Oddly enough, my head wasn't throbbing as I awoke my eyes focusing in on the ceiling of the Kershka while I lay on the softness of the bed.
A few meters away I could feel the presence to my side from where he sat on the window-seat and the moment that my eyes opened I heard him sigh.
"We really didn't have much of a choice, Dale," Jaymes told me sadness filling the room near to bursting. "I really am sorry."
Unable to prevent it, I felt an embittered chuckle fill my throat as I lay there as most the pieces slipping into place as the holo finally began to form in my mind at long last.
Everyone was so concerned about the trap that I had fallen into that not a single, solitary one of us had realized that we were waltzing right into another one already laid out for him. With all of the distraction surrounding Chevalo's scheme, I hadn't even noticed it. In fact, I hadn't even suspected it!
Now, that I knew however I could tell from the very beginning that it had always been there lurking just under the surface.
All of their questions- carefully couched as ones of concerned "friends," their actions for several years in fact, suddenly began to take on an entirely new light. Even in the beginning- right from the beginning when we all first arrived at the Praxeum, I could see it now.
The way that Jaymes and Jetta always made certain that Luke had just the right information at the right time to pique his interest- the way they "innocently" suggested I talk to him more and more as time went on.
In fact, now that I was looking back I was willing to bet my lost lightsaber that it had been one of them to suggest that Luke spend so much time training me one-on-one.
Everything- every single solitary step of the way, they had always been there with just the right nudge to keep things rolling along in the right direction with a subtlety that rivaled and even surpassed Chevalo's careful ministrations.
And now that I was confronted with the truth of it only made sense. After all, unlike Corlyon, they knew us.
They knew us well enough to know just what to say and how to say it at any given nano- knew us well enough to know how to lead us along.
All of this I realized as I lay there unmoving.
"It was a set up from the start, wasn't it?" I observed my voice oddly level despite itself.
"Not entirely," Jaymes admitted not moving either. "And I know you don't understand this yet, but, it really is all for your benefit."
"Even if the cost is the destruction of the Jedi?" I scoffed.
"Even if the cost is the destruction of the Jedi," He agreed grim.
The embittered chuckle was back in my throat again this time with more sureness as I lay there.
"Why?" I heard myself ask the Force itself.
"It's his decision, Dale," Jaymes remarked. "The choice has to be his."
"So, you used me as bait and programmed me like a droid to lead him to his death," I assessed more to myself then to him. "That shopping trip on Coruscant…"
"I knew he would be attracted, yes," Jaymes confessed sadly. "We also knew that he'd follow after if you were 'kidnapped' instead of just leaving of your own devices," He continued sighing.
"And I played right into it," I laughed at myself dryly despite the tears that threatened. "I played right into it."
"I know it's hard to believe, Dale, but," He sighed further. "We're not as dark as things look right now- this is necessary."
"'Necessary?'" I repeated. "Necessary for what?"
"I can't tell you, little sister," He admitted. "I wish I could, Dale, believe me, but I can't tell you."
"And I'm supposed to trust that?" I asked chuckling some more.
"No," He shook his head. "You're supposed to trust Jetta and myself," He pointed out gently.
"He's going to be killed," I observed tears filling my eyes.
"Not if you discourage him from this suicidal course," Jaymes informed me.
"And how am I supposed to do that when I'm locked up like some sort of prisoner?" I found myself asking as I sat up.
"There will be a way," He flashed me a saddened smile. "He has to see the truth, Dale," He shook his head again. "Luke Skywalker has to know that even if he tried to make things work between you the way he would want to, it would only mean the destruction of the Jedi Order for all time.
"You. Are. R'Kala, Dallayna Vokan," He told me. "And nothing is going to change that."
"And," I heard my voice observe past the tears that threatened. "You're ready to kill him over this?"
"No," Jaymes corrected me. "We're willing to risk his getting killed over this.
"Part of being R'Kala- bringers of justice, little sister, is that there is always an out," He explained. "He could walk away at any time he chooses and no one would blame him in the least- there's too much riding on his survival and we understand that."
"Meanwhile," I continued for him. "You're doing everything you can to push his buttons into doing everything but walk away."
Jaymes just splayed his hands in surrender of the point.
"He could always win the fight," He commented as I sat up to face him.
"And what're the odds of that?" I asked already suspecting the answer.
"Corinth Dulac is the best fighter the R'Kala have seen in centuries," Jaymes admitted with a wince. "He's never been defeated."
"So," I remarked nodding. "Even there you've stacked the Sabaac deck against him. And you made Corinth a part of this massacre too, didn't you?"
"No," Jaymes assured me. "Corinth, like Luke is just as much of an innocent in all of this as you are. We merely laid the scene, Dale, it was the three of you who played the roles," He pointed out.
"Why?" I breathed again sadly as my eyes closed.
"You know I can't answer that, little sister," Jaymes reminded me. "But your part isn't over quite yet," He explained. "You see, the Kershka is always protected against anyone breaking in or you breaking out, but you'll have a chance to speak with them before the battle tomorrow. If that's what they want, that is."
"How?"
"The window," He shrugged indicating the banks of windows on the far side of the room. "There's a way to get to a ledge below it. No access to the Kershka from it's possible of course, but if either of them are willing to risk the dangers of the climb, they can talk to you for a brief period before the guards drive them away."
"And how do I know that this isn't some way of continuing to push my buttons further?" I asked weary now.
"Oh, well," Jaymes flashed a wan smile. "Actually, it is," He admitted. "But since the Dorska has declared mortal combat between the two of them, you really don't have any choices. No matter what you do or say, things are going to go the way that they were meant to now."
Thoughtfully, I bit my lip as I shook my head trying to make sense of it all.
"Why're you telling me this?"
"Honestly, Dale?" Jaymes asked back. "Because, it's a part of what's going on," He explained sincerely. "You have to know the risks just as much as they do," He continued. "If Skywalker looses to Corinth then the Jedi will dwindle away into extinction. If he wins on the other hand, he can't risk having any sort of relationship with you because the anti-Jedi faction would use you as a piece of propaganda just as surely as the Empire did. And, again, the result would be the ending of the Jedi Order."
"And that was what you were after all along, wasn't it?" I observed my voice bitter.
Jaymes's gaze met mine for a long silent moment.
"The K'Shonan began the feud, Dale and, now, they are the ones continuing it," He declared grimly. "Truth only lies behind these walls little sister," He stated. "If that truth is the core of Death beneath their claims of Life then Death will be what they find."
"No," I shook my head. "No, this- this isn't justice, Jaymes," I told him. "This is revenge. This is nothing more than revenge against a people that have been extinct for hundreds of years."
"Little sister," Jaymes smiled slightly. "If revenge were the purpose of our mission, then would I be telling you this?" He asked. "If Skywalker desires you to the exclusion of even his own laws then, that is his decision, not anyone else's.
"If, however, you can convince him of the futility of his actions well then," He splayed his hands a second time. "He will rightfully avoid the temptations of Death and so will no longer be a concern of ours.
"Either way- the R'Kala must know," He explained. "And," He continued. "I think that there's a small part of you that needs to know as well."
My voice refused to come to me for the longest of moments as I found myself looking away, the pain rising in the hollowness of my chest.
"That he won't do it," I heard myself confess from parsecs away.
Jaymes regarded me through the long echoing silence that greeted this declaration his eyes filled with sadness.
"He could find that he loves you without restraint or condition, you know," He offered his manner turning gentle now. "He could discover that he loves you purely."
My eyes met his.
"You don't think so," I accused him my voice just as soft.
Jaymes shook his head pain crossing his features and filling the room.
Long moments passed during which neither of us spoke.
After all there was nothing left to say.
Eventually, Jaymes rose and went towards the doors and knocked on them. A questioning tremor filled the Force and then, a moment later the doors began to open.
Jaymes looked back at me, and almost as if by instinct, I met his saddened gaze.
"Don't let him risk it, Dale," He urged me. "Don't let him throw everything away for nothing like this."
And then he was stepping through, the heavy doors shutting with a solid thud of finality and the locks sliding into place the sound of them echoing through the Kershka.
I sat for a time not moving before eventually, I had to come to the conclusion that there was strictly nothing for me to do.
If Jaymes was telling the truth about the ledge- and despite what I had just discovered there was no reason for him to lie, then I had every reason to stay where I was.
So I decided to use the time to explore the confines of my prison and, as far as holding-cells went, the Kershka was actually quite luxurious.
Clothing hung in wardrobes and lay folded in drawers of a more expensive variety then even the normally rich fabrics. There were bathing facilities and a lavatory, the sunken tub filled with real honest to goodness water fed through some unknown means and just the right temperature for soaking which I did.
Then, I dressed with careful meticulation, drawing out the morning ritual as best I could despite the fact that the sun was setting just outside of the large banks of slim windows that were barred with only the most beautiful of gilded gratings of course.
After that however, there was nothing left to do but to sit in the lounging area before the brazier and stew over what I had learned.
The only thing that I didn't know anymore however was why? Why lead Luke to his death like this?
Jaymes was telling the truth, I could Feel that much: the R'Kala weren't after revenge. I could see the plan now in its entirety but the one thing I could not figure out however was the end game. What were they after?
For the life of me I just could not tell what it was that they wanted. Why do this? This plan took years to implement and while I couldn't feel the coldness of the dark touching any of this- neither could I feel anything remotely like the calm of the light.
I wasn't allowed to stew overly long on this question however as soon after the sun had set, then someone called out my name softly.
"Dale?" Corinth's voice filled the night air. "Dale? Quickly, we haven't much time before they find me."
Racing to the window, I looked down to see Corinth's form standing in the shadows of the evening on a natural ledge just beyond the thick, scrolling bars.
"Corinth," I breathed. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you," I admitted smiling in hope.
"Nor you, I little sister," He smiled back.
"Corinth," I gripped the bars between us. "You have to stop this," I told him quickly. "The- The Dorska's set us all up. She wants you to kill-"
"-Easily, easily," Corinth's words eased through mine with a small smile as he reached up to pat my hand and missing the point. "This matter isn't yours anymore, little sister," He told me gently. "Don't worry.
"As much as I love you, Dallayna Vokan, I'm not about to try and make your hearts do anything," He assured me before suddenly his smile fell away into grim determination. "Unlike some others who could be named in this."
And right then I knew- knew beyond any doubt that somehow when I hadn't been looking the entirety of the galaxy had just lost its mind and that Corinth was one of the victims of that madness.
This is a test… I thought to myself wildly. This is merely a test of the planetary emergency system… Please remain calm…
"No," I shook my head still trying to get through to him. "Corinth, you- you don't understand," I told him quickly. "The Dorska set us up. She-She wanted things to come to this. She wants you and Luke trying to-"
"-Fight for you?" He asked arching a brow that smile returning as he finished my words for me. "Of course she does, treesham," He shook his head amused and still under that strange lure of insanity.
"But what of it?" He asked his expression nothing but mild disinterest. "We are but two among many," He observed squeezing my hand as best he could through the scrolling bars of the grate. "And I shall emerge the victor," He pointed out before his eyes met mine earnest now. "Unless, of course, you don't wish me to.
"That's why I came tonight," He explained. "I-I must know, Dale. Do you want this K'Shonan?
"Because if you do," He continued. "Then you must know that I would have you tell me in honesty now so I can try to talk him out of this and we can attempt to find another way."
"Yes," I heard myself declare quickly as I leapt on what seemed to be the only way out of the madness that had suddenly seemed to envelope everyone. "Yes I do," I told him. "You-you have to go tell him, Corinth.
"Tell Luke that he can't go through with this. Tell him- tell him whatever you have to- tell him that I never want to see him again- anything, just make sure he's not there in the morning!"
Corinth's sparkling emerald gaze narrowed for a moment in silent suspicion as he looked up at me.
"Little sister, you aren't making any sense," He informed me puzzled. "In one breath you tell me you want the K'Shonan and yet in the next you want him gone from you forever," He observed. "What is going on?"
Breathe in… two… three… four… breathe out… two… three… four…
"Look, Corinth," I tried yet again. "You can't fight tomorrow. Luke can't fight tomorrow.
"You- You have to stop it before it's too late, Corinth- please listen to me," I urged him. "Stop. This. Now.
"Go- Go to where Luke's encamped- talk to him. Whatever you have to do- whatever you have to say, Corinth you have got to make sure that you two don't fight tomorrow."
Corinth regarded me, frozen for a moment.
Then suddenly he laughed.
"Well, I can certainly pass the message," He assured me. "Since I shall have to spend a few hours getting to know the man I'm to kill anyway, I will tell him, but I doubt it would-"
The air split with a thunderous boom and a piercing whine as a particle blaster was fired into the night, ricocheting off of the wall and into the darkness of shadow freezing us both.
A barely perceptible silhouette at the top of the crag called down.
"Enough, Corinth," The voice declared calm and almost warm. "You've had your say and you've said your goodbyes to the little sister, time to move on."
"Of course," He smiled up at the unseen figure before turning to me. "Everything will work out the way that it was meant, little sister, trust me in this."
"But-But-" I protested unable to believe my ears.
Unfortunately, Corinth was not listening to me as he was already leaving. A quick smile and a wave and then… He was gone.
Just as simple as that, he was just… Gone.
Behind me, the doors opened and Gorak wandered in bearing a tray.
"I take it your conversation with the little brother didn't go the way you wanted it to," He observed putting the tray down on one of the tables as the massive doors closed and locked behind him.
"You," I spat out through clenched teeth. "You were a part of this from the beginning, weren't you?" I accused him standing and crossing the room towards him. "You did something to them, didn't you? You did something to make sure they wouldn't listen to me."
"Myself?" He smiled slightly as he touched his chest. "Actually, little sister I wasn't the one that did anything to the pair who meet tomorrow in mortal combat for your suit."
"Then it was the Dorska," I assessed grimness filling my voice.
"No little sister, not her either," He shook his head.
"Then who Gorak?" I demanded. "Who's doing this to them?"
Gorak's smile answered me only a moment before he did.
"Why you are little sister," He answered.
"What?"
"Come, do you honestly think that the only way to make someone behave oddly is to overcome their mind?" He asked shaking his head still smiling. "Little sister, please, stop worrying yourself over something you can't help and please relax.
"Here," He gestured to the tray. "I brought you some sweetmeats- I figured that even if you didn't want a full meal then they might help cheer you up. Believe me, little sister everything will end as it was meant to."
"Everyone keeps saying that," I observed still not entirely past my anger. "But what way is that, Gorak? What way is all of this supposed to end? What have you people schemed and plotted for?"
"Now, little sister," He smiled yet again- everyone seemed to be just filled with smiles over the last couple of hours. "You know that I cannot answer that."
Grimly, I regarded my former guide the cold knot in my gut growing to the size of a rather large planet.
"You know I can't let you get away with this Gorak," I warned him.
"And you know that you no longer have a choice, Dallayna," He warned me back with a saddened sigh. "The decision is no longer even yours to make, little sister- it is the K'Shonan's.
"So, please, stop struggling against this and eat something. These really are very good sweetmeats and there's even some bark tea- your favorite if I recall."
I looked down at the food and shook my head.
"I'm not hungry," I stated.
"A R'Kala to the last," He remarked not unkindly. "I will leave the food here then, in case you decide that you are."
I regarded him in the silence that followed as he awaited my answer.
In the end, I knew I had to give him one and just shrugged and gave a vague wave to indicate the table.
"By all means," I heard myself acquiesce.
With a formal nod, Gorak withdrew.
He knocked on the doors and once again as it had for Jaymes, a questioning tremor lightly touched the room before the sounds of the heavy locks filled the air.
Gorak, apparently not one to be outdone by a mere mundane, also turned for a moment as the great doors were opening.
"Little sister?" He called. "If Jaymes did not tell you, you should know that there are nearly 20 Champions surrounding the Kershka this night and eleven of our greatest of Dorski arrived at the Refuge this afternoon," He informed me his voice level. "If your thoughts should happen to stray towards escape or worse…" His words fell away into meaningful silence.
"Oh don't worry about me, Gorak," I told him, my voice growing colder then Sithian snow and just as soft. "I think I understand your threat."
"'Threat?'" Gorak smiled shaking his head. "No. No, little sister, I speak no threat, only the truth. You will see that in time."
"Of course," I agreed my voice as dry as the desert beyond the barred windows.
And with that Gorak left and once again the thick doors closed and the sound of the heavy locks sliding home filled the empty air only this time, it mingled with my own determined mumbling.
"You Dark-Sided malbonulo," I finished as I crossed the room to the window. "Sorry, honey, but this little hawkbat's flying the coop," I told him as I examined it.
The grating was about a quarter of a meter thick and extremely well mounted, which only made sense as it was designed centuries before.
And that was precisely what I was counting on of course. After thousands of years, the mortar for something like the grating had to be pretty brittle…
Which was why the R'Kala hadn't used any, I discovered as I slammed a frustrated fist into the sill before me.
The sheer level of Force ability and training it must have taken for whoever it was that had somehow managed to meld the metal of the grating into the very rock itself was certainly far above that of a mere Padawan.
And of course, this little oddity of architecture coupled with the fact that, like the rest of the Refuge, the Kershka had been carved out of the cliff whole meant that there were no bricks or fastenings on the walls to work on either.
"No," I shook my head. "No, think Dale," I told myself harshly. "People do it every day. There's no way through the walls or the windows," I assessed to myself looking around. "So there has to be some other way. Nowhere is inescapable," I reminded myself looking around. "So, where do things get in and out of here?"
The doors were obviously out. I had absolutely no doubts that whoever was on the other side was probably better trained in their abilities then I was.
Which left nowhere except-
"Of course!" I exclaimed to myself already racing into the lavatory.
Old sewage systems were always large on any given planet! Of course, I have no idea why this was so but I did know that to be a fact.
The Kershka, being centuries old would have to have large sewers indeed, I thought to myself as I reached down with my Awareness carefully feeling for any opening. Surely…
Some other bright individual would only think of it first and block it up with a larger and even heavier grate then the ones on the windows as well as-
Greetings, little sister, A warm wash of humor answered my probes as I encountered a very quiet Awareness. You're cleverness was not exaggerated in least if you thought of trying to escape this way. Entire centuries go by and no one thinks of it.
Breathe in… two… three…four… Breathe out… two… three… four…
I applied the calming technique with an almost zealous deliberation and tried to keep my teeth from grinding. There was just no longer escaping the facts any longer.
I was trapped in the Kershka as surely as if I was in a ship that got too close to a black hole.
Glumly, I returned to the main room and collapsed into a maudlin heap in the lounge area.
Closing my eyes and attempting to get my emotions under control, I tried the only other thing I could think of.
If I couldn't contact Luke or any of the others physically then the only other way that I could warn him was mentally.
Of course, the more swift by now would already know just what I encountered, which was the dampening effect of two dozen minds on my own keeping me from contacting anyone.
In fact, the entire room Felt for all of the galaxy like it was surrounded with sound-proofing. All I needed was one tiny little opening however so, gingerly I began to test the limits of my prison.
"Dallayna?" The call interrupted my thoughts.
Recognizing the voice, my eyes flew open and I raced to the window.
"Luke," I breathed in relief as I caught sight of him. "Look we don't have much time, I- I sent Corinth to-to talk to you but-"
"-He did," Luke assured me.
"What?" I heard myself ask as I shook my head. "But that was only a few nanos ago."
Luke's brow furrowed as he looked up at me.
"Actually, Dallayna, that was several hours ago," He told me. "Are you experiencing time slips?"
Dimly, a warning bell went off in my mind as I regarded Luke through the grating and shook my head again.
Time slippages on things that I had already gotten control of was a sure indication that I might be turning.
"No, I-," I declared shaken now. "This is the first time."
Luke took this in for a moment before nodding.
"Good," He remarked with a visible sigh of relief. "How are you holding otherwise?"
My jaw dropped to the floor as my eyes widened in complete and absolute shock.
"'How am I holding otherwise?'" I repeated incredulously. "'How am I holding otherwise?'" I repeated again with more force.
"Luke Skywalker have you lost your mind?" I demanded. "I'm trapped- being utilized as bait for the destruction of the Jedi over some-some deranged ancient feud- completely helpless- and you know how much I hate this- this 'damsel in distress' caco- and you're asking me how I'm holding otherwise?"
Humor wafted to me on the Force as Luke bit back a smile with only marginal success and shook his head.
"I'm serious, Luke," I pressed on further trying to get through to him. "Jaymes and these people set everything up from the beginning," I told him. "Damnit to the Dark- don't you see what's happening here?" I pointed out as he began to chuckle. "Luke, these people want you dead and they're using me to do it!"
Luke's earnest eyes met mine filled with gentle humor as he managed to finally sober himself.
"Oh Dale," He remarked a slight tugging his lips. "Oh, I have no doubts that they want my death- my opponent's already admitted this to me, but whether they arranged all of this or not, it doesn't matter," He told me reaching out to just touch my hand through the grate.
"The destruction of the Jedi doesn't matter?" I demanded horrified by what I was hearing.
"Without you? No, it doesn't."
I blinked in shocked silence for a moment not believing that I had just heard what I thought I did.
Eventually however, I had to come to the realization that I really had heard it and so did the only sane thing I could given the circumstances.
I ignored it.
"Look," I tried again changing tactics. "This- this is insanity. You have to stop this," I urged him. "Luke, I- I can't let you go waltzing to your death like this."
"Don't worry Dallayna," He flashed a quick smile. "No one is going to be killed if I have any say in the matter."
"Oh really?" I arched a brow. "And what if you don't?"
Luke just shrugged in answer.
"Ah," I heard myself remark amazed. "Calm clarity is one thing, Luke, but, ah, don't you think you're taking things a little far here?" I asked delicately. "Luke, they're trying to destroy you and the Jedi!"
"Actually Dallayna," Luke merely shrugged as unruffled as ever. "I think that the latter part is nothing more than an unfortunate bonus."
I found myself folding my arms over my chest defensively in the ensuing silence as I regarded him and he regarded me.
"Luke," I finally stated hoping that I could still get through to him. "You can't do this," I told him shaking my head sadly. "Not- Not over-"
"'-An imperial debutante who's main skills involve using a proper table-setting and giving good fellatio?'" He asked arching a brow as he threw my words right back at me.
That. Hurt.
I found myself looking away.
"Well, that was a Light comment," I observed into the heavy silence.
"Yes, it does sound a great deal different when you aren't the one saying it," He agreed. "It's also not true," He pointed out further. "Do you honestly think that I would be here if it was?"
"Oh now that's not a fair question," I remarked shaking my head. "Because, as your former student, you would be here if I made Sidious look like Yoda and we both know that," I reminded him leaning on the railing.
Luke smiled slightly, his hand coming up as if saluting me with a lightsaber.
"Touché," He admitted. "But, you're still underestimating your importance," He sighed shaking his head. "I love you Dallayna and- Force only knows why," He admitted chuckling wanly. "But we belong together. Don't you see that?" He asked earnestly stepping up to the window.
I couldn't prevent a small smile from tugging at my lips as I propped up my chin with my hand.
"Oh, this I have to hear," I remarked more to the Force then to him. "Pray, do tell, Master Skywalker," I waved for him to continue my tone turning sardonic. "Oh, and don't forget to talk about how my eyes sparkle in the moonlight," I reminded him batting my lashes in parody of the bizarre turn of events.
But yet again, Luke wasn't rising for the bait of any of my antics and just smiled shaking his head.
"And that's the point," He informed me still smiling. "You were right that I didn't fall for you because you're younger than me- quite the contrary, I've been trying to keep things from becoming inappropriate between us, but that's just the point Dale," He shook his head. "That's why I need you. I need you because you-"
The air cracked with a thunderous boom making me jump about a meter- that irritating debutante-born, feminine cry of shocked surprise escaping my throat before I could prevent it.
In the silence that followed as my heart began its slow return from hyperspeeds a voice called out.
"Alright, K'Shonan," A shadowed figure called down not unkindly. "You've had your say. Time to leave."
Luke nodded before reaching out he squeezed my hand through the bars as best he could, his mind tremoring to mine.
I love you…
"Please," I pleaded a final time as I shook my head. "Don't do this, Luke."
"I have to," He replied before turning, he left.
After his figure had disappeared over the edge, I couldn't prevent a slight chuckle at myself filled with self-berratement as the tears filled my eyes.
"Oh Dale," I shook my head before letting it fall to my hand in defeat. "How in the Sith are you going to get yourself out've this one, huh, genius?" I asked the galaxy at large. "How in the Sith are you going to get yourself out've this one?"
