"Harkun was nothing but a xenophobic tool. The dreg of the Sith, the obstacle of those who aspire to be grander." Lord Kallig say as he paced with his hands behind his back. He was still radiating of pure ecstatic power, the freedom of the ghosts' constant pestering and their agonizing grip to now this; the end of one annoyance and the claim of an apprentice.
A true apprentice.
Ashara wasn't an apprentice, not truly. She was a means to an end. She was a Jedi at her core, it took time to mold her. She tested his skill as a master, the patience and careful prodding, to study and know his enemy while turning one of their earnest own to his own.
Well, he supposes she is his regardless.
Xalek was different. He was a war slave prepared for the Empire like him. He went through the trials of Korriban as a blunt hammer, he gave no finesse or care to the rituals and intentions behind it. Kallig can sense that he didn't respect what it is to be Sith. At least one true of the Empire's more intricate paths. So, Kallig will be the one to shape him along the grindstone.
To be a proper blade etched in his words. For a brief moment, he felt Zash in the back of his mind. Then it was gone, only this moment.
As Kallig regarded the Kaleesh warrior, he looked into those cold, calculating golden eyes. "You are a warrior, as such, you are also a being of cunning and purpose. And so you will be my blade and you will move to my fingers, wrist and intent."
"Yes, my Lord." Xalek answered with his head bowed. Ah, to hear that...it brought a ebb of pride and achievement. "And as mine, you will learn. To be Sith, there is more to Power that make right. Power is the end to our great quest. Power over our enemies. Power over the worlds we claim. Power over our very selves and in the end, the Force is ours to wield."
Kallig clenched a clawed fist with a crackle of his dark power licking along his knuckles and armour.
"Repeat after me,' Lord Kallig spoke, his voice darkening with full venomous authority. This wasn't a suggestion nor request. "Peace is a Lie. There is only Passion."
"Peace is a Lie...' Xalek spoke after him, Kallig studying him with a keen gaze that the warrior recognized since he was a pup. It was a master seeking for even the slightest lack of conviction to the words spoken. 'There is only Passion."
"You will learn many on this ship understand these words but few grasp it. The Dashade on this ship, he is mine. He was once the personal guardian and assassin to one of the greatest Dark Lords whom tomb now sit on the red sands of Korriban. Tulak Hord. Even now, he mewl of his Master after all these centuries, reminding me of my lacking power. This galaxy will never know peace, Apprentice. As long as the Force exists, it demands balance and scales are never inert long.
Some generations, the Light oppresses the galaxy and everything fester, stagnate until finally the galaxy can take it no more.
Some generations, the Darkness rises and from its consuming power, the galaxy burns to cleanse itself from weakness. Constantly challenge all without and all within till only the powerful remain and the cycle begins anew. Your world does similar does it not, tribes fighting in honour of gods, warlords and opportunists beyond your clouds?"
Xalek made little expression of his face but there was a subtle change in the air and twist in his lip, surprise kissed the air. "Yes, Lord. The Kaleesh are a people of warriors for the gods and to achieve such ascension, we fight, bleed and end our enemies. And to achieve even greater, we accept the beckonings of companies and star warriors."
Kallig nodded, "And this, there is only Passion. Passion of battle, of love, of survival, of achievement, of Power. No matter who or what you are, Passion is our ambrosia and salvation. Without it, we rot and be forsaken."
He could see that ping of understanding and almost, a hint of appreciation. No doubt after suffering ignorance and barbed abuse from Harkun and other Imperial traditionalists, this was a far greater improvement as the ship was in her jump for the moffs' meeting.
"Now repeat it again." Kallig instructed with a two fingered point and Xalek shifted, "Peace is a Lie. There is only Passion. For Peace is a falsehood that the weak desire in cuddled hope that none will challenge their lives and deny them the higher calling with the fire of Passion to pull them from the cold, familiar ground. And thus, there is only Passion of the Galaxy."
The Sith Master sighed inwardly. Finally...someone without a softer claim to the Code. Both expressions were potent and taking but he have felt denied for so long. As he said to Ashara, there is a thousand Sith Philosophies as there is a thousand Sith. All are wrong and right, it is the great destiny that they will kill each other till one Rule stand over all.
"Good. Let us continue. With this new understanding, this will be simple,' Kallig say, "Through Passion, we gain Strength..."
And there it was, that light in the eye. Like the taste of water after a long walk under Tantooine's suns.
