CHAPTER THIRTY
The spongy wet ground under their feet proved the high point in the marshy area where Malavai Quinn lead them. Necrolis knew better than to complain, and trusted the captain to get them to where they needed to be. He had done enough research, tapped into enough of the cameras and systems on Hutta to be able to narrow down Nomen Karr's whereabouts. Necrolis had not trusted the co-ordinates, but sure enough everything had aligned perfectly. Standing and staring ahead, they both eyed the narrow ramp that lead underground.
"What do you think, Captain?"
Quinn glanced to the pure blooded sith he followed. The man seemed more and more unstoppable every time he saw him fight. Such both gave Quinn hope and cause for concern. Baras' words echoed in his mind a moment before he brushed it aside and answered Necrolis' question.
"If he is here, it will make for an interesting place to confront him." Quinn remarked, glancing about. "We should not have to worry too much about others interfering, assuming he is down there and this is not all some elaborate trap."
"You think it might be?" Necrolis asked, once again giving the ramp way a scrutinizing look. "A trap turned tomb for me?"
"I take nothing for granted, my lord." Quinn answered back and shrugged. He knew there was no real way to know one way or another until the potential trap was in fact sprung.
"Lets get this over with then. We will know soon enough." Necrolis finally stated.
Steady steps carried both men down the ramp into a large tunnel, one Necrolis figured was likely used as a runoff sewer to keep the local area from turning into nothing more than marshland. Necrolis let Quinn lead, the man moving while watching his holo pad map, blaster drawn and out in his other. Necrolis glanced about and noted the dripping water and rust showing on the tunnel surface as they made their way along. He was glad for the air filter in his helmet, knowing he did not have to put up with the dank stale air that permeated the place. For a moment he almost felt sorry for making Quinn come along. Not that I had a choice, he reminded himself.
"We're almost there, my lord." Quinn said as he kept his voice low on purpose to cut down on any echoing that might give their approach away.
Necrolis did not risk answering, merely nodding back. For a moment his thoughts turned to Vette, and a sliver of worry crept in. There had been no choice but to leave her with the hutt, but he still did not like it at all. If anything happens to her, he thought leaving it unfinished but knowing it would not bode well for Nemro or anyone else caught in his path. Necrolis knew Quinn had monitored and been able to find out what had happened to the cathar who had attacked Vette. He remembered himself all too well, and it still haunted him just how deep down into darkness he had gone.
"My lord." Quinn said, and Necrolis became aware they had come to a stop and had been standing there for some time.
"Sorry, Quinn. Just preparing myself." Necrolis brushed off the moment, though he knew it was nothing more than an outright lie. Damn fool, he admonished himself silently, get the damn woman out of your head. That shit will get you killed.
Necrolis moved past Quinn to take the lead, looking ahead carefully, right hand grasping the hilt of his lightsaber. The weight of it was a comfort, feeling the weapon at the ready in his hand. Just holding it had a soothing effect, knowing should Nomen Karr try and take the offensive he would be ready right from the start for the fight. Necrolis studied the mouth of the tunnel as it ended, opening into a large chamber. He could make out support pillars in a wide open space, and a long rectangular table that sat closer to the back wall. There were floor mats spaced about as well, a small attempt to make the space seem more liveable and comfortable. It was a wasted effort given the damp and the fact it was nothing more than a hole in the ground to hide in.
Necrolis glanced to Quinn, hand motioning for him to holster his weapon. There was no need for Quinn to jump in unless there was more than just Karr present. It was going to be a personal battle, just he and Karr, with no interference. That was as it should be, Necrolis knew. He may have detested the jedi, and Karr himself, but he still had respect for his enemy enough to face him properly. He did not need any tricks to beat the man. Moving forward, Necrolis watched the entry to other pipes that intersected the room. There was no movement from them, and he did not sense anyone else save the jedi about. Reaching the center of the room, Necrolis spotted Nomen Karr. The jedi was meditating, kneeling on one of the floor mats, weapon at his side.
Taking in the jedi for the first time, Necrolis noted the man looked old, and tired. Nomen Karr was average height and build, but the crow's feet about the eyes and lines on his face showed an age that likely was far from accurate were he to guess at his real age. Brown hair was greying about the temples, and extended to the man's goatee. He's been aged all the more by his running and hiding, Necrolis thought. Staring at the jedi, seeing the toll time had taken on him, it made Necrolis wonder just how Baras looked under that faceless mask he always wore.
"Your presence here tells me that my fellows, Ulldin and Zylixx must have failed." Nomen Karr said in a calm voice without moving or looking. "Pity."
"They died by my blade quite quickly." Necrolis said and shrugged, seeing if goading the man might draw a reaction.
Nomen Karr reached over to grab the hilt of his lightsaber before rising to his feet and turning to face the two men who had come. He noted the Imperial uniform of the man standing behind the sith. Likely one of Baras' lackeys, Karr guessed. Dark eyes moved to take a more scrutinizing look at the sith that had come. Far too young to be Baras, this sith had youth and clearly was skilled enough to be trusted to come confront him. Karr knew he could ill afford to under estimate the armed and armoured figure before him. He guessed this was the butcher of Tattooine and Alderaan. This was the hound of the Master that had been trailing his scent the whole time forcing him to run.
"I should have known Baras couldn't be trusted." Nomen Karr shook his head as he spoke. "As a man of my word, I am here alone as agreed. Your Master shows himself a coward sending you in his stead."
Necrolis laughed and shook his head, relaxed and calm as he watched the jedi. The man seemed tense, uneasy as he stood facing him. There was something in the tone of his words, the look in the man's eyes. He's afraid, Necrolis realized. He had expected to face Baras, a known opponent his own age. Someone he knew intimately and could anticipate and keep up with. He had not expected a determined and younger opponent, one he did not know other than to think he was a mindless savage killer.
"You sound upset, Master Karr." Necrolis stated, continuing to verbally jab at the jedi. "You sound angry even."
"Your crusade has affected me, sith. I'm not blind to such." Karr confessed and shrugged as he spoke. "But I have wandered the line between the dark and the light before. I walked among your Master and the Sith. My connection to the light survived them, and it shall survive you."
Necrolis laughed then at the jedi. The words were bold, almost prideful. It was true though, he had been affected by all Necrolis had done to track him down. Confrontation after confrontation, planet after planet, he had hounded the man's steps. He had worn him down, tired him out until there was only one thing he could do. And now here they were, and Nomen Karr was on the verge of faltering and breaking. Once he had been a sith lord, Necrolis knew, and his name had been Retrost. It of course had all been a lie, a ruse to get intelligence on the Empire from within. Still, he had compromised himself, and no matter how he tried to deny it, the dark side tainted him, was part of him.
"I'm curious about your history, Lord Retrost." Necrolis said, goading and continuing to poke at the man drawing on his emotions. "What happened between you and Baras?"
"There's no time for reminiscing. Whatever your Master told you will have to suffice, sith."
"Pity." Necrolis shook his head as he spoke. "You're in such a hurry to die then?"
"I have no choice but to put an end to you, sith." Nomen Karr growled out, igniting the lightsaber in his hand and drawing the green energy blade up before him. "I will defeat you, and then all will be calm again."
Necrolis laughed and grabbed his other saber with his left hand before letting the red blades come to life. Crossing them, he let them rest pointed down and out before him, watching Nomen Karr intently. He could sense the man's frustrations, the anger. It came off him like a living thing, causing ripples to cascade out in the force from him. He was on the edge of falling into darkness, Necrolis knew.
"You delude yourself. I can feel the dark side within you, how you hunger to embrace it. You are already lost, jedi."
"Once you are out of the way, Jaesa will provide the proof I need to open the Jedi Council's eyes and expose Baras' network of spies." Karr answered back, hands flexing as they gripped the hilt of his weapon.
"Come then, Karr." Necrolis stated coldly even as he knew Malavai Quinn was backing well away from them. "Let us embrace death and settle this once and for all."
Nomen Karr cried out as he lunged forward, closing the distance between them quickly. Necrolis leapt up and over the jedi, twisting in the air to come down behind him. Nomen Karr spun just as fast, green blade sweeping in to block Necrolis' slash at him, leaping back and out of the way before Necrolis could bring his other blade into play. Behind his helmet Necrolis grinned. Moving forward, Necrolis took the offensive from the jedi, bring his blades down in quick successive chops, forcing Karr to move and block each strike in turn. Have to give him credit, Necrolis thought, he's holding his own. Despite such, Necrolis could already see he was breathing heavily, his speed failing him as his strength ebbed.
"No… the force is strong with you." Karr said as he parried then counter attacked with a sweep of his lightsaber left to right that Necrolis leapt back from. "I must dig deeper."
"You can't win, Karr. Not unless you let go and give in to the dark side." Necrolis tossed out as they came together yet again then broke apart to continue their dance.
Karr lashed out, rushing once again at Necrolis only to have the sith spin off the attack and get behind him. Necrolis saw the opening but chose to hold his sabers in check. Instead, Necrolis kicked out, booted foot driving into the small of the back of the jedi sending him crashing forward onto his knees. Nomen Karr quickly rose back to one knee, glaring as he locked his gaze back on his opponent.
"Release your anger. It's the only thing that can defeat me!" Necrolis tossed out, knowing he was well under the jedi's skin.
"No… this is not right." Nomen Karr hissed angrily even as he rose and began chopping away at Necrolis, trying to land a decisive blow past the red blades the sith threw up in defence. "Fall! Fall! You must fall!"
"I fall to no one!" Necrolis shot back with a grin behind his faceplate.
Even as he backed up, drawing Nomen Karr towards him, Necrolis worked the man into position where he wanted him. Once the jedi had moved to the point where his back was lined up with one of the support pillars, Necrolis caught the jedi's blade on his own, a streak of green wedged between two crossed red ones. Leaning in, helmet close to the jedi's face, Necrolis stared at the man looking him right in the eyes as he summoned the wave of force energy to his bidding. The energy rose and then pulsed outward, catching Nomen Karr unawares in his anger and hurling the man back to slam into the pillar. Even as he fought to find air to fill his lungs once more, struggling to get back to his feet and get his weapon up, Necrolis was on him. Left hand saber came in to draw Karr's into a block, leaving Necrolis the opening to thrust his right hand saber into the jedi's chest. The two of them stood posed and locked together a moment, Necrolis frozen in his strike, Karr stunned and eyes wide in disbelief and pain.
Necrolis shut down both lightsabers and stepped back, watching the jedi fall onto his knees. The lightsaber fell from Nomen Karr's hand to extinguish, hilt rolling away from him. Karr grasped at the spot on his chest where the blade had pierced, as if holding it somehow would help the wound. Standing and watching the man, Necrolis found he felt very little at all about the victory. There was no joy, nor any remorse, just a feeling of things being over.
"My… my wound… is mortal." Karr stammered out, eyes lifting to look at the sith that had defeated him. "At least I die knowing you will not find Jaesa."
"I would not be so sure of such." Necrolis answered back.
Nomen Karr frowned, unsure what the sith meant. He was beaten but if the sith thought he would talk, the man was sorely mistaken. It was then he heard the telltale sign of armoured steps. Glancing over he sighed and winced in pain with the effort as he noted the arrival of Imperial troopers. Quinn moved over to stand close to Necrolis as the troopers swept into the room, the commander making his way quickly to Necrolis.
"My lord, Darth Baras sent us in case you needed help." The man stated then bowed his head quickly, "Clearly that is not the case."
"Your powers of observation are clearly your best asset." Necrolis remarked sarcastically.
"My lord, Darth Baras informed us Nomen Karr was to be taken alive." The commander said, still not looking at Necrolis for fear of death. "May we stabilize him?"
Necrolis looked from the commander to the two field medics that flanked him, then to the fallen and defeated jedi. Nomen Karr turned his head to look at the men, stunned by what he was hearing. He had betrayed Baras all those years ago, and now the man wanted him alive to take his revenge. There was no doubt there would be no death coming, not until Baras had tortured and extracted any and everything he knew about the Republic. Even then, Karr knew, Baras was more likely to keep him alive and tortured over and over just out of spite.
"No! Baras be damned." Karr spat out, eyes turning to once more glare at the sith that had defeated him. "I want to die! Then Jaesa will be safe."
Necrolis eyed the man, and for a moment he contemplated merely ending Nomen Karr's life. He had little doubt if he did so, Jaesa Willsaam would feel it, and would come to him all the same. He did not need to search her out at all. The thought was there and then gone, however, as he knew he could not, and would not cross his master. At least not yet, he reminded himself. Leaning down, Necrolis grabbed the jedi's goatee, yanking his head up by the hair on his chin.
"My Master's orders are not to be ignored."
"No." Karr groaned out. "May the force protect me."
"We'll save him, my lord, and be out of your way in an adjacent chamber." The commander remarked, waving the two field medics forward even as he moved to confiscate the jedi's dropped weapon. "Hurry men, the jedi is fading."
At first there was darkness, which became a greyish haze as light peeled back the black. It took a moment for fuzzy shapes to appear, slowly sharpening until Nomen Karr realized he had just woken up and blinked hard trying to gather his wits about him. Memory quickly returned and he knew he was a prisoner. Death had not come for him, had not claimed him after he had fallen in battle with the sith. No, he realized, I am nothing more than a living trophy for Darth Baras. Nomen Karr knew he was a failure who had been bested by nothing more than a mere apprentice sith. How I have fallen, he thought as he looked about noting the very sith who defeated him standing and watching him. He could feel the gaze of the man behind that helmet he wore. Looking down, Nomen Karr saw that he had been bound and secured to one of the chairs he had kept about the table in his makeshift hideaway. He was a battered and beaten prisoner. The thought brought a sour taste to his mouth, and anger rose within him.
"What? I'm… I'm alive still?" Nomen Karr spit the words out, even as the anger he felt grabbed hold fully. Thrashing against his bonds, Karr let go. "No! No! Baras cannot succeed!"
"Yes, you are nothing more than a failed fallen jedi, Karr." Necrolis answered, feeding the jedi's loss of control. "You are bested, you are undone."
"No! I will not be the bait that draws Jaesa to you!" Karr spat out continuing to thrash at the bonds that held him in place, eyes taking on a reddish hue as his anger consumed and coursed through him.
"Oh I don't even need you for that." Necrolis countered as he leaned in close to the jedi. "She will be ours, and she will come all on her own. You are a fool."
"No! No!" Nomen Karr cried out. "I'll kill you! I'll kill you all!"
"There's no reason for you to become so distraught." Necrolis grinned unseen behind his faceplate as he spoke.
"I was supposed to expose Baras and open the Council's eyes! It was my destiny."
"You're destiny is to be crushed under my boot, nothing more than another dead jedi." Necrolis spat the words out, knowing how it twisted in the jedi's stomach as if he had plunged and turned a vibro knife. The man was lost and gone, the jedi replaced by something that was growing more and more into a sith. "You have failed. You failed to destroy Baras, failed to kill me, failed to save and protect Jaesa, and you failed the jedi order."
"No! No!" Nomen Karr screamed out. "Jaesa is mine! The honour of defeating Baras is mine!"
Before Necrolis could answer or goad the jedi into further fury, he noted the arrival of Malavai Quinn in the antechamber doorway. Looking over, he waved Quinn in and to him. Even before Quinn spoke, Necrolis could feel the tremors in the force, sense the power of it that was drawing closer. He knew instantly what it meant, and who it was.
"My lord, the padawan approaches." Quinn said, confirming it for Necrolis.
"Make sure they let her pass, Quinn." Necrolis ordered, glancing back to the jedi a moment. "Her power is considerable."
"It shall be done, my lord."
Jaesa Willsaam looked about as she made her way down the ramp and into the tunnel complex. She had seen the Imperial troopers milling about but keeping their distance. They knew she was there as much as she knew they were, but seemed content to let her pass unchallenged. A part of her wondered at that. Master Nomen Karr had told her to stay away but she knew she could not do so. She had felt the disturbances in the force, the ripplings along those unseen lines of energy, and it made her uneasy. While she was sure her Master would have told her not to dwell on negative feelings, it was hard not to. The Sith were hunting her relentlessly after all, and while Nomen Karr was intent on ending such, there were no guarantees things would end. Friends, family, all of them were targets, all because of her gifts.
Moving into the tunnels, Jaesa picked her way through to the familiar main chamber. Soft brown eyes scanned over the room, noting more troopers. They continued to let her pass without hindrance, stepping aside and giving her a wide berth. Moving deeper in she felt before seeing the sith that was hunting her. The armoured figure stood there, helmeted head turning to look at her. She felt the sliver of worry grow as she noted her Master bound and slumped in a chair, clearly having been defeated already.
"Sith!" Jaesa called out, moving closer but keeping some distance between the sith and herself. "I have come."
"So you have." Necrolis stated with a nod to the young woman.
"It seems I was expected. Your men let me pass." Jaesa commented, waving a hand to the troopers that milled about the tunnel entrance, staying well away from them. "Release Master Karr! Your efforts to draw me out have been a success."
Necrolis Darkstar reached up and removed the helmet from his head, tossing it to Malavai Quinn who then backed well away himself. Turning his gaze on the young padawan, Necrolis noted she was younger than he had expected. She wore her hair shoulder length, a curtain of dark brown that framed the pale face. Her eyes were of matching colour, but they held a maturity in their depths that Necrolis was surprised at. This was someone who was far more than she appeared, and had seen enough of the galaxy to understand things were never as simple as they seemed. Jaesa Willsaam had guts, he admitted, knowing her coming was inevitable but strolling right in calmly as she had to confront him still was impressive.
"I am pleased to finally meet you, Jaesa Willsaam." Necrolis greeted with a slight nod of the head to her, ignoring her demand for the time being.
"Jaesa! No!" Nomen Karr took note of his padawan and thrashed hard against his bonds, growling and once more giving in to anger. "I told you to stay put! How dare you defy me!"
Necrolis shook his head and watched as Jaesa stepped a few steps closer, her eyes moving between the him and her Master. It was clear she could see he had fallen, the darkness fully taking hold and his mind broken. How would she react, he wondered.
"My sacrifices… all for nothing!" Nomen Karr spat the words out, glowering as he lifted his head and looked to his padawan. "Stupid child! For all your power, you have understood nothing!"
Jaesa Willsaam frowned, feeling the sting of each word her Master threw at her. He had never once spoken to her so harshly. She could see the reddish tint to his dark eyes, the black bags under each eye. Something was wrong with him, something had changed. She could feel it, a darkness that emanated from him that took her aback. Looking to Necrolis she noted the calm exterior, the lack of emotion at all to Nomen Karr's outburst.
"Sith! What have you done to Master Karr?"
"I did nothing but face him. Do you not know Lord Retrost, your Master?" Necrolis countered the padawan's demand for an answer with a question of his own.
"Has this been inside him all along?" Jaesa asked, still frowning as she looked between the Sith and her Master. "No, it can't be. No one can hide such darkness."
Jaesa looked fully on her Master and could see the darkness, the anger clearly on full display. He tried in vain to struggle against his bonds, to free himself. She could not help but wonder if he did get free, in such a state as he was in, what he would do. She felt a sliver of fear run through her at the thought he would just as quickly turn on her as he would the sith. Brown eyes moved to study the sith. He was a pure blood, as evident by his red skin. Dark black hair, short and well kept adorned his head. She was struck by how unmoved and calm he was, focused with dark purpose. It was strange to see the sith calm and collected, and her Master, a Jedi Master, so out of control.
"Somehow you've turned him mad, sith!" Jaesa finally stated, shaking her head in sadness.
"I have done no such thing. This is who he is, how could you not know such about your own Master?" Necrolis stated and shrugged, knowing the girl would believe him or not.
"Idiot child! Fool!" Nomen Karr yelled out, spittle flying as he snarled out the words.
"Look into your Master's heart and see the truth." Necrolis offered, waving a hand towards Nomen Karr, stepping back and giving the girl more space. "You have the power, use it."
Jaesa watched the sith back off, allowing her a measure of security in the act. She was not about to under estimate this sith but the gesture was noted all the same. Looking from him to her Master, Jaesa mulled over what he had said. She would have never thought to do such, there had been no reason. Master Karr had done nothing to even make her think of doing so. Not until now, she reminded herself. This person bound to the chair before her was not her Master, not the man and jedi she knew. If this was truly who he was, her power would confirm it. If it was a trick of the sith, that too would be revealed.
"Master Karr taught me not to use my power as a crutch, only when it was clearly necessary. I have never brought it to bear on him."
"You want the truth?" Necrolis asked, voice steady as he spoke. "You have the means to find it for yourself. No tricks, no games. Look and learn, girl."
Jaesa Willsaam stared at the sith long and hard, trying to read any deceit in him. She could not feel anything from him, nor see any sign of trickery. If anything he seemed nothing more than tolerant and calm with her. She doubted he had her best interests in mind, but what he was telling her was not a lie. She did have the ability to learn for herself what was going on with her Master. The real question, Jaesa knew, was if she truly wanted to know such? Sighing, Jaesa looked once more on Master Nomen Karr and stepped towards him. Drawing as close as she dared, she lowered her head and closed her eyes, calling to the force, drawing it to her will and bringing her power to bear.
"I… I sense… pride. I sense… envy and hate… vengeance." Jaesa almost whispered the words, stunned by what she could see within her Master. "No! What sith trick is this?"
"You know it is no trick, Jaesa Willsaam." Necrolis said, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched and waited, letting things play out as they would. "You see him for who he is, Lord Retrost."
"It can't be." Jaesa shook her head, stepping back from her bound Master once more, eyes going to look to the sith. "I would have known of such darkness, if it resided within him."
"That is what the jedi do." Necrolis said, looking to Nomen Karr. "They mask and pretend. They hide."
"I thought I had found something I could count on. Jedi are… pure." Jaesa said softly, shaking her head. "You're supposed to know where you stand with them, right?"
"The jedi are no better than your parents, Jaesa." Necrolis tossed out, "They all sought to merely use you to their own ends."
"No! No! You idiot child!" Nomen Karr fell into another outburst, straining and glaring at both Necrolis and Jaesa as they spoke. "It's all a damn trick! Turn your power on the sith! You'll see you stupid fool! You'll see!"
Jaesa frowned as she looked upon her Master, knowing it unnerved her to see him so. How had he hidden such anger and darkness within him? How had such not shown itself all those times she must have frustrated him to no end when he was trying to teach her? Turning her gaze to the sith, Jaesa studied him a moment, trying again to gauge just how much she could trust anything he said. He had yet to lie to her, but then the best lies always held a grain of truth. Both sides, she knew, sith and jedi alike, were trying to play with her and sway her.
"Very well, then." Necrolis commented casually and waved a hand as he spoke to emphasize his words. "Let me experience this power of yours. I have nothing to hide, I have not lied at all once to you. Look all you like Jaesa, and see the truth."
Necrolis noticed the confused and surprised look that came over Jaesa Willsaam's face. She had not expected that, he knew. Nomen Karr was a fool, Necrolis thought, so lost in the dark side he literally was doing all he could to aid him. Jaesa Willsaam would now see things as they were, and the only question left to answer would be how she would react. On one side, she could well be swayed and join him. On the other, she would leave him no choice but to destroy her. Necrolis knew which Baras would prefer, the same one those present would expect. Arms unfolding to spread out acceptingly to the padawan, Necrolis looked about at all those present, calling out in a loud clear and commanding voice to them.
"No one is to make any move against the padawan. If at the end of this I am in any way incapable of command, Captain Quinn shall be deemed my voice."
"My lord?" Quinn arched an eyebrow and rubbed his chin in thought at hearing Necrolis' decree. He could see the shifting and uneasiness within the troopers present.
"Quinn, no matter what happens, she is not to be destroyed. Treat her well, and return her to Darth Baras. Is that understood?"
"Of course, my lord, though let us hope it does not come to that."
Jaesa Willsaam frowned as she heard the sith's orders, listened to what he said to the dark haired man, Quinn. It once again was far from what she expected. While he had not said to let her go and leave her be, she knew that would have been hoping for far too much. Still, he clearly did not want to destroy her as she had been lead to believe all this time. Another of Nomen Karr's lies and deceits, she thought once more feeling her anger rise at having been strung along. No, it's my own damn fault for being so naive as to believe he cared and was the father and mentor she had wanted him to be. She had pulled the wool over her own eyes, she realized quite clearly. Focusing her attention on the moment, and pushing away regrets and darker thoughts, Jaesa noted the sith stood calm and ready before her. Taking a long slow breathe she let it out, wondering if the sudden antsiness she felt was fear of what she would find, or the fact she suspected she would find the sith was telling the truth and having such confirmed. Clearing her mind as much as she could, Jaesa called forth her power to peer inside Necrolis Darkstar.
"Ahhh…" Jaesa hissed as she peered through the force itself into the sith's very soul. "So dark, such darkness… you are awash in anger, vengeance… no, no don't… you slaughtered them, the cathar… every last one… wait… light? This can't be… it's too much to bear!"
Jaesa gasped and fell to her knees as she drew herself back, cutting off her powers. Sucking in hard deep breaths of air, she stared at the floor trying to comprehend all she had seen. The sith had not lied at all. He was darkness, cruelty, a malovent storm of emotions that guided the violence he did. Yet she had seen purpose behind such, and much more. She had seen shards of light that only made the darkness in him more vibrant and alive. She had touched such, felt the power of it, as well as the craving to delve into it. Shaking her head, Jaesa knew she had to compose herself and push such thoughts away. To give into that was madness, wasn't it?
"I cannot believe… you are so strong… chaos but with purpose and control…" Jaesa said softly, head rising to look at Necrolis Darkstar where he stood unmoving, blinking his eyes and composing himself.
"We accept and embrace life, Jaesa. We take from it what we will, drawing strength through acknowledging such. We are not the jedi, we do not deceive and hide. You see now the truth of it, what lies Nomen Karr and the jedi have fed to you to make you their puppet, their slave."
"No! Damn idiot child!" Nomen Karr fumed, "Was the death of your parents, of Master Yonlach not enough for you to see the truth? Are you that utterly pathetic I have wasted my time? Kill the sith! Do it! Do it now!"
Jaesa let her brown eyes take in Nomen Karr, the madness and rage so evident on his face and in his words. She was well aware of the shame she felt at having held him in so high a regard, having been fooled for so long and buying into his words. That shame mixed with anger for the very same reason. She knew she was sick of being toyed with and led this way and that, of being lied to. In all her life she had found she could only count on and trust herself. She was not sure that had changed at all, but she suspected Necrolis Darkstar, a sith sent to hunt her down, might well be someone she could count on. It was a startling thought, but one she found she was willing to at least contemplate. Her focus swung back to the sith, a slender eyebrow arching at him.
"If you believe I lie, then stop me, Jaesa." Necrolis said, tone of his voice never wavering from that strong calm. "Lash out and strike me down."
"No." Jaesa shook her head, looking between her fallen Master and the sith. "Do not taunt me, sith. I will not be played with!"
"I do no such thing, as well you know." Necrolis said, gaze intent and locked on the padawan's eyes. "You know me quite well now. I have not said a word that was not true. You have been used and held back, denied your own choices and life for too long by all those you trusted and allowed close.
I will not lie, I have no need at all to do such. You have woken to the realities of the galaxy. You either embrace life, draw from it and make yourself strong, or you will be used and left victimized until you die. Such is the harsh ways of the sith, of life itself. My Master fears you because you are strong and powerful, but I see your worth, Jaesa. Join me, as my apprentice. Free yourself from the shackles placed upon you by all those you thought you could trust."
"No! No!" Nomen Karr screamed, raging until he began to froth at the mouth. "What have I done? What have you done you stupid waste of a child?!"
"I don't know what to believe." Jaesa said softly, frowning even as she tried her best to ignore Nomen Karr's words, refusing to look at her Master. "You told me there was order to the galaxy, that you would show me the truth. Nothing you said or did was true."
Jaesa looked at Nomen Karr finally, eyes watering even as her anger rose and she felt it course through her. Glaring at him, she then cast the same look at Necrolis Darkstar. It was all a game, even if the sith before her was telling her nothing but the truth. He even admitted his Master had told him to kill her. How was she to trust him, knowing that? No, she reminded herself, he did not have to talk to her so, offer what he had. In fact he had put his own life in jeopardy by doing so, she sensed.
"You both are trying to drive me insane."
"No! It's all Darth Baras!" Nomen Karr cried out. "He's manipulating us all. Kill Baras' liar and you will see, Jaesa! Kill him!"
"You must do what you believe is right." Necrolis stated when Jaesa looked from her deranged fallen Master back to him.
"Don't you dare tell me what to do, sith! I no longer believe anything at all!" Jaesa cried as her anger got the better of her finally. Unable to hold back, she grabbed her lightsaber and jabbed her thumb into the switch letting the dual bladed weapon come to life in a bright flash of yellow energy.
"Defend yourself, sith!"