Raivo finished the debrief with Avalon, this was his first time seeing her in person, and he had to say the holoprojectors didn't do her justice. She was quite stunning physically fit, with soft features that seemed to be unable to harden up with her field experience. She had noticed him scrutinizing her, but she ignored it with the professionalism expected of one her status. He admired that in her, but he also detested it.
"What's the point of going through life if you don't allow yourself the pleasures of this world?" Raivo thought to himself as he strolled back to his new lavish quarters on Drommund Kaas. He passed by a couple of Sith Lords who were watching him as he walked by. He only knew them by name; Lord Caelus, a Kiffar Sith who's hunting skills were that of legend, and Darth Lyrius whom Raivo knew little of except Lyrius was considered crazy even among Sith.
They nodded to him, and Raivo sensed a twinge of approval from both of the Sith, they had clearly learned of how Raivo dealt with his master, and they were among the rather few Sith who approved. Raivo could care less, but it was nice to know he had potential allies should the need for them arise. Raivo's quarters were right there, he had arranged for a small party to be held in his quarters since they were large enough to accommodate such celebrations.
The party had already started, and Raivo moved through the crowd to his private chambers to change, he put on some white robes that he enjoyed wearing because of the stark contrast it gave. Raivo enjoyed being at odds with whoever he was around, and it made him smile to see other Sith unsettled by his presence. This particular group didn't seem to care much as most of them were already merry with the effects of the many drinks Raivo had available.
A young Sith woman approached Raivo with a coy smile "Hello you look like you could use a break, my name is Ulah." Raivo smiled back, "Well Ulah what did you have in mind?" She looked Raivo in the eyes, a gesture few below him lived through. "Follow me." She said as she turned and sprinted. Raivo gave chase and followed her to an open terrace revealing the Drommund Kaas night sky. It was a beautiful sight to behold, and Raivo was with another beautiful woman.
Something was off here but Raivo wasn't too worried, he knew his heightened senses would be aware if her intentions were to kill him so he ignored the feeling as she kissed him deeply. His danger sense flickered right before she drove a very small dagger into his back.
Enraged Raivo grabbed her by the throat and tossed her off the terrace. Her reflexes were good enough to save her as she grabbed the ledge and pulled herself back up. Raivo ripped the dagger from his back with the Force a trail of crimson lightning following the blade as he hurled it at her. The supersonic speeds at which the dagger traveled were no match for the young Sith woman's reflexes she batted it aside with her lightsaber.
There was something off here, Raivo could sense that her mission was not to kill him, but something else. Right then he felt it a slow trickle throughout his blood... "POISON!" Raivo yelled in his mind, he didn't let the realization slip in the Force however, he allowed himself to become enraged about the betrayal while slowly using the Force to purge the poison from his body.
His outward expression was one of a sinister calm. "We could have had a lovely night, and you went and ruined it." Raivo said with what appeared to be a sad smile. "My master wishes you dead." She snarled somehow losing the charm she had held in her voice moments earlier. Raivo smiled again, "A pity, I wonder how he'll take to the loss of his pretty young apprentice."
She charged at him with the full power of the dark side engulfing her every action. Raivo didn't bother igniting his lightsaber, she was young, impetuous, and weak. Her strategy was to delay him so that the poison could weaken him before his confrontation with her master. He would allow her to think she had completed this task for now.
He waited for her to be right on top of him before he moved her lightsaber crashing down atop his head. He sidestepped and grabbed her arm using the Force to dissolve the flesh on her forearm and hand like acid. She stood horrified as her lightsaber hit the ground and all she had to stare at was the skeletal remains of her arm.
Raivo leaned in and whispered to her "The poison you stabbed me with only works well on full humans, you would do well to research your target more in the future." He left her standing there in shock still staring at the bony hand where flesh used to be. Too in pain to scream but too horrified to collapse, she was frozen in agony. Raivo had taught her an important lesson tonight, but now he would kill her master.
Raivo could feel her master calling him out, and Raivo intended to meet him with great force. Raivo picked up speed and anger as he moved through the temple, few were dumb enough to remain in his path but those that did were knocked aside by the sheer pressure Raivo had before him in the Force.
The training room of all places, Raivo sent the door from it's sealed position to the opposing wall as he came into the large chamber. The Sith master dodged the door but was clearly surprised the poison hadn't weakened him.
"I take it you got my message?" The master replied, Raivo growled "I don't care who you are or what your status is, you will beg me for death before this night ends." The master laughed "A bold statement, I think you will find I'm not as forgiving as your former master, you do not deserve the title of Sith yet, your master gave the title to you out of love, he was too soft on you."
Raivo was intrigued, "Oh? I was not aware that my stripping him of the mantle was a weakness on my part." The master laughed again, "Let me introduce myself, I am Darth Vesvious and I knew your master well, he could speak no wrong of you, and often considered you a son... Simply put he let you win."
Raivo gathered his anger, "Well I suppose there's one way to settle this then." Vesvious smiled, "Yes, you swear yourself to me, become my apprentice, and relearn all the things he couldn't teach you."
Raivo didn't blink, "No I think I like the option where I make you beg for death." Vesvious looked genuinely shocked, "So be it, a pity you won't be reasonable." Raivo ignited his crimson blade at the same moment Vesvious did. Raivo could sense the immense dark energy from this master, but he didn't care.
Vesvious obviously had prepared for combat, but he hadn't prepared for killing, and advantage Raivo intended to exploit. He came in quick feinting the impulsive recklessness of one his age so Vesvious would assume Raivo was an idiot. Vesvious toyed with Raivo parrying and riposting, but not delivering killing blows. Raivo had the information he needed. He unleashed the full power he had been holding back relying on his knowledge of Juyo and the power of the dark side to fuel him.
Vesvious while surprised didn't give much ground, he was a full dark lord of the Sith, and he was in armor, Raivo was bare foot and in light almost see through white robes. Raivo could imagine the picturesque battle in his head and he relished the idea using it to power his rage.
Vesvious released a telekinetic push that sent Raivo flying into one of the columns. Raivo brushed it off and used the time to unleash his own barrage of Force energy. The red lightning cackled about in a brilliant display burning the robes that Vesvious did have in between his armor spaces, but it didn't do any physical harm.
Vesvious laughed and attacked again utilizing Makashi to bat Raivo's powerful blows aside and manipulate his defense. Raivo had enough playing games he pulled out the dark ebony colored knife he carried and began using it in tandem with his lightsaber.
When Vesvious was too far away Raivo threw the knife cutting skin only but still frustrating Vesvious to no end, when Vesvious moved in to attack Raivo would bring him in and slash the knife at the straps holding Vesvious' armor on. Raivo had to be careful though he already had several burns where Vesvious' attacks had come too close for comfort. Raivo relished the pain, accepted it and used it to focus it back against this man who defied his right to the title of Sith.
Raivo finally saw his moment, Vesvious stepped in to attack lightsaber over his head when Raivo sent a telekinetic wave rolling towards Vesvious. He braced himself for the attack and he didn't move an inch, but the same could not be said for his armor. The armor flew off of him smashing into the wall behind him. The shock was obvious on Vesvious' face and in the split second it took for Vesvious to regain his composure Raivo had already unleashed his signature lighting on Vesvious' bare unprotected body.
Vesvious' skin bubbled where the lightning was concentrated which was right in the center of his chest. It was precise low energy lightning meant to maim not to kill. Raivo held the lightning there until Vesvious' lightsaber fell from his hands. Raivo tugged the lightsaber to him with the Force and hooked it on his belt.
He walked slowly towards Vesvious who was trying to use the dark side to fuel his body to get up and fight. He lifted his finger which lifted Vesvious up to eye level with Raivo. He took his knife and buried it deep in Vesvious gut ensuring not to hit any vital organs. Raivo held the blood and entrails in so the pain would last longer.
He took out his lightsaber and pinned Vesvious to the wall holding him just so the lightsaber wouldn't cleave through his shoulder but was always searing new flesh. Vesvious screamed in pain, Raivo didn't think less of him for this. Raivo pulled the lightsaber from him dropping him to the floor. He then cleaved off a hand ensuring after each cut Vesvious was fully conscious.
Raivo then used his exceptionally sharp knife to remove Vesvious' other hand. Cauterization was painful, but Raivo figured Vesvious would appreciate watching himself bleed out. Raivo leaned in and whispered in Vesvious' ear, "You know how to end this, don't you?" A tear rolled down Vesvius' face, Vesvious had spent so much time planning to take Raivo as his apprentice, he did little to prepare for the fight. Such was true of many Sith Lords these days they used their intimidation as masters to get what they wanted. There were many masters who didn't have the prowess to kill anymore. Raivo wouldn't stand for this kind of blatant complacency.
Vesvius' now raspy voice struggled, "End it, go ahead you win. I underestimated you." Raivo smiled, "No, you will live with the disgrace that happened here tonight, as will your apprentice." Raivo then turned and walked away from the master who defied him. Upon returning to his quarters the Sith still there were now paying attention, Raivo was wounded badly sustaining a deep gash in his rib cage from a lightsaber blow dealt by Vesvious, Raivo's white robes were now red from both his blood and Vesvious'. Raivo ordered everyone out as he retired to his chambers and climbed into a nice tank of kolto that had been prepared for him by Avalon. Raivo smiled, "How long before you place a dagger in my back?" He slipped into a deep sleep allowing the kolto to heal his wounds.
