Saviour, Conqueror, Hero, Villain

by VMorticia

HUGE SPOILER WARNINGS FOR KOTOR! Evil PC character! And it's finished, alternate ending and all. Read, review, and I'll be eternally grateful.

8. Intoxication

Saviour, Conqueror, Hero, Villain.

Author's Notes: I've had ideas for Korriban for ages. Especially Dustil - I had so many plot-bunnies (or should they be called plot-Gizka?) that I had to kill off several of them. But, hey, I did include as many as I could. This is a long chapter.

snackfiend101: Glad you got that fixed. It doesn't make sense to me for Malak to be such a walkover - even in my first game through (7/9 scoundrel/consular) I wiped the floor with him on the Leviathan - but he was nearly unbeatable at the final duel. He should be unbeatable on the Leviathan.

Firera: Dustil was fun to write... that's all I'm saying about him. And the slap hurt her pride more than anything else.

Data: Malak was too easy in the game... I was just making up for that in this fanfic. Revan was more powerful, Force-wise... but physically, in a hand-to-hand duel, he beat her back. And that was supposed to have been a hard duel, I'm just not great at writing detailed fight-scenes - I said "eventually" he disarmed her... meaning it took him some time and effort to win the fight.

Krazed Kaioshin Fangirl: lol - that was the reaction I was going for with that line. Malak was just torturing Bastila - it was only that bad because there was a feedback through the Force-bond - like having a microphone too close to the speaker, makes a horrendous sound... the feedback through the bond turns a teensy dose of Force-lightening into the Cruciatus curse (sorry, HarryPotterism - I'm not doing a crossover, just a comparison). A gizka? You think that's a threat? I have a pet terentatek that'd like your gizka as a snack.

RollingSkull: Heh, glad you like it. Herculean effort? Kira's persistence, check. Miracles? One this chapter, one in chapter ten, check and mate (nice pun, huh?). That's a point... I hadn't realised that... Revan making a big deal out of those DS comments was all her doing, not mine... she really is falling to the LS! Oh, and how do you think the final battle will play out, eh?

rockerbabe: Yes, that's where that line came from. Never fear, Lashowe will suffer... mwahahahahahaa... read on.

Brynn: Glad you like it.

NathanPostmark: And here it is.

HK-48: Malak is physically stronger than her, by far... when he said he surpassed his master after he betrayed her, he wasn't kidding.

arrow maker: Hmmm... what are you on? Glitterstim? It's an appropriate question to ask you, considering this chapter's topic, and the fact I've seen Ewoks who make more sense. Yub yub.

talar: Wow... I love your review! I thank you for your compliments. I agree with you, and the "intersentient" (cool word, BTW) interactions are why I read/write KotOR fanfics, too. I tried to ignore T3 in my other fic (and in the game, for that matter)... so I had to give it some part to play... and a personality of sorts doesn't hurt either, right? Carth hitting Kira was one of these things that people would think OOC until they see it in context, and then it makes sense... I can't see him not hitting her, in that situation. I figure the concept of losing a jaw should scare anyone, right? It's one of the reasons I sympathise with Malak - I know what it's like to eat through a PEG-tube, damnit - it ain't fun! There had to be a reason for Malak to hate her... a broken heart and a missing jaw work well enough for my plot-gizka. You're right about Saul - very creative of you - I bow to your superior methods of torture. I've not seen Firefly, though I've heard it's good.

gammoreanprincess: Glad you like it. I hope she continues to surprise you.

thesamonthemoon: I'm gonna wait and see how KotOR II plays out, before I decide what to do with this fic after the ending. Same with the other fic. But I have plot bunnies for both that account for the fact KotOR II is five years later. Glad you liked last chapter. Lol - Revan's idea of begging (and it wasn't for her life, it was to not be mutilated) was supposed to conjure that type of mental pictures... so my work there is done.

x x x

Chapter 8 - Intoxication

I woke on my bunk on the Ebon Hawk, a sheet neatly tucked around me, my cloak had been removed, and I was wearing only my Sith robes. My head hurt, something awful... and the slight sting from the injection in my arm was irritating, too. I groaned, and tried to bury my face in the pillow, in the hope of hiding from the rest of the galaxy, and the pain I was feeling.

"Hey, you're awake." Mission's voice came to my ears in spite of the pillow I had tried to wrap around my head.

"Unfortunately." I grumbled.

"What happened to you?" she asked, "You looked like you were in real pain. Jolee gave you a sedative."

"I'm still in pain." I mumbled into the pillow, "Malak's torturing Bastila... I'm feeling it through the Force-bond."

"Ouch. That sounds bad." Mission said, "You want me to get you a pain-number?"

"Yes. Please."

"Ok, wait here."

Mission scampered off, leaving me alone to my pain... it had lessened to a level where I could just about think... it felt so far away, now... but it still hurt like hell.

Mission returned, "This will only hurt for a second." she said gently, before sticking another injection in my arm. She sat back, and set the needle over, watching me, "Feel any better?"

The pain faded, like a fog lifting. I felt so much better so quickly, it was difficult to believe I had ever been in pain. I sent this sensation back through the Force bond to Bastila, and I heard a faint thanks from her for the relief. "Much better." I said quietly, "What was that you gave me?"

"Don't tell anyone, will you?" she asked, "It's Icestim."

I stared at her, "Isn't that illegal?"

"Highly illegal, highly addictive pain-numbers." she confirmed, "Totally freezes the pain, hence the name. Someone could dismember you, now, and you'd not feel any pain."

"I'll not take any more, then..." I said, frowning, "But I am still grateful. The pain was unbearable. Where did you find Icestim, though?"

Mission grinned, "This used to be a smuggling ship, before we nicked it, remember? Davik had a few hidden compartments around, with the likes of Icestim, Adrenastims, and Glitterstim in them."

"Adrenastims aren't illegal." I noted.

"Yeah, but some twisted people mix them with Glitterstim to get a better high." Mission noted.

"How did you know this?" I asked warily.

"My brother spent a month as a dealer, on Taris." she said, shrugging, "It didn't pan out, but he did spend half that time explaining to me exactly why I should never take stims."

I nodded, "Generally, they do cause dependency and addictions. I wouldn't take them unless it was necessary. Even some adrenastims can be addictive. That sort of dependency is a weakness - deprive an addict and they become such an easy target."

"Interesting reasoning." Mission said, thoughtfully, "I like it better, too. Griff just told me all the horror stories about people who overdose, and stuff like that."

I smiled, "Thanks, though. I suppose I did need the pain-number. But I'll only use it if I can't find some other way to deal with the pain."

Mission grinned, "Cool."

"Now, where are we?" I asked.

"We're on the Ebon Hawk... on our way to Korriban." she said brightly, "We should be there within an hour."

"We were a day away from Korriban, last time I checked." I noted, "And the Leviathan was heading in the opposite direction."

"You were out for twenty-eight hours." Mission said quietly.

I nodded... that made some sense. "And I'm starving."

Mission grinned, "Well, unless Zaalbar's been particularly hungry in the last two hours, we've got plenty food." she stood up and offered me a hand, "Come on."

x x x

After I had eaten (and been compared to a Wookiee, by Mission, for my appetite), we braced for the landing on Korriban, then the crew assembled in the common room.

"So what's the plan?" Mission asked.

"I don't care what the plan is." Carth said flatly, "I'm going to find-"

"No, you're not." I snapped. He glared at me. "Actually, I don't think I'm going to even let you leave the ship, Carth."

Now he looked stunned, "What?! Why?! You can't keep me here!" he yelled.

"Oh yes I can." I said, my voice even, the sort of ominous calm that Jedi are known for - it usually scares the crap out of people when an evil overlord uses that tone, "I have the full honour-bound loyalty of Canderous and Zaalbar, not to mention the fact I own HK-47. The two Jedi on the ship will also undoubtedly agree with my logic. There is no way you are leaving this ship without my permission."

"What logic might that be?" Jolee asked innocently.

"That if he is let out, he will make a beeline for the Sith academy in the futile hope of finding his son. The Sith will kill him. I don't want him dead." I tilted my head to one side, "Not like that, anyway."

"That logic works for me." Jolee said nonchalantly. Juhani nodded in agreement, and I smirked darkly at Carth.

"This is my mission, now that Bastila is a hostage." I said coldly, "And you will do as I say, if you want to be a part of this mission."

Carth glared at me, "To hell with your mission, Revan!" he snapped, "If I can save my son, that means more to me than even the Republic!"

I blinked. I hadn't expected that one, "Too bad. I'm not letting you off this ship, Carth." I said calmly.

He tried to shove past me, to get off the ship, but I grabbed his wrist and flipped him onto his back on the floor, without even using the Force, "Don't make me tie you up and sedate you, Carth."

He tried to pick himself up, "Let go of me, Revan!" he yelled.

"Canderous, HK - see to it that he stays on the ship, while I'm out." I said coolly, giving HK a warning look, "And I want no permanent physical harm to come to him. Knock him unconscious if you really must, but do not under any circumstances mutilate or kill him."

"You got it, Boss Lady." Canderous said brightly.

"Statement: As you command, master."

I smirked, and let go of Carth's wrist. He then came face-to-face with the wrong end of HK's blaster, as the droid quickly adjusted the setting to 'stun'. He quickly scrambled away from the droid, and picked himself up, backing away from the exit, slowly.

"Now, rules regarding visits to Dreshdae city." I said calmly, "Jolee, I trust you not to get yourself in trouble." the old man smiled too innocently, and I knew he was trying to make me doubt that statement... but I also knew the old coot was not stupid, "Mission, if you will insist on exploring, take the old coot with you. I do not want my best stealth-tech getting herself killed, and while Zaalbar is a good friend to back you up when you're in trouble, you'll need a Force-adept bodyguard on this rock. Zaalbar, same rule applies - you may be strong, but a well trained Sith could still best you, using the Force. I don't want to risk your safety."

Mission and Zaalbar both nodded, acknowledging that these rules were for their own safety.

"Canderous, while you may come and go as you please, I'd prefer you to keep an eye on HK. I don't trust it." I said calmly.

Canderous nodded, but HK whined, "Objection: Master, I am wholly loyal to you! I would never disobey a direct order!"

"Still... I want Canderous to be able to remind you that I ordered you not to kill Carth. You do have a selective memory for that sort of thing. Don't think I don't remember Cassandra."

HK sulked, but did not retort.

"Who's Cassandra?" Carth asked warily.

"Three years ago, when I was in control of the Sith fleet." I said calmly, "We captured a Jedi Knight, named Cassandra Tempus. She was a valuable source of information, but she was also resistant to my attempts to turn her to the dark side. I left her alone, for ten minutes, during which time I ordered HK to 'guard the prisoner'. I returned to a dead prisoner, and HK was holding a smoking blaster-rifle."

Carth paled significantly, "And you're telling the droid to guard me?"

"Commentary: The master never specified a lack of death, when she ordered me to guard that prisoner. I have, however, been ordered not to terminate your pathetic meatbag existence, so I shall do as I am ordered. Meatbag." HK answered.

"You damned well better, unless you like the prospect of being melted for scrap, HK." I warned.

"Statement: You are a cruel master, master. Query: Have I mentioned how much I like that aspect of your personality?"

"Yes, HK, you have. Now do what you're ordered, or else." I growled.

"Statement: As you wish, master."

I sighed, and turned to Juhani, "Juhani. If you don't mind, I would like you to accompany me to the academy."

Juhani looked stunned, "Why me?" she asked warily.

"You're a young Jedi, of Cathar blood, which lends you to anger and impulsiveness. While I know this assumption is false, the Sith should believe you are a defecting Jedi, which would gain you entrance, with me." I said calmly, "I would appreciate the assistance, once I am inside the academy."

"Why do you not choose Jolee?" Juhani asked, "He is surely more experienced."

"He's also an old man who's set in his ways. The Sith would not believe that he could turn away from the light so easily." I looked at her carefully, "I know where your loyalties lie, Juhani, but I also know that you have enough anger in you that you could play the part of a disillusioned Jedi very well."

She looked at me, just as carefully, "Very well. I will accompany you, Revan."

I nodded, smiling, "All right, then. Let's go."

x x x

We passed the Czerka reps, with a Force persuasion that we owed them no money. But before we could get more than a few steps into Dreshdae, we ran into a Sith student tormenting three 'hopefuls'. I stopped to listen, out of morbid curiosity.

"No, that is the wrong answer. Again!" the young Sith man yelled, "You pathetic hopefuls can't possibly all be this stupid, can you?"

"P-please, Master Shaardan! Give us a chance! We'll do anything to get into the academy!" one of the hopefuls, a female Twi'lek who was wearing far too little clothing, begged.

"Hmph. I'm no master... yet... but I like the sound of that." Shaardan said calmly, "Alright, one more question, though the lot of you are trying my patience. Alright. Let's say you become a Sith and I am your commanding officer. I give you an order to spare the life of an enemy. Do you do it?"

"Oh, of course, Shaardan! Anything you command us!" the Twi'lek woman said immediately.

"We would never oppose you!" the human male hopeful added.

"No, no, no." Shaardan snapped, sighing, "Do you honestly believe that the Sith are in need of such snivelling cowards? Mercy is a weakness. If your leader shows weakness, it is your duty to kill him and show true authority... true power. That is why the Sith are strong." well, at least this boy knew what he was talking about. Although, if I were one of those hopefuls, I would have asked him why he wanted the prisoner spared - if it was for interrogation or to attempt to manipulate the prisoner into an ally, Shaardan's answer would be incorrect.

"Th-thank you, Shaardan. We, uh... we understand now!" the hopeful man said.

"No, you don't understand." Shaardan growled, "And you probably never will. You wouldn't survive five seconds in the academy... the other students would tear you apart! Bah! I can't be bothered with fools! Perhaps... I should... hmmm." he looked around as if seeking inspiration for how to deal with the hopefuls, "You! Jedi!" he called, his eyes resting on me, "You're looking to get into the academy, are you not? Of course you are... why else would you be here? Let me pose a question to you. These hopefuls will never survive in the academy. A lesson must be taught, here, but I am at a loss as to what form it should take."

I tilted my head to one side, staring the young man down. He was so self-assured in his power and darkness... but while he had a great deal of darkness, his power was nothing compared to mine... motes of dust, an insignificant creature not worthy of my time.

"I'm thinking to spare them the effort of being killed and do it myself." Shaardan said smugly, oblivious to my animosity, "Perhaps I shall turn their skin inside out? Or Force Lightning? It is a most impressive display."

"You called me a Jedi." I said coldly.

"Yeah, so what?" he asked.

"You insulted me, boy." I hissed.

He snorted, "I'm not afraid of you, woman." he retorted.

"You have much to learn, child." I said coldly, curling my fingers, using Force grip on him. My eyes lit up and I smirked maliciously, as he let out a shrill feminine shriek that made it clear exactly what part of his anatomy I had used Force grip on... it sure wasn't his throat.

The male hopeful whimpered in fear, and made himself elsewhere.

I released Shaardan, "Now, do you fear me?" I asked coldly.

He stared at me in horror, for a minute, trying to recover from the pain, before squeaking and running away. The two hopeful females stared at me, stunned. I turned to face them, and they scurried off to be somewhere that I wasn't.

"That was... an interesting way to deal with that Sith boy." Juhani said, in a measured tone that belied the distaste I sensed from her.

"I struck fear into his heart, and he certainly won't forget me in a hurry." I said calmly, smirking at the Cathar, "That is my goal, here. I need to get myself noticed by the Sith in order to gain entrance."

"Very well." Juhani frowned, "Though I do wish such cruelty was not necessary."

"When on Korriban, do as the Sith do." I said brightly. She scowled at me, and I smirked, "Come on. And I suggest you conceal your lightsaber, for now." I added, concealing my own lightsaber as well. I didn't want to be mistaken for a Jedi by any more of these bratty children - it was bad enough that I would have to pose as one for whoever was in charge of the academy now.

I led her through the streets of Dreshdae, past a small weapons merchant, but we soon ran into more Sith students.

"Look here, my dear friends... we have a group of newcomers to our little colony." the blonde woman, who seemed to be the ringleader of the group, said, "I don't believe I've seen any of them before, have you?"

"Looks pretty fresh to me, Lashowe." one of the men said.

"That's what I thought." the woman - Lashowe - said, "Well, stranger... I don't know whether you're aware of this or not, but here on Korriban the Sith do as they please. And we are Sith. Quite literally, whether you live or die depends upon our whim. What do you think of that, hmm?"

"You can try to kill me. You'd fail, but you can try." I said calmly, smirking at her.

"Those are very brave words for such an insignificant person. Do you not realize how many Sith are here in Dreshdae?" Lashowe asked, clearly rising to the challenge.

I smirked darkly, "Watch who you call insignificant, little girl." I hissed, "Did you SEE Shaardan running by here at full-pelt, by any chance?"

She frowned, "Yes... why?"

I smirked, "Because I'm the one who scared the living hell out of him enough to make him run like an iriaz on adrenaspeed."

Lashowe seemed a bit shaken at the idea, but quickly regained her composure, "I don't believe you. It would take more than the likes of you to scare Shaardan off."

I glared at her, "Watch it, girl. You might be heading for more trouble that you're worth."

One of the male students laughed, "I think someone just stood up to you, Lashowe."

"Shut up, fool!" Lashowe snapped, "Unless you want to be next!"

"Yeah? Anytime!" he retorted.

"Stop it, this is boring." one of the other students said, "Let's just go back to the academy."

"Fine, we'll go." Lashowe said, sounding exasperated, "As for you... I'll find you later. Trust me on that."

I smirked, "I look forward to it." I said coldly, a threat clear in my tone. I would love to put that little brat in her place.

x x x

We made our way through Dreshdae, to the academy entrance. There were several people standing outside, who reminded me of Tanis... not in the slimy way, but in the dying-of-thirst kind of way.

"What are these people doing here?" Juhani whispered to me.

"I'm not certain." I replied quietly, "But it looks stupid." I walked over to the young Sith man who looked like he was trying not to laugh at the three 'hopefuls'. "Hello." I said, innocently, "I'm looking for someone who can admit me to the academy. Know where I could find one?"

"Funny you should mention that." he said, smirking in a way that I really didn't trust, "I'm just conducting a test to see if these people are worthy of the academy. You have to stand over there for ten days."

I laughed, "You think I'm stupid, boy?" I said, clearly amused at his stupidity for trying such a trick on me, "It would take more than endurance to get into the Sith academy." I looked at the three people standing there, and the one dead body on the ground next to them, "Poor fools." I said flatly, "How gullible do they have to be to fall for that?"

The boy's eyes narrowed as he looked at me more carefully, "You'd be surprised how many people are so stupid."

"No. I wouldn't." I said flatly, "Now, seriously. Who's in charge, at this academy?"

"The master's name is Uthar. But it's his apprentice, Yuthura, who chooses who gets in." he said.

Uthar... that creepy man who was Jorak's apprentice before Malak tried to kill me. Great. Uthar never did like me. "Where can I find Yuthura?"

The boy laughed, "Well you might catch her at the cantina, in the evenings. But don't get your hopes up, she's not an easy mark."

"Thank you for your help. Have fun tormenting these people." I said brightly.

"Oh, I will." he said, smirking cruelly.

I turned, and led Juhani away, "Are you just going to let him torture those people?"

"On Korriban, there's one rule." I said flatly, "Survival of the fittest. And if their brains are unfit to tell that they're being tricked, they deserve it."

"That is a very cruel way to look at it." she noted.

"But it's the way this place works." I said, shrugging, "And it's worth your time remembering that. As long as we're here, we must always be on alert for tricks and attacks. This planet is a training ground for the most vicious of the Sith, and they like to practice on whatever they perceive as an easy target."

She frowned, but decided not to argue.

We returned to Dreshdae city, and made our way to the cantina. I ordered a glass of Mandalorian firewater, but Juhani refused to even touch anything alcoholic, so she did order some sort of soft-drink.

We sat and watched the cantina. Several Sith students did come and go, usually scaring off spacers and hopefuls when they made the effort to put in an appearance. I found it interesting to watch. I only took tiny sips of my drink, which meant it lasted for hours.

When it was starting to get dark outside, a small group of Sith came in, closely followed by a violet Twi'lek woman who clearly was not with the other three, though she wore the same uniform. She made her way to the corner, where the bartender immediately brought her a drink, which she must order regularly for him to do such a thing.

The three other Sith students looked to be in their late teens, two human boys with dark hair, and a gold Twi'lek girl. The girl seemed to be a friend of one of the boys, who seemed familiar to me... but the other boy was nervous. I focused on the conversation, through the Force, "Oh, come on, Ma'el, give him a chance." the familiar boy said, sounding exasperated, "Let him buy you a drink, talk to him. Please?"

"Why should I?" the Twi'lek asked coldly, "I only put out for powerful men. This boy is not worth my time."

The familiar boy scowled, "He likes you. He has a crush on you. You could probably make him do ANYTHING, with that sort of hold over him."

She glared, "That would be of interest if he weren't such a pitiful wimp." she snapped.

"Oh, come on. It's not like you haven't already slept with half the academy." the boy retorted.

"Five men. That is not half the academy!" she snarled.

"And what's the fatality rate?" the boy asked, smirking.

"Eighty percent." she said sulkily. That means four out of five. "But that is not my fault! And it's better than your fatality rate!"

"I am not the school slut!" he snapped, "I've only dated one person. And I cannot believe you would bring that up!"

She stuck her tongue out at him, then turned and stormed off. "Go play with your blasters, or something." she shot back, over her shoulder, as she left the cantina.

The boy blinked, "I will never understand that girl." he muttered, moving to sit next to the other boy, "She said no. Don't take it personally, though, she turned down Gary, too."

"Gary?" the other boy asked, "That guy a year behind you two? The one every woman in the academy - besides the two Twi'lek, apparently - drools over?"

"Yep. She brushed him off because he wasn't powerful... and yet she flirted with Master Uthar."

"That's just wrong on so many levels."

"You don't know the half of it." the familiar boy said.

They continued to talk, as I focused on his aura, trying to analyse him. His aura was clearly familiar to me, but I didn't recognise his face. Suddenly, it hit me - Tatooine. This boy was the younger of the three Sith we had fought on Tatooine - the one who ran away. He was just a student? I wouldn't have thought it from the first time I saw him, on Tatooine - he seemed quite powerful, in his own right. I wonder why he would have been outside the academy on such a high-level mission. I made a mental note to find out, before shifting my attention to the purple Twi'lek.

She was watching the other two Sith in the room carefully... but as soon as my gaze turned on her, she looked at me. Her aura was intense, she was powerful and very dark... but there was still compassion visible in her, though deeply buried. Her aura oozed power, which led me to believe she wasn't merely a student.

I was just about to stand up to go over to speak to her, when a drunk man stumbled into Juhani, "What the hell is your kind doing here?" he grunted, "Bad enough I have to deal with all these other idiots, but now there's a stinkin' Cathar on this world too?"

"I have as much right to be here as you do, SIR!" Juhani growled.

"Go breathe on someone else. I've met Wookiees with better breath than yours, you noxious, obnoxious moron." I hissed.

"Ooooo! Big woman, the Jedi, shooting her mouth off from behind a lightsaber, or whatever you're carrying." the drunk taunted, "Hiding behind your pet Cathar... And a woman at that!"

"Jedi?" I asked dangerously, "There's no need for that sort of insult around here!" I snarled, standing up to face the drunk directly - he was an inch taller than me, "And I assure you I hide behind neither my FREIND-" I emphasised the word, to show she was no pet, "-or my lightsaber."

The drunk seemed more interested in Juhani than me, however... which only served to make me more angry - I do not like being ignored. "We should have exterminated all you Cathar when we had the chance."

"Wha... What do you know about my world?" Juhani asked, stunned.

I contemplated a repeat performance of Shaardan's torture... but I also wanted to know what this psycho was talking about, before I hurt him too badly. "I know enough that... Hey, wait a minute... you look familiar somehow..."

"What? You..." Juhani asked... distant and painful recognition flashed through her aura... but she couldn't place him beyond the fact he was familiar.

"Who are you?" I growled at the drunk man.

"This doesn't concern you, Jedi trash." he said dismissively.

I grabbed him by the collar, and pinned him to the bar, "Take that back, worm!" I snarled, "I am no Jedi, and if you ever call me that again, I'll rip your throat out with your own ribs!".

He cringed, "All right, all right, you're not a Jedi. I get it." he said, squirming out of my grip. I let him go. He turned to face Juhani, again, picking up on his previous train of thought, "Hm... now where could I have... No, he's dead and she likely is too. I..."

"What are you talking about?" Juhani demanded.

"Maybe I was wrong." the drunk man said, shrugging, "Still, I think a specimen like you would be a nice addition to my collection." he turned to me, "So what would it take, young lady, for you to sell your pet here to me?" I felt a wave of anger bristle from the Twi'lek who I realised was watching this whole exchange.

"She's not for sale." I said coldly.

"Now don't be so selfish. We both know Cathar aren't real people anyway." he said, "The females make amusing pets, but males should be put down like the animals they are. I remember one time on Taris..."

"What?! WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Juhani snarled, standing up so sharply that her chair clattered to the ground, emanating a palpable wave of anger, much stronger than that which the Twi'lek woman had done.

"Calm down, Juhani." I said gently, "Remember what I told you about your anger."

"WHAT DID YOU DO ON TARIS, YOU SCUM?!" she yelled, heedless of my warning.

"Put one of you down like the animals you are." the man sneered, "So easy... then I saw one of the females on the auction block, but those darn Jedi..."

"It was you!" Juhani said, horrified, her anger mounting, and I was sure she would lose her temper soon.

"What? Me? Oh ho! Now I recognize where I've seen that face before." the drunk jeered smugly, "You were the little Cathar I was going to purchase. But those Jedi came and stole my pet away from me!"

"Be grateful you survived the encounter." I hissed, "If I had been there, you wouldn't have."

Juhani smirked darkly at that, acknowledging the deeper meaning in my words. If that pack of Padawans I had taken with me to Taris had actually bothered to tell me they were raiding a slave-market, this man most likely wouldn't have survived it.

"When I was fighting with the Mandalorians against the Cathar, I developed an appreciation for these creatures. They make excellent servants if properly trained." he explained, "Surely you must feel the same way I do about the lesser, non-human species. The Sith at least let their feelings show on the outside."

"You... My homeworld..." Juhani whispered, her emotional pain almost tangible.

"Come now, will you let your pet go?" the man asked, "I'm sure we can come up with a price we both think is fair."

"You couldn't afford the price it would cost for me to let you lick the dirt from her boots." I hissed.

"And I will see you dead for what you have done to my people!" Juhani snarled.

"Uh... hold on a second! Don't be hasty!" he said, backing away a few steps.

"He's not worth the effort, Juhani." I said dismissively.

"But... he helped destroy my homeworld." she growled.

"And I told you about anger-management." I said coldly, "Go back to the ship and take it out on that punch-bag Canderous found."

She sighed, "Very well... you are right. He is not worth my effort." she glared at him.

"Get lost before I change my mind, fool." I hissed, returning to my drink.

"I will have you yet!" he hissed in Juhani's ear, before he left the cantina.

She shivered, "My Cathar blood seethes at the thought of that man still running free." she growled quietly, "I cannot stand still while I think about it, but... but I will not give in to my anger either." I noticed she deliberately chose her wording - she thought the words 'dark side', but said 'anger', because of where we were. "He will pay for his crimes, though. He will most likely be following us... me. If we could find him first, then he may not be able to set in motion whatever he has in store for us."

I nodded, silently agreeing with her. We both sat down again, and I felt her anger simmer down to a slightly less volatile level.

I then looked up and saw the Twi'lek woman watching us carefully. I smiled at her, and nodded. She stood up and walked over to us, "Hello, there. I don't believe I have seen you around here, before." she said, sitting next to me.

"We're new here." I said, shrugging, "Just landed this morning."

"And what brings you to Dreshdae?" she asked, "I saw that display, with the slaver. It was quite impressive."

"We want to enter the Sith Academy." I smiled innocently, "You wouldn't know how we could get in, would you?"

She smiled at me, "Well, as I said, you managed to impress me. I am Yuthura Ban, second only to Master Uthar of the Sith academy here in Dreshdae. I am the one who decides which few of the many hopefuls who travel here to train actually become a Sith."

"Ah, I found the right person." I said brightly.

She raised an eyebrow, "Indeed you have. I sense... that you are very strong in the Force. But I also sense that your skills are well honed - why would you need admittance to the Sith academy? With your skill, you could likely get directly into the Sith fleet easily."

"Does it matter why?" I asked, "If you put me through the academy, you would get the credit for my skill when I graduate."

"Hmmm... that is true." Yuthura said, considering the thought, "Very well, I will take you to the academy and we shall see if you are ready to join the ranks of the Sith." she glanced at Juhani, who was eyeing her warily, "I have only one other question. What of this... companion of yours?"

"I also wish to join the academy." Juhani lied smoothly, "I am a defecting Jedi." the dishonesty was nearly undetectable, she blocked that element of her thoughts so effectively.

"Ah, a valuable commodity, indeed. Very well, you may both come to the academy together." Yuthura said calmly, "Are you ready to go there now?"

"Yes, we are." I answered.

x x x

Uthar Wynn looked worse than the last time I remember him. His tattoos concealed most of the disfiguring blotches on his skin, but not all. His head was shaven, now, which contrasted sharply with the wiry black hair he had had as Jorak's apprentice. His presence had always been austere, but something about his 'better than everyone else' attitude grated on me, and while he knew how to show deference, I had only seen him do it once.

"Greetings, prospective students." Uthar said, as we entered the central hall, and the semi-circle of accepted hopefuls was completed, "It appears we have a late entry. Who do you bring before me, Yuthura? A young human and a Cathar, both bristling with the Force?"

"Both of whom have had some training, it seems, Master Uthar. Very promising, I think." Yuthura answered.

"That I'll judge for myself, thank you." Uthar said coldly, "Tell me, human... what do you know of the ways of the Sith? What preconceptions has your mind been polluted with?"

"The Sith use their passion to fuel the Force, they rule through power, and they dominate the weak." I said proudly.

Uthar regarded me with curiosity, "That is true." he said, interest in his tone, "Though you say it as if it is only part of what you know."

I smirked, "I could talk all day about the merits of the Sith. But we don't have the time." I said brightly.

He turned to Juhani, and asked, "And you? What are your preconceptions?"

"The Sith do what they want and pay no heed to duty or discipline." she said defiantly.

"Untrue." Uthar said calmly, "The Force demands discipline from all who use it, and the Sith demand duty. The truth goes far beyond such a superficial evaluation. The Jedi equate the light with goodness and strength and the dark with weakness and evil. That is their tradition and it is truly no surprise that they cling to it for comfort. We, however, do not treat the Force as a burden. We treat it as a gift, a thing to be celebrated. We use it to acquire power over others... and why should we not? Because the Jedi say we should not?"

"But... power without consideration of morality is a weakness." Juhani said, frowning.

Uthar laughed, "You are brave to argue, young one. I have met few students who would speak so openly to me. Ask yourself first what this 'morality' is? How is it created? Who does it benefit? Where do your notions of 'good' and 'evil' come from? You may come to the realization that morality is but an obstacle to overcome... or not. The discovery is yours to make, should you be ready."

Juhani frowned, but didn't retort again.

"We are as the Force is meant to be." Uthar said, "The Jedi would hide that from you... they would tell you the dark side is too quick, too easy, all so that they need never challenge the passions that lie within them. Joining with us means realizing your true potential. It means not stifling yourself solely for the sake of hide-bound shamans and their antiquated notion of order. Be what you were meant to be." wow, he must have a good speech-writer. "What say you, Lashowe? Are you ready to learn the secrets of the dark side? Dare you?"

"I dare, Master Uthar! I am ready!" the blonde brat replied eagerly.

"Brash and fiery, as expected." Uthar said calmly, "Turn that passion to your advantage, child. What of you, Mekel? Are you ready?"

"I am, Master. More than ready." the young man who had been tormenting the three hopefuls outside the doors to the academy replied.

"I sense much anger within you, young one." Uthar said, "That is good. That will provide you power. And Shaardan... what of you?"

"I am always ready!" Shaardan said. Though I noticed he was diligently avoiding looking at me.

"I see. You had best gather your wits for the trial ahead, boy, or you will not last." Uthar warned, "And you, young Cathar? Does this interest you? Are you ready to learn more of what I speak?"

"I... am unsure." Juhani said warily. She was being honest... this is the wrong time for honesty!

"An honest answer." Uthar said coldly, "You will make little progress, however, if you do not come to learn that any opportunity, even an unsure one, must be snatched."

"I would not have come here if I were unwilling to 'snatch' the opportunity... master." she said, just as coldly.

"Very good. Your anger should help you, here." Uthar told her, then he turned to me, "And what of you, young human?"

"I am ready." I said, smirking.

"Are you?" Uthar asked, "I can see into your heart, young human, and I see the darkness that is there. I believe you will go far. Now, then. All of you six recruits have shown a degree of facility with the Force... you all have the potential to become true Sith. Only one of you, however, will succeed. The one who succeeds will be admitted to the academy as a full Sith. All others must wait until next year and try again... if you survive." he smirked darkly as he said this, "My pupil, Yuthura, shall be your teacher and master while you attempt to prove yourselves. Heed her words."

"As Master Uthar said, none of you are true Sith YET." Yuthura said. Oh, if only she knew who she was talking to. "For that to occur, one of you must do enough of worth... gain enough prestige... to be selected. What is an act of worth? You must learn that for yourselves. Remember that you are competitors, here... fight for your destiny, or go home."

"If you wish to gain a lead over your competitors, the first of you to learn the Code of the Sith and tell me of it will be rewarded." Uthar told us, "The rest is for you to discover. Welcome to the dark side, my children... your one chance at true greatness lies here."

The group dispersed, but I waited, "What do you want, young one?" Uthar asked me, "You have not had time to do anything of worth, yet."

I smirked, "I already know the Sith code."

He raised an eyebrow, "Very well, tell me."

"Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me." I quoted smoothly.

Uthar seemed surprised that I already knew this, "Yes, good. You do, indeed, know the Code of the Sith. Speaking the words and knowing the words are, however, two different things." he said, "Tell me then, true or false: victory by any means is desirable."

"False." I said instantly, "Unless victory proves your superiority, it is an illusion, it is temporary. For example, stabbing someone in the back, and letting them get away, even if that is not your intention, is not a desirable victory. They could return to fight you face to face."

Uthar now sounded suspicious, "True or false: there is nothing worse than love."

"False. Mercy is far worse than love." I answered, "In fact, in the right conditions, love can create passion, which fuels the Force. In some situations, it can be beneficial. Mercy is, on the other hand, of no use to a Sith."

Uthar's jaw dropped ever so slightly, as he stared at me. I smiled innocently at him. "Well done. I will test you no more... you know the Code. Very impressive."

I smiled and nodded my thanks, then I led Juhani out of the central room, to explore the rest of the academy.

x x x

"I have only ever seen the central hall, and the resident master's personal study, when I visited this place." I told Juhani.

She nodded, "So you wish to investigate the building more thoroughly, while we are here?"

"That's about right, yes." I said, smiling.

She frowned, and kept close to me, as we wandered the halls. I found several training rooms, and a library, but it was getting late, so we made our way to the residential area. The students' quarters were incredibly spartan. They didn't even have doors. It wasn't too difficult to find the two 'rooms' we were assigned to. Each consisted of a small alcove in the corridor, with an uncomfortable single bed, and a footlocker. The lockers were secured with a very complex password, so it was possible to keep some things a secret, here.

Juhani's 'room' was first, and mine was just down the corridor from her. "Well, I suppose this is the best we shall get here." Juhani muttered, sitting down on her bed.

"Don't worry about it. Aside from the fact we're technically allowed to go back to our ship if we want, I don't think this is so bad." I sighed, "I've seen worse conditions to live in."

"As have I." Juhani replied, "I have endured worse."

I frowned, and nodded. She is most likely referring to the slave-market on Taris. "Well, I hope you sleep well." I said calmly, "We've got a long day ahead of us."

I made my way to my own room, and rooted through the locker. Some clean Sith robes, a vibroblade, and a datapad titled 'How to be a Sith'. I added my shoulder bag to the locker, and reset the password to 47-green-red-34-K - it was a compilation of familiar numbers that I wouldn't forget in a hurry, even though it was complicated.

I did sleep well that night, though the dreams of torture, screaming in agony, the scent of burnt flesh, and the taste of blood, filled my mind. I still somehow managed to wake relatively refreshed... in that I wasn't as tired as I had been before I went to sleep... but those dreams worried me. In spite of the Icestim I had taken, she was still suffering, and the thought upset me.

As soon as I was awake, I tried to channel some comforting thoughts to her. I would save her. Don't give up. But her mind was closed off. In trying to seal herself off from the pain, she had also blocked me out. I would likely only feel her pain in dreams, because of it, but she would not feel any comfort I could try to give her, either.

I got up, and took my own things out of the locker, ignoring the three items that had been there before, and made my way down the corridor.

Juhani was waiting for me, there. After exchanged greetings, we made our way down the corridor, towards the main hall. We were blocked by Yuthura, however, "Ah, there you are... my favourite prospect for the year." Yuthura said to me.

"Go on ahead, Juhani. I'll catch up with you in a minute." I said. Juhani frowned, and nodded. She edged past Yuthura, who showed no interest in stopping her, and disappeared around the corner. "Your favourite?" I asked too-innocently.

"Absolutely." Yuthura said, smiling, "By my estimation, you are far more likely to achieve the prestige necessary to join the Sith than any of the others. As a matter of fact, I am so certain of that that I'm willing to offer you an opportunity of the once-in-a-lifetime variety. Would you like to hear it?"

"Of course." I answered immediately. Never give up an opportunity to hear information, even if you later choose not to use it, at least you will know it.

"Good. I do so adore someone who's willing to take a chance." Yuthura said, smirking, "As I said, you're no doubt going to be the one whom Uthar chooses to become a Sith. With my help, of course. Once that occurs, he will take you into the Valley of the Dark Lords to the tomb of Naga Sadow to administer the final test. There you and I will be alone with him. The perfect time to, shall we say, arrange for a change in the academy's leadership?"

"Hmmm... sounds like a reasonable arrangement to me. But what makes you think you can trust me?"

She shrugged, "I suppose you could betray me." she said calmly, "Even the hint of betrayal from his pupil and Uthar would move to eliminate me. But this is a very good opportunity for you... you can start off your Sith career as the right hand of the head of the academy: me. Uthar will not offer you that."

"All right, then." I smirked, "I'll think about it."

She raised an eyebrow, "You do that." she said flatly, before turning to leave.

I set off in the opposite direction from Yuthura, in search of the dining hall. I hadn't found it the previous night, and I was quite hungry now.

I turned a corner, to see two students fighting in the corridor. Unlike a traditional duel, the elder student (who looked to be in his mid-twenties) seemed to have taken the younger boy (who was the same one I had encountered on Tatooine) by surprise, and pinned him down without using any weapons. "Come on, just tell me where it is." the older student said.

"No way. Get your own toys." the younger student snapped.

"Want me to break this arm?" the older student asked, twisting the younger boy's arm behind his back, "Then you'd not be able to use it."

"It's contraband. How do I know you won't just tell Uthar about it?" the younger student hissed, through the pain.

"That's your problem, not mine." I heard a cracking sound as he twisted the younger student's arm a bit too far.

The younger student lost his temper, then... I felt a palpable wave of anger hit me, even from this distance... and it sent the older student flying into a nearby wall. The young boy picked himself up, to his feet, holding his left hand out defensively, while his injured right arm was held to his chest.

"You sneaky rotten brat!" the older student yelled, picking himself up.

The younger boy smirked, "Yes, I am. But I'm a dangerous brat to piss off."

The older student laughed, "I can beat you, any day, kid."

"Try me."

The older student drew his lightsaber. The younger boy smirked, and with a wave of his left hand he sent the weapon clattering down the corridor. The older student glared at him, and threw a bolt of lightening at the boy.

I sensed the boy tap into the Force, to dodge the lightening at inhuman speed. Then he used Force grip on the older student's ankle, pulling it towards him, so the older student fell on his back. The boy, still using the Force to accelerate his movement, had his foot on the older student's throat within a second. "Give up?" he asked, smirking.

The older student couldn't speak, because the younger boy was putting too much pressure on his throat. He made a grunting noise, and tried to nod.

The younger student smirked, "Good. Now, if you tell anyone about my contraband weapons, I'll use them to rearrange your face." he released the other student, who quickly scrambled to his feet. The younger boy kicked him in the stomach as he tried to stand up, knocking him back onto the floor again. The boy laughed cruelly at him, and stormed off, almost running into me. "You take a wrong turn somewhere?" he asked me coldly.

"Don't get smart with me, brat." I hissed, "While I'm impressed at your fighting skills, I'm not the pushover that guy was."

He looked me up and down warily, and I sensed recognition as he looked at me, "Mmhm. Then again, it'd be difficult to be more of a pushover than him."

"I imagine so." I said, smirking, "I recognise you." I said flatly.

He paled slightly, "I don't see why. I'm sure you've never seen my face before."

I smirked darkly, "Oh, the number of people I could use that line on myself, it's not even funny." I chuckled at that thought, "You were on Tatooine, wearing a half-mask, but your aura and your eyes are unmistakable."

"My aura? You're an empath?" he asked, edging away from me warily.

"Every Force-adept has some degree of empathy... just so few Sith bother to hone the skill." I said, smirking, "Don't worry. I've no reason you hunt you down - you didn't hurt her."

He bit his lip nervously, "Yeah... well, you killed my teacher and his apprentice. That's a big deal, you know."

"I'm sure." I said flatly, "Why were you harassing her?"

"Her face was on the list." he said, "My teacher had this list of people who were supposed to be travelling with Bastila Shan."

"I see." I said coldly, "Well, the Twi'lek girl is a member of my crew. She's on my ship right now if you feel like apologising to her." the clear sarcasm in the suggestion made it obvious how little I cared if he apologised or not, "And I can assure you, with absolute certainty, that Bastila Shan is nowhere near my ship."

"Maybe we got the wrong Twi'lek. Shit happens." the boy said, shrugging.

"Shit happens. Cute." I said, smirking, "What is your name, anyway, kid?"

"Don't call me kid." he growled.

"You'd get along great with that Twi'lek, if you hadn't tried to kill her." I said flatly.

"I didn't try to kill her. I tried to take her hostage." he retorted.

"Well if you don't want to be called 'kid', what should I call you?" I persisted.

"The name's Dustil. That satisfy your curiosity enough?" he asked coldly.

Carth's gonna hate this... when I tell him I almost killed his son on Tatooine... oh, well, I'll just avoid telling him. "I was actually hoping to forge alliances within the academy." I said, "You seem like a strong individual."

"I am." Dustil said, smirking, "I'm top of my class."

"Perhaps you could help me?"

He eyed me critically, "Why should I? What's in it for me?"

"If you have any degree of Force sense, you can tell how powerful I am. Would I not be a valuable ally?"

"Yes... yes, you would." he said warily, "All right, I'll help you."

I smiled, "Thank you. You could start by telling me which way the dining hall is."

x x x

"I heard you mention contraband weaponry." I said, as we walked, "What's that about?"

"We're not supposed to use blasters, here." Dustil explained, "Apparently they're too clumsy, and not fitting a Sith." he smirked, "Doesn't mean a good shot won't kill you, though. I don't like sleeping with a bladed weapon under my pillow, hence I acquired a blaster."

"I saw it, on Tatooine." I noted flatly.

"Yeah. And you also saw how good my aim is."

"That stealth belt cost twenty credits." I noted.

"Too bad." he said blithely - clearly, he had no intention of reimbursing us for the damage - as we walked into the central hall.

Juhani was waiting for me, there, "Who is this boy?" she asked.

"I'm not a kid." he growled.

"He's the one who got away on Tatooine." I told Juhani. She nodded, eyeing the boy warily, "I told him he'd get on great with Mission if he hadn't tried to kidnap her."

"His complaints of not being a 'kid' do sound a great deal like hers, indeed." Juhani noted, smiling.

"Dustil, this is Juhani." I said, "I trust you recognise her?"

"Yeah." he said, eyeing Juhani with at least as much suspicion as he had shown for me.

"Juhani, this is Dustil." I continued.

Juhani nodded curtly to Dustil, "Manners dictate that I should say it is a pleasure to meet you... but we have already met, and it was not a pleasure."

Dustil laughed, "Hey, I was just following orders. Would have got me a few more steps up the food chain if we'd found who we were looking for."

"How so?" I asked.

He smirked darkly, "I know I'm stronger than my teacher. If you hadn't done it for me, I'd have killed them and taken the credit for catching Bastila. That would get me noticed by the higher ranking Sith, and I'd be out of this dump."

"Good plan, Dustil." I said, nodding, "But you missed one detail. Bastila's not an easy girl to catch. Revan tried it. Malak tried it. Bandon tried it. Hell, even Calo Nord tried it. Look where most of them are."

"Yeah." he said, shrugging, "I know that now. One thing I don't know, though, is your name."

"Call me Kira."

"You say that like it's not your name?" he said, his tone making it a question.

"You're only the second person to notice that." I said brightly.

"And you're not going to give me any other name for you, are you?" he asked flatly.

"No, I'm not." I said flatly.

"You do know Kira means 'dark lady', right?" he asked, smirking.

"Where did you learn that?" I asked - I hadn't known it.

"I knew someone with that name, before I joined the Sith." he said, frowning. Clearly he didn't like to think about his life before the Sith. "She used to brag about its meaning."

"I see." I said flatly, "I understand why." I smirked, "Now, weren't you leading the way to the dining hall?"

"Yes... I was. It's this way." he turned and walked off in the opposite direction from the residential area. As we walked, he explained, "Some of the new students have a problem with where the dining hall is, though. It's just past the interrogation rooms and the training complex. The smell can be off-putting, unless you're used to it."

"That is disgusting." Juhani said coldly.

"It could be worse... it could be next to the latrines." I noted.

Dustil sniggered, "No, that's the meditation room. It makes it difficult to focus, sometimes, I can tell you." he said brightly.

I laughed at that, even though I could tell he was telling the truth.

We then arrived at the dining hall. It was a large room hewn into the stone itself, like the rest of the academy. The tables were laid out evenly, and each could sit six people, except the large table at the head of the room, which appeared to be the staff table.

Dustil led us to a table near the back of the room, at which three other students were already sitting, and he proceeded to steal a sandwich from the red-haired girl he sat next to, "Kira, Juhani, this is Velsa and Ronan." he said, pointing to the red-haired girl and the black-haired boy. "And that's Kel." he added, as an afterthought, nodding to the brown-haired boy at the far corner of the table. I recognised Kel as the nervous boy Dustil had been talking to in the cantina, before.

"Hi." Velsa said, smiling sweetly.

"These're some of the new hopefuls, right?" Ronan asked, "You do know Yuthura's rigged this year's admittance, don't you?"

"I know." I said, smirking.

"Oh, so it's you?" Ronan asked, "Tough break." he added to Juhani, with no sympathy in it at all. Juhani glared at him.

"How did you know?" I asked.

"I hear things." Ronan said, smirking smugly.

"Right." I said coldly.

"Kira's asked for some help getting into the academy." Dustil explained, "Take a good look at her, guys."

All three of the students looked at me carefully, "She's powerful." Velsa said flatly.

"And she's hot, too." Ronan said, smirking at me. I gave him a pointed glare, and he looked away still smirking.

"Yuthura can try to rig the system all she wants, doesn't mean I don't want to work out my own evil plots for myself." I said calmly, "Those four have been here longer than we have - what can you tell me about them?" I asked, referring to the four other hopefuls.

"The three you have to worry about are Lashowe, Shaardan and Mekel. The other guy, I don't even know his name, isn't a threat." Dustil said, smirking, "Wouldn't even be a threat to a blind and deaf womp-rat."

I sniggered, "Ok, what about those three?"

"You're not worried about your friend?" Velsa asked, looking at Juhani.

"No. If I get in first, she can get in next time around." I said, shrugging.

"Whatever." Velsa shrugged and sat back, watching us. She snatched back her stolen sandwich from Dustil and smacked him over the head with it, before dropping it on the table in front of him.

"Hey!" Dustil snapped, while the other two boys sniggered at him. He frowned, then looked around, "Shaardan's a lazy pig, I'd watch my back around him if I were you."

"I've learned to watch my back the hard way." I said coldly, "That shouldn't be too much trouble. Go on."

"Lashowe's aura reminds me of Ma'el." Ronan said, smirking, "I'd not be surprised if she tries to get in by flirting with Uthar."

"There's a mental picture we didn't need." Dustil said coldly.

"Mekel's secretive, though." Velsa said, pointedly ignoring Ronan's comment, "I don't think any of us have any idea what his plans are."

"Best way into the academy is to get something valuable from the ruins." Dustil said flatly, "That's how most people get in. But it's also how most hopefuls get killed."

"Hmmm." I looked at the other four hopefuls carefully - if Ronan was right about Lashowe, she was the biggest threat, and one Yuthura wouldn't be able to sabotage so easily.

I watched as Yuthura walked over to Mekel and spoke quietly to him. He grinned and nodded to her. She smirked smugly as she walked away again. I noticed her eyes land on me, and her smirk broadened.

"What was that?" Ronan asked, "Is she working several students at once, or something?"

"No..." Velsa said, smirking, "She just lied to him. Not sure what, but it was a lie."

"You kids are perceptive." I noted.

"We're the best in the school. Aside from the masters themselves, of course." Velsa said, smirking, "You don't get this far without being perceptive."

"The number of schemes and plots running around this school... Ronan hears them all, Velsa can smell a lie a mile away, and I'm the best smooth-talker there is. The three of us make a good team." Dustil explained.

"I'll bet." I said, smirking, "But doesn't that require trust?"

"It would help." Velsa said, smirking, "I don't need it because I can smell a lie... but the two boys here have developed a habit of double-checking everything the other one says."

"He tried to convince me Yuthura had a crush on me." Ronan protested.

"You tried to trick me into entering a deathmatch, last year." Dustil snapped right back.

"Not to mention the time you left me alone in a room full of kinrath." Ronan noted.

"And the time you dyed my uniform pink." Dustil said - both boys were smirking, now.

"And the time you told Uthar I set the training room on fire."

"That fire was an accident!" Dustil laughed, "I had to blame someone."

"You could have blamed Kai!"

"Oh, get over it." Dustil laughed, "See, we're the best of friends, really."

"I had a friend like that once... it goes a step too far when they actually do try to murder you." I said flatly.

"Mmhm. I'll remember that." Ronan said flatly.

"I have an idea about Lashowe." I said, "I'll meet you back here in twenty minutes."

x x x

I made my way back to the Hawk. Carth was in the process of pitching a fit, but I walked past him, as if he wasn't there, and found Jolee in the medbay.

"You wanted something?" Jolee asked innocently.

"Yes." I said, smirking, "A laxative."

"You got problems with that?" Jolee asked, smirking.

"No. I want to give someone else problems."

"All right, then. I won't ask." Jolee chuckled to himself as he started fixing up a concoction of herbs.

"So if you liked Kashyyyk so much, why did you want to leave?" I asked flatly.

"Are we back to THAT again?" he asked. I'd talked the man in circles the whole way from Tatooine to Manaan, and had heard several of his stories... but I still hadn't got him to tell me why he'd come with me. "Hmmm... what's the best way for me to approach this? Ah, perhaps it's time for a little story..."

"Oh no, not another one!" I whined.

"You just keep quiet there, you! I've had to put up with all your busy-body questions, haven't I? Well, now you'll listen to a story, dammit!" Jolee snapped amicably, "Now where was I? Oh yes, the story... you almost made me forget about it. Nice try, but I'm not that old just yet. Heh heh. Now, then. A young man sees a terribly venomous snake in his small village. Nervous, he watches the snake carefully until it leaves. The young man follows the snake into the forest. He clears the branches out of its path and helps it over obstacles. He even works to keep it fed."

"Is there a point you're going to get to some time this century?" I asked.

"Shush!" Jolee snapped. I glared, but let him continue, "Many nights pass and still the young man continues to follow the snake. He even follows it into the sands of the great desert. In the desert, the snake eventually grows hungry. It turns and bites the young man, its poison quickly working its way into his system. Finally curious, the snake looks at the boy as he lays dying and asks, 'Why were you foolish enough to follow me all the way out into the desert?' The boy looks back and replies, 'Did I follow you? I thought I was leading you away from everyone else...' And then he died."

I stared at the old man, "You think I'm a snake?" I asked, grinning evilly.

"Well, now, that's what I wanted to see for myself." Jolee said calmly, "I've told you before that you have a destiny before you. This does not mean, however, that your future is already written. They are not the same thing. You have the choice of which direction you take your destiny in. More than engine-sucking Andor, certainly... but even he had a choice."

"What choice do you think I'm going to make?" I asked, smirking.

"So far you've chosen to take a darker path. You know the consequences of that... we'll see if you decide to stay your course." he said, shrugging, "I'm not here to judge you or tell you which path to take. I'm here ready to offer you my help... should you ask for it."

"I just did. Is that concoction ready yet?" I asked, smirking. He handed me the small jar of powder, "Are you afraid of me?" I asked quietly.

He smirked, "The real question is whether or not I'm as frightened as I should be, isn't it?"

"The answer to that is undoubtedly no." I said flatly, "Thanks for the help, old man."

"Heh, off with you, kid." he said, smiling. I glared half-heartedly at him, and turned and left.

Carth was still trying to fight his way past Canderous, when I passed them on my way off the ship.

"Hey, Carth." I said brightly.

"You evil little-" he snarled at me.

"Manners, Carth." I chided, "Believe it or not, I just saw Dustil."

He froze, "You what?" he asked, "Where is he?"

"He's in the academy." I said flatly, "Why, where did you think he was? Alderaan?"

"I have to see him!" he said desperately.

"Patience, Carth. I'm on my way back to talk to him, now." I smirked darkly, "Did you know he's top in his class?" the horrified look on his face made me smirk even more as I left the ship. Revenge is sweet.

x x x

I sat back down at the table, with Juhani and the four students, and stole an untouched glass of some drink or other. I added the powder to it, and handed it to Ronan.

"I'm not blind." he noted flatly.

"I'm not asking you to drink it. Give it to Lashowe." I said, smirking.

He raised an eyebrow, "Why me?" he asked coldly.

"You were the one who pointed out how dangerous she was." I explained, "And she'd not trust another hopeful, while she might accept a drink from a student who she thinks has nothing to gain by hurting her."

"What have I to gain from it, though?" he asked.

"As I told Dustil, I would make a powerful ally. You certainly don't want me as an enemy, do you?" I asked innocently.

"Do as she says, Ronan. Or I'll tell Ma'el about those pictures you took." Dustil said brightly.

"You wouldn't!"

"You know he would." Velsa said, sniggering.

"Just tell me what you put in this." Ronan said to me.

"It's not fatal. That's all you need to know." I said flatly.

Ronan shrugged, and picked up the glass. I watched as the boy walked over to Lashowe's table, and offered her the drink. She accepted it, and took a sip. He smiled started and talking to her.

"He'll not be back as long as she's there." Velsa said calmly, "He knows how to work a mark, and he'll probably try to squeeze all the information out of her that he can."

I shrugged, and returned my attention to the other three students left, "You seem awfully quiet, Kel." I noted.

"He's shy." Velsa said flatly.

"No I'm not." Kel snapped.

"Whatever." Velsa said, smirking.

"So what are your plans for the other three?" Dustil asked, glancing at the three other hopefuls in turn.

"Avoid them, and get there first." I said flatly, "You mentioned something about ruins before, Dustil?"

"The old Sith tombs." he said, nodding, "Marka Ragnos' and Ajunta Pall's tombs are nearest, and more people try those. Not that many get far. Naga Sadow's tomb is sealed off for the final test. And you'd have to be incredibly brave or incredibly stupid to go into Tulak Hord's tomb - no one comes out alive, at all. While a few people wimp out and get away from the other two before they get too far in, Tulak Hord's tomb must be booby-trapped well."

"Sounds fun." I said brightly, "I'll try all three."

"I'm putting my money on Shaardan, now." Ronan said flatly, "You do realise that, right?"

"Why is that?" I asked innocently.

"Lashowe's been poisoned by something. Mekel's been lied to. And you're going to try Tulak Hord's tomb." Ronan answered, "Good luck to you, but I doubt it'll do you any good."

x x x

Dustil led the way down to the valley of the dark lords. Juhani and I planned to do a systematic sweep of the tombs, starting with whichever was considered easiest.

"Marka Ragnos' tomb is this one." Dustil explained, "Looting it was relatively easy, until last week. Some prototype droid escaped, and holed up in there. No one's come out alive since."

"Must be some droid." I said flatly.

"I heard it's specifically designed to assassinate Jedi." Dustil told me, "So yeah, that's a seriously dangerous droid."

"I imagine so." I said flatly, "I don't expect you to risk your safety, Dustil. Juhani and I should be able to handle it."

He frowned, "I could probably be of use if I felt like it." he noted, "But you're right, I'm not going to try to help you."

I led Juhani into the tomb, where we were immediately confronted by several guard-droids. My Force-lightening and both our lightsabers made short work of them.

I found a datapad stating that the droid was hypersensitive to sound. So when we came up against it, I threw a sonic grenade at it - that stunned it long enough for us to eliminate the guard-droids it had made, and slice the assassin-droid into neat little pieces.

We returned to the entrance of the tomb, seemingly unruffled.

"Ten minutes?!" Dustil said, stunned, "Wow. That's impressive."

"How long had you planned to give us before you went and told Uthar we were dead?" I asked flatly.

"An hour." he said, smirking slightly.

I shrugged and we crossed the valley to Ajunta Pall's tomb, "This one's got a higher mortality rate." Dustil explained, "Last person to come out alive was a gibbering wreck. But if someone could get Ajunta Pall's mythical sword, they'd get a lot of prestige for it."

"Sounds fun." I said flatly.

Juhani and I entered the tomb, and found our way past the defences easily enough. However, when I tried to steal the swords from the tomb, I got one hell of a shock. I sensed a presence literally appear out of nowhere, behind me. I jumped and turned to face it. What I saw would have scared a normal person... but I'm not so easily frightened.

A ghost... a spectre of what looked like an ancient Sith.

"Too long... too long in the cold and the dark. I am disturbed again? A human..." the spirit asked, "A... Jedi? Here? Why have you come to this dark place, Jedi? Why... disturb my sleepless rest?"

I wasn't about to test a Sith ghost's temper by snapping for being called a Jedi... I would let it go, this once. I could barely sense its aura, but the emotions were strong... regret, pain, sadness. "Who are you?" I asked warily.

"I... had a name, once." the apparition said - its tone wavering balefully... it almost made even my cruel heart pity it. "Ajunta Pall. Yes, that was my name. I was one of many. We were servants of the dark side... Sith Lords, we called ourselves. So proud."

"Servants?" I asked sceptically, "But a Sith Lord serves no one!"

"So proud..." he said distantly, "In the end we were not so proud. We hid... hid from those we had betrayed. We fell... and I knew it would be so..."

I frowned, "What happened? How did you fall?" I asked. Something about this ghost made me feel... fear... a sense of foreboding. I didn't like it one bit.

"We... hid from the Jedi, but it was not they who destroyed us." he said dejectedly, "Is it not... obvious what we did?" I frowned, but didn't answer, so he continued, "We destroyed each other. We desired the secrets of each other, to increase our power... we battled until finally our fortress rained down on top of us. And so here our old secret is buried and none of us hold it any more... is that not right? Our power fled. Oh, what became of us? Do... do the Sith still thrive? Did they ever return?"

"Yes, we returned." I said quietly.

"And they still squabble amongst themselves for power." Juhani said coldly.

"So much... so much time has passed. And yet we have learned nothing... nothing..." Ajunta Pall said sadly.

I didn't know what to make of this spirit - this sort of regret was a weakness, wasn't it? Why would an ancient Sith Lord feel regret? "Is it true you wielded a powerful sword?" I asked, trying to push my confusion aside.

"My sword... I filled it with my pride. And it is... buried with me, now. A corpse as I am a corpse." he said morosely, "I am dead, as my faith... is dead. And I shall remain here... surrounded by blackness in death as in life..."

Again, I felt a sense of foreboding from him. It was so ominous it scared me, "We need that sword." I said pointedly.

"Of course you do. You... seek my power. Will it destroy you... as it did me?" he asked. The morbid misery in his tone only added to the effect I was already feeling. This ghost was unsettling me greatly. "I wish my sword to be... taken away from here. I do not wish it to rot away as I have. I command this of you."

I glared at him, "Hey, nobody commands me!" I snapped.

But Juhani nudged me sharply, and spoke quickly to the ghost, "But we would still be happy to take your sword away from this place."

"If... if you are wise, you will not keep it. In the end, it is what destroyed me..." he said wretchedly, "There are... three blades within my sarcophagus. Only one is truly my sword, but it has been so long... I do not remember which. Find the sword that is mine and... place it on the statue. If it is truly mine, then it is yours."

I frowned, and walked over to the sarcophagus, and looked at the three blades within. A silver lined sword, a vibrosword, and a notched steel sword. "How do I know which is which?" I asked.

"I do remember one thing of my sword..." Ajunta Pall said, "listen to me carefully... 'I am that which grips the heart in fright, hearkens night and silences the light.' It was... written of my sword long... long ago."

"Silences light." I said quietly, reaching out to the blades, through the Force. The silver sword reflected light, the vibrosword was just an ordinary vibrosword... but the steel sword sang with darkness, and when I tried to focus what little light I had in me to it, I received no response.

I picked up the steel sword, as if in a trance, and placed it in the statue's hand. The statue gripped it, as if it belonged there, and a faint rumbling ran through the tomb, "Yes... that is the one. That is the blade that destroyed me. Take it... take it and the other blades, even... take them and go. My darkness awaits me..."

I frowned at the wraith, warily, "Why do you remain in this place?" I asked.

"Remain? Do I... remain? I... have regretted for so long... all that I have done." he replied sadly.

I shook my head, "Why? What do you regret?" I asked. This ghost confused me.

Ajunta Pall looked at me. Really looked at me, for the first time, with eerie white eyes that seemed to bore into me, and sent a chill up my spine, "I... see your dark heart, human." he said, with an ominous tone that I didn't like, "Dark as mine was, proud as mine was. You... you will find the old place... and you will regret it. So much power... it is blinding. I...I remember so little..."

Juhani was watching me carefully, I noticed, and she chose this moment to speak, "There's no need for you to remain here, is there?" she asked the ghost.

"No... need? What choice have I?" he asked.

"You can return to the light side and end your torment." she told him. I snorted quietly, but neither of them seemed to take notice of my opinion.

"Return?" the spirit asked, surprised anyone would even suggest such a thing, "But... I betrayed my old masters. They would never let me return to the light side. It is too late... too late..."

Juhani shook her head, determinedly, "It is never too late." she said adamantly, "I don't believe the light side would turn you away. You have suffered long enough."

"If I... if I could return." the ghost said, hope tingeing his previously miserable tone, "Oh, my Master... it has been... so long... and I regret so much..."

My jaw dropped as the apparition disappeared, and the misery and pain in the atmosphere lifted. "What the bloody hell?!" I asked.

Juhani smiled at me, "Do you not think I did the right thing?"

I stared at her. Clearly, the ghost had wanted what she told it... but... "You just turned one of the ancient Sith Lords away from the dark side... right in front of me!"

"I did." she said, nodding.

"That... I don't even know where to start with how wrong I think that is!" I said, still a bit confused, myself, "I mean..." I sighed, "I don't know what to think, right now. Let's just go."

Juhani smirked smugly, as I snatched Ajunta Pall's sword, and the two other blades, and then led the way out of the tomb.

She ceased to smirk, however, when we were apprehended by Shaardan, near the exit, "I saw you come in here and I rather figured you'd make it all the way to the sarcophagus. Good to see I wasn't wrong."

I glared at the boy, "What do you want, Shaardan?" I asked coldly, "Did you enjoy our last meeting so much?"

He winced, but seemed to keep his composure relatively well... any sane male would be half a mile away, by now, and still running. "Isn't it obvious? I've been hoping that someone would do the dirty work in retrieving the sword of Ajunta Pall for some time. It's been quite a wait."

I sensed another presence, masked quiet well through the Force, but not well enough for me to miss it, enter the tomb, unseen.

"Now that you have it, I just thought I'd relieve you of it. It must be quite a burden, after all." Shaardan continued.

"No thanks." I said brightly, "I can handle it just fine by myself."

"Oh, but I insist. I'm not about to let a chance to impress Master Uthar pass me by." Shaardan said smugly, "I may like you well enough, but being a Sith is all about taking chances when the moment is right. So make it easier on both of us... hand over the sword."

I reached out with the Force to repeat the trick I used on him before, but he blocked my attempt. His smug look turned into a smug grin. I glared at him. "You can have this sword when you pry it from my cold dead hands." I said, holding up the steel blade, in a duelling stance.

"I've been looking forward to this." Shaardan said, drawing his lightsaber, and lunging at me. I blocked him with Ajunta Pall's sword, and the duel which followed would have been quick and resulted in Shaardan's death, if he hadn't surprised me by using Force lightening on the blade. The steel sword conducted the lightening, causing me to drop my weapon.

Shaardan raised his blade to take a swing at me - which, for the record, I could easily have dodged - when the blade of a red lightsaber appeared from his chest.

The blade disappeared, and Shaardan dropped, dead, to the ground. Dustil was standing behind him, smirking, "Now you owe me." he said flatly.

"Whatever, kid. You're not getting the sword, though." I snatched Ajunta Pall's blade from the ground, quickly.

Dustil sniggered, "Don't want it." he said flatly, "That'll really impress Uthar, though. You're a shoe-in."

"Thanks, kid." I said, smirking as he glared at the word 'kid'.

"Let's get out of this dump. It doesn't even feel as creepy as Marka Ragnos' tomb, but I still don't like it." Dustil muttered.

"You've been in Marka Ragnos' tomb?" I asked.

"Yeah, there were some hidden compartments in the main corridor... before that droid got in there I... my friend and I raided them, when we were trying to earn prestige." he said... I noticed the slight hesitation, and the sudden mental wall he constructed, when he mentioned his friend. Most people wouldn't have noticed, though - he hid his feelings almost as well as Bastila.

Uthar was most impressed with the sword, and the news of the droid's demise. It was early evening, though, and attempting to raid Tulak Hord's tomb after dark was likely stupider than trying to raid it at high noon. So I decided to leave the scavenger mission for the evening.

x x x

"A few of us are going up to the Drunk Side cantina for a party, this evening. You're both invited." Dustil said. He and Kel had met Juhani and I, on our way back to the residential area, after our meeting with Uthar.

"What sort of party?" I asked.

"The academy just got news that Darth Bandon got himself killed." Dustil explained, "The senior classes are celebrating, because it means one of our top students will replace him."

I blinked, "What, you mean Malak's coming here?" I asked, stunned.

"Yeah." Dustil said, "In a couple of weeks."

I blinked a few more times, "Great reason for a party." I said sarcastically, "Sure, let's get drunk."

The boys led us up to the cantina, where several older Sith were already holding court.

"Nice dates, boys." an older human male sneered at them, "Getting a bit desperate, to be picking up hopefuls, aren't we?"

"Yeah, well considering how much your date charges by the hour, Kai, I think we could have done worse." Dustil snapped right back.

Everyone started sniggering, but I glared at Dustil, "Date? You think I'm here as your date? Kid."

He blinked innocently, "What, a guy asks you to a party, and you think it's not a date?"

I sighed, "You're too young for me."

"I didn't think you looked that old." he said, smirking.

"Thanks." I said flatly, making my way to the bar. I ordered a Mandalorian firewater, and sat there watching the other Sith getting drunk.

Dustil sat next to me, and ordered a Coruscant cooler - a weak mix of fruit-drink and wine - it's barely alcoholic. "Why did you join the Sith?" he asked me, as the bartender gave us our drinks.

I blinked - I had expected to be the one interrogating him, but he beat me to it, "Well... it's a long story..."

"I've got time." he said, smirking.

I shrugged, "I thought the Republic was doing a crappy job looking after things, and thought it'd be much better if I were the supreme ruler of the galaxy. The Sith seemed the quickest way to achieve that."

He sniggered, "Very blunt. Are you trying to make a joke?"

"No, that's the short version of the story." I said, then I smirked at him and added jokingly, "If I told you the long version, I'd have kill you."

He raised an eyebrow at that, "Cute." he muttered sarcastically.

"So why did you join the Sith?" I asked.

"Similar reason... sort of. The Republic sucks." he said, shrugging.

"Suck is a relative term. What did they do?" I asked.

He looked at me pointedly - I got the distinct impression he noticed the double-entendre in what I had said, even though I only noticed it after I'd said it. Then he looked at his drink intently for a minute before asking, "Why should I trust you?"

"You probably shouldn't." I said flatly.

He smirked darkly, "For the very fact you've admitted it, I'll tell you..." he said. He looked at me again, "The Republic swore to protect my homeworld. They were supposed to defend us. But when it came down to it, they abandoned us, and let us be attacked. I was lucky to survive."

I frowned, "Your homeworld?"

"Yeah..." he looked at his drink again, not wanting to look me in the eyes as he said, "Telos."

"I remember that..." I said quietly, "The Sith bombed that world. Why join the Sith, if they destroyed your home?"

"They only attacked Telos because it was left unguarded." he said defensively.

"So how did you come to be in the Sith academy?" I asked, "You've told me why, but not how."

"My friend..." he said quietly, "I met her shortly after I was captured by the Sith." he frowned, "I thought I was going to be tortured, or something, but... they treated me really well. They tried to convince me to join them... I refused at first, but she convinced me it would be a good idea." I sensed the pain, again, when he mentioned her.

"Where is she, now?" I asked. I knew how dangerous a subject this was to bring up - his pain was... it was like when I had wheedled the story of Carth's home and family from him, when we were on Taris.

"Dead." he said flatly.

"Dead?"

"Decease. Passed away. No longer living. Dead. D... E... A... D... Dead. Which part of that don't you understand?" he asked, his words becoming more harsh and cold as he spoke.

"I... I mean, how did she die?" I asked - I was incredibly wary of hurting him, now - the anger in his tone made it clear he had cared about her, and still hadn't gotten over her death yet.

"She was killed on a mission into the valley." he said distantly, sadness clear in his tone.

"I'm sorry." I said quietly, "I shouldn't have brought it up... I'm terminally nosey."

He smirked half-heartedly, "You sure are. It will undoubtedly be what gets you killed in the end."

After a few minutes, he spoke again, clearly intent on a new topic of conversation to wash away the pain, "So you never did tell me how those tombs went."

"The droid was a pushover. One sonic grenade and it was scrap." I said blithely, "Ajunta Pall was another matter."

"His tomb? What did you find in it?" Dustil asked.

"Him." I said bluntly, "Well... his ghost."

He stared at me, stunned, "A ghost? Of an ancient Sith Lord?"

"Yeah." I said, frowning, "He really creeped me out."

"How so?"

"Well... I... I mean, regret is a weakness... but he said he regretted all he had done... regretted being a Sith Lord..." I downed the last of my drink in one go, before I continued, "And he said... he said I would regret it too..." I shivered.

"He's just weak." Dustil said, shrugging, "How many people would be strong willed after an eternity in a tomb?"

I sniggered weakly, "I suppose that's true... but why did he haunt that place?"

"I... I don't know."

"What if he's right." I frowned, "He called himself a 'servant' of the dark side."

"Kath crap." Dustil said, "The whole point of being a Sith Lord if to serve no one."

"The dark side's not a person, you berk." I snapped, "It's way more powerful than that."

"But we use it, not the other way around."

I frowned, "The best way to use someone is to make them think they're in control." I said.

"Oh, now you're being paranoid."

"Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you." I noted.

He stuck his tongue out at me, childishly.

"Oh, that's mature. And you say you're not a kid."

He glared at me, "I could prove I'm not a kid." he said, his glare quickly turning into a smirk.

I raised an eyebrow, "Oh yeah? How?"

Before Dustil could answer that, Juhani approached us, from the far side of the room, "Would you like this?" she asked me. I gave a cursory glance at the drink she offered, before accepting it without any misgivings. Juhani was a Jedi - she wouldn't try to poison me.

"Where did you get it?" I asked.

"The barman said it was compliments of someone named Xor." she said, shrugging.

I eyed the drink warily, now, "Right."

"But I do not drink alcohol." she noted.

"And this came straight from the barman?" I asked, "No one's touched it since?"

"That is correct." she answered.

"Can't let good alcohol go to waste, then, can we?" I asked, "Thanks."

She left us alone, again, and Dustil quickly put his hand over my glass, and asked, "You're just going to trust her?"

"She's too naive to spike my drink." I said blithely, pushing his hand away, "She's one of these people who believes alliances mean you don't stab your ally in the back."

"She won't last a week here." he noted.

"I know." I said, sipping the drink, "Wow. Whoever this Xor guy is, he's got money. This is Tarisian ale." I took another mouthful of the drink.

"There's no one in the academy by that name." Dustil noted.

I blinked, "What?"

x x x

Bound to a stone table... manacles and chains. The pain was intense. Darkness surrounded me. Fear... anger... hatred... the room was charged with the dark side.

He approached me, again. I braced myself for the pain. Force lightening. Pure agony. I screamed.

"You are strong, child. But I will break you."

"I'll never fall to the dark side!" I hissed venomously.

More pain. Force lightening. Burning agony, but I couldn't even move. So I screamed again.

"You think torture will turn me, Malak? You are a fool." I growled, through gritted teeth.

"Torture?" he asked, amused, "No, dear Bastila. You misunderstand. This is but a taste of the dark side to whet your appetite. When you finally swear loyalty to me, it will be willingly."

"Never!" I snapped.

"Such resolve in your words, but I see the truth in your heart." he said... the picture of calm. I wanted to punch him in the face, break his nose, just for being so bloody calm when I was suffering so much. Was he totally heartless?! "The dark side calls to you, Bastila. You hunger to taste it. Become my apprentice, and all its power can be yours!"

I turned adamantly away from him. Much that the concept of using that Force lightening on him appealed... no, I wouldn't even think it.

He waved his hand in front of my face... similar to the Jedi mind trick... except...

Suddenly, my mind exploded with fear. Terror. Panic. I had to be elsewhere. I couldn't stand this. It hurt to think... it was driving me mad. I started shaking. Struggling to escape, but it was futile. I couldn't get away... but I had to. I couldn't even lift my hands to clutch my head at the mental pain. Make it stop... please, Force, make it stop! If I weren't tied down I'd be climbing the walls. I was in tears... crying... screaming... begging. Let me out of here! Please, let me go, make it stop! I'll do whatever you want! Just stop this!

x x x

I woke up on a soft bed. Something felt distantly wrong... besides the fact that my head hurt, that is. Something important was broken... but I couldn't place it. I should really try to get up and figure out what the hell happened. I groaned incoherently, and tried to open my eyes.

"Hey, you're awake." a voice said, nearby. I blinked blearily, and looked up to see Dustil sitting on the edge of the bed. His Sith uniform was replaced by civilian clothes, and he had a look of genuine concern on his face.

"What... what happened?" I asked, trying to sit up... my muscles wouldn't cooperate.

"Your drink was spiked with hypnostim." he said calmly.

My eyes widened, "What?!" I all but yelled.

"It's a daterape drug."

"I know what the bloody hell it is!" I snapped. This time I succeeded in sitting up, "What did you do to me, you little brat?!"

He backed away from me a little, "Hey, I didn't do anything!"

"Oh, yeah, right." I sneered, sarcastically, "I'll believe that when Korriban freezes over!"

"Well you'd better get your snow-shoes, girl, because I didn't spike your drink. And I didn't take advantage of you, either." he said... the flicker of disgust that I saw in his aura indicated the very idea of taking advantage of someone in that state offended him. But the disgust also seemed to be partially aimed at himself.

I tilted my head to one side, "I don't believe you."

"Look..." he sighed, "As soon as I realised you were drugged, I... it was just a kiss! Nothing serious, I swear, ok?"

"What, exactly, happened?" I asked, through gritted teeth.

"What was the last thing you remember?" he asked warily.

"Juhani gave me Tarisian ale." I said, frowning, "Compliments of someone named Xor... but she doesn't drink alcohol, so she palmed it off on me."

"I said there wasn't anyone in the academy by the name Xor." Dustil said calmly.

"I asked 'what?'... then... next thing I remember, I woke up here." I said warily.

He nodded, giving me a slightly apologetic look, "I repeated what I'd said, but you shrugged it off and continued to drink the Tarisian ale, anyway. You asked me what I had been saying before Juhani interrupted us." his lip twitched slightly, "I said I could prove I wasn't a kid."

"I remember that, before Juhani gave me the drink." I muttered.

"You finished your drink and said you liked the sound of that." he continued. I rolled my eyes, but didn't argue with him. "I asked you to dance. There were several other people dancing already, so we didn't look too stupid. You're a very good dancer, by the way."

"I could have told you that." I said flatly.

"Yeah... really modest too." he muttered. "Anyway... after a couple of dances, the party started dying. To be more precise, as soon as Yuthura showed up at the cantina and commenced brooding in the corner, the rest of the Sith decided to be elsewhere. So we left the cantina. I... um..." he frowned, clearly looking for the right words, "I'm not actually sure if you kissed me, or if I kissed you-"

"More likely you kissed me." I said coldly, "Because that drug leaves people open to suggestion, it doesn't make them behave out of character without any suggestion given."

"Right. You're saying you would never have kissed me without the drug, then?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying." I said coldly.

He looked at the floor, then, "The next part has got to be the second most embarrassing moment of my life." he muttered.

"What's the first?" I asked immediately.

"Like I'd tell you." he replied coldly.

"All right, just tell me what bloody happened next, will you?" I hissed.

"Um..." he was still looking at the floor.

"I found you." I looked up to see Carth standing in the doorway, glaring daggers at me.

I stared at him, "Oh, that's just brilliant." I said sarcastically, "How did you get off the Hawk?"

"Canderous mysteriously fell asleep on guard duty, while HK-47 was recharging. The droid happened to find itself deactivated, while its sensors reset, too." he said, a hint of smugness in his tone.

"Wow." I said, "You're sneakier than I thought. I was certain a Mandalorian warrior and an assassin droid could keep you pinned down."

"Yeah. You underestimated me." he said coldly.

"So... you haven't told me what happened next." I said warily.

"He grabbed you by the hair and started calling you a list of insulting names that would make a Hutt blush." Dustil said, smirking.

"Then we both realised something was wrong." Carth noted.

"No Sith would just let someone drag her across a street by the hair." Dustil explained.

"Especially not you." Carth added. "I let go of you at the exact same moment that Dustil threatened me with grievous bodily harm if I didn't let you go."

Dustil smirked, "That was the least of my threats, old man." he noted.

"Yeah... well." Carth scowled, and looked away from his son.

"Anyway... when I really looked at you, carefully, I saw a sort of pallor in your aura - that's a symptom of will-weakening drugs. I told him this, and he immediately started interrogating you on how you could have been drugged."

"Lucky I did, too." Carth butted in, "Turned out the drink Juhani gave you was spiked. The man who gave it to her tried to kidnap her, and I just found her in time to stop him slitting her throat... if she'd taken that drink, he would have got her without a fight."

I shivered at that thought. "Is she all right?"

"Yeah, she's fine now." Carth answered.

"Now, when I said I didn't take advantage of you..." Dustil said, smirking, "I meant physically... because you were in no state to resist questioning."

I glared at him.

"So I asked you your real name."

"Something I would have happily told you, anyway, Dustil." Carth noted.

"Yeah, I'm sure." he muttered sarcastically.

"Have you two had time to talk?" I asked.

"No." Carth said, "He's been avoiding me like the plague - said he's only cooperating with me to make sure you're ok."

"Give him a chance, Dustil." I said calmly.

"What?!" No way!" Dustil snapped.

"Yes way. Do you want to piss me off?" I asked warningly.

"Um... no." he muttered.

"Then do what I tell you."

He cringed, and glanced at his father warily, "All right... one chance, old man."

Carth smiled, "Thank you, Revan."

"Make it good, Carth... when he says one chance, he means it - don't mess it up, because it's the only chance you'll get." I warned him.

x x x

Carth, Dustil and I were sitting around the table in the common room. I had eaten breakfast, and was trying to look like I wasn't enjoying the show. The two men were still debating the topic of whether or not the Sith were evil. Dustil was winning the debate.

"Boys!" I interrupted, holding up my hands to silence both of them, "This is not the issue here. The issue is that Dustil thinks you abandoned him, Carth. Whether or not the Sith are evil could be debated ad infinitum. Believe me, the argument has been going on for millennia. Get back to the point, already!"

Carth glared at me, but Dustil smirked. He was smug because he had been winning the argument. "Fine." Carth muttered.

"Let's be calm and rational about this, shall we? Since you two can't seem to talk without arguing... I'll mediate." I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table, "Dustil, you start." Carth opened his mouth to interrupt, but I quickly said, "Carth, stay quite and let the boy speak. Dustil, tell him your opinions on what happened. No offensive language, please."

Dustil stared at me for a minute, but sighed, and spoke in a carefully measured tone that made it quite clear he was trying not to be snappish, purely because I had told him to be civil, "All right... that'll make this a lot shorter, if I edit out all the 'offensive language." he noted, "The Republic abandoned us. Left us unguarded. Why?" he asked bluntly, "Why did you leave?"

"If he had stayed, don't you think he'd have gotten himself killed?" I asked. Dustil blinked. "Would you have preferred that?"

"Maybe." he muttered, "Depends why he left."

"What do you mean, why?" Carth asked.

"Why did you go away?" Dustil demanded, "Why did you leave Mother and I alone on Telos?"

"I... I thought you would be safe there." Carth said. It seemed this obvious question never occurred to Carth - he must have expected Dustil to understand this. "I left to fight, to protect you. To help stop, first the Mandalorians, now the Sith, from taking over the galaxy. Because either of those conquers would treat any subjugated world with disregard and cruelty. I trusted the Republic's oath to protect its citizens."

"But the Republic abandoned Telos. Their defence around our system left, right before the Sith attacked." Dustil said coldly, "Looks like your precious Republic isn't big on keeping its promises."

"At least they try to protect the innocent!" Carth snapped back.

"Politics is also not the issue, here!" I snapped, "Get back to the point!"

Dustil glared, "The point is he ran off to win wars and glory, and left us alone to get killed!"

"That is not what happened!"

"Boys!" I snapped, "Lower the volume a bit. My head still hurts."

"That drug only stays in the human system for two hours." Dustil noted.

I tilted my head to one side, "Phht. No use to anyone. Two hours, pah."

Dustil snorted with laughter, while Carth spluttered. "What I was trying to say." Dustil said pointedly, "Was that it wore off five hours ago. You shouldn't even have a hangover, by this point."

"I didn't get drunk. A firewater and a Tarisian ale. That's nothing." I muttered, frowning. "But something... something's wrong..." I focused through the Force, trying to find what was wrong... I reached out through the bond, and saw... the wall of ice Bastila had constructed had turned black. I could sense darkness from her in waves. "Oh bloody hell!"

"What?" both Onasi men asked at the same moment.

"Bastila... he turned her." I growled, "Where is Xor?"

"Huh?" Carth asked, "What has Xor to do with this?"

"I want to punish him for hurting my bond-mate." I hissed darkly.

"Bad enough he tries to hurt Juhani, and supremely embarrasses both you and me." Dustil noted, "But... wait a second... bond-mate?"

"Bond-sister, to be more precise." I noted.

"Right." he nodded, "See, that makes a huge difference."

I glared at the boy, "Where is Xor?"

"Um, we ditched him with Czerka. Attempted kidnapping on their territory will have him tied up with paperwork for the next few years, before they even decide what to do with him." Dustil said.

I left the ship, immediately. Dustil followed close behind me, and Carth wasn't far behind him.

We got to Czerka, and I saw the slaver standing in a holding cell. I was still wearing my Sith robes, and the Czerka rep had the good sense to cringe in the presence of a Sith, especially a highly irate one.

I stormed over to Xor, "You vicious little Hutt-slug." I hissed, "You make me look like a sweet innocent little school girl!"

Dustil sniggered, "That's got to be some serious evil." he noted.

"No kidding." Carth agreed.

"I ought to rip you to pieces and put you back together inside-out, without killing you, you core-rat." I hissed at Xor.

He grinned, "Can't touch me in here, girly." he jeered.

I raised an eyebrow, "Is that a challenge?"

"He's dead." Carth muttered.

Xor just looked smug. I held up my hand, and reached to him through the Force... I wrapped the Force around his heart, and squeezed. Who need's Ajunta Pall's sword to grip someone's heart in fright? I thought, smirking darkly. He gasped in pain, and started screaming. I slowly tightened my grip - I wanted to make this last a long time.

"That looks painful." Dustil muttered.

"You, you vile little bantha turd." I hissed, "You tried to kidnap my friend... you tried to kill her when she fought back... you ended up embarrassing me, when she palmed her drink off on me, be grateful nothing serious happened, or your heart would not be the only part of your body I would rip out."

Carth and Dustil both winced at that comment, I noticed.

"But however inadvertently, your little stunt could well have broken the will of the woman I am Force-bonded to... if she is irreversibly harmed, I will hunt down your ghost in the Force, and torture you for eternity. This I swear. May you suffer in the deepest catacombs of Korriban for all eternity. May your soul find the torment it deserves." that sort of curse holds weight in the Force... when given by a powerful Force-adept, it can hold strong for centuries.

I tightened my grip, suddenly, eliciting literally blood-curdling screams from Xor, and I pulled my hand back, towards me, sharply, still gripping his heart through the Force. The result was that I literally ripped his heart out of his chest. I levitated it up to show it to him... he was literally crying with horror and pain, as he stared at his own, still-beating heart, before I dropped it on the floor in front of him.

"May you be with the Force." I said coldly.

And he died.

x x x

"That was so cool." Dustil was saying, as we walked back to the ship.

"No it was not!" Carth snapped, "It was cruel... and disgusting as well."

"I didn't get any blood on my hands... therefore it wasn't disgusting." I said brightly.

Dustil sniggered, "She's got a point, dad."

"So are you two going to talk? Or do I have to make threats to get you to behave?" I asked. I didn't miss the little detail that Dustil called Carth 'dad' automatically, without thinking. He still cared, he just needed to admit it to himself.

"We'll talk." Dustil said, smirking, "No way I'm going to invoke your wrath, My Lord."

"Don't call her that!" Carth snapped.

"What?" Dustil asked defensively, "I'm a Sith. She's a Sith Lord. Do the math, old man."

I smirked, "Don't call me that in front of your father, Dustil." I said, highly amused.

"Whatever you say." Dustil said, smirking.

"I really don't like this." Carth muttered, "The Sith are-"

"Evil, you've already said." I interrupted, "And it's not true."

Carth was glaring daggers at me. Dustil was seriously amused by the fact his father was so uncomfortable with this situation. He was actually trying not to laugh. I found the entire situation quite amusing, as well.

"Just talk civilly, already. We don't have all week." I said pointedly, "Dustil told me Malak's going to be putting in a personal appearance at the academy, soon, and I would like to catch him at the Star Forge before he leaves for Korriban."

Carth's eyes widened, "Malak's coming here?"

"Yes." Dustil said brightly, "Not that that would have been a good thing for me, anyway... only reason he picked Bandon, a year ago, was because I had a personal problem with the idea of being Malak's apprentice."

Carth stopped in his tracks, and turned to stare at Dustil, "You what?!" he demanded.

"You heard me right, old man... you're not going deaf yet." Dustil said, sniggering.

"Boys!" I snapped, "Can we have this discussion somewhere private? On Korriban, the walls have ears." I said, grabbing both their arms and dragging them back to the Ebon Hawk.

Once there, we settled back into the common room, as if we had never been interrupted by my homicidal outburst.

"Why wouldn't he pick you?" I asked, as soon as we were seated.

"Because he coordinated the attack on Telos... I may resent the fact we were left open to attack, but it doesn't stop me wanting to eviscerate the man who actually ordered the attack." Dustil said, shrugging.

"Eviscerate?" Carth asked, "Not just kill?"

"No." Dustil said, smirking darkly, "Not kill at all... you'd be surprised what you can live through."

Carth shivered, and looked away from Dustil.

"The man has to live without a jaw." I said brightly, "Have some compassion... you'd have to kill him after a few years of torture, surely."

Both men blinked, "Compassion?" they both asked, at the same time... with the same incredulity, albeit for different reasons.

I also blinked, "Did I say that?"

"Yes." Carth said, stunned, "What the-?"

"I..." I stared at him, stunned, "I don't think I meant to use that word."

"The fact remains you used it." Dustil said, "And compassion is a weakness."

"No... no it's not!" Carth snapped, "It's the difference between being a civilised sentient, and being a monster!"

"Monster is such a harsh word." I said blithely, "I prefer the term 'tyrant'."

"That's not funny, Revan." Carth growled.

I sighed, "Look, you two." I looked to Dustil, "Your father loves you - he was prepared to go charging into the academy to 'rescue' you - you know how suicidal that is, but he would have done it anyway, because he cares about you." I then turned to Carth, "Quit dissing the Sith, around him. They've taken relatively good care of him since he left Telos." I turned back to Dustil, "Contrary to the impression it gave, Carth didn't run off to war because he didn't want to be around you - he was trying to protect you." I turned to Carth, "In spite of what I've just said, he's not going to believe it right away. You need to prove that you actually do care about him." I turned back to Dustil, again, "Give him a chance. Talk to him - civilly." I turned back to Carth, "And I will repeat, quit with the 'Sith are evil' chant around him."

Both men stared at me for about a minute, before Dustil spoke, "All right. I'll give him a chance."

Carth nodded, smiling, "Thanks, Dustil."

I sighed with relief, "Good. Now remember - leave the topic of how evil the Sith are out of the conversation." I said, before standing up and making my way towards the swoop hold, "Have fun, boys."

x x x

Canderous was in the swoop hold, as usual. He seemed to find the act of modifying and cleaning weaponry calming. I sat on the edge of the workbench, as he cleaned a set of vibroblades, on the floor.

"Hey, Canderous. How're you doing?" I asked.

He grunted an indistinguishable response, and didn't look up at me.

"Carth said you 'mysteriously fell asleep'. What did he do?"

"Sedatives in my caffa." he grumbled.

"Ah... crude, but effective." I said, shrugging, "Would give one hell of a headache, though... caffeine and sedatives are opposing forces."

"That's an understatement." he grumbled, "But my implant dealt with most of it."

"I see. Good." I nodded. I tilted my head to one side... something in his aura seemed different. It was still dark, and still strong for a Force-blind, but... something was different... I couldn't place what, though. "You said you needed time to think, after what happened with Jagi... what are your thoughts now?" I asked.

He frowned at the vibroblade in his hand, for a minute, "I'm not happy with the way my life has turned. I'm not the Mandalore I once was. I don't even think I'm the merc I was when I joined you." he sighed slightly, "I think... I think I need something more than killing and fighting in my life. I need a purpose or something like that."

"Honour in the battle... is that not enough purpose?" I asked.

"The way the Mandalorians - we - fought... it holds no appeal for me. To rape and ravage worlds for the thrill of battle... It gets old. Very old." he said, sadly. Now I recognised it... what was different in his aura... regret. I seem to be seeing a lot of that, recently. "Honour in battle. Cheating death. Comrades in arms. The code of the Mandalore. I think I'm something different now. Maybe more, maybe less."

"Cheating death still has some merits, though." I said, smirking darkly, "But I suppose there has to be reason to fight. Battle for battle's sake can lose its appeal."

"I don't think there is really any place left in the galaxy for the Mandalorian clans like they were." he said, "I don't know if I can go on forever fighting as I have. Even warriors get insightful in their old age..."

"Old age?" I asked incredulously, "I wouldn't call you old, yet. You have met Jolee, right?"

He sniggered, "Perhaps I'm not old... but I am older than I was." he said calmly, "The time of the clans is past. I don't think the galaxy wants them anymore. Maybe in the future, but not now."

"What will you do now?" I asked.

"Once my time with you is done, once you have moved on to greater things, I'll find my own way once again." he said calmly, "Maybe the Mandalorian clans will be reborn again. Maybe even under the Republic... or the Sith."

I smirked, "You are always welcome at my side." I said calmly, "But it is your choice."

He nodded. I frowned... I had been bothered by the events in Ajunta Pall's tomb, but didn't want to admit a weakness to anyone who wasn't loyal to me. Canderous, Zaalbar and HK-47 are the only ones truly loyal to me, and of those three, Canderous was the only one who I believed would understand.

"Am I losing my edge?" I asked bluntly.

"Why would you ask such a thing?" Canderous asked, looking up at me.

"When I was raiding the Sith tombs, yesterday, I fought one of the students." I said, frowning at the floor, "A boy, barely out of his teens. And he managed to disarm me."

Canderous also frowned, "How?"

"He used Force lightening on my sword."

"Why weren't you using your lightsabers?" he asked.

I had to think about that. It had felt so perfect, at the time, that I fight the boy with the weapon he was trying to steal from me. And the sword had seemed to want me to use it, as well. "I... I'm not entirely sure."

"You should never duel with a weapon you've never used before... unless it's the only weapon you have." he said, not raising his voice, but the tone was clearly emphatic.

I frowned, "I know that."

"Then why did you use that sword? And for that matter, where is it now?"

"I gave it to Uthar, to gain prestige." I said, still frowning... I wasn't entirely sure why I had used it... so I spoke as I thought, "It felt like the sword called to me... and it seemed so fitting to fight the boy with the weapon he was trying to steal from me. Not to mention how it felt when I swung the blade in battle... it was like... like the sword was screaming my name in ecstasy."

He raised an eyebrow at that, "Interesting analogy." he muttered.

"I think... I think I was blinded by the power in the sword." I said, frowning, "I know I should have just used my lightsabers. It would have been the... the sane thing to do. But... that sword practically sang to me."

"While the thrill of battle can be a good thing..." Canderous said pointedly, standing up, and putting the two shining vibroblades away, "Giving in to irrational concepts, such as bloodlust, is usually a folly that an enemy can exploit. Perhaps you are better off without that sword."

I frowned, "Perhaps..."

"If you want my opinion..." he offered, standing in front of me, as I sat on the edge of the workbench. He clearly waited for me to answer that, before continuing... so I nodded. "You know the lack of control, you felt when you woke up from the drug that slaver tried to give Juhani?"

"Yes." I said, shifting uncomfortably.

"Does that not compare, on some level, to what happens every time you surrender to what the Jedi call the dark side?" he asked, "I don't know much about Jedi and Sith lore... but if the dark side is anything like what the Jedi Princess leads everyone to believe, it sounds like it tries to rape your mind. I saw your 'Force rage'... and you told me of this sword's siren song. It seems to me that if this dark side exists at all, it's using you... turning you into a mindless killing machine... and after what Carth told me about the rakghoul incident, I don't think that's something you really want."

I stared at him, a chill ran down my spine at the wording he had used. "It most certainly isn't." I said quietly.

"A true ruler must serve no master but his own ambition." Canderous said calmly, "And I'm fairly sure you don't want to serve the whim of some quasi-sentient psychic intoxicant that seems more insidious and vicious than the most addictive stim-cocktails you can buy on the black market."

I shivered at the parallel he drew, "I suppose you have a valid point, Canderous."

"Of course I do." he said, smirking darkly.

I smiled at him - a smile of gratitude - he had helped make clear the path I needed to take, without my having to discuss Ajunta Pall's words, themselves. I stood up quickly, and kisses his cheek lightly, "Thank you."

He blinked, surprised that I had kissed him, "You're welcome." he said, staring at me.

I left the swoop hanger, and began searching the ship for Juhani. I found her sitting in the computer room.

"Hey, Juhani. How are you feeling?" I asked.

"I am well. I was actually more concerned for your well-being." she answered.

"I'm fine, now." I said, smiling, "I was thinking, if you're feeling like it, that we should go back to the academy for lunch, and to see if we can loot Tulak Hord's tomb this afternoon."

"That sounds like a good plan." she said, rising to her feet.

We walked out through the common room, where we found Carth and Dustil debating the topic of cheating at Pazaak, of all things.

"What the-?" I asked, staring at the two men.

"Well, we talked, like you said." Dustil said brightly.

"And you said 'how evil the Sith are' was the one subject we couldn't talk about." Carth added.

"Then Mission tried to get me to play a round of Pazaak with her." Dustil continued.

"And I warned him off it." Carth said.

"And we got to discussing the fact that she cheats... which he doesn't seem to think is such a bad thing." Dustil grinned, "Naturally, I chose to argue, even though I wouldn't be above cheating, myself."

"And I know damned well that he was deliberately dropping hints that some of my comments on cheating were very close to his opinions on the Sith." Carth muttered.

Dustil smirked, "Well, now we don't need to argue over that, anymore, do we?"

"Not really... but I still don't have to like it." Carth answered.

"Well, you two seem to be getting along well enough, finally." I said brightly, "Dustil, we're going back to the academy... do you want to come with us?"

"I'll catch up to you later." he said, waving us off... he seemed to understand the subtle difference between my simple query and a veiled order, "I don't have classes today... ask Kel, if you need a tour-guide."

I glared at his impudent smirk, "I'll do that." I said flatly, "Have fun..." I paused in the doorway, "Oh, and Carth... Mission doesn't cheat at Pazaak... she's a card-shark, but her winning streaks are due to honest skill and a killer deck, not cheating. Jolee, on the other hand..." I smirked, and left the room.

I just heard Carth grumbling, "I lost fifty credits to that old man... I never realised he cheated."

And Dustil replying, "Force-persuasion can be used to make people not notice you're cheating, you know."

x x x

"Where's Dustil?" Velsa demanded, as we sat at their table, for lunch.

"He's on my ship. Last I saw, he was discussing cheating at Pazaak with one of my crewmen." I said flatly.

Velsa blinked, "I didn't think Dustil was that sociable... he must be up to something."

"I could tell you exactly what, too... but I won't." I said, smirking.

She gave me an odd look, "You're telling the truth... interesting."

"I don't lie." I said, looking at her carefully, to see her reaction.

She stared, stunned, "Either that's true, or you can hide a lie from me. No one can hide a lie from me, so I guess you don't lie. Why is that?"

"Economy with the truth is so much more effective. And the truth can be so much more painful." I said, smirking.

"I see." Velsa said, "Fascinating." she then returned her attention to her food.

"Where's Shaardan?" Ronan asked.

"Dead." I said brightly.

"Damn, I lost twenty credits. How'd he die?" he asked.

"Dustil killed him... though I would have done it if he hadn't." I answered.

Ronan gawped at me, "Dustil killed him? Right, that's it. He is so not getting my credits if he's the one who killed Shaardan."

I sniggered, "You made a bet with Dustil?"

"Yeah... if you win, we each give him twenty credits. If Shaardan won, I woulda got twenty from each of those two."

"My money was on both of you getting killed." Velsa said, shrugging.

"You are so going to lose, Velsa." Ronan jeered. She stuck her tongue out at him.

x x x

After lunch, we encountered Kel on our way to the valley, and he agreed to go with us, as long as we didn't actually expect him to go into the tombs with us.

"So why did Velsa say you're shy?" I asked him, as we walked.

"Cause she likes to annoy me." he muttered.

"You do seem quiet, though." I noted.

"Um... yeah." he muttered.

"Nervous, too." I noted.

"Do stop pestering the boy." Juhani chided, "If he does not wish to talk to you, that is his choice."

"I'll pester whoever I choose to pester, Juhani." I said calmly.

Kel stopped, as we reached the valley, and scanned the people working there, "Over there - he can tell you more about the valley than anyone else here." he said, pointing to a man who was working nearby on the excavation.

"Thanks, Kel." I said, smiling. The boy really did seem shy, if you ask me... the way he looked away and started to fidget nervously.

"I shall speak to him." Juhani said... her tone sounded distant.

"Ok, catch up to us at the tomb, will you?" I asked. She nodded, and made her way over to the man Kel had pointed to. When she was out of earshot, I turned to Kel, "Is something wrong?"

He seemed startled by the question, "I... oh, uh, nothing." I could sense a weak attempt to block out his mind... but he couldn't hide the fact he was worried about something.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Y-yes. My master always says I am too trusting, too willing to show weakness." he said, "You're a Sith, so I really shouldn't... you know..."

"You realise that just by saying that, you've shown me that weakness - the fact that you're too trusting?" I said, smirking.

He cringed, and remained silent... clearly he had no intention of talking any more.

"You called me a Sith... but the way you said it... are you saying you're not a Sith?" I asked.

He stared at me, fearfully, "Well I... I... I didn't mean it like that."

"Well, how did you mean it, then?" I asked.

"I... I shouldn't trust you. I can't trust you, can I?" he asked.

"Yes... you can trust me." I said quietly. I was surprised to hear those words from my own mouth. I don't lie, and I hadn't told anyone they could trust me in a long time. But it was true... strangely enough.

"I just... don't feel I belong here." he blurted out, "I thought maybe I did at first, but now I... I don't know. I have so many doubts."

"Why do you have doubts?" I asked.

"Some of the things I see here... it just seems so... wrong. So cruel. I... I just don't think I have that sort of thing in me." he said quietly.

"Better doubt than regret... get out while you can." I said quietly.

He looked up at me, sharply, "What do you mean 'regret'?"

I looked away, "I'm not the type to share my weaknesses, Kel. But trust me, if you think you shouldn't be here, then leave."

"But where would I go, then? What would I do?" he asked.

"Anywhere but here." I said, shrugging, "And for the love of the Force don't tell anyone else you're leaving - Sith Masters don't take kindly to deserters. You'd wind up dead."

"Have you considered going to the Jedi?" Juhani's voice asked, from nearby.

"I... don't know. I never really thought about it." Kel answered her, warily... but the hope sparking in his aura told me he liked the idea.

"What were you, spying on us, or something?" I demanded, half-glaring at Juhani.

She shrugged innocently, "I simply heard that the boy wished to leave the Sith. I am suggesting a safe place for him to go."

"A safe place would be away from either side... somewhere neutral. Hell, I'd even go so far as to suggest he run and hide on Manaan! But I'd not tell anyone to go to the Jedi."

"It is his choice. I am simply giving him another option." Juhani said calmly.

"Maybe I should seek the Jedi out, give it a try." Kel said, "Thank you... thank you so much!" he said gratefully, turning and running off.

"Great. There goes our tour guide." I grumbled, "I was at least going to convince him to wait until we were leaving, before making himself elsewhere."

"That is not my problem." Juhani said lightly, "We really do not need his guidance, anyway. I have information on Tulak Hord's tomb. Apparently, it is infested with tuk'ata."

"Tuk'ata have Force-resistant hides. Sounds fun." I said sarcastically.

x x x

We entered Tulak Hord's tomb, cautiously. The tuk'ata may have been vicious, but our lightsabers proved better. However, as we unlocked the door to the inner tomb, I sensed something. "Juhani, can you sense anyone in here?" I asked.

"No. I cannot detect any sentient presence." she answered.

"I'm sure there's something..." I frowned, and focused hard... there was definitely someone there. They were masking their presence well, but they were there. Strong, dark, and... incredibly twisted.

I scanned through the open door, carefully... not only was there a sentient presence, but there was also some form of trap - I wasn't sure what, but it was something. I frowned... the intentions of the sentient presence were hostile, yes... but it wanted to hurt, not kill.

"Juhani... do you trust me?" I asked.

"Yes. Surprisingly, I do." she said, warily.

"If I asked you to walk into a trap, which I'm fairly certain isn't fatal, so that I could remain unaffected in order to deal with the person who set the trap... would you do it?"

"Given those circumstances... yes." she answered.

"Walk through that door, then." I said, taking a few steps back from the door.

Her eyes widened, "You think there is a trap there?" she asked, stunned.

"Yes." I said, "And I'll watch your back. I promise."

She smiled, "Very well... I suppose it is only fair, after last night's... incident."

She stepped through the door, and gas mines erupted around her, emitting noxious green fumes, which knocked her unconscious immediately. I, meanwhile, stepped to one side, so I was out of view of the room, concealing my presence in the Force, and reaching out to sense the malicious presence.

Manic laughter rang through the tomb, "Another idiotic student has stumbled into my little web, eh?" the twisted and clearly insane voice jeered. I recognised it instantly as Jorak Uln - the previous master of the Sith academy. "Well... the contact nerve toxin in the air should knock you out quickly enough. Ha ha! Welcome!"

I cast Force shields around myself, when he said the words 'contact nerve toxin'. That stuff would get me, even if I held my breath... and there was a faint chance it could spread through to this room. Better safe than sorry. Unfortunately, the act of casting Force shields alerted Jorak to the fact I was there and conscious.

"Who's there?" he asked, "Come out, come out, wherever you are!"

"Come and get me!" I called back.

"Nice try, kiddo!" he jeered, "Not going to trick me, no no no!"

"Then we wait." I said coldly.

I focused on the gas in the room, and Juhani's life force... she was unconscious, but strong... and the gas began to dissipate after a few minutes. As soon as the gas was gone, I heard quick footsteps crossing the room. I stepped out from where I had been hiding, to see a withered little man, with a misshapen face and wild eyes facing me, Juhani on the ground between us. Reviving her would be near impossible until I dealt with Jorak.

"Tricksy little student, aren't you?" he asked.

"You read auras. Are you so sure I'm a student, Jorak?" I asked.

Jorak tilted his head to one side, "You do look familiar, kiddo. But you're still just a brat. I think you need to be taught a lesson."

"You're the one who needs a lesson, Jorak." I hissed, "Manners, for a start... and personal hygiene wouldn't hurt, either."

He sneered at me, and drew a crimson lightsaber. I drew my own red lightsaber, and carefully stepped over Juhani, circling Jorak until we each had our back to a wall, instead of a door.

He took a swing at me, and I blocked him. The fight lasted for a good few minutes - for an old coot, he fought well. But he fought as if in a Force rage, no consideration for defence, even though I could sense that his mind was not clouded by the Force. It was his own anger, not the dark side's influence, which made his defence sloppy.

Eventually, however, his vicious offensive pushed me back against the wall, our blades crossed, inches from my face, "Here's a riddle for you." Jorak said, his malicious grin revealed discoloured teeth and vile breath, "You're about to die. Do you pass on your knowledge to your apprentice to make her stronger... or do you use your last breath to strike at your enemies?"

"Well... aside from the fact she's unconscious on the floor..." I said, too calmly, "And she's not my apprentice, anyway... I'm not so easy to kill. A true Sith never dies." I smirked, "And since this isn't my 'last breath'..." I used the Force to push him away, and resumed the lightsaber duel. It continued for another few minutes before I succeeded in getting past his pathetic defence, and ran my blade through his stomach. That shocked him enough that I was able to pull the blade up through his heart. "But I would like to know what you would do with your dying breath, Jorak?"

He cackled maniacally, and spat in my face, before I felt him join the Force. I deactivated my blade, and he dropped, dead, to the ground.

I wiped my face with my sleeve, in disgust. "Vile little Hutt-spawn." I muttered, taking the time to loot his body for some proof to show Uthar that I had killed his old master. A couple of stone tablets from his knapsack looked like the sort of proof I wanted.

Then, as the Force shields he had used to attempt to conceal himself dissipated, I sensed something else, barely alive, in the next room. I stepped through the door, to see the body of a young man on the floor, in a crumpled heap. He was still conscious, though clearly in pain. It looked like he had been tortured... by the burns on his body, I would guess it was Force lightening. He looked up at me - I recognised him as Mekel - but his laboured breathing made it impossible for him to voice the snide remark I could tell he wanted to make.

I frowned, and knelt next to him, "Hey... it's ok." I whispered. I'm not sure what compelled me to help him, but I gave him a kolto injection, to help him heal his burns, and then I helped him to sit against the wall of the tomb. "What happened?"

He took a minute to catch his breath, before he said shakily, "Master Yuthura said this tomb had some relics in it that would get me a lot of prestige. I got past the tuk'ata ok, but then... I think it was some sort of gas, or something..."

"Contact nerve toxin." I said calmly.

"Then I woke up in here." his voice was still shaky, but he seemed to be recovering, "Jorak Uln... he was Master Uthar's old Sith Master... no one told me he got away from Uthar alive... he was the last person I expected to find here."

"I'll bet you a hundred credits you're wrong." I joked.

"Who else would you think the last person I'd expect to see, then?" he asked, with a clearly challenging tone.

"Darth Revan." I said, smirking.

"Ok... you win. Good thing I didn't accept the bet." he grumbled, "Better thing that Revan's not here."

I barely avoided smirking at that. The boy would probably die of horror if he found out who he was talking to.

"Anyway, Jorak got it into his head that I wasn't 'up to scratch'... that I didn't 'have the pluck of an old fashioned Sith'..." the high-pitched tone he used to impersonate Jorak in those two quotes almost made me laugh, "Rotten kinrath-brained creep." he muttered. That actually did make me laugh. He looked at me, "So now you tell me what happened."

"I killed Jorak." I said flatly.

His eyes widened, "Wow... impressive... I guess, after all his ranting about it, he wasn't a 'true Sith' after all. I... I can't believe I'm alive, actually. You saved me."

"Yeah..." I smirked, "Well, don't let it go to your head."

He sighed, still unable to really move, "You... you could have just left me to die, here." he said, rubbing his arm where I had stuck him with the kolto needle.

I frowned, "I think... killing someone who is totally defenceless is a disgusting, dishonourable thing to do. And Force lightening is a horrible way to go."

He smiled weakly... but he winced when that action pulled on the burn-mark on his neck, "Yeah, well... I see what you mean. I've never... I mean, I've never been on that side of the fence before. It makes you think. I'd be dead if you weren't... I mean, if you were a proper Sith. But you're not, are you?"

"I suppose I'm not... not by the more popular definition, anyway." I said distantly.

He smirked, "Don't worry... I won't tell anyone."

"You'd bloody better not." I sighed, "How are you feeling?"

"Better... but I don't think I can stand." he said, trying to pick himself up... but it didn't work.

Something in the back of my mind sparked... for the first time in years, I could sense light in my own aura. I recognised it, and cursed Zhar a dozen times over for being right... compassion. I should have beaten it down, but instead, I reached for it, and tapped into it... my hand moved, almost of its own accord, to Mekel's chest... and I felt the Force flow from me, healing his burns.

He stared at me, stunned, as his injuries mended themselves. When I took my hand away from him, it took him almost a minute to speak, "Th-thank you." he whispered.

"Don't you dare tell anyone I did that." I warned.

He smirked, "I won't." he stood up, and I quickly stood as well. While I had healed the worst of his wounds, he was still relatively weak, I could tell. He even needed to lean on the wall to support himself, "Thanks again." he said, "I'll head back to the academy. I need some rest."

"You do that." I watched him leave, carefully stepping on Jorak, and skirting around Juhani.

Then I looted the sarcophagus, before moving to kneel next to Juhani. She was still unconscious, but stable. Mekel might have died if I'd left him unaided any longer, but Juhani seemed to be peacefully asleep.

I rolled her over onto her back, and injected her with a broad-range antidote, which should counteract the nerve toxin. She moaned softly, and her hand moved to her head, "What happened?"

"You're safe, Juhani." I said, "Well, relatively speaking. We're still in the tomb, but I killed the person who set the trap for us."

"Ah... good." she sat up, and smiled weakly at me, "Thank you."

"I should be thanking you, for trusting me." I said, helping her to her feet.

She shrugged, "I do not believe you would try to kill me. Certainly not so trivially."

I smirked, "I don't know why... but I hope your trust in me isn't misplaced."

x x x

Uthar was most pleased to hear that his old master was dead... but he said I had not impressed him enough, yet. After dinner that evening, while Juhani was investigating the library for more ways to gain prestige, I had planned to talk to teachers for information.

But things didn't go as planned. Dustil met me in the corridor outside the dining hall, "Hey, I... I wanted to ask you something."

"Sure, what is it?" I asked.

He led me into one of the training rooms. He picked out two training swords - light-weight, wooden, and relatively blunt - it would take a great deal of physical force to do any serious damage with those flimsy weapons. "I'm top in my class... I think I told you that already. And I know you're stronger than me... I just wanted to know what it's like to fight a real opponent." he handed me one of the wooden swords, "In a training duel, of course. I wouldn't be stupid enough to challenge you to a real fight."

I examined the wooden sword carefully, "Sounds like an interesting little exercise." I said, testing the balance of the weapon carefully, "What are the rules of this training duel?"

"Contact with the false blade must be treated like a lightsaber wound. So, for example, if I touched your arm, you wouldn't be allowed to use it for the rest of the duel. If you touched my neck, that would count as a kill."

"Makes sense." I said. I gave the sword an experimental flourish, before assuming a duelling stance.

"No offensive Force-powers... they're too dangerous for a training duel." he added, as he also assumed a duelling stance.

"Bring it on." I said, beckoning him to make the first move.

He turned out to be a very good fighter. His defence was damned near impenetrable, and he managed to come close to touching me with the training blade a couple of times. After a few minutes, "You realise..." he asked, between swings of his sword, "That I've actually never had a duel that lasted this long?"

"And I imagine you've won them all." I replied calmly.

"Hell yes." he said, smirking as he spun to kick at my waist. I blocked him with my left forearm, and swung my blade at his neck... he leaned back to avoid it, and fell on his backside. He quickly scrambled to his feet, holding his sword defensively.

I spun round and feinted to aim for his waist, but brought my sword up at the last second to make contact with his right arm, just below his shoulder. We both froze for a second. That was the first contact of the duel.

He bowed his head for a moment, and I sensed mild resentment as he dropped the sword and pulled his right arm behind his back. I aimed my sword as if to stab him in the chest, but he dodged it, and rolled, still keeping his right arm behind his back. He picked up his own sword with his left hand, and held it defensively, even though he was on his knees.

I smirked, "You are determined, aren't you?"

"You can tell?" he asked innocently. He stood slowly, and we circled each other. With his sword in his left hand, the balance of the duel should be in my favour... but I wasn't about to let my guard down for a second.

He suddenly moved with incredible speed, lunging at me with a flurry of attacks. I dodged some, and blocked the rest, and then I realised that he was using Force speed. No offensive Force powers, that was the rule... but he didn't say anything about passive Force powers.

I also wrapped the Force around myself, using it to accelerate my movements to match his. To any onlookers, our duel would be impossible to follow... to me, it was taking every ounce of concentration. After an indeterminable length of time, he managed to get past my defences... his wooden sword made contact with my right knee.

Again, we paused... I was surprised that he had landed a hit. His right arm was still behind his back... and he smirked at me, challenging me to continue the duel without my lower leg. I shifted my weight onto my left leg, using the Force to help maintain my balance, and I lifted my right foot off the floor, raising my blade defensively.

Again, we duelled for some time... he really was a spectacular fighter... it took a great deal of effort and concentration to keep him from making another hit. After several minutes of silent duelling, during which he circled me a couple of times and the only reason I stayed standing was because I was using the Force to keep my balance, I managed to disarm him by making contact with his left wrist.

He dropped the sword, and backed away from me. Then he closed his eyes. I thought he was going to surrender, but he used the Force to levitate the training sword, and sent it flying at me. I ducked, and caught the hilt of his sword. I could feel it resisting my grip on it, as he tried to direct it to attack me. But he was so focused on his own sword that I could safely throw my own at him with the Force... and it touched him lightly on the chest.

The sword in my left hand stopped resisting me, and he opened his eyes slowly, looking down at the sword that was hovering with its tip touching his chest lightly. "Looks like you win." he said, smirking. He picked the training sword out of the air, and walked over to me, holding his hand out, silently asking me to hand him the other sword. I did so without hesitation. "Not that I thought I could win... I was surprised to even touch you once, to be honest." he put the two swords back where he got them.

I smirked, putting my right foot back to the ground, "You are an excellent fighter."

"Thanks." he said, smiling as he turned to face me.

"It's as if the Force fights with you... literally." I said quietly, "Like the way the Jedi fight. It's very impressive."

"Don't tell anyone, will you?" he asked, smirking, "I've actually never fought anyone long enough for them to figure it out."

I smirked, "Why do you fight like that?" I asked, walking over to him.

"It seems easier... ever tried using the dark side to fuel a fight, and keeping up a decent defence?"

"Yes."

"Not easy, is it?" he asked.

"Really not."

"You fight the same way." he said, his tone indicated his surprise, "I mean... you use the Force in the same way... because whatever way you wield that sword is different from anything I've seen before."

"My fighting style is unique... but clearing your mind and concentrating makes it easier to fight than using a Force rage." I said calmly.

He nodded, "And the funny thing is no one here seems to realise it."

"Anger is a powerful tool to use... but you can't let it rule you, like so many Sith do." I said calmly.

He nodded, "Makes sense."

"A wise man once told me..." I was barely keeping a straight face, even though I genuinely meant the compliment I just made to the man who told me it, "That a true ruler must serve no master but his own ambition. That includes your own anger."

"Makes sense." Dustil said, "But-"

"You don't have to serve anyone, Dustil." I interrupted, "You are a powerful young man, and you're the master of your own destiny. Do what you want, not what anyone else tells you to."

"Does that include you?" he asked, smirking.

"What do you think?" I asked.

"Do what you tell me, but plot my own evil schemes in the background?" he asked innocently.

"You're learning." I said brightly, "Now, where can I get more prestige? I've raided all three tombs."

"Try the interrogation room. There's usually something there of value." he said, calmly, "Have fun."

"I will."

x x x

"It's Korriban's fault!" I said definitively, as I met Juhani outside the central hall where I had arranged to meet her. I had just returned from the fresher after my training-duel with Dustil... who, incidentally, had been talking to her when I walked up.

"What do you mean?" she asked warily.

"My hair!" I said sharply.

They both gave me an unimpressed look.

I sighed, "You know I came to this planet before, right?" I asked.

Juhani nodded, "It's not an easy thing to forget."

"Well that's when I started looking like a mutilated rakghoul, before... and now it's started again." I hissed, "My hair looks like I've not seen a shower in a year... but I just showered!"

Dustil sniggered, as I tied my hair back determinedly, "Why do you think so many Sith shave their heads, huh?" he asked, amused. "But you really don't look like a mutilated rakghoul. Not that I've seen a rakghoul, but I have seen pictures."

I smirked darkly, "This is the first sign of dark side disfiguration." I said calmly, "And my hair is ruined!" I shrieked.

Dustil laughed, "You have to make sacrifices to gain power."

"True, but when I first decided I wanted to be an evil overlord, no one told me my hair would suffer for it! And the amount of make-up it takes to look normal, when your skin is ash-white and veiny... it's not even funny!" I sighed.

Dustil seemed to think it was hilarious, however - he was still sniggering at me.

"Wait till you start having to wear a mask all the time, just so people don't faint with disgust when they see your face." I said flatly. I pulled my hair over my shoulder, in my hand, and started at it sadly, "It's almost enough to turn someone to the light. Almost." I muttered.

"It would take an ancient Sith Lord's ghost showing remorse to actually turn you to the light." Juhani said lightly. I shot her a half-hearted glare for that.

"It's late. We'll check out the interrogation room in the morning." I said coldly.

We returned to the accommodation block of the academy, and I gratefully collapsed on my bed, in spite of the lack of privacy and security. I was too tired to care.

x x x

Again, I was bound down... but this wasn't another shared 'dream' with Bastila. I was bound by chains, wrapped around my legs, torso, arms, even my neck. It was even darker here... the oppressive atmosphere of simmering rage and darkness was sickening.

And it didn't take Malak's mind-tricks to drive fear into my mind this time. This place was evil. I had to get out of here. I felt nauseous. And I was terrified. I tried to escape, but it wouldn't work. I was shaking, and I couldn't think clearly.

Then somewhere in the back of my mind, I heard the words... 'there is no emotion... there is peace'. Another presence... a kind, light heart... gentle... even though it was surrounded by darkness... 'there is no ignorance... there is knowledge'. Comforting me... calming me... 'there is no chaos... there is harmony'. I couldn't see the presence... and I couldn't even hear him... he was in my mind... 'there is no death... there is the Force'. I could practically sense the smirk, now that I was calm... now that I could think... 'now, which one did I leave out?' he asked.

"Through passion, I gain strength." I said quietly. He deliberately left out the line that denied the Sith code, even though he had quoted most of the Jedi code... so I omitted the first line of the Sith code, in order not to contradict the Jedi code. I felt a sense of calm flow through my body. I could focus the Force, I could sense my inner light, shining vivid emerald green, even within the darkness of my aura. I reached for this light, instinctively, even as I said... "Through strength I gain power." the light was comfortingly familiar... compassion. And my passionate need for freedom, gave me the power to go on, "Through power, I gain victory." I could do this... I could survive... I could escape... "Through victory, my chains are broken." and they were... I was free. The darkness around me, the fear, the simmering panic that the Jedi code had relegated to the back of my mind, dissipated completely. I was free.

x x x

I sat up, now wide awake... "The Force shall free me." I whispered, the last line of the Sith code.

It was morning... I could sense the sun rising, casting cold light over the barren surface of Korriban, even though I was underground. I got up, and straightened the Sith robes I was wearing. They were relatively clean, but I would change as soon as I got back to the Hawk.

Juhani was already awake, when I passed her 'room' on my way out of the residential area. She joined me, and we had a quick breakfast. Lashowe was recovered, this morning. Mekel was cowering in a corner, and the other hopeful had vanished.

"Find out how that brat's doing for prestige." I told Juhani, "Tell her I spiked her drink, and you would have stopped me if you'd known what I was up to. Try to make her think you could be her ally. And then tell her Tulak Hord's tomb is no longer dangerous... Mekel can confirm this for you. Don't tell her there's nothing of value left there... that should keep her busy all day."

Juhani smirked, "You are incredibly cunning." it sounded like she meant it as a compliment, "I shall do that for you."

"And I'll meet you at the Ebon Hawk, later." I said, standing up to leave the room.

The interrogation room was almost like a dungeon... not that that was much different from the rest of the Sith academy, except that there were instruments of torture decorating the walls... well maintained and frequently used instruments of torture, at that.

"Don't bother me. I'm trying to think how I'm going to question this prisoner. I need to know where that cache is!" the guard snapped at me. I considered making a wall-ornament from his spine, but decided against it for the time being... he may be able to help me. He turned to face me, clearly exasperated, "Ahhh, maybe you can do better than I. This Mandalorian is proving more resistant than I expected."

"What are you trying to do?" I asked, stepping further into the room. It reeked of death... and for the first time in years, that scent didn't appeal to me.

"I'm trying to get him to tell us where his weapon cache is hidden." the guard explained, "So far all the serum combinations I'm using are proving ineffective. If I bring his drug threshold too high, he'll go into shock and be useless. Too low and he just refuses to talk. It's been maddening."

"You want me to try it?" I asked... the tattoo on the Mandalorian's arm was the Toreador clan - their proudest clan... they weren't the fiercest warriors, but they had willpower of durasteel. It had taken a great deal of effort to restrain the few of this clan that we had captured.

"Certainly. Just don't kill him or send him into shock. He's supposed to be questioned, not executed." the guard said, stepping aside and allowing me access to the console that controlled the drugs the Mandalorian was to be injected with, "If you manage to get the location of his cache out of him, I'll be sure to pass on the good word to Master Uthar." he added. I shot him a brief look that clearly told him I'd believe that when Hoth melted.

"How do I drug him?" I asked, examining the console.

"The real trick is that the only way to gauge your progress is to watch the prisoner closely for his reaction. Our scanners can't pick up his vitals." the guard explained.

I shrugged, "Go away." I said, with Force in my words... it didn't work as well as it should have, though, because he only went so far as to loiter in the doorway. I glared at the guard, then looked at the Mandalorian prisoner carefully. A member of Toreador clan would not be easy to manipulate... no wonder the guard was having trouble. "What's your name, prisoner?" I asked... an innocent enough question, and even Mandalorian war prisoners will declare their name and rank for their captors.

[I will answer nothing, Sith!] he hissed in his own language.

"You're Toreador clan." I said calmly, "Not many of you survived the wars... what is your name?"

[Go to hell!] he snarled.

[I am asking a simple question. Your name. What great secret is that?] I demanded, switching to the language he spoke.

He blinked, and looked at me, with an evaluating stare, [My name is Darcalan.] he said quietly.

I smiled, [Rank?]

[Leitenant Commander in Mandalore's fleet. Freelance mercenary captain, now.] he said... he was still watching me warily, but it was better than total refusal to cooperate.

[And what were you doing when the Sith caught you? I wasn't informed.]

[Go ask them. I'm not telling you.] he snapped.

[Smuggling?] I asked... his aura flashed affirmative, though he showed no sign on his face. [Yes, smuggling.] I said, smirking, [Now, why don't you tell me where this weapons cache is?]

[Never! A Mandalorian will never fall before such as you!] he snarled.

I smirked, a truly twisted smirk, [You have no idea who you are talking to, Darcalan.] I shrugged, and glanced at the guard. I could sense he had no idea what I was saying... that can't have helped when his prisoner only spoke Mandalorian. [Do you know any way I could free you?] I asked the prisoner, making it sound like part of the interrogation... in this language, the guard was clueless.

The prisoner blinked, [You... you are trying to trick me! I do not believe you!]

I rolled my eyes, [Trust me... I'll help you if I can. I have no interest in harming you.]

[If... if you speak the truth... then use the console to put me... in a catatonic state...] he said... clearly his earlier torture was catching up on him, [Your people will... remove me, throw me away. I can survive for long periods... in this state. I can escape, then...]

I nodded, "Very well. Have it your way." I said, in Basic. I examined the console, and set it to put the Mandalorian into a comatose state.

As the drugs worked their way into his system, he whispered in an obscure dialect of Mandalorian, [Th-thank... y-you... It is in... it is in my ship. The cache... it is in a trap door... hidden on my ship. Use it... I no longer... need. I give it to you... in exchange for my life... human...] and then he passed out. I could sense his life was stable, but incredibly weak... like hibernation.

Clearly, the guard's Force-senses were not so finely honed as mine, "What?! What have you done?!" he yelled, "I told you not to put the prisoner into shock, didn't I?! Now how are we supposed to find out where the weapon cache is?! Uthar will be furious!! Bah! Now I may as well take this fool and dump him somewhere. He's useless to us! I cannot believe you are so incompetent!"

I smirked, as I watched the guard remove the Mandalorian from the cell. Then, I slipped out of the room, without bothering to argue with the guard's rant. I went straight to Uthar.

"Greetings, young one." he said calmly, rising from his meditation in the central hall, "You have done very well for yourself so far. Continue and your promise shall be fulfilled."

"I know the location of the Mandalorian prisoner's weapon cache." I said immediately.

"You do? That is most interesting. Where might that be?" he asked.

"It is hidden within a trap door on his ship."

"Hmm. How ironic that I recently had his vessel scrapped for parts, then." Uthar said. He almost sounded amused at this. "I had assumed it had been thoroughly scanned... apparently not. Still... you have done well in bringing me information that others could not unearth on their own. I am impressed. You have impressed me enough, by my estimation, to become a Sith in full. Congratulations, young one... you have bested the others quite completely."

"Not that they were any challenge." I muttered. Uthar gave me an odd look for that comment.

"You have but one final test which you must take, and this requires us to travel to the tomb of Naga Sadow in the Valley of the Dark Lords." he explained, "I would advise you to be rested and equipped before we leave. Return to your quarters now and seek me out at sunset. When you return, make sure that you have all that you will need... for you will face your test alone. Go, and may the Force serve you well."

x x x

"Lashowe is now engaged in the wild Gizka chase you asked me to send her on." Juhani said, as I stepped onto the Ebon Hawk.

"Excellent." I replied, "Thanks."

"So what is your plan, now?" she asked.

I shrugged, "Nothing you'd be interested in, until sunset... and I'm not allowed help with that." Juhani gave me an odd look, but I simply left her alone.

I sought out Canderous... and found him, unsurprisingly enough, in the swoop hold, modifying weapons.

"Hey, Canderous. I was wondering something." I said casually.

"What?" he asked.

"What's your opinion of Toreador clan?" I asked.

"Fair warriors. Stubborn. Loyal to a fault - when they pledge an allegiance, they keep it, no matter what. Useful, if they're on your side. I wouldn't like to face one in battle, even though they are inferior fighters - their willpower more than makes up for it."

"So you don't have any problem with them?" I asked pointedly.

"Not really, no. Why?" he asked.

"Because there was one in the Sith interrogation chamber." I said. Canderous immediately looked up from his work, to stare at me intently, "I helped him escape... sort of."

"How?"

"By rigging their truth-serum injection machine to put him into a comatose state... he told me he could survive like that, and would eventually recover." Canderous nodded, showing he thought this was a logical way to arrange an escape. "But I don't trust the wild animals of Korriban to leave his unconscious body alone."

"So you want me to find him?" Canderous asked.

"And ensure that he survives." I said, nodding.

"Shouldn't be too much trouble. If he has a decent regeneration implant, he should recover within thirty-six hours. What do you want me to do when he wakes up?"

"Tell him I sent you... don't give my name, just tell him the woman who freed him wanted to ensure he survived to fight again. To be eaten by scavenger-animals would be incredibly dishonourable." I smirked, "And I think I surprised him when I spoke to him in Mandalorian."

Canderous sniggered, "Might surprise him more to hear that you care about his honour."

"That's highly likely... will you do this for me?" I asked.

"What's your motivation behind it?" he asked.

"Aside from doing a good deed and saving the defenceless prisoner from the evil Sith?" I asked, barely keeping a straight face.

Canderous, on the other hand, didn't try to restrain his laughter. "Seriously. Why did you free him?"

"All right, you want the truth?" I asked.

"I'd prefer it, yes."

"Toreador clan are naturally charismatic and proud. They may not be the best fighters, but they do make excellent commanders." I said calmly. Canderous nodded. "He would make a valuable ally. Simple as that."

"I suppose that is motive enough." he shrugged, "Can I take HK-47 with me? That droid makes an excellent tracker."

"No. It does make a good tracker, but it kills what it tracks." I said coldly, "I want him alive. He's useless to me dead."

"All right. I'll get on it." he turned and left.

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