The Hunt begins.

A day later.

The day after arriving to the planet Dromund Kaas, and Korey was already up and following her master to meet his master Zash, at her office.

Things were a little tense, after yesterday and she was feeling very sore after her first training session with the Sith apprentice and the Dashade.

Khem Val and Djaeric drilled them hard. The combat training was intense, far more than anything she had endured on Korriban. But then again, she didn't have much time to learn much there anyway.

But something, was off. After disappearing with his brother, Korey noticed that Djaeric had returned slightly agitated and annoyed. And maybe had even taken out his frustrations on them.

It was bugging her greatly, but for the time, she decided maybe it wouldn't be appropriate to ask.

The trip to Zash's main office on the Imperial Home world wasn't as bad as one might think, the Sith offices were located north of the city, and sure the only way there was to take a shuttle ride, but even that was far more pleasant than anything Korriban had to offer.

The official Sith headquarters was very similar to the offices on Korriban, many halls plastered with the empire's insignia, with many Sith Lords of all ranks wandering them.

With so many of the strongest Sith wandering around them, Korey couldn't help but feel small.

" Don't worry about them." Djaeric muttered.

Korey looked up for a moment, breaking her thoughts and saw the apprentice staring back at her as he walked.

" Don't mind them. Not now. We're seen as fleas in their eyes. They wouldn't waste their breaths with us." Djaeric told the girl. It was meant as a comment to calm her nerves.

Yeah right, as if that was gonna work.

She was just a simple farm girl only a few months ago, and now she's in the heart of the Sith empire. How did he expect her to stay calm in a place like this?

Korey tried her best to remain composed, but her anxiety could be seen from a mile away.

And even entering Lord Zash's personal office didn't do much to alleviate that stress.

" Ah, my apprentice. You've arrived at last." Zash was as energetic as possible. The moment Djaeric walked in, her face lit up like a firework, but then her eyes averted to the people with him, and she seemed a little unpleased. " Ah, who are these people with you?"

" These are my associates, Korey, Wydr, and Balek." Djaeric told the woman.

" Associates?" Zash's eyes wandered over the three acolytes rather whimsically. It was like the woman was amused by the obvious implications. " Well, the more the merrier, am I right? After all, five blades are better than one. Just make sure you keep them close." Zash told the man.

" Of course, ma'am." Djaeric muttered.

" Now then, let's get down to business." Zash spoke.

" Of course, but there is one more thing, I need mention. We ran into Darth Skotia in the Hangar. He said he had a message for you." Djaeric told the woman.

Zash jolted from her seat, slightly surprising Korey and the others.

" Damned Skotia! What business has he, going behind my back, speaking to my apprentice?" Zash exclaimed. " Trying to intimidate you no doubt. Wretched monster! More machine than man and dangerously powerful. Ever since I arrived on Dromund Kaas as an apprentice. He's made every effort to stand in my way."

Zash was exceedingly frustrated by Darth Skotia, perhaps even more than Korey thought herself.

" He is flesh. He can be killed." Khem Val spoke up.

The stoic and powerful Dashade was none too concerned by the Dark lord. Perhaps it was bravado, or maybe it was due to his own personal lifetime of experience.

" Ultimately, we cannot even begin the search for Tulak Hord's ancient power with Skotia's rattling breath on our necks." Zash stated.

" Then perhaps, you could allow me the honor of taking care of him. With a little more time and practice, I believe I could substantially overwhelm the Darth." Djaeric told the woman.

" I fully intend for you to kill Skotia for me, but there is still much to be done, and much for you to learn. Your time will come apprentice." Zash told the young man.

" What will you have me do?"

" We must be smart." Zash told the young man. " I cannot be tied to Skotia's murder. Brazen power plays make the Dark Council nervous. But nobody will believe that a mere apprentice could defeat Skotia. It's impossible, and that's why it will work."

" So, I'll be doing your dirty work."

' Dear apprentice, where I go, you go. If I go up, you go up, and meanwhile, I must make plans for when we get there. So, listen closely. I've begun to piece together the puzzle for Darth Skotia's destruction- But some elements have yet to fall into place." Zash explained. " Out in the jungle, a group of slaves has recently revolted. They were working on a colossal statue that has since gone unfinished. I believe Skotia is hiding something of great importance near this statue. I want you to get the archaeological plans to the area from one of the slaves and contact me by holocommunicator." Zash had laid the first step in her plans out, but not very clearly.

Korey believed in her mind that Zash had some idea what it was, Skotia might have been hiding, but she was keeping it close to chest. And if Korey could tell, then most certainly Djaeric could.

" It will be done." Djaeric told the woman. He bowed respectfully to her, and quickly turned-on heel. " Come, all of you. Let us be on the way. " Djaeric commanded.

As they turned and left Zash's chambers, Khem Val approached Djaeric with concern.

" The witch stinks of death. Give me the command to devour her." Khem Val asked Djaeric.

" In time Khem Val. We'll play things close for a bit. We are still, after all, new to this planet and its politics. Though, if she shows any signs of betraying us, then by all means, be ready to kill her, all of you. Until then, we'll play nice." Djaeric told the crew.

He was being generous in trusting in Zash, however he wasn't an idiot to blindly follow her every command.

No Sith was ever that trusting, no Sith was ever that nice. To blindly follow would be to endanger the lives of everyone under him, which was unacceptable as a leader.

He'd play things nice.... For Now-