The Past Returns
Chapter Three
-His First Mission -
Ben closed his eyes and then reopened them, shaking away the memories of that fatal choice. He was now twenty-two and alive and well, but that was only because Palpatine had used the dark side to heal him. He had trained for fifteen years and in one year he'd be returning to see his aunt. He turned away from the view port that overlooked the planet Bastion. He looked in the mirror on the right wall of his quarters on the ship. He saw himself, dressed in the exact clothes that Darth Maul had worn. He smiled, looking at the duel-bladed lightsaber he had constructed, hanging on his belt. He squeezed his black leather glove covered hands into fists as he thought about Damon. He shook that away and instead, thought about Halloween when he was six. His aunt had made him a Darth Maul costume and he smiled, thinking about how cool he had thought that was. Now he was dressed in the real thing, with a real lightsaber clipped to his side. That was a good feeling. He ran a black gloved hand through his short black hair. He turned and took the black cape off the table to his left and put it on. He slid the hood over his face so that no one could see his eyes.
He walked to the door and punched in a code. He left his room and headed to Darth Sidious' chambers, his lightsaber making a satisfying sound as it swung in rhythm by his side. When he got there, he punched in another code and the door swished open. What he saw shocked him. Lines of men and droids lined the sides of the huge chamber. He began walking down the isle that they had formed.
Darth Sidious sat in his huge, bowl-shaped chair at the top of a set of stairs. A small figure stood next to him. As Ben drew closer, he recognized the black and red tattooing on its face and realized he was looking at the would-be Darth Maul. If Darth Sidious had taken on another apprentice then one of them was going to have to go. He shifted his gaze to Darth Sidious.
"Master," he said, bowing his head.
"Ben Kenobi, you have trained under me for fifteen years. In that training, you have surpassed everything I had wanted. You are now one with the Force and have constructed your own lightsaber, and a unusual and most difficult one to wield at that. It takes much skill to wield such a weapon and you have successfully perfected that skill. For all this, I know grant you the title of Sith apprentice." Ben saw Darth Maul looking at his lightsaber, his eyes wide.
"Thank you Master," Ben said, bowing his head again.
"Lord Pravanus, go now and fulfill your destiny as a dark side warrior."
"Yes, my Master."
* * *
Journal Entry 6: "I did it! I am a Sith. Maybe not a Jedi, but that didn't mean anything now. Being a Sith has fulfilled my most wildest dreams. Now I'm going on my first mission."
Ben set down his ship on the reddish plain, not far from the main capital on the planet Tynna. He sat in the pilot seat, going over his mission in his head. Tynna was a mining planet and its species were humanoid except for their dark yellow-green skin and their large eyes made for doing work in the mines. The planet was mostly covered in reddish sand with a few mountains and canyons spread across. Trees were scarce except in their capital, Tiyna. Far away from the capital was where the mines were, dug deep into the ground. Twin suns beat down heavily during the day and triple moons kept the landscape very light during the night. The air was humid and uncomfortable but Ben would deal with it. A mineral that they mined, his master used for various duties, to which Ben was not made known. The mineral was called Gesofa. Recently, the manager of the mines had been withholding the shipments of the mineral to his master and Ben was here to find out why and deal with the manager. Ben felt sure that this would be an easy mission.
Ben stood and left his ship, turning on the cloaking device to keep it hidden from prying eyes. The triple moons had just risen but the air was still hot and humid. A slight breeze raced across the plain. He punched in a code on his wristband and a hatch opened in the side of his ship, revealing his speeder. Ben walked over to it and hopped on, turning on the engine. He rode it out of his ship and the hatch closed, sealing the ship. Ben sped off across the dark red plain.
* * *
Jedi Master Tahl glanced over at her young apprentice, Chanee. Chanee was a Calamari, an aquatic species that could survive both on land and in the water for long periods of time. Chanee had proven herself many times as a worthy apprentice and Tahl knew that she could count on her. Qui-Gon Jinn probably would have taken her if he still wasn't troubled by the loss of his last Padawan, Xanatos. Tahl smiled to herself. She knew that Qui-Gon would pull through. They had been friends long enough for her to know that.
"What are you smiling about Master?" Chanee asked, looking up at Tahl.
Tahl looked at her and smiled. "Just thinking about how much you've improved in the past few months."
"Thank you, Master." Chanee was a young girl of few words but what she said was straight to the point.
Tahl looked ahead into the throng of Tynnians. They had come to the planet Tynna to check out a conflict among the city people and the miners. Tahl knew that this mission might prove difficult, but she felt that she and her apprentice would do fine. Right now they were in the main capital Tiyna, headed towards the leader Yosof's home where they would discuss the problems of the city people.
Tahl pulled her dark brown robe tight around her, even though it was very humid, despite the triple moons shinning down on the city. Chanee looked around, taking everything in. Tahl watched her as she studied everything and everyone, taking silent notes in her head. Tahl looked ahead and stopped. They had reached their destination.
The building was made of the same reddish mineral that covered most of the planet. It had many windows and a large front gate. Tahl moved to go up to the guard at the gate when she stopped. She looked around and then shut her eyes. A huge disturbance in the Force had just manifested itself. A dark chill crept up her spine. She suppressed a shudder, trying to pinpoint the disturbance. She located it here, on Tynna. It was dark, cold and full of hatred and determination. Then it was gone, as quickly as it had appeared to her.
She opened her eyes to see her apprentice staring at her, her large eyes wide with concern. "You felt that too my young Padawan?" Tahl asked.
Chanee nodded. "It felt . . . cold and evil," Chanee said, shuddering. "Could it be one of the Tynnians?"
"Perhaps, but it felt too controlled. I will confer with Master Yoda about this later. For now, we should focus on the present. Let's go." They began walking towards the gate again. Tahl glanced around. Whatever it was that she had felt, dread had filled her stomach. The mission might prove more difficult than she had first thought.
* * *
Ben sat on his speeder, looking out over the mining fields. The city glittered in the distance, but the mining fields were dark. All the workers had gone home for the evening and there was no one in the vicinity. Ben turned off his speeder and hopped off, striding to the edge of one of the mine shafts.
Then he stopped. He saw a vision through the Force that he was so attuned with. A Jedi Master and her Padawan learner. Here, on Tynna. Ben's stomach grew tight and his heart beat faster. Jedi, here? What were they doing here? Why him? The Jedi filled him with a vengeance and a weakness he couldn't control. After desiring to become a Jedi so badly and then failing, he had a hatred for them, but he also couldn't function whenever Jedi were near him. He grew weak, and he knew that if he was going to survive as a Sith, he had to get over that weakness. He just hoped that he would not run into the Jedi, but he knew that was impossible. He would have to complete his mission very quickly and get off-world as soon as possible.
Ben walked around the mining site, taking in everything. He saw a large warehouse made of reddish material with a large building stood next to it, probably where the manager worked out of. Ben walked over to the warehouse and using the force, he threw open the doors. He brushed off the reddish sand that had clung to his black robe and looked around, his eyes adjusting to the dark room. Stacks of duracrete boxes lined the walls. The mineral had to be in them. So this is where he's been hiding them. Well, isn't he clever. Too bad he's not clever enough.
Suddenly he straightened, sensing two presences behind him. "Hello, gentlemen. What can I do for you?" Ben turned slowly around and looked at the two Tynnian guards, dressed in black and holding blasters, pointed at him. "Oh, am I breaking a rule? I'm so sorry." Ben said very insincerely. As the fired at him, he grabbed his lightsaber, igniting one end and blocked both shots easily. The two guards were shaking, obviously terrified of him. "Not very good guards are you? Being afraid of me? I guess no one will miss you." Ben grinned and raised his left hand, the one not holding his lightsaber and held out his hand. He focused on the guard on the right and squeezed his hand. The blaster dropped from his grip as the guard grabbed as his throat. The other guard stared at him, frozen in terror. The first guard gasped for air and then he collapsed, dead. "One down, one to go." Ben turned his attention on the remaining guard, who dropped his blaster and ran. Using the Force, Ben gripped the man in an invisible grip and hurled him into the mine shaft. "If all their guards are that pathetic, this mission is going to be a piece of cake," Ben said laughing, shutting off his lightsaber and returning it to his belt. He had seen enough for that night. He would be back in the morning to deal with the manager. Ben strode out of the warehouse, shutting the large doors with the Force.
* * *
The glass fell from Tahl's hand as she felt the death of two Tynnians through the Force. She stood frozen in the middle of the room at Yosof's house. She stared at the floor, trying to take in what had just happened. The two men had died horrible deaths. She had felt their deaths and knew that the dark force that she had sensed earlier had been responsible.
"Master Tahl, what is it?" Yosof asked. He was a middle aged Tynnian with a receding hairline. His white hair was combed neatly and he wore a simple black suit with a dark royal purple robe with a golden clasp that showed his status as the Overseer, as the city people called him. He was a very kind man and was deeply concerned about Tynna and the fate of his people.
Tahl looked at him, suppressing the dread that she had felt. She wouldn't lie to him. "I felt the deaths of two of your men," she said simply.
Yosof's eyes went wide with a look of horror. "Do you know what caused it?" Yosof asked.
Chanee, who was standing next to Yosof, looked at him and then at her master. "Master, do you think it was the presence we felt earlier?" Chanee asked.
Tahl looked at her and nodded. "I think so," Tahl looked at Yosof. "Sir, do you think any of your people could be responsible?"
"No. The Tynnians may have disagreements about things like the mining, but they do not kill each other. It is against the very thing that we live by."
"Master, is it possible that the presence we felt was someone that could use the Force?" Chanee asked.
Tahl looked at her, managing a smile. "Very possible, Chanee." Tahl had known that she could count on Chanee to realize the truth.
"A Dark Jedi?" Yosof asked.
Chanee and Tahl looked at him. "I don't know but if so, we are in more danger than what originally was thought. I must contact the Jedi Council at once," Tahl said.
"Of course," Yosof said quickly.
* * *
Ben awoke on board his ship a few hours after the sun had risen. He quickly ate and put on his robes and his belt. He took his speeder and headed back to the mining fields. Dust billowed up from the deep mining shafts and the air was full of the noise from the rumbling machines. Tynnians yelled at each other, the only way to talk above the thunderous noise. A hot, humid wind blew across the open plain, but the heat didn't bother Ben. The Tynnians wore dark blue, thin and dirty jumpsuits and black gloves and boots.
Everyone was busy with their work and took no notice of Ben as he strode through the throng of workers towards the main building. The few who did notice, didn't remember seeing him after he erased that memory. Ben threw open the front door and strode into the lobby. A female Tynnian with a tight bun on top of her head, who stood behind a desk, asked, "What can I do for you, sir?"
"I'm looking for the manager." He stared into her eyes and made a small motion with his hand. "You will take me to him."
"I will take you to him," she said, her eyes slightly glazed over.
"And you will leave me alone with him."
"I'll leave you two alone."
"Take me to him now."
"I will take you to him now." The woman motioned for him to follow her and he did. They walked down a long corridor and up a flight of stairs to a large office. "He is in here."
"Thank you."
She nodded and left. Ben opened the door and strode inside. He looked around and after a second, he knew that the manager was not here. "So, he's decided to run for it perhaps? In any case, I will find him." Ben left the room and strode out of the building.
* * *
Tahl stood with Chanee at the edge of the mining fields. Tahl could feel the dark presence nearby. "I feel it too, my Padawan. He is close by. We will not risk confronting him if at all possible. What we are here to do is to talk to the manager. Yosof said that we could find him here. He also said that he was easy to talk to, which makes it easier on our part. Now we'd had better -" Tahl stopped. Chanee's hand flew to her lightsaber. "I feel it too. I think we'd better get to that warehouse."
Tahl unclipped her lightsaber as she ran towards the warehouse that was next to the main building, Chanee running right next to her, her lightsaber in her hand. As they neared the warehouse, Tahl saw that the doors were already open. Tahl and Chanee ran into the warehouse to see a person that had to be the manager crouching behind a duracrete crate, shaking in fear. Tahl and Chanee stopped and slipped quietly into the shadows.
The manager's distinctive dark red robe that signified his position was ripped and pooled around his feet. The dark presence was very strong and then Tahl saw why. A man dressed completely in black stood in the center of the warehouse. A lightsaber hung at his side. His black hair was cut short, very much like a Padawan. His green eyes flashed across the warehouse. His black gloved hands hung at his sides and his black robe moved slightly in the breeze from outside. A dark aura hung around him and all Tahl felt through the force was a dark energy. Yosof hadn't been far wrong when he had said 'Dark Jedi'. Whoever this man was, he wasn't a Jedi, but he could use the Force. Suddenly, the man looked straight towards them.
"I know that you are here Marnen," the man said, his voice powerful and full of the dark side. "It'd save me a lot of trouble if you'd just come out here and talk to me. All I want to know is why you withheld the Gesofa from my master. I know you want to tell me. You're dead either way but if you come out here, your life might last a little while longer." The man laughed.
Tahl tried to hide her shock from this man's words. He was so cruel, so heartless! Tahl looked at the manager, Marnen, who was shaking violently, trying to stay hidden. Tahl knew she would have to act fast and get Marnen out of here if she was going to save his life, and save the people of this planet from a war. Tahl moved to reach Marnen but suddenly a pile of duracrete boxes flew right in front of her, landing with a crash. In an instant, Marnen was in plain sight of the man in black.
The man laughed and reached out his hand. Marnen's hands suddenly flew up to his throat as he was lifted up into the air as if by an invisible hand. Chanee's eyes went wide as she realized that his man was manipulating the Force to do this. Tahl quickly ducked behind another tower of duracrete boxes. The techniques this man was using were Sith techniques. She knew this because she had constantly read over the old histories of the Jedi and the Sith War. She knew she had to act, now. Tahl ran and jumped grabbing Marnen out of the air and landing on her feet. Tahl whipped out her lightsaber, igniting it.
"Release him," Tahl ordered. She watched as the man in black froze, his eyes wide. Tahl felt Marnen go limp, breathing hard. The man had released him. "Chanee go to our ship, get it ready," Tahl said quickly, not taking her eyes off the man.
Chanee nodded and ran out. The man looked terrified but Tahl didn't dwell on it. With one quick motion, she switched off her lightsaber and returned it to her belt. Tahl, with one last glance at the man, ran out of the warehouse and headed for her ship, Marnen unconscious in her arms.
* * *
Ben stood staring after the Jedi for a few moments, and once they were gone, he snapped back into reality. Then what he did hit him like a durasteel wall. He had failed. He had failed utterly. He had nothing to bring back to his master. He had completely frozen up on the Jedi! Why? Why did he have to do that? Master Sidious would not be pleased. Ben didn't know what to do. He knew that if he was going to be Sith, he'd better get over the fact that the Jedi both terrified him and filled him with hatred. Ben quickly left the warehouse and without a further glance, strode to his speeder and headed to his ship.
Chapter Three
-His First Mission -
Ben closed his eyes and then reopened them, shaking away the memories of that fatal choice. He was now twenty-two and alive and well, but that was only because Palpatine had used the dark side to heal him. He had trained for fifteen years and in one year he'd be returning to see his aunt. He turned away from the view port that overlooked the planet Bastion. He looked in the mirror on the right wall of his quarters on the ship. He saw himself, dressed in the exact clothes that Darth Maul had worn. He smiled, looking at the duel-bladed lightsaber he had constructed, hanging on his belt. He squeezed his black leather glove covered hands into fists as he thought about Damon. He shook that away and instead, thought about Halloween when he was six. His aunt had made him a Darth Maul costume and he smiled, thinking about how cool he had thought that was. Now he was dressed in the real thing, with a real lightsaber clipped to his side. That was a good feeling. He ran a black gloved hand through his short black hair. He turned and took the black cape off the table to his left and put it on. He slid the hood over his face so that no one could see his eyes.
He walked to the door and punched in a code. He left his room and headed to Darth Sidious' chambers, his lightsaber making a satisfying sound as it swung in rhythm by his side. When he got there, he punched in another code and the door swished open. What he saw shocked him. Lines of men and droids lined the sides of the huge chamber. He began walking down the isle that they had formed.
Darth Sidious sat in his huge, bowl-shaped chair at the top of a set of stairs. A small figure stood next to him. As Ben drew closer, he recognized the black and red tattooing on its face and realized he was looking at the would-be Darth Maul. If Darth Sidious had taken on another apprentice then one of them was going to have to go. He shifted his gaze to Darth Sidious.
"Master," he said, bowing his head.
"Ben Kenobi, you have trained under me for fifteen years. In that training, you have surpassed everything I had wanted. You are now one with the Force and have constructed your own lightsaber, and a unusual and most difficult one to wield at that. It takes much skill to wield such a weapon and you have successfully perfected that skill. For all this, I know grant you the title of Sith apprentice." Ben saw Darth Maul looking at his lightsaber, his eyes wide.
"Thank you Master," Ben said, bowing his head again.
"Lord Pravanus, go now and fulfill your destiny as a dark side warrior."
"Yes, my Master."
* * *
Journal Entry 6: "I did it! I am a Sith. Maybe not a Jedi, but that didn't mean anything now. Being a Sith has fulfilled my most wildest dreams. Now I'm going on my first mission."
Ben set down his ship on the reddish plain, not far from the main capital on the planet Tynna. He sat in the pilot seat, going over his mission in his head. Tynna was a mining planet and its species were humanoid except for their dark yellow-green skin and their large eyes made for doing work in the mines. The planet was mostly covered in reddish sand with a few mountains and canyons spread across. Trees were scarce except in their capital, Tiyna. Far away from the capital was where the mines were, dug deep into the ground. Twin suns beat down heavily during the day and triple moons kept the landscape very light during the night. The air was humid and uncomfortable but Ben would deal with it. A mineral that they mined, his master used for various duties, to which Ben was not made known. The mineral was called Gesofa. Recently, the manager of the mines had been withholding the shipments of the mineral to his master and Ben was here to find out why and deal with the manager. Ben felt sure that this would be an easy mission.
Ben stood and left his ship, turning on the cloaking device to keep it hidden from prying eyes. The triple moons had just risen but the air was still hot and humid. A slight breeze raced across the plain. He punched in a code on his wristband and a hatch opened in the side of his ship, revealing his speeder. Ben walked over to it and hopped on, turning on the engine. He rode it out of his ship and the hatch closed, sealing the ship. Ben sped off across the dark red plain.
* * *
Jedi Master Tahl glanced over at her young apprentice, Chanee. Chanee was a Calamari, an aquatic species that could survive both on land and in the water for long periods of time. Chanee had proven herself many times as a worthy apprentice and Tahl knew that she could count on her. Qui-Gon Jinn probably would have taken her if he still wasn't troubled by the loss of his last Padawan, Xanatos. Tahl smiled to herself. She knew that Qui-Gon would pull through. They had been friends long enough for her to know that.
"What are you smiling about Master?" Chanee asked, looking up at Tahl.
Tahl looked at her and smiled. "Just thinking about how much you've improved in the past few months."
"Thank you, Master." Chanee was a young girl of few words but what she said was straight to the point.
Tahl looked ahead into the throng of Tynnians. They had come to the planet Tynna to check out a conflict among the city people and the miners. Tahl knew that this mission might prove difficult, but she felt that she and her apprentice would do fine. Right now they were in the main capital Tiyna, headed towards the leader Yosof's home where they would discuss the problems of the city people.
Tahl pulled her dark brown robe tight around her, even though it was very humid, despite the triple moons shinning down on the city. Chanee looked around, taking everything in. Tahl watched her as she studied everything and everyone, taking silent notes in her head. Tahl looked ahead and stopped. They had reached their destination.
The building was made of the same reddish mineral that covered most of the planet. It had many windows and a large front gate. Tahl moved to go up to the guard at the gate when she stopped. She looked around and then shut her eyes. A huge disturbance in the Force had just manifested itself. A dark chill crept up her spine. She suppressed a shudder, trying to pinpoint the disturbance. She located it here, on Tynna. It was dark, cold and full of hatred and determination. Then it was gone, as quickly as it had appeared to her.
She opened her eyes to see her apprentice staring at her, her large eyes wide with concern. "You felt that too my young Padawan?" Tahl asked.
Chanee nodded. "It felt . . . cold and evil," Chanee said, shuddering. "Could it be one of the Tynnians?"
"Perhaps, but it felt too controlled. I will confer with Master Yoda about this later. For now, we should focus on the present. Let's go." They began walking towards the gate again. Tahl glanced around. Whatever it was that she had felt, dread had filled her stomach. The mission might prove more difficult than she had first thought.
* * *
Ben sat on his speeder, looking out over the mining fields. The city glittered in the distance, but the mining fields were dark. All the workers had gone home for the evening and there was no one in the vicinity. Ben turned off his speeder and hopped off, striding to the edge of one of the mine shafts.
Then he stopped. He saw a vision through the Force that he was so attuned with. A Jedi Master and her Padawan learner. Here, on Tynna. Ben's stomach grew tight and his heart beat faster. Jedi, here? What were they doing here? Why him? The Jedi filled him with a vengeance and a weakness he couldn't control. After desiring to become a Jedi so badly and then failing, he had a hatred for them, but he also couldn't function whenever Jedi were near him. He grew weak, and he knew that if he was going to survive as a Sith, he had to get over that weakness. He just hoped that he would not run into the Jedi, but he knew that was impossible. He would have to complete his mission very quickly and get off-world as soon as possible.
Ben walked around the mining site, taking in everything. He saw a large warehouse made of reddish material with a large building stood next to it, probably where the manager worked out of. Ben walked over to the warehouse and using the force, he threw open the doors. He brushed off the reddish sand that had clung to his black robe and looked around, his eyes adjusting to the dark room. Stacks of duracrete boxes lined the walls. The mineral had to be in them. So this is where he's been hiding them. Well, isn't he clever. Too bad he's not clever enough.
Suddenly he straightened, sensing two presences behind him. "Hello, gentlemen. What can I do for you?" Ben turned slowly around and looked at the two Tynnian guards, dressed in black and holding blasters, pointed at him. "Oh, am I breaking a rule? I'm so sorry." Ben said very insincerely. As the fired at him, he grabbed his lightsaber, igniting one end and blocked both shots easily. The two guards were shaking, obviously terrified of him. "Not very good guards are you? Being afraid of me? I guess no one will miss you." Ben grinned and raised his left hand, the one not holding his lightsaber and held out his hand. He focused on the guard on the right and squeezed his hand. The blaster dropped from his grip as the guard grabbed as his throat. The other guard stared at him, frozen in terror. The first guard gasped for air and then he collapsed, dead. "One down, one to go." Ben turned his attention on the remaining guard, who dropped his blaster and ran. Using the Force, Ben gripped the man in an invisible grip and hurled him into the mine shaft. "If all their guards are that pathetic, this mission is going to be a piece of cake," Ben said laughing, shutting off his lightsaber and returning it to his belt. He had seen enough for that night. He would be back in the morning to deal with the manager. Ben strode out of the warehouse, shutting the large doors with the Force.
* * *
The glass fell from Tahl's hand as she felt the death of two Tynnians through the Force. She stood frozen in the middle of the room at Yosof's house. She stared at the floor, trying to take in what had just happened. The two men had died horrible deaths. She had felt their deaths and knew that the dark force that she had sensed earlier had been responsible.
"Master Tahl, what is it?" Yosof asked. He was a middle aged Tynnian with a receding hairline. His white hair was combed neatly and he wore a simple black suit with a dark royal purple robe with a golden clasp that showed his status as the Overseer, as the city people called him. He was a very kind man and was deeply concerned about Tynna and the fate of his people.
Tahl looked at him, suppressing the dread that she had felt. She wouldn't lie to him. "I felt the deaths of two of your men," she said simply.
Yosof's eyes went wide with a look of horror. "Do you know what caused it?" Yosof asked.
Chanee, who was standing next to Yosof, looked at him and then at her master. "Master, do you think it was the presence we felt earlier?" Chanee asked.
Tahl looked at her and nodded. "I think so," Tahl looked at Yosof. "Sir, do you think any of your people could be responsible?"
"No. The Tynnians may have disagreements about things like the mining, but they do not kill each other. It is against the very thing that we live by."
"Master, is it possible that the presence we felt was someone that could use the Force?" Chanee asked.
Tahl looked at her, managing a smile. "Very possible, Chanee." Tahl had known that she could count on Chanee to realize the truth.
"A Dark Jedi?" Yosof asked.
Chanee and Tahl looked at him. "I don't know but if so, we are in more danger than what originally was thought. I must contact the Jedi Council at once," Tahl said.
"Of course," Yosof said quickly.
* * *
Ben awoke on board his ship a few hours after the sun had risen. He quickly ate and put on his robes and his belt. He took his speeder and headed back to the mining fields. Dust billowed up from the deep mining shafts and the air was full of the noise from the rumbling machines. Tynnians yelled at each other, the only way to talk above the thunderous noise. A hot, humid wind blew across the open plain, but the heat didn't bother Ben. The Tynnians wore dark blue, thin and dirty jumpsuits and black gloves and boots.
Everyone was busy with their work and took no notice of Ben as he strode through the throng of workers towards the main building. The few who did notice, didn't remember seeing him after he erased that memory. Ben threw open the front door and strode into the lobby. A female Tynnian with a tight bun on top of her head, who stood behind a desk, asked, "What can I do for you, sir?"
"I'm looking for the manager." He stared into her eyes and made a small motion with his hand. "You will take me to him."
"I will take you to him," she said, her eyes slightly glazed over.
"And you will leave me alone with him."
"I'll leave you two alone."
"Take me to him now."
"I will take you to him now." The woman motioned for him to follow her and he did. They walked down a long corridor and up a flight of stairs to a large office. "He is in here."
"Thank you."
She nodded and left. Ben opened the door and strode inside. He looked around and after a second, he knew that the manager was not here. "So, he's decided to run for it perhaps? In any case, I will find him." Ben left the room and strode out of the building.
* * *
Tahl stood with Chanee at the edge of the mining fields. Tahl could feel the dark presence nearby. "I feel it too, my Padawan. He is close by. We will not risk confronting him if at all possible. What we are here to do is to talk to the manager. Yosof said that we could find him here. He also said that he was easy to talk to, which makes it easier on our part. Now we'd had better -" Tahl stopped. Chanee's hand flew to her lightsaber. "I feel it too. I think we'd better get to that warehouse."
Tahl unclipped her lightsaber as she ran towards the warehouse that was next to the main building, Chanee running right next to her, her lightsaber in her hand. As they neared the warehouse, Tahl saw that the doors were already open. Tahl and Chanee ran into the warehouse to see a person that had to be the manager crouching behind a duracrete crate, shaking in fear. Tahl and Chanee stopped and slipped quietly into the shadows.
The manager's distinctive dark red robe that signified his position was ripped and pooled around his feet. The dark presence was very strong and then Tahl saw why. A man dressed completely in black stood in the center of the warehouse. A lightsaber hung at his side. His black hair was cut short, very much like a Padawan. His green eyes flashed across the warehouse. His black gloved hands hung at his sides and his black robe moved slightly in the breeze from outside. A dark aura hung around him and all Tahl felt through the force was a dark energy. Yosof hadn't been far wrong when he had said 'Dark Jedi'. Whoever this man was, he wasn't a Jedi, but he could use the Force. Suddenly, the man looked straight towards them.
"I know that you are here Marnen," the man said, his voice powerful and full of the dark side. "It'd save me a lot of trouble if you'd just come out here and talk to me. All I want to know is why you withheld the Gesofa from my master. I know you want to tell me. You're dead either way but if you come out here, your life might last a little while longer." The man laughed.
Tahl tried to hide her shock from this man's words. He was so cruel, so heartless! Tahl looked at the manager, Marnen, who was shaking violently, trying to stay hidden. Tahl knew she would have to act fast and get Marnen out of here if she was going to save his life, and save the people of this planet from a war. Tahl moved to reach Marnen but suddenly a pile of duracrete boxes flew right in front of her, landing with a crash. In an instant, Marnen was in plain sight of the man in black.
The man laughed and reached out his hand. Marnen's hands suddenly flew up to his throat as he was lifted up into the air as if by an invisible hand. Chanee's eyes went wide as she realized that his man was manipulating the Force to do this. Tahl quickly ducked behind another tower of duracrete boxes. The techniques this man was using were Sith techniques. She knew this because she had constantly read over the old histories of the Jedi and the Sith War. She knew she had to act, now. Tahl ran and jumped grabbing Marnen out of the air and landing on her feet. Tahl whipped out her lightsaber, igniting it.
"Release him," Tahl ordered. She watched as the man in black froze, his eyes wide. Tahl felt Marnen go limp, breathing hard. The man had released him. "Chanee go to our ship, get it ready," Tahl said quickly, not taking her eyes off the man.
Chanee nodded and ran out. The man looked terrified but Tahl didn't dwell on it. With one quick motion, she switched off her lightsaber and returned it to her belt. Tahl, with one last glance at the man, ran out of the warehouse and headed for her ship, Marnen unconscious in her arms.
* * *
Ben stood staring after the Jedi for a few moments, and once they were gone, he snapped back into reality. Then what he did hit him like a durasteel wall. He had failed. He had failed utterly. He had nothing to bring back to his master. He had completely frozen up on the Jedi! Why? Why did he have to do that? Master Sidious would not be pleased. Ben didn't know what to do. He knew that if he was going to be Sith, he'd better get over the fact that the Jedi both terrified him and filled him with hatred. Ben quickly left the warehouse and without a further glance, strode to his speeder and headed to his ship.