Chapter Twenty-Three: Sith Recruitment

Malak, Revan, and Actava got out of there while the getting was good.

The turbolasers kept firing at them for some time after they'd gotten out of range. A lot of the flowers got blown up as they made their way to a hillock and got behind it.

"Why the hell are they shooting at us?" muttered Malak.

"Don't ask me, let's get the hell out of here," said Actava.

"What about the plan?" asked Revan.

"I think I speak for everyone when I say the plan is officially done," said Actava. "I don't know if those idiots were acting on their own, or if someone told them to do that. Either way, it doesn't matter.

"Once we've settled with Melinda and Daan, we'll come back for them."

"Great, so what now?" asked Revan.

"There are villages surrounding this region," said Actava. "One of them is a few klicks away, let's head for those. Maybe we can steal some transport or... something."

And so they went off.

As they did, Revan looked at HK1 in his hand and began to think. It was doubtful that HK 1 would run into any fleets of droids. If that was the case, didn't that make him useless? But perhaps HK 1 could control an ordinary droid. It might take some adaptation, but if that were possible, he could do it.

"Well, at least we don't have to infiltrate the Sith," said Malak.

"Actually, we do," said Revan.

"You're not serious," said Malak.

"We're still in the game, Malak," said Revan. "And if they are setting up a Sith academy, well, do you really want these people terrorizing your people."

"I suppose not," said Malak. "Still, how are we going to infiltrate them?"

"I don't know yet," admitted Revan. "Once we get to the village, we'll ask around a bit. Those Sith were all wrong."

"What do you mean?" asked Actava.

"They weren't properly trained, their stances were sloppy," said Revan. "There are Jedi learners with better skills. If they hadn't been using the force, I could have probably floored all of them. And they were obviously... nuts somehow. Aedal is a Dark Side user, but he isn't like that."

"Maybe they're on drugs," said Actava, brushing away a strand of pink hair.

"Drugs?" asked Malak.

"Yeah, I got a look at those crops back when we were dodging turbolaser fire," said Actava. "Canderous described them, but I wasn't sure until I saw them for myself.

"They're Pureflower and Redflower."

"What are those?" asked Revan.

"Two flowers that were cultivated by the Sith Empire. Mind you, I'm not talking about Exar Kun, I mean the one founded by Ajaunta Pall thousands of years ago," said Actava. "Pureflower numbs emotions, Redflower inspires them."

"I read about these, Revan," said Malak. "Pureflower is used by pharmaceutical companies to help the emotionally disturbed. While Redflower can be used to help those with repressed emotions. Still, the amounts need to be strictly controlled."

"Yes, and in large doses, they can change the chemistry of the brain," said Actava. "My family used to raise the stuff and sell it to offworlders from the Exchange."

"The intergalactic crime syndicate?" guessed Revan.

"Yes, we needed money for weapons somehow," said Actava. "with that bastard, Zegil blasting everything."

"And you wouldn't have done the same in his position?" asked Revan.

"I joined the Mandalorians, didn't I?" asked Actava, not answering the question. "Anyone, the point is, the stuff has real value as a narcotic. Aedal's first assignment for me was to wipe out the rings that were growing it. He believes that people should sort through issues without drugs. It took me years, and I had to get together a whole warband to do it.

"My guess is that the Sith are cashing in on the power vacuum."

Revan laughed. "From the intergalactic Empire to petty drug dealers. That's a way to fall."

"All who use the Dark Side degenerate, Revan," said Malak. "That's why the Order is so deadset against it."

"Point taken," said Revan.

They turned around a hill and came to a walls village of wooden huts. The wall was of stone, and there were men with guns on it. Below it, in long fields, there was a vast field of Pureflower and Redflowers, kept safely separate. "There's the village. Let's head for it."

As they neared it, however, several rough-looking Melindas came forward and raised guns. "You, who goes there! What business do you have with this village?

"You..." He halted as he saw the lightsabers at Revan's belt. "You're Sith!

"Forgive me, we didn't mean to-"

"We are escaping the Sith," said Revan, raising his hands. "They shot us down, and we've been dodging them for some time."

"Well, then you were fools for flying in there," said the man. "You'd better get out of here, Jorak Uln is coming soon."

"Jorak Uln?" asked Malak.

"Yes, the one who commands the Sith in this place," said the man. "He... he was a trusted servant of Exar Kun. He's incredibly dangerous, and he may kill you as soon as look at you."

"I see," said Revan. "What is he doing here?"

"Well, he's come to collect the newest recruits," said the man.

"Recruits?" asked Actava.

"Yes, with all the wars going on, a lot of refugees have fled here from the Mandalorians," said the man. "So Jorak has commanded that a new set of students be recruited early."

"We do something similar when we conquer worlds," said Actava. "Mandalore calls it Neo-Crusading. I'm one of them."

"How often do these recruitments happen?" asked Malak.

"Well, once a month usually," said the man. "Though his Sith come through here now and then for proving rituals."

"Proving rituals?" asked Malak.

"Yes, when... it's when one of them rises to the rank of apprentice," said the man. "Before the position can become official, they have to go back to their home village and kill someone.

"And if they escape before that happens... well one village got caught harboring fugitives, and Jorak decimated them. Killed one in ten of every man, woman, and child. He would have killed all the villagers, but..."

"But what?" asked Revan.

"Well, his apprentice, Uther is... sane," said the man. "We can actually reason with him a bit, and he talked Jorak out of it.

"But he can keep killing us little by little when he wants. There have always been more refugees to replace them.

"When we send them off, we pray they never return."

"And what about those crops out there?" asked Revan. "Tell me about them."

"The flowers..." asked the man. "That used to be good ground for farming, but Jorak has been expanding his business. He had us turn a large part of our fields for those flowers. We told him that it burns through the soil, but he just tortured the one who said it.

"I recommend you folk move on before you're marked."

"How does he farm it, is there anything special?" asked Revan, eyeing the fields. He saw down there a rather larger droid walking between the flowers. An idea occurred, and he hid his lightsaber.

"We don't touch it," said the man. "He has a team of Sith minding each field, and they often hunt refugees for sport. They don't do the work themselves, of course, they have droids to do that for them."

"Any skill with repair?" asked Revan.

They paused and looked at one another. "No, they generally have one of us do it." Then they saw past Revan's lightsaber. "Wait, you're a Daan!"

Revan drew his lightsaber, and they stepped back a pace. "Yes, I am. Does it matter?"

"No, no, of course not," they said.

Revan sheathed the blade. "Good, because I intend to do something about all this. Is that field where the Sith operate?"

"You can't kill them!" said the man in horror. "We're allowed to defend ourselves if the apprentices go after us but... If they found out that we were killing their enforcers, they'd burn this village to the ground!"

"Don't worry, I'm just signing an application form for a friend," said Revan. "Malak, when this Jorak arrives, you're going to offer yourself in place of the entire 'class' so to speak."

"Why would they take me?" asked Malak.

"Because I'm going to provide you with a means of getting in," said Revan. He put his lightsaber away and walking down. "We have the comlinks Aedal gave us, after all."

"And what will you do?" asked Actava.

"I'm going to be on the outside," said Revan. "If both of us enter this... academy, we're liable to get pitted against one another. So I'll work out here, you work out there." And then he sensed it, a familiar turmoil. Reluctance, along with a determination to save him and Malak. "...Meetra should be along shortly."

Pretend as if you planned this, quick.

"I thought you said she wasn't coming," said Malak, who clearly sensed her as well.

Fine, be honest. "I know! I miscalculated, alright. I sense her even now." Revan sighed. "Malak, Actava, follow me. But don't show yourself until we get into a fight."

Down they walked toward the field, and Actava and Malak broke off. Revan was sure to have a lock on his saber. He might have to draw it in a hurry. As he came down, the Sith came forward, wearing masks.

"Well, what's this?" asked one. "Another village idiot in need of reeducation?!"

Revan got down on his hands and knees. "Forgive me, Master Sith. However, the ones who were sent to do the last repair work have been found to be sabotaging the droids. We have already ripped their legs off and left them to blood to death. However, I wish to ensure that no lasting harm has been done."

"...Well, it's nice to see someone who knows their place," said the Sith, they were all interchangeable. Though Revan was feeling a lot of bloodlust from them and something else. "Maybe you laserbrains aren't incapable learning after all. Get the droids."

As Revan moved away without a word, he sensed an irritation, a fixation on the flowers. The Sith kept glancing at them over and over. As though they were addicts looking for a fix. Surely this Jorak Uln must realize that an army of drug addicts wasn't sustainable?

With a sigh, he reached the droid and quickly set to work, figuring out how to power it down and work on it. "I wonder when people will stop underestimating me," said Revan. Finding the AI chip, Revan drew it out and raised it, ready to break it. Wait, why did he want to break it? Yes, it had outlived its usefulness, and it was just a droid, but...

So was HK 1. Revan quickly put it down before putting in HK 1.

"HK 1, can you hear me?" he asked.

"Statement: I read you, Master," said the droid. "What is it you wish me to do?"

"I've transplanted you into the body of this mining droid," said Revan. "You'll probably only be able to control it, but it'll half to do." He lowered his voice. "I want you to kill those Sith over there."

"Query: That seems difficult. This droid body lacks any notable offensive options," noted HK 1.

"You're entire body is running electricity through it at a rate that could kill a normal person. You tell me how you do it," said Revan, a bit desperate.

"Supposition: I could overload some of the systems while surrounded by them," said HK 1. "However, such an operation could fry my data chip. It is not my desire to end my existence so quickly."

"Well then, I'll use the force to shield you from the electricity," said Revan. "It might not work, but we've all got risks."

"Statement: Understood, Master," said HK 1. "I shall do as you ask."

Revan finished his alterations. He pocketed the droid chip before moving over to the Sith. "Master Sith, I have performed the repairs. However, to demonstrate our loyalty to you, we wish for you to look at it. If you find any flaws in the droid, I will gladly take my own life."

"Well, that sounds like fun in itself," said the Sith. "Come on, let's go take a look." As soon as they said it, Revan knew what they meant to do it. They were going to find a flaw and murder him. Or, if they couldn't find one, they would smash the machine and kill him anyway.

What kind of twisted monster would do something like that? How could someone degenerate to such a point? These men were capable of empathy, he could sense they had a sort of camaraderie.

It didn't matter, they were all around the machine, trying to make Revan afraid. One of them decided to inspire hope before wrecking everything. "Well, this doesn't look so bad."

Revan had nearly killed an innocent droid for nothing. He only narrowly decided against it.

These men...

He had no regrets. "Looks can be deceiving." With the force he sent forth his will and shielded HK 1's chip. "Now!"

There was an explosion as lightning surged from the machine. The Sith screamed as their bodies were fried and collapsed dead to the ground. Revan breathed a sigh of relief and rushed over to the machine. "HK 1, do you read me?"

"Affirmative: Master, I am undamaged," said a faint voice. "However, this body is losing power at an accelerated rate."

"Fear not," said Revan. "You have done well, HK 1. You have transcended what any normal droid has done and killed five Jedi. And you are now... HK 2." Not much of a title, but upping the number every milestone was a good policy. And it wasn't every day you killed five Dark Jedi.

Actava and Malak were coming down the hill, he could sense them. So Revan quickly retrieved HK 1. As he did, he realized something.

These Dark Jedi were shortsighted, incredibly shortsighted.

The Jedi and Sith, like Aedal, both could sense things and know what was going to happen before it did. It was one of the reasons why they were so powerful, a Jedi can choose the right moment and time to act. Revan could do a similar thing, but he did it by paying attention and keeping his goal in mind. Ordinary people could figure things out.

But these Sith...

They were blind. They hadn't had so much as an inkling of what was going to happen until it did. That guy with the blaster had been more aware of his surroundings than the guys with lightsabers. There was probably a lesson in there.

Quickly he retrieved them.

Then he looked to Malak and Actava. "Malak, Actava, get me a bag. We're going to take some heads. Then I'll tell you my plan.

"Also, can you write on an uneven surface?"

They didn't get it. No, they didn't want to get it.

And that was the problem of the Sith on a microscopic level. They blinded themselves to all possibility of being wrong. All possibility that anyone could be a threat.

Revan understood now why Aedal had left.


Revan had something planned to happen within this little villages square, and it involved a very gruesome spectacle. Malak understood the reasoning, but he didn't like being volunteered. Though he also knew why Revan wanted to stay out here.

It was better this way, Malak was less vulnerable to the Dark Side than Revan anyway.

The bag in his hand was heavy, but it was necessary for first impressions. Now, as he watched the Sith come forward, he noticed something. These ones were more controlled. Malak could sense that they had a handle on the addiction he and Revan had sensed. Their thoughts were more controlled, like a decaying building with new supports.

Except for two of them.

The first was a white-haired man with wrinkles and a face that was as pale as death. He had an unpleasant smile on his face as he came forward. With him was a younger man, perhaps twenty, with a bald head. Malak sensed that he was regarded with contempt by the others here.

"Greetings good people of this village uh... what was it called, Uthar?" asked the white-faced man of the bald one.

"The name is of little importance, Master Uln," said Uthar.

"I suppose not," said Jorak. "Now then, is the lottery complete? I'd hate for us to be one short. I become bored while waiting, and I might have to give some lessons out for free. So, where are those who've been decided on?"

A group of young men was moved forward, but before they could, Malak stepped between them. As he did, he drew his blue lightsaber, and they flinched back. "That would be me."

"You?" asked Uthar. "You are but one. Who are you to interfere in the affairs of the Sith?"

"I'm taking the place of all those elected by lottery," said Malak.

"Well, someone certainly has an inflated opinion of themselves," said Jorak. "What makes you so much better than everyone else? Hmm?"

Malak set down the back and force-pushed it across the dust to their feet. Then he unzipped it. He disliked doing something this petty with the force, but it was a necessary effect. "Recognize them?"

Uthar kneeled down and looked in. "...These are the heads of this town's garrison, Master Uln."

Malak drew out the lightsabers and cast them by the bag. "That took me only a few minutes. These worms were hardly worth the effort."

Uthar looked at Malak with obvious concern, then spoke to Uln in a whisper. Malak focused, clearing away distractions. "This boy is clearly quite powerful. And since he has a lightsaber, he is likely from the agricultural corps.

"I believe it would be wise to kill him and take the ordinary group."

Uln force pushed Uthar away. "Are you scared Uthar? And here I thought you were so confident as an apprentice."

"Lord Uln, allowing this boy to live would set an unfortunate precedent-" began Uthar. Then he was slammed against the ground again.

"I don't think I care very much about precedents," said Uln, looking to Malak. "Do you care about precedents, uh... what is your name, boy?"

"You can read their foreheads," said Malak, feeling awful.

Uln took up one of the charred heads and looked over it. "Hmm, very considerate of you." He read the name. "That's a good name.

"Welcome to the Sith, Apprentice Malak."

Well, that was step one of Revan's plan. Now Malak had to do the rest.