"Oh, you've decided to notice, have you?" It was a light, snarky, smirky, joke though. It had come up more than once. He'd accepted it, confusing and strange though it was.
Yes, he can tell that Malgus absolutely despises him. It's easily made clear by the fact that he hasn't been killed yet.
"I can't tell you everything. He was my student for 12 years. He came to the Jedi late - very late - at ten years old. He was a slave before that. He has always felt things deeply. He is the most loyal person I have ever met. He is the best pilot and lightsaber duelist I have ever seen. He loves as deeply as he hates. He lacks impulse control and is arrogant. Had he gone to Sidious without first being dismembered and on fire, he would be better than his Master now. As it stands I've very little idea of how much he's lost, in either power or skills."
It is Malgus' turn to smile, though his is hidden. There is so much the Jedi does not know about the force.
"Being wounded does not negate power if one knows how to adapt."
Malgus is a prime example of this. Despite his injuries he's lost nothing.
"Do not assume he has lost anything. The Dark Side can give strength through the greatest of pain. In battle, I feel none."
The rest was interesting though. Loyalty was an aspect Malgus respected and the rest were useful skills. Perhaps he could turn the apprentice away from his current master. It was a thought at least.
"I am not assuming based on pain. Or even injury. I am suggesting that having lost a large percentage of his body, having four prosthetic limbs and limitations of being encased in a life support suit may still be a situation he has not entirely adapted to, yet."
He turned away and back to the databank. He's missed so much and 3000 years was far to long to look up and read everything. He might have to keep the Jedi around longer, a living 'databank' of current events at least.
Until he finds someone else.
"After we arrive planetside, we will engage in battle. A test of your skills will give me an indication of your apprentice's." If this Jedi has survived this long, he has to have some skill.
"We are? How lovely. Do you mind telling me how you intend to stop the battle, as we are presumably not interested in killing one another at this point?"
Also lightsaber combat in the middle of a Sith World where he may or may not be hallucinating.
He could leave that there and was almost tempted, but being a smart ass only runs so deep.
...Which is plenty deep but not quite that deep.
"In training scenarios, we tend to use lower powered weapons or an agreed upon signal for surrender." He hadn't really had to work hard to come up with one for Anakin, it had just... been there, from familiarity. Others had been Jedi and had used the force or a word, and with newer trainees lower powered weapons that were painful but not deadly. "I suppose simply saying 'stop' will suffice."
"Do you plan on losing a limb or being consumed by flames?"
Could be a joke or he could be completely serious. Either way he did not plan on losing anything. One of his hands was mostly cybernetic anyway.
Sith training sometimes used swords that were not as deadly as a lightsaber, but could still kill someone. That the Jedi would use something 'safer' was not all that surprising.
"It will be a Sith planet. I may be hallucinating. I may also spontaneously burst into flames in the presence of that much dark." A pause. "So possibly."
"Stronghold, perhaps. I can only imagine the difficulty of moving or aiming it."
Yeah, he was joking. He was being an outright smart ass. "Though I should tell you that I'm not certain I've heard of more than a handful of Jedi respond to even that level of concentrated Dark Power to the degree I did. I am apparently delicate."
Yeah still smart assing. About the delicate part, anyway, in spite of being more than a foot shorter and probably well under half the weight of Malgus.
That was either a continuation of the joke or simply a statement. Though this Jedi is apparently ... quick witted, he has yet to see any indication of physical skill.
Though avoiding death is in itself a skill.
He's reserve full judgement (beyond his disdain for Jedi) until he saw it first hand.
"That was the implication of delicate," he said, mildly.
"I'm going to sleep. Wake me when we need to land, and try not to run into an asteroid."
He knew that was unlikely. He was snarking, but without offense. He was also tired, which meant moving to a bench to sleep until they landed was next on his priority list.
...He clearly had a great deal of concern about being weak.
One: He was not so deeply asleep that, after years of serving as a general in a war, flying and on a variety of ships, he could have slept through the change in the vibration and sound of the engines that preceded landing
Two: As they got through the atmosphere he could Feel the planet and energy that saturated it.
Dromund Kaas, was essentially Malgus' homeworld and once the Capital of the Imperial Empire. Those who were to be Sith Masters either came here or Korriban. The cities were once great and powerful --
Now reduced to ruins, mostly hidden by foliage that ran rampant around the planet. Finding a good landing spot was not the easiest task, but he got them close enough to the Academy, or what was left of it. Most of the wildlife scattered with the ship's approach.
Malgus rose and gestured towards Ben to exit the ship. While he did not have to lead the way outside, he was going and only partially because the Sith wasn't completely sure he wouldn't just take off with the ship.
He kept feeling steadily more uncomfortable as they landed, tension creeping up the muscle on either side of his spine, into his shoulders and neck, but he said nothing.
He didn't even complain about leading the way off the ship though he made it about six steps before his steps slowed, then stopped, his eyes fixed on nothing apparent, his pupils dilated and he started hearing - fortunately quietly, voices.
Also fortunately they weren't saying anything yet.
Unfortunately this was horrible and had he the option of taking the ship and leaving he might have.
"Welcome to Dromund Kaas," Malgus said while stepping ahead of Ben. He gestured for him to follow. The Jedi could try to run, but at this distance he would not get very far.
Vines of the jungle planet crept around the walls of the building that despite the years was somehow still standing. Some of the other imperial ones scattered around were not so lucky.
As perhaps a show of his power, the Sith stepped towards the mostly covered entrance. With both hands raised he used the force to grab the invasive plant life. Pulling his hands apart the vines snapped and shattered, clearing the way.
"Ignore the whispers of the dead, and be glad we are not on Korriban where they would be much louder. More invasive."
Which should at least give the Jedi some comfort that he's not the only one who hears it ...
"Shall I clap?" he asked, voice pretty strained at the moment but still without any rancor or malice. It was, still just him mouthing off in a quiet way.
He was terrible at ignoring voices in his head, dead or otherwise, and he was horrible at pretending that he didn't feel the Darkness in this place surrounding him like an oppressive, suffocating, force - pun intended.
He was pale, and he was actually, if only slightly sweating.
The dark side could be very smothering as it attempted to consume all around. It was like a thick cloud that threatened to cover everything. To a Jedi it must feel terrible, as the light feels like an annoying pressure in the force to a Sith.
He smirked slightly at the Jedi's obvious discomfort. He was holding up well all things considered. Anyone with a weaker mind might have broken already.
"I did not know you were so eager, but yes." He gestured lightly and his lightsaber flew to his hand before he ignited it. "But are you ready for one?"
Malgus lifted his own blade slightly towards his own face as something of a salute. Not really in a mocking fashion as he did to goad the Jedi at the temple though.
While his own posture was not defensive, it wasn't aggressive either. He waited a few moments to see if the Jedi would attack first.
When he didn't move, Malgus went to make the first strike. He leaped forward with speed aided by the Force and intent to slash at Ben's midsection.
He deflected and evaded the slash, but he did so with the absolute minimum of motion necessary, and that really did set the pattern.
He evaded, he dodged, but he only very rarely did anything particularly... visually appealing or even visually anything much at all. Even when he 'attacked' it was turning deflection into an opportunity, and mostly using Malgus' momentum against him.
The suffocating weight of the dark-side around him certainly affected him. He was expending more effort, working harder, than he might have otherwise been.
He wasn't outwardly doing much but his hair darkened with sweat, but he also didn't fall off balance, become uncentered or sloppy.
He just... did his thing. Was himself. Quietly, undramatically, simply in a very particular kind of zone, doing what he did and fighting as himself.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
"What do you want to know?"
no subject
Irritating ... Annoying ... Thankfully not infuriating, otherwise Ben would be dead by now.
Though he definitely has Malgus' full attention by now. Which can be good or bad depending on how someone wants to look at it.
"I want to know everything."
no subject
"I can't tell you everything. He was my student for 12 years. He came to the Jedi late - very late - at ten years old. He was a slave before that. He has always felt things deeply. He is the most loyal person I have ever met. He is the best pilot and lightsaber duelist I have ever seen. He loves as deeply as he hates. He lacks impulse control and is arrogant. Had he gone to Sidious without first being dismembered and on fire, he would be better than his Master now. As it stands I've very little idea of how much he's lost, in either power or skills."
no subject
"Being wounded does not negate power if one knows how to adapt."
Malgus is a prime example of this. Despite his injuries he's lost nothing.
"Do not assume he has lost anything. The Dark Side can give strength through the greatest of pain. In battle, I feel none."
The rest was interesting though. Loyalty was an aspect Malgus respected and the rest were useful skills. Perhaps he could turn the apprentice away from his current master. It was a thought at least.
no subject
Hey, he had used pain -even physical, but still.
no subject
He turned away and back to the databank. He's missed so much and 3000 years was far to long to look up and read everything. He might have to keep the Jedi around longer, a living 'databank' of current events at least.
Until he finds someone else.
"After we arrive planetside, we will engage in battle. A test of your skills will give me an indication of your apprentice's." If this Jedi has survived this long, he has to have some skill.
no subject
Also lightsaber combat in the middle of a Sith World where he may or may not be hallucinating.
Wonderful.
How do these people find him?
no subject
Most of the time.
Malgus had no intention of losing control as he still needed the Jedi alive. The local wildlife might not be so lucky if his rage were to take over.
no subject
He could leave that there and was almost tempted, but being a smart ass only runs so deep.
...Which is plenty deep but not quite that deep.
"In training scenarios, we tend to use lower powered weapons or an agreed upon signal for surrender." He hadn't really had to work hard to come up with one for Anakin, it had just... been there, from familiarity. Others had been Jedi and had used the force or a word, and with newer trainees lower powered weapons that were painful but not deadly. "I suppose simply saying 'stop' will suffice."
no subject
Could be a joke or he could be completely serious. Either way he did not plan on losing anything. One of his hands was mostly cybernetic anyway.
Sith training sometimes used swords that were not as deadly as a lightsaber, but could still kill someone. That the Jedi would use something 'safer' was not all that surprising.
no subject
Was that a joke?
Maybe.
no subject
He assumed the Jedi was joking, if not he was being highly overdramatic.
Though a planet where Jedi just instantly burst into flames would be the most effective place to hold a new Sith Temple.
no subject
Yeah, he was joking. He was being an outright smart ass. "Though I should tell you that I'm not certain I've heard of more than a handful of Jedi respond to even that level of concentrated Dark Power to the degree I did. I am apparently delicate."
Yeah still smart assing. About the delicate part, anyway, in spite of being more than a foot shorter and probably well under half the weight of Malgus.
no subject
That was either a continuation of the joke or simply a statement. Though this Jedi is apparently ... quick witted, he has yet to see any indication of physical skill.
Though avoiding death is in itself a skill.
He's reserve full judgement (beyond his disdain for Jedi) until he saw it first hand.
no subject
"I'm going to sleep. Wake me when we need to land, and try not to run into an asteroid."
He knew that was unlikely. He was snarking, but without offense. He was also tired, which meant moving to a bench to sleep until they landed was next on his priority list.
...He clearly had a great deal of concern about being weak.
no subject
Malgus took the time to familiarize himself with the controls. Modern ships had some differences, but the basics were sti the same.
Which is why he didn't bother to wake the Jedi when they approached the planet or when he went to land.
no subject
For two reasons.
One: He was not so deeply asleep that, after years of serving as a general in a war, flying and on a variety of ships, he could have slept through the change in the vibration and sound of the engines that preceded landing
Two: As they got through the atmosphere he could Feel the planet and energy that saturated it.
So, he sat up, rubbed his eyes and waited.
no subject
Now reduced to ruins, mostly hidden by foliage that ran rampant around the planet. Finding a good landing spot was not the easiest task, but he got them close enough to the Academy, or what was left of it. Most of the wildlife scattered with the ship's approach.
Malgus rose and gestured towards Ben to exit the ship. While he did not have to lead the way outside, he was going and only partially because the Sith wasn't completely sure he wouldn't just take off with the ship.
no subject
He didn't even complain about leading the way off the ship though he made it about six steps before his steps slowed, then stopped, his eyes fixed on nothing apparent, his pupils dilated and he started hearing - fortunately quietly, voices.
Also fortunately they weren't saying anything yet.
Unfortunately this was horrible and had he the option of taking the ship and leaving he might have.
no subject
Vines of the jungle planet crept around the walls of the building that despite the years was somehow still standing. Some of the other imperial ones scattered around were not so lucky.
As perhaps a show of his power, the Sith stepped towards the mostly covered entrance. With both hands raised he used the force to grab the invasive plant life. Pulling his hands apart the vines snapped and shattered, clearing the way.
"Ignore the whispers of the dead, and be glad we are not on Korriban where they would be much louder. More invasive."
Which should at least give the Jedi some comfort that he's not the only one who hears it ...
no subject
He was terrible at ignoring voices in his head, dead or otherwise, and he was horrible at pretending that he didn't feel the Darkness in this place surrounding him like an oppressive, suffocating, force - pun intended.
He was pale, and he was actually, if only slightly sweating.
He also: "You wanted a battle?"
no subject
He smirked slightly at the Jedi's obvious discomfort. He was holding up well all things considered. Anyone with a weaker mind might have broken already.
"I did not know you were so eager, but yes." He gestured lightly and his lightsaber flew to his hand before he ignited it. "But are you ready for one?"
no subject
Even with Malgus' saber ignited, he did not ignite his own. His posture only subtly shifted, becoming more centered, weight more balanced.
"Eager to get it over with, yes."
He'd move with Malgus did - not before.
no subject
While his own posture was not defensive, it wasn't aggressive either. He waited a few moments to see if the Jedi would attack first.
When he didn't move, Malgus went to make the first strike. He leaped forward with speed aided by the Force and intent to slash at Ben's midsection.
no subject
He evaded, he dodged, but he only very rarely did anything particularly... visually appealing or even visually anything much at all. Even when he 'attacked' it was turning deflection into an opportunity, and mostly using Malgus' momentum against him.
The suffocating weight of the dark-side around him certainly affected him. He was expending more effort, working harder, than he might have otherwise been.
He wasn't outwardly doing much but his hair darkened with sweat, but he also didn't fall off balance, become uncentered or sloppy.
He just... did his thing. Was himself. Quietly, undramatically, simply in a very particular kind of zone, doing what he did and fighting as himself.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)