Chapter 37: The Prophet

She had only just entered the tomb when the voices started.

Avaryss shivered, she tried to reach out with her senses, scan for traps and possible ambushes, but those attempts proved pointless. Any danger she sensed proved elusive, her connection to the dark side had grown so tenuous that she could have been standing in front of one of the tomb's traps and not even realize it until it was too late.

The realization made her journey that much slower. She dared not rush forward, Ajunta Pall's tomb may have been one of the better explored tombs in the valley, but that did not mean that it was safe.

The ancient Sith had been ruthless, the main defenses of this place may no longer function, but that did not mean that all secondary traps had been disarmed, a Sith could have walked by such a trap a dozen times and never set it off, only to make one false move, and then…snap!

No more Sith Acolyte.

She did not intend to fall prey to such a device. Her every step, every gesture was cautious.

She would not die because of some random accident.

As she moved forward, she kept her ears open as well. Two legged predators were not the only thing that frequented these tombs. Pelko bugs, K'lor slugs, and shyrack were always hungry and ready to feast on the unwary.

She kept her war blade at the ready, what little Force energy she was able to focus through it made the blade glow weakly.

She found herself stopping at the chamber where she and Fehl had shared their first night together. The bodies of their victims were gone; meat did not last long in an open tomb. She walked up to the spot where Fehl had spread his cloak for them to lay on, where she had lay while he had massaged her back.

The memory made her shudder, her gentle sighs and groans of pleasure, the feel of his lips on her spine, her respirator wheezed as it tried to catch up with the effect the memory was having on her.

All for nothing, she thought morosely, a muted sense of despair filling her.

Everything we could have had together…gone.

She shook her head.

Why had this happened?

Why had the dark side forsaken them?

She thought of Fehl, his body, she…she had not even had the chance to say good bye. She had been in the tank when it had been tended too. Had his remains been returned to Dromund Kaas, or had they simply been thrown out and forgotten?

That last thought sent a spike of fury through her, it was not enough to break through the haze, but she had felt it, like a flash of lightning hidden by thick heavy storm clouds.

Perhaps this journey is not so pointless after all, she thought.

Maybe there is a chance to come back from this.

She stayed there a few moments longer, trying to find her fury, that sense of rage. It did not come, but that did not mean that she did not take comfort from it. Her emotions were still there, she took solace in that. She took one final look before turning her back on this place for the last time. Those memories no longer had any use for her. All they offered now was weakness, and what might have been.

She needed to stay focused on the now.

It was the only way she would survive.

She proceeded deeper into the tomb. The deeper she went, the louder the whispers seemed to become, at first she had thought it just her imagination, her fear working overtime. Now…she was not so sure.

She could not make out the words over the loud in and out of her respirator, but she did not let that discourage her.

If the voices were growing louder, she would follow them.

Eventually they would be loud enough for her to hear. So she pushed on, trying to reach out with her senses, trying to follow what she was hearing.

She could almost understand them now; they were most definitely voices, but whose voices…she could not say.

There were rumors that the dark lords that had been interred here never left, that their spirits remained bound to their remains, that they would sometimes choose to speak to those they deemed worthy, even offer guidance and training.

Was that what she was hearing? Could it be the spirit of Ajunta Pall? He had been one of the greatest of the ancient lords.

Could he be trying to reach out to her? If he was, she welcomed his aid.

The ancient Sith had had access to many secrets, perhaps one of these ghosts would be able to restore her.

In her attempt to make sense of what she was hearing, she almost got herself killed; she had turned a corner, following the voices and almost fell into pit filled with a swarm of pelko bugs. The insects chittered loudly, angry that their meal had escaped them.

Avaryss backed up quickly, her heart pounding.

She cursed herself a fool.

What do you think you are doing? You came here for a reason, not to follow ancient echoes.

She shook her head and resumed her original course, deeper into the tomb.

She would not be distracted now.

She had come here to speak with the prophet.

She would not be denied.

He cannot help you, a voice whispered through the darkness.

She paused.

Finally, she thought.

It seems that she had caught something's attention.

It was then that the voices finally began to rise in pitch; she could at long last hear them.

The words she heard were not what she expected.

You have the means to heal yourself, to be free.

You have all the power you need, hearing us is proof of that.

You can be whole again, free of fear and doubt.

All you have to do…is let go.

Her damaged eyes narrowed.

"Let go of what," she murmured, "I do not understand."

For a moment, all sound stopped, she waited, trying to sense what she was hearing, was it real, her imagination, or perhaps someone playing tricks, maybe even Spindrall and or his followers.

You can be free.

What you view as sickness is actually a gift. It has freed you of the darkness. Your calm can become your greatest strength.

You knew such power once, when you climbed the collection towers of Oridanna, you knew the strength of contemplation, of peace.

You can embrace it again, you do not need the Sith. You can be cured.

Let go of your hate.

There is no emotion, there is peace.

The light can heal you if you wish it.

All you must do is let go.

The last two whispers stopped her in her tracks.

These were no Sith ghosts whispering to her, that was for sure.

It seemed that, in her weakness, she had opened herself up to the forbidden; the light side was reaching out to her.

No, she thought, shaking her head, trying to clear it of any temptation of the lies.

Yet, the voices remained, the light, it seemed, was after her, it followed close by, sure footed, and hungry.

It was a predator seeking a wounded animal, eager for the kill.

She could sense it coming closer, for the first time since awakening in the medical bay, she could sense something clearly, the light.

It was inside her head now, offering both power and redemption.

All she had to do was let go, do that, and what she thought an illness would turn into a boon.

She would be able to connect to the light, and with its aid, be made whole again.

"No," she gasped, "Never! I will not become a slave! I reject your lies!"

Are they lies, or are you simply lying to yourself?

The light knows you, Keera Lylos. There is good in you, you can still feel it, the Sith have not driven it from you completely.

The dark side took your family; it took your lover, why do you still cling desperately to it?

"Keera is gone," she rasped, "She was a weak and stupid girl. She is gone. The name you speak has no meaning for me. I am Avaryss. Avaryss.

"You will leave me be."

She was suddenly blinded, a flash of light so bright that it hurt her weakened crimson eyes.

She yelped, trying to shield herself.

Visions filled her mind.

She saw herself on her knees, her face no longer pale, the farm girl's tan she had always had on Oridanna blooming on her face. Her blue eyes filled with tears, tears of shame for what she had done to get here. She saw herself remove the respirator, remove it and take a breath of free air. She could feel nothing but relief; relief…free of anger and fear.

The sight made her whimper.

With the Force as he her ally, she saw herself fleeing Korriban, hiding on one of the many transports that were always stopping here. The Sith would not pursue her, they thought her lost and broken. They would assume she died in the tombs.

The vision moved forward, time jumped forward. She saw a lone Jedi knight standing on a rocky path, confronted by many Sith troopers. Her blue blade moved back and forth, striking down any that tried to pass.

Suddenly the Jedi was not alone, a young man, also wielding a blue blade was at her side. He saved her from being overwhelmed.

From him she sensed only concern and affection for his fellow.

"Bit off a bit more than you could chew again, Keera?" he said fondly.

The girl's hood fell back, Keera Lylos, Jedi Knight gave the boy a sly smirk.

"I had to do something to get your attention Fenn," she said grinning, kicking a Sith soldier in the face.

The young man, the dream friend she remembered from her childhood, chuckled.

"You're something, you know that?"

"Glad you noticed, I'm…"

NO!

The vision vanished, Avaryss fought against it, she staggered back, striking the stone wall behind her, hard.

Stars exploded before her eyes. Pain bloomed in the back of her head, but that was fine.

Pain was better than lies!

She found herself on her hands and knees in the Tomb of Ajunta Pall, her breath wheezing through the respirator. She…she…

She looked up into the darkness.

"Never," she hissed, "I will never betray the Sith! I will never betray the Empire, my Emperor! I will never enslave myself to the light, or my lessers."

She would not bind herself to the weaklings that bowed to the Senate; she would not waste her time serving the unwashed rabble of the Republic!

She was meant to be Sith, a lord.

She would not abandon that goal.

Never again, she thought.

Never again.

She rose to her feet; she touched the back of her head, found blood there.

The pain…it helped bring her back, center her anew.

She welcomed it.

The light side fell silent.

Good, she thought.

I will not be lied to. I will not be deceived.

She found herself thinking of the boy. It…it was impossible!

That boy…he could not have been a Jedi! He…he had had feelings, he had cared for her.

No Jedi cared for anyone. All that mattered to them was their precious republic and the light side of the Force.

It was another lie, the dark voice within said.

Put it out of your mind and move forward.

She nodded grimly, and did just that.

Though one thought did tickle at the back of her mind, a word, a name she had not heard until that moment.

Fenn.

She smiled slightly.

The boy had a name, his name was Fenn.

She shivered slightly.

Perhaps it was just another lie, but she did not think so.

She did not think so. It felt true.

I have your name now, she thought.

Your name…is Fenn.

The fact that he was a Jedi did not discourage her.

Jedi were not invincible, they fell. They always fell.

She grinned.

He would fall to the darkness, to her.

Then…at long last…they would be complete.

It was just another reason for her to survive this place, more motivation.

She pressed on.

Spindrall still waited.

IOI

The central chamber where Ajunta Pall had once lay was quite large. Guardian statues looked down from above, watching over the mortal remains of one who had been worshipped as a god by the ancient Sith people.

Avaryss made her way forward. At the base of the bier where the sarcophagus sat, was a small fire, and sitting by that fire was an old man in dirty black robes.

She shuddered with excitement.

"Lord Spindrall, I presume," she called out.

The old man looked up; she could see his eyes glinting beneath his hooded cowl.

He chuckled mirthlessly.

"Lord? Hardly child, I am merely an old man living in a humble hole."

He rose from his place by the fire. Despite his age, he stood a good head taller than she.

He pinned her with a cold and evaluating gaze.

She tried appear cold and arrogant, not wishing to show any weakness.

Spindrall smiled slightly.

"Ah," he said, "So you are the pariah, the poisoner, the one who murdered the academy's top student so cravenly and tried to run away."

Avaryss eyes narrowed.

How he knew this, she did not know.

"I did not kill Fehl," she said.

"What you did, or did not do does not concern me child," he said dismissively, "All that matters is how you are now seen by those that crawl upon the surface. You are nothing to them. You are the pariah."

She did not argue with him.

He was not wrong.

"They've turned their backs on me," she said.

Spindrall chuckled.

"They are fools then, when you turn your back on someone, all you do is invite your own death, you ask the one you ignore to put a knife between the ribs."

She grinned.

He did paint a pretty picture, but that was not what she was here for.

She needed his wisdom.

"I've come seeking your guidance, old one," she said, "I need answers."

He snorted dismissively.

"If you seek my wisdom, then you must be willing to pass my trial."

He snapped his fingers.

Four dirty unwashed creatures emerged from the shadows.

Avaryss backed up drawing her war blade.

Though now dressed in rags she could see that Spindrall's followers had once been Acolytes, they wore the remnants of academy uniforms, and all four wielded training sabers. Hungry and desperate eyes looked out from beneath ratty cowls.

She dropped into a fighting stance.

"Survive these," Spindrall said returning to his fire, "then we shall talk."

She called on the darkness; in her weakened state it would take everything she could muster to shield herself from these…failures.

It was almost not enough.

One hit her with a Force push that sent he staggering, two of them fell upon her with their blades, she fell back using the sequences of Soresu. She felt one of these rodents trying to get into her mind with the Force, but proved unworthy of the task.

She grinned.

Learning to shield herself from mental attacks had been one of the first lessons she had learned, that was more about her will than the Force.

In that at least, she was as strong as ever.

She continued to back pedal, using her training to wear down her opponents. One got frustrated and tried to push an attack. She opened his neck down to bone before he had a chance to fall back.

The body fell to the floor.

One down, she thought.

Three to go.

The other two failures tried to assist their remaining brother; it was not the wisest course of action. They tried to rush her, but by running in they were now getting in each other's way.

Their desire to kill her was working against them.

She used the opportunity to eliminate another of their number. Another body hit the floor.

Realizing their mistake, the two survivors fell back. Perhaps seeking to attack her using the Force, she did not give them that chance.

She switched to Makashi, advancing on her opponents.

Her powers may have been weakened, but her skill with a blade was not about her powers alone. It was a skill she had honed often over the last year.

A third failure died.

The fourth proved to not be as foolish.

He raised his hand.

She yelped loudly as he used the Force to wrap invisible fingers around her throat. Her respirator began to wheeze, her air way suddenly was cut off.

She struggled to free herself, but she had used up all her Force reserves.

She was on her own.

Spots began to dance before her eyes, she lost her war blade. It tumbled from her fingers; her hands went up to claw at her throat. Through the red haze that her world had become she saw the remaining creature approaching, he had been human once. He was also grinning triumphantly.

No!

Not like this, I can't die like this!

Fehl! Daddy! Help me!

Spindrall's creature got in close, far closer than he should have. He must have thought her lost in panic.

He was wrong, she had used that fear to draw him in, it had been a close thing, but she had done it.

Avaryss grabbed his arm.

She glared at him.

Gotcha!

It took all her remaining strength, but it was worth it.

She was able to produce Force lightning, not enough for a bolt, but enough to electrify the man's flesh.

The Force grip fell away.

She did not give him a chance to recover.

She leapt on top of him.

She pummeled his with her fists. She drove the heavy respirator mask down on the bridge of his nose, shattering and splattering her face with blood. Somehow she found a large rock in her hand. She brought it down again and again on the failed creature's face.

It did not take long to reduce that face to nothing but red mush, but she did not stop, not until she felt the last flicker of life fade from the body.

She was out of power. She could not take any chances.

Be strong…or be dead!

When the body finally stopped twitching, she looked up at the old man by the fire. He had watched the whole conflict silently.

His eyes narrowed.

"You do not fight like one possessed of great power," he said blandly, "What is wrong, child?"

She let out a wheezing breath and rose unsteadily to her feet.

"That is why I am here, my lord," she said bowing respectfully, "To seek your guidance."

He gestured for her to sit.

"You have passed my trial," he said, "Share my fire, and we shall talk."

She nodded gratefully, and did just that.

She told him everything.

She held nothing back.

When she was done, Spindrall nodded.

'An intriguing story, Acolyte," he said, "But I do not see what you want of me."

Her eyes narrowed.

"You are respected among those on the surface, my lord. I want to believe that I still have a destiny among the stars, and in our Empire. I seek to know if the dark side has forsaken me, if that destiny is lost."

He tilted his head slightly.

"Why do you think that the dark side has forsaken you?"

"Someone told me once that the dark side could give me my dreams. I only needed the strength to seize it. Yet, for some reason, I keep losing all that I desire. I find something worth fighting for, and it is violently ripped away from me."

She shook her head.

"What is the point of power if you cannot use it to hold onto the things that you are passionate about?

Spindrall did something then that she did not expect.

He laughed.

The sound of it angered her.

"Did I say something amusing?"

"No," he said shaking his head, "Young people, you do not understand. You know the Sith code, yes?"

"Of course!"

"Then you should know the answer to your question," he said shaking his head.

"Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Reflect for a moment on those words, Acolyte. Your passion is not the end of the journey, it is not destination. Passion is a vehicle. Strength is the road on which you travel, the final destination for a Sith is and always has been power. Power is all that matters to a Sith, not the pleasures and passions that you seek to indulge. You must hunger for power above all things. You must crave it without fear or hesitation. Only then can you finally unlock your full potential, only then will you truly be free of what hold you back, both now, and in the future."

Avaryss listened closely, drinking in those words.

"So…I am not done! It is possible to come back from this?"

"You are Sith, or very nearly Sith, anything is possible."

She shivered with excitement.

It was possible.

She could yet regain what had been lost.

Spindrall was watching her closely, evaluating her again.

"Reach out to the dark side, Acolyte," he said.

"I cannot touch it, my lord," she said, "That path is blocked."

"Close your eyes, and reach out, tell me what you see."

She did as he bade her. She closed her eyes and reached out.

What she saw in the darkness took her breath away.

She stood before a great glass wall. It stretched on forever. Around her everything else was empty, perfectly hollow. She approached the wall, its surface was pitted and scarred, but it was too thick to crumble easily, it…

She gasped.

Behind the wall an ocean of dark side energy was building, it pulsed against the wall, seeking to escape to fill the hollow chamber where she found herself, to drown her and everything else in its cold embrace.

The sensation of it, being so close to it made her mouth water.

She called out, describing it to Spindrall.

She heard the old man grunt.

"Do you still believe that the dark side has forsaken you, acolyte?

Avaryss shook her head no.

No, the dark side had not forsaken her. It hungered for her. She could feel its desire to wrap itself around her, to crush away the weakness and leave her a perfect vessel for its power.

"If it is not the dark side," Spindrall said, "Then you must ask yourself, who has forsaken me? Who would dare try to deny me this? Who would seek to leave me lost and forgotten? What rival would dare try such a thing?

Avaryss' eyes narrowed.

Fehl's death, her torture, and the state she now found herself in?

Had that not been coincidence?

Had all this been…planned?

Who would do such a thing?

Who hated her that much!

In that moment she sensed a sudden spark, the wall before her cracked loudly. Tendrils of darkness began to seep through, they wrapped around her.

And for that briefest of moments, she felt something.

Her eyes widened.

HATE!

Pure pulsing hatred! It flowed through her, filling her with renewed strength.

She beat her hands against the wall, screaming in rage. At first nothing happened, she continued her assault the hate burning inside her. Her fists struck again and again.

The wall cracked under her assault, she…she…

She gasped.

She found herself back beside the fire, back with the old hermit.

"Your power is not gone child," he said, "It is locked away, but you have the key, you always had."

A shiver ran down her spine.

Fury…

The key was Fury.

She should not have been surprised.

Had it not been rage that first brought here power into expression, had it not been fury that allowed her to slay those Sith soldiers back on Oridanna?

She had been using mere anger, the simmering anger that all Sith feel, that power had been insufficient.

Fury was what was needed.

She needed an enemy.

She knew what had happened to her, but now…she needed something more…

…She needed to find out who.

They would be the key to her salvation.

She had not poisoned Fehl, but someone had. It was that someone who had worked quickly to cover their own tracks.

She needed to find them, to face them.

They were the source of her problems, but also they were the answer.

She grinned hungrily.

Spindrall watched her, his expression cold and serious.

"You have a destiny Acolyte, even a fool could see that, but you are not Sith yet. You need to learn from your mistakes. Your passions are a distraction. You must not forget the true reason that you are here.

"Power," she said coldly, "It is the end of the journey."

He nodded.

"I see that you will be tested again very soon. Your passion will rise and you will be forced to choose between what you desire, and continuing your pursuit of greater power. You failed that test with the pure blood boy. You must not fail again. If you do, your destiny will be lost, you be cast aside, destroyed, and forgotten."

"I will not fail," Avaryss said rising to her feet, she bowed respectfully.

"Thank you for your wisdom, my lord, and your advice."

"Reclaim what is yours Acolyte; shake this Empire to its core. Let the Emperor himself hear your voice."

Spindrall sighed.

"We are done, now, leave me."

She bowed respectfully again, and left.

No light side voices rose up to torment her on her way out. No visions of false hope danced before her eyes.

First, I reclaim my power, she thought, I will never be left so weak ever again!

She knew what she faced now, the wall, and a hidden enemy somewhere within the Academy's ranks.

She would conquer both.

The mere thought made her giddy.

She would destroy both.

She thought of the wall again, it no longer seemed so impenetrable, she could almost sense the cracks and imperfections. The darkness on the other side, hungering to flow free once more.

I must be patient, she thought, she could not rush things.

Taya would help her, shield her until she was ready, and then…she would move.

Break the wall.

Kill the enemy.

The Force would be hers again, destiny would be hers, but first she needed power. It was the destination after all.

Power first.

Then …she would be free to claim her passions, and this time…

No one would be left to oppose her.

She would crush them all.

She would crush everything!