Disclaimer: All characters belong to Bioware and LucasArts, I didn't create the Star Wars universe, it's just where I daydream.
This is my take/twist on the background or between the lines story from a great game.
Chapter 11
Korriban
Trin felt a sense of déjà vu as she and Carth left the Ebon Hawk. They were both dressed in light armour and had vibroblades strapped on their backs. The Hawk was a smuggler's ship, so they hoped to avoid undue attention by dressing appropriately. They grimly made their way to the docking authority, paid the fee and entered the planet's only settlement, Dreshdae. Dreshdae's facilities were minimal: one independent merchant, a Czerka office; a medical clinic; a hotel; a residence block; a cantina and the Sith academy. Sith students swaggered the halls bullying any who wouldn't stand up to them. They were accosted by three students who were out harassing newcomers, the ringleader a woman named Lashowe wanted to be entertained. Once they realized that three Sith students did not intimidate Carth and Trin, they ran off towards the academy. The determined twosome followed them.
At the doors to the academy they were denied entrance by the guard. He said, "You are neither a Sith nor do you bear the medallion of a student of this facility. Please leave at once."
Trin said, "I bear an important message for the Headmaster."
"Messages and deliveries must be relayed through official Sith channels only."
Trin stared pensively at the Sith soldiers helmeted head.
"Look, quit wasting my time. There is no truth to the rumour that getting past the guard automatically qualifies you to be a student."
"So, how does one become a student?"
"You have to impress a Sith, then they will give you a medallion."
"Medallion?"
"It is the device given to one who has been accepted into the academy, but has not yet proved their worth as a student. Now on your way citizen."
Trin and Carth obediently stepped back from the academy's entrance. On the way back to Dreshdae Carth stopped Trin. "You can't enroll in the Sith academy."
Trin put her hands on her hips. "I'm open to any suggestions."
"Why don't we just see if we can get one of those medallions."
"Okay, we'll try it."
They wandered into Dreshdae's cantina just as a group of celebrating students were being ejected.
A dark skinned woman yelled drunkenly over her shoulder, "When we're powerful Sith you'll regret this—yes, you will, you'll see."
Carth and Trin exchanged a glance.
"What do you think you're looking at short stuff?" the drunken woman asked Trin.
"Not much."
"Ooh, tough talk. I'm going to rearrange your lovely face. Hey pretty boy, will you like her as much when her nose is sticking out of her ear?"
Trin and Carth took a step forward. One of the woman's friends laughed. "They don't look all that scared, Uma. Do you know who we are?"
Carth sneered. "A ragtag bunch of bullies down from the school."
"Hey, take that back or" He stuttered as he saw Carth and Trin draw their vibroblades with the casual practice of experts. Dreshdae's citizen's scattered.
Trin stalked around the huddle of students. "You seem to have lost your backbone, children."
Slowly the import of their smooth practiced movements and lack of fear permeated the students' impaired minds. The suddenly sober dark skinned woman watched Trin warily and said, "We didn't—uh—mean anything by it all, we were just kidding around."
Trin supposed the pained look on her face was meant to be a smile. "I can't just let this go, I have a reputation to maintain."
One of the students laughed shrilly. "Nothing happened here to ruin your rep, ma'am."
Carth grinned. "Perhaps some form of payment is in order."
"Payment?" asked one student nervously.
Trin sneered. "These fools don't have any real wealth—but perhaps they could pay with something that's precious to them. That at least would be a fitting punishment."
"Precious?"
Carth laughed. "I have it, hand over your precious Sith medallions."
"But—uh yeah, of course." One after another they tossed their medallions into a pile.
Trin slowly stepped over to the pile and picked them up. "Hey, these will be perfect for target practice." She winked at Carth.
Carth drew his blaster. Trin threw the medallions in the air one after another and Carth disintegrated them with his blasters as the slack jawed students watched. Then Trin and Carth walked nonchalantly into the cantina and ordered a drink. Trin tucked the medallion she had palmed into a pocket and grinned at Carth.
They returned to the academy entrance to speak to the guard.
The guard said, "I see you have a medallion, but I do not recognize you. You must have been admitted quite recently."
Trin said, "Yes. Today, in fact." I hope this is a new guard. It's impossible to tell these melon heads apart.
He said, "I see. And who might your friend be?"
Trin thought fast, "He is—my slave."
The guard said maliciously, "Ah. I trust you will be responsible for ensuring your slave is not disruptive, then?"
Carth muttered under his breath, "No more disruptive than my master will be."
The guard said sharply, "What was that?"
Carth replied, "Oh, nothing."
"You will want to bring your medallion to Yuthura Ban. She is the one who brings all selected students into the academy for their training."
Trin sighed. "Where do I find Yuthura Ban?"
"I believe she is still in the cantina vetting hopefuls."
They headed wearily back to Dreshdae. Carth pulled Trin off the trail to talk. "I can't let you do this!"
Trin asked warily, "Do what?"
Carth said earnestly, "You can't enter the Sith academy this way. What if they find out you're lying? What if you find the dark side drawing you in?"
"I will lie very well, thank yoo, and so do you. We fooled those students. I'm not tempted by anything I see here, are you? A bunch of—what did you call them—bullies. They are pathetic. Their power is nothing but hate and fear. Nothing here speaks to me."
Carth did not look convinced but he let go of her arm.
Trin said urgently, "Carth, you have no choice but to trust me here. We have to get inside that academy both to rescue your son and to find the Star Map."
Carth looked down at his feet. "Trin I want to—but—I've only known you for a couple of months. I knew Saul for years and he betrayed me."
Trin grabbed Carth's arm in a warrior's clasp. He raised his eyes to hers.
Trin clenched her jaw then intoned solemnly, "I, Trin Lenstar, will find Dustil son of Carth Onasi, free him from the Sith and restore him to his father" She paused briefly then added fiercely, "or die trying."
Carth sputtered. Behind him a familiar deep voice snapped, "Witnessed." Carth whirled to see Canderous.
Trin said calmly, "Thank you, Canderous. Were you looking for us?"
Canderous nodded. "There's a Rodian here claiming we have his shipment. I was going to run him off but he told Mission he'd pay 1000 credits for it. Juhani and Jolee are hiding in the infirmary; Bastila and Mission are fighting like newly hatched rancors; I elected to check up on you two."
Trin nodded resignedly. "Why don't we accommodate this Rodian we could use the credits, it'll only add to our reputation as smugglers and I rather get whatever it is off the ship." Trin got on her communicator and contacted Bastila and Mission. She convinced Bastila of the importance of removing the mystery object from their ship and she asked Mission to deal with the Rodian as befits the representative of a smuggling ship. Trin cautioned, "Ask Canderous, nicely, to back you up whenever you meet with this shady merchant."
As Carth led the trio back into Dreshdae, Trin put her hand on Canderous' arm. She said, "Thanks, I needed a comrade in arms to fight that battle." Then incongruously she hugged his arm before walking through the doors into the settlement. Quickly she outlined their plan. "I'm going to pose as a prospective student with my slave. We'll track down Dustil first then check the tombs that were rumoured to be in the valley beyond the academy."
Canderous chuckled. "Does your slave know about this plan?"
Trin snarled at him. "Get out of here."
Canderous headed into the cantina first. He ordered a drink then leaned against a wall with a view of all the patrons and the door.
A few moments later Trin and Carth entered. Trin scanned the cantina briefly then made a beeline for a purple female Twi'lek with elaborate tattoos sitting towards the back. With a careful mixture of truth and lies, Trin managed to convince the Twi'lek, Yuthura Ban, to admit her as a prospective student.
Yuthura took them to the academy to meet with Master Uthar and the other prospective students. Master Uthar explained that to become the student accepted for training, they needed to gain more prestige than the other three students. Trin noted that they were all old friends. The other students were Lashowe and her two buddies, Shardan and Mekel. Yuthura led them to their quarters; all four of them shared a wing of the dorms. Yuthura assigned Trin to the last room along the hall.
She ushered Trin into the room and followed. "You have real potential student."
"Thank you, Master Yuthura." Trin said warily.
"I have a proposition for you, why don't we step out into the hall to discuss it, while your slave unpacks."
Carth obediently shuffled over to the chest and opened it as Trin followed Yuthura out of the room. Trin was soon back, she closed the door and wandered over to the bed to sit down.
"What did she want?"
"She wanted to make a deal. She's going to help me gain prestige, I've agreed to help her eliminate Master Uthar after my final exam."
Carth raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"I accepted with appropriately Sith-like venom. Since we don't plan to be here that long it seemed pretty safe."
He nodded reluctantly.
"Now, I suspect that we'll find other groups of competing student's in the other dorm wings."
"Makes sense. Let's go."
The nearest wings were populated by staff and soldiers; they tried further afield. Though they sought Dustil, they found Kel Algwinn.
"Who—who are you?" he asked with a worried frown.
Trin sensed there was something different about this young man. Most of the Sith students exuded an aura of malice; he did not. Trin smiled benignly. "I'm Trin Lenstar. Who are you?" She reached out her hand.
"Kel, Kel Algwinn." He took her hand and shook it. "Pleased to meet you."
Trin grinned engagingly. "What are you doing?"
"Oh, just meditating. Nothing really."
"Is something wrong?"
"No—no, everything is fine."
"You're a Sith, so I really shouldn't..."
"Aren't you a Sith?"
"Yeah, I didn't mean it that way. My master always says I am too trusting, too willing to show weakness."
"Come on, you can trust me."
"Well, I just—don't feel I belong here. I thought maybe I did at first, but now—I don't know. I have so many doubts."
"Have you considered that the dark side just isn't your way?"
"Uh, eh, maybe you're right. But where would I go, then? What would I do?"
"Have you thought about the Jedi?"
"I don't know. I never really thought about it. Maybe I should seek it out, give it a try. Thank you—thank you so much! If there's anything I can do to help you."
"You could tell me where I could find Dustil Onasi."
"Dustil!" He shook his head. "Be careful with that one, his room is at the end of the hall. Good luck."
It was late in the day after most students had sought their beds Carth and Trin crept along the passage to Dustil's room. End of the hall, just like me, I wonder if that's significant. Trin popped the door open and they crept in.
As they closed the door a voice came out of the darkness, "You take a wrong turn somewhere?" and a bedside light flicked on.
Dustil had darker hair, longer side burns and no beard but the relationship between father and son was obvious. He had been sitting, fully dressed, on his bed in the darkness.
Carth stepped forward and said hesitantly, "Dustil? Is that you?"
Dustil stared at his father in disbelief. His face twisted into a sneer and he said sarcastically, "Oh, lovely. It's Father. Figures that you'd show up after all this time. How did you manage to get inside the academy?"
Trin answered pertly, "Through the front doors."
Dustil replied, "Cute. I wonder how interested Master Uthar would be to know just who he has in his web. Unless you've switched sides, Father. But I doubt that." His voice became shriller as he continued. A cold anger robbed his features of youth, "Just why are you here, Father? Not for me, I hope. Couldn't you have gotten yourself blown up on some ship and spared us this reunion?"
Trin slipped out the door to stand guard and give them some privacy. The hall way was empty but Carth and Dustil were getting louder. She opened the door a crack and slid back in.
Dustil leaned close to his father's face and said viciously, "You never knew me. You weren't even there to know me, so don't presume to tell me what I would or wouldn't do!"
Carth said firmly, "I don't know what's been done to you, but you're coming with me out of here. Now."
Dustil threatened, "Touch me, old man, and I'll kill you. Get out! Get out of here before I tell the Sith that you're here!"
Trin stepped between them then with her back to Carth she said, "Calm down, Dustil. Carth is only trying to protect you."
Dustil hadn't really noticed the diminutive woman. He found her eyes almost hypnotic. Under her knowing gaze his anger draining away. He reluctantly broke eye contact with her then slowly backed up several steps.
Dustil said with less vehemence, "I don't need his protection! Not anymore. The Sith give me everything I need."
Carth was aghast. He said imploringly, "You can't mean that! The Sith are— they're evil. They're the dark side. They—they took me away from you and your mother. They're—they're what took you from me!"
Dustil replied tensely, "No, they're not evil! They're not! The dark side is superior, and you—you were at war long before they came along!" His gaze slid past his father's face, only to be trapped again by the short woman's expressive eyes. He asked in a low intense voice, "Who are you?"
Trin grinned. "A friend of your father's, Trin Lenstar." She continued more seriously, "Your father coming here to see you is a gift. Think how many people, even Sith, would jump at the slightest chance to recover any part of their families. This man was willing to leap into the fire on the off chance we'd find you here. Don't reject him on a whim, consider everything that has lead you to this moment and everywhere you might go from here."
Carth stopped suddenly, he saw Trin speaking to his son—an adult to a child. Her age doesn't matter. She is a passionate, kind, caring, tough woman. She's working her magic on my son, for me. Carth's rage dissipated. He tried to explain, "The Sith war to conquer, to rule the helpless. I went to war for you, Dustil, for your freedom, your future!"
Dustil looked away and laughed bitterly. "I—don't believe you."
Carth said sorrowfully, "If I failed you, son, then it's—it's my failure. Please don't add to it by becoming something evil."
Dustil's tone became challenging, he said, "Prove it. Prove that the Sith are so evil and I'll think about it."
Trin asked seriously, "Will you consider such evidence with an open mind?"
Dustil sneered at her, "I have been open-minded about the Sith, it's you Republic types that are narrow-minded." But once again his negative emotions drained away as he looked at Trin.
Dustil continued, "I'll stay right here. I won't tell anyone you're here—for now. You find some proof and you bring it to me. If I hear you asking questions about me or doing a single thing to jeopardize my position in the Sith I swear I'll tell everyone what you're up to. You got that, father? You prove what you're saying is true. I'm not going anywhere otherwise."
Carth said sadly, "I—got it, Dustil," then he added firmly, "I'll be back. I swear it."
They retreated back to Trin's assigned room. Carth sat on the storage chest.
Trin asked gently, "Do you want to talk?"
Carth replied intensely, "No. What I want is to find something—anything— that will convince Dustil we're telling the truth. There must be something here in the academy we can bring to him, something that would show him what the Sith really are!"
Trin said, "We need to search Master Uthar's room. I have an idea, a way to get in there, wait here." Before Carth could protest she was out the door and gone.
Trin jogged down to Master Uthar's quarters. She had the perfect excuse for seeking him out in his quarters; she would betray Yuthura. Trin knocked on Master Uthar's door. He said, "Come." And the doors slid open.
Master Uthar leered at her. "What brings you to my quarters at this time of night, student."
Trin suppressed her reaction to his lascivious gaze. "I'm sorry to disturb you, Master Uthar, but there is something about Master Yuthura I wish to tell you in private." As she spoke Trin unobtrusively examined the room and the door.
Uthar was instantly all business. "Yes, what is it."
Trin replied, "Yuthura promised to help me gain prestige in exchange for conspiring to kill you after the final test."
Uthar rested his elbows on his desk and steepled his fingers, "Why have you brought this information to me?"
Trin lied, "Because I do not think I could best you and I'm not confident that she will follow through and help."
Uthar nodded, "It is good that you told me of this plot. Take this datapad to my aide in the morning. I will turn the tables on Yuthura. You have gained prestige for this but not enough. Continue student."
Trin cursed her luck. The room would not be easy to break into.
Unfortunately, Yuthura saw her leaving the hall leading to Uthar's room. She grabbed Trin by the arm and dragged her towards a dark alcove. She hissed, "You have betrayed me. For this you die."
Trin put her hands up and claimed, "No. No, he heard about your plan from someone else. I neither confirmed nor denied anything. I simply told him I had no idea what he was talking about. He asked me to give this datapad to his aide."
Yuthura read the note. "Ah, he plans to poison me! This is what we shall do. You deliver the datapad as instructed. We do not want to further inflame his suspicions. I will leave a keycard and a Sith poison probe in the chest outside my room. Tomorrow when he is in the main concourse use the keycard to break into his room and slip the probe under his bed."
Trin nodded, Yuthura turned on her heel and left without another word. Trin ran back to her room. Carth was pacing agitatedly. He grabbed her arms and whispered urgently, "What possessed you to run out of here like that! I am not just here for Dustil, I am also here as your backup!"
Trin apologized prettily, showing her dimple. "I'm sorry Carth, I didn't mean to scare you."
Carth was still angry, "Don't give me that little darling act. Promise me you won't run off without back up again!"
Trin sighed, "I promise not to run off without backup unless I've discussed it with you. Fair?"
Carth grudgingly said, "Fair." And let go of her arms.
Trin grinned, "Do you want the good news?"
Carth eyed her suspiciously.
She said, "By morning I'll have a key for Master Uthar's bedroom and study."
Carth asked for the whole story. He didn't look less worried when she'd finished.
Trin asked, "What is it, Carth? What's wrong?"
Carth shook his head, "It's this place. It's steeped in—I suppose evil. I fear all these lies and mimicking a Sith are steps towards the dark side."
Trin said soberly, "What do you know about the dark side, Carth?"
Carth sat down on the storage chest. "I used to believe it was a fancy name for something I saw every day, corruption. But I'm beginning to think it's different for Jedi. I think there is something malicious out there waiting for you. You and Bastila are so righteous but it isn't that hard to imagine it differently, like the flip side of a coin."
Trin frowned, "Do you think we are turning?"
Carth shook his head, "No, you're both very strong. But you have weaknesses. Your overdeveloped compassion may be a weakness."
Trin looked confused.
Carth explained, "What if you had to make that choice, the one posed by the alien computer on the forest floor on Kashyyyk? How would you choose between saving millions now or billions in the long run? Could you really gamble with information that way? How would playing god affect you? I think that's part of what happened to the Revan and Malak."
Trin was startled. She paused then asked, "Did you know them personally?"
Carth shook his head, "No. The fleet didn't see much of them. I did meet Malak once." He stared into space remembering.
Trin prompted him. "And?"
Carth looked at her. "He's a big man and he was friendly. He seemed compassionate and willing to work, to help. He used the force to heal many of the wounded on our ship. I was impressed."
Trin sighed. "What can I say Carth? I will not turn to the dark side."
Carth looked at her sadly. "I'm sure Malak would have said the same thing then."
Trin looked down at her hands. "Well, I don't plan on ever being in the position to need to make those decisions. When all of this is over, I'm leaving the Jedi and going back to being a scout."
Carth asked, "Why don't you want to be a Jedi?"
Trin scowled, "I don't trust them. They treat people like objects, tear children away from their families and expect obedience to a code I cannot live with."
Carth then asked the question that had been burning at the back of his throat for hours. "Why did you swear the oath to restore my son to me—or die trying?"
Some obscure emotion flitted across her face. Was it pain? She said, "Losing a parent is a hard but common experience. Most people outlive their parents; many outlive their siblings and friends. Losing a spouse or a lover is more difficult. But to lose your child is the worst loss, most people expect to outlive their children. Some of my holo friends were older, much older. When they lost children they'd just let go of life, they'd just fade away."
He slumped miserably. Trin kneeled in front of him, looked him in the eye and said intensely, "You're living on rage, it will run out, you need your son and I will do anything to make sure you get him back, anything."
Carth took a deep shuddering breath.
Trin put her arms around Carth's shoulders.
Carth leaned into her and returned her embrace. He spoke painfully into her shoulder as though the words were being dragged out. "You never give up. I don't deserve such—dedication. Even I gave up on my son. Oh, Trin I gave up. I gave in to despair. What if I had kept looking, could I have prevented this—horror? The Sith have their hook in him!"
Trin tried to lean back to look him in the eye but when she tried to pull away his arms tightened. He needs me, wants me right now. "Carth, there is hope. He didn't reject you, he wasn't as adamant as he appeared. We'll find something. He doesn't really want to reject you. It's been how he survived all these years, by being angry instead of sad, by blaming you instead of nameless faceless enemies he couldn't fight."
Carth nodded his whiskers brushed her neck sending thrills up and down her spine.
She shifted in his embrace and sat on his lap.
In a gruff voice heavy with unspoken longing he said, "Trin?"
She put her fingers on his lips and nuzzled his neck, "It's okay, Carth."
He ran his hands up her back, "I shouldn't—"
She pressed her lips to his, the quick silencing peck she had intended turned into a long passionate kiss. They were both panting when their lips parted.
Carth carried Trin to the bed, he impatiently pulled off his own clothing then tore urgently at hers. "I've wanted to touch you so badly for so long."
She stretched out her arms. "I'm here."
They luxuriated in the skin to skin contact.
Carth felt almost savage, he felt possessive. You are MY lover, Canderous will never touch you like this.
Trin reveled in the sensations Carth produced.
Dustil paused as he opened the door to Trin's room. He heard his father say "Trin?" and her answer. He watched his father carry the small woman to the bed and quietly closed the door.
Dustil leaned against the wall. They are lovers. He forgot all about Mother and hopped into the sack with—that woman. Dustil shook his head and walked back to his own quarters. Her gaze haunted him, in her eyes he saw a reflection of a different self. She sees a different Dustil than I do. I need to talk to her again. I want to believe I can go home. For a few brief seconds I saw it in her eyes. He sat heavily on his bed and took a deep breath.
Trin woke in the morning. Carth was standing by the door. She looked into his haggard face; he looked haunted.
She asked, "Did you sleep at all?"
He shrugged.
Trin sat up suddenly, forgetting that it was not her best move in the morning. Her face turned green. She ran to the fresher in the hall. After her rebellious stomach calmed, and she'd cleaned up she returned to the room. Fortunately she made it there and back without encountering anyone.
Carth looked at her worriedly, "Are you feeling all right?"
She replied, "Nerves, being a Jedi doesn't agree with me."
Carth nodded. "You were tossing and turning in your sleep. Nightmares again?"
Trin shrugged. "None that I remember." I never have nightmares when I'm with you.
Carth frowned.
"What is bothering you, Carth?"
"Canderous."
"Canderous?"
"Look, I know I don't own you."
"Thanks, what has that go to do with Canderous—oh!" Trin looked sharply at Carth.
Carth looked at her grimly.
"Carth, there is nothing sexual or—or romantic about my relationship with Canderous." Trin wrinkled her nose.
"Bastila—"
Trin cut in. "—was wrong. She is almost more suspicious than you!" She walked up to Carth and put a hand on his crossed arms. "Canderous is more of a—a, I don't know, uncle like or father like figure. A blood thirsty tough Mandalorian father figure."
"Fair enough."
"As for us. Well, who knows what will happen to us on this mission we may be rushing to our deaths. I'll take any special moments I can get right now."
Carth nodded and looked down into her face. What do I say? I want her but I don't trust her.
She smiled up at him. "Let's get moving."
He nodded.
Trin went to the chest by Yuthura's room and collected the keycard and poison probe.
They crept down the hall to Master Uthar's room and used the keycard to get inside. Carth searched the desk and study area, Trin went through to the bedroom area. Uthar had a collection of Jedi lightsabers in his chest. I wonder whose these are and how you came by them. She didn't put the poison probe under the bed.
Carth called out, "Trin, I found something." He handed her a datapad and said thoughtfully, "That datapad—take a look at it. I wonder if Dustil knows his friend was disposed of like that?"
Trin quickly scanned the datapad. "I think this will do it, Carth."
They were able to slip out of Uthar's room without incident. The duo made a beeline for Dustil's dorm room. This time Carth knocked.
Dustil ushered them in then checked the hall for witnesses. He closed the door gently then sneered. "Back already? So tell me, father, where's this proof you promised?"
Carth replied calmly, "I have a datapad I want you to look at. You knew someone named Selene?"
Dustil was surprised. "Selene? She's the one who convinced me to come to the academy with her. Why? Where did you get this?"
Carth said, "Look at it. It belongs to Master Uthar, doesn't it?"
Dustil looked at the datapad in horror. He said haltingly, "Yes—it's his. But—he told me—he, he said that she'd been lost on a mission in the valley. This—this says that they"
Carth continued for him, "Killed her because she was hindering your progress. Superiority at any cost, Dustil. There's your evil. Or can you live with that?"
Dustil was chagrined; he gripped the datapad tightly. "No. No, I can't. I—I had no idea—they lied to me."
Carth was relieved. "Well, there's the son I remember. Now will you leave here?"
Dustil replied, "I—no. You go do whatever you have to, father. I—I have some other friends here. I have to warn them what's going on. And maybe I can, you know, look around here and find out some more information. From the inside. Something that might help you."
Carth grinned wryly, "I—don't suppose there's any way I could talk you out of that, is there? I mean, you're not going to do anything half way. Sounds familiar."
Dustil gave a half smile, "I—guess it does."
Carth took a deep breath and patted his son on the shoulder. "I'm proud of you, Dustil. You aren't hanging onto a lie after you see it for what it is. Not everyone could do that."
Dustil said seriously, "Maybe—after this is over, we can—talk. I'm still not sure about—us, but I'll listen. Maybe we can get back to where we should have been."
Carth said quietly, "I'd like that."
Dustil shook Trin's hand. "Thank you, for helping me to see clearly."
She smiled and said, "Stay safe."
Dustil shook his father's hand and said, "I'll go back to Telos when this is over. You can find me there. Good-bye father."
Carth gazed into his son's eyes. "Good-bye son."
When they'd returned to the privacy of her dorm room Trin said, "Carth?"
Carth answered, "Yes? What's on your mind?"
Trin asked, "Do you think you'll see Dustil again?"
Carth said thoughtfully, "I think so. If he's anything like he used to be, Dustil hates to be tricked. There's no way he'll let the Sith trick him again. As for whether or not he'll be my son again—I don't know. He's so full of anger and hate—I wasn't expecting him to be like this. Maybe we can work it out. I hope so. I guess I'll have to wait and see." Then he smiled, it was a completely unguarded smile. "Thanks, by the way—for all your help." He put his hands on her shoulders and added seriously, "I consider your vow to be fulfilled."
She said neutrally, "Thank-you." I don't, but we shall see.
They put on their armour and strapped their vibroblades onto their backs ready to search the tombs on the surface. Much to their disappointment they found that one of the tombs was sealed off. Only students in the company of Master Uthar were allowed in the last tomb.
Trin said, "Carth, it's the only way."
Carth shook his head, "This is very dangerous. I'm worried for you."
Trin shrugged, "I'm just pretending to be bad."
They returned to the academy. Trin spoke to every instructor she could corner and eventually learned of several ways to earn prestige in Uthar's eyes. She couldn't bring herself to recite the Sith code, so that way was barred. She could and did subvert several quests.
She freed a Mandalorian smuggler by faking his death and gained prestige for obtained the location of his weapon cache on his ship even though the ship had been scrapped. She helped some disobedient Sith students escape and gained prestige for having found and dealt with them. She reprogrammed a faulty droid to erase its assassin subroutines and when it blasted off planet she gained prestige for having gotten rid of it. In the tomb of Ajunta Pall she convinced his restless shade to return to the light and on his advice turned his sword over to Uthar rather than keep the tainted blade. She also worked with Mekel to destroy the past headmaster of the school. Trin shielded Mekel from the insane Sith's assaults long enough for both of them to break free and attack. Her mercy shook Mekel to his core. He was suddenly on the other end of cruelty and he didn't like the view. Mekel wasn't all that keen on becoming a Jedi but he decided to leave the Sith.
These efforts took two gruelling days. On the morning of the third day, Trin woke and bolted for the fresher again. Carth was very nervous. Today she was heading into the tomb with Uthar and Yuthura. She had to go alone. She ate a plain breakfast in her room to settle her stomach then giving Carth a mock salute she headed off to her test.
Carth paced back and forth across the room. He had too much time on his hands, too much time to think. About three hours after Trin left he had an unexpected visitor.
There was a knock on the door. Carth cautiously took a position to the right of the door before he asked, "Who's there?"
A woman's voice answered, "Lashowe. Let me in Onasi."
Carth stiffened at the use of his name. "It's unlocked, come in."
She walked through the door carefully keeping her hands in full sight. Lashowe closed the door.
Carth gestured with his vibroblades for her to back up towards the corner. Then he said tensely, "To what do I owe the dubious pleasure of this visit?"
Lashowe grinned viciously. "Funny, you seemed like such a pleasant fellow on the vid of your award's ceremony. Tell me, what is Carth Onasi doing here pretending to be a slave?"
Carth shook his head. "You seem to have me mixed up with someone else."
Lashowe laughed. "No matter. You're identity is neither in doubt nor relevant. I have been asked to eliminate you."
Carth cocked an eyebrow at her. "Very civilized of you to let me know."
Lashowe explained. "As you no doubt have anticipated, I'm willing to bargain."
Carth waited.
Lashowe continued. "Trin did not win this contest merely through her suspicious activities. She has something Master Uthar wants very badly."
Carth frowned. "What?"
Lashowe explained, "Everyone entering the academy by the main door passes through a scanner. A combination of scanned information and, when available, blood is analysed. That's how we ferreted out your identity. Unfortunately, not before you spoke to your son." She said maliciously, "Thanks to your intervention he's a dead loss."
Carth started to lunge towards her then checked himself. Nothing this woman said could be trusted.
She grinned at having gotten a rise out of him. "It appears the Onasi children are strong in the force. I will save them if you convince Trin to leave Korriban."
Carth stared at her and swallowed, "You want me to—" Then he stopped as her words sunk in. He whispered hoarsely, "Children?"
Lashowe laughed delightedly. "You didn't know. This is too rich."
Carth stepped back and eyed her coldly. Her demand made no sense. Remember nothing she says can be trusted. "Take me to Dustil, first."
Lashowe chuckled at his suspicion and discomfort. "Certainly."
He sheathed his swords and pulled out a blaster; he draped his jacket over the blaster then stood close behind Lashowe and said, "Let's go."
As they walked down the corridor he asked in a conversational tone, "Where are we going?"
She replied sweetly, "To the torture chamber."
Lashowe led him out of the dorms, through the main concourse and up towards the torture chamber.
As they approached the end of the hall, Carth shifted his grip so that the pistol was pointing directly at Lashowe's heart. He said coldly, "If this is a trap. You die first."
Lashowe appeared unperturbed by this statement.
She triggered the door open and dove forward. But Carth was too fast for her, he shot and dove left. Lashowe landed on her face. A lightsaber flew over Carth's head.
Staying low he peered around the door frame. There were two Sith students in the room, Sharadan and the dark skinned woman whose medallion they'd taken. Lashowe pawed at the floor weakly. I don't have much time if I want to question her. Carth pulled out his other blaster. He stepped out sideways and fired at the woman standing by the computer console. She was caught off-guard and Carth's aim was true. She went down under in a barrage of blaster bolts.
Sharadan brought his lightsaber to life. He growled between clenched teeth, "The plan be damned. Now you die."
Carth did not waste anytime on words he quickly release a volley of blaster bolts at the defiant Sith.
The student deflected them all catching Carth's leg with one then grinned viciously at Carth.
Carth holstered his blasters and pulled his vibroblades out of the sheaths on his back.
The student swung his lightsaber back and forth lazily. He taunted Carth, "Yes, after I've carved you up, I'll carve it out and kill her."
Carth ignored his threats, long years of battle had inured him to battle taunts. He let the words roll past him without parsing them for meaning. They could be remembered and examined later, not here, not now.
Carth lunged forward, he swung a mighty overhand blow with his right blade; the student blocked the powerful swing with his lightsaber. Carth's left blade flicked inward thrusting at his opponent's stomach; the student dodged left and knocked Carth's arm away with his left hand. Using the momentum of his block he swung around and attempted to decapitate Carth with a wide backhand arc; Carth ducked below the wild swing and thrust his shorter sword into his opponent's kidney. The young Sith kicked at Carth's groin succeeding in knocking him of balance. The kick was followed by another wild swing that glanced off Carth's left shoulder numbing his arm; the shorter blade fell from his nerveless fingers clattering on the floor. The off-balance maneuver left an opening for Carth to swing his longer sword around deep into the young man's right side. The Sith jerked and died slipping off Carth's blade.
Carth winced as he made his way over to Lashowe and rolled her over, fortunately she was still breathing. He pulled out a medpac and showed it to the dying Sith.
Carth growled, "A trade. Tell me everything if you wish to live."
Lashowe shuddered and coughed up a little blood. She nodded. "I wanted revenge." Her features twisted into a sneer. "She swept in here at the last moment and cheated her way to victory." She coughed again. "I found out about the baby that Uthar wants. We were going to capture you and make her choose between you and the baby then kill you both anyway." She coughed weakly again. Then she begged. "The medpac"
Carth shook his head grimly, "What about Dustil and—?"
Lashowe's desperate whisper interrupted him, "He's long gone." She coughed feebly. "All of them left." She begged again. "The medpac."
Carth was poised to jab her, but first he asked one more question. "How do you know they made it off planet?"
Lashowe murmured, "Master Uthar placed a bounty on their heads. Please—" then she passed out.
Carth jabbed her, the healing power of kolto flowed through her blood stream pulling her back from the brink of death. He jabbed himself with a medpac, cleaned and sheathed his swords, slipped on his jacket and carefully closed the doors to the torture room behind him. With any luck Trin would be back and they'd be gone before anyone discovered the bodies. A baby! Can it be true? Who's the mother? Dustil has fathered a child, I can hardly believe—It could be a lie, nothing these Sith say can be trusted.
Carth arrived at the main concourse at the same time as Trin returned from her test. She smiled wearily at him. "Let's go."
He nodded. As they left the academy Carth asked, "Successful?"
She said, "Yes. Have you seen Dustil?"
Carth shook his head. "I heard—a rumour that he has left."
Trin said, "We can ask around at the port."
Carth nodded.
As they entered Dreshdae Trin noticed the blaster hole in his jacket. She said, "Carth? What happened to you?"
Carth looked at her questioningly.
She pointed at his back. "There's a blaster hole in the back of your jacket."
Carth turned away. "Don't worry about it, I wasn't wearing my jacket at the time."
Trin looked at Carth strangely then shrugged.
At the port a friendly mechanic confirmed that Dustil and three male friends had left on a transport ship the day before.
Carth talked to the mechanic. Canderous came down the Ebon Hawk's ramp. Trin left questioning the mechanic to Carth and went to meet Canderous.
Canderous was glad to see her in one piece. She looked tired. Someone followed Trin towards the ramp. Canderous stepped forward to meet Trin but when he saw the man behind her he stopped dead in his tracks.
Trin saw Canderous step down towards her then stare shocked at something over her shoulder, she spun to see a strange man.
The man said sternly, "Ah, so we meet again, Canderous. It has been quite a long time."
Canderous replied, "Jagi?"
Trin asked, "Do you know him, Canderous?"
Canderous looked shocked. He said, "He—he was a warrior under my command up to the battle of Althir. But I thought—"
Jagi interrupted. He said sharply, "You thought I was dead, didn't you! You thought all of us that you sent on the attack had perished! You sent us to die in a foolish attack while you directed our forces elsewhere! You broke from the battle plan and let us die for it, so that you could have the honour of being first to the enemy commander!"
Trin interjected, "Tough decisions are made in war."
Jagi said viciously, "That does not excuse what he did to us!"
Canderous replied, "I—I did what was prudent at the time. If I had not done it, the battle would have"
Jagi interrupted angrily again, "The battle would have been won anyway! I am tired of your excuses, Canderous. I have spent years tracking you down since the clans were banished, and I will not rest until I have had my vengeance."
Trin said boldly, "If you face Canderous, you face me as well!"
Jagi sneered, "I am not afraid of you. And if you choose, you can die by his side as well!" He stood straight and looked Canderous in the eye. Jagi said in ringing formal tones, "I challenge you Canderous. I challenge you to fight the fight you fled that day above Althir. In the dune seas of Tatooine, I will be waiting for you. All the surviving Mandalorian clans know of what I do here, and that we shall meet on Tatooine to settle this debt of vengeance once and for all. If you fail to meet me there, you shall be stripped of all honour and forever cast out of our society!" Then Jagi turned on his heel and left.
Trin looked up at Canderous. He was breathing heavily.
Trin said hesitantly, "C—Canderous?"
Canderous looked down into her face, "I've been given a challenge I can't ignore. We've got to go to the dune seas of Tatooine so I can find Jagi and kill him for his insult to me!"
Trin nodded briskly, "We should get going then."
Canderous growled, "The sooner we get to Tatooine the better." Then he strode back up the ramp into the ship.
Trin glanced worriedly at Carth. He nodded reassuringly and they followed Canderous onto the Hawk.