Chapter Text
His new apprentice stood, blood covered him, a look of rage was in his eyes as he looked at his new master. Danarius was not sure how he felt about this one winning. He had been told many times by other Sith that choosing from an older group of children was a bad idea, however their already instilled intelligence was useful, he did not care to raise a child. He did not expect the one child with no force sensitivity to win. Having killed all the other children, a practice well honored by Sith for picking apprentices, he was the only one left to train.
The elf walked up to his master ignoring the corpses around him before kneeling before the man. He was strong and obviously willing, perhaps he would survive the experiment. And even if he didn’t, there was a sister who actually did have a force sensitivity, though hardly any strength, but she would do if the boy failed.
“You have done well young Leto.” Danarius said in a calm voice as he knelt down and held the boys chin in his hand.
“Thank you master.” He responded as he looked into his master’s eyes. This man would be his future, his teacher, and his liberator. No longer would he be a simple slave but rather a Sith in training, and his family would be free.
“Even without the abilities of the force you have managed to easily win against your competitors. That is no small task, I am very impressed.” The look in Danarius’s eyes cut through Leto to his core and he did not enjoy the feeling.
“If I may make a request master.” Leto asked turning his eyes away from Danarius though he was not able to turn his head.
“So soon?” Danarius asked shocked yet very curious about this odd new apprentice.
“Yes, I wish for my family’s freedom, our race is far too often enslaved, as your apprentice I hoped to have the influence to free them as you have freed me.” Leto asked, though his voice was strong his shoulders slumped and he ever so slightly tried to back away from his master. Danarius smiled at the audacity of the boy as he considered the request.
“Very well my apprentice, I shall grant your boon. Your family will be safe with one of my loyal servants. Though you will see very little of them with your training.” Danarius warned, Leto looked back into his eyes unable to fully mask his joy at hearing that his family would be liberated.
“Thank you master. I have always understood that my training would be demanding of my time. Simply knowing they are safe is enough.” Leto responded as he let out a sigh of relief.
“Allow my men to clean you up little wolf. You are officially my apprentice now, I will not have you covered in the gore of those weaker than you.” Danarius announced as he stood encouraging Leto to stand with him. Glances to the side Danarius signaled for two of his guards to come forward and escort Leto out of the room. A man walked up to Danarius then.
“The boy is young, and very strong, he should survive the procedure.” The man assured. He was a scientist too afraid to stand up to a Sith commanding him to do a task, and too curious to resist the offer of being part of something like this, no matter how inhumane it was.
“I do hope so.” Danarius signaled to his last guard to come to him. “Arrange for the mother’s death, she is of no use to me. The sister however.” At this he paused before continuing. “I wish for her to be a servant to you my loyal scientist. Once the procedure is over, you will not see the boy again unless I command, but train the sister and keep her close enough that I can find her again should I need to.” Danarius commanded with a cold disconnect.
“Of course my lord.” The guard said with a bow as he left the room.
“I understand lord Danarius, it will be nice to have another pair of hands. I believe that I have perfected the method to allow the crystals to grant enough power to those embedded with them. They are the source of your weapons after all, and the force is unnaturally drawn to them. Not being force sensitive might be a good thing in all truth.” The scientist responded having to adjust the dials on his translator while speaking.
“For your sake, I hope you are right.” Danarius warned.
***
“Marian try again.” Her father called as he adjusted Bethany’s stance. Marian growled as once again she attempted to unlock the chest in front of her with her mind. Her father watched proudly as she finally succeeded and beamed up at him.
“You should still learn how to do it for real.” Carver grumbled as he swung his practice sword angrily at the dummy made of straw.
“Do not be angry. The force is as real a method for preforming an action as using your hands is. And there is nothing wrong with using one or the other.” Their father tried to reassure the only son of the family. Bethany swung the practice lightsaber as she used the force to send jokes to Marian’s mind. Bethany had always been better at the more ethereal ways of the force, direct connection to other minds, using the elements, sensing the pain of another, asking the plants to grow. Marian had always excelled at the physical force, moving objects, turning the force itself into a wave to push at someone, picking locks, even using the force to see in situations when she couldn’t.
“Father, tell me of the Jedi again.” Bethany begged as she often did. Marian did not need to hear the story again. She knew it well enough. The Jedi, the organized force users who fought for peace and were controlled by the government. Their father had once been one, taken from his family at a young age and raised in the gorgeous halls of their temple. Harsh restricting rules forced on him that were broken when he fell in love with a beautiful ambassador’s daughter. Now they farmed on an outer rim planet. The known Jedi to have children and two out of three were force sensitive. The Sith did not share information and it was unknown whether or not any children of theirs had a tendency of being force sensitive.
“Perhaps later little one. Your mother likely will want help cooking. I will call you when the food is ready.” Their father said with a smile before walking away leaving the three children alone.
“You two are no better than Sith.” Their brother sneered.
“Take it back Carver!” Bethany whined.
“If you aren’t part of the Jedi faction that only leaves the option of being a Sith when you are force sensitive.” Carver continued obviously proud that he was getting a reaction from his twin who was on the verge of tears. Marian used the force to pluck an apple from the tree nearby and threw it at Carver hitting him square on the back.
“Enough Carver! Do not say such things to your sister. There are many rogues among force users. Go back to swinging your stick before I tell father what you said.” Marian threatened as she looked down at her brother, she knew one day he would tower over her, but for now she would take advantage of her height to stop her brothers bullying ways. Better to deter this kind of behavior now than have him be cruel later in life.
“Yes Marian.” Carver mumbled as he shrank away from his older sister. He knew she was right, but he hated being the odd one out of the family. Hated living in Marian’s shadow, one day he would surpass her, but not today. Instead he went back to training as she suggested he did. Marian watched him storm back to his training dummy and shook her head. She loved her siblings dearly, but they were a handful.