Chapter 1: As Good A Start As Any.

A Force of Nature: Essentially a reverse of Employed Transmigration. A guy with the Rudeus Greyrat package in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

[A]-[F]-[O]-[N]

Chapter 1: As Good A Start As Any.

[A]-[F]-[O]-[N]

‘So, just to clarify,’ I thought, looking at the translucent screen in front of me, reading the basic information on my new lease on life. ‘I died, peacefully in my sleep, while being a healthy middle-aged male human being who went to the gym regularly and ate relatively healthily… and you, or technically the one who created you, granted me the gift of another life in the Star Wars universe, with a system and in the body of Rudeus Greyrat.’

[The user will inhabit Rudeus Greyrat’s physical body while also maintaining his ability with magic and knowledge gained through his life, yes. The user will also assimilate the education, knowledge, and skills of a fourth-generation White Room graduate from the Classroom of the Elite universe.]

That was essentially the system’s way of telling me I had become Rudeus Greyrat, with the additional skills of Kiyotaka Ayanokōji from the Classroom of the Elite anime. Apparently, others who were given the same opportunity received a character to assimilate, limitless potential in the form of an [Essence], along with a weapon, skills, or bloodline.

I wasn’t complaining. One was a genius when it came to magic, and the other was supposed to be the peak of human capability in a non-magical world, but I was going up against Force users. They could mess with souls and possess bodies. None of the information I just got from the assimilation would help me with that, aside from the exorcist based spells Rudeus had, which I wasn’t sure would even help me with Force ghosts, as they were of a different power source.

[STATUS]

[Name: NA] [Age: 18]

[Character(s) Assimilated: Rudeus Greyrat]

[Skills(s) Assimilated: Fourth-generation White Room graduate (Classroom of the Elite)]

[System Functions: Inventory, Shop, Help]

[Essence: Blank]

Luckily, the system stated that possession wouldn’t work, as it was considered an indirect use of the System itself, which was a huge no-no. That was good, as it meant I wouldn’t have to worry about some Sith possessing my body to use my magic. It was a shame that it wouldn’t do so much against torture to force me to serve them.

‘Can you tell me when and where in the timeline and universe I am?’ I thought, wondering which of the menaces to society I had to worry about.

[The user has been deposited some time during the Old Republic Era on Korriban. However, be warned, the knowledge you know of the Star Wars universe will not be exactly the same as the events that transpired, transpire, or will transpire in the universe you now find yourself in, as this is a different timeline from the ones you once knew.]

So Tenebrae then. Great. I only have to deal with that red mad bastard and his desire to destroy everything in existence. What could possibly go wrong?

It was a damn shame I never player The Old Republic games. Better knowledge of the events would have been rather useful. But I'd have to just settle for what I learned of the time period from random videos on the Internet and fan-fiction. At least the universe was an alternate reality, I wasn't missing out on much, hopefully.  

On the bright side, while I couldn’t tell how powerful I was in the Force, I was adapting rather well to it. My now genius-level intellect concluded that it was likely a result of the natural and engineered adaptability needed to graduate the White Room I now had, or the familiarity with magic that came with assimilating Rudeus. It remained to be seen if my intellect would still be considered such after comparing myself with the locals, considering their knowledge was more robust than that of Earth.

Either way, my well-trained physical senses could now be improved with the Force, and my now identified [Force Sense] was improving by the second as I continued to test and try to improve it subconsciously. Even as I sat in the cave where I was dumped, meditating while taking moments to ask the System some questions, I could feel large, bat-like creatures lurking further in the cave, as well as some animals skulking around outside, looking for their next meal. 

Boy was I glad I could use the Force. The danger sense it provided was going to probably be one of the most, if not the most, useful things I had in my repertoire, barring my intellect and spells.

It was good I didn't have to wait for the character and skills to assimilate too, unlike I would have to with future purchases. But honestly, I would have preferred extra powers or even Rudeus’ wand or staff to complete the set.

Looking at the status panel once more, I deadpanned at the lack of name, wondering why they didn’t just give me Rudeus’ name and be done with it. In the System’s defence, the backstory I was given was similar to that of the White Room participant, but with magic and the Force sprinkles on top. I was allowed to review the backstory for cohesion purposes, and it was dark. I was now a guy taken from a waitress when he was found Force sensitive and taken to the secret White Room to start training at three years old. 

And of course, I was taken by Sith, so my parents were killed for good measure.

The training consisted of several aspects, including hyper-accelerated and intensive education, which restricted any space or advanced technology like ships and land speeders, out of fear that I would use the knowledge to escape. Along with that came the strict emotional suppression, strategic thinking, advanced combat training, including all forms of Earth martial arts, to make me into the perfect soldier. And all that was completed when I was barely a teen. Then came the ritual to give me magic, and the training that followed.

Naturally, when all was said and done, the Sith in charge tried taking over my body. Only to fail, somehow punting me through space and time, courtesy of some Sith runes on the ritual table he was using, backfiring on his red-ass. And that was when I woke up in the cave.

Frowning at the status screen, I focused on the name, or rather, the lack thereof. I was never given a name in the White Room. Apparently, it was an unnecessary aspect of a weapon that should be discarded, unless necessary for infiltration to distinguish oneself from another, and there were no other subjects in the facility. With how horrifyingly painful the experiments and rituals were, I wasn’t surprised.

With a small shake of my head, I put the thought out of my mind as I tried to decide on a name. The idea of having a name that would allow others to have access to roast material so easily would have to go, so not Greyrat. I would keep his first name out of respect for the body I was in, but then the thought of the Greyrat had me thinking of Paul Atreides and his Muad'Dib moniker, which meant desert mouse. So I just shafted the messiah’s name as my own.

[Name updated]

[Name: Paul Rudeus Atreides]

Paul was also the name of Rudeus’ father, and while the guy was a dick for most of his life, there was some redemption in the end. And I liked the Dune movies.

Name changing aside, I adjusted my cross-legged posture as I willed a stone platform, no wider than a table, to rise beneath me, elevating my makeshift meditation platform. It made a negligible difference in what I could see of the planet, but I had to admit, seeing a large planet of crimson sand was a nice first for me. Well, after setting aside the numerous threats.

Seeing no reason to cease my practice with the Force, even while taking in the sights, I directed a half-dozen stones to orbit my body slowly. I was forced to switch the pebbles with basketball-sized rocks almost immediately when I felt how easy it was, guiding them to flow around like planets around a sun.

There was some strain, less than I initially thought there would be, not nearly enough to force me to stop. It was like working out for the first time and feeling much worse than a person who does it regularly. It had me questioning why and how the Sith prevented me from using the Force during my training, but I just chalked it up to him wanting me to be as weak in the Force as possible for when he took over my body.

The more I used it though, the more I adapted to the feeling. It didn’t take long to start feeling the dark side emanating from the planet. I didn’t get any whispers to pillage and kill or anything like that, but I definitely felt the malice it was radiating.

For me, when I tried using it to add more rocks, including bigger ones, it just felt like adrenaline coursing through my veins. I could probably argue it may have even increased my aggression ever so slightly as a result, but it was more like I felt super hyped, and even if it did make me aggressive, the emotional control provided by my skill package would easily smother the feeling.  

Just to check, I raised my hand to gather water particles from the air, letting the liquid hover in the air for a second before digging a hole to put the water in, so I could see my reflection. The surface reflected a completely blank-faced, strikingly handsome Rudeus, or at least what the pervert would look like if there were a live-action adaptation which stuck closely to the source material. 

Light brown hair, refined features and heterochrome eyes, with one green and the other being yellow. My skin was unmarred, despite the rigorous training I had to undergo, but just pale enough to hint at the lack of sun exposure, having spent most of my time indoors during said training. All in all, I seemed to have the basic anime protagonist package, barring silver hair, of course.

After poking at my face a little and making various facial expressions, I came to terms with the sudden change in my appearance, and my eyes trailed downward. I wore weathered earth-toned robes, with different layers of fabrics in shades of beige, tan, and dusty brown. Along with a long, sleeveless outer robe over the breathable fabric underneath, my arms were wrapped with cloth, boots reinforced and trousers kept up at the waist with a leather belt.

Everything I had on looked like they were a hand-me-down, but knowing who I was dealing with, possibly a slain Jedi. However, the similarities to the Hermit attire from the Jedi Survivor game were not lost on me.

Turning slightly to get a better look, my fingers curled into a fist as I shifted into a stance on the podium. Then the real tests began. 

I instinctively swung an invisible blade using the skills in my head, followed by a side-step and a pivot into a defensive pose. My muscles responded perfectly, as they should have. So, I continued for some time through a full set of moves before trying it with a little application of the Force, just as I had been doing with my senses so far, and continued with different katas.

Naturally, I was faster, feeling less fatigue as I adjusted to the sensation of defying gravity, which was more than I should have been able to do, especially when I performed more complex manoeuvres. I wanted to start using the dark side's adrenaline to increase the effect and test my body's destructive capabilities on the cave walls, but thought against it. There was no telling what manner of monstrosities I would attract, at least not at my current level anyway.

The entire time, I maintained the orbit the rocks followed, adding to the difficulty and getting accustomed to using the force on objects while in combat.

More than satisfied with my body conditioning, efficiency, and strength, I reseated myself in meditation, continuously guiding the Force around my body. But this time, I began to move the magic within my body, relaxing my instinctive hold over it as I focused on the [Demon Eyes] that came with the new body. 

The [Eye of Foresight], which allowed me to see a certain amount of time into the future, while somewhat useless now that I had the Force, adjusted how far into the future I could see based on how much magic I sent its way. It showed after images of the rocks I was orbiting guiding with the Force, showing where they would be at different points with varying amounts of magic. It wasn’t the best test, considering I was the one moving them and not someone else, but the real test would have to wait.

The [Eye of Clairvoyance], on the other hand, allowed me to see further like an adjustable scope, essentially becoming permanent binoculars. As a quick test, I applied some more magic to it while looking out into the somewhat barren landscape in front of me, shutting the other eye to mitigate distraction.

The world around me immediately blurred as my vision rocketed across the blood-red sands, zooming past ridges, canyons, and sun-scorched ruins until it settled on a moving column of dark shapes. Soldiers and transport carriers, by the looks of it. Willing my sight to adjust with a slight application of magical energy, the image rippled before settling farther to the east, where he saw cloaked figures speeding across a ridge.

Some bore lightsabres clipped to their belts. One moved with lekku swinging behind him, while another, an older, red-skinned male humanoid with tentacles on his face, abruptly turned and stared straight in my direction. There was no mistaking what they were. It wasn’t every day you saw real-life Sith.

The Sith narrowed their eyes for a beat, then turned back to their path. While I didn't feel anything in the Force, I had no doubt he either tried to locate me but was too far away, or he found me just fine and didn't think I was worth changing direction. Either way, I was happy with the result.

Cutting off the magic, I deactivated what was essentially my personal organic scope and the rush of my extended vision snapped back to normal physical sight. Then, placed a hand on the podium, magically reaching into the stone beneath. The earth gathered, condensing and collapsing on itself to harden, quickly shaping into a long, jagged-edged sword.

One moment I stood and took a few practice swings. It was somewhat heavy due to its density, but I was happy with how durable it was. The next moment, I was stepping off the platform and turning toward the darkness within the cave, both metaphorically and literally.

With my off-hand raised, I conjured a blazing orb of fire above my palm with fire magic as I started walking. The flaming sphere hovered like a miniature sun, illuminating the uneven stone and dry tunnels stretching deeper into the mountain to which the cave was attached. At least I hoped it was just a mountain. I know how Sith really love keeping their resting places plagued with all manner of threats.

I needed food. Either I was going to cook whatever was in the cave, or buy it from the System using the points gained from the kill. Regardless, I needed to secure food and shelter. Shelter could be easily solved using earth magic to make a hut of hardened rock.

It wasn't long before a few shrieks tore through the cavern while I was ignoring the bones of eaten prey on the cave floor, some of which were definitely humanoid.

Out of a hole in the jagged ceiling, a creature that resembled a grotesque fusion between bat and reptile launched itself toward my head, propelling its bulky form at me with what looked like powerful leathery wings.

Naturally, I sidestepped the abush, body enhanced by the Force, and spun, fully utilising the momentum to swing the blade flashing upward in a rising arc. The stone sword pierced clean through the creature’s skull before it could land its attack, piercing right through its gaping, tooth-filled maw.

[Shyrack Killed: +25 SP]

So that's what it was called. Good to know. Taking a closer look at the now dead creature, I was met with a face the stuff of nightmares. Flattened and fanged, with beady red eyes. Its skin was a sickly grey, scarred from constant fighting by the looks of it, whether from in-fighting within their colony or from Sith and soldiers they tried to devour, I didn't know. But with the long, talon-like claws extending from its limbs, I wouldn't blame them for trying their luck, especially if they ambushed people in groups.

Another screech echoed, and then another. A look toward the sound showed two more shyracks bursting out of other tunnels. Even with my [Eye of Foresight] reliably showing where they were going to be seconds in the future, I could sense the same in the Force, if only to a lesser degree. I wanted to sell the eye for some extra System cash, but unfortunately, I could only sell back System options back like the [inventory], so I just had to suck it up.

Seeing the creature for the annoyances they were, I didn’t even bother moving my blade as I focused on the rocks still orbiting my form, sending them hurtling at them with lethal velocity.

The first rock blasted clean through the torso of one shyrack, sending blood and bone spraying against the walls. The second slammed into the head of the other, punching through it with a sickening crunch. Both creatures dropped mid-flight, crumpling to the ground in twitching heaps.

My first thought was to question why Sith didn't just use this tactic to kill their enemies, then I looked at the bloody and broken corpses and remembered most of the gore was removed to appeal to the younger audience. That, and Sith would easily dodge it anyway, either with pure speed of an application of danger sense.

[Shyrack Killed x2: +50 SP]

With the warmup over with, I placed the bodies in the [Inventory] for my future meal before heading further into the cave, where I could still sense more shyracks. While the thought of sensing others was on my mind, I started playing with the Force in a different way, trying to hide or mask my presence so others couldn't sense me like I could sense the shyrack. It may take time for it to work as it should, but it was time I was willing to invest.

[A]-[F]-[O]-[N]

Several Months Later

[A]-[F]-[O]-[N]

The shriek of twisting metal tore across the crimson desert as a speeder gave its final protest. Sparks exploded from the engine compartment, and flames licked at the undercarriage courtesy of a red lightsabre, still embedded in its rear thruster, with its owner not far behind, but gaining fast with a sadistic grin.

With almost a snarl, Veshari, a red-skinned Sith with clear human heritage, somersaulted through the air, landing in a roll that kicked up a plume of dust. The speeder behind her slammed into a boulder and erupted into flame, but there was no time to look back at the impending explosion.

Her breathing was ragged due to the hour-long chase, but her pace was steady as she sprinted, dodging roots, weaving between the trees as more hums split the air behind her. The Force warned her just in time as a rock hurled by one of her pursuers narrowly missed caving in her skull.

“Running isn’t going to save you, coward!” one of them yelled furiously as he retrieved his lightsabre from the wretched vehicle.

Another twirled a sabre overhead and flung it forward, spinning through the air like a red saw blade, causing Veshari to duck just in time as the humming blade sliced clean through a tree branch behind her.

Again, she didn’t look back, not wanting to waste even the briefest moment on a wasted action that could give them time to catch up. She dove into a cave, but not just any cave… the cave. The one she had come across on her study of Sith tombs, one which even Sith acolytes dared not enter. Though it was more of a rumour and not a known tomb of a Sith Lord, the whispers said it was cursed. Haunted. A remnant of something older than the Academy itself.

But superstition was less frightening than three ambitious Sith apprentices. If it was just a terentatek killing creatures and Sith alike for trespassing on its territory, then she was all the better for it. She could lure her wayward fellow apprentices to be eaten as she escaped in the chaos.

Her feet skidded to a halt as she entered the shadowed mouth of the cave, and her breath caught. There, sitting cross-legged beside a low-burning campfire, was a young man. His hair was tousled, golden-brown, and faintly glowing in the firelight. His body was sculpted, clearly honed for combat, but not a single weapon was in his hand. In fact, the only thing covering him was a leather loincloth that left nothing to the imagination. If the tanning leather outside the mouth of the cave was anything to go by, then he most likely killed the creature and skinned it himself.

Despite the cold of the cave air and the intensity of her presence, he didn’t flinch. If anything, the raw power in the Force rolling off him was so intense she wouldn’t be surprised if he were a Sith Lord in disguise. She had been near enough Sith that trying to hold so much power to seem mediocre, only to be unable to do so due to immense strength. 

His eyes were locked on the flames, but she knew he was aware of her presence. His posture was loose, but coiled with the same effortless readiness she had seen her own master with whenever he would meet those who had even the slightest chance of killing him.

He slowly turned his gaze on her, allowing her to physically see the lack of what she was sensing in the Force. No fear. No curiosity. Just a quiet, blank stillness that felt unnatural, even to a Sith who had spent a year around those capable of shielding their emotions.

Veshari stopped, straightened slightly as she changed to a more casual walking pace towards him, and dropped to one knee. “I am Veshari, apprentice of Lord Ekkor,” she said, voice low but urgent. “I seek sanctuary from my pursuers.”

The fire crackled as the young man seemed to consider her words. She assumed he was thinking over the pros and cons of aiding her, something all good Sith who lived long tended to do, herself included. 

After a moment, the stranger’s lips parted, at last. “…Muad’Dib,” he said. “That is the title you may refer to me, for the time being.”

Veshari blinked. That wasn’t a Sith name. It didn’t sound Sith, Zabrak, or even Republic-born. But she had no time to question it. From the cave mouth came the crunch of boots and the sharp hum of lightsabers, followed by three figures who strode into view – two male, one female.

The human, tall and smirking with gold-trimmed robes, raised his sabre lazily. “Well, well. She found herself a cave rat.”

The Zabrak’s yellow eyes narrowed. “You. Naked boy. Step aside.”

The Twi’lek, spinning her sabre idly, added with a wicked grin, “Unless you’d rather join her on the floor.”

Veshari had witnessed them practice the same rehearsed lines on fresh acolytes, forcing them to do their bidding, but the young man in front of her was no such thing. They may not have been able to sense it due to their low senses, but she could feel it just fine. In fact, it was the reason her master favoured her over them – she was just better with the Force than they were, which was exactly why they were trying to kill her. Jealousy really was the downfall for many.

Like Veshari thought, Muad’Dib didn’t move. Instead, he looked down at her with that same detached expression. “And what will you offer me in return for this aid… Veshari, apprentice of Lord Ekkor?”

His words were flat as he seemed to test her name and that of her master on his tongue. Emotionless. There was no hint of lechery or threat, just the cold transaction of a being who stood entirely beyond fear, and perhaps even morality. Though she hoped the latter wasn’t the case, as she did need his aid after all.

Veshari looked up at him. “Anything I have that I can provide without endangering my life or future marriage. My service. My secrets. I have access to—”

A bark of laughter cut her off. “Are you serious?” The human apprentice Veshari had never bothered to learn the name of, growled. “You dare bargain with a cave squatter like her, when we offer something greater?”

The Zabrak's lips curled. “You turn her over, and we tell Lord Ekkor you assisted us. You gain favour.”

The Twi’lek stepped forward, twirling her sabre once more. “Or you protect her… and all of us take you apart.”

The fire snapped again, louder this time, almost as if it was responding to their words. Then Muad’Dib rose, using slow and deliberate movement. While Veshari would normally see it as some sort of psychological tactic, right now it just looked like Muad’Dib was almost bored but had to deal with an irritation too far beneath him, and chose to do so with all the power he had.

She noted his movements were fluid as he made his way to his feet before she saw rocks float upward around him, orbiting his standing form. A faint wind seemed to swirl in the cave, though she distinctly remembered there was no breeze outside.

He stared at the three Sith with a kind of look that seemed dismissive. “Three rewards for one betrayal,” he said, almost whispering. “How generous.”

He raised his hand, and a ball of fire formed, the size of a fist at first, before growing a foot wide, hovering quietly beside him above his palm like a sun. Then a sword made of stone appeared in his other hand, solidifying the fact that he was clearly a Sith Sorcerer.

“I accept your offer…”

She calmed ever so slightly, using the Force to regain some stamina as all three Sith behind her tensed, sabres angled toward Muad’Dib now, finally sensing the screams of mortal danger the Force was sending way.

“…of a warm-up.”

[A]-[F]-[O]-[N]

“A Man’s Word Is His Bond.”

— Rudeus Greyrat.

[A]-[F]-[O]-[N]

Hello There

Paul knows he's strong with magic because he knows who Rudeus is and what he accomplished. He doesn't know he's strong in the Force and thinks everyone is hiding their power as a form of deception, because he's trying to do the same.

I'm thinking of a red-skinned Kate Beckinsale (Underworld series). Mostly because I was thinking about Vampires for the PWM fic at the time I started this.

An alternate version of this fic had Exodus from Marvel as the character to be assimilated instead of Rudeus, with him being the son of an ex-Sith Lord of the Sith species and a Human Jedi. It would have been too unfair, I know.

[A]-[F]-[O]-[N]

Disclaimer: I own nothing except original characters and ideas. All credit goes to their respective owners.

[A]-[F]-[O]-[N]

Thank you for reading.

As always, stay awesome.

Until next time, Light's out.