Byz charged forward so fast that the first Ferros even knew he'd moved was when he'd punched her in the face. He hit her so hard she had to use the Force to ward off unconsciousness. Before she could recover properly though, he'd picked her up by the throat – with his bare hands – and thrown her across the hall. She landed on top of the corpse of one of the soldiers in her squad. Mentally shaking herself off, she waited for Byz to leap over to her. When he did, she grabbed his body with the Force and hurled it onwards, sending him flying into the back wall. She used the time to recompose herself completely, then lit her sabers.

Byz's yellow blade came flying out from behind one of the many wooden benches, and Ferros deftly batted it aside. Byz recovered it mid-jump and slashed down at her, using all his weight and strength to force Ferry onto her back with her blades crossed to block him. She brought her left leg up quickly and kicked him hard in the groin, then used her right foot to launch him off of her. He landed hard on his back and grunted, more in irritation than pain, before getting back to his feet and dashing quickly over to her again.

Byz started slashing away in his usual Ataru form, leaping around and spinning wildly, constantly forcing Ferry to rebalance herself and adjust. Ferry, however, was the better duellist of the two. Like Ashlyn and Kayla, she'd learnt to integrate Ataru's acrobatic leaps and spins into Juyo's aggressive randomness to accommodate for her very small size. There was another trick that she'd learnt that Byz didn't know about too. A millennia-old Force technique she'd taught herself instinctually that not even Kayla and Ashlyn could do.

As Byz fought harder and harder, Ferry began to use less and less energy, easily parrying his heavy strikes aside with her twin blades. Somehow, he fought differently now to how he usually did. She sensed more confidence in him than normal – perhaps too much confidence. She knew he was fighting as hard as he could, giving it everything he possibly could give. She ducked another head-high slash and parried the return strike, then using the Force she pushed him hard into the rows of wooden benches.

Byz snarled angrily as Ferry continued to defy him. She leapt high into the air after him as he began to get back to his feet again, and smashed down on him with a terrifyingly powerful telekinetic blast. Byz was thrust painfully through the bench to the floor, sinking into the crater that formed where the bench used to be. The shockwave of the blast destroyed the surrounding six rows of benches, sending splinters of polished wood and tiled floor all around the room.


Devin approached the Emperor with grim determination, despite the verbal mauling he'd just received. The Emperor cackled loudly, not even bothering to arm himself. Devin reached out through the Force, trying to get any sense of the Emperor that he could. He could sense a familiarity about him, as if he belonged to a certain race that were easily identified through the Force. That made no sense though, as the Emperor appeared to be as human as they came. Maybe he's a Miraluka?

"That's not it, is it Devin?" the Emperor mocked. "My eyes work just as well as yours."

Devin smiled and snorted. "Nice trick, but I can do that too. This one is a lot more impressive, trust me."

Devin cupped his hands together, as if holding a large ball. What appeared to be a tiny sun formed, and he suddenly thrust it directly at the Emperor, bathing the entire hall in a bright orange glow for a split second. The intense ball of energy struck the Emperor square in the chest, burning through his robes and sending him flying backwards. He slammed hard into the back wall, then quickly stood up again. A lightsaber hilt appeared in his right hand, and an angry snarl formed on his lips.

"Force Destruction," Devin grinned. "Hurts, doesn't it?"

"Not nearly as much as you might have hoped," the Emperor said calmly.

He gestured with his hand, and Devin began rising up off the ground.

"What the…"

With a satisfied grin, the Emperor raised his other hand in the air, his fingertips crackling with power. A bright storm of electricity shot out then, striking Devin in the centre of his chest. It surged throughout his entire body, spasming every muscle at once and heating it up to unbearable levels. Completely immobilised, there was nothing he could do to shrug the attack. Instead, he reached out with the Force and shoved the Emperor as hard as he could. The Emperor hit the back wall again, and hard this time, dazing him briefly and giving Devin time to recompose himself.

He heard an enormous explosion then as tiny pieces of wood and floor tiles sprayed around the room. He glanced over to his left and saw Byz's limp body lying in what he could only describe as a crater. Ferry was standing over him, deactivating her lightsabers. He glanced over to his right and saw Cursty supporting Tri'ina, helping her towards the exit. The Emperor got up then, swiping Devin aside with a powerful telekinetic thrust that sent him hurtling across the room and into one of the surviving benches hard enough to break it in half. Shocked at how sudden and brutal the attack was, he threw his white saber to intercept the Emperor before he could reach the two girls. The Emperor saw it coming though, and deftly ducked out of the way before picking up one of the broken halves of the bench with the Force and throwing it at him. It hit Devin in the shoulder and spun him around. He recovered quickly and raised his arms to Force push the Emperor, and quickly realised his left shoulder was dislocated. Grimacing in pain, he picked up the broken bench and threw it as hard as he could, missing the Emperor but buying enough time for Cursty to help Tri'ina reach the exit.

Ferry was trying to help Byz onto one of the intact benches when his body was ripped from her grasp and floated over to the Emperor.

"You can't have him!" she cried out desperately, tears streaming down her face. She grabbed his body with the Force, but the Emperor was too strong.

"Young Byz is mine," the Emperor grinned. "He has sworn himself to the dark side already. It is not a promise easily broken, even if he wanted to."

Byz's eyes fluttered open then and the anger returned to them once more, rimming them in red as the irises turned bright yellow. He stood frailly on his own feet, still reeling from Ferry's attack.

"You!" he seethed. "It's not possible! What the hell attack was that?"

"Byz, please, I'll tell you all about it, I'll tell you anything you want to know, just please come back with us," Ferry pleaded.

"She's made a fool of you again, Byz," the Emperor said quietly to him.

"That's utter rubbish!" Ferry shouted. "I defended myself, nothing more. I just want you back, Byz, I want my best friend back. Please listen to me!"

"Even now she seeks to belittle you, Byz," he countered. "Do you want to know what she's really thinking?"

Byz stared absently into the distance and nodded.

"She's laughing at you, Byz. She wants you back so she has someone around to make herself feel better-"

"That's a lie, Byz! He's lying!" Ferry screamed, totally distraught.

"She needs you to be weak, or how will she continue to receive the accolades that you yourself deserve?"

"Byz, I'm begging you, you're better than this! I can't live without you, Byz, I need you! You're my whole life! I love you!"

Ferry collapsed onto the floor as Cursty handed Tri'ina over to Devin so she could comfort her master. By now Ferry was totally incomprehensible. She looked up at Byz, straight into his eyes, whimpering uncontrollably.

"You see?" the Emperor said to Byz. "She fears your rise to power. She fears you becoming a threat to her."

"She loves him!" Cursty shouted. "They love each other! That's all she wants, all she ever wants! Byz-"

Byz snatched Cursty by the throat with the Force and lifted her high off the ground. Ferry screamed, desperately grabbing hold of her legs and trying to pull her back down to the ground.

"No, Byz! Let her go! This isn't you! Stop it!"

Byz continued to hold her in mid-air. Cursty's face went deep red as her little body was starved of oxygen. Tears ran down her face as her legs kicked the air.

"The dark side gives me the power I need to become what I was always meant to be," he said coldly.

"That's right," the Emperor cackled. "With the dark side as your ally, never again will you suffer the taunts of this pathetic Mandalorian child. Never again will you be forced to live in her shadow. As my apprentice, you will discover secrets of the Force that you never dreamed possible. Soon, you will grow more powerful than her or any Jedi, young Byz."

Cursty's body went limp, and Ferry screamed. Before she'd even stood up, she had Byz's lightsaber in her left hand and Force lightning in her right. With a single, split-second blast, Ferry sent Byz hurtling through the back wall, crumbling the entire structure. The Emperor gestured at the roof, and suddenly the whole place began to shake.

"Grab Cursty!" Devin yelled. "NOW!"

Ferry never heard the command. Instinctively, she grabbed her apprentice's body under one arm and bolted for the exit, Force pushing the double-door entry so hard that both doors broke free of their mountings and smashed all the way through the building, creating a path out to the street. They all rushed through, escaping the collapsing building just as a billowing dust cloud swallowed them up, almost sweeping them off their feet.

Ferry collapsed onto her knees and used the Force to try and wake Cursty up. The young girl's pulse was slow, but after a few moments she opened her eyes again. Ferry hugged her to her chest and sobbed quietly as Devin slowly made his way over with Tri'ina in her arms.

"Come on," he said softly. "Master Blekkard's arrived to help us get these two to safety. We need to get out of here. The soldiers can finish up."

Ferry nodded her understanding as Jens helped herself and Cursty to their feet.

"I've got a transport waiting nearby," the older Jedi told them. "The sooner we get on it, the sooner we can have a nice, long rest back on Tython."


On board the Corell Star the mood was sombre, despite the overwhelming victory by the Jedi Coalition forces. On the bridge, three of the six Jedi Council members were present, along with Admiral Deugan, Ferry and Cursty. Runice, Lenny and Kayla were on board the Inimitable, and their holograms appeared alongside the other Council members as soon as Deugan activated the holocom. Governor Terluch also appeared as a hologram, after deciding to stay on Corellia, and both Liina and Finnschall also appeared via holo from Tython.

"Masters," Terluch bowed, his hologram slightly more stable than the others. "I'm so glad you could spare a few minutes. I know how busy you all must be after…well, recent events have obviously forced a dramatic re-think of your priorities. I appreciate you all being kind enough to speak to me. And thank you all so very much once again for your outstanding defence of my home. It is a gesture that my people and myself personally will never, ever forget."

"It was our pleasure, Governor," Kayla said with a warm smile. "It was never Corellia's decision to be involved in this in the first place. Defending is what the we do."

"Still, I never expected to be defending Corellia against the forces of the Republic," Terluch replied, dipping his head slightly.

"What can we do for you, Governor?" Jens asked impatiently, but not rudely.

"This time it's what Corellia can do for you," Terluch smiled. "I've had some time to think about this, and despite our initial hesitations about being involved, it seems Corellia has had her choice made for her anyway. If the Republic would deny us our democratic right, then the Republic will be denied the choice of whether or not we remain a part of it."

"Then you'll join the Jedi Coalition?" Deugan asked with some surprise.

"Yes, Admiral," Terluch smiled. "The Corellian system will gladly join you in your struggle against the Sith."

"The Sith?" Ashlyn repeated.

Terluch smiled slyly. "It doesn't take a genius to figure out what's really going on here. One look at those black-robed maniacs is proof enough to me that the Republic would change its name to Empire, given enough time. That Kuati Chancellor, the 'deal' with the Chiss Ascendancy, the bounty on Jedi…the Sith are the ones in control of all this, aren't they?"

Ashlyn smirked at Liina, and the twi'lek snorted in amusement.

"It seems that you are quite a bit cleverer than you let on, Governor," Finnschall chuckled.

"Perhaps a little," he smiled in return. "Unlike many of the other systems of this galaxy though, we do remember the last time a Sith gained control."

"We will gladly accept Corellia's offer," Devin said. "And we will be in touch with you again as soon as we can."

Terluch bowed again as his connection terminated, leaving only the Jedi Council members, Ferry and Cursty.

"And so another ally comes forward," Jens commented. "We have done well here."

"But at what cost?" Runice asked grimly.

"Byz is a bright kid," Lenny agreed. "He was one of our most promising young Jedi. I never thought he'd turn. It's quite clever of the Emperor to go after him."

"It's clever, yes," Devin said. "But he was always vulnerable to the dark side."

"He's been so concerned with keeping up with Ferry that he's lost sight of what he's supposed to be doing. He couldn't handle his pride being assaulted like that," Kayla added.

"But I love him," Ferry said softly, her eyes bloodshot and her face flushed from hours of sobbing. "I never wanted him to feel so bad about it. If I'd known-"

"-would you have failed your missions just to make sure he didn't get upset?" Kayla interrupted. "You've done nothing wrong, Ferry. You were assigned missions by the Council, and you completed them to the best of your ability, that's all. What exactly could you have done?"

"I could've been nicer to him, I could've helped him, I could-"

"No you couldn't," Cursty stopped her. "I was there when he started getting jealous of you, remember? You're a great Jedi, Master Ferry. Just because you love someone, doesn't mean they're your responsibility."

Devin stood behind the young Padawan and placed his hands on her shoulders as Kayla smiled proudly across at her.

"You should listen to your Padawan," she said. "She's absolutely right."

"Ferry," Lenny began, "Byz was my apprentice. I knew him as well if not better than anyone. You're being very hard on yourself, and I can understand that. We all understand that. But part of our philosophy is to grow stronger from the understanding that comes from dealing with strong emotional crises. You're doing that right now. This is part of the lesson of life, and it applies to everyone, not just Jedi. Byz is extremely powerful, very wilful and as cunning as a politician, but he wasn't ready for what he's been through. That isn't your fault, you weren't his master, and you certainly aren't him. There's only so much one person can do for another before it becomes their own responsibility. If anything, it's my fault for not preparing him correctly. It will never be your fault for being his best friend."

A few tears rolled down Ferry's cheeks as she began to fully understand Lenny's sentiment. Deep down, she'd known from the moment Byz disappeared from the Force that it wasn't her fault, but someone had to take the blame.

"He'll come after the temple on Tython," she said softly to Lenny. "You know that, right?"

Lenny nodded. "Indeed. They won't attack immediately though, so we may have some time to prepare and recuperate."

"Will he risk it?" Finnschall asked. "It's a very bold move."

"It doesn't matter if Byz will risk it," Runice corrected. "The Emperor will demand the location of our stronghold, and Byz will give it to him. From there, the boldness only needs to come from the Emperor."

"Lenny's right though," Devin said, folding his arms. "They won't attack immediately. They'll gather a proper assault force and attack en masse, with all the Sith Lords they can gather. They won't try to be sneaky either. With Byz on their side, they'll be confident enough to do it in broad daylight with the entire Coalition fleet in strike positions. If we don't prepare, Tython will fall."

"Why don't we pack up and leave?" Cursty asked. "We did it on Coruscant pretty easily."

"On Coruscant, we had an army to help us out, and we'd been prepared to leave for weeks prior," Jens explained. "This time we're all settled in, and we have an entire military base to evacuate as well. We'd need about a week just to sort out the temple, and then we'd need another two for the military base. We won't have that much time. I'd give the Emperor three days, four tops until he strikes."

"Jens, how are we going to defend against all the Sith?" Liina asked worriedly. "We only have twenty-nine Jedi Knights, including the masters, now that Byz is gone. We'll need at least myself and Finn to protect the younglings, so that leaves twenty-seven Jedi, twenty-eight if you include Dialgar. The Sith will number in the hundreds."

"Quality, not quantity," Runice smiled. "We can move the younglings to a safer place. Perhaps our new friends in the Jedi Coalition can help us out with that. As long as they're not on Tython, the Sith won't have the numbers to go searching for them. Even if they do go looking, one or two Sith won't be nearly enough to challenge our younglings. Besides, Liina, you're one of our most powerful. Besides the Emperor himself, I doubt there's a Sith still alive who could beat you."

"Runice is right," Kayla agreed. "They aren't strong enough individually to be much of a threat to us. Ferry has defeated multiple Sith at a time on numerous occasions now, without too much trouble. Plus we'll have Admiral Minvessen and his finest on our side as well, not to mention the home-ground advantage."

"But we're getting ahead of ourselves a little bit," Devin continued on from Kayla. "Worrying ourselves with all this won't help us beat them. Let's just relax, heal up and regroup first."

"We'll see you all back on Tython then," Runice smiled warmly, and then the holocom transmission ended.

Ferry remained where she was and wiped more tears from her cheeks. She felt Cursty's little fingers interlacing with her own, and looked to her right to find the young girl smiling hopefully at her.

"Let's go find you some ale," she chirped, trying to cheer Ferry up a bit. "I'm sure there's at least one person on this bucket that will give a sixteen year old a drink after the day you've had."

Ferry couldn't help but blurt out a short, surprised laugh.

"You know, since you became my apprentice, you've taught me more than I've taught you."

"I know," Cursty grinned back at her. "You know how you can repay me?"

Ferry raised an eyebrow, wondering what to expect.

"I'd love a Special Forces uniform. You can think about it while I get you that drink."

Ferry laughed and shook her head as Cursty happily took off to find a stocked refrigerator. She had to admit, she did feel better already. But she wasn't entirely sure she could ever forget the look in Byz's eyes; that look of betrayal and jealousy he'd had when she'd beaten him flashed through her mind every time she blinked. It broke her heart a tiny bit more each time she saw it, and she began to wonder how many blinks she'd have left before she couldn't take it anymore.


Byz approached the Emperor as requested, his chest still feeling very tight from the impact he'd suffered when Ferry sent him crashing through a solid wall. He stepped forward penitently but confidently, kneeling before the Emperor, who sat perched on his tall throne at the head of the hall rebuilt for him in Kaas City.

"Rise, my young apprentice," he croaked, glancing down at the empty spot on Byz's torn and scorched Jedi robes. "It seems you need some new equipment."

The Emperor gestured at a Chiss guard standing nearby, and the guard immediately disappeared out of the hall, reappearing moments later with his arms full. He knelt before Byz with the offering presented to him.

"A new set of robes, and a brand new lightsaber to replace the one stolen by the Hekla girl, the Emperor explained. "I'm sure you'll find them much more suited to your current position. May they serve you well."

Byz took the robes and the lightsaber, thumbing the activation stud. A brilliant crimson blade emanated from the long, cold hilt, and Byz immediately felt the saber's dark power coursing through him. It shifted its alignment at his will, feeding his thoughts and feelings, giving him a sense of unlimited power. A small smile crept onto his lips as he stared at the thrumming, brilliant blade, sensing the emotions the blade would help produce in the future. He heard the sounds of battle, distant in his mind but getting closer and closer.

"Thankyou, my Master," Byz bowed. "I can already feel the power of the dark side in this blade. It gives me strength. Strength I will use to cut down Ferros and all the Masters of the Jedi Council for their insult."

The Emperor grinned, and began cackling as he sensed the hatred burning in Byz's mind; the memories he forced to the surface and the anguish that came with them. Memories of Ferry's successes and his own failures, memories of a love unrequited and ultimately used against him. The Emperor could feel the overwhelming sense of betrayal that consumed Byz, and he knew then that he'd done the right thing in recruiting him instead of going after the Mandalorian Jedi again.

"The time has come, my young apprentice," he started, getting to his feet and joining Byz at the bottom of the two steps that one was required to ascend before reaching the throne. "We have the power now, and we have the knowledge. We must strike at the heart of the Jedi soon if we are to weaken them enough for my ultimate plan to succeed."

"Tython," Byz said coldly. "We must annihilate them at Tython."

"Precisely, apprentice," the Emperor agreed, clapping Byz on the shoulder. "You have an intimate knowledge of the planet and the temple. If we are to prove your superior strength to the Jedi who betrayed you, we will need your assistance in planning the assault."

"Of course, my Lord," he replied. "You have my full and unwavering cooperation."

"Excellent," the Emperor cackled amusedly. "I assure you, my young friend, with our combined power the Jedi will not be able to resist us. You will lead us to victory, and prove to the galaxy that your power is without equal."

"Except when compared with yours, my Lord," Byz said, bringing another grin to the Emperor's face.

"You are wise, young Master Akkon, but humble. Humility is not a skill required of you here. The Sith would not suppress you with such primitive notions of decency and class. We all share a vision, and only together can we accomplish our goals. Someday your power may indeed eclipse my own. Such is the way of the Order of the Sith Lords, for millennia past and millennia to come. Until then, you remain the most powerful of my servants; my friends. You are my enforcer, and as such you are above reproach from anyone other than myself."

"I am honoured, my Lord," Byz replied, immediately stopping in his tracks to bow low to the Emperor.

"Your name…" the Emperor trailed off as he searched his mind. "Your name is no longer Byz Akkon, as you are no longer a member of the Jedi Order. You will now be known to all as Darth Figennus, Emperor's Wrath. You answer only to me, and no one else. This is a position not filled for ten thousand years, my young friend. Such is your importance to the Sith."

The newly anointed Darth Figennus rose to his feet, his red-rimmed yellow eyes burning with pride and bloodlust.

"Now come," the Emperor gestured towards the exit of the hall. "We must meet with the Dark Council shortly to discuss the destruction of the temple on Tython. It would be fitting, I think, for your new robes to make their debut along with yourself."


Ashlyn poked her head through the door to the Corell Star's rec room, and seeing her former apprentice she stepped inside and made her way over. Ferry's eyes still appeared heavy and bloodshot, even though they were a vast improvement over how she looked when she first came aboard after leaving Corellia. Ashlyn sighed to herself, knowing that there was very little she could to do help her with the burden. She also knew that she had to try, regardless of how effective or ineffective the effort may be. Ashlyn and Ferry still maintained quite a close friendship, and the bond that always formed between Master and Apprentice still remained strongly.

"Hey, Ferry-girl," she said, taking a seat next to her. "How ya feeling?"

"Like osik," Ferry replied.

The Togruta girl wrapped an arm around Ferry's shoulders and pulled her closer.

"We weren't just saying that stuff before for your benefit, you know. It really isn't your fault."

"I know," Ferry sighed. "But someone has to take the blame…if I wasn't around, he wouldn't have had anything to feel jealous of. I wonder if this would have happened if I never came to Coruscant all those years ago."

"That's ridiculous," Ashlyn blurted. "That's like saying it's the Jedi Order's fault that the Sith exist."

"Well, in a way, it sort of is."

Ashlyn gave her an admonishing look, and Ferry responded with a wry grin to let her know she wasn't being entirely serious.

"There's too many variables, Ferry," Ashlyn continued. "The fact is, it's happened already and there isn't really anything that anyone can do about that. We can either passively mourn the past forever and ever, or actively change the future."

Ferry sniffed in amusement. "You sound more and more like a Jedi Master every day, Ash."

"I do turn phrase pretty well these days, don't I?"

Both girls giggled as Cursty reappeared with the promised drink for her master.

"Thanks, sweetie," Ferry smiled as sweetly as she could. "I hope that's not from Deugan's personal stock."

Cursty looked guiltily down at her knee-high military boots as a shade of pink crept into her cheeks.

"He said it was okay, but only after he caught me raiding," she answered. "He was actually going to offer you one anyway, so it all worked out fine."

Ferry and Ashlyn shared a look of worry, but Ashlyn shrugged in dismissal so Ferry began sipping away at the ale.

"He's not dead, you know," Cursty said suddenly, drawing a look of confusion from her master. "Byz, I mean. He didn't die. We can help him come back from the dark side."

Ashlyn smiled as Cursty's childish innocence reminded her of how simple the galaxy could be sometimes. With all the fighting the Order had gone through since Kayla and Devin reformed it, it was pretty easy to forget that almost everything could be summarised with such succinctness.

"We'll make sure of it, Ferry," she assured her former Padawan. "Byz means a lot to all of us. We'll do everything we can to bring him back."

The young Mandalorian wiped another pair of tears as they formed in her eyes, and Ashlyn gently kissed her forehead in reassurance.

"Thanks, you guys," she sniffed. "I dunno what I'd do without you both."

"You know how you can repay me," Cursty grinned hopefully.

Ashlyn frowned in confusion, the remark totally lost on her. Ferry shook her head and chuckled.

"She wants a Special Forces uniform," she explained.

Cursty's gaze immediately shifted to Ashlyn, the hopeful expression intensifying as Ashlyn's lekku twitched at being put on the spot.

"I'm not sure we have anything left in your size, Cursty," Ashlyn replied. "Most soldiers are taller than one and a half metres."

"I was only kidding," Cursty dismissed with a smile, but Ashlyn could sense the slight pang of disappointment. She knew Cursty just wanted to emulate her master's style though, and that was a pretty innocent desire for a little Padawan.

She stroked Cursty's hair and started chuckling as she got to her feet. She raised her hands in defeat.

"Alright, I'll see what I can find for you then."

Cursty squealed her thanks to the Togruta Jedi Master as she turned and left.

"You know you have to work extra hard at mastering those twin sabers now," Ferry quipped, grateful for the change of conversational topic. Anything other than Byz or the dark side was very welcome.

"I promise I'll work super hard," Cursty said happily. "Actually, I'm going to go train right now."

"That's very admirable of you," Ferry replied, "but you can rest until we get back to Tython. Right now, there's a little twi'lek in the infirmary that lost her master today. I'm sure she'd love a visit from a good friend."