Chapter: 12 Traitor

The Kom'rk ship fired two ion blasts at the smuggler transport. The blue beams of energy surged across the craft and cut all power aboard it. While Vala and Evrus prepped themselves for boarding, the pilot attached the ship to the disabled target. "Stand by for airlock synchronization," announced the pilot. A loud clang echoed throughout the ship. "Airlock secured. Good luck in there."

Vala cocked her pistol while Evrus took point. "Think they're fixing to fight?" he asked.

"Depends on what kind of cargo they've got and if it's worth dying over." Vala used her wrist-mounted fusion cutter to trace a circle through the smuggler's ship. Evrus readied a smoke grenade while she finished her incision. The sound of angry aliens seeped through the cracks in the ship's interior. "Looks like they're fixing to fight."

"Good," chuckled Evrus. He kicked open the space Vala had cut out and then threw a smoke bomb. The blast sounded and soon the entire hall was shrouded in a thick coat of white. One of the smugglers panicked and fired blindly down the hall. Evrus rushed forward and blasted the smuggler down. Vala shifted through the smoke, pondering how Evrus had made such a precise shot through it. Her pondering was cut short by the sound of a blaster cocking. Vala spun around and unloaded three blaster bolts into a smuggler's chest. He fell over and Vala got a good look at her kill. He was an overweight Gran, easily distinguished as such by his three eyes and wrinkly snout.

Another smuggler rounded the corner and lunged at Vala. She caught him mid-strike and delivered a ferocious headbutt. Her helmet banged against his forehead and she threw him across the room. Evrus grabbed the dazed man and fired four shots into his gut. He placed a fifth in his head out of sheer adrenaline. "Really?" thought Vala. "Damn animal." His helmet's horns made the title all the more believable.

Vala jetpacked up to the ship's rafters and spotted a sniper hiding in the shadows. He fired and Vala swerved to evade the attack. She lunged before the man's rifle could recharge and blasted him in the face. The smuggler's body went tumbling from the rafters. "Look out below!" she warned.

Evrus caught the body and threw it into another foe. "This level's clear!"

Vala hovered around until she eyed a series of yellow-striped crates. "And I found the supplies." She landed amongst the crates and blasted the lock off of one. "Let's see what we've got." Vala reached in and plucked out a small, two-pronged cylindrical device.

Evrus scavenged blaster charges from all of his kills. "What'd you find?"

Vala took a closer look at the metallic device. "Looks like a portable shield generator." A reptilian's reflection appeared in the metal. "And one ugly lizard." Vala turned and took aim with her blaster. The colossal reptilian swiped its claws at her, smacking her pistol away in the process. She reached for her wrist-mounted flamethrower, but her foe kicked her back. She grunted with pain, reminding her that Trandoshans were one the strongest species in the galaxy. Before she could recover, the Trandoshan grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her across the room. Vala landed on her back and she heard a fizzing sound emanate from beneath her. She turned to check what it was when she felt a scaly claw clench her neck. The Trandoshan roared, exposing its razor-sharp teeth and sputtering saliva across her visor. He slammed her against the floor with enough force to send her helmet rolling off. The assailant's vicious grip burned Vala's neck as she wheezed for air.

A laser struck the Trandoshan in his lower back, making him hiss and let go of Vala. She mustered the strength to kick him away, giving Evrus just enough time to fire again. The giant lizard spun and took a swing at Evrus. He ducked under the blow and threw himself at the Trandoshan. Evrus lowered his head and rammed his horns into the brute's neck. The Trandoshan loosed one final shriek before falling limp against the metal floor. His spiny head banged into a shelf, shifting one of the durasteel crates towards the edge. Vala's eyes widened as the crate loomed over her head.

"Fly, Vala!" cried Evrus while two smugglers closed in on him. Vala ignited her jetpack but it fizzled in response. With her only means of escape damaged from a collision, Vala tried to scramble to her feet. "Vala!" Evrus yelled while fighting off his attackers. The crate slid off the shelf and came hurtling down to Vala. She braced for impact, unable to roll away from such a wide-framed crate. In a fit of exasperation, Evrus threw his hands forward with a resounding "NO!"

Vala watched through squinted eyes as an invisible power pushed the crate away from her. The enormous crate sailed across the room and clanged against the furthest wall. The impact dented said wall and disheveled every box alongside it. Vala's eyes remained fixed on the crate that most definitely should have killed her. She shuddered when Evrus tapped her on the shoulder. He handed her helmet back. "I believe this is yours."

She hurriedly snatched the helmet back without even looking at it. "Evrus..." Her eyes hadn't blinked since the incident. "What the hell did you just do?"

He craned his neck. "I didn't do anything."

"Don't banthashit me."

"I didn't do anything!"

Vala bolted to her feet and pressed her finger against his chest. "I should be flattened right now!"

Evrus crossed his arms. "You're really bad at thanking me for saving your life, you know that?"

Vala glowered and her brows narrowed. "Evrus. I just saw a dense crate of durasteel get flung across the room when you flailed your arms at it. Don't play dumb with me, now talk! What did you do? What have you been doing?" Evrus' eyes widened and wandered. Vala stepped closer, forcing him to look her in the eye. "What were you doing in that cave?"

"Have you been following me?"

"I want answers," said Vala. She aimed her pistol at him and the gesture made Evrus' nostrils flare. "What are you hiding?"

Evrus bit his lip. He tried to pace, but a wave of Vala's pistol kept him from wandering anymore than an inch. "Alright. I'll tell you." He tightly shut his eyes and exhaled profusely. Evrus then opened his eyes and said, "I-"

The shrill of both their comlinks rattled their helmets. "What's your status?" asked the pilot. "Hello? Come in!"

Evrus was quick to respond. "Yes. The ship is clear and we've secured the supplies."

"Well then what are you two waiting for? Load it up!"

"We are not done here," said Vala before marching towards the crates.

"I know," sighed Evrus. "I know."

She furiously kicked a smuggler's corpse from her path and dragged supplies down it. Evrus joined her, and the duo had the Kom'rk loaded within the hour.

The return to Carlac was eerily silent. So much so that the pilot gave up conversing with either warrior onboard. Vala spent the first half of the descent pondering what she had just witnessed and the other half convincing herself she wasn't going insane. Evrus sat across from her, staring down at his gloved palms. Upon landing near the Death Watch camp, Vala and Evrus were greeted with critical acclaim. The supplies was hurriedly stockpiled and many warriors equipped the personal shields to their gauntlets.

"I trust your mission was no trouble at all," said Vizsla.

Evrus saluted him. "None at all, sir. Although, Vala's shooting could use some improving." He clenched her arm and pulled her aside. "Luckily, she's agreed to let me show her a thing or two...or a hundred." Evrus laughed nervously while Vala reluctantly followed him. He led her out of camp, making her realize, or at least hope he was showing her his 'secret.'

They were nearly out when Vizsla said, "Shooting practice can wait. We are-"

"Sir!" called Bo-Katan.

Vizsla grumbled. "What is it, lieutenant?"

"One of our Kom'rks has picked up a stray vessel in space. Heavily damaged exterior but everything else is intact. Shall we engage?"

"It must be our lucky night for supply runs. It's been some time since you and I have been spacebound. Assemble a boarding party and prep for raid." Vizsla turned. "Evrus, I want you and your friend to-" By the time he looked, the two were long gone.

"Sir." Bo-Katan's utterance was enough to snap Vizsla free of his sneer. "I'm sure we can handle ourselves."

"Right," said Vizsla. The two joined a Death Watch boarding party and flew off into space.

Evrus led Vala back to the northeast and into the very cave she'd spied him in. Once they were deep within the cave's icy walls, Evrus did one final check for any followers. "We're clear," he said.

"Good, now start talking."

"I will, but first-"

"What now?"

Evrus removed his helmet so that Vala could see his true eyes. She did the same. "Remove your blaster and shut off power to your wrist laser and flamethrower."

"No!" snapped Vala. "Why the hell would I do that?"

"I need you to trust me! I'm trying to trust you!"

Vala's mind descended into disarray. What if he meant her no harm? What if he did? What if she knew too much and this is where he snuffed her out? Vala reminded herself of her abilities in combat and sighed. "Alright. But my helmet stays on." She wouldn't risk Evrus blasting her face.

Evrus thought for a moment and replied, "Fair enough."

Vala unholstered her pistol and threw it to Evrus. She cut power to her vambraces, prompting both the wrist laser and flamethrower to shut down. "There. No more games, Evrus. What's going on?"

He sighed deeply. "I thought it hit me out of nowhere, but I'm starting to think I've always had it." Vala raised a brow beneath her helmet. "It explains why I never miss a shot, or why I was able to calm a beast with my words and emotions. It explains why you're even standing here and not crushed by a crate. I couldn't believe I'd never noticed it before, but I'm starting to realize I may be...gifted." Vala remained silent. Evrus sighed again and dropped to his knees. He clenched his thighs and shut his eyes.

"Evrus, what are you-"

"Just watch."

"But what-" Vala paused upon hearing a rumbling around her. She watched as the stones Evrus had brought in were starting to shake. Her eyes widened as each object slowly levitated towards the roof. As if this feat wasn't bewildering enough, the stones started to rotated around Evrus. Rotating transitioned into spinning, and soon each stone was swaying in a different direction. "How...how are you doing this?"

Evrus opened his palms and the stones gently returned to the ground. A smile formed on his face. "Vala, I have been gifted with the Force. I am sensitive to its power. Do you know what this means?" Vala was speechless. "It means we can get out of here! We can stop living this Death Watch lie. I wish I could've told you sooner, but I had to make sure you weren't completely one of them."

"What do you mean?"

"Vala, we are survivors. We do what we must in order to stay alive. I've been playing Vizlsa's game for long enough. With your skills and my powers, we can escape Death Watch together! We can leave it all behind!"

"And go where?"

"I don't know...perhaps...the Jedi Temple?"

"You'd join the Jedi? Those hypocritical, murdering monsters?"

"Don't talk like that," said Evrus. "You sound like them."

"That 'them' is our family."

"You can't honestly consider these terrorists to be family. Look what they did to Dee."

"Because she wasn't strong enough."

"Because Vizsla's a murderer, Vala!" He grabbed and shook her by the shoulders. "Wake up! They're trying to brainwash you!"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"What Bo-Katan and the rest of Death Watch has done to you. It's all brainwashing! They take young people like you and I, those wronged by society, and then make them feel useful. They give you meaning and shower your achievements with praise, but it's all to further their agenda. It's never about you. Maybe the Jedi aren't as bad as they say."

"Ahsoka killed Zal!"

"Because she was captured! Besides, how can Death Watch...how can Vizsla hate the Jedi when one of his ancestors was the first Mandalorian one? Tarre Vizsla was the first to wield the blade Pre Vizsla carries today."

"Well, the Jedi have changed since then. Perhaps at one time they were truly respectable. Today they serve a corrupt and doomed Republic."

"I have to believe otherwise." He stomped his foot. "I have to! Vala, you and I could start a new path. We can heal from what Death Watch has done to us. The Jedi can help us do that, and then we can have true justice against Vizsla. We can plead a case to them, and bring the might of the Jedi crashing down on Death Watch. No one will ever have to suffer as we did again. But I can't do this alone." He stretched out a hand. "Won't you help me? Please? I need you." He took a step further. "I want you." For some reason, Vala thought back to when Evrus posed as her fiancé on Mandalore. Did he truly have feelings for her? Or was this part of his plan to win her over? "Please," he intoned.

Vala stepped back towards the mouth of the cave. "I'm sorry, Evrus."

"Vala-"

"No. I will never betray my family as you have. As you plan to."

Evrus' lip quivered. He reached for his rifle and took aim. "Take another step and I'll blast you! I can't let you tell anyone!"

Vala spoke as if all emotion had been ripped out of her. "They already know." She turned her vambrace over, revealing a flashing yellow light on her communicator.

Evrus' heart sank. "You had your...But...I...I trusted you!" He took aim, but couldn't bring himself to shoot her. Instead, Vala saw something she'd never seen before. Tears swelled in his eyes as he barked. "I trusted you, Vala! I tried to save you! To save us!" The sound of jetpacks boomed outside the cave. "No," he gasped.

Pre Vizsla, Bo-Katan, and two other warriors marched into the cave. They cornered Evrus as he nervously saluted Vizsla. The leader removed his helmet so that his scowl was visible to all. His hateful gaze beamed towards Evrus. "Sir-"

"You have no right to call me that," Vizsla spat. "I thought you to be the best. My elite prodigy. Then...you do this!" Vizsla kicked a stone so hard, that it shattered upon striking the wall. "You would sell us to the Jedi?"

"Sir," Evrus dared to utter. "I was speaking to Vala in theory. I was testing her will. I would never betray you!"

"Enough lies."

"I mean it!" he begged. "I mean it!"

Vizsla raised a brow and craned his neck to Vala. "Is this true?" Vala froze and her gaze altered between Vizsla and Evrus. One gaze screamed for answers while the other begged for mercy.

Bo-Katan placed a hand on her shoulder. "Vala?"

Vizsla's voice deepened to a hellish level. "ANSWER ME. Is he telling the truth?"

Vala gulped and took a deep breath. "No."

"She's lying!" Evrus screamed. Vizsla drew his WESTAR-35 and blasted a laser into Evrus' chest, just between the durasteel plates. The shot made Vala bite back a gasp. Evrus fell back into the snow, unable to move. Vizsla had so carefully aimed the shot as to render Evrus paralyzed with nerve damage. He ripped off Evrus' jetpack and vambraces. Another warrior recovered his rifle. Then, as if none of it had even happened, Vizsla departed. Bo-Katan and the other troops followed suit.

"A blaster shot is too good for a traitor," remarked Vizsla. "Let him starve, rot, and freeze over. Whichever comes first."

Vala paused and listened to Evrus' whimpers. "Vala...please. Don't leave me. Don't do this!" His mangled body was strewn across the icy ground. "You don't even have to save me! Kill me! Please kill me! Don't leave me like this!" Only his head barely moved as he screamed. "Vala! Come back!"

Vala continued walking, never once looking back and leaving Evrus to endure a traitor's agonizing fate. She embarked on a long trek back to camp, wiping all that had transpired from her mind. She eventually reached Bo-Katan, who asked, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," she sighed. "I just...need a break from all this Force-wielding nonsense."

"I don't think it will end anytime soon."

"Why's that?"

Bo-Katan led Vala to Visla's tent. "Because we found someone during our most recent raid. Vizsla was quick to shoot Evrus because he's found a stronger ally to take his place."

"And who might that be?" wondered Vala. They entered the tent to see Vizsla conversing with a Zabrak male. As typical with the species, his jagged horns stretched from the top of his head. His skin was red with symmetrical black tattoos running across it. His yellow, red-ringed eyes met Vala's gaze. Only malice inhabited such eyes, and they made Vala genuinely fearful.

Vizsla stood up and proclaimed, "True sons and daughters of Mandalore. The insurrection of our warrior past is about to begin. No more hiding. No more waiting. Now we strike alongside our newest ally...Maul."