Chapter Thirteen

Now that the evacuation was complete and the peoples of Tython were settled into the deep mountains, the Je'daii had only a matter of days or so before Hadiya arrived. What they hoped was that Daegen would challenge her and destroy her before her armies could attack Tython. It all depended on him whether or not Tython would be attack and the Je'daii would have to defend Anil Kesh. "Why would the Queen attack Anil Kesh?" Rose Rajivari, the head of the Council.

"The Black Firestone, a power great enough to send comets that destroy worlds and guide any who seek it to the Oracle itself. That kind of power, in Hadiya's hands rather than ours, would make the galaxy rightly tremble. But if she found out about its ability to guide one to the Oracle, it would be over for us," Rajivari stated. "So basically, we have to prevent her from reaching the Firestone even if the Temple should be destroyed?" Rose inquired.

Raj nodded and added that the Temple could be rebuilt if it needed to be but so long as the stone remained down there, they would be fine. I hope Daegen comes home and aids our defenses after he kills Hadiya, in case her Generals take up the cause in her place she thought silently. As her baby continued to grow, she became more and more concerned for its father's welfare. Was he still alive, had she caught onto his game and had him executed?

She would only know for certain if he came back to her and witnessed the birth of his first child. It was only a little over two months before she was due, two months that she knew she couldn't wait for him. "Is the baby hurting any?" Raj asked. "No, just a little startling when he kicks me," Rose said before joining him on a tour of the Temple.

"Our defense will be ready soon. We have harpoons capable of being launched at a great enough velocity to bring down a full-grown Hookhawk. Catapults that can support approximately one-hundred twenty-three metric tons of stone at any given time. Our archers are capable of firing three arrows per minute, our swordsmen are ready at the gate in the event they break through.

"Our spearmen are also ready to keep them stalled until the swordsmen arrive to finish the rest of the deed. With this in mind, our main intent will be to stall the enemy at least until the rest of the women and the children are on the other side of the mountain range. Given their current state of travel, that will take them approximately four days to do," he said. "Are you telling me this because you'd like me to go with them?" she asked.

"No, I tell you this just so I can assure myself and you that you will be safe from Hadiya even if she gets to us and Daegen," he answered. "Then get me to the caverns when you're finished here, the assurance would be complete at that point," she retorted. "My pleasure, Mrs Lok: least I can do for having missed the wedding you two had," he replied, smiling at her gesture. Indeed, and you failed to check up on us during the honeymoon she added mentally.

Daegen looked upon Tython and its two moons, for the first time, with a sense of dread. Not because of the wrath of the Je'daii for what he was going to do but for Hadiya's hate destroying it all. Hers was like a burning fire that was only aggravated when one gave it attention and the more aggravated a fire like that became, the more materials it withered or melted to the last syllable of time. Hatred like hers did not die easy nor did they die within the short amount of time that many would hope it would.

Even if Hadiya falls, the hatred she carries on her soul will haunt the galaxy throughout all the rest of years to come. She is hatred, she is vengeance should either one ever need embodiment in mortal flesh Daegen thought grimly. And where she was hatred and vengeance, one would argue that Daegen stood for love and patience in these dark times. Though he had indeed been forced to kill some of his own comrades to fuel his treason's camouflage, he did so with a heavy heart.

Each night, even as the Queen continued to thrust her womanly flower atop his manhood shaft after each victory (something he hated with a near-dark passion), he could not help but lament. For how could he forget the faces of the children he butchered, the women he slaughtered, and the men he killed. In his heart, he began to wonder how Rose would react if she had heard even half the revolting things he was forced to do under Hadiya's ward. Would she still love him or would she betray him in favor of a man less capable of the malice he had committed?

True that they had known each other since childhood but would all those years of growing love hold against what he had done? Or would challenging Hadiya prove to be the only way he could show that he was still a human being? Marching off the bridge before she could start speaking to him, he was stopped by Volnos Ryo. "What are you doing, you know this is a good opportunity, right?" he demanded in a whisper.

"I don't quite get what you mean," Daegen admitted. "You fool, this is a good opportunity to challenge her and kill her!" Volnos exclaimed, whispering as he did so. "Maybe so but an even better opportunity will be when she and I go down to the planet. We'll likely be first amongst all the Despot forces to do so and as such, I can make a quick getaway should I fail.

"I know Tython well enough to run paths all the way to the entrance to the cave systems without being detected by the Queen or her forces. Hookhawks won't venture near them, Horranths hate going there due to their large grouping, and Guids don't even bother to deal with humans. Only manka cats do anything remotely violent to any stray mountaineers in the passes I'd walk through. Even then, mankas will more likely avoid human contact if they can as opposed to attacking.

"They can also be domesticated with relative ease, regardless of their life in the wild, for transportation when necessary," Daegen explained. "Very well then, you do that but I'll be watching and making absolute sure that you do that," Volnos promised. "You have my word that I will do it then," Daegen told him. Then the two of them split up, Daegen to make his peace with the Force in the event that he died and Volnos to distract the Queen.

But Hadiya had not let Daegen's disappearance go unnoticed: she suspected that his treachery, if any was present, would soon be revealed. Be careful of him, milady. If he escapes, the Je'daii Council would see fit to bestow upon him the powers of the other six Guardians the spirit warned. That would be bad for us, I must agree she admitted.

Wait for him to challenge you and in the meantime, I should imprint you with my power and my knowledge of swordplay. You will need it when he challenges you it told her. So he will challenge me for certain? she asked. Though I cannot tell you the outcome to that, yes it answered.

Very well then, baptise me in the powers of destruction and I shall not fail you she commanded. She felt a liquid-like sensation first pierce her skin then slither through her veins and into her bloodstream. For the first time in her life, the Queen was attuned to the Force and could perform feats that gave even the most powerful Je'daii reason for concern. She even proved her newfound power to be existent when she used a burst of telekinesis to blast away several dozen crates.

"Daegen, you will challenge me but you will fall," she whispered, thinking to herself aloud. Smiling, she could not believe the feeling of strength and control that her power gave her. Use it well, your Majesty. I will only give this power once the sword's spirit warned.

Recalling the story hadn't really served as comfort but it was a distraction from the worries of the day for Arden Lyn. Cassandra was lying in bed rather peacefully and Arden didn't want to disturb her. So instead of staying by the window of Cassandra's first private bedroom, Arden decided to leave to her own which was next door. "Don't go," she heard her daughter whisper.

"I'll be in the next room, Cassandra. Besides, it's time you tried sleeping without me at your side for a change. That's why you have a private bedroom and I have my own," Arden told her. "Okay," Cassandra grumbled. However, Arden comforted her by kissing her forehead and promising to leave the nightlight on in case that helped any.

Leaving her daughter to go into her own bedroom, Arden had to admit that it was somewhat of an adjustment to leave Cassandra alone in her own bed. But she knew that if she didn't do this, Cassandra wouldn't take the first steps toward becoming truly independent. It was a hard lesson that Arden had to learn when she was raised by her aunt and uncle but she was glad she learned it. She's becoming more like me every day plus some that Paris must have passed down she thought.

Activating a recorder that she would pass onto Cassandra in due time, she began by documenting all the details that she had already recalled of Daegen's story and told Cassandra. Pausing the recorder, she thought carefully as to where to go next with the story but found the next step quickly. With it in mind, she continued the story that she hoped Cassandra would relish for years to come after Arden had died. Maybe I'll record my own history as well as the history of those who came before me, including Daegen, while I'm at it she told herself happily.

The armies of the Despot Queen Hadiya were preparing formations fast and it would only be a matter of time before they were ready to march onto Anil Kesh. Daegen was awestruck and horrified by the sight before his eyes but he knew that the only way to stop this now would be to kill Hadiya. He could not wait any longer: he had to challenge her to single combat where she couldn't refute it. This challenge would have to be issued in front of all of her soldiers so that refusal meant cowardice to them.

"Look on Daegen, this is the army that will carry us unto the future. This is the army that will carry us unto eternity by sacrificing their own chance at it. Isn't a magnificent sight to behold?" Hadiya asked after he arrived to a good arena. "Indeed, but now all eyes will be turned towards us and not the Anil Kesh," Daegen answered.

"I don't know what you mean," she admitted. "I, Daegen Lok, formally challenge you to a duel and only the strongest shall emerge victorious," he replied. Indeed, all eyes did turn towards Hadiya and Daegen when he issued this challenge, Volnos' turning with glee. Hadiya looked around, surprised to see that even her Generals were hoping for a response that would embody strength and courage.

"So be it, prepare yourself and your weapon of choice," she said. Daegen nodded, stating that he and his sword were already prepared to face her. "Then killing you shall not take too long," Hadiya snapped as she unsheathed her own sword. The power of the spirit of destruction filled her veins and her heart, Daegen sensing an abysmal darkness as it did so.

"En garde," Hadiya stated. "Get on with it," Daegen retorted, wasting no time with formalities. Positioning his blade in a ready stance, he prepared himself for whatever move Hadiya had to make. Any move, of course, except for conjuring a bladed crescent of red energy from her sword which forced him to counter with a blue one of his own.

"The Spirit of Destruction guides my every blow, Daegen Lok. Here before my men, you will prove no match for its power!" Hadiya exclaimed as she charged toward him. With just one hand holding the sword, Hadiya swung and twirled her blade in the fashion of a Master Je'daii. Daegen was barely able to keep up as far as his defensive capacity was concerned but did so, nonetheless.

He knew she didn't really know much about how to use the Force since she never had its power before she obtained the sword. So preying on that, he countered with moves that would allow him to make an attempt to separate her from her blade in the hopes of tearing away her power. The sword didn't need to be destroyed, it only needed to be out of her hand and unused by anyone. There must be a way that I can pry it out of her hands he thought to himself silently.

You cannot pry away that which is destined to prove your downfall, my dear boy a foreign voice told him. He only knew it to be the spirit within the sword for one reason: the sword was glowing in a fashion that indicated some communication. Nonetheless, he ignored its comment and continued press on, hoping to somehow reflect enough of Hadiya's strength back at her for her to lose the sword. But as the duel continued to progress, it became more a fluctuation of moments where he was defending and other moments where he might be offending with acrobatic flank and rear attacks than anything else.

"I wanted to give you my heart and this is the thanks I get?" she demanded. "If you had accepted my refusal, it might not have come down to this. But even so, this challenge could have been further prevented if you had not set out to destroy this place," he replied. "The Je'daii have to be taught that they are not gods but mere mortals gifted with powers they think place themselves above us!

"I am the will of the people who resent the Je'daii, Daegen Lok! Like it or not, I am Queen of all the lost voices across the galaxy!" she shouted. "You are only what you choose to be and if you are Queen of those who are lost, you have not chosen that. Instead, you have only chosen another form of bondage to accept as your own.

"For truly, the chains of jealousy are seldom ever broken through the wealth and power of those they entangle," he told her. "Jealousy, so you were telling the truth when you said you were married to another!?" she screamed. "Unfortunately, yes. That and I love her too much to have willingly accepted your advances though by accident of birth, I have the right to do so as a man," he said.

"A man who doesn't like to use his freedom to adulterate? How pathetic, how drull!" she exclaimed. "You wouldn't be saying that if Viggo were your husband, would you?" he countered. "Shut up!" she hissed.

"Even with my relative inexperience, I recognize the fighting style of an animal in your bladework," Daegen began after a short exchanges of sword blows. "Your maneuvers are unrefined, amateurish, even sloppy if I may say so myself. Sure you could overpower me but in terms of sheer skill, I will always be superior to you, milady," he added when she said nothing. Screaming with the rage of a woman who had suffered for most her life already, Hadiya charged him with intent to finish him.

"Let's see how unskilled I am when your blood is flowing from your cold dead chest and your head lies severed in a puddle!" she shouted. The two of them continued exchanging blows with nothing more to say but eventually, Daegen's fatigue began to show. Unlike Hadiya, who had the spirit's near-infinite replenishment, Daegen was a Force-attuned mortal man with the according weaknesses. Unfortunately, this especially showed when Hadiya conducted an uppercut with her sword that sent him flying and spinning into the air.

No doubt, in a fair fight, Hadiya would have already lost by now but Daegen knew he would have to up his game before he could hope to kill her so long as she had the sword. So instead of rising up to face her again, he first crawled then pulled himself up to begin retreating into the mountains. "Come back here, you coward! You challenge me and then retreat when I prove superior, how dare you!?" Hadiya ordered.

But even so, her other Generals piled upon her and demanded that she stop. "You've won, you've proven your point that the Je'daii are weak. After all, it is said that Daegen was easily amongst the strongest of them and you have just defeated him. For now, let that satisfy you and let his defeat weigh on his heart until it truly comes time to kill him," Bakko suggested.

"No, he must die!" she screamed, half inaudibly. "He will die, he will die, just not today. Besides, we need you to keep a straight head and lead our armies on a much bigger prize. Remember why we are here," he replied.

Calming down at those remarks, Hadiya watched as Daegen disappeared into the mountains, no doubt knowing trails that could get him to Anil Kesh faster than she could send her army there. The Je'daii would not doubt have warnings of impending danger by the time they finally arrived. That is, assuming that they weren't already aware of the Queen's advances towards their planet, of course. "Volnos Ryo, front in center now!" she ordered.

She needed to know for herself whether or not Volnos asked to have Hawk persuade Daegen to join because he wanted her death. To know the true extent of his treason was to secure unity within her armies before they marched on the common enemy that was the Je'daii Order. When Volnos was brought before Hadiya, she wasted no time on petty formalities with the possible traitor. "So now, tell me: what was the nature of your relationship with Daegen and to what depth did it run?" she asked.

Rose couldn't decide what could be happening to Daegen and what scenario was worse. Had he challenged Hadiya and successfully killed her despite all he had done with her? Or did he fail and perish before her skills with a blade? Did he fail and survive, only to begin fleeing back to the camps of the Je'daii Order?

It was true that she wanted him to come back alive in time to see the birth of their child but she couldn't decide whether or not she wanted him to do so with Hadiya's severed head in his hand. The bitch messed with the wrong woman's husband! she exclaimed to herself. But did she really wish that ill-will on Hadiya or was she just being overly protective of what was rightfully hers? "It doesn't take knowledge of the Force to see the conflict on your face," Master Rajivari said.

"Master, you startled me! But yes, I'm at a crossroads of morality, so to speak," Rose admitted. "War does that to people. I remember when the Je'daii waged a very brief war with the Rakata to secure our hold on the Tython system once," he said.

"You mean...?" Rose began. "Yes, I was there for one of the few incidents where the Rakata made contact with our legendary Order. It was the incident that would trigger Emperor Skal'nas' obsession with finding us again because of the way in which we defeated their forces," he said. "How was that?" she inquired, utterly fascinated.

"We asked Quan-Jang to unleash the power of the Black Firestone on their fleet and we killed any soldiers who landed here. Though a couple thousand Rakata survived and were still relatively fierce, we managed to destroy them all within hours due to their wounds," he confessed. "What about those sabers that the Rakata allegedly have? Didn't these warriors have that with them?" she asked, confused.

"No, it seemed that we had killed all the soldiers with those sabers in the wave of black-grey energy that Quan-Jang sent against the fleet. These troops had metal blades like us with only a couple dozen exceptions who had blasters. We slaughtered even those ones with ease before the end of the same day that we had decided to use the Firestone to save our hide. I know this not just because of how the skies became dotted with explosions but also because I ordered it to be used," he answered.

"And the Rakata haven't bothered us since?" she added. "That wouldn't have been the case if Firestone had not also cut off any safe paths the Rakata could use to find us. It's power, it seems, also vaporized any possibility of those routes being used within seconds. And ever since, we've been safe from the Rakata even if we haven't been safe from insiders like Hadiya," he replied.

"Do you think it had something to do with how much power Quan-Jang put into it?" she asked. "Since he was twenty-seven years younger back then, perhaps. But talks of the past bore me to tears rather quickly so please, let's just keep to our duties in the present. You have soup-lines to supervise, I take it?" he answered.

"Oh yes, of course. Thank you for your insights, even so, Master. They were most intriguing to me but then, I'm always interested in history," she said. "You're welcome and don't let the little one bother you too much," he snapped jokingly.

Then they separated again to attend to their evacuation duties: Rose keeping stomachs full with food, Rajivari watching the progress of the Despot Army. In three days time, the Je'daii will have to be ready to fight unless we get a lucky break. Will the warriors alive today have the courage to stand up to such an army as Quan-Jang and I once did against the Rakata? he asked himself. There was only one way that his sharpened mind could find the answer to that question, unfortunately.