The Foundation of All Desire (Part 38)
Liatrix woke with a start. She rose and threw back the shutters in her room at the inn, and peered out at what was left of the night. The birds were awake. Their cacophonous song told her it would soon be dawn. As she readied for the day ahead, pleasurable reminders of the previous evening lingered deep in her muscles and she smiled.
She felt the mysterious presence coil about her senses again, and her smile faded. "Fine. Show me whatever it is you wanted me to see." She muttered.
A half hour later, Liatrix stood atop a hill on Rishi's northern fringes at sunrise. The view was humbling—a golden sky, framed by silhouetted palms. She lifted her hand to visor her eyes against the landscape's intensity.
She could have been standing on the edge of the world awaiting judgement. Perhaps she was, she wasn't sure of her guide's intentions.
The presence had led her to a location so imbued with the majesty of the light side, she thought it might burn away the darkness inside her. She wondered what would be left, if that happened. The light was uncomfortable—penetrating and relentless. She felt as if she had been laid bare before it, all her sins on vulgar display. There was no hiding from it.
Maybe the vista was meant to humble her, or remind her, that she was only a tiny spec on the great canvas.
"Almost there…" The voice urged her onwards. Below in a shadowed valley, lay a winding path, leading to a meagre abandoned tenement.
She found herself standing inside the building with so little effort, she questioned if she had actually descended the hill, or mentally willed herself there.
The simple, thread bare furnishings were heavy with grit and the dingy rugs kicked up clouds of dust when she moved. The walls were lined with archives, their solar generated lights blinking intermittently, reminding her of a life support monitor. In the corners, robust parasitic ferns brightened the dreary room.
"I sense your fear, your mistrust, but you needn't worry, no harm will come to you here. I grew up in this house. Mind you, I don't remember much, past a few kindly faces and a blanket. I was young when the Jedi found me."
"Master Orgus…" Liatrix spun around, searching for the source of his energy. Scourge was right—Rishi was like an open conduit to the Force.
Orgus Din's presence solidified—a reflection of his former self, forged of pure light. The last time she'd seen him this way, was at the Emperor's fortress an age ago. He had awakened her from her grim reality, but what did he want with her now?
Orgus circled the room, his hands clasped over the small of his back. This simple gesture reminded Liatrix of her father. Perhaps on some level he always had, which would explain how easily she'd accepted him as her Master.
He nodded to himself and smiled. "It seemed as good a place as any for one last visit. Hello padawan. Have you got time for a final lesson from an old friend?"
"It's good to see you Master. I've missed you." She averted her gaze, feeling the heat well up in her eyes and burn her cheeks. "Any lesson you have to share, you know I'll listen." Her voice threatened to break.
"But whether you'll act on it, is something else, hmm? I've missed you too, padawan. Won't you turn and look at me? I sense your grief. You're trying to hide it from me…afraid I'll see, afraid I'll judge. Remember, there is no emotion, there is only peace."
At hearing the familiar mantra, she opened and closed her saber hand. Her anger bubbled up from her depths, unexpected and unrestrained. "Maybe for you," she held up her index finger in warning. "Those words hold no meaning for me anymore."
"You've only forgotten. Since you set out to fight the Emperor, you've been fighting almost non-stop, waist deep in dirt and fear and blood."
"I haven't forgotten anything. You abandoned me on Alderaan. I wasn't ready. You should never have faced Angral alone. I begged you not to go. I begged you! You threw your life away for nothing!" She gasped and pressed her hand over her mouth. She drew several shallow breaths and held herself. As hard as she tried, she couldn't squash down her sobs.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you padawan, but I didn't throw my life away, like you think. I gave it willingly, for you, so that you would have a chance to become the Jedi I knew you could be. I confronted Angral, to buy you the time you needed. From the first moment I saw you, I knew there was something special about you…you were destined to do great things—to save the galaxy. You've pushed your feelings down deep, so deep they've started to consume you."
"You left me alone. You made the choice to leave me, and you failed." She paced and ran her hand over her forehead. "I was just starting to get my life back together, and now you show up. Where the hell were you, when everything was falling apart? I needed you."
"Don't give in to anger and resentment, it leads to the dark side."
"I had to, to survive. I feed on it, it drives me to do what's expected of me. I've grown weary of pretending these feelings don't exist. They do. Just because you repress the darkness, doesn't mean it stops chasing you."
"I've come to help you padawan, and not a moment too soon it seems. Since the Emperor's fall, the war has only gotten uglier. Dark times are coming for the galaxy, and for you."
She turned and stared at him warily. "Darker than they are already? You've sensed what's to come…tell me."
"I've only seen a little. Defending the Republic, vanquishing the Sith, those are tools a Jedi uses in the service of life, of people, not a means unto themselves."
"You think I kill out of passion, out of hunger—that I've fallen to the dark side. I haven't fallen." She narrowed her eyes.
"I'm not here to scold, or judge you. I'm here to help you reconnect. To remind you, what it means to be a Jedi. We're going to take a little time to help the people of Rishi—folks eeking out a living, good or bad, living in fear of guns and pirates. You're going to help make their lives better. You're going to feel why you're a Jedi."
"I've surpassed the need for this kind of lesson, Master."
"Maybe so. Then humour me, and I'll make you a deal. Whatever you hope to achieve, whatever you're hoping to become, I'll help you, when we're done here."
"How?"
"I still have a few tricks you haven't seen."
"Fine. Where do we begin?" She folded her arms and watched the apparition matter-of-factly.
"There are a lot of people without homes here, they're getting sick with Tanamen Fever, and no one much cares. Hurricanes destroyed what little they had. Few have the strength to clear away the wreckage, never mind rebuild. Perhaps they might have found shelter, if they had warning against the storms, but the technology is damaged, and these people can't afford to repair it. You have a fine crew, and a ship packed with medicine, food and supplies…you could do wonders for the people of Rishi."
"Master Orgus…you don't seem to understand. There are bigger concerns. None of this will matter if I don't complete my missions here."
"You need this padawan…no ancient evils this time, no Sith Lords…just doing a bit of good."
The apparition vanished. Liatrix pulled at her tears with her fingertips. Her lips twisted and the tears wouldn't stop.
"You always knew how to get to me. Damn you Master." She hissed, half wondering if he was still skulking around spying on her from beyond.
She sat in silence for close to an hour, before picking up her com. "Kira? Are you awake?"
"Master…" Kira's image blinked and yawned. "Is everything okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You look upset…you've been crying."
"I'll explain later, but I need to know if you're back in orbit above Rishi?"
"Yeah, just got back last night. Those pirates don't mess around…but it's going to be okay."
"I need your help. Rishi is a mess. I need Doc to set up an inoculation clinic…there's an outbreak of Tanamen fever here…and I need T-7 and Rusk to repair the sensors for the early warning system, so people have enough time to get to safety when the hurricanes come."
"What about me Master? What can I do?"
Liatrix dropped her gaze for a moment, she felt a wave of shame crawl up the back of her throat.
"You're a good Jedi, Kira. I hope you know that. Anyway, there are homeless people here…some haven't eaten in days…I'd like you to bring down whatever we can spare, and pass it out to the needy. I'm going to clear away the rubble and purchase some materials, so they can start rebuilding. I'm needed elsewhere…so I would appreciate whatever you can do to help."
"We'll do our best Master. I'll get started right now. Be careful…"
"Always am. Liatrix out."
By midday Liatrix had finished clearing the beaches and slums. Anything she could salvage, she placed in bins, and neat stacks. She purchased new lumber and tools and supervised the delivery. She dabbed her forehead and sat to rest. One by one, the homeless filtered in to the area under the concourse, eyes wide in amazement.
Several approached her and thanked her. A few more expressed amazement that the Captain of the Red Hulls would help them. She nodded and smiled. "You can rebuild now…if you help each other, it'll go faster. If you're sick, or hungry, my friends will help you out. You'll find them by the southern landing pad. It won't cost you anything, it's free, for all of you."
She found her way back to Orgus Din's family home. "Master Orgus? I'm back…" She called out.
He appeared before her and lowered his gaze. "You know, when I died…it feels strange to say that, it wasn't my victories that comforted me. It was all the people I'd helped…their faces…it made the pain forgettable. Suppose you survive the war, how will you live? How will you find comfort when your time finally comes?"
"Master…the war will never end. There will always be pain and struggle. I'll dance this dance forever. Any comfort I find, will have to be stolen along the way."
"Where there's struggle, there's also hope. I lied a bit, about what we did today. It wasn't about helping Rishi, or reminding you why you fight, it was about healing an old scar you'd almost forgotten. One that still aches inside you…"
"The Emperor…" She murmured.
"His darkness permeated you right to the marrow. When we freed you from his control, you pushed the memories of his training down deep. I can bring those memories back…you're strong enough to handle them, let the light cure you, and make you whole again."
"No. I was immersed in the dark side. It's a part of me, I've accepted it. Darth Revan was the only one to come back from that. I need to understand him so I can beat him. My memories are power, and that power, is my right and my weapon, and I claim it. If Revan succeeds, nothing we've done will matter. Everything will end. I have to beat him."
"You know padawan, I think you're mistaken, but, no point in another lecture. I'll give you what you've asked for, and hope you'll remember the right lesson today." He passed his hand before her in a sweeping arc.
Liatrix shuddered and clasped her forehead. Images of the Emperor, his servants, and those who instructed her, invaded her mind with a rapid burst of dizzying colour. She saw herself leading a vast army of blood red Imperial guards across unsuspecting worlds. She saw the bodies of those she'd struck down—their pale lifeless faces gaping up at her as she stepped over their corpses. She saw herself kneeling before the Emperor. "From this day forth, you will be known as The Emperor's Will. My Will and my Wrath, side by side. You will join me in the coming age."
The Emperor's Will. She doubled over and gasped. Sensing Orgus's presence move closer, she forced herself to straighten and look him in the eye. "I'm whole again." She gritted her teeth as the mental onslaught settled.
"Then it's my time to go."
Liatrix shook her head. "Go then. I always wondered what I'd say to you, if you showed up but there's nothing left to say. You shouldn't have come back. You're too late."
"I wanted nothing more than to ease all the suffering you'd endured, but the decision was yours. A final word of advice padawan: Don't let the darkness rule you. I did what I thought was best for you. I think you understood that once, and I hope you will again. You won't see me anymore. But you won't have to. I sense the pain I've caused you, and in the hopes of easing it, I'll tell you one more thing: You won't be alone in the dark days ahead. The Force will be with you…always. Good-bye padawan."
His presence evaporated and she hurled the nearest thing she could find, an earthenware bowl, against the wall. The bowl splintered, the pieces skittering across the floor. She sank to her knees and wept. In the hallway, a lightsaber growled to life.
"Who's there?" She hissed.
Measured, heavy footsteps approached her and paused in the archway. "Are you all right?" Lord Scourge said.
She shook her head. "What are you doing here?"
He retracted his lightsaber, reattached it to his belt. "You left before dawn, it's not like you. What happened here?"
"Master Orgus…came to me."
"Your former Master…clearly he upset you."
"The nerve of that man…he left me. It didn't matter that I begged him not to go. Just when I finally felt like myself again, he drags me here…"
"To what point and purpose?"
"He said it was to help the people of Rishi…to remind me what it meant to be a Jedi, but it was all a lie. He wanted to heal the scars the Emperor left behind…can you believe that? I finally have it in my grasp to defeat Revan to truly understand him, and he wanted to take that from me."
"You've had your memory of that time returned?"
Liatrix nodded. "I remember everything…even being named The Emperor's Will…all the deaths, the destruction. Why didn't you say anything about that before?"
"I saw no advantage in it. You had nothing to gain from those memories—only regret and shame. Typical of the Jedi, they ignore all other feelings, excepting—guilt—the only emotion they traffic in, because it serves to control you."
"I didn't want him to die…he shouldn't have gone alone to confront Angral."
"Unusual behaviour for a Jedi, I must admit. Usually they travel in pairs, even packs. I can't count the number of times a Jedi has challenged me to a duel…and yet saw fit to bring reinforcements. Clearly their definition of a duel is quite different than ours. The man was a fool, you're better free of his influence."
"He wasn't a fool." She glanced down at her clasped hands, "I never got the chance to talk to him at the fortress, not really, and I kept hoping he'd come back. He never did until today, and I got so angry when he started spouting the code at me…it was like waving a red flag in front of a ronto."
"You never had the chance to resolve your grief…or your anger toward him for abandoning you…that is the true scar. Use that anger to your advantage."
"What do I do?" She murmured.
"He is no longer your master, he is only a memory. You are your own master. Join me…and together, we'll release your anger against any who oppose you. The Mandalorians will not assist you willingly. Only through victory, will you bend them to your will." Scourge turned his palm up in invitation. "Let us end this. I grow weary of this place."
She accepted his hand and rose. "Let's get out of here. I wasted enough time already."
Theron jabbed his index finger into the console. "Gotcha."
"What is it Theron? Did you learn something more?" Lana glanced down at the readouts, pale brows furrowed.
"The Revanites have a base not far from here. I think it's worth looking into."
"Agreed…perhaps if we can get inside, we might be able to finish decoding these rosters. What do you say Jakarro? D-4? Feeling adventurous?" Lana said.
"Adventure is Jakarro's middle name! Well not really…but close enough." D-4 prattled.
Jakarro roared and thumped his chest.
"Excellent. We're all in agreement then." Said Lana.
"It'd be nice to have something more concrete for Liatrix when she gets back from Torch's Island." Theron ran his hand over his chin.
"Indeed it would." Lana averted her gaze. "Shall we get started then?"
A quarter of an hour later, Lana, Theron, Jakarro and D-4 spied the Revanite base.
"Looks like there's only one entrance, but there might be another way 'round back. I'll go check it out. Stay here, and get ready to move."
"Understood. Be careful. Jakarro and I will take care of things at our end." Lana whispered.
Theron disappeared around the back of the building. Lana drew a deep breath, and held it for several beats. Her gaze fixed on the entrance. Reaching into her pocket, she altered her com frequency enough to set off any alarms or perimeter markers around the base.
She stiffened at the sound of angry shouts and blaster bolts ricocheting inside. A swarm of Revanites charged out, circling to the rear of the building.
"Sounds like trouble. We'd better get in there." D-4 offered.
"No…the Revanites haven't seen us, we need to maintain that advantage. Let them think Theron is acting alone."
Jakarro growled and D-4 translated. "No Sith, we don't abandon our own. We're going to help."
The Revanites subdued Theron and dragged him inside by his arms. His heels cut a path into the dirt. His head lolled to his chest and even from where Lana stood, she could see the blood trail oozing from his temple.
"Don't be stupid Jakarro. You'll reveal us all." Lana hissed. Her hands curved into claws, jags of lightning holding the Wookiee in place. "What we need, is to get out of here, before we're discovered. Theron can handle himself."
After four hours of fighting beasts, Mandalorians, and even Torch herself, Liatrix panted. She bled profusely and her muscles throbbed. Even her bones ached. Her cloak, reduced to jagged tatters, fluttered around her in the final arena. She swore under her breath. The arena was hotter than the lava flows of Oricon, and Liatrix despised the heat.
Scourge folded his arms and leaned back on his heels. "Invigorating…" He murmured.
"If that's what you want to call it." Liatrix groused.
Torch lay prone at her feet.
Liatrix took a step back and retracted her lightsaber. "Are we done now? Ready to end this non-sense?"
A thick raspy laugh escaped from under the Mandalorian's helmet. "Yeah…yeah we're done. Not bad at all." Torch pushed herself up and forced her shoulders back. "It's been a while since someone's given me a fight like that. You should be proud."
"You too Torch. Your reputation is well earned."
"Shae Vizla." She pulled off her helmet and tucked it under her arm. "Heh. After that performance, I'd say you've earned yourself some answers. You wanted to know about the Revanites and the Nova Blades."
"That's right."
"We were the ones who hooked them up with the Nova Blades. We even helped them win a scrap or two. Once they started with this top secret war manipulation stuff, I pulled us out. I've had my fill of war."
"Did they tell you anything about what they've got planned?"
"'Fraid not. But I do know they've got an entire fleet of warships tucked away on this planet. They never gave me details or co-ordinates, but they're here. If you wanna find them and smash 'em up? More power to you. I liked it here a lot better before they showed up."
"You want in on the fight? We could use someone like you."
"I'll keep it in mind. Pretty sure I got plenty enough to do around here." She glanced over at the horde of limping and broken Mandalorians approaching. "Who's up for a skarkla hunt!" She grunted. "Been too easy on all of you!"
Revan's holo image flickered over the terminal. "Well done." He nodded his approval to his men, and then turned his attention to Theron. Bound and bleeding, Theron lifted his head slowly. His right eye was almost swollen shut, the cut on his lip stung, and bruises were already swelling his cheek, angry and purple.
"How fortuitous that you're here Theron. I must say, you and I were quite alike at your age. Your sense of honour, your tenacity…admirable qualities…all squandered in your service to the Republic. You belong with me. I want you to be part of my vision for the galaxy."
"And what vision is that Revan?" Theron muttered. "Care to share with the rest of the class?"
"Perhaps, in time, when you've come to understand the opportunity I'm offering you." Revan turned his attention back to his men. "Bring Theron Shan to me. I wish to speak to him in person about matters of family, and the future."
"Yes my lord." Revan's general bowed and turned back to his henchman. "You heard the Master. Take him away."
Liatrix ambled into the base and spied on the control room from the doorway. Jakarro towered over Lana, his hairy fists raised to the ceiling. He roared and snarled at the Sith. Her attention shot over to the computer workstation. Theron was absent.
"You shouldn't be so reckless Jakarro. We can't risk going back…losing Theron was bad enough. What if we lost you too?"
"Now, now, everyone stay calm. Queen Lina of Onderon, once faced a similar predicament—"
"Shut up droid!" Lana snarled.
Liatrix's heart leapt into her throat. She stalked into the control room. "What's going on? Where's Theron?"
"He was captured…we were investigating a Revanite safehouse…"
"There were only ten of them, I could have taken them…but she stopped me with her Sith wizardry!" Jakarro growled.
"Theron was the only one the Revanites saw. We had to maintain that advantage. We moved in haste, but now he's in a position to do what he does."
"What the hell were you thinking? Going off without me...You should have waited until I returned. If anything happens to him…" Liatrix advanced on Lana, her eyes flashing dangerously.
Lana held her gaze, but swallowed and took a step back.
"You're all really much too worried. They took him alive. They're probably just torturing him a little bit. Maybe doing some interrogation…where he might tell them about us…oh no." D-4 chattered.
"That won't be an issue. Theron has several discreet implants to help him ignore pain and chemical manipulation." Lana said.
Liatrix's gaze narrowed, her fingers curling about her lightsaber hilt. "And how would you know…"
"I saw them…when I spent the night with him."
Liatrix flung Lana against the wall. She lifted the blonde Sith off her feet and curled her hand into a fist, summoning the Force to choke her.
Lana dangled and sputtered.
"You're testing my patience. If anything happens to him…you know what I'm capable of…I won't hold back." Liatrix tightened her fist.
Scourge gripped her shoulder and shook his head. "We will require her assistance to complete the mission."
"Fine." Liatrix bit out and retracted the Force choke, dropping Lana to the floor.
Lana gasped and soothed her throat. "That was utterly unnecessary. There is only so much of your bluster I'm prepared to take Jedi."
"Your usefulness is coming to an end…" Liatrix hissed, her fingers rolling over her hilt.
"Focus on the mission." Scourge growled.
"He…Theron's very resolute. He'll keep our secrets…and we will rescue him." Lana coughed.
Liatrix clasped her hands behind her back and stared through Lana as if she were a Force ghost. "You will fix this. Or you'll deal with me."
"If we're fortunate, he might learn more about their plans. This is what he's trained for. Now he can act. Were you able to learn anything from the Mandalorians?" Lana said.
"Revan has a fleet hidden here on Rishi. He's preparing for some sort of battle. If you found one of their bases, there should be a way to trace their communications…triangulate where their main base is. The fleet will be there, Theron too."
"A hidden fleet…" Lana straightened. "Pirates altering shipping lanes…that's it! They're not just affecting shipping routes, they're altering Imperial and Republic patrols as well."
"He wants to draw them into a battle over Rishi…with his own ships thrown into the mix." Liatrix shook her head. "He's weakening both sides before he makes his move. We need to find Theron. Now."
((to be continued…))