The outer Rim

In the asteroid belt of Kedrun IV

The Facility of Asteroid 13-K

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The Sith shuttle passed through the facilities protective shielding, it's wings folded away as it landed on the grated platform. A group of armoured soldiers lined up in two rows standing either side of the ship, standing dignified and disciplined. Several officers stood waiting, with their arms behind their backs. The hangar was silent enough that a quiet hissing sound was heard clearly as a ramp fell from the rear of the shuttle. A singular large figure strolled slowly down the ramp, his body and face hidden by the Siths signature black cloak. This man was known as Darth Ordatus, a Sith Lord.

Ordatus grimaced under his black hood, not because of the unnecessarily large welcoming; in fact he quite liked the sense of power it gave him, no, he grimaced due to reason he had come to such a remote facility.

This facility was originally an asteroid mining facility, but after the asteroid was depleted of it's resources it was converted in to a temporary slave holding ground, specifically for force sensitive children. That was the reason he was here, the Dark Council and therefore, the Emperor, ordered him to choose one of these slaves to be his apprentice.

That is why he grimaced. There were several reasons he still did not want or have a personal apprentice, for one he didn't want to be killed in his sleep by a power hungry Sith that he trained himself. This happened unfortunately often in the Sith ranks and since his views are often considered quite radical for a Sith Lord, it would increase the chances of it happening to him several times over...

Well maybe that's what they were hoping for, there were several members of the Dark Council out for his head after all. Of course their official story is that due to the Siths low numbers they're thinking of training force sensitive slaves to be their shield on the front lines against the Republic and he was to be one of the first to do so as a test. With the Dark Council, however it's never that simple.

Ordatus began walking forward signalling that it was acceptable for the facility officers to do the same The three officers sent to greet him placed their right arms over their chests and bowed. "Lord Ordatus? We have been waiting for your arrival. I am Commander Teskis." The man that spoke was clearly the Commander of the facility, even if he didn't say anything he had that air about him.

Ordatus stared at Teskis, even from his appearance you could tell he belonged in the Empire, pale skin, sharp features and a prim and proper haircut. Boring, basically. Ordatus took his eyes away briskly marching past the officers. "Clearly." he growled out, the three men raised their heads and quickly turned around to follow behind him, the commander walking fast to catch up with him.

Ordatus sensed fear in the officer, it well hidden, but it was definitely there. Any Empire soldier with any sense at least feels some fear towards the Sith. It was more prominent in the soldiers they walked past, a Sith Lord is terrifying enough, but Ordatus towered over most other men, it gave him a certain presence. Of course such a thing pleased him, in the Sith fear meant everything, if the men fear you more than they fear the enemy, then they will fight to the death if ordered, after all the anger of a Sith Lord can be worse than death. He wasn't planning to torture any soldiers and preferred to interrogate his prisoners first, there's no point in senseless torture.

Teskis led Ordatus through the facility towards where the force sensitive slaves were made to line up for him, they passed by several cages on the way, all filled with various enslaved races of all ages, beaten, bruised and broken. Many of their eyes were filled with hate and loathing, whilst others were... Blank... Ordatus accidentally let out a disgusted grunt, "I understand your feelings my Lord, their a vile lot are they not?" Teskis spat out an insult towards the cowering slaves.

"Mm." Ordatus replied. That was exactly what he wanted them to think, in truth it was them that disgusted him, slavery never sat well with him, he was entirely against it in fact, but having the officers here knowing that would complicate the process somewhat. They would most likely contact the Dark Council and another one of his 'controversial' opinions would be known to them, they're already not fond of him as is.

After they had passed several more groups of slaves and Ordatus slyly tripped up a rather violent slave handler in clear view of his officers, the group finally reached a heavily guarded room. Ordatus paused in front of the large metallic door in front of him, so this is where the force sensitive children are, I understand that they have the force, but are so many guards necessary? Ordatus thought to himself.

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Teskis came in to view, "Is something wrong Lord Ordatus?" A look of concern was spread across the commanders face.

"It's nothing." Ordatus answered the man's concern, proceeding to walk towards the door. There was a whirring noise as the door unlocked and lifted in to it's frame above. A line of scarred, tattered and starving children was revealed behind it. Ordatus walked briskly in to the room.

"These are all the force sensitive slaves, as requested my Lord." Teskis bowed once again signalling towards the line. Ordatus let out a rasping sigh. It irritated him that it had finally come to this, after everything that's happened in his life, to just be killed by an apprentice... It's a depressing thought. The Sith Lord considered for a moment. What if I chose the weakest child? A coward, my assassination would be a lot less likely then.

Ordatus shook his head, he was probably over thinking things, for starters he was quite a powerful Sith, the chances of an apprentice being able to sneak up to him without him feeling it was low in the first place, he just couldn't underestimate his enemies in the Council.

With a flutter of his cloak Ordatus brought his hands around behind his back and began a slow stride past the slaves, looking in to the eyes of each one as he passed by. It was just as he thought, he could only sense fear, hatred and anger in these slaves. Some stared in to his mostly hidden eyes with defiance in theirs, other had their eyes fixated to the ground, shaking in fear... None of them would be loyal, they would disobey him or kill him at the first opportunity they had and who could blame them? He grimaced once again, he still had to choose one of course, not even he was foolish enough to disobey the Emperor.

Having resigned himself, Ordatus was about to pick a child at random before he came across one single child that felt different to the rest. It was a young girl with greenish-yellow skin and deep red eyes, as red as blood. The girl was a Mirialan, a race known for their spiritual nature and geometrical tattoos. Ordatus still sensed anger in her, like the others, but very little hatred and almost no fear, instead he felt hope... What could she possibly be hoping for in a position like hers, is it bravery, or stupidity? The young girl stared at him, Ordatus could sense great potential in her... The Sith furrowed his heavy brow, perhaps, with her he can achieve his goal.

The towering Sith Lord leant down facing the girl and slowly pulled his hood down, revealing an old, scarred and withered face. He was bold with thick eyebrows and a well kempt, but thick beard which covered a strong jawline. His eyes a deep ocean blue, with an intense stare. The girl stared back at him, unflinching. "What is your name, little one?" Ordatus attempted to keep his voice gentle, he didn't think he could scare the child, but it's better to be safe. Teskis and the other officers behind him seemed surprised at his actions.

The girl also seemed surprised by his actions, it must have been quite odd to a slave. "I was not assigned a name, my number is G-1134." Ordatus grunted, so she was born a slave then? He lifted his great body signalling towards the Commander to deactivate her Viro-cuffs, Teskis nodded to the guard captain, who pressed a button on his wrist causing the viro-cuffs to fall to the floor.

Ordatus leant back down to be face to face with the girl. "Do you know why you are here... Why I, am here?" The slave girl shook her head gently. "You are here because you are force sensitive, and you will be my first apprentice." He stated.

The slave girl looked confused "Apprentice?" her brow scrunched up whilst she was tilting her head. She began rubbing her newly released wrists that were completely blue from bruising.

Ordatus nodded his head at her question "Yes, I came here to choose a slave as my apprentice, and I chose you, girl. You are strong with the force." The slave pointed at herself still confused. Ordatus nodded. "I will give you a name, I'm sure you don't want to be called by your slave number for the rest of your life. Therefore from now on you will be known as Reliqus, apprentice of Darth Ordatus. Do you understand?" The girl, possibly now starting to understand the situation, hesitantly nodded her head. "Good, now follow me, I have much to teach you, my young apprentice." Ordatus pulled his hood back over his head covering his face and strode back to his shuttle. Still unable to comprehend her situation the now ex-slave followed her new master. He could hear Teskis behind him calling ahead to have the guards ready for the Sith Lords arrival. They must have anticipated him taking a few days to decide, however he was already certain of his decision as soon as he saw the girl.

Under his hood Ordatus smiled, in his young apprentice, he could now sense another emotion... Happiness, it was only a glint, but it was there.