<I>Jedi Hunter Maaks sat motionless, facing Dajorra's falling sun, eyes half-closed and straining to watch its dying rays.<BR><BR>Â
Upon the creation of his lightsaber, he had been brought here by the Consul,personally, to a circular dais atop Arcona Citadel on Selen. It was the first time he had been allowed to the Ziggurat's upper levels: the Holy of Holies of Clan Arcona, where its greatest secrets lay. And, he suspected, if he failed in his tasks, it might well be the last time.<BR><BR>Â
The last rays dipped beneath the horizon, and a final ray of light seemed to linger, just moments, on the Jedi Hunter's face.<BR><BR>Â
It had been an apparently easy task: Meditate, without calling upon the Dark Side, without food or drink, with the sun full in the sky, from dawn to dusk. The Quaestor had given a simple but forceful warning as the Jedi Hunter had set himself down for meditation: Failure to obey would be met with death. After that, the Clan's leader had requisitioned the Journeyman's lightsaber and left him to his own devices.Â
Darkness creeped forward as the sun finally disappeared, cloaking the Journeyman in shadow. Night had fallen.<BR><BR>Â
Wordlessly, the Jedi Hunter stood and turned around.Â
Figures, robed, with lightsabers in-hand, stood upon the ziggurat, apparently waiting. Maaks recognized many of them: Arconae, Summit and other luminaries, each important within the Clan. Still others stood silent and hooded, wordless and hidden. And before them all stood Zandro Erinos Arconae, Lord of the Shadow Clan.<BR><BR>Â
"Jedi Hunter Maaks," intoned the Quaestor, "you have come before us seeking to be elevated, have you not?"<BR><BR>Â
Maaks nodded, eyes downcast. "I have, Master".<BR><BR>
"Then understand that any hesitation, any disobedience, any defiance will result in death. Do you?"<BR><BR>Â
Again, the Jedi Hunter gave a nod, more cautiously this time. This elevation seemed unlike any other trial within the Houseâ¦there was an unspecified sense that told him that his very life was at stake, here. Around, the gathered Arconans seemed to tense just slightly, and fingers hovered over an activation button. "I do, Master."<BR><BR>Â
"Very well then," said the Consul. "What makes you believe you are ready to become one of us?"<BR><BR>Â
An easy question, to begin with. "I have finished all tasks set before me by the Summit, and brought each to a good end."<BR><BR>Â
"Oh?" the Quaestor snarled, suddenly, as his face contorted with disgust. "You mean the construction of this trinket?"<BR><BR>Â
Zandro reached within the folds of his robe, taking out a small cylinder.<BR><BR>Â
Maaks recognized it instantly. It was his lightsaber.<BR><BR>Â
The Jedi Hunter looked at the Quaestor, shocked. "Yes," he said weakly, as Zandro weighed the weapon in his hand.<BR><BR>Â
The Quaestor snorted contemptuously, and tossed the weapon off the ziggurat without so much as another glance.<BR><BR>Â
"No!" Maaks screamed, heedless of protocol. There, tumbling through the air, was a work of months: Something that the Jedi Hunter had poured his heart, his soul, and all his skill with the Dark Side in to create. And it was about to be unceremoniously destroyed by another's hand. It felt like someone ripping out his heart.<BR><BR>Â
And suddenly, that void within his chest was filled with anger. And power.<BR><BR>Â
Maaks reached out a hand as fury spilled into his eyes and face, all propriety forgotten. The weapon abruptly reversed course, flashing to life before it had even finished settling in his hand. In a single, fluid motion, the Jedi Hunter ran through his Quaestor with the shimmering blade of his own making. <BR><BR>
The Quaestor seemed puzzled for a moment, as he stared at the Journeyman. Then, a smile appeared on his face. "Very well," Arcona's ruler managed to get out, before collapsing into shadow. <BR><BR>Â
Maaks looked around, expecting the gathered Arconans to reach for him any moment now, but no such attack seemed forthcoming. Instead, the Arconae and Summit had their lightsabers still in-handâ¦but they appeared overall more relaxed, and some were even smiling. <BR><BR>Â
"Congratulations," a voice said. <BR><BR>Â
</I>But..no! That's impossible!<I> thought the Jedi Hunter, as one of the previously hooded figures removed said hoodâ¦only to show the face of Quaestor Zandro Erinos Arconae. <BR><BR>Â
Then, comprehension dawned. </I>Of course. A Force Wraith.<I><BR><BR>Â
The Quaestor approached him, seemingly without fear or tension. "You have learned the final lesson of the Dark Side." <BR><BR>Â
" It'sâ¦about power, isn't it?" Maaks ventured. <BR><BR>Â
"It's </I>always<I>about power," the Quaestor replied, smiling slightly. "But yes. The final lesson is this: Power is never given away. It is always taken. If someone should block your path, strike him down. Even if that someone is me." <BR><BR>Â
The Jedi Hunter nodded, comprehension dawning. Around him, the gathered Arconans lit their weapons, one by one. Around the ziggurat itself, on lower levels, others responded in kind, until the night sky was lit by dozens of separate weapons. <BR><BR>Â
"Soâ¦what will it be?" Zandro asked, bringing forth a lightsaber of his own. "Do you claim the mantle of the Dark Jedi Knight?" <BR><BR>Â
Maaks understood. Nodding slowly, he lit his lightsaber and raised it high. A hundred Arconans followed suit.<BR><BR>Â
Triumphant and ascendant, the newly frocked Dark Jedi Knight was first to shout as a hundred sabers pierced the sky:<BR><BR>Â
"ARCONA INVICTA!"</I><BR><BR>Â
I,Timeros Caesus Entar Arconae, hereby request a promotion for Jedi Hunter Maaks, who has fulfilled all requirements for promotion under the Dark Jedi Brotherhood's promotion guidelines, as follows:<BR><BR>Â
Maaks has been a Jedi Hunter for over six weeks.<BR><BR>Â
Maaks has earned a Dark Cross for his services. <BR><BR>Â
Maaks has earned a Crescent with Amethyst Star for his competition activity. <BR><BR>Â
Maaks has participated in the following five competitions: One Vendetta event, Spoils of War, Hymn of Victory, Wun's Movie Quotes, Voice Haiku competition<BR><BR>Â
Maaks has completed the following two Shadow Academy Leadership Exams: Leadership Studies, Leadership Fundamentals<BR><BR>Â
Maaks has created and run the following competition: Blind leading the blind<BR><BR>Â
Maaks has performed the following major House Task: Maaks has spent several months leading the Sukhur's Legion and Black Hammer Battleteams.<BR><BR>Â
Maaks has written a ten-page character fiction, approved by the House Leadership. Â <BR><BR>
Maaks has created and run the following additional competition:Maaks' Vizor Competition. <BR><BR>
Maaks has completed an additional final major fiction task, as follows: Maaks has co-written Dxun Reprise (total size: thirty pages).<BR><BR>
As Maaks has met all the necessary qualifications, I respectfully request his promotion to Dark Jedi Knight. <BR><BR>Â
In darkness, <BR><BR>Â
KPN Timeros Caesus Entar Arconae
Timeros Caesus Entar Arconae, 2010-12-05 15:01:21 UTC