Alamys woke with a strangled gasp, finding his mouth and nose clogged with his own blood, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. It took a moment for him to realize where exactly he was. A ship, he thought, judging from the wall design. His body was one mass of bruises and superficial burns, the sole exception being the hole burned into his middle, and his nose and jaw seemed to be broken. Moving therefore was out of question, for now. Nevertheless he tried to take in more of his surroundings, and carefully turned his head to the opposite side, only to find the Sith apprentice sitting on his haunches in front of him, studying the Jedi Master intently. In the background, the Whiphid was lounging in one of the chairs that had been fixed around the rec room's round table. The alien seemed to be dead drunk. Alamys frowned at the strange setting.
Then the apprentice rose and turned to address the Whiphid. "Master, he is awake," he announced calmly. The Whiphid waved drunkenly.
"Good, good. You go and try your hand at a bit of questioning, Sidious," the giant alien said in a slurred voice, his huge torso swaying slightly. "I'll watch."
When the apprentice turned back toward Alamys the Jedi Master felt a jolt of fear at seeing the hateful expression on the man's face. It was clear that Sidious resented his master, and it was also clear to Alamys that the apprentice sought to vent his frustration on his helpless captive. Well, not all that helpless. Very carefully, Alamys reached out for the Force, determined to sell his life dearly. But he found that he could not enter a calming trance, his injuries hindering him from taking deep, even breaths. There was power, just out of sight, a maddening whirlwind of fear and despair, but Alamys refused to acknowledge that. The Sith, noticing his dilemma, smiled at him coldly.
"You feel it, don't you? Perhaps you would like to match darkness against darkness?"
It was a taunt, obviously, but still, Alamys' reaction was fervent. "Never," he snapped, and winced in pain. His lower jaw hurt like hell.
"Oh, so brave," Sidious teased him, while he proceeded to rip the remains of the Jedi Master's cloak to shreds and used it to bind his wrists together on his back. Then, carefully, he bunched up a piece of cloth and shoved it into Alamys' mouth, delicately drawing his jaws open, a move that sent red sparks of agony flying through the Jedi's head. Bound and gagged he was barely able to breath, and his instincts kicked in, demanding that he free himself. It took a supreme effort to calm himself down. Closing his eyes, Alamys turned to the mantra that always was solace to him whenever he was in trouble.
There is no emotion – There is peace. There is no ignorance – There is knowledge. There is no passion – There is serenity. There is no death – There is the Force.
Repeating the words over and over again in his mind he was able to shut out the pain as Sidious began hurting him, proving much more adept at it than his master. But gradually his mind was filled with a blank wall of suffering. All the while the Sith Lord kept talking about Inyo Di'vitt and her experiments, her death and her victims. Alamys realized that Sidious' goal was not to get him talking, he wanted to break into his mind to retrieve the location of the body, which was why he diverted the Jedi Master's thoughts toward this specific topic. In turn, Alamys increased his efforts and started shouting the words of the Jedi Code in his mind. All he gained, though, was a patronizing smile directed at him from Sidious.
"What is taking so long?" came the low growl from the Whiphid, and Alamys heard the alien rise from his seat. He came over toward them with heavy steps, making the deck vibrate underneath Alamys' body. The Jedi Master reacted instantly. Throwing himself around, he pressed his back against the wall and kicked his legs out at Sidious' kneeling figure with all his strength. The apprentice flew back and crashed against the already swaying Whiphid, who lost his balance and toppled over, landing on top of Sidious.
For a moment both Sith were incapacitated, and Alamys forced himself onto his knees, using the wall as leverage to stand. He remained there briefly, gathering his concentration, then jumped over the tangled bodies that were frantically trying to disengage from one another amidst loud curses and indignant shouts. Disorientated, Alamys hunted around for any exit, but it cost him precious time, he knew. Finally he found a door and rammed his shoulder against the electrical pad that would open it. It did not budge. With a powerful move he ripped the cloth holding his wrists together apart and quickly dislodged the gag from his mouth. Then he tried the pad again, and managed to palm the door open. Finally!
Behind him, he heard the outraged scream from the Whiphid Sith Master, and a moment later, just as he stumbeld through the opening, something hit his shoulder, and white hot pain paralysed his body, dropping him to the deck again. The impact let the long-bladed sword that had punctured his shoulder slide halfway back again, causing even more injury. Tears started leaking from Alamys' eyes, unbidden. Then the Whiphid dropped down next to him, his breath stinking of alcohol.
"A shame," the alien muttered unsteadily as he dislodged the sword with about as much care as a butcher would use. "I really meant to hit your neck," the Whiphid concluded.
From his position on the deck Alamys could see Sdious standing a bit apart, rubbing his left shoulder and directing a fiery gaze at the Whiphid. One day soon the apprentice would kill his master out of sheer exasperation, Alamys thought, suddenly very cool again. The Whiphid seized his neck in a large hand and dragged him upright again.
"Master," Sidious began, but the alien interrupted him instantly.
"Silence. You obviously are as inept at questioning a prisoner as you are at anything else. Here, hold that." He threw the bloodied sword at the apprentice blade first. Sidious caught it expertly, but the glowering expression on his face made him look like a raptor ready to strike. For a long moment Alamys stood gazing up into the Whiphid's small, red eyes, saw the malice and cruelty that lurked behind the alcohol-induced stupor lingering on the alien's face, and he knew that he had just one last chance left. "Now, what to do with you? Shall I squeeze that knowledge out of your brain, perhaps?"
Before Alamys could react the Whiphid's palms had engulfed his head already. The Jedi Master dropped down on his haunches and head-butted the alien into the groin, sending the Whiphid stumbling back with a howl. Then, with the Whiphid's head in better reach, Alamys spun around on one leg and delivered a high-kick that snapped the Sith Master's head around mercilessly. With the alien knocked out for the moment, Alamys immediately made for the exit.
But he had underestimated the apprentice again.
Sidious raced past Nexus' bulk with cold calculation, his anger an icy blade that was aimed straight at the Jedi, even though the true source of his fury was the Whiphid. Making himself run even faster, Sidious sped out of the ship and found the Jedi Master hobbling toward the shadows in the distance. The Sith apprentice smiled to himself and shook his head. Alamys Jorka would have to be able to fly to get out of this trap. They had brought him aboard their ship, then landed the vessel inside the vast pit that made up half of the construction site. There were sheer walls all around, no way for the Jedi Master to escape. As expected, Sidious found him leaning against the far side of the pit, panting with exhaution and pain, his head lowered in a listless gesture of defeat.
"You won't escape me," Sidious whispered as he walked closer. "Ever."
Jorka raised his eyes ever so slightly, meeting his unafraid. "That may be so, but you won't get what you want either."
His patience finally snapping, Sidious focused his anger into a black fist of outrage that hit the Jedi Master full force. He heard Alamys' ribs crack from where he stood, and blood started flowing from the taller man's mouth instantly. Eyes bulging, Jorka dropped to his knees, his arms folded protectively across his abdomen. In four quick strides Sidious had reached him and slipped his hand underneath the man's chin, forcing him to look up into his eyes.
"Now, I would advise you to consider very carefully what you say next," he growled. "Where is the body?"
For a moment the Jedi Master's eyes tightened in defiance, but then his features slackened visibly. "My ship," he managed, averting his gaze.
"Where?"
"CorSec port, north," Alamys replied, his voice very low.
Releasing him again, Sidious straightened once more. "Excellent. I will confirm this. If you have lied to me, expect your torment to exceed your wildest imagination. I will be back."
He left the Jedi were he was and stalked back to the ship to retrieve his speeder bike. Now, if Nexus could bring himself to staying sober more than twenty hours none of this would have happened. Sidious' hands were clenching and unclenching into tight fists as he calmed himself. He went into the ship to check on Nexus, and found the Whiphid sitting at the table, eyes fixed thoughtfully on a bottle of Corellian whiskey.
"Did you kill him?" he asked quietly.
"No master. He has finally revealed the location of his ship. I believe I will find the body there."
"Excellent. Go and bring it back here. Then we will leave."
Sidious stood mute for a moment. "Yes, master," he grated out at last, and proceeded to the ship's hold. Ten minutes later he was on his way to the CorSec port, dark thoughts of vengeance for company. Well, hopefully Alamys Jorka was incapacitated enough not to cause even more trouble or worse, to escape. But then, woul dit be so bad if the Jedi Master managed to kill Nexus? Yes, it would. That was a pleasure Sidious had reserved for himself.
Alamys had closed his eyes, too exhausted to feel shame at all. Perhaps, just perhaps he had bought Leevar enough time to get away. His heart clenched with worry. Hopefully the Corellian Jedi would not cross Sidious' path right now. In the state he was in the Sith apprentice was unpredictable, and very powerful. Leaning his back against the high wall of the construction pit, Alamys fought down another wave of despair. It was true what he had told Leevar. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to the Corellian's family.
Caughing hard, Alamys bent over and spat the blood filling his mouth and throat onto the ground before him. Things looked bad, but there was still that chance, that Leevar had reacted in time.
He assessed the damage to his body methodically, and found that he had no chance of getting away for the next hours or so. First he needed to heal. Putting all worries behind him, his secret a secret no more, Alamys let his mind low into the Force, calmer than before, and let himself float in that soft embrace. He breathed against the pain wreacking his ribcage, through it and beyond, until he had found a rhythm that held a balance between pain and relief.
There is no emotion – There is peace. There is no ignorance – There is knowledge. There is no passion – There is serenity. There is no death – There is the Force.
He was at peace again, and his mind cleared gradually, allowing him tp ponder the events to come. If Leevar had left with ship and body, Sidious would return empty-handed, and the Sith would either vanish into whatever den they had come from, or would else try to keep their existence hidden further. Which meant that they would somehow try to get Leevar to keep silent. Using his family as pressure point, for example. Should Leevar have been too late ... Well, no sense in shying away from that thought. If the Sith got their hands on the body and if a trace of the virus had survived the centuries, there was a good chance that they would bring Inyo Di'vitt's plan to a more successful ending. Again Alamys remembered Hagen Dycos' fears concerning an infection of the Force itself. He frowned. Though he had no clue how such a thing could be done, he was afraid to dismiss the possibility. Not that he could do anything about it, in his current position. Sighing deeply, Alamys let his shoulders slump, resignedly accepting the pain that caused. Nothing he could do, period. He should not worry now, and rest instead. Following his own advice, he fell asleep, healing.
Alamys woke to the sound of approaching small craft, Sidious speeder bike, he assumed. He watched the Sith apprentice hop off his bike with a large sack slung over his shoulder. Inyo Di'vitt's remains, undoubtedly. Struggling to his feet, the Jedi Master made his way over to the ship slowly. It was pure irony that he was now voluntarily returning to his captors, but he knew that escape was impossible, and he was curious as to what the Sith were planning to do now. Cautiously, he walked up the exit ramp, feeling each step jolt through his abused body. He paused at the entry hatch, then continued further into the ship. As suspected he found the Sith Master seated at the table in the rec room, while Sidious was on his way back out and brushed past the Jedi without a word, possibly to bring his speeder bike on board. Wearily, Alamys sat down opposite from the Whiphid, keeping a careful watch over the giant, but Nexus seemed preoccupied.
"My apprentice told me you found reason at last," he said suddenly, making Alamys jump.
"I do not know whether reason was part of that decision," the Jedi Master confessed truthfully. He still wasn't sure why he had let Sidious cow him into that admission. Grimacing ever so slightly he felt the left side of his face burn as his skin stretched around the lightsaber slash.
"He can be truly frightening," The Whiphid whispered, then gave Alamys a conspirative wink, before he raised a glass filled with some brown liquid to his lips.
Alamys stared at him in fascination. But he recalled all too vividly the sheer menace he had seen in Sidious' blue eyes out there, the total absence of scruples, of any hesitation whatsoever. Leaning back again she shrugged carefully, his punctured shoulder making that gesture pure torture. "I guess so, yes."
"Here," Nexus said, and slid a holocube across the table. "That belongs to you, doesn't it?"
"The Library, actually," Alamys answered darkly, still not sure what to think of this surreal encounter. He reached out for the holocube, let it roll over his palms thoughtfully. It came alive with startling abruptness.
"Greetings," the Ho'Din began. "I am Master Jeldo, Keeper of this Chronicle. What is your question?"
Through the greenish glow of the hologram Alamys saw Nexus gaze at the miniature image of the Ho'Din with the childlike fascination of any drunk. But Alamys did not know what to say. So he sat gazing at the tiny hologram wistfully, seeking comfort in a familiar, friendly face. The sound of the ship's exit hatch slamming shut brought him out of his reverie, and a moment later Darth Sidious stalked into the rec room, his blue eyes glittering dangerously as he gazed at his master's back.
"Making friends?" he asked coldly, then took another step forward and snatched the holocron out of Alamys' hands. "Not yours any longer, Jedi," he spat.
Alamys met his fury calmly, but Nexus turned his massive head ever so slightly, all sense of wonder vanishing in a blast of icy contempt when he looked up at his apprentice. "Enough," he snarled hoarsely and pushed himself up from his chair. "We are leaving. You will join me in the cockpit, Sidious. Secure him," he added, with a nod in the Jedi Master's direction. "He won't be any trouble."
"Really," Sidious hissed under his breath, low enough to keep it hidden from Nexus, but for Alamys the hatred in his words was plain enough. Still caught up in his fury, Darth Sidious moved toward him, a snake-like movement, more graceful than what Alamys had seen of the man before. Hsi eyes were burning. "Your friend is dead," he said with finalty, and Alamys felt himself pale in shock.
"You – " he began heatedly, rising from his seat, but Sidious pushed him back down again hard. He leaned very close, his left hand still resting on Alamys' shoulder.
"Now listen closely, Alamys Jorka. Darth Nexus is a fool, but he is a dead fool, who does not know that his end is near. Just like you."
Closing his eyes, Alamys felt close to tears. Not Leevar! He thought of the Corellian's little son, Neeja, his mother whose name he did not even know. It was his fault that Leevar was dead, his alone. I am so sorry. Overwhelmed with grief, he did not resist when Sidious hauled him out of the chair and dragged him over to the corner where he had first woken. He simply sat propped up against the wall, while the Sith apprentcie went aft to fetch something, metal cuffs, Alamys realized when he fixed them around the Jedi Master's wrists. Then he snapped a collar around the captive's neck and activated it. That was the last thing Alamys felt that day, before he was plunged into dreamless, unsubstantional oblivion.
Qui-Gon Jinn was restless. He had been deeply disturbed ever since his mock-duel with Master Jorka, and what the other man had implied concerning Count Dooku's disappearance. Now rumours had it that there were important documents missing from the library, and Qui-Gon was gradually warming up to the thought that his former master might really have been dabbling with Dark Side teachings. He had been thinking long and hard what to do about this, and he longed to find Dooku and confront him about these rumours. If they were true ... He shook his head evehemently. Count Dooku was one of the most insightful and responsible Jedi that Qui-Gon knew of. He might not be as tight on custom and protocol as Alamys Jorka, but Qui-Gon preferred the less conventional way.
On his way down to the main promenade, Qui-Gon passed through the levels housing the different class-rooms where children of all ages were dilligently studying to perhaps become Jedi Knights one day. Hesitating for a moment, Qui-Gon decided to find Master Yoda and discuss his future steps with him. If anyone could give him advice now it was the tiny Jedi Master. As it turned out, Master Yoda was busy with one of his classes, and Qui-Gon smiled as he watched the row of children sit on the floor, eyes wide, drinking in the Jedi Master's words. When he became aware of Qui-Gon standing in the doorway, Yoda interrupted his lecture and encouraged the small students to relax a bit until he returned. Then he hobbled out into the hallway to join Qui-Gon. That one was surprised by the solemn expression that fell across the Jedi Master's features quite suddenly.
"Heard the news you have already?"
Confused, Qui-Gon shook his head. "No, master. What news?"
"Arrived just has a new student, a boy from Corellia. Neeja Halcyon his name is, the son of Leevar Halcyon. Died his father has quite unexpectedly."
Qui-Gon was momentarily taken aback. He had met Halcyon once, a brash Corellian with a quick wit and an easy smile. He had not known that he'd had a son, though. "That is very sad. His mother brought him?"
Yoda nodded. "Not all this is. Before die he did Leevar Halcyon helped Master Jorka. Now Master Jorka, vanished he has too, on Corellia. Concerned Mistress Halcyon says her husband was, suspect he did an act of violence."
"You mean Master Jorka might be dead?"
"Possible it is. Unclear the Force is about his fate."
Nodding to himself, Qui-Gon pondered the implications of this event. He had suspected that Alamys Jorka would try to track down Count Dooku himself, though he had not understood why the Jedi Master had decided to begin his search on Corellia of all places. Yet the Jedi Knight had a feeling that those disappearances were connected somehow.
"What should I do?" he asked, never even considering that this might not concern him.
Yoda gave him a long look, then sighed. "Feel I do that Master Jorka is close to darkness. Proud he is, and pride is a trip-wire for the unwary. Loose him we can not. Too powerful he is, just like your former master. Find them we must and make certain that no danger they pose. If meet they do once more, fear I do that fight they will again."
"I see," Qui-Gon replied drily. He remembered all too vividly the heated discussions his master had held with Alamys Jorka in the past. "I will begin my search on Serenno, Count Dooku's homeworld. Perhaps I can find out something there."
"Agree I do. Careful you must be, Qui-Gon Jinn, until certain you are about what to expect."
Bowing respectfully, Qui-Gon gave a slight smile. "I will, Master Yoda. May the Force be with you."
"And with you, Qui-Gon."
Darth Sidious was pacing the length of his room impatiently. He needed to return to Naboo soon now, and Nexus was taking too long! Unfortunately Siidious himself had never immersed himself in studying natural sciences, but his master Darth Nexus had been a reknowned scientist, a true exception of the Whiphid species. Now Nexus had shut himself into his laboratory, seeking to extract the surviving traces of the Motha Virus from Inyo Di'vitt's decayed body. And Sidious was stuck. His master had tasked him with finding a way to infect the Force with the Motha Virus, but the apprentice was hard-pressed to imagine such a thing. It seemed impossible. The Force was not an entity as such, it was made up of mupltiple entities, of everything alive. One would have to infect everything to infect the Force, he thought. And such an effort was truly not worthwhile. Instead, Sidious found Inyo Di'vitt's original plan quite appealing. Infect a few Jedi Knights, turn them lose in the Jedi Temple and boom – you'd have a major war going on right on Coruscant, that would force the Republic to interfere, and with any luck the Jedi would be eradicated in a civil war.
That happy vision receded into the back of his mind gradually as reality kicked in again. Nexus would never allow that. Shrugging to himself, Sidious wandered out of his room and into the house's living-room. The 'house' was actually no more than a bunker set into the coastline of Zelos II's oceanside. It had three stories and one cellar, which was currently occupied by Alamys Jorka. Another thing Sidious did not understand. Why did his master insist on keeping the Jedi alive? He knew far too much to let live. True, there was not much Jorka could do, and there was only very little chance that he could even muster the strength to try and escape. Still. Sidious stalked down the set of stairs that led into the basement and carefully checked on the room's single occupant. He seemed to be asleep. Opening the door, the Sith apprentice turned on the lights, which clicked on one after the other, bathing the stark room in a cold white glow.
Alamys Jorka had settled down in the far corner of the basement, wrapped in an old blanket. He was stirring weakly as Sidious walked over to him. Tired blue eyes looked out between crusted eyelids, up at the Sith apprentice. There was no fear visible in the Jedi Master's features, though. He had lost weight over the past few days, and Sidious knew that he was starving, but Nexus had forbidden him to feed the man. Which seemed to run totally contrary to his keep-the-Jedi-alive maxime. One plausible explanation would be that Nexus wanted to weaken the man further, as if that were necessary. There was nothing Alamys Jorka could offer in terms of resistance. It was all he could do to survive now. Sidious prodded the man with his left boot tentatively.
"Can you speak?" Jorka blinked at him, then shook his head. "Stay put. I'll be back," the apprentice promised, then left, only to return shortly thereafter with a flask of water in one hand, the holocron he had found with the Jedi Master in the other.
He handed the water to Jorka, who unscrewed the flask carefully to drink. While the other man wetted his parched throat, Sidious sat cross-legged in front of him, studying the holocron pensively. Neither he nor Nexus could activate it without getting told that they would not learn anything here. It seemed to be a sort of safety-catch that prevented any darksider from using it. It was a shrewd design, and devised almost two thousand years ago, if Nexus' estimate of the holocron's age was true. Reverentially, Sidious reached out to take the holocron in his left hand and held it up to his eyes. A moment later the gatekeeper, the Ho'Din Jeldo, appeared, lecturing him again, that he would not learn anything. Sidious gave the image a mirthless smile. Then he handed the holocron over to Alamys Jorka, who looked first at Sidious, then at the Ho'Din, before he set the flask aside and took up the offered cube.
"Ask him about the Force," Sidious ordered, and again the Jedi gave him a long, inquisitive glance.
When he spoke his deep voice was still hoarse. "Greetings Master Jeldo. In our last conversation you told me about a storm of darkness that almost swallowed the Jedi Temple. You mentioned an infection of the Force. Could you specify that observation?"
Sidious' smile deepened. So, Alamys Jorka had understood enough to anticipate his new masters' wishes. Good. A tame Jedi might make an excellent asset in the war to come. He dropped his gaze to look down at the Ho'Din, as the holoimage began to explain.
"The presence of Roj Kell, and his deft manipulation of the Jedi assisting in his breaking, created a hostile atmosphere of distrust, doubt and aggression. Only after his escape the Jedi Council understood fully how he had managed to bring the temple's occupants at the brink of despair and darkness. In that he infected the Jedi residing within the temple, since his breaking involved many and touched many. It was hardly possible to ignore his plight, and yet his arrogance prompted many to despise him. Especially when it became known that he had betrayed us."
"Then subterfuge is a way to confuse and deceive the Force?" Alamys Jorka asked.
"The Force is not a living entity," Master Jeldo corrected him. "But the Jedi Council concluded that, by creating such a mired web of darkness and deceit, it is possible to cloud the Jedi's perception of events. Which is why the Dark Side is so dangerous, and so hard to recognize. Therefore manipulation and deception are something the Jedi must uncover and fight. If the people are infected with darkness, the Force will be clouded."
The holocron was shut down abruptly, leaving Sidious staring at an empty spot just above the small cube. "Is that what you wanted to hear?" Alamys Jorka asked coldly.
Sidious gave him a quick smile, meant to hide his surprise. "Yes," he declared.
How marvellous! This was far easier than what Nexus was planning! And so much more subtle too! The Jedi was still gazing at him thoughtfully, then nodded seemingly to himself.
"I suppose this is the way it has to be," he said quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"The prophecy," Jorka explained. "It makes sense that somehow the light will be diminished, and that a savior will bring balance to the Force again."
Sidious was intrigued. "Prophecy? What prophecy are you talking about?"
" 'And in the time of greatest despair there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as the Son of the Suns'," Alamys quoted. "This can only mean the demise of the Jedi, for how else could despair overcome the galaxy, if not for the decline of the light?"
"You believe in this prophecy?" Sidious asked quietly, suppressing a laugh. Such arrogance!
Jorka looked at him earnestly. "Prophecies may be reflections of the hopes and wishes of the people that create them, but they still contain universal truths. History tells us that children's fairy tales are all too true. Evil never triumphs, no matter how long the light must fight to overcome darkness. The Sith eventually succumbed to it, at Ruusan. Even if you manage to go through with whatever you are planning you will always lose."
"So you do believe it will come true."
Alamys shrugged. "What else is left for me?"
"You must be very patient, Alamys Jorka, that you could wait out millennia to see the light triumph only to start the circle anew."
"I believe in the Light," the older man said firmly. "That is why I am what I am, Sidious. I am a Jedi."
"You are a deluded fool," the Sith apprentice snapped, then rose somewhat indignantly, picking the holocron up as he stood. "I have told you once already. The sole reason for your still being alive is your continued usefulness to my master."
"And you are curious just what he is planning to do with me, aren't you?"
Sidious found no immediate answer. His mind congealed into a mass of hatred at the mere thought of the Whiphid Sith Master. Yes, just what was Nexus planning to do with the Jedi?
"We shall see," he replied curtly, then whirled around to leave again.
The lights went out again. Alamys settled back against the wall with a low sigh, but then he smiled. To someone as attuned to reading emotions as he was, the web of animosities spun between master and apprentice was so thick that it seemed to fill the entire house. Sidious despised the Whiphid Sith Master with a passion, but never let it show too openly, maintaining a cool, calm exterior most of the time. One benefit of that strategy was obviously his learning a lot of patience and self-control. And yet, one day Sidious would stand up to his master and slay him. That the apprentice was the more dangerous of the two Sith Alamys had learned already back on Corellia. For his plans to escape he would therefore have to concentrate his efforts on Nexus.
The Whiphid was still more powerful and more knowledgeable than Sidious, but he was afraid of the younger man, hiding that fear behind frequent outbursts of seemingly uncontrolled fury. They served to keep Sidious uncertain about his master's state of mind. Also a long-practised defensive strategy. Still, there was one problem Alamys was facing: While Sidious quite frequently came down into the basement to gain information through the holocron and to question Alamys, Nexus never showed himself down here. Yet to play off master against apprentice, Alamys needed to make contact and groom the mutual animosities between the two Sith. Sidious had to move more aggressively against Nexus, so Nexus could be convinced that the threat his apprentice posed was getting out of his control, forcing him to act.
But how to achieve this?
Shivering, Alamys tried to wrap the blanket closer around his naked body. Nexus was trying to weaken him for something, and unfortunately the Jedi Master had a fair idea of just what that was, even though Sidious would not even consider that possibility. Darth Nexus sought to succeed where Inyo Di'vitt had failed. He wanted to bring the awesome power the Motha Virus could unleash under his control and perhaps even turn it against his apprentice. Alamys relaxed a fraction. Perhaps Nexus himself would make the first step. After all, he could not risk his aprentice knowing anything of his plans. His ears perked up when he heard loud voices from overhead. A discussion? Doors slammed, there was the sound of pounding feet, as someone stalked angrily across the floor. The noises went on for a few more minutes, then silence fell.
Confused, Alamys frowned into the darkness. What was happening?
He spent half an hour in that uncertainty, before the door to the basement opened again, and Darth Nexus' bulk appeared at the top of the stairs. Alamys tensed involuntarily, when the lights clicked on. Though Sidious was more dangerous, he feared Nexus more, because of his uncontrolled emotions and his brutality. The Whiphid descended the stairs slowly, his heavy body making the staircase vibrate ever so slightly. He paused for a moment at the bottom of the flight, studying the Jedi Master coolly. Then a cruel smile lit up his features and he came forward slowly, obviously relishing Alamys' growing fear. The Jedi tried to remain composed, but his face was twitching ominously in a suppressed grimace of terror. He could not help himself, even though his pride fought hard to remain superior. It was frustrating and infuriating. Finally, with Alamys having risen into a half-crouch that would allow him to a bit of room to escape, should Nexus attack, the Sith Master came to a halt in front of him.
"He is gone. An urgent call from Naboo," Nexus began without preamble.
Alamys wetted his lips nervously. "Your doing?" he asked, suspicious.
"Of course. His political career means a lot to him. He believes it will be his road to glory."
"A valid argument."
"You think so?"
Alamys started trembling ever so slightly as Nexus bent closer, his small, mean eyes more level with his own now. He hated himself for that fear, that had never bothered him previously. Never before had he felt such terror, such helplessness. But he refused to crack just now, refused to succumb to gibbering madness that threatened to overwhelm his weakened mind and body constantly. It was exactly that which Nexus wanted to achieve. To break him, and reshape his will. After a few minutes longer of his intense study of the Jedi Master, Nexus turned away wordlessly and left again. Shoulders sagging in relief, Alamys dropped back to the floor. His entire body was shaking with fatigue, fear and simple despair. Time was running out on him, and he prayed that whatever Nexus was planning, it would be soon.
Serenno was a beautiful world, with a pristine landscape featuring lots of forests and mountain ranges. In one of those the Counts of Serenno resided in a fortress-like mansion that was both serene and menacing, Qui-Gon had always found. Dooku had brought him here on numerous occasions during his apprenticeship, and he knew his way around. Settling his starfighter onto the landing platform at the top of the fortress, Qui-Gon felt a strange sensation of homecoming. His heart light, he exited the ship and started toward the far door. Overhead the sky had turned dark, and in the distance thunder rolled across the valleys. Already a faint wind was rippling through the surrounding trees, making them whisper and rustle mysteriously. It fitted the castle itself, certainly, and it reminded Qui-Gon of fairy-tales meant to frighten little children. But he was neither a child nor easily scared.
The door opened upon his approach, and a liveried servant bowed toward him as he bade him to come in. "Master Qui-Gon, Mistress Aloura is already waiting for you."
"Count Dooku is not home, then?"
"No, sir, he is not, unfortunately. I am certain he would have been happy to receive you personally."
"I suppose he would," Qui-Gon murmured, less convinced than the servant.
Following the man, he walked across the gallery that ran almost the entire length of the castle and allowed one to gaze through a masterfully carved wooden paravent down into the giant foyer. Qui-Gon heard the crackling of burning logs, and the smell of wood-fire confirmed his conclusion, that Aloura would be waiting for him at the large stone fire-place that dominated the centermost wall of the foyer. Memories filled his mind unbidden, then, remembering his first encounter with the castle's beautiful housekeeper. He had come to know her much better over time, but their encounters had been scarce over the past three years, their relationship cooling somewhat. Now they were no more than good friends, Qui-Gon thought. And yet, as he stepped off the last stair onto the foyer floor, seeing Aloura again, he thought that she had not changed one bit.
Dressed in a long, dark blue robe, her brown hair falling loosely over her shoulders, she stood beside her high-backed chair by the fire-place, a warm smile on her face. Time had not diminished her beauty at all, though the was almost twice as old as Qui-Gon. Clearing his throat, he sketched a small bow toward her.
"Mistress Aloura, thank you for taking me in this late at night."
She gave a throaty laugh. "I remember times – " She broke off, as if remembering something, then motioned for him to come closer. "Qui-Gon Jinn. It has been a long time. Please, take a seat. Maney, we will have tea," she ordered the servant, who obediently took off.
The Jedi Knight settled into one of the comfortable chairs, waiting for her to seat herself too, before he spoke. "I was rather hoping to find Count Dooku here," he confessed.
"Ah." Aloura's smile faltered. She absent-mindedly took the cup the returning servant handed her and blew on the hot tea to cool it a bit before she drank delicately. "Then you will be leaving right away, knowing that he is not here?"
His throat constricted suddenly. "I – I really need to speak to him. It is urgent."
"Very well." She put the cup on the small table beside her. "He has left Serenno only two days ago, destined for Telos."
Qui-Gon carefully confirmed the sincerity of her statement, and found that she was telling him the truth. He felt strangely relieved, as if it weren't the most natural thing in the world that friends did not lie to one another, Gloomily he thought that Alamys Jorka's accusations had planted a seed of suspicion in his heart that he would now be rather rid of again. It was distracting. And he felt he could tell Aloura anything at all.
"Can you tell me what he means to do on Telos?"
"Why do you ask?" she inquired, eyes narrowing, and Qui-Gon felt that subtle rebuke like a stab to his heart. Obviously Aloura did not share his sentiments concerning trust.
"I – I am not sure. The Order is a bit concerned, because it seems as if two Jedi Master's have disappeared quite recently. One is Master Alamys Jorka, the other Count Dooku."
Aloura shook her head with a smile. "Disappeared? All it would have taken was a simple call to confirm where he was going, is that not so?"
"It is just that he left without telling anyone where he was going."
"As far as I understand, as an outsider, the Jedi have duties toward the Order, but are not its slaves. Count Dooku is a free man, is he not?"
"Certainly," Qui-Gon hurried to appease her.
She shrugged. "Then perhaps Master Jorka will resurface too, in time."
"I do not think so." Rising slowly, Qui-Gon felt suddenly very sad. He had suspected his former mentor without any reason at all, it seemed. Still, he had promised Master Yoda to track him down. Which he would do.
Aloura followed his example more hurriedly, her large brown eyes worried. "I hope I have not offended you. You could stay overnight," she added quietly. "He will be staying on Telos for a while, I believe, plenty of time for you to catch up with him. And I imagine, if you called ahead, he might even wait for you there."
"I don't think so," Qui-Gon said again, feeling torn. "I'd rather leave now. I am sorry, Aloura. Another time, maybe."
She gave him a sad look, then nodded. "Maybe."
"Wake up."
The stink of alcohol was enough to jolt Alamys out of his already restless slumber, and he jerked upright abruptly, only to find his right arm being seized by Nexus' large paw. Dragging him upright with frightening ease, the Whiphid started toward the stairs. His entire body was wrapped in brandy fumes, making Alamys gag involuntarily.
"You won't believe it," Nexus breathed joyfully, and what Alamys could sense from him was disturbing, a cloud of happiness and elation.
Stumbling after the Whiphid, the Jedi Master tried to break from the Sith's grasp, but Nexus' fingers did not even budge. "What is it?" Alamys asked hoarsely, and his stomach almost revolted at the delicious smell of warm food that permeated the air upstairs, reminding him all too acutely of the fact that he had not eaten in days. The hunger even drowned out his fear of Nexus.
"You'll see. You'll like it, I know," Nexus replied in a slurred voice, testimony to his drunken state. "Are you hungry?" He let go of Alamys' arm and nodded toward a table set with a single plate, fork and spoon. The plate was filled with various dishes, and the sight alone made Alamys' stomach rumble loudly, but the smell! Nexus laughed out loud. "I know you want it, and you will get it, but first I want you to do something for me."
It took a supreme effort to drag his eyes away from the table, but Alamys managed, his heart filled with suspicion. Nexus beckoned to him, smiling, and for the first time that day the Jedi Master got a good look at the Whiphid's small eyes. They were gleaming with alcohol and fervor. Taking a step back, Alamys tensed even more. Something wasn't right. He threw a longing glance at the food, but forced himself to assess the layout of the room, only to find that Nexus was standing inbetween both doors, blocking any escape route.
"You want to eat, don't you?" Nexus asked, his rough voice almost sweet.
Alamys felt repulsed at the way the Sith treated him, as if he were some animal who would perform a trick for a piece of meat. Retreating further, he let his eyes track the room again, still searching for another exit. Nexus took a drunken step to the left, raising his arms ever so slightly, anticipating Alamys' thoughts.
"You won't get away. Better to arrange yourself with fate," the Sith Master purred. "It won't take long, you'll see."
Alamys started a sprint for the far door, not the one that led back into the basement. In the last possible moment he twisted out of the way of Nexus' groping paws, and threw the door open, plunging through blinded by a desperate need to just get away. His eyes bulged when he found himself in a white-tiled room that practically screamed 'laboratory'. Too late he realized that Nexus had trapped him. Whirling around again, he found the Whiphid's bulky frame blocking the door, and a moment later the two of them stood locked into the laboratory. Bereft of any hope of escape Alamys stood paralysed, helplessly staring at the huge alien looming over him, He was shaking with exhaustion, and realized that he would eventually have to bow to fate, just as Nexus had suggested. Smiling, the Sith Master walked over to a transparisteel cask filled with what looked like blood.
"The Motha Virus," Nexus said lovingly. "I finally made it, thanks to her."
Here he nodded at the remains of Inyo Di'vitt, which rested on a table against the wall. Her body had been cut open in numerous places, revealing shrunken tendons, muscle and organs, and the sight and smell prompted Alamys to bend over and empty his stomach. When he could think straight again he found Nexus standing beside him, a syringe held in one large hand. It was filled with a dark red liquid, and it took no genius to realize what that was. Fueled by sheer dread, Alamys' body jerked back out of its own accord, yet Nexus was faster, despite the state he was in.
"Calm down. It won't hurt, I promise. Cease your struggles now and you will get some food as reward."
"You bastard!" Alamys exclaimed, trying to break his arm out of the other man's lock.
With unnerving ease Nexus bent the Jedi Master's limb back and broke it neatly. Alamys almost fainted, his face turning as white as the laboratory's walls. He dropped to his knees, hanging helplessly in Nexus' grasp. The Whiphid's eyes narrowed, and he gently bit down on his own tongue, concentrating. Alamys watched the syringe's sharp needle sink into his own flesh, unable to prevent it. The red liquid was driven out of the syringe and into his bloodstream, and he could do nothing but look on as the virus was transferred into his system. Only a fingerbreadth of the liquid remained in the syringe, when Nexus, who had drunkenly been swaying ever so slightly, as he had focused on the injection, stumbled back, and slipped on Alamys' vomit, ripping the needle out of the Jedi Master's flesh as he went. Reacting with his old speed and cunning, Alamys brought his left fist down hard on the Sith Master's wrist, driving the syringe's needle deeply into Nexus' thigh, emptying its contents into the alien's leg in one go. Nexus reared back, eyes wide, and his fearful wail pierced Alamys' ears, driving him almost over the brink.
"Noooooooo!"
Alamys did not spare another moment on the frantic Sith Master, who kept on screaming in panic. Turning away from Nexus, he made for the door and found it opening on the second try. Faint with pain and fatigue, he did not even stop to shovel down the food that was gradually cooling on the table. He stumbled through the house, not really seeing or caring where he was going. He only wanted out. When he finally staggered out into the open, fresh, salty ocean spray spread over his face, and he took a deep, needed breath. Free! He was free! Alamys forced himself to go on, ignoring his weakness and pain, and gradually he managed to focus again, drawing strength from his surroundings. The Force was his ally, and he had broken from his prison of despair to find that light again. Nothing could stand in his way to freedom now. He set his jaw grimly. Well, there was one thing, but perhaps he would find a way to combat the virus. Perhaps he was not lost yet.
TBC