Chapter 29

Scourge wrapped himself in the pain and held it close. It would stoke his fury until the time came. This, Scourge knew, might be nothing compared to what the Council would do to him. A human face came into his vision, pale and scarred, momentarily blocking out the overhead light.

"Not infallible then are you?" Lord Drawl said. "They didn't grow back now, did they? The rot's set in, just like would be expected for a normal man."

He pulled a datapad out of his lab coat pocket and held it up to his mouth. "Purged the poisons in less than twenty-three hours," he said, speaking into it, "without the use of the Force. High cellular regeneration for damage levels up to and including 'severe,' but healing cannot be sustained for massive trauma, such as amputation. A paradox? Or is there simply a limit to his healing abilities?"

The pain in Scourge's hands was so encompassing that he could no longer discern where exactly it originated. How many fingers had he lost? He was strapped so tightly to the table, that he couldn't even lift his head to peer downward. How long until Lord Drowl started amputating his arms? His legs? And then it would come to pass, the terrible vision of the Dread Masters. His greatest fear. If his body stubbornly refused to give up on life, even when it could no longer repair itself, would he be tied to his broken flesh forever?

Lord Drowl wandered off and his apprentice approached once more, glancing nonchalantly at Scourge's prone body as if he were nothing more than a series of wires and levers to be manipulated. For science, of course. He called over his shoulder, "Master, can I continue with the pain tolerance tests?"

Drowl didn't answer, but Scourge could see the apprentice nod, indicating that Drowl had given a nonverbal assent. The apprentice, a fresh and freckle-faced youth named Rabbs, finished attaching electrodes to Scourge's skin and then disappeared from Scourge's view to set the machine. Scourge braced for the inevitable.

No matter how many times he steeled himself for this moment, the initial power of the jolt still took him by surprise. His limbs, every ligament, every stretch of sinew, sang with the hot sting of electricity as it tore through him. This was a far cry from the ecstasy he had experienced with Tali during the storm on Belsavis. Rational thought was all but obliterated, and Scourge's muscles danced to the machine's command. The pain ceased just as abruptly as it had begun, and Scourge was distantly aware of a voice recounting blood pressure and heart rate results. Then it began anew, intensified this time, burning through him like a liquid brand, and Scourge vaguely wondered if his skin was actually smoking. Hoarse vibrations shook his throat, reverberating in the depths of his chest, until Scourge realized that he must be screaming.

The pain cut off, and Scourge was floating. Frantic voices broke through like visions in a haze. He tried to grasp hold of them, but the words kept shifting, and for a while the meaning eluded him. Then the fog parted and Scourge heard.

We can't lose him! Give him the adrenal! Do it again!...him out...tank, quickly!

Scourge's vision cleared, and he saw himself as if from above, lying motionless on the table like a specimen pinned to a slab, while Drowl and Rabbs scurried around him, yanking off electrodes, inserting tubes, pumping him full of adrenals.

This isn't supposed to happen.

Relief flooded through him. Then acceptance. If this is death, then I am not afraid. He welcomed it, in fact. Let it come. I am ready.

Then, with a lurch, Scourge was back in his body, pain racing through him. A mask was thrust over his face and he felt himself being lifted, then submerged. The kolto tank embraced him like a mother's womb, and a numbness stole through his limbs.

Lord Drowl's face pressed against the glass. His mouth gaped open and closed until Scourge finally recognized words.

"...permanent stasis in a secure location." Drowl waved his hand behind him, jabbering some more. "...tests concluded….tell the Council…"

Stasis…secure location. Scourge would have laughed if he could have. Was he to share Revan's fate? It was a fitting end, and no less than he deserved.

The Force leads us to strange destinies, Scourge thought.

00o00

"What will you do now?"

Kira sat across the table from Tali, and between them was Ivor. This streetside cafe had beautiful views of the distant Senate tower, but the scenery held no allure today. Tali drew her finger through the tiny puddle of condensation left behind by her drink and shrugged.

"Stay here in Coruscant. Rent a place. They've given me a temporary severance stipend for the next few months so I can get back on my feet." She wasn't without skills. Surely she would find some way to occupy her time.

"You'd make a fine mercenary, you know," Ivor said. Kira must have given him a dirty look, because he added, "I mean it!"

"Thanks Ivor."

"You're always welcome on my ship Tali. I even got that smell out of it. You'd like it."

Her crew was trying to put on a brave face for her benefit, but everything reminded Tali of her final conversation with the Council and of her days traveling with Scourge. Her new pink lightsaber blade, which she had been so eager to use, Scourge's empty cot in the storage room, the Jedi robes hanging in the wardrobe. Maybe all of those memories would fade once her ship - the Republic's ship, she reminded herself - was handed over and out of her possession. She had one week to empty it out and dock it at one of Coruscant's spaceports.

Sergeant Rusk had already received a new assignment, although he didn't have to leave yet for another four days. Kira as well was being called back to Tython for new orders. Doc hadn't found a new home just yet, but Tali suspected that it would only be a matter of time. Tee-seven was the only one left who wasn't leaving her.

Tali's holo beeped. She dug it out of her pocket and slapped it on the table. "Call back later," she muttered. She reached to sever the connection, but Kira held out a hand.

"Let me just see who it is." Kira snatched up the comm and left the table, removing herself to a quiet corner by the nearby balcony.

"You gonna be all right?" Ivor asked.

Tali knew she had done the right thing. Still, she felt cut adrift. It would take time to find her purpose again, to adjust to this new life. "I'll manage."

"My offer was-"

"Hey boss?" Kira was heading back towards their table. "You may need to see this…Says they will only to talk you."

"Who is it?"

Kira was wide-eyed, making Tali genuinely curious. She set the comm on the table without saying anything. The tiny figure hovering over the comm unit was obscured by static. An intentional interference.

"I'm here," Tali said. "Who is this?"

The figure blurred for a moment, and then resolved into the shape of a woman. A Pureblood, with two lightsabers on her hips.

"You." Tali was unable to hide the surprise, or the distrust, from her voice. "The Wrath."

"And there you are, Jedi. Still alive, and very much not captured. How about that fake bounty hunter? Is he with you too?"

"Hey! I'm not-" Ivor butted in, but Tali waved her hand, pressing him to silence.

"What do you want?"

"I would like to offer you my aid."

Tali laughed, unable to help it. "Right." Her curiosity had already been piqued, however. She and the Wrath and only one person between them in common, after all. She tried to keep her voice calm and not too eager. "With what?"

The Wrath dropped a hand to her hip. "I know where Lord Scourge is being kept. Do you want to rescue him?"

Tali stopped laughing and held up a hand. "Wait a minute. You captured Scourge and now you want me to help you free him? That makes no sense."

"My offer is genuine, and here's the first thing I'll give you: Scourge is still on Ilum." Her gaze was intent, no doubt watching Tali for her reaction. "He is in the hands of Lord Drowl, where he is being poked and prodded this very minute while Drowl seeks to learn the limits of his mortality."

"What? Scourge is no longer immortal. Drowl could kill him-" Tali would never blurt out such details to an enemy, but Scourge's life could depend on this, and she couldn't afford to be sly.

"Scourge is already dying," the Wrath cut in. "Lord Drowl went too far and is in a panic. He plans to pack Scourge up and send him off to Dromund Kaas, where he will be locked away in one of the Emperor's secret prisons. If that happens, you might as well give him up for dead, because you'll never find him."

"So, you just - oh, I don't know - had a change of heart, right? And now you want to help Scourge?"

The Wrath's eyes narrowed. "Do you talk to your superiors this way too? You rather remind me of my former slave, actually." She tilted her head and smiled, making her look almost pleasant. Well, as pleasant as any Pureblood could look with those thorny eyebrows. "Does it run in your family line? My family used to breed Twi'leks you know." Her smile turned wicked. She was enjoying this, that stupid Sith.

"Are you going to answer my question, or are you just calling to insult me?"

The Wrath's voice grew mild. "You are right. That was mean of me." Tali waited for a new jest, but none came. "I spoke to Scourge," she said. "We both believe in preserving the Empire. And he convinced me of a few things. Things related to my future as the Emperor's Wrath. I believe the Empire is better served with him free."

"Then why aren't you breaking him out yourself?"

"Because I value my career, and my life."

They stared, each trying to read the other. Finally Tali nodded. "Ok, so what do you suggest?"

"I will help you," The Wrath said, "but I will not hand you your victory. You must earn that yourself."

"Fine." Tali waved her hand. This was typical Sith rhetoric. "Understood."

"You must act now. Scourge will soon be packed up and sent on a transport to Ilum's spaceport. I'm sending through their itinerary, and coords for their route. You must intercept them. The rest is up to you."

Tali watched the base of the holoterminal light up, indicating receipt of the sent data. "Thank you." Here I am, Tali thought, working with another Sith, on another crucial mission. Just when I thought things couldn't get any weirder. "By the way, do you have a name? Or does everyone call you 'The Wrath?"

"Lord Wrath is fine. Or just 'my lord.'" There was mirth in those bright eyes.

Tali sighed. "Nevermind."

"There is something else, Jedi," The Wrath said. "I want you to know that I didn't give my apprentice permission to torment Lord Scourge on Ilum."

Tali folded her arms. "You ought to control your apprentice better."

She expected indignation, or maybe anger, but instead the Wrath nodded, looking thoughtful. "You may be right about that." Tali was surprised, and impressed as well. Only a powerful Sith would react to criticism with such confidence.

"Good luck," the Wrath said. She looked somber, like she really meant it. The holo blinked out.

00o00

The day was overcast, and quickly fading towards dusk. Tali huddled in her cloak and tugged her hood further over her ears. She thought of Scourge, forced to walk unclothed in this frigid temperature, and anger rose up inside her. What need did the Imperials have for instruments of torture when the planet provided it all for them?

Kira slid down from the rock she had been perched on and handed Tali the electrobinoculars. "They're coming. Just one transport. Are we sure Scourge is on this one?"

"The place and time is right. We just have to trust the Wrath."

"Yeah, that's what I was afraid you'd say. Well, let's get on with it."

"Doc, did you remember the thermal blanket?" Tali had gone over their supplies at least three times, but it was never enough. Scourge was going to need all the help they could give him, and she couldn't afford to forget anything.

"I took care of it, sweetheart, remember? Along with the kolto, the stims, and the extra ammo. We're all good."

Doc was used to working in the field, Tali reminded herself She could trust him, like she could all her crew. Like she could her brother.

"Ok, Ivor, here they come." Tali lowered the binocs and slid back behind the rock.

Ivor yanked his blasters out of their holsters and gave her a wink. "I'm ready. Let's blow this puppy."

He slipped out from behind the boulder and ran into the path of the transport. Other than the makeshift road that had been carefully worn by the vehicles before it, the transport had nowhere else to go. The surrounding terrain was deep snow and hidden rocks. It rumbled to a slow stop. There was a loud creak as the driver struggled to crack open his frozen door. Nobody bothered to make windows that actually opened on planets like Hoth or Ilum. The driver poked his head out, looking bewildered.

"This is a stick up!" Ivor yelled. "You know...as in 'stick 'em up!'" He gestured in the air with his blasters and laughed.

"Are you daft?" the driver called. "Get out of the way!"

Tali, Kira, and Sergeant Rusk were already halfway around the vehicle and coming up from behind. When they were in range, Tali leapt into the air and landed on the roof, followed by Kira, who did the same. Tali's wounded calf protested, still sore from the jump off the bridge a few days previous, and for a moment she teetered on the edge. She gripped the corner and leaned over, plunging her lightsaber into the crack on the back hatch. As soon as the blade cut through the latch, the door popped open. Tali gave it a push, and it swung away easily, too easily, in fact, so that Tali fell away with it. She would have tumbled to the ground had Kira not snatched the back of her robe and tugged her upright.

There was a yell from inside, while at the same moment, Ivor opened fire from the front. The driver spilled out of his seat and landed on the ground, just as a voice from inside cried out in alarm.

"Lord Drow-"

Rusk's hand cannon thundered to life, and the body of a skinny male Sith toppled out the door. Kira reached in and yanked a soldier out by the collar, running him through just as he raised his rifle to strike at her. Tali gripped the edge of the roof and rolled forward, swinging down and over the open doorway and kicking her way inside.

A large Kolto tank was tethered in the middle of the rear cabin, and there Scourge floated, serenely oblivious to the fighting around him. Tali lunged forward, hacking away the first tether, but when she reached for the second, a figure lunged at her from the dark recess behind the tank, shoving her backwards out the door. Tali tumbled through the snow and was stunned by the streak of blue lightning that crackled over her body. She broke free and came to her feet. Lord Drowl stood, battle ready, his lightsaber in hand, while the other sparked with energy anew.

Behind him, a riot of blaster fire and screaming ensued, but he looked at Tali with blood-shot yellow eyes and beckoned, uncaring of the carnage around him.

"Come on, Jedi. I can't wait to hurt you."

This was the Sith who had tortured Scourge. Tali felt a scream rumbling up from her chest. She hollered defiance and threw herself at him. Strike after strike, she pummeled him, until he was entirely on the defensive. He looked shocked, scandalized even, that she could have bested him so easily. Tali let out a final yell as she drew a heavy slice across his abdomen. He dropped his lightsaber, clutched at his middle, and fell on his face.

"Tali! Rusk! Help!"

Kira had a hand thrust forward, and was using the Force to hold the Kolto tank steady as it listed forward. Her other hand swiveled her lightsaber in jerking movements, blocking blaster fire aimed at her from someone still inside the cabin. Rusk had moved to the front of the vehicle with Ivor, and wasn't near enough to reach her in time. Kira's feet slipped dangerously close to the edge of the back door.

Tali flew forward, plunging into the cabin, her lightsaber swinging. Two soldiers huddled against the cabin's back wall, unloading their weapons with blind desperation. Tali finished them off, just as Kira let out a pained yelp. The tank rolled sideways on its base, hanging precariously by one remaining ceiling tether. Tali turned to see Kira clutching her ribs, her face bent into a grimace. Her foot slid backwards a fraction, and then she tumbled off the back of the truck.

There was a loud clang as the last tether holding the Kolto tank snapped. It rumbled forward, crashing into the wall of the cabin, then bounced off and took a nose-dive straight out the door.

There was a horrid smash, followed by the rush of spilling liquid. Tali skidded out the back door, a cry of panic on her lips. Kira lay pinned to the ground under part of the tank's heavy base. Kolto oozed across the snow like blue sludge, already starting to freeze, and in the midst of it all, Scourge sprawled naked on the quickly forming ice.

Tali reached for the tank's base through the Force, then hurled it away. Rusk scrambled past, sliding to his knees and reaching for Kira. In the distance, Tali could see Doc racing across the snow, his medical bag thudding against his legs. Tali sunk to the ground next to Scourge.

"The blanket! I need the blanket!" She leaned over Scourge and tore off the mask. "Scourge, wake up. Scourge, it's me. It's me, wake up!"

Strange burn marks riddled his body, and as Tali reached for one of his hands, she was startled to see that he was missing two fingers. His hand was swollen and inflamed, the wounds not even bandaged. Tali fell forward, pressing her ear against Scourge's chest. She couldn't hear anything. Why couldn't she hear anything?

"Stay with me Scourge." Her voice was breaking. "You can't leave me. I love you." She covered him with her body, folding her arms around his shoulders. "I love you."

Then she heard it. The sound of a heartbeat, unnaturally slow, and so faint she had missed it. She recalled the many times Scourge had told her of the power to be had in emotions, of the strength he drew from his own and from others. If ever there was a time to open her mind and her heart to that rush of feeling it was now. Tali laid against him, pouring everything she had out of her, imaging it as pure energy. Her pain, her fear, her hopes, the exultation she had felt when they had shared their bodies and minds, she released it all, and envisioned it infusing him like an elixir. And her love, that too, all of it, yes, there it was, cascading free, open and unhindered. For you, Scourge. Take it. I give it all.

A pressure, tentative and light, crept up her back. Tali opened her eyes and saw Scourge's arm winding around her. He was looking back at her, a smile, fragile as a newborn, touching his lips.

"It's not…" a shivering was passing through Scourge's body, becoming more violent by the minute, "...my time yet...after all then."

"No," Tali said. Scourge's face was blurring in her vision, and she drew a hand across her eyes. "Not yet. Force be willing, not yet."

Doc leaned over them, dropping a blanket over Scourge's body. "I've got the stretcher. Let's get out of here. Kira's already loaded on the landspeeder. She's right as rain, or will be, once I get a splint on her leg."

Tali nodded. She gripped Scourge's hand, careful to avoid the fresh wounds there, and pressed it her cheek. Then she drew it to her lips and brushed a kiss against his knuckles.

"I love you," she whispered. Scourge's hand was slipping from her grasp. She looked up to see his eyes blinking slowly, his consciousness fading away once more.

"At last..." he said, and Tali had to lean in close to catch the rest, "...you are true to the passion in your heart."


A/N: I'll be going on vacation in a week and half, so there may be a delay in the posting schedule for the next chapter. Thanks, as always, for reading and for sharing your comments with me!