away from her touch. Instead he just breathed deeply, feeling her rise and fall against him.

Eventually he spoke. "I was looking for a legend. I was looking for power." His eyes seemed to blaze for a moment. "I found freedom."

She looked at him questioningly, waiting for him to elaborate if he chose to.

Meanwhile she made no moves to further embrace him, as she seemed content with just being close to Jo'ren.

"Do you know the tale of Exar Kun?". He looked down at her, and then at his own hands, remembering the feeling as he had gripped his twin-blade.

"I know some of the stories, yes, but I admit it wasn't the Sith Lord I have studied the most," she said, her eyes following his to his eyes. "I recall he was skilled with the double-bladed lightsaber, like you."

"I grew up on tales about him. he was something of an inspiration to me." Exar Kun's words echoed in his head and he couldn't help but feel proud of what he had done.

"They say he invented it. But then they say a lot of things. For a time he brought the Jedi to their knees, but eventually his reach exceeded his grasp. Still, he was one of the finest duelists to have lived." He looked off into the distance. "He was one of the finest Sith to have lived."

His words made her smile fondly. If he believed her trip into the past, she could dare believe this. "You met him... Well, in a way, or found his resting place?"

Shaisha would feel the tingle that passed through his body as he remembered his victory at the temple. It was a victory over himself. It was freedom, the very thing Sith strive for. He turned to look at her.

"I met him, yes. An echo of him perhaps. But it was him. And I am Sith."

"You are here before me now, and I believe you." His feelings could be felt, and it made her excited on his behalf. "Not only that you saw him, but that you are, truly, Sith."

He placed a hand on her heart, feeling her energy, and just smiled.

"My choices are my own. I am free." He leaned in and kissed her gently on the forehead.

"Now. Tell me about your night."

"Last night?" She asked, letting out a sigh.

"Not a good one, to be honest... Met Zeno after I spoke to you. Kr rather, he called me and needed help. I won't say the details of his state, but he was a broken man, spirirually and mentally, when I found him then. I think I managed to help him a little."

"And then... Kristal. Seems like I was having a night of being support for others. We settled some of our differences, I guess, and helped her deal with a two-timing jerkface."

He seemed happy to listen and nodded at the right points.

"So Zeno was broken." It was good to know that he suffered, although since his encounter with Dari Van it seemed less important.

"And your friend was betrayed, presumably by Torsin? I've only met Kristal a handful of times, but she deserves so much more. She has a strength to her that one. She's better off without Baras' puppet in her life."

"Agreed," she sighed. "She was always the best of us; the kind that will bring greatness to the Empire. Torsin is a goddamned idiot and deserves his shithead of a master."

It was clear that she held no love for Baras, and whatever she had felt for her fosterbrother was sour now.

"I don't really want to talk too much about it."

"You don't have to Shaisha, but if you choose to I'll listen. Make sure she breaks free of those chains though." It would be a shame to see her killed by Baras as a lesson to Torsin.

He left that hanging and just enjoyed her presence.

"I trust she will. Syl tricked her in at her most vulnerable, and then broke her heart for a twi'lek he hardly knows who could very well be using him. But she is stronger than him."

She breathed in deeply and internalized her anger for a later time.

"You are a welcome presence this early in the day... As if you are a different man each time we meet."

"Change is the nature of the Dark side Shaisha. I am reforging myself. Learning without limits." He smiled pleasantly. "That is the way of the Sith, even if many have forgotten."

Looking down at her he wondered which path she would follow. Whether they would be allies or enemies in the future. At least they would have the choice.

"Where will you go when you graduate Shaisha?"

"Where I will be, who knows," she smiled a little. "Darth Vowrawn will most likely take me on as his apprentice, and from my meeting with him, he seemed to allow for leeway in how I best serve him. If possible, I would want to serve him in a way that allows me to work with those I've come to consider dependable in this group of acolyes. Like yourself."

She didn't want to consider Jo'ren an enemy in the future, not because of how underhanded she would have to be to bring him down, but because she had grown fond of the ever-evolving pureblood.

He nodded and cast his thoughts to the future.

"Darth Vowrawn. An interesting choice. At least our Masters are not openly opposed to each other. That makes it more likely that our paths will cross again to mutual benefit. I would like that."

Given his recent revelations the modern Sith style of backstabbing and betrayal held no interest for him. Not that it ever really had, but now he knew it was a false path.

"Me too," she admitted with a pleased smile. "I think we could accomplish a lot more together, rather than needlessly contributing to silly in-fightings. Not to mention, I believe we could potentially complement eachother very well if given the chance to work together."

Her hand reached out to brush over his hair; a gesture of friendly affection, rather than a move to indicate a deeper lust for something more physical.

"We do compliment each other rather nicely it's true." He looked at her calmly and then some humour snuck onto his face as she ran her fingers through his hair.

"You know my ancestor Sek'nos was renowned for his good looks and wore his hair in a single braid. Apparently he was quite the ladies man." He just smiled at her, not making any move to anything else. "What do you think I should do with mine? It is rather luxurious."