The walkways were unkempt, just like everything else on Nar Shadaa, though in the long moths on the smuggler's moon, Exile had grown used to it. Anxiety threatened to consume her, but she forced it down as she passed another corner. Six months ago, she met an elderly woman named Kreia onboard a mining station called Peragus. It was there her life had taken new meaning. The woman Kreia opened her to the Force, a sensation not felt for over a decade, though would not say how she could or why. But as Exile soon discovered, it had its limits. Strange how one thinks they can go their whole life without the Force, but then cling to it like it was all that kept you alive. Then, Kreia offered another means of attaining power. Ten years ago, the Jedi Council had stripped her of her power after disobeying them and going off to war; but Kreia knew the secret of their curse. 'Each master controls a portion of the barrier that prevents you from using your power' she had said. 'But perhaps there's a way to persuade them to release that hold.' Though judging how it went with Atris on Telos, it might be easier said then done. But the old scowl never did like her, so maybe Zez-Kai Ell would be more willing. But she also met another person on Peragus. A hotshot pilot named Atton Rand. He boasted about his skills, though soon proved himself when they narrowly escaped. But he'd been acting odd lately, becoming quiet and keeping to himself. She made a mental note to figure out why.

A smell as foul as a Hutt's backside hit her like a hammer, and Exile knew she was at the docks. But she continued on, breathing out of her mouth and trying to make her strides longer. Around her, cargo and freelance ships were being docked or soaring away, with less-then-legitimate items in their holds. She stopped, and turned, walking into the rental spaces some sentients used as living quarters. The smell still hadn't deteriorated. And Exile knew it would stick to her dark robes for days.

She passed room after room, trying to ignore the beggars asking for any spare credits and heading down the last hallway, pausing at the door almost concealed inside the wall. Exile reached out with her sense, feeling inside the room. Someone was in there, that was for sure, but it was almost undetectable, like they were masked.

Thumbing the controls, the door slid open and she strode in, and there he was.

Zez-Kai Ell sat atop a cot in the corner of the small warehouse-like space, packed with shelves and stacked boxes around the entire room. His legs were crossed under him, with his head down and eyes closed. His s lip twitched when she stopped, ruffling his mustache.

Exile looked back at the door, making sure it remained open. It shut the second her eyes hit the doorway. That's when she began counting cards in her head, just as she Atton teach her. Ironically, she had no idea how to play Pazzak. When she turned her attention back to Zez-Kai Ell, she found he was already on his feet, standing in the middle of the other side of the room, wearing the same rags she'd seen every refuge sporting since she'd got there. But what drew her eye was the lack of a weapon.

"Welcome Exile," He said, unblinking. "This day has been long delayed."

She nodded. "It has, Master Kai Ell."

"But we are here now. So tell me, why have you seeked me out?"

She swallowed. How much should she say? "I have recently reestablished a connection to the Force," She admitted, deciding he would need to know the full story. "But I've reached my limits. Now I've learned of how you and the other masters cut me off from it, and I know you can undo your part at will." She stiffened. "That is why I have come."

"Have you found any of the others?"

"No." He didn't need to know everything. "Only you."

"And why should I do this?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because I've changed." She stated, head inclining forward.

His head shook. "No, you haven't. You're the same swirling pool of anger I remember from the day we judged you. You appear calm, but I can sense the hate seething beneath. I have followed you, watching the acts of anger and selfishness you have made in the months since arriving on the smuggler's moon."

"Then I can change!" she shot back, loosing it for a moment. "The galaxy needs every Jedi it can get. I mean, look at you!" Exile gestured at his appearance. "You're hardly doing well for yourself!"

"Enough." He stopped her. "You're telling me that you think you can be redeemed and follow the Jedi way after all that has happened, so long as I yield you your power?" He shook his head again. "No. Your hunger for power has almost consumed you whole, telling both me and yourself lies in order to get what you desire. Giving you power would only end in disaster for the rest of the galaxy, Exile. I refuse."

The anger was beginning to rise to the surface, and she couldn't stop it. Her hand fell to her newly constructed lightsaber on her belt. "I urge you to reconsider." She warned behind grinding teeth.

He glanced down at her hand. "Is that the path you wish to take?" He asked, looking back up. "Very well." He closed his eyes and waited.

Exile only half believed it. Would he actually put his life at risk like this? Of course he would. He was a Jedi. But still, part of her wanted to do it, even if it achieved nothing. Her hand shook uncontrollably, rattling the hilt. Thinking of the past decade, of all she had gone through, the withdrawal of the Force, being forced to survive where others would have died, and the other dozens of things that left her life hectic, two options came into her mind: Forgiveness and revenge.

Revenge.

She grabbed the hilt from her belt, activated the scarlet blade, and charged, saber raised like an axe. But out of the corner of her eye, something moved, near the bed, she thought, and when Exile slashed her lightsaber down, a purple blade was there to block it. Confused, she looked and saw the elongated lightsaber hilt hovered in the air, and she couldn't push the blade away.

Then, Zez-Kai Ell opened his eyes.

He reached out and no sooner did his hand touch the lightsaber was he twisting his body around, igniting the other end of his weapon and stabbing its tip into Exile's ribs. But before a scream could be produced, she was thrown back, crashing into pile of boxes behind her, spilling their contents onto the floor. Stars danced in front of Exile's eyes as she tried to work out what had just happened.

When she looked up, Zez-Kai Ell was standing in the exact same spot, only difference being the live lightsaber in his hand. She stood, fighting the urge to vomit. It was then Exile realized she had no lightsaber in her hand. She looked among the rubble and parts, searching for her weapon and finding it pushed against the door. But when she began to pull it back to her hand, Zez-Kai Ell stopped it and sent it flying away like a missile, slamming the hilt into the wall behind him hard enough to leave an indent.

She backed up as Zez-Kai Ell began to close in, stopping when her heel bumped the wall. The Jedi Master began to swing his saber above his head, making a bead of nervous sweat drop from her forehead. The jet-like sound of the lightsabers became almost hypnotic, Exile having to strain to not fall under their musical curse. Exile. . . A familiar voice called out to her.

"Kreia?" Exile asked aloud, pressing her back against the wall as her eyes stayed glued on Zez-Kai Ell.

Pay close attention. Her teacher told her. Zez-Kai Ell is a pacifist by nature, but still a master of the blade. His style requires being close for combat. Exile scanned the room. You are fighting on his terms, Exile. But your knowledge of the planet can turn the tide to your favor.

"What's that mean?" She asked trying to keep herself from screaming as Zez-Kai Ell was mere steps from her.

Release the power of the planet and focus it. And Kreia was gone, cutting off their connection on her end. Leaving Exile seconds to ponder the words of the mentor she believed insane at times.

With little to loose, Exile slowed her breathing as quickly as she could and opened herself to Nar Shadaa, feeling the pain and agony just inside the docks and rental spaces. A sudden a surge came through her, unleashing itself in wave that surprised both her and Zez-Kai Ell, as he was thrown into the wall on the other end of the room, slumping down onto the ground, obliviously in a daze. She looked down at her hands, stunned of the feat she just achieved. Then closed her eyes and opened her senses again, spreading her reach to its limit and taking in all the anguish, despair, and depression of the planet's inhabitants, turning their pain into her strength. Her eyes opened to find bright sparks of blue lightning jumping from her fingertips. Her hands were quickly consumed by the sparks, showing only brief flashes of flesh beneath. She had just learned this power from Kreia, but was barely able to conjure a few sparks. Her hair felt like it was standing on end from her shoulders up, as her body burned from the intense energy flowing through it. But the pain was worth it.

Smiling widely, she let loose the searing power within, long bolts of lightning arcing across to Zez-Kai Ell.

To his credit, he recovered quickly when he needed to. The Jedi Master was on his feet activating his lightsaber by the time the lightning reached, attempting to fend it off with his weapon. But it was all for nothing. The lightning increased in both size and speed by the second, becoming a storm within the warehouse in seconds. All around Zez-Kai Ell lightning danced, grazing his body as a whole, leaving burns and holes in his clothes while he masterly kept his blade up and spinning. But Exile controlled the lightning more fully then she let on, and guided a singular bolt around the barrier of violet, pausing for a moment before sending it forward and into the back of Zez-Kai Ell's head, where his balding spot started.

His eyes shot open, and the saber stopped long enough for the storm to pierce through his defenses and consume him. A lifetime of Jedi relaxation and meditation techniques did nothing to stop his screams, with Exile surprised on how high his deep, soothing voice could go. Hastily, she severed the connection from the planets power and charged forward, arm outwardly extended.

Behind Kai Ell, her lightsaber floated from the floor and to her grasp, igniting the scarlet blade and sweeping it across a half-paralyzed Zez-Kai Ell's chest. The Jedi Master stayed upright for a moment, but let out a final gasp before collapsing to the floor.

This left Exile alone, standing with her arm still outstretched and lightsaber active. Her breathing became thinner, due to the heavy concentration of ozone in the warehouse, and the hum of her saber easily drowned it out. She finally shut down her weapon and let her arm fall to her side, leaving only the flickering sound of the failing light fixture above. Her heart pounded as the effects of her choice began to sink in.

But forgot about it when her head felt like it had been cracked open, then changed in an instant to be lighter then air. She fell to her knees and like in battle, tried to slow her breathing in order to focus her thoughts, and found a revelation of sorts. Every fiber of her being felt lighter, but stronger as she stared at her hand in wonderment, like an alien device. Exile turned and saw the nearest metallic wrack half filled with boxes against the wall across the room. She reached out and grasped it, and then waving her arm was surprised to see it fly to the other side, crashing into the door and almost tearing through it.

Again, she stared at her hand in awe, then smiled. "So, there's another way," She breathed. It was then, her plan changed slightly.

As she stood to leave, Exile felt something tap her foot. She looked down and saw Zez-Kai Ell's lightsaber laying at her feet, next his open palm. Squatting down, she picked it up and examined it for a moment, activating one of the blades to insure it still worked. Satisfied, she retracted the violet blade and clipped both her saber and the late Jedi Master's to her belt and strode off, the flame of determination burning strongly within her.