Chapter 10: A different prize

When the sandstorm slowed down, I woke the tuk'ata and set out. Side note, tuk'ata hounds made for uncomfortable riding animals, particularly due to the row of spines running down their backs.

Thankfully, the alpha was large enough that there was enough space between them for me to seat myself without getting a spike up the ass.

Due to lacking a saddle, I held onto the spine in front of me with both hands while using the Force to direct the creature.

The great beast navigated the sand with more grace than I would ever manage, despite its size. Understandable considering that they evolved here, unlike me.

A thrill went through me as it crested another dune and leapt to the top of the next. I let out a cheer in excitement, though I quickly reigned it in.

If I let my control slip for a moment, my moment of enjoyment could quickly turn into a bloody one.

This was a joy rare to find on this dreary planet. Pity I would have to give the beast up, but I could always find another one later. Besides, I wouldn't have a place to keep it at the academy.

My mount knew where Lord Renning's laboratory was, but only because it avoided the place. If I remembered right, he had a standing bounty for acolytes to bring him tuk'ata to dissect. It's a bit understandable why they would start avoiding the place. As it was, it took a fair bit of mental pushing to prod my steed to go towards it.

As we got closer to the statue of Marka Ragnos, the first thing I saw of the camp were the cages. Big cages, small cages, odd shaped ones…plenty of room to hold the Sith Lord's specimens.

Beneath me, the alpha tuk'ata whined in distress, but kept walking forward.

I felt more empathy for the creature than the Falleen girl from weeks ago. But then, I'd always liked animals more than people. People are assholes.

I ruthlessly crushed that empathy.

Lord Renning was easy to pick out since he was the only one elbow deep in a tuk'ata corpse. The acolytes and soldiers milling about the camp gave me a wide berth as I nudged my mount towards him.

As I pulled down my hood, scarf, and goggles, I noticed that a few of the soldiers glanced my way and gave me a respectful nod before returning to their posts.

When the rotund Sith Lord saw me, or rather the beast I was riding on, his red eyes lit up like a child's on Christmas morning.

Pulling his arms out of his latest specimen's guts so fast he nearly pulled its intestines with them, he ran over to the largest unoccupied cage and threw it open, ignoring the bloody handprints he left on the metal. Side note, seeing Lord Renning run was not something I ever wanted to see again.

"Direct the beast in here, acolyte," He ordered, the glee practically radiating off him, "Quickly, before you lose control of it!"

While I was mildly annoyed at having my power insulted, I did as ordered. Carefully sliding off the tuk'ata's back, I forced the creature to enter the cage and stay still. All the while, it was shivering in sheer terror. When the bolt of the cage clicked shut, I released my control.

All at once, feelings of BETRAYAL, TERROR, and RAGE hammered my senses as the monster broadcast its emotions through the Force and thrashed inside of the cage. Its jaws snapped at me in a futile attempt to exact revenge as the durasteel bars prevented it from tearing my throat out, no matter how hard it tried.

"Excellent! Excellent!" Lord Renning crowed, his hands wringing together, "What a magnificent specimen you've brought me!" He groaned in pleasure, his eyes closing for a moment, "You can almost feel its direct connection to the Dark Side! This could advance my work by years!"

It took a moment before he realized that I was still there.

"Oh," He blinked before pulling out his datapad, his hands still stained with blood, "Of course, your reward. I will transfer the standard bounty, plus a bonus for the quality of the specimen."

While the credits were tempting, I was here for something else, "Actually, my lord, I was hoping for a different prize."

"Oh?" His eyebrow raised, his fingers pausing in their typing.

"In lieu of credits, I was hoping to learn from you," I explained, "I came across a Sith Alchemical manuscript during my trials, but I didn't want to attempt anything without a Master of the art nearby."

"Show me," He demanded, suddenly serious. He suddenly remembered his bloody gloves and quickly stripped them off.

I fished the translated papers out of my pack and handed them over. The Sith Lord read through them at lightning speed, his eyes taking in the words at an inhuman pace.

"Interesting…" Renning muttered, "While much of this is useless to my work, some of it correlates with my own research," Red eyes suddenly glanced back up to me, "Tell me, where did you acquire this?"

"I acquired it in the tomb of Ajunta Pall, transcribed from tablets before I translated it," Not a lie. I just omitted the fact that it was Spindrall who transcribed it and gave it to me.

"Hm," He grunted, "That would explain the numerous mistranslations."

I winced. Thought I'd gotten the hang of that. I guess I'd be hitting the language books again later.

"I thought I recognized Ajunta Pall's work," Renning commented, "He was more focused on improving metallurgy than organics," He held up a finger, "Not that he was incompetent as a biologist, mind you. He was practically one of the pioneers of the field along with Sorzus Syn and Lady XoXaan. It just was not his true passion."

"Still," He continued, "You show your wisdom. I am the foremost expert on Sith Alchemy on Korriban and perhaps the Empire. The Dark Council itself funds my operations here. You could not have chosen better."

I'm sure Darth Thanaton and the Emperor might have something to say about that claim, but I wisely kept my mouth shut. I didn't want to die to friggin' Renning.

"As it happens, I have need of competent assistance," the Sith Lord stated, "Most of the specimens acolytes bring me are diseased wretches or deceased, neither of which are productive for my research," He gestured towards the tuk'ata in the cage, "If you can continue bringing me more specimens of this quality, I would be more than happy to guide your education."

The beast howled and resumed its attacks on the bars of the cage. Worryingly, one of them started to bend.

"Silence!" Renning snarled, extending a hand towards it. Its red eyes fluttered closed as its bulk crashed to the ground in an unconscious heap.

I considered the offer. It was a good deal, all things considered. At the very least, Renning would be a competent, if arrogant and slightly delusional, teacher. Tracking and subduing tuk'ata would give me more opportunities to train other skills. Perhaps I should bring Gaarurra in on this…

"I accept, my lord," I replied, bowing my head.

"Good, perhaps I will be able to get more work done now," Renning smiled, "I hope a messy operating table does not turn your stomach."

After spending weeks here, watching people get torn apart by monsters, droids, magic…

"Not anymore," I answered simply.

"Excellent, we may make an alchemist of you yet," He chuckled, "We will begin the first lesson today. But first, get cleaned up. We would not want you to get sand inside the specimens. Dreadful stuff. It gets everywhere."

I shook my robes slightly and watched an avalanche of sand come pouring off.

"I'll return shortly," I stated.

I commandeered a nearby tent and started shaking out the sand from my robes. From my boots alone, there was nearly enough to make a sand castle. As I beat my clothing clean, I peeked out of the tent flap and observed the camp.

Curiously, I didn't see hide nor hair of either of Renning's apprentices. Perhaps I'm too early in the timeline and they're currently taking their trials.

After redressing, I Force pushed the sand out of the tent. No point being rude and leaving a mess for the tent's owner.

I returned to the makeshift laboratory, depositing my outer robe on a nearby chair. I'd rather not get blood on it. Renning directed me to a box of gloves and a surgeon's apron. After I was so equipped, he deposed his previous specimen from his operating table.

Then he opened the cage with my former mount in it, using the Force to put it on the table before handing me a scalpel.

"As you were the one to bring it to me, it feels only right that you should make the first cut," Renning explained, "Do not worry about waking it. Its slumber is deep."

I looked at the creature that I had tamed for a moment…

And then crushed any vestige of attachment I had to the beast. I could always find myself another.

I approached it in silence. Soon, cold metal dug into flesh.

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