Sith

"Republic Vessel Ardent Fire, you are unauthorized to be in this area, keep all weapons down and wait to be Tractor guided to the station for processing. Confirm?"

"Confirm"

"Please state your intent now."

"I seek out the Sith Academy."

There was no response. The ship lurched forward and the Ardent Fire was brought to a small docking bay near the top of the station, he didn't get a good look though, so the type of station was unknown.

Walking to the exit hatch, Jaiden mentally prepared himself for whatever he was about to face….but he couldn't. A sinking feeling settled in his stomach, a dreaded thought went through his mind.

'I'm not ready'

Then his heart-rate spiked. He had to fight to control his breathing. Jaiden was scared. He wasn't terrified like a rabbit during the hunt, nor nervous before a crowd, he was just scared. He was scared in the way children fear the dark...the fear of the unknown. He had been so excited before, so ready, so objective about his situation that he hadn't really stopped to consider if he could do this.

'I'm about to borderline lie to a Sith...I'm about to willingly subject myself to one of the most brutal societies in Galactic History. This was so easy to think about when I was hyped up in the thought of learning the force and mastering the saber but I didn't *think*. I've spent a month preparing for something I couldn't have been ready for if I'd had years... why did I do this'

Then a crushing realization hit him.

'I'm not just ill-prepared mentally...I'm probably genuinely not ready. Darth Bane struggled at first and he worked in brutal mines for 10 years...I'm so so *stupid*.'

His thoughts were cut off when the hatch opened.

-----

Power and Fear. That was what hit Lord Malleus when he looked at the *boy* on the ship. Malleus, for the first time since becoming a Sith Lord, was shocked at another being's presence.

He blinked for a moment when he realized that the power, in fact, *had* come from a boy no older than 17. The young man was about 6 foot with dusty brown hair, slightly wild looking, angular Kuati features, and luminescent violet eyes.

The boy reeked of fear, the power he radiated being tainted with it. He didn't exactly blame the boy but that was definitely an issue that would need to be solved.

He had heard such confidence over the com and had assumed he would be taking some noble brat down a peg or two, but he understood now.

'This kid went all high and mighty, coming to be an all-powerful Sith, then walked up to the hatch and panicked. This should be entertaining.'

"Name?"

"Jaiden Starsearcher, sir."

'Now *that's* interesting.'

"As in...Starsearcher Space works….I had heard you were all dead."

'Certainly explains the bite-sized ship killer.'

"Not quite….just me now."

Malleus almost felt pity for the kid, though that particular emotion had been beaten out of him long ago.

'He's hiding his fear well, talking well if a little stiffly, let's probe.'

"What in the Red Sun's name made you believe it was a good idea to show up in Brotherhood space and so arrogantly demand to see the Sith Academy that *only* the Sith should know about as of now?"

That last fact wasn't even slightly true, the Republic had likely infiltrated them long ago, but it would trip the kid up.

"I...must apologize. I wouldn't presume to demand something from those who could remove me with a thought. And your information on your secrecy must be...outdated."

'He stood his ground while giving no information and calling me wrong. Smart, if a bit safe.'

"Must be...what makes you believe you have the ability to make it through this academy?"

Malleus was then alarmed by the force and he braced himself still.

A gale of wind exploded from the kid before him, nearly pushing him back and heavily stressing the Air-lock they stood within. He felt the boy's shock and horror at what he had done.

'He can draw power from fear...that's very useful.'

"Fair enough. Follow me."

-----

Jaiden hadn't been expecting to do paperwork when he made the decision to attend the Sith Academy. Currently, he was working through a *Citizenship test*. He was still trying to calm down from the outburst from before, barely holding on to his resolve.

If the Sith had taken his little *demonstration* the wrong way, it could have been devastating for his future here. Thank god for small miracles.

Finishing up, he walked to a desk and handed the datapad he had been using to a secretary. She then waved him through scanners and he was greeted by the Sith from before.

"Well, *Jaiden*, welcome to Korriban, your new home for the foreseeable future. Now may I ask how the Jedi never found you?"

That...was a question Jaiden actually couldn't answer.

"I don't know."

"What brought you to us."

"I...don't know?"

"That is a dangerous answer to that question. We Sith are a paranoid bunch."

"You seem unusually open about this."

"Because nobody on this station is a threat."

Well wasn't that a fun statement.

"Where are we going?"

"To the shuttles to take you planetside."

"That fast?"

"If something doesn't check out, you'll be eliminated. That isn't any of our jobs."

Again, another very fun answer.

"What about my ship?"

"If you turn out to be okay, it will be landed by the Academy for your use after training. Whether or not you can use it is decided by your career path, though."

"...Ah."

"It's a beauty, by the way. If you know your family secrets, you could earn yourself a very high position…"

Memories flooded into Jaiden's mind, various schematics and design techniques the droids had taught him growing up.

"Maybe...maybe not."

The Sith chuckled at that.

"I didn't say it was your choice if you did know them...I just pointed out what you could do with that information, provided you had it."

"Oh."