Darth Cyclonis: Dark Lady Of The Sith

Chapter V

After completing Overseer Tremel's task, Lark returned to Overseer Harkun's office. Upon entering his office, Ffon was nowhere to be seen. 

Harkun: You took your time, slave! I half expected to hear that you got yourself killed. None of the others have come back by now. I assume their dead by now, which means you and Ffon are the only ones left. 

Lark: Where is Ffon? 

Harkun: You took so long that I sent Ffon ahead. Your final trial will be to retrieve an ancient map from the innermost chamber of Tulak Hord's tomb, which has never been breached in thousands of years. But before you get the map, you need to awaken ancient assassin called a Dashade that sleeps in the tomb. You cannot access the map without it. Understand?

Lark: Is that it? Sounds simple enough. 

As Lark was about to leave for the Tomb of Tulak Hord, she was stopped by Harkun. 

Harkun: One more thing, slave. You'll be competing with Ffon for this map. Whomever brings the map with become Darth Anarchis's apprentice. The other will die. Last I heard, Ffon has already entered the tomb. Here's some advice. Run, slave, run. 

Lark quickly realized that the odds were against her. Her very life rested upon retrieving this map. Before she could begin making her way to the Tomb, Darth Anarchis entered the Overseer's office. 

Darth Anarchis: Acolyte! I've been expecting you! 

Harkun: Darth Anarchis! An honor, my lord!

Darth Anarchis: I've come to see the hopefuls off on their final trial. Hm. It seems one of them is missing. Where's the red one? Ffon I believe his name was. 

Harkun: He finished his trial early, so I sen him on rather than keeping him waiting for this....

Darth Anarchis: Pity. I just finished studying the information from the Holocron this Acolyte brought from the Tomb of Marka Ragnos. The knowledge from this Holocron is the key to get the map. It is impossible otherwise. 

Upon hearing this, Harkun was stunned. Lark however was ecstatic. To see Harkun's plan backfire so quickly caused the young Acolyte to smile. 

Lark: Good thing I didn't start running, Overseer. I might've ended up in the same position as Ffon. 

Harkun: It's....it's too late! Ffon has already left! He's already entered Tulak Hord's Tomb! You can't just....

Darth Anarchis: Can't what? Give one Acolyte an advantage over another? Overseer, when has being Sith ever been about being fair?

In that moment, fear gripped the Overseer. In a singular lapse of judgement, Harkun had made a critical error. Darth Anarchis then turned to the Acolyte.

Darth Anarchis: Now, my dear Acolyte, here is what you must do to free the Dashade. There are three artifacts placed within Sith statues near the entrance to the Dashade's chamber. You need to electrify them in order to open the door. I advise caution when dealing with the Dashade. It is a powerful and deadly beast. 

Lark: It will be done, my lord. 

Darth Anarchis: Good. I will return when both Acolytes are back from the tomb. As for you Overseer, you will do nothing to further affect the outcome of this trial. Understood?

Harkun: Y...yes, my lord.

With her trial now begun, Lark wasted no time in making her way to the Tomb of Tulak Hord. After a long and ardueous journey which consisted of killing her way through beasts and tomb raiders alike, Lark reached the innermost chamber of the Tomb. She soon reached the door that led to the Dashade's chamber. Seeing the statues, she unleashed a torrent of Force Lightning upon one of the statues. Immediately, the lightning chained across the three artifacts of the statues. The lightning then worked it's way to Lark. Feeling a surge of power within her, she unleashed that power on the door, which opened the door. She soon saw the Dashade in the chamber.

Lark: The Dashade......

Lark then made her to the stasis chamber in which the Dashade was sealed in. Lark looked upon the Dashade with curiosity. As she got close, the Dasahde awoke and began speaking an ancient language. 

Dashade: <Ha! All the world conspires to mock me! Haha! Tulak Hord! I have waited years for you. I did everything you said! And this is what you send me? Ha! Fate is cruel to me, little one. But not as cruel as it to you. You made a terrible mistake.>   

Despite the ancient language, Lark was able to understand the words that Khem Val spoke. Lark remained composed in the sight of the Dashade. She calmly approached the Dashade and spoke to him with authority.

Lark: Here me, Dashade! I was sent here to awaken and free you! I need your help to locate an ancient map from the Tomb of Tulak Hord. You will help me!

Dashade: <I am Khem Val, servant of Tulak Hord, who was called the Lord of Hate, Master of the Gathering Darkness, Dark Lord of the Sith. Together, Tulak Hord and I devoured our enemies at the battles of Yn and Chabosh! We brought the entire Dromund System to his knees. Now I await his return.>

Lark: Tulak Hord is dead, Khem Val. He has been dead for a thousand years. You reside in his tomb.

Upon hearing this, Khem Val was in disbelief. Khem Val remembered Tulak Hord as one of the greatest warriors of his time. To hear that he was dead greatly distressed the Dashade. 

Khem Val: <Dead?! Impossible! My lord, why didn't you come for me? I would've died for you. No. I would've slain death itself! As for you, you should not have come here. For I hunger and I will devour you!>

Khem Val the lets out a mighty roar as he broke through the stasis chamber. Once free, Khem Val approached Lark. He towered over her and prepared his large Vibrosword. Knowing a battle was ahead, Lark pulled out her Vibroblade and prepared to fight against Khem Val. To Lark, Khem Val was the key to the ancient map as well as becoming Darth Anarchis's apprentice. Despite Khem Val's imposing stature, Lark was not intimidated. She would harness the power of the Dark Side and overcome this challenge or die trying.