Star Wars: The Old Republic

Marr

~Chapter Twenty~

We may fill our existence, but that does not mean we're living.

With my arms spread to the sky, I opened myself to the spoils of my vengeance. The darkness feasted on the damned and I wallowed in the concerto of their agony.

Lord Baliss and his harsh matron smoldered at my feet, their foul incense besmirching the cold night air. Their fat snapped into the dying embers and I closed my eyes to savor the sound.

Through them, I'd discovered new avenues of torment. Lightning was no longer restricted to the external body—I could summon it within the fine membranes encasing the nerves to begin a chain reaction that sped through every vein and artery until each branch glowed the same livid purple as the trees adorning Hutt plazas.

Baliss's servants fled, their fading screams carried on the wind. Ashes snowed around me, filling the craters where House Teraan and House Baliss once stood. The intoxication I'd felt at their destruction ebbed and I was left numb.

I held out my hand and a large gray flake alighted on my palm. It was beautiful and fragile but my touch hastened its deterioration. There was nothing in the world that could protect it, not even me. I closed my fingers over it. If I could not protect it, I would carry its stain on my hands as a reminder of my failure.

I strode across the plain toward the remains of House Teraan, dusty clouds lifting with every footfall. The world spun, and I absorbed the bleakness of the panorama I'd created.

The darkness returned to me, silent and satisfied. A strange sort of peace came over me—a terrifying peace that reminded me I'd lost more of who I was.

My heart kept a measured beat—monstrous in the artificial perfection of it. There was no elation or anger or grief—none of the measures that would quicken it remained. It merely…was.

Eager to escape this Alderaanian purgatory, I hastened my gait. The path ahead seemed endless as I strolled through the swirling brume. After transmitting my co-ordinates to my shuttle pilot, I sensed I was no longer alone. The growl of a lightsaber confirmed what I already knew and all that was gray was suddenly touched by blue, the colour deepening as Master Rylister emerged from the fog.

He assumed a defensive stance but kept his distance as he took his measure of me. "What have you done?"

"Something that should've been done long ago."

"They're dead…they're all dead," Rylister murmured incredulously.

"Not all. Though I imagine Liaseph wishes she were."

"What do you mean? Where is she?"

"No doubt stripped bare in a darkened cargo hold of a mercenary vessel. Surely, I don't need to be any more explicit."

"You sold her…"

I snorted. "You Jedi are all alike. You would accuse me before allowing yourself to admit the truth. You knew what Teraan was capable of…and yet you did nothing."

Rylister retracted his blade. "I don't know what you're talking about, Sith."

I laughed ruefully. "Teraan was a slaver. Liaseph wasn't the first he'd sold—he'd been trafficking for years to maintain his nobility."

"If he was, he kept it well hidden from me. I didn't know. I tried to talk reason to the man—I suggested he find another more suitable—I wanted her to be happy."

"Hmph. Talk? Reason? You're a bigger fool than I'd thought. You Jedi play at benevolence but when action was called for, you did nothing. You knew she was suffering, why would you not remove her?"

"And take her where? You assume this is in my power to do."

"Anywhere! Your precious temple if need be. You allowed her to believe death was the only option left for her."

"I don't have the authority."

"Excuses," I snarled.

"Why would Duke Teraan do such a thing to his own child?"

"She dared to defy him."

"Because of you. You corrupted her. You took her away from here and filled her head with lies."

I folded my arms. "Yes. Because of me—and because of you."

The Jedi bowed his head, momentarily lost in the swirling ashes at his feet. "I returned as soon as I recovered from our encounter."

"It wasn't soon enough."

"There was nothing I could do. As it is, I'm defying the Order by coming here. Why tell me this?"

"Make no mistake I would rather cut you down where you stand. Your ineptitude ruined her—for that alone, I should kill you—but the Jedi are not without their uses. You have access to worlds I do not. She must be found. I am offering you the chance to atone."

The Jedi's attention fixed on me and a silver-blue glow escaped the edges of his visor as he turned his Force sight on me. "That you would suggest this to me means—you love her…"

"A foreign concept to a Jedi, I know."

"Maybe not as foreign as you'd think," he began earnestly.

"Enlighten me."

He strolled past me, all caution thrown aside and propped his boot against the fallen battlement. With his back to me, he stared out at the hellish landscape. "I never told her—I thought I'd always be a part of her life, as a friend, as counsel—as a protector and teacher…it would have been enough."

"You Jedi and your archaic dogma. It is never enough and you never learn. You aren't the first, nor will you be the last of your order to chafe under such restriction."

"I can't argue it, but which of us doesn't have demands over them, they'd prefer to be free of?"

"Careful, Jedi, lest you betray your lofty principles. I suspect, given time you would have betrayed your precious order. You may still."

"I am a Jedi. Your very presence corrupts."

"Only because in your heart of hearts you know I'm right."

"No," Rylister grunted. "You're not. You're Sith. Everything about you is…wrong. You're depraved."

"I've struck a nerve."

"Enough. I'm a Jedi! You claim to love her but stand here tempting me. Why? What is it you want from me exactly?"

"Your help. Liaseph must be found."

"If I find her…I won't give her to you."

"You act as if you'd have a say in the matter. Surely you don't believe you could keep her from me?"

"You'll destroy her even if it's not your intention…"

"And she'd destroy you if she wasn't mine."

"Enough of this, Sith." Rylister slashed the air with the edge of his hand. "What makes you think she could even forgive what you've done? You've destroyed her entire world—you murdered her sister! Burned her home!"

"Her forgiveness is irrelevant. All that matters is that she is found and rescued."

"You're not like any Sith I've met."

"Fail her and you will see how wrong you are, Jedi. Do I have your co-operation?"

"You have it—but I don't even know your name, Sith."

"My name is Marr."

The shuttle Penumbra, landed in the clearing behind me, wings folding as it extended the boarding ramp. A storm of ash and debris swirled around us, kicked up by the vessel's thrusters.

"You're Darth Marr…of the Dark Council," he shouted over the roar.

"I will transmit the data relevant to the search and my personal com frequency before I leave orbit."

"Understood," Rylister grunted.

I started up the boarding ramp and sensed the Jedi's Force gaze following me. I paused half-way and turned to face him. "Oh and one more thing Jedi—there is no passion…only serenity."

Rylister's hand balled into a fist and I sensed his anger rise before it was quickly subdued. I boarded the shuttle, knowing his anger would fuel his search and eventually his downfall.

The Penumbra coasted into the shuttle bay aboard the Erinyes. A makeshift group of officers and troopers lined the bay and stood at attention. I ignored them and continued on to the bridge.

Alderaan spun below us and I glared at the blue-green world with contempt. "Send the following transmission to this frequency."

"Transmission sent," the communications officer announced. "Transmission received and acknowledged, my lord."

"Admiral Vilks, take us out of orbit. Set a course for Zygerria."

"My lord? Slavers?" The admiral turned away from his console.

"Do it. Question me again, and I'll have your tongue."

"Apologies, my Lord. Course set for Zygerria. My lord, permission to speak?"

"Granted."

"An encoded message arrived for you prior to your arrival from Darth Vowrawn—for your eyes only."

"Put it through to my chambers."

"Yes, My lord."

The Erinyes pulled out of orbit and I sensed the growing distance from the world below. I stood over the holocom. "Marr here. Go ahead."

"Good to see you old friend. Unfortunately, I cannot tarry, but I would advise you to return to Dromund Kaas at once. There is treachery afoot and the Council requires your presence. The…climate here is quite, hostile, I might add."

"What's this about?"

Vowrawn's image glanced about slyly. "It's Ravage," he whispered. "He's learned of his apprentice's death and your part in it. He's called an emergency session. He's suggesting you compromised the Empire and nearly cost us our alliance with the Thuls…he's suggesting you've committed treason."

"Ravage is a fool. I have no time to waste with this."

"Make time, my friend. He's made serious allegations and regrettably they haven't completely fallen on deaf ears. There are those who would hear what he has to say. Whatever you're planning needs to wait. I can stall the proceedings, but not indefinitely."

"Then do so, Marr out."

((to be continued…))