The thrumming of the old freighter's hyperdrive through the thick armor was akin to being inside a vast, purring ketharet, save that one was not being digested.  While not the most swift, or the most comfortable, the old Wayfarer class freighter had two very potent attributes that made it ideal for the small group of Sith.  First, it was inconspicuous.  Even the obvious armament was acceptable for a deep space freighter to carry; the heavy armor, laced liberally with cortosis, would be a startling surprise to any unfortunates who assumed it was easy prey.  More importantly it was spacious.<br/><br/>The students each had their own rooms in the main ship; the modular system inside the freighter's hold made it easy to build partitions and separations for their varied curriculum; and the two smaller shuttles in the hold made it possible that escape could be managed, as well as not risking direct docking with the largely unknown space station.  Of course, the final, and perhaps most critical aspect of using the large freighter was that it made it possible to house the mad droid somewhere that was not immediately near the students quarters.  It had commandeered a sizable section of the storage bay for a 'medical facility'.  It was here that Darth Simetra now sat, contemplating the heavy yellow crystal that was the centerpiece of the 'medical bay'.<br/><br/>She was not currently using the crystal; or, more accurately, she was not sharing herself with the crystal.  H8 DR01B Did not mind her toying with the crystal, so long as she left its potency undiluted and untapped.  She had no need for such 'support', but instead added layers of complexity and depth to the Dark Side the gem possessed.  Still, Simetra was wary when H8 was about; the droid itself might not be a threat, but that which it carried could be.  It said something about her that she feared the insanity of the medical droid less than the Krath holocron it was possessed of, or by.<br/><br/>She let her mind wander as she nurtured the burning, seething cauldron of venomous hate and monstrous disgust that lay inside her.  The other masters of Malachor had thought her an ideal candidate for this expedition; the students they had sent with her left a great deal to be desired, though.  Still....they had potential.  Vidanes' unusual aptitude for dealing with the 'Living Force' could be useful, if he'd ever listen to the voices outside of his head.  Then there was Damiana.  It was perhaps the most ambitious of the students, in terms of sorcery.  It was also the only one who used a Force-touched weapon, which Simetra both approved and disapproved of.  Light saber combat was too common, to essential to the warrior sects that spouted what they believed was 'Sith Philosophy'.  Even Malachor's teachings held the weapons near and dear to their hearts, a situation which incensed Simetra to no end.  Still, both students were capable of manipulating the living Force quite well.  The other...well, that was another matter.<br/><br/>Rising slowly she let a brief, hateful smile touch her thin lips.  The expression pulled at the scars along her upper left cheek painfully, and she consumed that as she consumed all her hate, anger, disgust, and pain.  None of them understood.  The Dark Side followers, the Light Side followers, the fools on korriban....and precious few on Malachor.  There was no separation, no discernible difference in the Force.  It was all in how it was used....actively, passively, currently, in the past....all of it was there to be used.  And to use.  The fools from Korriban who sent their proxies to die would not even understand half of what they found there, and wouldn't even be able to use more than two thirds of it....the Old Sith had guarded their secrets well.<br/><br/>But the Force would unlock all their secrets.  And those who were unworthy would become part of it sooner rather than later....