Chapter 2
"Xandrix, I better not find you playing Hologames! If your work isn't done you are going to be in a deep pile of bantha dung!" Karliah's voice rang out across the dingy little apartment.
Xandrix ran across his room at a pace that would rival even a dark wolf and slammed his holoprojector shut. His door burst open. Karliah stood in doorway, hands on hips, a look of annoyance crossing her face. Xandrix thought his mother quaint- with a thin face, jet black hair, and amethyst colored eyes, Karliah was the one constant in his life; he loved his father, but Shardin was gone far too much, forcing Xandrix to constantly rely on his mother. Right now however, Xandrix didn't think his mother looked comforting- she looked menacing.
"Show me how much work you've finished Xandrix," Karliah commanded. Xandrix squirmed with discomfort.
"But mom... I... it's too hard for me!" Xandrix lied. Karliah didn't look convinced.
"Xandrix, you've proven again and again that you are smarter than your classmates. You're being lazy. And being lazy doesn't fly in this house, kiddo," Karliah replied with amusement lacing her voice.
"Ok, ok, fine Mo..." Xandrix's voice cut off. Falling out of his chair, his eyes shot wide open, his pupils reflecting a iridescent corona.
"Xani!" Karliah screamed as she ran to her son's side, falling to the ground next to him, propping his head on her lap. She cradled his head as his body shivered harmonically. Karliah sighed; like his father, Xandrix had been given the ability commune with the force. And though neither chose to utilize their abilities, they were often plagued with visions of the future, visions that always became true.
Xandrix's shivering stopped as he slowly opened his eyes. Karliah's body became tense as she awaited Xandrix's response. He rose, a smile spreading across his face.
"Daddy's home!" he cried out with glee. Karliah, baffled, raised her eyebrow in confusion.
"What do you mean? Daddy is gone on a spice run though!" Karliah inquired. She was interrupted by the sound of her door sliding open.
"Karliah, Xani, I'm back! Where are you guys?" a familiar voice rang out.
"Dad!" Xandrix exclaimed, blowing past his mother into their entrance hall, jumping into the outstretched arms of his father.
"Hey buddy, I missed you more than the world itself." His father closed his eyes and he held Xandrix.
"Dad, I... can't... breath," Xandrix coughed, a smile still decorating his mouth.
"Heh, sorry Xani, I just missed you a lot," Shardin said as he loosened his grip on Xandrix.
Shardin looked at Xandrix, and asked, "Now, Xani, where's your..."
"Mother?" Karliah interrupted, standing in the living room doorway, her hips cocked to the side, her hair jet black hair tossed over her shoulder. A smirk accentuated her mouth:
"I missed you Shard. You were gone too long."
Shardin set Xandrix down and walked up to Karliah.
"I missed you too Kar," Shardin whispered, taking her head, and kissing her lips softly, "but we have much to talk about."

The three Shalosee's walked into their kitchen and prepared for dinner. Xandrix sat down at the table with Shardin, pestering his exhausted father with questions about his spice voyage. Shardin's illegal occupation was no mystery to either Xandrix or Karliah. In desperate times, Karliah sometimes was even forced to assist Shardin by laundering dirty money through her job at the Ithorian cafe. But it was his job that united his family, that supported them, that kept food on their table. Karliah pulled out a greasy Corellian dish from the food processor and placed the dish on the table. Xandrix began to gulp his portion down greedily, ignorant the amused stares he received from his parents. They began to chat about menial topics: Xandrix's school, Karliah's job, local politics, and new holovids in theaters. Once Xandrix had finished his food Shardin's smile fell and an intense frown burned across his face.
"Xani, it's time you went to your room. Mom and Dad need to talk about adult things. I'll see you in a few minutes buddy."
Xandrix turned to his father and his mother apprehensively. He had rarely seen his dad this serious. He knew his father's job was not totally "legal," but that didn't mean that his parents should hide things from him. Xandrix stood up from the table reluctantly and walked out of the room. I'm done with secrets. Xandrix hid behind the kitchen entrance, and put his ear to the door. He was only able to make out a few muffled words from the conversation.
"Karliah... things...serious. War... changed."
"Shar... need... leave. ...not safe."
"First...must meet...Ric..."
Xandrix's eavesdropping was interrupted by a familiar feeling. A darkness overcame Xandrix and he collapsed to the floor.

"You are mine Xandrix Shalosee, mine!" A man's voice echoed. Xandrix turned his head and shuddered. A man, if it could be called that, stood in front of Xandrix. They stood together in the planes of uninterrupted space. Pure emptiness. A void. The man was black as ebony. His eyes glowed a deep yellow, darker and more faded than the light of a dwarf star. Wrapped in a dark black cloak, the man looked starving. He eyed Xandrix hungrily.
"We will find each other, Xandrix. And when we do, I will show you true power. We are destined for each other. And you WILL JOIN ME!"

Xandrix woke up with a start, panting heavily. His parents were standing over him, panic stricken on their face.
"Wake up Xandrix! Get up, we need to leave!" Karliah cried out. She wore a pouch on her back and was bundled in warm clothes. Shardin wore a slick black jumpsuit; a blaster sat in a holster on his waist. Something was wrong.
"What's wrong Mom? Dad, why are you dressed like that?" Xandrix asked. He had no idea how long he was out for. Slowly, his hearing came back to him. Loud booms resonated throughout the room. The ceiling of the apartment shuddered in an effort to support the durasteel frame of the building. Loud explosions resonated in what seemed like mere feet from the building.
"Xandrix, GET UP!" Karliah screamed. She grabbed his hand and yanked him off the ground. "Shard, get us out of here! Where is the ship?!"
Shardin had already started towards the apartment exit.
"Docking bay A-7! It's about a kilometer North of here! Follow me, closely!"
The three Shalosee's bounded down the stairwell, Xandrix in tow with his mother.
"What's happening, why are we running!"
Shardin turned and met Karliah's eyes. He gave her a curt nod.
Karliah turned back to Xandrix, "The Sith have played their hand; they trying to take the moon!"
Xandrix's face drained of color. He had heard stories about the Sith from both his parents and schoolmates; from all that he had gathered, they were to be avoided at all costs. Known as mystics, or dark force wielders, accounts of Sith butchery became the source of nightmares for children. And now they were here on Nar Shaddaa.
Shardin burst out of the apartment complex, blaster in hand. In front of him lay the smoldering wreckage of burnt buildings, wrecked repulsorcrafts and taxis, and charred bodies. Turbolaser fire deafened overhead. Shardin raised his head to see three Sith capital ships crawling with fighters shuddering over the city. A barrage of green death rained from the ships, with each laser impact vibrating the ground. He turned to his wife and child, beckoning them onward. They had to continue. Xandrix stepped out of the apartment hesitantly. In his heart he knew his old life was gone; what lay before him was shrouded in mystery.