Training

His own self induced training was not easy by any means, unknown to him their pin had an energy field surrounding it that highly dampened Ashla users connection and rendered them almost unable to establish a connection through it mattered little to him. The pains of hunger set in quick, two days after he set out on this journey the lack of eating began to take its effects. Even if he wasn't eating it didn't mean he wasn't trying to procure food, just thinking about the rations made his mouth water with anticipation of indulging his need that now became a luxury. Each day he went to claim his portion he was met with violence, either the Tarashin repelling him or others that learned how easy it was to get away with using their brute strength to overpower the young boy.

Nero was always told by his late mother that not everything was decided on how many cycles you were, how strong you were or anything such. What mattered was the good in your heart, if good lay deep in your heart then you had the power to overcome all. As much as she preached to him about that topic over and over he never saw how a good heart could overcome the brute strength of others but he quickly shook out the doubt and continued to work. After a total of five more rations, Nero grew angry with what was happening or lack of what was happening as he couldn't even get a wobble from the fabric.

As anger flooded him so did power, the connection being reestablished like had never left but stronger than before as he lifted some of the things that littered the ground. As he felt the overwhelming power he put an end to it, his body shaking as his stomach felt uneasy and his body tainted with unseen filth. This bothered him to the core as he laid down, the outburst of power leaving him drained of energy and the hunger didn't help as a wave of darkness took over and he succumbed to sleep. His young body was unable to keep up with the lack of food, what little life he clung to was fading slowly as he drifted through the connections, his link to the Ashla taking him in his sleep on a journey that he couldn't make sense of.

With a start he jolted awake in a cold sweat, his head hurting with unknown knowledge that he couldn't make heads or tails of as his tired and weak eyes scanned over the other slaves. All of them were greedily eating their large tablet of food that apparently had everything they needed. With a huff he sat up, watching the grey crumbs fall to the floor as they mocked him for being so weak. Again anger began to well up inside him as he surged with power once again, his hands began to ball up into fists when in his right he found there was something in it. With a start, he quickly looked to his right hand to find half of one of the tablets, food for the first time in a while. His mouth began to water, his stomach churning and begging to be filled with the morsel as a carving in the pellet caught his attention.

"You're welcome."

Tears began to run down his face like a gash in a pipe as he began to eat, savoring the tasteless pellet that was the most delicious thing that he had eaten. Filling his stomach with this sickeningly plain meal which had renewed his hope and strength, steeling his resolve as now he knew he had a guardian angel within the group and that meant a friend. His training continued, every waking second he spent on the task he set out before him as he tried to make the rag of fabric move. He learned that his friend only brought him half a ration after every seven, the eight they would bring him his half though they always did so when he was asleep.

He didn't keep track of how long this had gone on, he would have lost count as all his mind was focused on was his task. Others made sure to steer clear of him, make fun of him and revel in his lonely nature though it bothered him little. As crazy as it sounded he knew he had a secret friend, the one that kept him clinging to life and hope, each time he received a ration he felt humbled and compassionate. One day with tired eyes he stared at the cloth, focused and a bit lost within the drift of connections as his mind reached out for any connection to the Ashla he could muster, a head lacking thought and only held purpose. In his trance he lost himself, slipping into the Ashla as if it was where he belonged.

The other children had gone silent as they could feel the ripples that the human slave in the corner was producing, their voices hushed and their eyes glued to his back as slowly each approached him. Each ripple made them more curious as the brood descended on him like vultures ready to pick what little meat he had on his bones. As they gathered around the entranced boy they were met with something all of them had almost forgotten, being able to move something with their mind, with the connection they all had. The piece of cloth barely levitated above Nero's hand as they all fell silent to the feat, enough so to call attention to the guards who were used to the loud and obnoxious nature that only ceased when they lost energy.

Curiously they looked inside to see the children huddled around something and the worst was feared as the Rakatan quickly acted, taking their stun batons and pushing into the pin. There were only two as they pushed into the sea of children quickly, shocking any that got in their way as warning as they shouted at each to move out of their way. As quickly as the crowd gathered did it disperse, the Rakatan left with the human slave sitting there with closed eyes and the fabric floating in his hands. This was worrisome as the two spoke in their language, the children curiously looked at each other as one left and the other stayed, watching Nero with steady eyes.

Nero had achieved what he set out to do, if not in a trance he might have not been able to keep his joy contained in that corner. Adrift in the Ashla he was once again given a vision. A man with a sword of flames, evil dripped off of him, bodies of the dead lay scattered around him as ships descended upon the battlefield, Rakata sprawling the landscape, and the last image was a small orb. The vision was bleak, the emotions that permeated off of it were foul and negative, tainted with a void of darkness but the orb brought the feeling of warmth, hope, things he was so used to only feeling within himself.

As the other Rakatan guard scurried through the halls of the ship he quickly found a com, quickly contacting the one in charge of the hound project of the ship. The jumbled mess of hurried panic made one thing clear, they had a slight problem. This intrigued the Rakatan scientist who grinned on the other side of the coms, a sinful glee welling up inside him as it had been a year since they had taken from the last planet they gathered from and one was so finely tuned. The promise that this one held was rather exciting as he spoke,

"Leave the child be, we are to soon drop this supply off as well as myself. I will address the problem on the next ship. For now just make sure Senth is fed or it will be yours that I let him feast off instead!"