Disclaimer: I don't own Kotor
Uthar slowly rose from behind his table and looked at me with slightly raised eyebrows. His expression was strange, bearing certain emotions, but I simply couldn't decipher what exactly he was showing. He seemed pleased and content, but there was something else hiding in his eyes, and I wasn't sure I liked it.
"Killed you say…" he echoed what I'd told him and went around his desk to stop in front of me. "What proof do you have?"
I simply pointed to my waist. There, on my belt, two single-bladed lightsabers were hanging instead of Bandon's double-bladed one. "Trophies," I explained when his eyes travelled back to mine.
"There were more of them than two," he pointed out, crossing his hands in front of me. Was he doubting my words? Well, he had all the reasons. The students were pretty much alive, all of them, including Lisa, and probably on their way off this planet.
A meek smiled tugged at one corner of my lips. "I don't need more. I have just two hands," I said.
I had previously asked for all five lightsabers, but then I realized I'd left tem unarmed. So I took only two, giving them Raenah's and Bandon's weapons in exchange and was happy with it; the double-bladed fighting style wasn't really my thing. I felt incredibly clumsy.
"And one of them is hurt, I see. Did they offer resistance?" he asked, stupidly enough. Anyone would fight for their lives if threatened.
I lifted one eyebrow. "Of course," I answered curtly, covering the huge bruise with on my left arm with my right hand. That had been Raenah's work. Once he found out about his lightsaber, he turned extremely violent. As soon as he touched me, digging his nail deep into my skin and drawing blood, everyone around us drew their weapons. HK, who had had his rifle prepared all the time, even fired at him, skilfully aiming at the middle of his back.
And that was when it happened. The time seemed to slow down a little as I watched his eyes grew wide. He shifted, slightly, his eyes looking to the side as if he actually could see the blast behind him. Turn…the word echoed through my mind just as his grip on my arm tightened. In order to dodge the blast he whirled around in a quick and fluent motion, switching our position and therefore putting me in the bolt's way. And I moved with him, continuing the turn, whirling us more than he wanted, than he anticipated. Instead to his back, he was shot to his arm. Although his armour absorbed the most of the damage, I still could see the dark red liquid slowly running down his arm.
"Do you remember what I told you back on Leviathan?" I had said to him when I brought him closer to me. "Know your enemy, Raenah."
He didn't have to say what crossed his mind at the moment. The look gave it all away; hatred, animosity, hostility…
I had him locked in my quarters that time, knowing very well the ship wasn't safe anymore with him onboard.
"Why don't you simply kill him?" Mission asked after that."Bastila told me you've already defeated him once."
I shook my head. "At the time he didn't know me. He saw human and so he underestimated me. Killing him won't be as easy as beating him back then was."
Uthar nodded his head slowly, his eyes never leaving mine, looking at me so intensively as if searching for something. "Well done, Raven. I'm glad the matter's solved."
I didn't nod, I didn't smile, I simply turned around and left his office, feeling less victorious than I'd thought I would. Mission and Jolee were waiting for me nearby in the corridor. Mission was sitting on the ground, while Jolee was leaning against the wall. "Let's go, guys. The alley's waiting," I said when I past them by and continued down the corridor to the entrance hall. But before I could actually reach it, the tall blonde menace of the Academy stepped in my way.
Lashowe shot me a fierce glare, crossing her hands in front her body. "Do you really think getting rid of us will help you get the favour?" she asked sharply, clenching her teeth.
I was taken aback. "Eh…a pure logic says: yes, removing all the obstacles in your way will get you to your destination much faster. Why do you ask?"
I didn't know it was even possible, but her eyes grew even colder after that. "I know what you did. But it ends here."
"Maybe this all makes sense in your pretty blond head, but I don't follow you here," I said simply.
Mission shifted her weight and coughed, producing a sound suspiciously similar to: Shaardan.
Lashowe's cheeks flushed. "First Shaardan, then Dustil, now Mekel's missing. I know it's your doing, bitch," she hissed, furious.
I shrugged. "My, what a reputation I have." I considered it beneath me to try to explain I didn't even know who Mekel was, apart from the moment in the dining room the day before. When I made a step forward, however, she initiated her lightsaber. The crimson light casted a dark shadow over her pale face.
I narrowed my eyes, freezing. "Put that thing away," I said silently. "You don't want to engage in combat with me."
"You'd never defeat me."
"Would I? I killed Shaardan, remember? The best of the best here in the Academy," I reminded her. The confession about the young man's death made her eyes grew wide.
"So you did kill him!"
I smiled, lowering my head a little to look at her through my eyelashes. "Why, yes I did," I whispered. "But I've never harmed Dustil and as for Mekel, apart from the fact I don't even know him properly, I haven't seen him since yesterday," I said and a familiar foretelling run through my body.
"And they say students are disappearing in Tulak Hord's tomb. Maybe it would be worth investigating."
"I don't believe you," she hissed through clenched teeth and her hand tightened the grip on her lightsaber. But she didn't seem to be sure to attack me though.
I shook my head in amusement. "Do you know what your problem is?" I asked and answered right away: "You make people your enemies instead of your allies."
Her eyes narrowed and she turned her head slightly. "What do you mean?" she barked at me.
"Well…I could be useful to you. I've been here for…what? Two days? And yet I've managed to draw our dear headmaster's attention pretty easily. As you probably know, I've brought him the sword of Ajunta Pall and got all the credits for it. And yesterday I helped him with another problem you all had been neglecting all the time."
"I've discovered an ancient relic hidden in the one of the toms as well," she blurted out.
"And where is it?" I asked in a mocking tone. "Have you presented it to Mater Uthar yet? Oh…wait, no. You haven't. Poor little pathetic you…"
That was apparently too much for her. Her lightsaber flung through the air, landing on the blade of my lightsaber with a loud hiss and a spray of bright sparks.
I deflected her lightsaber away, leaving her whole body exposed for a moment. I lifted my right hand, already accumulating the Force in my palm. I threw it against her body, sending her crashing against the thick, cold wall of the Academy. She groaned and then grunted when she slid to the ground, searching for the lightsaber she had dropped.
"Looking for this?" I asked, toying with the hilt, turning it in hands. I tossed to her, but she never moved to catch it. It landed with a several loud clinks on the floor, rolling towards her.
"It always comes to it, it seems," I said silently in a deadly serous voice. "Never confront anyone this way unless you're hundred percent sure you can't lose. And to achieve it, you must first know who you're up against." I came to her, crouching in front of her. "Do you know anything about Mandalorian basilisk war droids? I've destroyed few of those armed with nothing but my lightsaber. A greenhorn such as you could never take me down. Remember it, Lashowe."
I turned my back to her and left her sitting on the ground.
Mission, ignoring the fact we were still inside the Academy, appeared by my side. "Why did you tell her that?" she asked.
"I wonder that too," Jolee said quietly behind me.
I frowned and stopped just as we entered the entrance hall. I looked around, making sure nobody was within our earshot, before I turned to my friends. "I need the holocron she found. But she would never agree to share the information about its whereabouts with me willingly. Thus I need her to ask for my help."
"Bold plan," Jolee said with thoughtful expression in his eyes. His fingers were holding his chin as he was slowly nodding his head. "She's very proud however. What makes you think she will come to you?"
I shrugged. "Nothing. I realize it's a long shot, but if I hit, I'll win a jackpot. Now hush." Wordlessly I continued down the hall, walking to the exit from the Academy.
...
"I don't get it," Mission said once the large stony door closed behind us. Both Jolee and I initiated our lightsabers. It felt so good to have both hands full, not that the two red lightsabers could produce more light than one; Jolee's green 'saber was still brighter. "Why are we looking for this Mekel? It won't help you, will it?" Mission went on, walking between me and Jolee.
"It's not about finding Mekel, it's about exploring this tomb," I said simply, narrowing my eyes at the darkness in front of me. The corridor was going on and on, heading deeper inside the massive rock structure in which it was carved.
"Hundreds of other students have explored it before us. I doubt they have left anything interesting in here," she went on, gesturing with her hands in front of her. She wasn't paying any attention to our surroundings.
I smiled and gave her a sideway glance. "You thought the same back in the Ajunta Pall's tomb?" I reminded her. "Besides, Yuthura recommended me to search this place."
"As for Yuthura…" Jolee changed the topic, "you spent quite a time in her office this morning. What were you two talking about?" he asked.
"Her. I…" I smiled at the memory, "I befriended her."
"You did what?" Mission asked confusedly, looking at me with curious expression.
"I talked to her. Showed interest in her person. And I'm glad I did. She's very remarkable woman. And she used to be a Jedi once."
"Let me guess, you want to redeem her," Jolee said, his tone bore clear signs of amusement.
I chuckled. "If the opportunity pops up...How did you know?"
"Well," he started saying, grinning as well, "you made an ancient Sith Lord return to the light side. Why not a teacher in the Sith Academy?"
"The Sith was devastated and glad to return to his Master," Mission spoke up. "But Yuthura seems...well...she's already planning on taking over the Academy once Uthar is dead, isn't she? Why would she want to become a Jedi?"
"Smart question. You know, I was thinking about it a lot. I guess..." I tensed suddenly when I heard something.
"What is it, lass?" Jolee asked.
"I heard something..." I breathed out, straining my ears.
"What?" Mission's hand moved to her belt and unholstered her blaster.
"Steps…in the corridor in front of us," I said, frowning.
"Some other student?" Jolee offered and I shrugged. "No idea. But we should really stop talking. Our voices carry on, here, giving us perfectly away way sooner than the light."
"I agree," Jolee nodded and fell few steps behind me and Mission. When we set off again, we walked in complete silence. I was taking the lead, holding the lightsaber tightly, ready for an attack.
This tomb wasn't as large as the one of Ajutna Pall. It consisted mainly of the main corridor, only occasionally leading to small rooms full of debris, dirt...and Shyracks. Lot of them.
But eventually we reached the end of the corridor. I approached the large door and tried to open them, but it was locked. I frowned and looked around. My eyes found their way on the ground as well. And my scowl deepened.
"Dead end…" Mission stated simply, already turning around.
"No," I shook my head firmly crouching on the ground in front of the door. I lowered my hand to bring the lightsaber closer so that I could see better. "Look. The ground's covered with dirt all around, but these traces look fresh. As if someone passed through this door just minutes ago," I added and looked at it. "And now's locked."
"Which means the person knew how to open it," Jolee stepped in.
"Than let's bring it down," Mission offered.
I frowned and rose to my feet again. "No, maybe there's some way to open it quietly."
"And would it really matter?" the girl asked, looking around. "They probably already know we're here. After all, if you heard them, they had to hear us."
"She has a point," Jolee agreed.
"it doesn't matter. Let's look around, for some switch, button, anything..." I said and lifted the lightsaber above my head again.
The soft click that rung through the corridor made me spun around quickly. But then Mission rolled her eyes and quietly passed out, the blaster in her hand hitting the ground right before her body followed with a silent thud.
"Mission!" I screamed and rushed to her, kneeling beside her. When I took another breath, to order Jolee to help me drag her from here, I had the feeling someone's cold fingers were around my throat, squeezing it and making it impossible to suck in the air. "Jolee..." I eventually cracked, but when my already closing eyes found him, he was lying on the ground. My limbs were starting to feel limp as well. I was fighting to stay conscious, but the lack of the oxygen and my blackening vision eventually defeated me.
...
"…dare…going to regret...doesn't suspect a thing...betray...kill...her friend...kill...the Star Forge...mine…"
...
I felt so weak when I finally woke up again. I couldn't feel my hands and legs and my head was hurting too. My eyelids felt just too heavy, but I opened them nonetheless. I was lying on the cold ground. The light was dim and it casted dancing shadows over the ceiling. Fire.
I turned my head to the side. The room was round and small with something large in the middle.
Burial chamber…how did I get here?
I heard a chuckle. "Ah…finally, our little friend has finally woken up. Have you had nice dreams?" The voice was full of mockery, speaking so loudly it made my head throb some more.
I gathered all the strength I could to sit up and looked around to find the source of the voice. On the other side of the room I spotted a man, short, bald with tattoos all over his head. His face was wrinkled and his eyes shining from his place face with a cruel gleam. There was something familiar about him, though I was sure I had never met him. "Jorak, huh?" I rasped, remembering my last time on Korriban, when Uthar had informed me well about his old crazy Master.
That seemed to take him aback. "My, yes, I'm surprised you know me. Not many students do. None actually," he mused, thinking for a moment.
My hand went searching to my belt, but my lightsabers weren't there. I looked around once more. I saw the exit from the room and both of my friends near to it, lying helplessly on the ground with their hands behind their back. Jolee was looking back at me, but Mission's eyes were still closed.
"But it doesn't matter," the old man went on and when I looked at him again, I noticed my lightsaber were hanging from his belt alongside his own. "What matters is we can finally start our test. And here you were so afraid you'd be stuck here for who knows how long, weren't you, Mekel?" Jorak turned around to look at someone on the ground. The sarcophagus was obscuring my view when I was sitting, so I tried to stand up. I head to lean on the large stony coffin, but I managed.
Mekel was lying on the other side. He had an ashen face with dark circles under his eyes and traces of blood under his nose and cheek; he'd probably tried to wipe the blood away with the back of his hand or a sleeve. He was sweating heavily and his eyes locked with mine for a second. He looked tired.
"What test?" I asked and looked back at Jorak.
"What test?" he repeated with an evil smile. "A simple one. At least for those who's been studying hard enough in the Academy," he added and chuckled.
"What do you mean?"
Jorak rolled his head and looked at the ceiling as if he couldn't believe his ears. "I'm going to ask you few questions, of course! But worry not. They won't be difficult, really."
Somehow it failed to reassure me. "Why?" I asked, desperately trying to buy me some time. I still felt groggy and numb and in no shape to fight or be questioned, for that matter. Whatever sort the questions were going to be.
"Why? Why! Because I'm bored!" he snapped at me, coming little closer to me, waving his fisted hands around. "Students don't come here often, so when they finally do I have to make the best of it. Besides it's for the good of the Academy too. My apprentice can't sort out the students who belong to the Academy and those that should be kicked out. Not every student has the knowledge about what it means to be a true Sith." He broke off after that, looking confused in a way people do when they are interrupted in something they had been drowned in deeply. "What was I saying?" he asked, confirming my thoughts that the dark side cost him more than just colour of his skin and eyes. He was insane.
"But that's not necessary, is it?" I asked silently. "We can just…talk…without all this, can we?" I offered, but he simply swayed his finger at me. "And where would the fun be in that? No, no, it is necessary. One gets to know a lot of interesting facts this way," he explained, smiling, showing his yellow, rotten teeth.
"Why is Mekel here then?" I kept asking, pleased that my voice sounded stronger and stronger with every sentence. My hands were slowly stopping shaking and my legs felt steadier too. I was glad the effects of the gas were finally starting to fade away.
Jorak's smile got wider. "I'm glad you asked," he said, genuinely pleased. "Mekel here," he broke off, approaching the young man. He patted him few time on his head. Mekel grimaced at his touch, obviously disliking it, but didn't move away from his it. "…is going to be kind of your motivation. Well…no, motivation's not it, but…well, it doesn't matter. As I said, I'm going to ask you questions. If your answers are wrong, I'll punish you. If not, Mekel gets punished," he started laughing. "And considering the states you're both in you wouldn't survive long. Isn't it perfect? Either you, or him. Mh-hm, whom will you chose, I wonder?" The cheerfulness in his voice was scaring me.
"You're a madman!" I screamed, feeling suddenly much stronger. This wasn't about me anymore; an innocent life was at stake now.
Or as innocent as it could get…he was a Sith after all.
Jorak clicked his tongue. "Genius!" he corrected me, pointing at his hest.
"No, you're the worst example of a Sith I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot," I said, disgusted, and finally dared to let go of the sarcophagus. I straightened.
Jorak grunted something, waving his hand in the air dismissively. "So can we start, finally?" he asked.
I looked at him. There was eagerness and cruelty in his eyes and obvious desire to kill one of us. "And if I refuse to answer your questions?"
He shrugged nonchalantly. "You'll get punished, of course. But why would you do that, hm?" he tilted his head to one side.
I averted my eyes from him and focused on Mekel. He really looked weary. His expression was exhausted and empty, as if he already knew how it all would end. As if he'd already came to term with this ending in his death. "Ask away," I said and looked back at the old Sith Master.
He clasped his hands few time. "Fantastic! So…imagine. There's a Sith. Good soldier and warrior and even better leader. But then he makes mistake and you have the opportunity to get rid of him and take over his position. What will you do?" he asked, his eyes shining like those of a kid who'd been given a candy and is about to unwrap it and put into the mouth.
I smiled, looking on my feet for a moment, bracing myself. "Nothing. He's a good leader. More useful for the Sith alive than dead." I gave a sideway glance to Mekel. He looked…surprised. His eyes widened and I noticed his nostrils flared.
Jorak on the other hand paid me quite a different look. "What? And throw away such great opportunity? What about your carrier? What do they teach you in the Academy these days?" he yelled at me and lifted his hand. I knew what was coming even before the blue, cracking lightning bolts left his fingers. When the agony was over, I was lying in the dust again. My head was spinning and I had this strange humming in my ears. I felt blood on my tongue as well and a sharp pain inside my cheek where I had bitten myself. I spat the blood on the ground, lifting myself on my feet again, ignoring the shaking muscles. "Come on," I cracked, my voice hoarse again. "That was it, old man? I thought you could do better than that," I couldn't help but taunt him a little. "Another question?"
Jorak wrinkled his forehead, displeased. "Very well…" he mumbled. "Your friend has helped you to uncover something of a great value. You know the one who gets it to your commander will be rewarded. If you bring it to him together, both of you will be rewarded. But if you kill your friend and presented it to your commander…" he didn't finish and looked at me curiously, waiting for my answer.
"He helped me, didn't he?" I asked. "He deserves the reward as much as I do."
Jorak helplessly shook his head, putting his hands on his sides. "Dead duck…"
This time it took me much longer to stand up again. I felt the blood running down my chin from my mouth, but didn't bother to wipe it away. I was breathing heavily when I gazed at the old man. "I guess…I guess I got that…wrong," I said meekly, fighting the blackening edges of my vision.
"If I were you," Jorak said, his voice sounded eerily distant over the humming, "I'd picked my answers more carefully. The questions are not that difficult and…you would not last long, mind you. Would be a pity, don't you think?" he leaned closer to me and it was his hand that finally wiped the blood from my face. His hand was cold, so cold, like death. And when he touched me I saw something. A flash of orange light, linking me and him. I heard a scream, but this time it wasn't mine, and I felt the energy flooding my body again, making me stronger.
I shook my head and blinked the vision away, backing from his touch. I swore once to never using it again…
"So the last question," Jorak went on, rubbing his hand against the dirty clothes of his to get rid of my blood.
But what other option I have? Maybe...Maybe I could answer right this time. Mekel would surely survive it, but I...
"And now, really, pay attention. This one's tricky."
No...I'm stronger than I was back then. I can handle myself. I can do it! I lifted my eyes to him, glaring at him. "Don't bother," I rasped out. "I refuse…I refuse to answer."
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Are you sure? Do you realize the next punishment might be fatal for you? Won't you at least try?" he was asking, shifting his weight. "You will die if you don't."
I shook my head and smirked. "I won't die," I said, looking at him. My next words were whispered, but in the silence of the chamber they carried as if I yelled them loudly. "A true Sith never dies." I lifted my hand in the air, aiming at him and focusing for a second. His shrieks filled the chamber as I used the Force to drain the life from him and fed myself on it. He fell to his knees, screaming. Crumbled on the floor, begging. And only then I stopped, fully refreshed, feeling anew.
I closed the distance between us in half a heartbeat, turning him on his back, straddling him. When my fist made a contact with his face, I heard a crack and it sent a pleasant shivering down my spine. So I hit him again. And again. His hands stopped shoving me away, he stopped struggling. My hand was sore, but I never went on. I loved the way his face turned into a pulp of blood, flesh, teeth and shattered bones. I loved it each time his skull made another crack, never minding the pain in my own hand and wrist. Maybe some of the cracks belonged to me too, but I didn't care.
"Revan, stop it! He's dead! Revan!" A pair of strong hands grasped me around my waist and lifted me easily in the air as if I was just a feather, and tossed me to the side. Only when I landed on my hands and knees I realized just how much my right wrist hurt. It couldn't hold my weight and sent me crashing on the ground, hitting my head.
"What is wrong with you?" Jolee screamed at me. I had never heard him scream this way before.
I looked at my hand. It was all covered in blood, both his and mine, and throbbing painfully. I started shaking when I half sat up, supported only by my left hand, and turned my head to look through the space between his legs on the body. I sucked on the air when immediately turned away when I realized what I had done.
No...
"Well? Turn around again," Jolee commanded in firm voice.
I shook my head. "No." No, no...
"Revan, turn around. Look at him."
"Don't make me, please," I whimpered. "I know what I…and I'm…sorry. I'm sorry! I don't what…what came over…me…" I was lying. I knew. When I had used the dark power, it made me blind, just like the last time. But back then I was in the Sith Empire and the violent behaviour caused by the dark side clouding my mind and my better judgment was welcomed.
Suddenly I wished I was there again. I had been free there.
"Slaughtering him like this…that's not a Jedi way." I wanted to turn at him at the time, and shout: I'm no Jedi!, but he spoke up first: "I hope he hand hurts properly at least."
"It does," I admitted.
"Good." This time when his hands took me around my waist and pulled me to my feet, it was in much gentler manner. He put few strands of my hair behind my ear, studying my face closely while catching my chin in his hand to prevent me from turning my head. He was especially interested in my eyes and I was ashamed to know why. "I don't want to see you in the presence of the red creature ever again. At least not alone. When you want to talk to him again I'll be there too. It apparently has bad influence on you. Understood?" he whispered loud enough only for me to hear. I nodded.
"Good lass." He frowned slightly and let go of my face, catching my right hand in his palm and bringing it up between us. It had already started to swell and it turned ugly shade of blue…or maybe it was the poor light here.
He touched the hand under the elbow and closed his finger tightly around it. "Does it hurt?"
I shook my head. "Elbow's okay, I guess."
He nodded and pressed my hand gently against my stomach. "Hold it there," he said, guiding my other hand to support the broken one. I turned after him as he went to the student. Mekel was standing near Mission now; probably it had been him who freed Jolee. But he seemed stun now, his eyes focused Jorak's corpse.
"You okay, kid?" he asked.
"She murdered him," Mekel said, his voice shivering.
"He tried to murderer her," Jolee opposed him and offered his hand to help him up. "He was torturing her, while she was trying to save you. You can't blame her for wanting a bit of revenge." He spoke one thing, but meant other: total disapproval. That much was clear. I was going to get a lecture once we're back on Ebon Hawk, I knew it.
"Revenge is not a Jedi way," I whispered, looking at my feet again. They were very interesting all of sudden, and all the dirt shoes and blood splatters...they were all over my clothes…I quickly lifted my eyes at Jolee again.
"Keep reciting the code, lass. Loudly, so I can hear it."
I bent my head again, but closed my eyes. "There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no…no...chaos there is harmony. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no death, there is the Force," I was saying while he was talking to the boy.
"You switched the third and fourth verse. Start over."
"There is no emotion. There is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force."
"Once again, lass. So the next time this madness comes over you, you remember."
"There is no emotion. There is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force."
"Thank you," Mekel said right after I was done as if he was waiting for the moment.
I was expecting to hear Jolee urging to recite the code again, and Mekel's voice surprised me. I lifted my eyes to him, to see both him and Jolee looking at me. I frowned in confusion, cradling my hurt hand, my eyes travelling between them.
"Thank you for saving my life," Mekel said again. He wasn't scared anymore, that much was clear. "The questions were easy. You could have answered them correctly if you wanted."
"I didn't want," I said.
He nodded. "I know…it must have been…" he hesitated, looking at the corpse.
"I'm sorry for that," I said hastily, drawing his attention back at me. "I…got little carried away."
"I understand," he nodded, this time glancing at Jolee. "So you're…really him? Her? I mean…Darth Revan?"
"Just Revan now." Hopefully.
"I…that's…" he started speaking, looking at Jolee who nodded. "Incredible," the old man said instead of him. "But not impossible. Think of what I said, lad. This place isn't really good for you."
"Maybe you're right. And if the Council accepted even the Dark Lord…" I stopped paying attention to what Mekel was saying when I realized something. Mission. She was still lying motionlessly at their feet. "What's with Mission?" I asked, making a stop to them.
"She's alright, don't worry," Jolee said. "The toxin just affects her differently. She's just fourteen, remember? It will take her longer time before she wakes up, but she's alright. But it would be better if we moved her to the ship, don't you think? Mekel, would help me with her?"
"I can help you too," I offered and approached them as Mekel lifted Mission into his arms.
"No," Jolee shook his head. "You take this to Uthar." He was giving me a datapad.
"What is this?"
"It belonged to Jorak here. Might interest the headmaster."
"It...might," I nodded, frowning at my own reflection. My nose was bleeding too and there was still some blood on my chin, smudged.
"We'll take the rout through the cave, and you go straight through the Academy. I'll meet you on the ship, later."
I lifted my eyes to him when he and Mekel started to leave. "Jole...the hand..." I started helplessly, but his glowering face silenced me. "Does it hurt?" he repeated his own question from not so long ago.
I looked at it, swollen and useless. "It does. It's broken."
He nodded and paid me a sad look. "Then clench your teeth and suffer quietly. And be glad it's only your hand that's broken," he added, tossing his head towards the corpse.
I looked at Jorak, but I couldn't bear the sight of his head. Jolee and Mekel were gone, however, when I gazed to the exit again. I hung my head, letting my shoulders drop. I had never felt more defeated.
Exhausted, yes I am. But I managed to put it here, so I'm glad :) Thank you for reading and for all your comments and reviews :)
