Backlash - The Shadow and the Light

The flight to Coruscant was longer than Hagen remembered. And much more lonely. It did not help that a litte boy was snoring softly in the co-pilot's seat. Things had changed. So he was brooding quietly, unable to share his thoughts with little Kane, with anyone. Noone would understand why he had let the ancient Sith get away. Not even he himself could understand it fully. But it had felt right back then. The close encounter with Roj Kell, his second, had opened his eyes to his own future. He knew now that he could not go on the way he had before. All he had to know he did know already. In theory. Now though it was past time to dare to take the next step. That was why he was here now, going back home. Back to Coruscant.

Looking over at the small figure huddled in the chair next to him Hagen Dycos smiled. He had found the boy on Nar Shadaa and he had also managed to keep him out of Roj Kell's clutches. He would train him. A new challenge, a new task. Something to ensure the future. He remembered the past vividly, himself as a thirteen year old Padawan learner, all innocent and wide-eyed, his first mission. He had witnessed the death of the Sith then, had followed his master on a nightmare chase that had seen Roj Kell defeated and presumably dead. But the Sith was still alive. He was a survivor. And Hagen could not keep himself from admiring the old man for his skills. He shook his head at that, smiling wrily.

"Hagen?" The voice was sleepy and very young.

"Yes?"

"Are we almost there?"

"No." Patting Kane's head gently the Jedi Knight looked out of the forward viewport again. "You can easily sleep another four hours."

"Okay."

A hand brushed over the boy's cheek and withdrew again. "Goodnight, little one."

Who would listen? If he told the Council that he had met Kell again, had let him go, they would indeed believe that he was falling to the Dark Side. And worse, they would call a hunt for the old man, a fight they could only lose. The only one who might understand was his old master, Kattewa. The Hortek had a great insight into the Force, and what was more, he had the ear of the Council. If he spoke, they would listen. But what to say? Yes, what? Nothing. He hung his head in defeat. This was a story to keep quiet and safe. Just that.

Four hours later they were indeed closing in on the Coruscant system. Kane was wide awake, his face practically glued to the viewport, or as close as his flight harness allowed. Hagen watched his young charge with a smile.

"Is this it?"

"Yes."

"And I am going to be a Jedi?"

"Yes. We will teach you everything there is to know."

Hagen avoided looking at the boy deliberately. Unfortunately Kane had heard far too much of what he had discussed with Roj Kell. And the ancient Sith's views were not suitable for a child's ears. No, not at all. But he should forget about the old man now. He had enough problems as it was. When he had left the Jedi Temple it had been after a heavy discussion on his studies. As a scholar he had distinguished himself as the major source on the history of the Jedi Order. A few years ago then he had started to collect all known facts on the Sith, partly out of the feeling that the story of the Jedi could not be complete without its dark counterpart, and partly out of a desire to learn more. A desire that had almost cost him his head. The Council had not been best pleased, accusing him of dabbling in the Dark Side. What would they say now, that he had truly crossed the border, however briefly, to meet the ancient Sith's challenge? Kell had cleansed him of any darkness, or so he had claimed, back on Korriban, but Hagen remembered the ease with which the Dark Side had come to him too. True, he had refused it in the end, realizing that it was a shallow power, nothing substantial, but still, he felt soiled by ever having touched his own darkness. Not a comforting feeling at all.

"Hagen?"

"Yes?"

"Why didn't the other man come with us too?"

"What?" He gave Kane a startled look. Yes, the boy had overheard a few words he had exchanged with the Sith, but he should not be able to put those together yet. He was a child, after all.

"You said you would teach him too." Kane 's eyes were latched on to him, waiting for an answer.

"He could not come."

"Why?"

"He has other things to deal with now."

The boy shook his head pensively. "I understand."

The frightening thing was that Hagen just knew that Kane really did understand. And guiltily he remembered himself as a little boy, ready to defend his master and yet loath to kill, mourning the Sith and still knowing when to strike. Maybe the fact that they were so similar had prompted Hagen to take Kane as his apprentice. And perhaps the reasons had been different. He would have to think on this further. But for now he had to land safely and convince the Council that he was indeed fit to train the boy.

****

"Hagen Dycos. You have returned."

Bowing slightly the Jedi Knight lay a hand on Kane's shoulder, sensing the child's fear and nervousness. Then, straightening once more, he gave the Head of the Council, a Mon Calamari, a level stare.

"I have returned," he answered calmly.

"And what did you find on your journey?"

"Wisdom. As always."

"The boy is part of that wisdom?"

"He is the essence," Hagen explained patiently. "Our differences were on the nature of my studies, masters. Now I have realized that I myself must now go ahead and teach, to learn more."

"A very wise decision indeed. What is his name?"

"Kane Jinn. He is an orphan, with no living kin left."

"Is that so. And he has the talent?"

"He does."

"Yes. We can sense it." Looking up from studying the trembling boy the Mon Calamari nodded at the other members of the Council. "We will discuss your request."

"Thank you, masters." Bowing again Hagen steered Kane out of the room ahead of him.

They walked side by side along the hallways stretching away into the distance, deeper into the tower. It had been some time since Hagen had called the Jedi Temple home, but he still found it easy to navigate the maze of corridors and stairs. Kane followed him in stunned silence, drinking in all the new sights and sounds.

"Are you okay?" Hagen asked suddenly.

"Yes," the boy answered, startled.

"Good. I want to introduce you to someone. An old friend of mine."

Turning another corner the Jedi Knight stood in front of a massive door, a simple affair, as all the doors in the master's quarters. Yet he hesitated before he raised his hand to knock. It felt like ages that he had last seen his former master, and somehow, after all that had happened, he feared Kattewa's unrelenting black-eyed gaze, so knowing and intimidating. The Hortek Jedi Master knew too much too keep the encounter with the Sith from him. How would he react?

"Come!"

His hand still raised Hagen was a bit taken aback. He had completely forgotten the Hortek's telepathic abilities, and he must have his mental shields slip quite a bit to allow the other to identify his visitor. Shaking his head slightly he went in, Kane tagging along after him. The aged Jedi Master was seated in one of the chairs by the window, a holo-cube balanced on his lap. He looked straight at Hagen, seemingly ignoring the boy with him.

"Hagen Dycos. It has been a long time," he sighed.

"Too long, master." Pushing Kane toward the giant alien Hagen smiled. "This is Kane Jinn. Kane, this is my master, Kattewa."

"Not your master anymore, Hagen. Welcome to the Jedi Temple, Kane Jinn. You are going to train here?"

The boy blushed. "I hope so."

It was one of the traits that distinguished the Hortek from his fellow masters that he never ignored a child's wisdom. In that Hagen had been very lucky, he knew, and he hoped that he could be only half as adept with Kane, if and when he began training him.

"And Hagen will train you. Very good. You have great potential, I think, and it is about time that Hagen started teaching, since he has been only content with burying himself in scrolls, and scripts and books and what not. Isn't that so, Hagen?"

The Jedi Knight smiled. "Yes. True."

"Hagen is not a great one for rules, you will find, but don't let that distract you, Kane. You must learn the rules first, if you are to break them." Kattewa's eyes twinkled mischievously, but Hagen felt his throat tighten and his skin grow cold.

"Lord Kell says there are only the rules of survial," Kane said pensively, his young face screwed up in thoughtful concentration, as if trying to remember something.

"What? What did you say?" The Hortek's gaze turned hard and cold as it fell on Hagen again. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Something we should discuss later," Hagen replied hastily. "I will come by tonight. Then we can talk."

"Hagen."

"Yes?"

"Try to stay out of trouble, do you hear me? And keep the boy out of this."

"I will, do not worry."

Turning around with a barely perceptible nod Hagen tried to fight down his fear of the talk to come. But once he was outside Kattewa's quarters he stopped Kane short and waited for the boy to look up at him.

"Kane, about the rules of survival..."

"Yes?"

"That is the very first set of rules that you will learn never to break."

****

It was late that night and Kane was fast asleep in the Padawans' dorm. But Hagen himself felt like a little boy again when he faced his old master. Upon entering the Hortek's quarters he saw that Kattewa was studying something, something Hagen wished they had never found. A Jedi Holocron, designed over a thousand years ago and recovered from Roj Kell. The Jedi Knight stopped short at the sight spread out before him. Standing next to Kattewa's chair the life-size hologram of a tall human seemed to observe his surroundings with a slight, mocking smile, as if he were seeing something amusing. Most likely he had, at the time this holo was taken. Although what could have amused a lone Sith imprisoned among his enemies was beyond Hagen. Not that he pretended to understand Roj Kell's motives in depth. Not at all. But by now he had some understanding of the man, or so he thought.

"Hagen, what was this about?" the Hortek began bluntly. "I heard of your disputes with the Council, and, more importantly, of your somewhat wayward studies. But this..." He gestured vaguely at the holo. "Well?"

"He is alive." Hagen swallowed hard at the look out of those black eyes.

"Alive," Kattewa breathed, a mere hiss. "How?"

"He did not tell me directly."

"Where did you meet him?"

"Korriban."

"Korriban! Hagen, are you mad?"

"Not yet, I hope." Smiling wrily Hagen tried to suppress his nervousness. "We played a game and I won," he said at last, not without some pride.

"Are you so certain of that?"

The Jedi Knight nodded gravely. "Yes. I know it sounds strange, maybe, but I think he wanted me to win."

"Then you have lost, Hagen, do you realize that?"

"Not like that." He shook his head. "He was sincere. I think.... I think he is still hurting."

Kattewa gave him a long, calculating look. Finally he heaved a deep sigh and shook his head. "The pain will never stop either, Hagen, unless he finds his way back."

"Fat chance of that happening."

"And now you want my advice?"

"Yes." Hagen took a seat at last, his gaze drawn time and again to the image of the Sith. What had been Kell's goal? Kattewa shut down the holocron abruptly and the image vanished again. "Should I tell the Council?"

"With what they know about you? No. Besides, a lot of time has passed. If he was the last of the Sith two decades ago he will not be alone anymore."

"Maybe you are right."

"And still we should destroy him, once and for all."

Hagen started in surprise. "But you just said-"

"He will not stay idle. He will certainly not wait for us to find him. And he knows what predicament you find yourself in." The Hortek grimaced wrily. "Safe. He is safe. For now." Kattewa looked at him sharply. "What about the boy?"

"He came to no harm."

The Jedi Master rose to his full height and walked over to bend over Hagen, looming like a giant scarecrow. "What about you, Hagen Dycos?" he whispered.

"I -" Hagen hesitated, but he knew that he could not lie to his master, never to him. "I did some things..."

"Even more reason to keep this quiet." Kattewa said sharply, then peered at his former student intensly. "I can sense no darkness in you."

"He cleansed me."

"What? You let him touch your mind?"

"He would not have harmed me," the Jedi Knight soothed the other hastily.

"How can you be so sure?"

Biting his lower lip in thoughtful concentration Hagen kept silent. He had his suspicions, but none he would ever say aloud. "I do not know for certain."

"But you know his weakness." It was no question. "Can you use it against him?" Kattewa asked at last.

"Maybe." Hagen met the Hortek's black-eyed gaze calmly. "Yes," he nodded. "In time, maybe."

****

The next morning Hagen was up early. He had not slept well that night, not well at all. What he had told Kattewa was the truth, but he had held something back, something vital that would get him killed in the matter of a heart-beat if he ever revealed it. When he had first met Roj Kell he had sensed the Sith Lord's anguish plainly, some old wound that seemed to pain the man no end, with or without him noticing the Jedi did not know. Maybe the injury was so old that Kell had gotten used to it. Hagen was not entirely sure what had caused it though. Not that it mattered much. Back on Thando Station, as he had buried the dagger his master had given him to defend himself in their chase after the Sith Lord into Roj Kell's side, crying as he did it, he had felt something. A bond, deeper than anything he had ever felt before. And Kell had responded to him too, too much for Hagen's taste. Then, on Korriban, Kell had said something very significant. He had admitted himself that he saw his students as his children, and Hagen had a feeling that he was fond of him in particular. Not a very comforting thought. Of course he had also considered the possibility that the old man was really trying to ensnare him, and Hagen had spent most of the past days searching for hidden meanings and traps. The thing was that he had found enough to spin quite a few webs.

Gritting his teeth he tied his long robes with a sash and went to leave his quarters. As long as he was here on Coruscant he was relatively safe from the Sith's machinations. Roj Kell would not dare come here, into his enemys' den, no matter how skilled he was at hiding. No doubt though that they would meet again. Until then Hagen meant to learn much more, in preparation of that encounter. The first step was training an apprentice, to plant his own seeds among the Jedi. The Council would call him down for being overly ambitious, if they knew, but Hagen was good at keeping secrets. Most of the time. Walking along the hallway stretching out before him the Jedi Knight answered the friendly greetings that met him absent-mindedly. The one weakness he knew of Roj Kell was his defensive stance. He attacked seldomnly in the open, instead preferred to move unseen, and those tactics had served him well so far. Hagen had studied the first encounter the Sith had had with the Jedi here on Coruscant with great interest. He was now convinced that the old man had timed very carefully when to reveal himself and when to let himself be captured. Roj Kell had admitted as much when Hagen had seen him last. Now it would be a matter of luring him with a promise of fulfilling his dreams. A legacy. A successor.

"Kane."

The boy's head came up from the bowl of porridge he was busying himself with in the Padawans' mess hall. The table rows were filled with children of all species and sexes, their age varying from little to adolescent, and the clamor that filled the room was almost deafening. After breakfast they would begin their lessons, and that would be hard enough on them. It required utmost concentration and attention, and yet they were as lively as any children, and needed that freedom too. Bounding to his feet the boy ran over to meet him. He stopped a pace or so away, his bright blue eyes huge as teacups.

"You slept well?" Ruffling the boy's unruly dark hair Hagen smiled. He did not want the child to feel rejected and Kane's reserved stance, eyeing him as if he were a stranger, was too unsettling to let pass. The boy had to come to trust him.

"Yes." Bobbing his head with excitement Kane burst out: "I thought about rules."

"Good. Very good." Sensing something left unsaid Hagen went down on his haunches to look the boy in the eye. "And apart from that?" he whispered, almost too low to hear. Kane gave him a troubled glance.

"They say I am too old to learn," he said softly, and he sounded so sad that Hagen felt his heart clench with sorrow.

"You know far more than they do, Kane," the Jedi Knight told him calmly. "Never fear that you are ignorant. I know you are not. As for learning.... The Council will decide soon, I think. I will not be allowed to instruct you until I am given permission, but until then, I will show you something else."

Winking at the boy he rose again and straightened his clothes. "We have an entire planet to discover, Kane Jinn."

Grinning, the little boy grasped his hand. "Let's go!"

Hagen Dycos could not help the smile that warmed his soul with sheer joy at this beginning. Now, if only it stayed this way.

After a long day spent constantly on the move they walked the park surrounding the Jedi Temple slowly, and Hagen could see the light of the setting sun mirrored in Kane's eyes. What he could feel coming from the boy was elating. For the past hours the boy had been able to let loose, to do what children ususally did, making a fuss and getting into trouble, seeing new things and learning. Kane was an orphan, who had been snatched up from the rubble that populated Nar Shadaa by a ruthless slaver. A suspicious child, yet endlessly grateful for the rescue Hagen had provided. Now a sparkle of childish innocence had appeared in his blue gaze, and it was as if a door to an entirely new, wondrous world had opened for him. These few hours had been all it had taken to melt the long years of being on his own, being a small adult in a child's body. Hagen knew exactly what that was like. For all his innocence Hagen Dycos himself had been perceptive beyond the borders a child's mind usually put on him to protect that fragile being. A protection Kane had not enjoyed for very long. The Jedi Knight was curious to learn more about the boy's past, but that would have to wait until his apprenticeship was officially announced. That was not the only reason for him to hesitate in prying into Kane's secrets though. For all the fun they had had today he knew that trust was a very hard-earned gift. He would have to tread carefuly there.

Doing a hand-stand on the soft grass bordering the gravel path that lead toward the Temple's spire Kane grinned widely. A back-flip put him back on his feet and then he bounded away, racing across the lawn as fast as he could, testing his abilities. It was beautiful to watch him, totally unconcerned of everything but the moment. Hagen felt a pang of jealousy. Those times were long past for him.

"Hey!"

Smiling at the boy who came to a breathless halt in front of him, his face beaming widely, Hagen nodded.

"Time to go inside."

"Do you think the Council has already decided?"

"I am not sure. We shall see."

"When will they decide?" Hopping along at the Jedi Knight's side Kane seemed a bit concerned.

Hagen stopped. "Tell me, Kane. Why do you want to be a Jedi?"

"I want to be like you."

The simple answer shocked the former scholar. "In what way?"

"A guardian."

"A heavy duty," Hagen mused. "Very heavy."

"I want to make sure that bad people cannot do what they want."

A clumsy way of saying it, but the boy's desire was plain enough. Hagen winced inwardly. "How?"

"I -." Kane hesitated. "I think justice is important," he said at last, very quietly. The words almost froze the Jedi Knight's marrow.

"Justice?"

"Yes." Suddenly Kane's eyes were very fierce. "It has to do with the rules, I think. Somehow."

"Kane."

"Yes?"

"Justice is not an easy ideal to achieve."

The boy's forehead furrowed slightly. "But you said -"

"Justice, Kane Jinn, is a long way to go for you yet."

"But I want to learn."

"That is very good. Come. Let's go back home."

Suddenly Kane brightened again. "Can I have a story?" he asked hopefully and latched onto Hagen again. The Jedi Knight chuckled softly.

"Sure."

"Hagen Dycos, the Council hereby declares the child Kane Jinn your apprentice. You are pledged to teach him, care for him and protect him. "

Hagen could barely suppress a smile. "Thank you, masters," he replied with a short bow. But apparently he had not yet been dismissed.

"Hagen, if we may ask, what do you seek to teach the boy?" Hamea, the Mon Calamari heading the Council asked.

"The ways of the Force."

"Which ways?"

Hagen froze. "Master?"

The Mon Calamari returned his gaze calmly. "It is not unknown that you have studied the Dark Side of the Force, the lore of the Sith. So the question makes great sense, don't you think?"

"You believe I will teach him darkness?" Straightening to his full height Hagen Dycos felt his mind turn to ice. "If you suspect me of such a thing, why did you grant me this apprentice at all?"

"We trust you."

"No you don't. If you did you would not have asked that question in the first place. I want this resolved once and for all: you will either agree that I am a Jedi Knight, that my reputation is flawless, or else you will tell me to the face that I am a Sith."

"You are a Jedi, Hagen Dycos. Teach that boy well, and prove it to us."

"I will."

Whirling around Hagen stalked from the chamber without another word. Why could they not just shed their suspicions? Had Kattewa talked to them? But Kattewa did not know anything about his plan. A risky plan, at that.

"Hagen!" He turned his head to watch Kane run to catch up to him. The boy's face was beaming. "How did it go?"

"You will call me master from now on," Hagen answered with a smile and ruffled the boy's hair affectionately.

"Yes!" Punching the air with his tiny fist Kane lept up and spun around his own axis once. "Yes! I will be a Jedi!"

Hagen nodded. Kane Jinn would be one of the greatest Jedi of all times. He would grow up in the knowledge that there were more sides to the Force than one, and he would not be tempted by darkness, ever.

Ten years later

It was a rainy day, just the same as the previous days. Kane Jinn sat huddled on the ground, trying to shield himself against the storm. The wind was howling through the treetops above, frightening him just a bit. But he was no longer a child. Gray clouds tumbled across the sky like a landslide, making loud, rumbling noises that beat down on the mountain forest like hammerblows. And Kane was shivering with cold. Still, he tried to remain calm, as his master had told him to. It was harder than he had anticipated. When something moved at his side he turned his head slowly to look up at the man standing over him, his emerald gaze fixed into the distance. Hagen Dycos was a quite impressive appearance, with brilliant green eyes and thick, nearly white blonde hair. His presence was so vibrant and full of life that he managed to stand out in any crowd without ever meaning to. If Kane were asked to describe his master in one word though it would be 'humble'. One of the greatest scholars of the past decades Dycos did not boast with his knowledge. In fact, he never talked about it and let his actions speak for themselves instead. Those actions were not grand or spectacular, but throughout the past ten years that Kane had spent with him he had had the feeling that they were making a difference. Hagen Dycos believed in little things.

"It is time," Hagen said suddenly and his apprentice stumbled to his feet a bit unsteadily.

"And where are we going, master?"

Smiling down at him the Jedi Master raised his eyebrows meaningfully. "You shall see."

Kane trotted after Hagen, who took long, measured strides that carried him down the barely visible pathway swiftly. Down in the valley fog had usurped the forests, holding it in a clammy, jealous embrace. Squinting into the mist Kane missed a root and hit the ground face first. Instead of scolding him for his clumsiness Hagen helped him up without another word.

"Thank you, master," Kane mumbled.

A lanky nineteen-year-old Kane was tall and slender, as opposed to Hagen's bulkier form. His dark brown hair had been cut short, safe for the traditional braid that would be cut off once he attained the title of Jedi Knight. His master said he should not concern himself with that, the day would come soon enough, and Kane admittedly had no desire to rush things. He liked being a student, learning things, and Hagen Dycos was a good teacher. Shadowing pale blue eyes he peered ahead into the shadows that rose from the mists, uncertain.

"Where are we going?"

"There is a village down there," Hagen explained, but he did not stop or look around. "That is where we must go."

Hitting the wall of fog the two men's cloaks were immediately drenched by the fine droplets of water that spread around them, their featherlight weight letting them drift in the air easily. Kane smiled as the mist touched his bare skin and he saw the same expression of childish wonder on his master's face.

"It is beautiful," the young Jedi whispered, compelled to reach out and touch the white blankets shrouding the forest, hoping to catch some of its seemingly unreal light.

"You will find that there is always something new to be found, Kane. Everything changes, no matter how well you think you know it."

Kane nodded in understanding. He liked the way the Jedi Master had a fresh approach to everything, even if it was a situation similar to another. There were always differences, and sometimes those differences, however insignificant they might appear, could mean the world to the outcome of said situation. Over the past ten years he had been taught to listen closely, feel deeply and dismiss nothing. Most of all though, he had learned to follow his heart. As he was stalking after the increasingly indistinct form of Hagen Dycos through the misty forest, Kane remembered his very first lesson. It had begun with a story, like so many others that had followed. Sometimes he thought that a poet was hiding somewhere behind Hagen Dycos' athletic bulk. The story had been sparked by young Kane's questions on the tall man they had left behind on that storm-ridden planet he later learned was called Korriban. That day his master had told him of the demise of the Sith and his first encounter with the only survivor of the second Sith War, Roj Kell.

He had been kneeling on the floor, feeling slightly uncomfortable in the traditional robes of a Padawan learner, but Kane Jinn had trusted the man kneeling opposite from him blindly, and forgot about all discomfort easily. Hagen Dycos was an honest man, that he had known for certain, and still knew, honest and caring. It had been just a week since he had met the Jedi Knight, and he had remembered him saving Kane and others from being sold into slavery most vividly. The one image burning foremost in his mind had been the way Hagen had beheaded the slavers' leader without a word, a calm reassurance showing in his every move. Then, the point of his lightsaber resting against the throat of his black-haired companion, the Jedi Knight had done something, that Kane could not describe. But it had sparked a feeling in him, awe, maybe, that had prompted him to trust the man.

Grimacing a bit he thought back on his master's smiling face when he had told him that sometimes he made people forget how young he really was. Kane had been forced to make his own way very early in his life. He had seen a lot, but certainly not enough. If he ever would. Well. Back then Kane had understood more than he should have, and Hagen had seen that right away. But then, Hagen himself had always been very perceptive. As that story had proven. Stumbling over a well-hidden root the young man cursed softly. Suddenly the light drizzle surrounding them turned into real rain that began falling harder with every passing moment. Kane pulled up the hood of his cloak and quickened his pace as he tried to keep up with Hagen. The older man strode ahead leisurely, his shorter legs carrying him faster than Kane would have thought possible. Not heeding their surroundings anymore they hurried along the overgrown pathway. Kane suppressed another question, asking how far the village was away. He was not a child any longer.

"Not much further," Hagen mumbled up ahead, seemingly to himself and Kane felt himself blush slightly. If he was so easy to read... Turning to face him the Jedi Master smiled, raindrops clinging to his beard and dripping into his face. "Kane, just be yourself. He won't be able to harm you then."

Kane stopped and stared. "What?" Harm him? Who wanted to harm him?

"We have waited ten years for this. Now it is time to see if I was right."

"Master, what-"

"We are here to meet an old friend. Come, let's not keep him waiting."

****

Still confused Kane followed Hagen further and out of the forest. A small clearing had been made to accomodate a few slant-roofed huts. No one was about. The Padawan took a long look at the housings, then his gaze dropped to the muddy ground and his frown deepened. There were no tracks he could make out. Which could mean two things: either the rain had washed them away, or else there were no people living here any longer. He squinted at the run-down state of they huts. The roofs were partly overgrown with vines and thick moss, and he noticed that the stones ringing the fire-places dug into the dirt had been turned over, scattering soot and ash everywhere. Very strange.

"Maybe he's not here?" he ventured a bit testily.

"He knows we are coming." Striding past his apprentice Hagen took a long look around, before he steered firmly for a small hut that had almost fallen in on itself. It stood on the edge of the village and only now did Kane see the smoke rising from it. A fire!

"Is that him?" He hurried over to join his master. "Is that Lord Kell? We are looking for him, aren't we?"

An amused glint appeared in the Jedi Master's emerald eyes. "Ah, you do not know him all that well yet, Kane. He would not be waiting for us."

"Master, with all due respect." Kane hesitated, but the question was too important." Why should I get to know him at all? You yourself said he is dangerous."

"A lesson, boy. One of the most important lessons there are."

The Padawan blushed. This was the first time in five years that Hagen had called him 'boy' again. It was embarrassing. Very much so. What had he done wrong? He had grown up in the knowledge that every Jedi was a potential Sith, and that only by knowing one's own darkness one could avoid falling prey to it. Hagen claimed that if one harnessed one's anger one would not be tempted by rage, but if one refused to acknowledge anger one would be taken by surprise by events that might spark exactly that emotion. It was logical. Contrary to what others said Hagen believed that a Jedi should not be apart from the world, because only by being as vulnerable as others he could understand their pain. It was dangerous and sad at times, but over the years Kane had learned to find solace and strength in the Force. Why this lesson now? What more could there be?

Ahead Hagen had reached the small hut at the edge of the village. "Hello?" he called loudly. A few moments passed before a small, squat shape appeared in the doorway. Kane though it was female.

"What is it?" she asked hoarsely.

"Greetings. My name is Hagen Dycos, this is Kane Jinn. We are looking for someone," Hagen explained with a small bow, when Kane joined him.

She smiled. "You have found someone." Touching her forehead and heart she bowed back to the Jedi Master. "I am Janna."

The Jedi Master nodded. "Tell me, Janna, what happened here?"

The woman shrugged easily. "They left. First one family, then another. They went down into the valleys. Life is hard up here."

"Why did you stay behind?"

"I have no family left. I am content here." Jenna heaved a tiny sigh, as if to give her the lie. "I am old."

"Still, it might be safer for you to join your fellow villagers," Hagen advised calmly.

"Ah! Do not worry for me!" She waved her hand dismissively. "They use this place for shelter when they come up here to hunt. They always bring me food and look after me."

Hagen nodded slowly in acceptance, but his eyes retained a wary look. "Very well. We are looking for a friend. A tall man with green eyes. He is quite - impressive."

The woman nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes! I have seen him! He came a few years ago, moved into the old caves. A stange man."

"He never came down here?"

"No."

"Your pardon, but you just said you saw him, and-"

"Very modest, that man. He was injured, when he came here, and he almost would not let me help."

"Injured? Did he tell you what happened?"

Jenna gave the two Jedi a cold look. "You will have to ask him yourself. I am not going around telling other people's stories. Who do you think I am?"

"My apologies, Jenna," Hagen replied pelasantly. "I did not mean to imply anything. Could you describe the way for us? It is urgent that we see him."

Again an appraising look from the tiny woman. She raised her eyebrows meaningfully, then shook her head. "I would not tell you anything, if he had not warned me that you would come. I know what you are, Hagen Dycos."

"Then you know what he is too?" the Jedi Master asked quietly. She did not answer. Ignoring the question she vanished into her small dwelling to fetch a cloak. Then she motioned for them to follow. Kane could not help but feel a litle bit queasy. She knew? Eyeing his master he could not see beyond the unperpetubed calm Hagen exuded. There was no alarm in the man, nothing. Had he expected this? Not a comfortable thought. Yet he followed Jenna without a comment, but his mind was racing.

Hagen was practically trembling with excitement. After all those years of preparations he would now find out whether he had succeeded or failed. A dire question, one that might alter the future of the entire Jedi order. He knew, of course, that such a thing had been tried before, that the experiment had failed. But Hagen ewas no fool. He knew what had gone wrong back, then, at least he hoped that he knew. Suppressing a sigh he cast all doubt from his mind. Entire days had passed by whith him meditating on that same question. He would not find any clues or flaws now. So he and Kane trotted after Jenna's squat form through the dense forest. She set a fast pace, belying her apparent age, and that, combined with what she had told them beforehand, led to the conclusion that she was more than just an old woman who wanted to be alone. Hagen suspected that she was something like a wise woman. Not very comfortable to have around. Just like the Jedi. He smiled at the thought. Someone who took the responsibility of exposing evil could not expect to be greeted equally cordially everywhere he went. Some secrets were best left untold, after all. He had learned that from Roj Kell years ago.

So he had told Jenna that they were coming, had he? An interesting surprise. Not that Kell had known of Hagen's intentions, but that he had confided in someone else. Could it be that he felt gratitude for the woman's assistance in healing him? If so, then Hagen's theory was already proving to be right. No one could survive without confiding into someone else at least to a certain extent, not even Roj Kell. Nodding to himself Hagen relaxed a fraction and took his time to view the mountain forests more closely. Irrigation channels ran along the overgrown pathways, carrying water down into the fields. They had been built from stone slabs and followed the natural flow of the land. It was an intricate system that Hagen found fascinating. Most would deem this the work of a primitive culture, but apparently that culture was still adept in its own ways of survival. He smiled at that. It always came down to surviving, didn't it?

"Master?" Kane stage-whispered from behind him.

"What is it?"

"Why are we here again?"

So Kane had done some thinking and come to some uncomfortable conclusions. Good. The boy might follow him obediently, but he was not stupid, and he was not blind. Hagen gave the young man a reassuring smile. "All your questions will be answered later. But be prepared and stay true to yourself."

"Yes, master." Ducking his head Kane resumed his broodings.

The boy had no clue what was awaiting him and that was good, in a way. No warning, no preparations, only then they would find out whether Hagen had been a good teacher or not. A risky plan indeed. But Hagen had analysed his every move in detail, wondering if Roj Kell had done the same. Knowing the old Sith no eventuality would have escaped him and Hagen had tried to be just as thorough. But had it been enough?

"We are here, Master Jedi."

"Thank you," Hagen told Jenna absent-mindedly. Ahead a dark cave entrance broke the cliff wall, with gnarled old trees extending branches out over the rim of a deep gorge and only a meter between the sheer wall and the deep drop. Kane joined him cautiously, frowning.

"I cannot sense anything," he announced.

"I told you he would not wait for us. So we will wait for him instead." Hagen turned toward Jenna to thank her again, but the calculating look in her eyes stopped him.

"I understand why you are here, Jedi," she said calmly. "And you seem to know what you are getting yourselves into. Be warned though. There is more danger here than you can possibly know."

"We will heed your warning," Hagen said wrily.

"See that you do," she huffed a bit indignantly and turned away. The two Jedi watched her figure dissipate into the thick mist falling down from the mountains. It was going to rain again.

Hagen threw a last look around before he stepped over the small irrigation channel that separated the cave from the pathway and entered the gloomy rock chamber. An artificial corridor had been carved into the mountain and Hagen thought that perhaps those caves had been used as cooling storage a few years back. Before the villagers had left.

Drawing on the Force to enhance his vision he made his way deeper into the cave, until the corridor twisted around a corner and ended in a large room that reminded him very much of the tombs on Korriban. While the Jedi Master stood gazing at the simple furniture Kane strode past him and twitched aside what Hagen had believed a wall-hanging of some sort. In fact it was a leather skin, used to obscure a large hole in the wall. Spread out before them was a spectacular vista of the mountains, jagged rock spires that looked like the remnants of a broken fortress, lush forests and, higher up, barren slopes. With a smile Hagen dropped down on the single crude chair next to an equally simple table. Kane looked at him once, then sat down on the floor. They waited in silence, not heeding the passage of time more than necessary. A storm broke soon and the gales howling outside lulled them into a semi-trance, the different registers of the roaring wind keeping them awake and alert. Hagen estimated that three hours had passed when he finally heard someone approach through the corridor. The tall figure stalking into the room wore a hooded oil-skin that was flung into a corner almost immediately upon his entry. Fists propped on his hips the newcomer eyed the two visitors with a questioning frown. His pale green eyes swept over Kane first, prompting the youth to scramble to his feet hurriedly, then came to rest on Hagen Dycos.

"You are too early," the old man said, his voice freezing the Jedi Master's heart to stone.

"That is all?" he managed finally. Roj Kell had not changed much from when he had last seen him. Perhaps his black hair showed a bit more gray than before, but apart from that his presence was as commanding and powerful as ever. With him in the room there was no question who was in control.

"Yes, that is all." Striding across the floor the ancient Sith set a bundle of fruit down on the table. "So, why did you come? For old times' sake?"

"In a sense." Hagen rose from his seat slowly, but that did not give him any more advantage over Kell's greater height than if he had remained seated. But he did not want to make the man uncomfortable either. Not that he could have, he was sure.

Roj Kell nodded at Kane without looking at him. "Your apprentice?"

"Yes. You know him."

That got the other's attention. Rounding on the young man the Sith raised his eyebrows meaningfully. "Indeed. You are grown up, it would seem. More so than the last time." He turned his head to look at Hagen again. "That still does not answer my question. Why are you here?"

"To see you."

"Nice." Baring his teeth in a smile Kell eyed Hagen in some amusement. "I suppose I should be grateful that you did not bring Master Kattewa for this reunion too."

****

Kane felt a bit overwhelmed by the rapid dialogue between the older men. After hours of waiting everything seemed to be happening at once. And he found that he could not stop staring at the tall Sith, who looked just as menacing as he remembered. Roj Kell was practically burning with energy and its eddies threatened to infect the young Jedi too. Was this the lesson then? Resolving to remain calm he folded his hands in front of himself and waited patiently. The question was: for what?

"Why are you here of all places?" Hagen was just asking.

"It is a nice, remote world. No one would be looking for me here." Grimacing wrily Kell sat down on the chair Hagen had vacated previously.

"You knew you could depend on me," the Jedi Master said soothingly.

"And you are the only one who could harm me?" Kell snapped. "A preposterous assumption, don't you think? No, Hagen, you are not as dangerous as you think you are."

"I heard you were injured?"

Roj Kell smiled. "I thought you would never ask."

"So, what happened?"

"Sit down, Hagen," the old man sighed. "You too, Kane. It is a long story."

Resuming his seat on the floor Kane felt a bit awkward when Hagen joined him. Here they were, like children preparing to hear a good-night tale from their grandfather or something. Kane gave his master a rueful smile, but Hagen did not see it. He was looking up at the Sith Lord with an earnest, open expression.

"Very well." Kane jerked as if struck. Just those two words, but Kell must have done something with his voice, because his mind felt as if it had been hit by something heavy. The young apprentice frowned deeply, but the ancient Sith continued before he could gather his wits again. "Ten years ago you thought you could teach me a lesson, and I think I taught you instead." He smiled down at Hagen.

"I hope you will not be insulted when I say that I did not trust your promise. Instead of remaining on Korriban I decided to take your own advice. Remember? You claimed that you were focused on the past too much. I found that I felt the same way. Did you find fulfillment in teaching him, Hagen? Did you?"

"He is a patient student, willing to learn." There was just a hint of hesitation in his master's voice that Kane could detect, and it made him slightly uneasy.

"He is like you, in more ways than you know, my friend."

"Is that a bad thing then?"

"Bad I am not sure about, but dangerous. And that I do know, from first-hand experience." Roj Kell chuckled softly. Then his eyes turned to look directly at Kane. The young apprentice started sweating under that cold gaze. "So, Kane Jinn, tell me, what is your goal in life?"

"I want to be a guardian, like my master."

"A guardian. And what do you guard?"

"The people."

The Sith gave him a tight smile. "A good answer. Nothing about protecting the living Force and such drivel. Very good."

"The story?" Kane heard his master ask mildly.

"Ah, of course, I got distracted, I believe," Kell sighed. The smile on Hagen's face told Kane that he for one believed no such thing. Probably the man had just wanted to change the subject. "The story. Yes. As I said, I tried to focus on the future instead of the past, but there was not much to focus on. Not that much has changed, apparently. The Jedi still believe they are the sole power in the universe fit to declare justice, the last line of defense against evil, but they should look to their own ranks to find darkness. I will not bore you with my old arguments, Hagen, do not worry. But while out there, getting a feel for the present again, I thought of you quite often. Do you know why? Because I believe that just as you were attracted to my darkness I was attracted to your light. You will ask yourself why I bring that up now. Well. What I found too was that darkness also attracts darkness."

"Is that how you were injured? There is a new Sith around?"

"No new Sith, Hagen Dycos. I did not find fulfillment in teaching my last student. He cast my teachings aside to interpret darkness his own way. I did not approve back then and I did not approve when he died a few years back, having accomplished nothing in his lifetime."

"Back then?" Hagen seemed nonplussed. "When?"

"You were just a boy, Hagen, a very dangerous one, admittedly. But I had to bow to fate when it was Bane of all people, who survived Ruusan. He tricked me, true, still, I would have preferred someone else to survive too, to balance his views. He was so extreme in what he believed was the right way for the Sith to survive."

"And you are not?" Hagen actually smiled, while Kane did not have a clue of what they were talking about.

"I might be unrelenting in some ways, but no, not extreme. In contrast to others." Suddenly the man's pale eyes narrowed a fraction. "You, boy, run down to the village and bring that to Jenna." Kane had barely time to catch the bundle of fruit flying toward him. He gave Hagen a questioning look, but for a long time the Jedi Master did not react. Finally, almost imperceptibly, he nodded. Bounding to his feet Kane was torn between wanting to leave the Sith's disturbing presence and staying with his teacher. In the end though he subsided. "Take my coat. It is still raining," Kell told him absent-mindedly, his gaze fixed on Hagen. Blushing at that unexpected offer Kande ducked his head in mute thanks, snatched up the coat and left.

Hagen watched Kane vanish around the corner, but Roj Kell's whispered words brought his attention back on his adversary.

"You are a fool, Hagen Dycos," the ancient Sith hissed. "You believe you could succeed where I failed? Do you want to prove that I was wrong in assuming that my apprentice could withstand the temptations of the Light? I know that already."

"But Kane will resist your darkness. He will succeed."

"Maybe, maybe not. You want to risk him for a gamble?" The old man shook his head in astonishment. "You?" A wolfish smile appeared on his lips as he leaned toward the Jedi Master slowly. "Perhaps you yourself have wandered astray from your path?"

"What do you mean?"

"I understand your intent, Hagen. But you are approaching this the wrong way. I have learned a long time ago that there is no pure light or darkness in a sentient being, not by the rules that you are following."

"By your own rules there would be neither darkness nor light."

"Is that such a bad thing then? No, don't answer, I know how you feel about this."

Hagen glared at Roj Kell, but the old man refused to acknowledge his anger. Finally the Jedi Master said: "So all my effort has been for nothing? Is that why you said I was too early? Because he is not ready yet?"

"Who knows? If you do not tell Kane what you are using him for he might emerge unscathed, but can you take that responsibility? I know you, Hagen, you have always been honest. Yet you kept secrets from the Council and you keep secrets from your apprentice. Some might not think anything of it, but you yourself do. Right now you think you are doing the right thing, that you are following a higher call. Your conscience is troubling you, am I right? But have you ever considered that there might not be such a thing?"

"I am not using him!" Hagen protested.

"You are trying to teach us a lesson, me and Kane both. You want to show me that you succeeded with Kane where I failed with Ka Door, is that not so?" Hagen nodded mutely. "And additionally you want Kane to face my darkness and survive." Leaning toward him Roj Kell narrowed his eyes coldly. "Now tell me again that you are not using him."

His shoulders slumping Hagen heaved a sigh. "Perhaps my motives were pure, but my actions were not. That is what you mean, am I right?"

"You know it is. There is no straight path down one road or the other. And that, Hagen Dycos, is the lesson I am teaching you."

Meeting the older man's gaze took a supreme effort. Here he was, full of himself and his scheme, only to have it blown apart into tiny shards of malintent that he had never seen at all. Kell was right. He had not stayed true to himself, had not followed his own rules. He should never have come here.

****

Around the corner Kane Jinn felt his heart stop. Crushing the bundle of fruits to his chest he stood still, mouth agape, thoughts racing. No! Hagen had been using him all along! With all the stories he had been told about the ancient Sith Kane now knew that his master was just as bad as his counterpart. They were so similar, two opposite ends of the same specter, that the difference became no more than mere semantics. He closed his eyes in dismay, utterly crushed. Hagen was his friend, his mentor, and to find now that he had used him for his own ends all along... Had that been the only reason why Hagen had taken him to Coruscant with him? So he could turn him into a lesson for the Sith? A weapon even, maybe?

His lips compressed tightly in an effort to hold his grief back. Ten years of trust and understanding, ten years of lies and hidden intentions. Eyes hardening Kane willed himself to be strong. He made his way toward the cave's entrance steadily, trying not to think of the words he had overheard. No. He refused to let those touch him. Hagen had taught him to trust his heart, his feelings, but also to think things through. Well. It was a long way to the village and back. Enough time to ponder this new information, enough time to get past the disappointment and initial anger. When he came back he would talk to Hagen calmly, and he knew that this time his friend would not withhold the truth from him.

****

"He is gone." Roj Kell cocked his head to one side, as if listening to something. Then he smiled at Hagen's surprised expression. "He is young, and events have overwhelmed him. In his place, would you have meekly left if Kattewa had ordered you to?"

"No," the Jedi Master croaked, stunned. "You had this planned from the very beginning."

"From the very day you left me on Korriban, yes."

"Why?"

"Hagen, Hagen, I thought you for one would understand. When I met Bane again all those years ago he had found himself an apprentice, a laudable decision. Unfortunately my dear student was not a man who could inspire others. He was fearsome, certainly, powerful, undoubtedly. But he could not create loyalty, could not bind his student to the Sith. They are surviving, yes, but that is all."

"I thought you'd approve of that," Hagen muttered.

"In a sense, but one cannot idealize the teachings of the Sith and use them for personal gain."

"Why not?"

"The answer lies in the very nature of the Dark Side, Hagen. It is self-destructive."

"You yourself denied that!"

"Then you have misunderstood. What I mean is that the Dark Side is not apart from the Force. Must I explain again? There is the Force, which binds all living things and all dead. No, trust me on that, I know it to be true. Then there is civilization and its rules. The Jedi, the good ones, the Sith, the bad. Each ignorant of the others' perspective. Amazing, is it not?"

"So you say that there would be no Dark Side without civilization?"

"Yes and no. There have to be rules, but not the complicated rules of civilization. Simple ones."

Hagen drew a deep breath. "I know what you mean." It was not an easy confession to make. Not at all. "To succeed it is necessary to change the attitude of the people."

"People are different, cultures are different. It is an impossible task to create peace under those circumstances."

"Is it? Is that why you hide here, content to let the galaxy find its own path?"

"No." Roj Kell shook his head. "I have been waiting for an opportunity to accomplish something for real. In fact, Hagen, I have been waiting for you."

Rising from his seat Hagen was bristling with outrage. "Oh, no! No way! I will not follow you! Ever!"

"You and I are much alike, Hagen."

"But there is a difference, a great one. Our ideals."

"In what way would they be different?"

"I try to understand life. I protect it."

"So do I."

"I make an effort at understanding people."

"Really. I do too."

"It is my goal to ease people's lives, to make them safer."

"A foolish endeavor. You cannot always hold their hand."

"Your way is violence, Lord Kell."

"You know me well, it would seem."

Hagen shook himself. "You admit it?"

"Of course. We have always been honest with each other, you and I."

"True."

"Then I will be honest now too." The ancient Sith rose abruptly and took a step closer to the Jedi Master. Hagen refused to budge, even though Kell was looming over him at a very uncomfortable distance. "You, Hagen Dycos, have learned a very important lesson in your life, one you are trying to incorporate in your teachings. I know you, I have always known you, from the very first day we met. There were Jedi like you, great men and women, powerful, confident and compassionate. That was a long, long time ago. They opposed their selfish brothers and sisters who would become Sith later on, they cast them out, unwilling to have evil at their side. And yet they accepted their own darkness. They did not dwell on it, they did not cherish it, but they were aware. That awareness is what lacks in the Jedi Order today, and you, my dear friend, want to resurrect it."

"What is so bad about that?"

"Are you that blind, Hagen Dycos? If you succeed, if you pull off your scheme, the Jedi will break apart. Some will follow your way, others will remain ignorant, and another fraction will take it too far. The end will be the same: internal struggles and conflicts, maybe even open hostilities. Do you want to take that risk, that responsibility?"

"I will never be part of that," Hagen announced. But his conviction was shaken. Was that how the Jedi had split in the first place? How the Dark Jedi, the Sith, had begun? A fraction of a fraction....

"If your scheme is uncovered you will die."

"Kane will not be like that. I am not like that." Hagen shook his head firmly. "What are you saying? You are only trying to trap me."

"You have trapped yourself," Kell grunted and turned away. "I remember when we first met. I was despairing over the future of the Sith, the same way you are now. I thought I had lost everything."

"But I am not lost, Lord Kell. I have found my way, no matter what you think is right or wrong. Sometimes one has to make sacrifices."

Roj Kell laughed out loud. "Exactly. Your sacrifice, Hagen was to betray yourself to me. Your mistake, I should say. Tell Kane to the face that you lied to him and return to Coruscant with a clean conscience to die. Or else let him face his test and be content if he fails. And fail he will. You know me, Hagen. I never lose."

"I am no Sith. I never will be."

"You think your friends on the Council will care? All they can see is the danger you present. You will be lucky if you only get thrown out of the order."

"You tried that threat before."

"And it worked, or else you would have brought half the Jedi Temple with you to this meeting and I would be dead now. No, you are afraid of your destiny, Hagen. Afraid to fail, so you cover up your traces and hope that no one will notice. Well, I do notice. You are an inspiring leader, I can see that the boy is worshipping you, and others do to. Your voice is heard throughout the galaxy and many listen. You have the power to make your dreams come true, if only you were prepared to face yourself." The ancient Sith drew a deep breath, then exhaled again slowly. "I would hate seeing such talent go to waste."

Hagen did not answer. It was all logical and his mind was frantically trying to find the one flaw that would allow him to break free of this trap he had spun for himself. There was no way to save everything; he would have to make a sacrifice. It could not be Kane, that was for sure. It could not be Kell either, because then he would have betrayed all of his ideals, everything.

"So, if I refuse to follow you, what would you do?"

"As I said before, I would hate for you to choose that path. It does not suit you at all. You are destined for greatness, Hagen."

Looking into Kell's clear eyes the Jedi Master knew exactly what the other meant. Roj Kell was a hard task-master, and an even harder teacher. Either you learned your lesson or you were dead. If he chose wrong now the Sith would kill him, no doubt about that. And yet there was no question as to what his answer must be. Or was there?

For a very long time they were silent. Then Kell asked: "What is your decision?"

Raising his head slowly Hagen gave the other a small smile. "You say I was destined for greatness, but I am content with what I am. I am confident in my abilities and my achievements. There is nothing more that I desire."

"And yet you came here to prove yourself." Not a question. Hagen was again astounded at the depth of the old man's perception.

"I think I will be proven right, Lord Kell. You were always trying to ensure your legacy, to let the teachings of the Sith survive. I have achieved that. Kane Jinn will carry my teachings in his heart and one day he will give their meaning to his own apprentice. All I meant was to set an example to you."

"I am intrigued." Roj Kell even sounded amused. "In what way could your actions be an inspiration to me?"

"You once told me that there is a difference between a Dark Jedi and a Sith. I have thought about that difference for a long time, and now I believe I understand. You, my lord, are a true Sith from times long past, but your students never managed to become more than Dark Jedi. Am I right?"

"And what does that prove?" His voice icy cold the ancient Sith drew shadows out of the corners to join him as he moved toward Hagen menacingly. "What do you mean to tell me?"

Hagen smiled. "I am a Jedi, and Kane will be a Jedi too. We will prosper whereas you will always have to start anew, always have to discard one student for another, because they cannot meet your expectations."

Revelation dawned on the Sith Lord's face, amusement, anger and pride flashing across it in rapid succession. Then he laughed out loud, the laughter beating at Hagen's resolve like booming thunder.

"The arrogance of that assumption!" Kell bellowed finally, amidst deep chuckles. "I see you have me trapped, using my own arguments against me. Well," turning serious again the ancient Sith placed a hand on the Jedi Master's shoulder in a friendly, warning gesture. "I appreciate you offer, but I must decline. Just because you are the only one who can meet my standards does not mean that I will follow you." He laughed again softly, then shook his head. "No, Hagen. Either you join me - " he raised his eyebrows meaningfully and there was no doubt about what he meant when he continued: " - or I will have to choose someone else."

"Over my dead body."

****

"Boy, you're going to break a leg running in this weather like that!"

Kane gave Jenna a flustered smile as he skidded to a halt in front of her hut. Holding the slightly squashed fruit out to her he nodded quickly. "Lord Kell asked me to bring this to you." She accepted the gift gingerly, but her eyes seemed troubled. "Is that all right with you?" the young Jedi asked, suddenly concerned. Jenna looked up to meet his eyes and a sad smile was playing over her thin lips.

"It does not matter whether I eat those or throw them away, so I'll better make something useful of them. Have you eaten yet?"

"No, I - I have to go back up again." Kane was dancing impatiently on the spot, waiting for her to let him go. It would have been impolite to leave just like that, and besides, the way she was eyeing him told the young man that there might be something important on her mind.

"Your master is all right?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, yes, at least I believe he is. But I do not want to leave him alone with-"

"I understand." Jenna patted his arm soothingly. "But I think your master will be fine."

"Whose master will be fine?"

Kane practically leaped straight up at the sound of a cheerful female voice ringing out from behind him. Whirling around he felt his eyes widen at the sight of a tall woman dressed in a black jumpsuit confronting him and Jenna both. Her light brown eyes, almost yellow, studied him attentively, but apart from that she seemed to be completely at ease. In complete contrast to Kane. He could sense her, a dark taint on the flow of the Force around him, so strong that it nearly banished the light. There was no doubt about what she was. But Kane refrained from going for his lightsaber just yet. If he had recognized her she must know what he was too, and was probably expecting him to try and strike at her at any moment. Still, he was shaking with dread on the inside, his entrails turning to hard ice in his belly. It was strange, that he had not felt so afraid with Roj Kell almost within arm's reach, but then, his master had told him so much of the ancient Sith that he had become something of an old aquaintance. This woman though radiated pure danger, and Kane had no idea how to handle it.

"You are not welcome here, girl," Jenna told the Sith warrior coldly, her squat figure somewhat at odds with her commanding tone.

The woman gave a soft laugh. "Not welcome? What a shame. But I do not need your permission, old crone. It took me ages to track down that old krayt dragon, and neither you nor that Jedi brat here will prevent me from putting an end to him once and for all." Flicking her fingers she watched Jenna's head jerk back with an almost bored expression, as if breaking someone's neck was something she did every day.

Kane took a step back as Jenna's body tumbled to the muddy ground, fruits spilled all around her. He wanted to cry out loud, but knew that he could not afford to break down or panic now. Looking down at the old woman's still figure he fought the anger at her senseless death down valiantly. There is no anger, there is peace, he reminded himself, and I am serene, I am untouched by her death. The Force is my ally, and the Force is life. Over the past ten years he had had to deal with death often, for not even the Jedi Master Hagen Dycos could succeed at all times. Kane had learned how to cope with loss, but so far his master had always been with him at such times. Now he was alone. Alone with death.

The Sith turned to regard him with a small, predatory smile. "I assume that your master is here for the same reasons?" she asked softly.

"I do not think so," he replied, making himself meet her cold gaze. "You killed her."

"An obeservant boy."

"Why did you kill her? She was no threat to you."

"Very true." She raised her left hand in an imperious gesture and Kane found himself airborne, hanging a few inches above the ground, his feet dangling. "Just as you are no threat to me. What shall I do with you?" she mused aloud. "I could tear you apart, skin you, maybe."

"You are wasting time," Kane told her as coolly as he could. "Lord Kell knows you are coming."

"Does he now. How do you want to know?"

"He sent me."

"You are lying!" she screeched, and flung him against the small hut, which fell in on itself upon the impact.

Lying in a tangled heap amidst the ruins of the shed Hagen tried to free himself frantically. But when he had finally managed to rise again the woman was gone. He could make out her tracks in the mud, leading toward the forest path he had come down from, and he could sense her move away from him. Scrambling over to kneel at Jenna's side he ran a hand over her face, closing her eyes.

"I am sorry, Jenna," he whispered. "All I can claim is that I was not ready yet. I will be a guardian," he promised in a fierce voice, "and I will not hesitate again." Bounding to his feet, his face fixed in a determined snarl, he darted after the Sith, heart racing with honest outrage.

Hagen Dycos felt his blood turn to ice-water when he picked up his apprentice's raging emotions. Something was very wrong. Maybe Kane was in danger, and maybe - He stopped himself, made himself listen more closely to what the Force was telling him. Frowning slightly he tried to make his hearing even more acute, but there was no doubt any longer.

"A trap?" he asked quietly. His opponent did not answer at first. Seeking the old man's gaze Hagen found Kell with a faraway look in his eyes. "Is this your doing?" the Jedi Master repeated a bit more loudly.

"I may like complicated games, but if I want someone dead I don't play, Hagen. You should know that." Walking over to a large chest propped in one corner of the cave Kell raised the lid and rummaged through the contents swiftly. Dumb-struck, the Jedi Master stood rooted in place. All those threats and now this! But he remembered the fight between Roj Kell and Kattewa, Hagen's own master, back on Thando Station. The Sith had been intent on killing the Hortek, displaying none of his usual wit, only brute force and a merciless desire to destroy his adversary. He was no elegant fighter with any weapon safe for his mind, and that could be much more deadly anyway.

"Then you would not have killed me?"

Taking something from the chest Roj Kell turned toward him again, his eyes open and clear. "I would never harm you or the boy. I have hurt myself that way once before, and it took me a long time to recover from that wound. I will not repeat that mistake."

Nodding slowly Hagen felt a strange warmth spread throughout his soul. He had felt the Sith's anguish back on Thando Station, the first time they had met, an old pain that would not go away. Now he understood what had caused it. "I am honored," he managed at last. Roj Kell gave a soft chuckle, that plucked at hidden strings in Hagen's heart and almost made him cry.

"My caring is as dangerous as my hatred, Hagen. Both can destroy you, and one faster than the other. So be careful with your feelings, and with what you tell me."

The Jedi Master nodded mutely. Manipulating others was the ancient Sith's favourite game, and he did not care who he was playing with. He might be more gentle with those he cared for, but if he thought they did something wrong he would be far harder on them too. Pushing those disturbing thoughts aside Hagen studied the items Kell was laying out on the table. He recognized some of them.

"Will you tell me now what happened when you met Bane again all those years ago?"

"He was not overjoyed at seeing me," the ancient Sith said, amusement heavy in his tone. "He tried to kill me. Unfortunately that gave his apprentice an opening to kill him in turn."

"What?"

"Bane always was one for foolish traditions. An apprentice's test for mastery is to overcome his teacher, by killing or at least maiming him."

"That is barbaric."

"I agree." Smiling, Roj Kell shook his head. "And before you ask why I survived, well, you know me, I don't let anyone come close enough for killing me."

"Always a step ahead, yes, I think I remember that," Hagen replied wrily. "So the apprentice killed him."

"She has talent, undoubtedly, but she also has the foolish notion that she should be the only Sith around, until she has chosen an apprentice."

"Then that is her?"

"Yes. Her name is Soniva."

"Is she dangerous?"

"Fervent." With that the ancient Sith took one of the pieces lying on the table and clasped it around his left forearm. Hagen remembered the armor well. Kell had worn an almost identical twin to this one back on Thando Station, but he fancied that there were even more carvings inlaid into the black plasteel now. But with Roj Kell there was no visible, grand transformation from scheming scholar to warrior, the armor just seemed to fit him perfectly, as if it had been there all along. But then, the man exuded danger even when asleep. "How is the boy?"

"Alive," Hagen answered, startled out of his musings. "He is coming here."

"Good. Because we are about to have a visitor." Snatching a quarterstaff from one corner of the room Kell refastened the animal skin over the window, then placed himself on the single chair, lounging quite nonchalantly, the staff lying across his outstretched legs. "Just be yourself, Hagen," he told the Jedi Master softly.

****

Kane was running as fast as he could, but he knew that he was too late. Too late. Sprinting over the slippery pathways he was crying.

"No!"

The rain pouring over his face mingled with his tears, and his grief and pain were raging just as powerfully as the storm overhead. Stumbling along the pathway and slipping in the mud, Kane was sobbing quietly. He had no idea what was happening, all he knew was that his master was hurt.

He brushed away twigs and branches carelessly, not paying any attention to them ripping at his clothes, his skin. Covered in mud and drenched to the bone with rain he refused to slow down. Dancing precariously along the ledge he could see the cave entrance up ahead, but the roaring voices of the storm swallowed every other noise. The young Jedi though was wise enough not to rush into a fight like a fool. Entering the stone corridor gingerly he felt a pang of relief when the wind died down a bit and the sound of raindrops flaying the ground became muted. He strained his senses as far as he could go, his ears picking up loud banging noises now, grunts and bit-off curses. But that was the least worry on his mind. Hurrying further down the corridor he found Hagen lying on the wet floor around the corner, just inside the entrance to the real cave.

"Master!" He dropped down next to the fallen Jedi Master concern mingling with fear in his already stressed mind. Hagen groaned softly. Running his hands over the other's body Kane could feel several spots that seemed to conceal broken bones or internal injuries. He bit his lower lip in frustration, cursing his lack of skill in healing. What was he to do?

"Kane," the Jedi Master whispered softly, haltingly. "You ... must help ... him."

Raising his head abruptly Kane stared at the fight going on just a few meters away in disbelief. Help him? It was chaos. The furniture had been torn to pieces, and parts of it were cruising at high speed through the room like missiles. Amidst that hailstorm Roj Kell was grimly holding off the unrelenting attacks of the female Sith warrior Kane had tried to delay down in the small valley. She was in complete control of the situation, wielding her lightsaber deftly against the ancient Sith Lord's rather clumsy defense. Her face was a study of utter concentration, calm, perceptive and deadly. Ducking underneath her overhead block Roj Kell suddenly darted up, his right arm connecting with her neck heavily. She flew back against the wall, and the tall Sith did not hesitate in following her. But she countered his attack by kicking him in the stomach and chest in rapid succession. Blood started flowing from the ancient warrior's mouth and nose and Kane understood that he must have suffered internal injuries too.

"Kane," Hagen repeated pleadingly.

Making his decision in a split-second the young Jedi darted ahead and into the fight. Reaching out to the Force he let himself fall into the complex picture of past, present and future, evaluating the two adversaries' possible moves quickly. When the woman reeled back from another blow he lunged at her, his arms closing around her waist as he carried her with her, toward the far wall. She looked around, saw where they were headed, and twisted in the Jedi's grasp like a cat. Kane was almost knocked unconscious when she performed a back-flip despite his weight hanging on to her, and he impacted against the wall first, his ribcage creaking ominously, as he cushioned the blow for her. She scrambled out of his grasp, then kicked at him for good measure, before she concentrated on Kell again. Kane saw the old man crouch on the floor, looking as dazed as he himself felt.

"Well," the woman huffed tiredly, then called the lightsaber she had lost in the last attack to her hand and reignited it. "I admit I am a bit surprised that you have two Jedi to aid you." She gave a dismissive wave with her left hand. "Not that they have been of much use to you. Time to say farewell, Lord Kell."

I prefer goodbye," the ancient Sith countered with a bloodied smile.

As the woman advanced on her opponent warily Kane let his right hand slip down to his belt to unhook his lightsaber. Holding it tightly he rose very cautiously, eyes intent on the two warriors, as he cleared his thoughts of everything, seeking the clear, emotionless void Hagen had taught him for meditation.

The woman raised her weapon high, the red beam of light blazing, and everything seemed to be happening at once. Her lightsaber arched down, seemingly burning a hole through time, as Kane sent his own blade flying. It severed her right arm cleanly at the elbow, and brushed the ancient Sith's head

just barely. Kane's eyes popped open in astonishment. Then Kell moved with a wordless growl, scything his left leg through her ankles, dropping her to the floor. When his hands closed around the woman's neck as if to choke her, Kane took a tentative step toward them, but Hagen's voice held him back.

"Come here," the Jedi Master ordered him calmly.

Eyes wide and hands trembling Kane turned away from the two Sith as the woman's voice rose in an ear-splitting scream. It seemed to go on forever, piercing the young Jedi's heart to the core as he forced himself to walk onward and away. But why? Why should he make a difference between one and the other? His anguish was plain in his eyes as he knelt down beside Hagen, hanging his head in defeat. Moving feebly Hagen lay a hand on his thigh.

"Being a guardian ... is more than being a warrior," his teacher explained softly, "and harder to understand. You have yet to learn that."

"But why?"

"There is no 'why', Kane Jinn. There is only that what will happen. That is reality. We do not question the truth." Kane shivered at the sound of Roj Kell's voice. Twisting around he met the cold gaze of the ancient Sith looming over him questioningly. His eye darted once between Hagen and Kell, before he began:

"I heard what you said to him, you knew -"

"Your master is a very dangerous man, Kane Jinn. I fear you have not yet realized just how dangerous."

"Dangerous to whom?"

"You."

Shaking his head in disbelief Kane growled: "You are lying."

"I never lie."

"I heard what you said, that he was using me. But that is not the entire truth. Everyone is using someone, but it is only evil when you are using them against their will." He gritted his teeth against the anger welling up from his heart. "I want to be like him, no matter what. I would not have rejected him just because he withheld some of the truth."

"I know that, and he does too. But then you would have been flawed. Knowledge can be a hindrance, sometimes. You needed to trust him to become what he is already."

"I am a Jedi, Lord Kell," Kane answered and raised his chin determinedly. "I will be a Jedi Knight no matter what."

"A dangerous statement, that."

"I know my way. I know my strength. You cannot harm me any more than you can harm him. He did not join you and neither will I. So you can kill me now or let it be. Your decision, Lord Kell."

The ancient Sith gave him a quizzical look. "Perhaps I underestimated your strength," he murmured softly.

"Only time will tell."

Laughing out loud Roj Kell shook his head wildly. "I recognize your kind, little one! A very intriguing challenge. I will have to be more wary in the future, I suppose."

There is no harm in words, Kane told himself firmly, but Kell's comment about the danger of knowledge just would not go away. Only words, and yet he had the feeling that somehow, somewhere, hidden strings and levers were being pulled, trying to direct him down a predestined way. The question was: had Hagen chosen it for him, or the Sith? For a long moment he felt himself drown in uncertainty. But then Hagen lay an arm around his shoulders, drawing him close in a comforting embrace.

"Hush now," he whispered softly.

Tears were flowing down his cheeks, but with all that had happened Kane was too upset to reply. What was he to say anyway? Hanging on to the Jedi Master desperately he was not at all ashamed at his childish fear.

Hugging him back tightly Hagen whispered soothing words in his ear, his voice lulling the young Jedi into a warm cocoon, that seemed to keep the shadows and cold at bay. "Ssh, be still. Don't cry," he mumbled.

His face buried against the older man's shoulder Kane continued his sobbing a bit more quietly. It was true. Once embraced the darkness became easier to bear. A frightening discovery. But no more frightening than the loss of innocence.

"Move aside," Roj Kell told him suddenly, wearily, and wedged himself in between Kane and his teacher. Studying Hagen intently the Sith seemed to have forgotten about the fierce struggle that had almost cost every one of them their life. Crawling out of the way Kane threw a hesitant look at the woman lying on the floor a bit further away. Her tear-filled eyes were open, and she was shaking hard, as if she had lost control over her own body.

"What are you going to do with her?" Kane asked quietly.

"Teach her a little bit respect for her elders and betters. Is that not so, Soniva?" Looking over his shoulder Kell raised his eyebrows questioningly at the younger Sith. She nodded very slowly. "Good girl. There," he rose a bit shakily from his crouch and took a step back. "Almost as good as new."

"Thank you," Hagen answered with a tiny smile. Then Kane darted forward to help him get to his feet.

"No." The ancient Sith spread his hands in a defensive gesture. "I must thank you two for your help. For everything."

Shuddering with relief Kane gave the old man a grateful look. It sounded strange, but he could feel that the Sith was sincere. "You never meant to kill her," he stated at last, a bit surprised himself.

"Of course not. Why would I?" Roj Kell smiled at him.

Kane merely nodded to himself. So that was what Hagen had meant, that there was more to being a guardian than barging into unknown territory on a whim. It seemed that he still had a lot to learn.

"I notice that you did not tell me about her killing Jenna," Roj Kell stated softly.

"It did not seem necessary," Kane replied graciously. "And I did not want to make you even more angry at her."

"I am not angry, not at all. Maybe disappointed that she insists on foolishness."

Kane saw his master smile, then Hagen stepped forward to enfold the ancient Sith in a bear-hug. For a second Roj Kell seemed startled, and that sight made the young Jedi's jaw drop.

"She is not the only one who does," he heard Hagen murmur softly.

****

It felt a bit strange, but Hagen was glad that he had finally managed to overcome the physical barrier that had separated him from his Sith counterpart so far. Sensing the other's surprise he suppressed a feeling of sudden triumph. No matter what Kell was doing, he could only fail in one task and succeed in another. In that Hagen was glad that the presence of darkness made the light shine brighter. To his eyes his young apprentice was blazing like the sun.

"He will be worthy," he said quietly, and disengaged from Kell again. The ancient Sith was studying him pensively, but did not react at first. Finally he said:

"The question is whether you are."

"I do not believe I failed today," the Jedi Master countered calmly. "It was a risky gamble, yes, but sometimes the higher the standards the better. Kane is much like myself, and he will face the same dangers. I believe that I have prepared him for that as best I could, and he has proven that he can indeed react according to the situation. He will not fail us. Neither will I. As long as we are aware of our failings we will succeed."

Roj Kell nodded. "You speak words of true wisdom, Hagen Dycos. And I am satisfied to hear that I am no longer alone in my quest." The two men shared a nod. "But keep that secret safe, my friend. I would not want you to die too soon. There is a lot you will have to accomplish first."

"Never worry for me," Hagen answered regally. "I think I have learned a thing or two of surviving." He bowed respectfully, composing himself: "May the Force be with you, Lord Kell."

"And with you." Returning the gesture the ancient Sith gave him a warm smile. "Leave in peace, my friend, as you came in peace." He turned serious once more. "Kane Jinn."

The boy, totally immersed in following their exchange, gave a startled yelp. "What?"

"I hope you will take these lessons to heart."

"I will, I promise." Bowing hurriedly Kane shot the two older men a wry grin. "Don't you worry that I will ever forget," he added almost cheerfully.

"Let's go," Hagen said, and turned away. He did not look back once.

The End