Interlude - Cease Fire

Interlude 1 - Cease Fire

At first she though that her eyes had played a trick on her, but as her head snapped back, sending her short black curls flying, her intense gaze fixed on the seated man's face as if she wanted to hold him there by sheer force of will. He did not seem to have noticed her, but that would change. Fast. She strode up to him coolly, her mind calm and composed even though she knew that she should be filled with blind rage. It was a small triumph over him, but a triumph nevertheless. Planting herself in front of her quarry, her hands propped on her hips, she waited for him to acknowledge her presence. When he finally raised his head she almost took a step back at the look in his pale green eyes. Ten years ago she would have been overjoyed to see him this broken, but now, in this place, it was the most frightening sight she had ever seen.

"Do you remember me?" she bit out sharply and resorted to staring over his head. His hair was still the same raven black she remembered. But he had aged, oh, how much his eyes had aged. He did not answer for quite some time and Tarla huffed a sharp breath before she looked down again to see him frown.

"Tarla?" he asked at last and she shuddered at the sound of his soft voice, crawling up her back and sending a shiver up her spine.

"The very same."

"You have grown. You are a Jedi Knight now?"

"Yes." The pride in her tone was unmistakable and prompted that all too ironic smile to appear on his lips only to vanish again in the matter of a heart-beat. "I never thought I would see you again," Tarla added, surprised at herself for her gentle tone.

"Yet you wished for it, did you not?"

She merely nodded and for a long moment their eyes met, but it hurt too much to look at him. There were too many memories...

"I swore that I would kill you," Tarla whispered, her right hand curling around the reassuring weight of her lightsaber's handle that was hidden underneath her long robe. "But I guess that I really have grown. There is no anger, but peace, Roj Kell. I do not hate you anymore."

"A pity."

"Is it? You killed my first master and ...." Her voice broke a bit. "What happened to her?"

"She died. Some time ago."

"Why am I not surprised?" Tarla asked the world in general, but there had been such sadness in his tone, such loss. She did not understand him and she was certain that she never would.

Looking at the girl that had grown into a woman Roj Kell could not help but see Belana Jen in her stance and in her tone. And yet there was a great difference. Belana had always been skirting close to the Dark Side and when he had taken the Jedi Master as his apprentice those ten years ago he had known that she would not fight him for long. But this Jedi was different. She had been through a lot, that much he could see. Who hadn't, in these trying times? If she killed him now he would not care. There was nothing for him to lose anyway.

"What happened?" Tarla's dark face had turned into a pretty frown and in that too she was not unlike Belana. But it also meant that she was just as vulnerable.

"She died in defense of her master."

"No!" Taking a step back the young Jedi Knight shook her head in disbelief. "You utter, utter bastard! She never would have..." She closed her eyes, trying to hold back the tears, but to no avail. Rising slowly he reached out to brush a hand gently over her cheek. "Don't touch me." Her tone surprised him, a mixture of low hiss and growl with such an icy edge that he instinctively took a step back. Opening her eyes Tarla gave him a tight smile. "If you touch me again I will kill you. I promise."

"Be my guest," he told her wearily and dropped back down on his seat.

The plaza was deserted at this late time of the day and dusk was already settling over the small town where nothing stirred anymore. People had grown wary of the night. He wondered why she had come here at all. Cocking his head to the right he listened to the wind blowing from the hills and he was almost sure that he could hear the distant thunder of battle. She must have noticed his mood for she too took to scanning the horizon.

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same of you."

Their eyes met briefly before each looked away once more. Silence fell between them, as both tried to find a new course of action in this encounter. But Roj Kell bided his time. After all he had learned patience over the past thousand years. A lot of patience.

"Is it the Sith? They are gathering out there and my comrades will meet them at dawn."

"I could not help but notice that you are not with them."

"Neither are you with your troops," she countered calmly.

"They are not my troops, Tarla. They are hunting me."

The Jedi Knight barked an incredulous laugh. "What?"

"It is only too true."

"But- Why?"

Tarla folded her arms in front of her chest, shaking her head in disbelief. Roj Kell was looking at her calmly, as if they were not both surrounded by enemies. It was incredulous, but she had no problem believing him at all. His own apprentice had betrayed him and, regarding the man's general attitude that was no surprise either. He was more than just plain arrogant. The Sith Lord thought himself so high above others that his feet barely touched the ground. On the other hand, Tarla had to admit grudgingly, he had managed to keep the whole Jedi Temple on Coruscant on edge and at the brink of despair. Ten years ago the image of him had filled all her nightmares. But now that she was facing him for real again she found that none of her dreams had come even close to what she was feeling right at this very moment. The wind was playing through his hair roughly, sending single black strands writhing into the air like a nest of vipers striking at an invisible enemy.

"Can't you guess?" he whispered, a smile raising the corners of his mouth ever so slighty.

For a moment time seemed to stop and Tarla thought that her heart might burst with the tension. But it was not his voice that scared her so, but rather the pain and weariness lurking in the back of his nearly dead eyes. Whatever had happened, it had shaken him badly. And seeing him like this was quite shocking to someone who could still remember his cool gaze and had tried to imitate it often enough.

When he spoke again his voice was no more than a sigh: "There is nothing worse than a survivor in the midst of doom." Rising abruptly he shot an angry glance at the North entrance of the town, then whirled around to leave the plaza.

"Where are you going?" Tarla shouted, unsure of whether to follow or stay behind.

"I am not going to wait for them to find me."

"Understandable. Then this is where we part, I guess."

"Yes. Go back to your friends. Tell them what you saw."

"A deserted village with no tactical importance whatsoever?"

"Exactly." Turning away once more he looked over his shoulder a last time and the pain was back again in those pale eyes when he said: "She loved me, Tarla. And she was happy. In a sense. If you want to blame me for her death it is your right, of course, but you have to see all aspects before you decide whether to kill me for it."

"How-." How do you know she was happy, she had wanted to ask, but her mind had supplied another set of words that scared her. How do you know she loved you? Tarla doubted strongly that Roj Kell even remembered the meaning of the word love. Or happiness, for that matter. And then, very suddenly, it struck her that he must be leading an awfully lonely life, with no friends and allies, no home, always on the move. Perhaps he had really felt something for Belana Jen. Watching him walk away toward the night sent ambiguous feelings fluttering through her heart like frightened birds, ranging from relief to pride and even compassion. That man was the strangest creature she had ever met. And in the deepest corner of her heart Tarla wanted to meet him again and uncover his secrets.

The storm had died down and the last remnants of its furious winds were still howling outside.

No rain had fallen to relieve the parched earth though and the dry heat was as unperpertubed as it had been around noon. Now, at midnight, the stars were tentatively peeking through the thick layer of clouds overhead, as if they were trying to see if all was clear and the peace restored. But Roj Kell knew that his enemies were still stalking him. He could feel them all around, hesitating to come closer, but the stench of fresh blood still clung to their nostrils and the heat of battle still flowed through their veins, making them one with the nightly predators. He had not stayed to watch the carnage this morning even though he had known how it would end. The Jedi had lost this fight and they had retreated once more.

Morning had seen a fierce struggle that had lasted throughout the day and had ended only six hours ago, at dusk. How they had been able to muster enough strength to come after him was beyond the Sith. Whoever had ordered the hunt had to be either foolish or very confident. It was unwise to send soldiers as worn as these into a battle against a well-rested enemy in unknown territory. But his fellow Sith were not the only ones prowling the vicinity. He had felt Tarla's presence close by, full of a fierce determination that nearly managed to drown out her fear. She was well-trained, he had to grant her that, and she would have been a worthy opponent at any other time. But not just now.

Settling back against the wall he closed his eyes with a small sigh. It had been four years since he had last fought the Sith. They had been hunting him ever since. Their hatred was deeply rooted and understandable, from a certain point of view. But Roj Kell had made survival his vigil and it was one he held up despite all odds, and one that had made him what he was today. Envy and fear welcomed him wherever he met his brethren and his mere presence sparked an anger that was most sweet to behold. As long as he could control it.

The six years since the events on Coruscant had been spent with negotiations and proposals in yet another attempt to unite the power of the Sith into one. To no avail. They did not trust him anymore. They did not even trust themselves. And the only one who had had some measure of understanding had been his apprentice. Belana Jen had learned fast and he had found that she was actually quicker on the uptake than he had ever been. Her competence had been as enticing as her devoted affections and Roj Kell's memories of her were fond ones, but tinged with a profound sadness he had tried to shed over the past four years since her death.

He would never again make a mistake like this. An apprentice could never be more than just that. Nothing more. When she had died he had not been able to take another student, too exhausted and too weary to go on. And even though he had not embraced death himself then he was ready to do so now, with all hope gone and his power failing. Belana had been the instrument in his slow defeat, her unfaltering love wearing him down ever so slowly, without him noticing it at first. It was true. She had learned his lessons well. Too well. And when he had found that he missed her presence dearly whenever she was not close, growing angry at himself for sending her on a mission or another task that kept her away from him, he had known that he had gone too far. He had loved her, despite what Tarla might believe. And that love had cost Belana her life.

"Come on, Juri," Tarla hissed at her companion when he was slowing down again. The Aqualish had been badly injured and his wounds were the reason for their having become seperated from the others. And Tarla too, was bone-weary from the fighting. A few cuts and bruises were all she had to show for her trouble and she was glad for having trained so hard to become so skilled at combat. Her focus had been flawed though, because she had expected Roj Kell to make his appearance on the battle-field at any moment, just to annoy her. When he had failed to materialize Tarla had been the slightest bit disappointed. He was no fighter, and perhaps she could even have defeated him in a one-on-one. But deep inside she knew that she would never gain an edge over him if she could not surprise him first. And that was very hard indeed. Right now though she had other worries to think about. There was a sunken in old farm-house she could just make out in the gloom, and it seemed their best chance to get some shelter for the night. "Juri, just a bit longer now. We are nearly home free." The lie burned in her own ears, but it got the other Jedi Knight moving.

They made it barely in time before a savage wind flattened them to the ground, leaving Juri moaning on his stomach. Biting her lower lip and narrowing her eyes against the biting storm Tarla saw that the broken walls gave nearly no protection against the elements. She drew her companion further into the structure, trying to shield him better. When suddenly the tiny hairs on the back of her neck raised in an ancient warning she felt her scalp tingle with dread. They were not alone here. Turning her head very slowly, her eyes seeking the other occupant of the room Tarla had a very bad feeling about this. But nothing could have prepared her for this. "You!" she hissed and dropped into a crouch, ready for an attack. The look he gave her was one of sheer contempt, making her realize in one instant that she was acting like a fool. Here they were, hunted and weakened, and she was acting like the aggressor. Tarla eased again and shrugged her shoulders before she dropped down to sit cross-legged on the hard ground.

"You are injured."

Tears sprang to her eyes at his tender words, and the full import of their desperate situation hit home with shattering force. She bit her lower lip hard and kept her eyes fixed on Juri's still form. His breathing was awfully flat and she could see the dusty ground darken with his blood.

"Juri...," she whispered, the tears flowing freely now. "Don't leave me now."

"He is dying," Kell said, his tone slightly annoyed. "There is nothing you can do."

"How can you say that?" Tarla snarled, rounding on the Sith who had not stirred from his seat in the far corner.

"He is dying," he repeated, his voice turning icy cold. "Forget about him."

"You are too cruel!"

He did not answer and Tarla's fury turned into fear when she heard it too. Someone was stalking around their hiding place. They had found them! Her right hand curled around the handle of her lightsaber instinctively as she cocked her head to one side, listening.

"They know we are here." Why could the man not just be silent?

"Juri?" The Aqualish did not stir anymore. Tarla shot Roj Kell a hot glare. "What do you suggest then?"

"You have a lightsaber. I am certain that you know how to use it."

"You will not fight then?" Again there was only silence. "I should have know," Tarla growled, her voice choked with anger and betrayal. "Roj Kell would never help anyone but himself. So you are just going to sit there in your corner and watch?"

"With the greatest pleasure."

Dismissing the young Jedi Knight's presence Roj Kell settled his back against the wall, his mind as alert as hers as he was tracking their enemies' progress. Ironic, wasn't it that they were in this together. But he did not believe in chance encounters. Her being here was a message. He only had to unlock its meaning. The hunters were very close now and Kell was careful to not give anything away to them, even though he was certain that they knew where their prey was hiding. But he wanted to see how the young Jedi would handle this situation. Tarla shot him an uneasy glance, undoubtedly disturbed over the fact that she could not sense him at her back. She still feared him, but not in the same way she had ten years ago. Now he was nothing more than another danger that she had to deal with. The Sith did not doubt that she was an adept fighter, and she might even have a chance to survive this.

When the attack came Tarla was quick to counter the three Sith bursting through what had been the house's doorframe once, using the broken walls deftly for protection against stray blasterbolts. She was in tune with the Force, deeply so, and Kell was smiling as he watched the intricate web of Light dance around her, guiding her. Blocking a high blow she twisted her blade around the attacker's and stabbed into his face without blinking an eye. The second warrior found himself bisected by her next stroke and the third retreated wisely to await his reinforcements. Tarla was poised for a new assault, her dark face set in concentration and her eyes narrowed dangerously. It was an awesome sight, seeing her stand there, illuminated by the pale midnight light, all calm competence and expertly restrained power. There was no waste of energy in her movements or tactics. A true fighter and a true Jedi, unlike those Roj Kell had met in a very long time.

If this was the new generation of Jedi his brethren would have to face they had better beware. And the ancient Sith knew that this change was due to his attack on the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. He had shown them then that the Sith were far from defeated and more than capable of defeating an enemy as caught up in morals as the Jedi were. Feeling a bit of pride at his accomplishment eased away some of his pain. Maybe he was not as much of a hopeless case as he had thought himself to be since Belana's death. His fight was not lost, it had only just begun. And seeing her power here, on this battle-field, he found that this was a challenge he would gladly take. He did not dare to move, unwilling to break Tarla's concentration, but he felt more alive than he had just a few moments before. Then he had been ready to die, if at her hands or those of his hunters' he would not have cared. Now though he had found a new purpose, one that cut like a ray of light through his bleak depression. This young woman was so similar to himself, not in the least intimidated by the odds and confident in her own abilities. She would not give up, and neither would he.

Moving very carefully in a circle, her body following her hunters' progress, Tarla kept her blade raised in front of her in a defensive posture that would allow her to strike at any time and counter any form of attack. The Sith's presence at her back had been all but forgotten before she turned in his direction, meeting his pale eyes hidden in the gloom. He was watching her intently, but she tried not to pay him too much attention. Still, even though he had claimed that he would not fight, she was far from trusting his words. His still, black-clad form was melting into the darkness at his back, making him one with the night, and Tarla could not help but find that a most fitting metaphor for what he was. He was biding his time, only waiting for his chance to strike at her. Why she had not killed him in the plaza was beyond her. But a sudden movement above cut her train of thought short. Stabbing upward the young Jedi met the warrior sommersaulting over the back wall, trying to catch her off guard. She batted his blade aside with some force, then ducked and whirled around to see four others storm into the fallen-in house. Concentrating on the first threat Tarla decided to test Roj Kell's promise and let the others pass her. If they were really after the Sith they then this was their best chance at killing him. And she had protected him long enough, even if involuntarily.

The warrior opposing her was a towering Nikto, and he was very quick. They exchanged a set of jabs and blows furiously, and Tarla could feel sweat pouring into her eyes, distracting her. But still she kept up her defense, intent on getting an edge over him. When she moved her blade to block another slash he reversed his course suddenly and slammed the Force into her, sending her crashing against the wall. Slightly dazed she brought her arms up to block the lightsaber arching at her head, knowing full well that she would be too late. Frantically hunting around for another possibility to get herself out of this mess Tarla was totally surprised to see the Nikto suddenly being ripped off his feet and hurled against the broken doorframe with bone-shattering force.

"Use the Force."

Roj Kell was looking at her coldly, his earnest features illuminated eerily by his yellow blade, his shoulders slightly hunched, poised for action. Tarla met his gaze angrily. But the sheer annoyance in his tone still hung in her ears and she knew exactly what he meant.

"I need neither your protection nor your lessons," she shot back harshly and rose, keeping her lightsaber between them cautiously. Risking a glance at the carnage behind the Sith Lord she saw that he had dispatched his attackers easily.

"Ignorant Jedi," he sneered. "So afraid of your own power. That is why you will always lose."

"You do not understand, Roj Kell. It is not about fear but responsibility."

"Oh, I know very well what this is about, girl, trust me in that."

"Trust you? Never!" Scanning the area Tarla found noone there anymore. But she frowned a bit, not inclined to believe that there had been only seven hunters tracking them.

"Why should they think that more are needed?" he whispered.

"Stay out of my mind."

"As you wish."

Dropping down to the hard floor Tarla deactivated her lightsaber and saw that he was following her example promptly.

"I thought you did not care anymore whether you were killed or not."

"Maybe you have changed my mind," Roj Kell purred, but his voice could not touch her any longer.

Tarla closed her eyes briefly, but kept a close watch over his movements through the Force. He was right, in a way. There had been times when the Jedi had been more than mere guardians of life. They had been one with the Force, truly so, instead of lurking at its edges, trying to interfere as little as possible with the course of nature and fate. And Roj Kell was someone who made his own fate and decided his own course, that she knew. All Sith were like that, she had found. But somehow he was special. Tarla could not put her finger to it, but there was something about him that made him more than just a vengeful ghost stalking the night. The sudden rustle of cloth snapped her out of her thoughts and she opened her eyes once more to look up at his tall frame looming over her. He still wore that ridiculous armor over his forearms, but somehow it seemed more fitting with his whole attire than it had ten years back. Completely dressed in black his form was impossible to see through the long robes he wore. Still, judging from his face and movements he was still in shape. What was more noticable though was the light in his eyes. It scared her immensely, having seen him just yesterday in a totally different state. So perhaps she really had changed something, in a way.

"Are you going to kill me now?" she asked at last, for the sake of conversation. And it seemed the most fitting thing to say. His easy laugh rang through the night like the bright chiming of a bell.

"Would you like me to kill you?"

"No."

"Good."

"Why don't you sit down? I hate having to crane my neck like this."

"Of course. How impolite of me."

The smile on his face was excruciating, but he did take a seat opposite from her, his legs crossed in front of him, his forarms resting on his knees easily. The long robes spread around him like a pool of dark blood and she wondered fleetingly if he had been injured.

"Now, tell me, what did really change your mind?"

"Maybe I should start at the beginning," he said, his tone turning pensive.

Tarla was surprised. He had never struck her as very talkative. And now he was really going to tell her some of his secrets? She could not quite believe it. He must have noticed the suspicion in her eyes, for his ironic smile deepened some more before he continued.

"I may have underestimated the Jedi for a time. Else I would never have come to Coruscant in the first place. What I found there only strengthened my opinion though. But now, here you are, unafraid and very capable of handling yourself around your enemies. And I find that there may still be some hope."

"Hope for what? You are a Sith. What could you possibly want to learn from a Jedi?"

"Not much, I agree. But the Sith will find themselves opposing you and your generation. And I daresay that you have more liberty than your older comrades. Am I right?"

She simply shrugged. "I do not know what you are getting at. Ten years ago you were not impressed with what you saw on Coruscant and today you take me as example for the entire order? I find that approach somewhat naive."

"Why am I not surprised? No, Tarla, I am not naive, not in the least. But I am not getting any younger and I most certainly don't want to continue this fight for all of my life. Still, I believe that faced with extinction the Sith may rally themselves again."

"But by then it will be too late."

"Not at all. We are Sith, after all."

"You have great confidence in an order that you seem to think so little of."

"I trust the Jedi. Belana Jen knew what I was trying to accomplish and she understood that the greatest tool in this endeavor was to play the Jedi off against the Sith."

"But it did not work."

"No. Unfortunately the Sith don't trust me anymore."

"What a surprise. Noone trusts you, Roj Kell, and they are better off in doing so too. But you always were an outsider, am I right? I wonder why?"

"They don't want change. And they believe that they can still win this the old way. I know better than that."

"Then why do you keep on fighting for them at all? Why don't you abandon them as they have obviously abandoned you?"

Roj Kell's eyes turned as cold as she remembered them from ten years ago, and Tarla instinctively held the handle of her lightsaber tighter as he answered, the ice in his tone matching the wintery expression on his face easily: "You do not know what you are talking about, girl. The Sith are my life, my legacy, and I will not just walk away and be done with them."

"Who's afraid of change now? If they do not want your guidance you will not be able to force them to accept it."

"We shall see about that. Time is on my side, after all."

"You yourself said that you are not getting any younger."

"No. That is true."

They kept silent for a while and through the broken roof Tarla could see the sky above turn a dark shade of blue as morning came ever so slowly. How she whished that she were back with her companions instead of trapped here with that unnerving Sith. Suddenly another thought sped across her mind. Now that he had obviously regained his confidence and will to live, how would he handle this situation? He could not let his whereabouts get to the Jedi and she was the only one who knew he was still alive. Seeking his gaze in sudden dread Tarla found him looking at her intently. She was almost certain that he had been thinking just the same. Leaning toward her his pale green eyes captured hers easily.

"You know, Tarla, I believe that we should not take this situation too seriously."

"No?"

"No. After all, we both knew from the beginning how this would end, am I right?"

The young Jedi found herself nodding involuntarily. She should have killed him! But it was far too late for regrets. Moving suddenly she hammered her right boot into his head and had the satisfaction of having surprised him for once. Although he tried to block her and managed to catch most of the blow's force with his left arm he was still dazed. Tarla rose quickly, cursing her horribly aching foot. Now she finally knew why he was so fond of that damn armor. He had rolled over fast and was ready to strike at her. The smile had vanished from his features and Tarla was endlessly grateful for that. There would be no games anymore. Igniting her lightsaber she did not wait for him to prepare his own weapon. Theoretically she was well aware of the fact that she had struck at him first and that strictly speaking she had not acted defensively, as she should have. But Tarla knew Roj Kell too well for that. Attack was the only defense here. He retreated before her, wisely leaving his weapon where it was, hanging from his belt. And she did not give him any chance to recover the handle and use the blade against her either.

Driving him out of the confinements of the old farm-house Tarla sommersaulted over his head, slashing at his neck simultaneously. But Roj Kell ducked out of the lightsaber's path easily and dropped to the ground, then brought his right leg around and scythed it through her ankles as she landed next to him. As she stumbled to the left he lunged at her and slapped the lightsaber handle out of her hand. Her face contorted into a furious snarl, but immediately she kicked at him, hitting him squarely in the chest. He grabbed her boot and yanked hard, causing her to lose her balance and distracting her just sufficiently enough for him to get at his own weapon. Roj Kell drew a deep breath before he lay the yellow blade to her throat. Tarla's face fell and her shoulders slumped in defeat. He could see the light fade in her dark eyes, but he was not quite finished yet.

"On your knees."

When she did not comply immediately he let the blade drop ever so slightly, searing her shoulder. She bit back a pained cry, then finally obeyed and dropped down to the ground.

"And now?" she asked harshly, clearly irritated at her situation.

"I am going to tell you a story."

"Oh, great. Go on then."

"My mother was the last Sith of pure blood, a powerful magician in her own right. She married a fallen Jedi, a young man from Alderaan. They had one child. Only one. I think they must have loved me, for my father taught me something very special. The secret of Life."

"I am listening," she said quietly, truly intrigued now.

"The Force, as you know, is what binds the universe together. Some think it is Life itself. But you are a smart girl. Tell me, what is the source of Life?"

"Everything alive, of course."

"Very good. So, the Force stands for the flow of life, the myriards of flavors that make up both the Dark and the Light. They are inexhaustible, like a great river with no beginning or end. My father had been a Jedi before joining the Dark Side, but he still firmly believed in using the Force with caution. But he was nothing compared to my mother. She was one with the Force, Dark and Light, an extension of its flow. And she did not know fear and did not care for rules except for one: survival. That was why she took a mate at all. But I saw things differently. I understood that both was true, caution and risk. And keeping a balance allowed me to survive. Do not get me wrong. The fact that I do not submit to hatred and anger to fuel my power does not make me a Jedi either."

"But neither are you a real Sith."

"What is a real Sith, Tarla? A Dark Jedi?"

"A selfish creep. Just like you are."

He laughed at her and shook his head quietly: "Selfish? If I were selfish I would not care about the Sith's fate, or would I?"

"Do I need to answer that? I think we both know that your trying to bend them to your will is more than egoistical. You are obsessed with power."

"No, girl. Power is nothing. I want the Sith to survive, not to continue this legacy for its own sake, but because I believe that it is the right way. The Jedi believe that they are the guardians of Life, but they do not understand that life is not about compassion and keeping the peace. Life is survival. And peace is the silence that is left after the rage of the storm has died down. Don't you see? It has nothing to do with power."

"If this is about survival the Sith are doomed. You have seen that, haven't you? That is why you are trying so hard."

"They aren't doomed, Tarla. I just have to get them back on track. I have to get them to work together. Right now they are at each others' throat. It is infuriating."

"I hope you don't expect me to give a damn about that."

"Oh no, don't worry. But you were the one who showed me that I can still turn the tide. And I have understood that I should not disappoint the faith Belana set in me. She died for me and now the least I can do to honor her sacrifice is to continue this fight."

"You killed her," Tarla said suddenly, realization flashing across her eyes.

"It was the only way. I could not keep her, and I would never have allowed anyone else to kill her either."

"You bastard," she hissed. "You are a heartless monster and I wish that your die as painfully and slowly as possible."

"I shall try."

Nodding at her one last time he brough the blade around in a graceful arc, watching it slice through her neck with ease. As her lifeless body toppled over and lay silent Roj Kell took a step back, sighing deeply. This battle was not over yet and he would be patient until the very end.