Emerging back into the blazing sun of Korriban after several hours in the cool, dimly-lit rooms and halls of Ajunta Pall's tomb wasn't a pleasant experience, and I swore rather viciously and threw an arm up over my eyes. An action, I saw, that was mirrored by Kory, though she didn't react as violently as I was. More used to being in the heat and sun than I was, perhaps. Even before Nicky had taken me into her service and I had been servicing the grounds of the estate, I had been on Dromuund Kaas. Sunshine and heat were not exactly prominent features on the imperial capital, to say the very least, and even in my old life I hadn't been from a region that was particularly famous for it…though a summer day could be quite lovely, if the stars aligned sufficiently.
"Well, there's the Academy." Kory murmured from my elbow, and as my eyes adjusted I saw it as well. It was further away than it was in the game, perhaps unsurprisingly, stretching towards the sky nearly a quarter-mile ahead of us. It was enormous, of course, at least equal in size to the tomb that we had just left. Or at least so it seemed at first glance, though I was willing to bet a great deal of credits that I didn't technically have that it would turn out to be considerably larger. The Sith didn't build small, after all, and while the Academy was unlikely to be overflowing with students given the typical Sith attitudes and cultural inclinations, I was willing to bet there would be a lot more people inside of it too.
Potential rivals and threats, one and all. Directly or indirectly, one way or another, they could pose a danger to my life, to Kory's life, and to my plans for the Empire and for the future. And it was certainly true that potential allies could be found here as well, but I wasn't naïve enough to believe that such would be the default.
"Yeah, there it is. Filled to the brim with people that would probably like nothing more than to put both our heads on particularly large stakes, the Overseers included." I sighed tiredly, a feeling that was born equally of mental and emotional strain, and the strain and damage that my body had endured. Then I slung my right arm around Kory, shamelessly copping a feel while simultaneously giving her something approximating a hug. "Fortunately for us, the Overseers work under strict rules, especially in regards to us. So long as we finish the trials, they can't do anything to us at all, and acolyte-on-acolyte violence is strictly prohibited! Not that it isn't still a possible risk, of course."
"More inexplicable knowledge of the future?" she drawled in response, reaching up with one hand to free her chest from my grasp, and I pouted even as I made a noise of confirmation, letting my hand fall back to my side. Still, despite her actions, she didn't step away from me, instead remaining intimately pressed against my side. "I don't suppose you know what the other trials will be?"
"I might, though I'll keep it to myself for the time being. Without his pet pureblood, who knows what Harkun will throw at us in addition to anything Zash plans?" I shrugged, and she gave soft grunt of annoyed understanding and acceptance before pulling away from me and squaring her shoulders. "Ready, then?"
"Whether I'm ready or not, we don't really have a choice but to keep moving forward, do we?" she philosophized, and I didn't even try to restrain my snort of agreement. A moment of silent, comradely commiseration later and we were making our way towards the Academy's grandiose main entrance. Much like in the game itself, the exterior was swarming with acolytes, overseers, imperial soldiers, droids, and assorted slaves. In fact, there were so many people in the near vicinity that we drew barely a second glance, despite the tattered and revealing condition of our clothing. We were just two more battered and bloody acolytes out of many, not worth paying any attention to until we had proved ourselves worthy of notice.
And quite frankly, I was fine with people not taking notice of us quite yet. Being noticed amongst the Sith might not necessarily be an inherently bad thing, since being noticed by your superiors might mean greater rewards, greater power, and greater responsibilities which you could use to ascend even further…but it might also mean those same superiors decided that you were a problematic upstart that was a threat to their own power. Not to mention being noticed by your superiors would draw the attention and the ire of your fellow lower-ranking Sith, who would inevitably seek to supplant you.
Not to mention the fact that keeping Kory alive could, and likely would, prove problematic as it was. I didn't need to try and counter more problems than was strictly necessary, I had enough stress in my life (and more than enough plates in the air) as it was already. I certainly had no intention of adding a few more.
I couldn't quite restrain my sigh of relief as we stepped into the shadow of that colossal structure, the entrance looming over us in all it's ancient glory, and as my eyes began to adjust to the sudden darkening of the world around me, I caught sight of the two Overseers waiting within. A female pureblood and a male human, just as they had been in the game, and I gently guided Kory away from the sneering pureblood. Not that the human was any more accommodating to our presence, looking at us as if we were worth less than the dust that coated our clothes, but at least he directed us to the right place. Which was very fortunate indeed, I saw, as we made our way past the Dark Honor Guards (who did not kneel as they had in the game, because why would the guards of the Emperor himself kneel to unproven acolytes) and into the main atrium, it quickly became clear that the interior of the Academy was a far more complex place than it had been in the game. Dozens of rooms at least within easy view, and the number of would-be Sith that flitted back and forth under the appraising eyes of the Overseers and guards seemed to me uncountable. They weren't, of course, I could sense well enough in the Force that there were likely no more than a couple of hundred Acolytes presence in the Academy at the moment, and I doubted that there were too many more out on trials. Some, of course, maybe as many as another hundred, but not much more than that.
Following the directions we had been given, our much-battered pair made its way through the halls and corridors, ignoring what few mutters and looks sent our way with the ease born of a lifetime in slavery, of degradation and of being beneath notice as much as possible. The cooler air of the Academy stung our wounds and nipped at no-longer-protected skin, and by the time that we finally arrived at Harkun's chambers we were both shivering rather unpleasantly.
Though I have to admit, the very, very sour look on the Overseer's face when we walked through the door provided quite the warmth all on it's own, and I barely resisted the urge to give him a mocking smile and a wink as we joined the group of acolytes standing before him.
"Hmph. It seems your inability to be punctual continues, slave. We have been waiting for you for some time." He mocked, before folding his hands behind his back and regarding the lot of us sternly. "I was hoping to dispose with at least one of you pathetic wretches, but it seems that Spindrall's madness is deeper than I had realized. That foolish old man has deemed all of you worthy of entering into the Academy, and I am bound to follow his recommendations for this Trial. Unfortunately for you, this is the last time his lunacy will spare you the fate you deserve."
He gestured to a double row of datapads and holocomms that sat on a large plinth to one side of the room.
"Each of you is now officially a student of the Sith Academy. As such, you will be provided a holocomm and a datapad, in an effort to cut down on the amount of time we Overseers have to waste waiting for you to get from place to place or speak with us. You have also been assigned a series of a rooms to inhabit, two of you per room. Pair yourselves as you see fit, I don't care." He continued, rolling his eyes as Kory and I instantly stepped closer together, a movement mimicked by the twins, leaving the others awkwardly glancing at one another. "Hmph, whatever. Leave at once, settle yourselves in. You will receive further instructions when necessary. Acolyte Vestara, remain behind."
Kory hesitated to leave, looking at me with concern, only to leave when I made a shooing motion and told her to make sure our room was ready for my arrival. The rest of the acolytes were already gone, fleeing the room with a haste that was undignified at the very least, and I met Harkun's eyes straight on the moment we were alone.
"I suppose you're proud of yourself for removing your better from the competition through underhanded means." He said finally, leaning against his desk and folding his arms over his chest, a faint thread of [Amusement] threading off of them. "The fact that Spindrall went along with it, despite Ffon reaching his chambers first, is even more impressive."
"I saved his life, nothing more or less. The fact that it removed him from the competition is a side-effect. I would have won the apprenticeship regardless." I responded with casual confidence, shrugging my shoulders slightly, and he arched an eyebrow at me.
"You are more competent than I imagined a slave acolyte could be, even one with your…past activities." He conceded, which was a shocking enough that I couldn't stop myself from reacting physically, something he noticed easily. Snorting, he shook his head. "Do not consider that praise, girl. Being better than the rest of the trash you arrived with doesn't make you good or worth my time, never mind Lord Zash's. But I fully expect to eventually inform her lordship that none of you survived the Trials, and for her to replace this slave-Sith insanity she is pursuing for proper acolytes."
"We will see, Overseer. I fully expect to become her apprentice and rise to heights that will leave you dizzy with awe." I informed him with all the faith born from future knowledge, and he scoffed before waving his hand in dismissal and a muttered comment about me stinking up his office. Relieved and more than a little curious, I left quickly and with as much dignity as I could, intent on a sanisteam. Harkun might be an asshole, but he was right that I reeked, and getting clean so that I could examine my injuries seemed like a good idea. Honestly, if it hadn't been for Spindrall's stockpile of first aid supplies, I might have been in significant trouble by now.
As I started to make my way through the corridors once again, following the thread of connection that bound Kory to me, a slight tug on my presence and a blue-white gleam at the corner of my eye told me that my ancestor had stepped into the physical realm once more, walking alongside me. Unseen by those around us, and I could feel him twist the Force into a veil that would keep anyone from noticing us speaking to one another.
"You did well enough, my child, though the risks you took for the sake of that new concubine of yours were, perhaps, foolish for the value that she will give you." Kallig started, hands folded behind his back. A protest began to form in my mind, only to be silenced as he waved a hand a bit tiredly. "Yes, yes, I know. You wished to change her fate, and you see a future for her, above and beyond simply being a plaything and bedwarmer. Well enough, but do not allow your confidence in the future and your desire to change it to blind you. You can break yourself saving a handful of lives and changing their fates, or you can focus on the greater goals and reshape the galaxy itself."
"You're right, I shouldn't over-reach, but if I abandon people as individuals in pursuit of goals spanning star systems…it will hollow me out. Make me little better than the Emperor himself, and in that case I might as well not bother trying to destroy him at all. Besides, what's the point of changing everything if I am left all alone at the end of it?" I admitted, and he gave a low hum of consideration as he mulled over my words.
"Perhaps so, and I acknowledge that you could hardly postpone changing her fate in particular, but there is a limit to what you can do at any given time, and there is a limit to how much you should try to do. Change only what you must, gather power and prestige, influence and allies, and watch the galaxy reshape itself according to your designs." He advised firmly, and I half-bowed to him in respect to his far greater experience and wisdom. Looking satisfied, he continued in a lighter tone. "All of that being said, of course, that little plaything of yours promises to be enjoyable for you. With a minimum of training, she will make a fine outlet for your desires. Though I must insist that your first child be borne to someone of…more impressive power and pedigree. Even if only to ensure your heir is not easily usurped by their siblings."
"I wasn't planning on knocking anyone up anytime soon, Grandfather, have no fear of that. Especially not someone in as precarious a position as Kory. It would probably just get her, or even both of us, killed." I informed him dryly, blushing a little at the idea of having a kid already…even as I felt my cock harden at the idea of breeding my Kory. The amused look on his face told me he was well aware of how I felt about it, and I gave an aggrieved huff. "Just because I'm aroused at the idea, doesn't mean I will take the risk. Can't you go back to complaining about how much better the Sith Order was in your day and stop embarrassing me?"
"Don't get cheeky with me, child." He chided, gently cuffing me across the back of the head with one gauntleted hand, radiating [Amusement] as I hissed at him in response and gently rubbed the abused bit of skull. Still, he relented and turned his attention to the world around us. "I have not been impressed thus far, I will confess. Though we of the Sith Order are not known for coddling our acolytes, there is a difference between coddling them and throwing them headlong into battle without even the slimmest of training efforts. It's no more wise than handing a child a knife and expecting them to fight a terentatek. They say it is to weed out the weak, but again I say that there is a difference between lack of training and weakness."
"You won't hear me arguing against that." I agreed feelingly. The Empire had changed too late in canon, too late to survive the twin enemies of Zakuul and the Republic, and I had no intention of letting that happen again. And not out of some hatred for republics, quite the contrary. It was better for the Republic to have a star nation that was equal to it, but unaffiliated. A source of external pressure that could, perhaps, help prevent it from becoming the corrupt, inefficient, bureaucratic monolith it was during and after the Ruusan Reformation.
Though I had to admit I was less than confident about that, given the current Republic had external pressure and was still corrupt, inefficient, and excessively bureaucratic. And it didn't even have a thousand years of the Sith Line of Bane messing with it in pursuit of their greater plan to blame for it, either. And let's be honest, the likelihood that the Empire would last long enough to threaten the Republic of the Clone Wars was…minimal, to say the least, even with the changes I dreamed of making. Nations didn't last that long, unbroken. Oh, 'The Republic' had, but in reality it had collapsed and rebuilt dozens of times over the intervening time. Simply having the same name and (sometimes) a similar enough government didn't make it the same nation.
"Hmm. Your rooms. I have no doubt you plan on entertaining yourself further with your concubine, and I rather desire to roam this world and see what has changed over the centuries. There is sufficient power flowing through this world to sustain me to the point that I can stand apart from you for a time." His voice broke me from my thoughts, and I blinked over at him for a moment before nodding.
"Have fun then, I guess?" I offered, before his words landed a bit more solidly and my expression turned lecherous. "I know I certainly will."
"Hpmh. I would comment on the lasciviousness of the youth, but I was little better in my life, regardless of age." He grunted in amusement, turning and starting to walk away, shaking his head. "Do try not to break the poor girl, you will doubtlessly both have some manner of obligations to attend to tomorrow."
He, and the Force-field (heh) that he had woven around us were gone before I could respond, leaving me alone at the door. Grinning in anticipation, I palmed the door control panel, stepping through as it quietly hissed open to admit me, and my grin broadened at the sound of the running sanisteam. It seemed Kory had decided to start cleaning herself up, and wouldn't it be a shame to waste resources on a planet as dry as Korriban?
I stripped quickly and made my way towards the bathroom, rapidly-hardening cock bobbing eagerly as it led the way into the steam-filled space. Kory turned slightly, eyes widening briefly at the sight of me, a rosy blush staining her cheeks as she saw my arousal, before biting her lower lip and turning to face the pressurized steam spray again. I knew an invitation when I saw one, a feeling that only grew when she bent over to start lathering her legs, displaying her pussy in all it's glory, and I had no intention whatsoever of ignoring it.
She gasped softly as I stepped up behind her, then moaned as I pressed myself against her back with one hand going to a cup her cunt while the other stroked it's way up her stomach and over her breast to gently grip her throat. Her head fell back against my shoulder, half-rolling to the side and leaving the curve of her ear only a hairs-breadth from my lips.
"None of the boys tried to give you any trouble when it came to our room?" I purred lowly, rubbing gentle circles around her clit, nibbling slightly on the soft skin of her lobe, and she shuddered in my grasp even as her head tried to shake.
"No, none." She breathed, whimpering as I flicked her clit, continuing a moment later after she caught her breath again. "None of them want to piss you off, especially not by looking like they were trying to take me from you."
"Wise of them. I'm very jealous when it comes to my women, I don't like to share them with anyone outside of our little family. Mhm, I can't wait to introduce you to Nicky and Kela. They're just going to love playing with you, and I think you'll enjoy their games as well."
The smug satisfaction that seeped from every word would likely have had Nicky scoffing at me and Kela teasing me, but Kory just shuddered again, feeling equal parts nervous, anticipatory, and horny. That last emotion was one I could have guessed pretty easily without any cues, given how wet her pussy was getting, and what little self-control I had vanished as she moaned again. I took a step back, pulling her with me, the hand around her throat gliding around to press against the back of her neck, pushing gently but implacably.
Over she bent, the very action grinding her against my cock, her legs spreading automatically as she reached out to brace herself on the far wall, her spine bowing as she presented herself the best she could in a space this small.
"Good girl." I crooned, stroking gently along her spine from neck to tailbone, caressing the globe of her ass before smacking it sharply, getting a cry of mingled pain and arousal from her throat, her body rocking slightly from the blow and the three that followed it, before turning into a squeal as she rocked back one last time and found herself impaling her body on my cock. I groaned in utter satisfaction as her body swallowed me to the root, looking down to where her ass was flush with my stomach before giving her hip an encouraging smack. "Alright, you're going to do all the work this time. You're going to fuck yourself on my cock this time, so get those hips moving."
She hesitated for barely a heartbeat, probably surprised that I wasn't simply going to fuck her bowlegged again like I had in the tomb, before obeying. It was slow and awkward at first, her inexperience combined with the close quarters and poor position making it difficult, but within a minute or two she had found her rhythm and the real pleasure began.
The air was filled with the sound of her ass slapping against me, the moisture clinging to our skin magnifying every echoing note, the constant rhythm running underneath our moans and sighs, my encouragement and degradation and praise paired with her non-verbal whimpers and pleas and thanks. Lost in the haze of heat and hunger, painfully aroused and high on not only surviving but in accomplishing more goals in a handful of hours than I thought was possible, it didn't take me long to flood Kory's cunt with more than enough cum to replace what she had lost over the course of our trial. The sensations it gave her, and the subsequent orgasm that tore through her, had her legs giving out from under her, and I growled in discontent as she started to slip off my cock.
Well, I knew how to settle that, and unlike my original self, I was more than capable of following through on the easiest solution: looping my arms under her legs and lifting her into the air so that I could continue pounding into her in a standing full nelson. The shrieks and cries she gave in response were music to my ears, and I briefly wondered if they carried outside of our room before deciding that I couldn't care less and kept fucking the woman in my arms.
By the time we finally left the restroom, Kory had been stuffed with enough cum to gurantee a pregnancy if it wasn't for the inhibitors we were both equipped with, and was barely capable of forming a coherent sentence, never mind walking under her own power. Carrying her to bed was something of a challenge given the amount of space I had to work with, but the reward (her curled up on her side with her back as deeply pressed into the spooned curve of my torso as I could get) was more than worth it. The pride I felt in my accomplishment was immense, more than enough to have me basking in the satisfaction like a particularly pleased cat, and I let my pleasure pour into the Force as I settled in for a good night's sleep. Tomorrow would be a challenge, no doubt, but with Kory to help me in the field and in managing my stress, I was confident it would all go quite smoothly indeed.