Atton took a deep breath, sat back, and said, "Guess we know the reason why she lied, huh?" Jaden had gotten up in the ensuing silence and left with T3 after each of them stated from where they recognized the key.

"Somehow we are all connected," Visas told them with a slight frown. "I remember my mother telling me of a great wizard that helped teach my people to see through the Force. One night, he disappeared without warning but because of the things he had done for my people, they honored him with a statue. He is shown holding the key."

"My grandmother had this on a pendant," Atton said rubbing his brow, "and several of the temples on Corellia depict the completed key and the ancient writing." He then looked at Carth and Kwyn.

"There was a mosaic in the courtyard in front of the government offices," Kwyn said.

"What about you?" Carth asked Canderous quietly as he rubbed his temples.

"The key's on Yavin IV. We found it in one of the temples during the Great Sith War. I was a lot younger then, but Exar Kun thought it was important, that's one reason why he built his stronghold there. The Massassi warriors thought it was sacred. Qel-Droma attacked before Kun figured it out."

"And now Exar Kun is trapped in the temples, having drained the life of the Massassi warriors," Visas added.

Carth got up and began pacing as he thought what a fracking mess. His son's in the med-center, Bastila betrayed him, apparently, they are all connected to the key somehow, which happens to be guarded by the spirit of Exar Kun, and Jaden lied to them. To him.

~~ The Child is not a strong tactician, Admiral. The choices she has made are out of concern for everyone's safety. You cannot fault her for that. And before you bring up the subject of trust, remember, you hold a part of her within you. A part she willingly gave to save your life, and against our counsel, so to say she didn't trust you is denying the fact that Jaden trusts you with her life! ~~

Carth was taken aback at the vehemence of the light. They had never been that direct before, he thought as he let out a quiet sigh. By the Gods, he hurt.

"I don't know," Atton sighed. "This doesn't make sense. You could show that holovid to anyone that spent time on Corellia and they would recognize the key."

"True," Kwyn said as he watched Carth pace. "I'm proof of that, so maybe this means you're all connected in another way."

"Who says you're not?" Atton snorted.

"Well, for starters I'm not Force Sensitive," he said wishing he had kept quiet when the conversation he had with Jaden popped into his mind about Carth and his connection to the Force. I need to find something else to chew on besides my foot!

"Jaden did mention that one of the Jedi sent his wife and child to Telos before he died," Canderous said casually missing the stiffening of Visas and Atton but not Carth's abrupt halt.

"What?" he whispered.

"Yeah, she said the Jedi from Tatooine, after he destroyed the Sith, sent his wife and kid to Telos. It's no secret that the Jedi sent those not chosen for training there either, right?"

"Yes," Visas said releasing a quiet breath as Carth began pacing again. "But that doesn't prove any connection to us." Overwhelmed was the only word she could think of to describe Carth at the moment because at any other time he would have been out the door chasing Jaden for answers.

"Well I'm not so sure about that," Atton said in an angry voice as he stood. "Jaden and Radha Aman-sneezy aren't the only ones that know that language. My grandmother knew it as well," he added before storming from the room.

"Are you sure the key's on Yavin IV?" Kwyn asked. When Canderous nodded, he also stood to leave. "I'll set a course." Canderous followed him mumbling something about stopping Atton before he did something stupid.

"Admiral," Visas said as she placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head and noticed they were alone. "Whatever conflict you feel, you must resolve it."

"How? None of this bothers you? Am I the only one that's upset that she admitted she lied, then drops a bombshell that we're all somehow connected to the key? I swear, Visas, it's like pulling teeth sometimes to get the truth out of her." Carth held her hand for a brief moment before resuming his pacing. "Even the Force, which just happens to be Jaden by the way, is telling me I'm not being fair, when she's the one who isn't being fair to us by not telling the truth!"

"She may be the embodiment of the Force, Carth, but she is also human, subject to the same failings, and feels the same as you or I. We would do anything to protect those we care about."

"Jedi are supposed to control their emotions," he reminded her as he thought of Bastila.

"You know Jaden isn't a Jedi she is the Jedi and when she is complete she is also the Sith. She has lived her life steeped in all emotions on both sides. The fact that she can function without the strength the dark side provides is remarkable," Visas said as she walked toward him. "You have a right to your anger, but she needs us, especially you, because it is your strength that sustains her."

As her feelings for you, make you whole.

Carth sat at his desk in the office behind the bridge his head down as he trolled his brain for some meditation technique Visas may have taught him when she trained him, but he couldn't find one. He was so exhausted he should be dead to the world, but his mind had different ideas. Several of them that tripped over themselves fighting for attention, so when the buzzer went off, he was thankful.

"Come," he said sitting back in the chair. Kwyn walked in with a bottle of Corellian Whiskey and two glasses.

"Thought you could use this," he said setting down the items and then sitting across from Carth.

"Thanks." Carth grabbed the bottle.

"Sure. And while you're pouring you can tell me if you're done being an ass, because I'm assuming that's why you're hiding."

"I'm not hiding," Carth said as he uncorked then poured the whiskey.

"Oh, cut the crap, you are too. You did the same thing when you and Morgan would fight."

"How would you know?" he asked with a frown.

"Because she would call me to see if you showed up at my place."

Carth shook his head but there was a resigned smile on his face. Simpler times. "I can't get my mind around it, Kwyn."

"Which part?"

"Pick one," he answered with a sigh.

Kwyn snorted, "Like I know where to start."

"That's just it. So much has happened over the past few days I don't know what to be pissed about first, and I have a feeling that's not all of it."

"What do you mean?"

"Ah, hell," Carth said raising his hands and shaking them in frustration, "I don't know," he took a drink. "The temple is her home, and she is the embodiment of the Force, so it makes sense now, seeing the True Sith depicted there. Even the statues of the six who buried the keys are there," he paused and took another drink, "and the flame, it isn't the Midiclorians, Kwyn, its Jaden. That has to be the reason why it flared when I got close to it. No wonder they said the Force recognized me."

Kwyn reached across the desk and took the glass from Carth. "All righty, I think you've had enough." Carth smirked at him, grabbed the bottle, and sat back. "Give me that!"

"Morgana was there, too."

Kwyn's hand paused mid-swipe, his eyes wide. "Excuse me?"

"And she's as beautiful as ever," Carth said reverently remembering how stunning his wife looked as she walked toward him down the path at the temple.

When he realized his best friend was serious, Kwyn downed the whiskey in Carth's glass. "You saw Morgan?"

"Held and kissed her," he mumbled with a far-away look on his face.

Kwyn downed his own glass then held it out for a refill. "Pour, then start talking."

Carth came back to the present, tipped the bottle to the rim of the glass, and began telling Kwyn about the Joining. He explained about the light, about going to Naboo and what Jaden had done for Morgana, granting her wish to see him once more. Kwyn knew more about his marriage than anyone so Carth was comfortable even telling him what they talked about and what happened with Dustil when he told him.

"You're not mad about that, are you? If you are it's you and me, right here, right now, buddy," Kwyn said with a frown as he studied his friend. Carth was a beaten shadow of himself; he could see it on his face and in his slumped shoulders. Whatever sense of character that burned within him was gone.

"Pfft, are you kidding? There isn't a big enough thank you in the universe for that one. Dustil's even back to calling me dad."

"Really?"

Carth nodded as he refilled the glasses and began telling him about the temple and what happened before he moved on to the events of Korriban. His voice was rough with anger but also a sense of vulnerability that surprised Kwyn, if for no other reason than he recognized the fear in Carth's words.

"Darling?" Kwyn asked as he scooted the chair back out of range. "Are you jealous?"

Carth rolled his eyes, "What I am is in Zared's debt for saving Dustil." He sat forward and cradled the glass in his hands. "Am I wrong to be pissed because they . . . Jaden, kept me from Tuluk?"

"No," Kwyn answered quietly. He knew he was going to have to tread carefully. Carth talked about his anger but said nothing about the dark side and since Jaden said he didn't know he had fallen, Kwyn didn't want to be the one to enlighten him. "I was a little upset I couldn't do some damage myself."

"I wanted to kill her," Carth said softly then looked up. "Bastila, I mean. I wanted to kill her for putting Dustil in harms way."

"I think you'd be at the back of the line for that one," Kwyn said quietly. The men that had been in the hangar each wanted a shot at Bastila for what she did. They were loyal to Carth and to see him so distressed about Dustil, well that loyalty had turned to protectiveness not only for their commanding officer, but also his son. "After Jaden ordered everyone out of the hangar except Vandar, I half expected her to do the job for you, but Bastila was alive and well, although shaking like a Wroshyr leaf when they boarded the shuttle. After watching the security tape I see why."

"Jaden did what?" he asked closing his eyes then sighed, "What happened?"

"See for yourself," Kwyn said using his feet to scoot the chair forward before reaching over the desk to bring up the tape. "I'm not sure it'll stand, but it certainly was effective."

Carth watched, fascinated, as Jaden took Bastila to task for her actions. Not just for Dustil, but for Bastila's whole Jedi career. When the recording was over, he stood and went to the window. "It'll stand. Vandar won't go against Jaden's wishes." You took away that retribution as well.

"Truthfully, I'm surprised Jaden even did what she did. When I saw her pick up those crystals I thought Bastila was a goner," Kwyn told him as he propped his boots on the corner of the desk.

Carth leaned against the window frame heavily and sighed as he remembered what the light masters had told him, 'She set aside everything she has learned from us, to avenge not just her, but you and your son as well.' "Tuluk was the exception, Kwyn, and the only reason she destroyed his crystal was because he hurt Dustil. And me, and you, and Visas, and Atton, and Canderous, and anyone else you can think of." He pushed himself away from the window and drained his glass. "And you're absolutely right. I am an ass."

"What did you do?" Kwyn asked with the resigned tone of 'What now?'

"Besides the neural disruptors, which limited her abilities, I accused her of not helping Dustil, using me for one thing, and not caring about either of us."

"That is with a capital "A" right?" Kwyn asked as saw Carth chuckle as he sat back down. "You need to fix this, because neither of you can afford to be distracted."

When Zared arrived on the bridge, Radha and a few of the historians had taken over three of the scanning stations, and were drawing odd looks from the crew. The men who normally worked them were standing off to the side looking nervous.

~~ He presumes too much! ~~

~~ He's finding the key. ~~

~~ He's undermining your authority. ~~

~~ Shut up! ~~

~~ Do we need to remind you that you are the Emperor of the Sith, that you command all, including your historian? ~~

~~ Do I need to tell you again that I control you, that I command you! ~~

The voices didn't respond and he silently smirked as he walked to the nervous men. "Lieutenant."

"Milord!" the short man dressed in gray snapped to attention. "My apologies Milord, but the historian just barged in and took over . . ."

"It's all right Lieutenant. I gave him permission to monitor the stations; he must have misunderstood in his old age." Zared tapped his ear. "Bad hearing."

"I hear fine, young one!"

Zared rolled his eyes and excused himself but told the Lieutenant to take his men to the auxiliary control room and continue scanning. The man saluted and the three of them scurried off as Zared walked to Radha and leaned forward just enough to look over his shoulder.

"This is much like cooking, young one; the pot will not boil if watched."

"Ah, more of that snappy Radha repartee."

Radha sighed and turned to Zared. "I'm doing the best I can, youngling."

"I know," he said quietly. He was asking a lot of the old man, and it was beginning to take its toll. Radha's shoulders sagged and tiny lines of exhaustion fanned at the corners of his eyes. "After all, it's always the last place you look."

"Ah," the old man smiled tiredly, "more of those snappy Zared zingers. Were you this witty when you followed the light?"

"Hardly," he drolled, "I think I killed Master Vrook more for admonishing me over the years for my sense of humor, than for being a Jedi."

"Which one was he?"

"The perpetually crabby, cantankerous one."

"Ah," Radha said turning back to the screen and quietly instructing his colleague to make some adjustments.

"Those blasted voices have nothing on him."

~~ Thank the Force he followed the light! ~~

Zared nearly spit out his teeth as he began coughing and pounding on his chest.

"Young one? Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he said taking a deep breath fighting back the grin. Who would have thought . . . "How much of the field is left?"

"We are down to the final quadrant. It shouldn't be much longer," Radha answered.

"Good. Captain Balla," he shouted over his shoulder. "Notify the other commanders to pull back to a safe distance."

"Youngling, what are you planning to do now?" he asked with patient resignation. Although he could read Zared fairly well, Radha had learned that the man had lightning quick changes of heart if he wasn't getting his way.

"They keep whining I never use the power I possess, so now's a good a time as any," he said with a shrug as he began walking away.

~~ At last! ~~

"Well, don't bite off more than you can chew," Radha told him.

Zared paused, turned at the waist, tipped his head, and looked at the old man with a raised brow. "Are you hungry? That's the second time you've referenced cooking."

"Perhaps a cupcake or two," he answered with a sly grin.

Zared ground his molars together to keep a straight face. It probably wouldn't be a good thing to burst out laughing on his own bridge, evil dark lord, and all that.

"By the time the other ships are out of the way, I will have scanned a quarter of the quadrant. You can destroy that."

"Gee thanks, dad," he mumbled shaking his head in resignation.

Radha was true to his word though, and by the time the other ships communicated, they were out of range, he informed Zared, with a touch of sarcasm, which area he could obliterate. The old man began giving him instructions on picturing the area he wanted to destroy. He was to imagine a box in order to control the . . . Zared put his hand over Radha's mouth.

"Captain Balla, raise the shields."

"Thavwonhelf." Zared removed his hand. "That won't help. Remember, when the Sojourn was first attacked, Jaden destroyed several of the . . . shielded fighters simply by thinking it."

Zared frowned. He had lost several good men that day, but snapping Captain Wen's neck with no more effort than the thought, had made up for it. Stupid idiot, he could have killed Jaden. He turned to Balla. "Then brace for impact."

He closed his eyes and did what Radha suggested, picturing the emptiness of space surrounding the hundreds of asteroids.

~~ Feel the power within you build. Call upon all that you are, the Sith'ari, the embodiment of the dark side. The dark is stronger than the light; we offer unimaginable power. Though power, you gain victory. Through victory . . . ~~

~~ Oh, for the love of . . . would you just shut up! ~~

~~ Insolence! ~~

Zared reached out and grasped Radha's elbow to steady him, as he visualized the power of the dark side in his mind, growing like violent, black storm clouds on the horizon, lightning licking out, seeking its next victim. They intensified as they engulfed the asteroids, bleeding into nooks and crevasses. Stepping deeper into his power, he saw the moment of implosion at an infinitesimal level as each of the asteroids, large and small disintegrated into dust as the storm clouds swept them aside like they were nothing. The tremor of power rolled over the Gehenna resembling angry waves on a violent, turbulent sea, setting the alarms screaming to mingle with the cries of the men being tossed to the durasteel floor. As the deck rolled beneath him, he gripped Radha's arm more firmly when he felt his mentor begin to fall away. Exhilaration shivered through his body to interact with the immense feeling of satisfaction as he pulled the sensation closer; let it caress him as a lover would. When the feeling began to fade, he opened his eyes and found Radha staring at him as if he was a stranger. "That was fun," he said struggling to calm his galloping heart. Radha continued to stare at him. "What?"

"Radha, come quickly!"

The old man smiled at Zared briefly before going to his colleagues. Zared wasn't sure what to make of his behavior, but now was not the time. Dismissing the thought for the moment, he wandered over to Captain Balla for a status report.

"General!" Radha called out as he quickly shuffled to Zared, his robes flapping about his feet, threatening to trip him. "Youngling, we found the key!"