Chapter 2
Blake was just one of many apprentices at the Sith Academy on Korriban, but she was unique. As a Faunus, she was one of the few students of the academy who was not human. The Sith and the Empire in general hated non-humans and oppressed them as a matter of doctrine. The Faunus were no different, little more than slaves under the Empire after their home planet of Menagerie was conquered. Blake was only chosen for Sith training out of Imperial desperation.
The Faunus rebelled frequently, draining resources and diverting troops from more important sectors. The Dark Council decided the Faunus would be more inclined to follow one of their kind, and so chose to train promising Force-sensitive Faunus as Sith. They would be indoctrinated in Sith ideology and once ready would rule Menagerie as vassals of the Empire. The plan was off to a rocky start. Most of the first crop of Faunus candidates proved uncontrollable or unsuitable for the task. Only four remained.
Blake's master Adam had called her and the other Faunus at the academy to the spaceport, saying only that they had been given a mission of great importance. Of the Faunus at the academy, Adam was the oldest and had the most training. He had achieved the rank of Sith Master and was expected to be chosen to rule Menagerie for the Empire. His rise had not been a smooth one, but he was scheming, powerful, persistent and ruthless, attributes valued by the Sith. On becoming a Master, he selected Blake as his official Apprentice, with the other remaining Faunus Ilia and Sun training under them as Acolytes.
Blake's feline ears - the trait that marked her as a Faunus - flicked in the chilly air as she walked from the academy to the spaceport. The desert planet was searing during the day but frigid at night. The nocturnal cold never sat well with Blake, though thankfully the armorweave beneath her black robes helped insulate her from the icy winds.
Sun was seemingly less fortunate, though he never expressed any discomfort, despite his lack of heavy clothing. He disliked being covered, as like Blake he did not want anything to restrict his movement. His muscled and tanned arms were on display as per usual, his shorts and duroplate vest covering little. His clothes provided little in the way of protection, but he was confident that he would never be hit.
Ilia did shiver. Her dark, scaled skin was far more sensitive. Heavy garb chafed and caused her skin to rash. As a result she preferred lighter, thinner outfits. Her jumpsuit provided only a minimum level of protection - against weaponry or temperature - but it ensured she could move freely and in comfort.
The spaceport was mostly empty this late at night, deserted but for a few Imperial soldiers on guard duty. Though they surely disdained the Faunus, they knew Blake and her party were not to be trifled with. They offered no reaction as the trio made their way to the specified docking bay. After exiting the turbolift, they found the space filled by a new-looking Fury-class interceptor, apparently their ship for whatever mission lay ahead. Adam had been light on details in his summons.
As the three approached the ship, Adam descended the ramp. The bull-horned Faunus wore the black robes of a Sith Master, lightsaber prominent on his hip. Since achieving the rank of Master, he had also taken to wearing a mask that covered his eyes and much of the upper part of his face. His smirk was still visible as he approached his students. Whatever the mission was, Adam was happy about it.
"Master Adam." Blake bowed, the others kneeling respectfully behind her. "What is our mission?" She looked around, scanning the docking bay for any others. She found it empty, but still felt the need to whisper. "Has the time come to strike?" When she had arrived at the academy, Adam had told Blake to play along, that when the time was right they would strike back against the Empire and use their position to free their people.
"Not quite." Adam gestured for the others to stand. "The Council made me an offer."
"What are you talking about?" Blake was taken aback. For her, working with the Empire was unconscionable and for Adam to do so unbelievable.
"Through the study of ancient texts, the Council has found evidence of a weapon of immense power." Adam began his briefing. "It seems to be on the order of the Star Forge. Its location is unknown, but the texts allude to star maps much like those used by Revan. We're to travel to Rishi and use the star map there to locate the weapon."
"Then we'll turn it against the Empire, free our people, right?" Blake suggested.
"No." Adam replied. "If we find this weapon, they will make me a Sith Lord, and the Faunus will be admitted to the Empire as citizens rather than subjects. I will rule Menagerie and our people will achieve the position of prestige we deserve!"
"Have you gone mad?" Blake accused. "You can't trust the Empire! This is our chance to free our people on our own terms. Going through with-"
"Silence!" Adam cut her off. "Enough of this treasonous-"
"How could you?" Blake demanded. "We were supposed to fight the Empire, together, all of us."
"I will be a Sith Lord." Adam insisted. "I will rule Menagerie. You will join me, or you will die."
"I will never serve the Empire." Blake seethed.
Adam sighed. "Unfortunate." He drew his lightsaber, activating its crimson blade. "Last chance."
Blake turned to Sun and Ilia. They were clearly in shock, just as she was. "Ilia, Sun, board the ship and get out of here." Blake commanded. "I'll hold him off." She drew her own lightsaber, flashing its amber blade as she twirled it. Ilia and Sun hesitated. "Go!" They finally followed her order.
Adam did nothing to impede the acolytes as they raced into the ship, keeping his focus on Blake. "I won't go easy on you." He warned. Blake said nothing. She took a deep breath and lunged forward, swinging her blade at her now former master. He countered her attack, catching the blade with his own, locking the pair in a test of strength. Blake's eyes bored into Adam, his mask hiding any emotion. They remained locked together for a few moments as Blake's rage built.
"Why Adam?!" Blake shouted. "Why?!"
Adam did not reply. Instead he sprung forward, kneeing Blake in the stomach. She faltered, doubling over as Adam pressed the attack. He grabbed her arm and twisted until her lightsaber fell from her hand, then with a thrust of his shoulder he knocked Blake to the ground. She tried to sit up, but Adam stomped on her chest and forced her back to the ground. He slid his boot up until is rested on her throat. Adam let the tip of his lightsaber drag on the ground beside him, then with a flash he dragged the blade across the metal floor, sparking as it arced toward Blake's head. Blake stared at the blade in terror as it stopped just short.
"I should just kill you." Adam noted. "But I like you Blake, I always have. I had such high hopes for you, it would be a shame if it ended this way. I'll give you one more chance. Join me." He stepped off Blake's throat and reached down, offering his hand.
Blake took a series of deep breaths, her throat aching and her lungs burning. Though his mask still hid his eyes, Adam's expression had notably softened. "Never." Blake growled. She used the Force to retrieve her weapon and swiped up at him.
Adam jumped back and out of Blake's range as she leapt to her feet. "Fool." He grumbled. He reached out his free hand and lightning flew from his fingertips, crackling through the air and into Blake. She writhed and screamed, collapsing in a heap. "Don't you see now? You can't defeat me. Join me, and we can rule Menagerie together, Master and Apprentice, husband and wife."
"Never." Blake hissed.
"Then you will die." Adam declared. He unleashed another shock, the sound of surging electricity mixing with her ragged screams. "What a waste…" He sensed something and ceased his assault, leaping away.
A buzz filled the air as a turbolaser charged and fired, blasting a crater in the docking bay's floor where Adam had been standing just moments before. Sun and Ilia had powered the ship's weapon and targeted him. Even a Sith Master could do little against the destructive power of a shipboard gun. The gun swiveled to aim at Adam's new position and fired again, just missing him. Adam growled but there was no real choice, he had to retreat. He rushed out of the docking bay, leaving Blake's motionless form behind.
"Blake!" Ilia cried out as she rushed down the ship's ramp. She slid on her knees, coming to a stop at Blake's side. "Please be okay." Blake could only manage a weak groan. "Sun, come on!" The aforementioned Faunus joined Ilia to help her carry Blake onto the ship. With no time to waste, Sun powered up the vessel and took off, fleeing Korriban as Ilia tended to Blake.
The first thing Blake became aware of was the noise. There was a ringing in her ears - all of them - but also the humming of machinery. Next she noticed a twitching in her left arm. She tried to focus on it, tried to stop it, but it was no use. She opened her eyes, only to be blinded by white light that forced them shut again. The dull ache she felt throughout her body started to build, almost to a burning in some spots. She groaned.
"Blake?" Ilia's voice cut through the din.
"Light." Blake complained.
"Oh, right." Ilia scrambled. Blake heard a click. "There."
Blake opened her eyes again, this time finding a darkened room. She was lying on a bed, surrounded by equipment she did not recognize, the room bordered by dull metal walls. Ilia had pulled a chair to her bedside and now leaned forward, a hopeful look on her face. "What happened?" Blake asked. She grabbed the edge of the bed and her arm finally stopped shaking. "Where are we?"
"We're on the ship...in space somewhere." Ilia replied. "You'd have to ask Sun. We chased off Adam with the ship's main gun and carried you aboard. To be honest Sun did most of that. But we took off and got away from Korriban."
"How long was I out?" Blake asked. "How bad are my injuries?"
"Uh...a few hours." Ilia answered. "The bioscan said you have some non-life-threatening injuries. The ship's got a good medbay, but we don't know how to work any of the advanced stuff. I didn't wanna' put you in the kolto tank without asking you first. You really should spend some time in there though."
"Time is something we don't have." Blake noted. She sat up, her muscles screaming. "What assets do we have? Weapons, gear, credits?"
"We don't have much." Ilia admitted. "We've got the ship, and supplies for a few weeks at most. We managed to grab your lightsaber and I have my vibrosword, but all the ship had was a few blasters. No credits or anything else of note."
Blake thought for a few moments. "I need to speak to Sun."
"He's in the cockpit, I'll get him." Ilia offered.
"No, I'll go to him." Blake shook her head. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and pushed herself to her feet. Her whole body felt heavy, and she had to grab the bed to steady herself.
"You need to rest." Ilia advised.
"I'll be okay." Blake waved her away, forcing herself to take a step away from the bed. She wobbled a bit but managed to stay upright.
"At least let me help you." Ilia insisted. She grabbed Blake's arm, moving into position to act as a crutch.
Blake glanced down at Ilia, who smiled up at her. She could not deny that face. "Alright." Together they made their way to the cockpit.
Sun turned his head as Ilia helped Blake into the copilot's seat. "Good to see you on your feet." He greeted. "How're you feeling?"
"Like I fell down a flight of stairs." Blake complained. "But that's not important. Where are we exactly?"
"I decided we needed to put some distance on Korriban, just in case we were followed." Sun replied. "So I jumped on the nearest hyperspace route, then made random turns where it intersected with others. Right now we're in interstellar space. It would be nearly impossible for anyone to find us here, but the hyperdrive is charged and ready just in case. Where should we go now? Rishi?"
"No, it's too dangerous." Blake warned. "We don't have the gear we need, and this ship will make us too easy to track."
"So we need a new ship and some gear?" Sun quirked his brow. "I think I know just the place. When I was working on some guy's blaster back at the Academy, he told me about this place where you can buy anything. It's not too far away, and it's off the grid, so we shouldn't have a problem."
"What kind of place are we talking about?" Blake pressed.
"Quorra the Hutt's Market Barge." Sun answered. "It was a capital ship wrecked in the last war. A hutt and his business partners repaired it enough to sail and stocked it with all kinds of stuff. We could trade our ship for another, no questions asked. Probably won't get the whole value, but we should get enough."
"And you know where to find this place?" Blake inquired.
"Sure, it's orbiting a gas giant in a system near Yarvin." Sun nodded. "Should I set a course?"
"Yeah, let's go." Blake agreed.
"Blake, now that we have a plan, why don't you go back to the medbay to rest?" Ilia suggested.
"Just give me a medkit and I'll be fine." Blake refused.
Ilia sighed, frowning. "Fine."
Blake stood before a mirror in the medbay, examining her injuries. She had stripped down to her underwear to get a clearer look. Her most striking injuries would have been visible regardless. Her right palm was badly burned. Apparently her lightsaber had been superheated by Adam's attack, in addition to serving as something like a lightning rod. A lightning-like scar ran from her palm all the way to her shoulder where it faded into invisibility. Treatment might get rid of it, but it would probably be with her for the rest of her life.
The injuries to her hand and arm were insignificant, but there were more concerning problems. Her abdomen was badly bruised, the result of strikes from Adam's knee and boot. She suspected cracked ribs. No wonder it hurt to breathe. Her left arm kept twitching as well. The only ways to stop it were to hold onto something or tightly clench her fist. It was no doubt a side effect of the lightning, and something that should probably have concerned her, but there was no time. Once they stopped Adam there would be time...maybe.
"Blake, you should be resting." Ilia advised from the doorway.
Blake had not noticed the acolyte's approach. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
"How could I not be worried about you?" Ilia complained, stepping up to Blake's side. "Look at you. And your arm...it's shaking."
"I said I'll be fine." Blake insisted.
Ilia wrapped her arm around Blake's, pressing close. "I'm scared Blake. You're hurt, I don't know what we're going to do…"
"We're going to stop Adam, that's what we're going to do." Blake declared. "Then, when we find the weapon, we're going to use it to take down the Empire, to free our people."
"You say that like it's going to be easy." Ilia sighed.
"When has anything ever been easy for us?" Blake scoffed. "What choices do we have? We can't go back to Korriban. We can't go home. Either we try to stop Adam, or we just go hide somewhere for the rest of our miserable, cowardly lives."
"You're right, it's just…" Ilia trailed off.
"I know, uncertainty is scary." Blake soothed. "It's understandable. But we'll get through this, I promise." It was a promise she knew she could not honestly make, but she needed Ilia calm and ready to fight. Plus, if she broke her promise, it would mean they were all dead anyway. Either way it was not something worth worrying about.