Star Wars:The Apprentice

Pain.

That was all Adam knew now.

Every waking moment, every breath, every heartbeat—it all hurt. His body was in constant agony, his nerves set ablaze with torment beyond anything he had ever imagined.

Weeks had passed since Sidious had taken him in, and in that time, he had learned one undeniable truth.

Sidious was a *monster*.

Adam lay on the cold, unforgiving durasteel floor of the chamber, his body trembling. His shirt was torn, his skin raw with burns, bruises, and deep cuts that refused to heal properly. His breath came in ragged gasps as he gritted his teeth, fighting to stay conscious.

Sidious stood over him, his face as unreadable as ever, his yellow eyes gleaming with twisted amusement.

"On your feet," he ordered.

Adam didn't move. He *couldn't*. His body refused to obey.

A crackle of energy filled the air.

And then—

**Pain.**

A scream tore from Adam's throat as Sith lightning coursed through his body, searing his muscles, making his bones feel like they were shattering from the inside. His back arched violently as he convulsed, but Sidious did not let up. The sheer *malice* behind the attack was suffocating, like a predator toying with its prey.

And that was exactly what Sidious was doing.

Only when Adam's screams began to weaken did the lightning stop.

He collapsed onto the floor, gasping, his body twitching.

Sidious sneered. "You are weak."

Adam coughed, tasting blood in his mouth. His vision blurred, dark spots dancing in the corners of his eyes.

"Again," Sidious commanded.

Adam forced himself to move. His arms trembled as he pushed himself up, his entire body screaming in protest. His fingers clawed at the ground, and for a moment, he almost collapsed again.

But something inside him *snapped*.

A deep, festering *hatred* began to bloom in his chest.

Hatred for this place.

Hatred for this pain.

Hatred for *Sidious*.

He clenched his fists, and a sudden surge of energy pulsed through him. His vision cleared, and a fiery rage replaced his exhaustion. He *hated* Sidious. He *hated* him so much.

But that was good.

Because hatred made him stronger.

Sidious smirked, as if sensing the shift in his mind. "Good."

Adam glared up at him, his blue eyes darkened with fury. He still couldn't stand properly, but he refused to look away.

Sidious turned, pacing. "The Jedi would tell you that suffering is unnatural. That it should be avoided, conquered." His voice dripped with scorn. "But suffering is the ultimate *teacher*. It strips away weakness, reveals one's true nature. And your nature, Adam, is *anger*."

Adam's breathing was shallow, but he remained silent.

"Tell me," Sidious continued, his voice quieter now, almost a whisper. "Do you still feel guilt over those men you killed?"

Adam's stomach twisted.

He clenched his jaw.

"Good," Sidious said, as if he had answered. "Hold onto that feeling. That pain. That rage. It will serve you well."

Adam's fingers curled into fists.

He wanted to punch Sidious in his smug, wrinkled face.

And Sidious *knew* it.

But that was the point, wasn't it?

Sidious didn't want him to be obedient. He didn't want a *loyal* apprentice. He wanted someone filled with rage and *hate*. Someone who would *fight* to prove himself.

Sidious wanted him to despise him.

And it was working.

From the shadows of the chamber, Count Dooku observed in silence.

Though he was still learning the ways of the Dark Side himself, he could see what Sidious was doing. The boy was suffering, but suffering would *shape* him.

Dooku understood that now.

Three weeks had passed since he had left the Jedi Order.

Three weeks since he had taken his first step into true power.

The memory of killing Yaddle was still fresh in his mind. The way her face had fallen when she realized his betrayal. The way her life had faded as he struck her down.

She had been strong.

But not strong enough.

And now, Dooku was stronger for it.

His kyber crystal had once been blue, a symbol of the Jedi he had once been.

Now it was red, bled of its former weakness.

Sidious had taught him well.

And now, he watched as the boy was put through the same *crucible*.

Dooku stepped forward, his deep voice filling the chamber. "The boy survives."

Sidious turned slightly, smirking. "He does."

Adam forced himself to his knees, sweat and blood dripping from his face. He felt like he was dying. But he wouldn't give Sidious the satisfaction of seeing him break.

Dooku studied him for a moment before addressing Sidious. "You truly believe he is worth this effort?"

Sidious chuckled. "I *know* he is."

Dooku glanced at Adam again, his gaze unreadable.

Adam didn't care what he thought.

All that mattered was getting stronger.

Because one day, he was going to kill Sidious.

One day, he was going to make him *suffer*.

And that thought, for the first time in weeks, gave him the strength to stand.

Adam's entire body ached. His muscles felt like they had been torn apart and barely stitched back together. His ribs throbbed with every shallow breath, and his arms were too sore to even lift properly. But he was still *alive*.

Sidious hadn't killed him.

That meant he was strong enough to continue.

He sat alone in the dark chamber he had been left in, the cold durasteel floor beneath him. His fingers trembled slightly as he ran them over the bruises and cuts littering his pale skin. His body was covered in a mixture of dried blood, sweat, and filth. He had barely been given enough time to sleep, let alone properly *recover*.

But that was the point.

Sidious didn't *want* him to rest.

He wanted him to *endure*.

Adam gritted his teeth and forced himself to sit up.

His vision swam for a moment, but he refused to let his body give in.

He had no idea how long he had been here. Days? Weeks? It didn't matter. All he knew was pain. And hatred.

Hatred for this place.

Hatred for *Sidious*.

And yet, a small, bitter part of him knew that without Sidious, he would have *died* back on the streets of Coruscant.

It was confusing.

He *hated* the old Sith Lord. But at the same time…

He *needed* him.

The heavy sound of the chamber doors sliding open made him snap his head up.

Sidious entered, his ever-present smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. Behind him, Count Dooku followed, his expression unreadable.

"On your feet," Sidious ordered.

Adam clenched his jaw and obeyed.

Every part of him screamed in protest, but he refused to let himself look weak. He wobbled slightly, his legs barely holding him up, but he managed to stay standing.

Sidious chuckled. "Good. You still have some fight left in you."

Adam said nothing.

Sidious took slow, deliberate steps forward. "You have learned to *suffer*. Now, it is time to *fight*."

Adam stiffened slightly.

"Pain is merely a tool," Sidious continued. "A weapon to sharpen your strength. But strength without skill is *useless*. Today, you will learn to wield the Force as a true warrior should."

Dooku stepped forward, his gaze sharp. "Combat is not just about raw power. It is about control. Precision. The Jedi teach restraint. We do *not*."

Sidious smirked. "The Jedi fear their own power. That is why they will always *fail*."

Adam's fingers twitched.

He had seen how Jedi fought in the movies. He *knew* what they were capable of. But Sidious and Dooku spoke about them like they were *weak*.

Were they?

He wasn't sure.

But what he *did* know was that he would never allow himself to be weak again.

Sidious waved his hand, and two training droids rolled into the room, their metal frames humming to life as they extended their electrostaffs.

Adam swallowed.

Sidious gestured to the weapon rack along the wall. "Choose your weapon."

Adam hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward.

His fingers brushed over the various weapons—daggers, vibroblades, electrostaffs—but one in particular caught his eye.

A simple cortosis-forged sword.

It was heavier than he expected when he lifted it, but there was something… *natural* about holding it.

Sidious smirked approvingly. "A wise choice. The Jedi rely on their precious lightsabers. But a true warrior must be capable of fighting with any weapon."

Dooku crossed his arms. "The boy does not even know the *basics* of melee combat. He will be slaughtered."

Sidious chuckled darkly. "Then he will *learn* quickly."

Adam barely had time to react before one of the droids lunged.

His instincts screamed at him to *move*, and he barely dodged as the electrostaff cracked down where he had just been standing. The impact sent sparks flying across the floor.

Adam stumbled, gripping his sword tightly.

The second droid attacked without hesitation, swinging its staff in a brutal horizontal strike.

Adam raised his sword to block, and the impact sent a violent shock up his arms, nearly making him drop the weapon. His muscles *burned*.

He gritted his teeth.

The droids gave him *no* time to recover.

Another strike. Another. And another.

He blocked as best he could, but he was *losing*.

They were faster, stronger, *relentless*.

Adam's breathing was ragged. His arms were numb. His vision blurred with exhaustion.

Sidious watched silently, his gaze piercing.

"Use your anger, boy."

Adam clenched his teeth.

Sidious' voice slithered into his mind like poison. "The pain. The rage. Let it *fuel* you."

Adam barely dodged another strike.

His vision swam.

His body was failing him.

He couldn't—

**No.**

He *couldn't* lose.

Not again.

Not after everything.

Not after all the *pain*.

A *fury* exploded inside him.

A raw, burning rage that drowned out the exhaustion, the pain, the weakness.

And suddenly—

Everything *slowed*.

His breathing steadied. His vision sharpened.

He saw the droid's next move before it even *made* it.

The electrostaff came down—

And Adam *moved*.

Faster than before.

Stronger than before.

His sword lashed out in a blur, slicing straight through the droid's metal frame. Sparks erupted as the machine collapsed in a heap.

The second droid lunged—

Adam spun, his body moving with unnatural speed as he drove his blade through its chest, sending it crashing to the ground.

Silence.

Adam stood there, panting, his sword dripping with oil and sparks.

His heart pounded.

His body *sang* with energy.

Sidious grinned. "Excellent."

Dooku raised an eyebrow. "Impressive… for a beginner."

Adam barely heard them.

His fingers twitched around the hilt of his sword.

For the first time since arriving here, he felt *powerful*.

And he wanted *more*.