"There are dark places in the galaxy where few tread; .ancient centers of learning, of knowledge. "
-Darth Traya
Standing over the body of who once was her mentor, Kalya could only stare as she felt the last races of Kreia's life force fade away, her soul spiraling far away from Malachor.
Like she should be doing now.
Yet.. something held her to the planet while it took its last breaths, calling-it seemed-for her to finally join all her friends that perished years ago... destruction she caused.
As the Ebon Hawk hovered into view, she knew that such a destiny was not possible for her, not today. Thinking of Atton, she knew there was more to live for. Setting Kreia's lifeless body down upon the unfeeling stones, the once Exile of the Jedi jumped aboard her ship-just before it lifted away from the rumbling ground. As it was rocketing off from the depths of the planet, Kalya ran into the main room; amazed to see that every single one of her companions had survived.
"General," Bao Dur said, with a bow, "Malachor should be destroyed within minutes. What are your orders?"
"Guys, stay here and hold on. We haven't lost anyone-let's keep it that way, k? Now.. I'd better help Atton."
"As you wish, General."
Running for the cockpit, I could sense the faintly shining presence of Atton-frustrated, but relishing the challenge-having a bit of trouble... "sithspit, the MSG's working too fast!"
Hopping into the seat beside him, he spoke:
"There you are.. about time!"
Grinning, I could only reply:
"Well, it happens to take a minute or two to bring down an academy of Sith-let alone two Dark Lords thrown into the bargain-Atton."
"Eh, that pure pazaak, Kal!"
"Perhaps that's why you're still piloting the ship, crazy smuggler. And though I would love to discuss Malachor's events with you, we have an exploding planet to outrun."
"Indeed."
As they both reached into the Force; searching for the path to safety; the remainder of the crew felt the ripples and joined it-leaving them spiraling perilously through the rapidly expanding asteroid field.
At first, each believed they would make it through, when a large boulder barreled by them-almost tracking, it seemed.
Suddenly, it simply exploded, mirroring the turmoil in the Force-revealing pieces of what appeared to be the remnants of an organic ship floating in space. And as Malachor's rumbles halted for just a second, she watched as the face of the pilot, mangled and twisted, floated by our heads-an alien's countenance, glaring back at me with a ferocity that was unparalleled by anything either had seen. A gnarled face, warped and broken into the thousand patterns of death, was reflected across the Hawk's cockpit windows. From what she could tell, dying never had extremely helped its appearance to begin with.
And then, the chase was on-though it seemed the shattered planet could only, like the creature, glare at the ship for eluding its grasp.
"Finally, it calmed down.. you'd think the place was alive or something. Not natural at all."
As Atton's voice broke through my mental oblivion-as I was focusing somehow on finding memories long forgotten to the isolation of Time-I snapped back to attention, to the General I had thought lost within me.
"Punch the hyperdrive-this relative calm won't last for long."
Some memories are meant to stay buried.
----
I couldn't help but laugh-how stupid my new apprentice is!
So arrogant of her own abilities.. and those of her 'friends.' Tsk, tsk.. entirely too much of a fool to believe that by her powers alone she made it from Malachor's grip.
Perhaps I should not have spared her, let her crumble into the dust of my once-stronghold.. Yet, she still has a role to play in the events to come-for our good or ill.
Things just will go as they must.
As she rose from her throne, Ranov'la headed for the ornate door before her, a gateway to a much larger room filled with decorations and tapestries. Approaching the twin figures upon their stone thrones, she bowed and simply said:
"It is done."
A/N: HEY! Here's the first chapter of the K3 story I mentioned. Apologies this is rather short, but I should have the second chapter posted quite soon. Thanks for reading! -SidiousSith.
