Prologue: The Day we went off the rails
The Red Engine is known for surprising the people who activate it, but no one ever says anything about people coming out of it. But that surprise is something that Overseer Tremel desperately needed in his struggle to take down the rising acolyte Vemrin before he became the apprentice of one of the most powerful Sith in the Empire. Normally, a discovery like this would be reported immediately to Imperial Intelligence, in order to establish some kind of report on what is going on, and whether it could happen today.
But desperate times call for desperate maneuvers, and so, in a blatant violation of his own mantra, Tremel ordered the shuttle carrying the unknown element towards his personal pad. Normally, due to the changing policies of the Sith Empire, there are shuttle-loads of potential acolytes who leave...most die. Maintenance Repairs, while necessary, also interrupt the flow of traffic, causing backup.
The shuttle lands, and three people walk out: two guards, and a previously unknown female. Compared to the Marine and Recon troopers, the girl appears to be completely different and out of place. While the unknown element looks around in wonder, the subject is left with a vibrosword and is left alone as the troopers go back in the shuttle and leave for their assigned duties.
With a look akin to confusion, the mysterious woman heads toward the only open path: inside the landing depot. As she looks around, an stern voice says "Ah, at last you arrive."
Vibrent green eyes turn towards to the source of the voice: a middle-aged human with a dark uniform and a rod at his side. His posture commands respect from those who are less than him, and the position of Overseer made Tremel one of the most powerful people on Korriban.
But even an Overseer can't do everything.
"Good, good, we have much to do, and every moment is critical...you do understand me?"
With an audible pause, the woman looked puzzled before responding with "Uh, yeah. I can hear you loud and clear."
"Good. I'm Overseer Tremel, for decades I've overseen the trials to see whether or not one is worthy of being Sith. They are a chance to weed out the week, and bolster the worthy into becoming Sith...or prove to be the undoing of a dreamer."
"Uh..." The woman nervously paused, before replying with "Can I not die?"
"Pass the trials, and you can overcome any adversary. Yes, you are here, and are in the academy because of me, I expect you to obey."
"Suuuure, Mr. Tremel sir."
"The trials are difficult enough for any acolyte, but they aren't the only danger here: there's another adversary here named Vemrin. He's your enemy, and he will come after you.
"Hold on!" The woman raised a hand in apparent frustration. "Sith? Trials? Vermin? What the heck is going on now?"
"....All you need to know is that you are a threat to him, and he to you. We need to make sure that you can stand up to him."
Tremel pointed towards the vibrosword, before continuing with "That practice sword is insufficient, the blade of lesser acolytes. You need a stronger blade. Head towards the Tomb of Ajunta Paul, there you will find an 'ancient' war blade.
"Be warned: the path towards and the inside of the tomb are full of K'lor Slugs-deadly, savage creatures. They've been the end of many a weakling."
"Ah...shouldn't there be some kind of security protecting people? They sound like pests."
"Once you acquire the warblade, I suggest you take your time to bloody it. And as for protectors..." Tremel cracked a grin and said "you'll see their sorry state soon" as he walked out of the depot.
The empty depot was quiet, and let the woman get her bearings for some time before exiting out into the arid Korriban air. Blacking the sun with her hand, she looked towards the rectangular building in front of her, which looked ancient and ruined. Just like an ancient Tomb.
With nothing but a sword on her back, a vague understanding of something going on, and the only way of continued existence just beyond, the woman realized something that made her finally feel fear for the first time on this place. This was NOT the home that she remembered, and if that's the case...then she really was stuck here. But this was probably deserved, and of all the people who knew about the Red Engine incident, Just Monika knew the ramifications of what this would lead towards...
