Thanks to those who have read (and are reading) this and to those who have added this to their story alerts. :-) In the meantime, the next portion follows Luke/Corren's point of view. Sorry if Allana isn't quite canon, I haven't read many of the books she's in, and I'm kind of going of what I remember from Invincible and references on Wookiepedia. So let me know if I stray too far off course on her character. In the meantime I'm considering, at some point in time, writing a flashback to show the fight scene between Darth Caedus and Luke Skywalker (and thus showing the immeadiete aftermath as Luke falls to the darkside). Anyone interested?

Chapter 3

Darth Corrun hovered over the body of Tenel Ka, looking at the features of Jacen's former lover. Things might not have gone so badly if Jacen had been open about it. Or perhaps it would have been different if Jacen had chosen his family as sacrifice, not the wife of the man who had once been Luke Skywalker.

One thing was certain, though. Had Jacen ignored his feelings when he first met Lumiya, Luke would not have fallen to the dark side. Either way, Luke was dead and so was Caedus. But that left the child.

Corrun turned around to study the little girl hiding in the corner. "Uncle Luke?" she whispered, fear showing plainly. It would be hard to do with her what he wanted, fear was not something the Sith should allow themselves to wallow in. Yet here was the perfect opportunity. Revenge, the final perfection to the loss Caedus had inflicted, and the power in a child who had the blood of Vader in her veins. He would not be quick to throw that chance away. She was young, and could still be taught. The problem, of course, was whether or not she could survive the training.

He stepped forward so that he was only a few feet away from the trembling child. "Luke is dead. I am Darth Corrun. What will you do?"

Allana stared at him, then made just the faintest hint of a snarl. "You've become evil, too. Just like Jacen. He killed for fun. He liked it. So do you." She tried holding his gaze, and only just lost the challenge.

"Evil is relative. Killing is not enjoyable, but necessary." He paused, thinking. He had been a Jedi so long, it would take a while for him to think completely like a Sith. For one thing, there was the ancient code to consider. Of course, it wasn't perfect, but it was a start. "Through victory our chains are broken. The Force shall set us free," he recited, more in contemplation than to the girl.

"You can't be free by killing so many people!" she protested.

He ignited his lightsaber, holding it just away from her chest. He would see what the child would do. "Is that what the Jedi taught you?"

"That's what you taught me."

He smiled. "Then you acknowledge you've learned from me in the past, that I am a master, the master."

"Yes," she answered warily.

"Good. Because consider what the Jedi have done. They tell you not to kill, that it does not lead to becoming one with the Force. Yet they will stop at almost nothing to eradicate the Sith from the galaxy. It seems that they believe killing the Sith will set them free, never mind that they preach against killing."

Allana bit her lip. She saw his point; that was a start. "You're trying to trick me," she finally decided.

"No," he said honestly. "I am trying to show you the truth. The truth is hard to define, and that is where the Jedi fall short. They think it can easily be found through meditation. That has never been the case. Over four thousand years, and they are no closer to the truth they seek. I can show you how to seek, how to become a strong Force user."

Allana looked away, glancing at the lightsaber. "I don't believe you."

"Good. I have something to teach you then."

"You killed mother."

"Yes. I can tell you- show you why, and the reason, if you'll give me the chance."

"You'll just kill me, too."

"Not necessarily. Not if you have the potential and the loyalty to me. The fall of many Sith has been the lack of foresight into future resources and risks. It is important to know how everyone affects each other, and that in turn will aid a true Sith Lord. Your mother was too great of a risk. You, however, are an unknown factor. I want to see what you can and will do before eliminating that factor."

"You're using me."

"We all use each other. It's natural. Will you come?"

"I won't be Sith," she said. She looked down. Still, Corrun felt something else coming from her- indecision. She could still be influenced.

"But you will come?"

She took one last look at her mother's body, then gave the tiniest of nods. "Yes."

Corrun looked her over. Tears were falling from her eyes, but she seemed to have fallen into temporary submission. Not quite what he was looking for, but it was a start. Besides, he didn't need her to be his true apprentice. He just needed her to be in the right place at the right time, when ever and where ever that happened to be.

"Follow me." He turned and walked away, keeping his senses open to the Force. No need to get stabbed in the back by a child. Allana stood without a word and trailed behind him. Things were going according to plan. Good.