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Chapter 5: A Family Affair
Telos: Four Years Ago
Juggling a bag of groceries, Carth stepped into the cheerfully eclectic kitchen and was greeted by the smell of dinner cooking. He quickly dumped the groceries onto the nearest counter and rushed over to the stove to make sure nothing was on fire. He loved his wife dearly, but she was a terrible cook. Although she was able to make delicious meals, she was somewhat absent minded and tended to forget that she actually was cooking in the first place. Usually she had the house droid do all the cooking but it was sitting inactive in the corner.
What's the special occasion?
After putting the groceries away, and making sure the house was in no danger of being burned down, he went in search of his wife and son.
He found them in the backyard. Morgana stood under the large wormwood tree, looking up at the tree house he and Dustil had put together. The rope ladder was up. That's a bad sign.
"Come on down Dee, please?"
"No."
"Don't you want to give him the gift you picked out?"
"No."
"I made your favorite dinner." That explained why the house droid was off. It had never really been able to make nerf loaf taste quite right.
"I don't care."
"It's his last night here Dee, I know you want to see him before he goes."
Silence.
Carth frowned. He was not due to ship out for at least another week. Then he saw the official military holopad in his wife's hands. Damn.
He walked over to Morgana, and slipped his arm around her waist. She leaned against him and handed him the holopad with a sigh. He scanned it quickly. Saul was ordering the fifth division, to ship out tomorrow. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and said, "Don't worry, I've got it." She gave him a worried look anyway, but headed into the house.
"Dustil. Come on down buddy, dinner is ready."
"Why don't you go have dinner on your stupid ship? You know you want to."
"No, I want to have dinner with you and your Mom."
"I don't care."
He tried the old parental tactic, bribery. "I'll let you stay up late and play holovid games."
"No."
"Okay, if you won't come down, can I at least come up there?"
Silence again.
"Come on Dee, you know I have half a pirates share in that hideout, you have to let me in." It was an old joke between the two of them. When they had built the tree house, he and Dustil had pretended that they were pirates. The two of them would go on pirate raids which usually ended up in the kitchen sweets jar, much to his wife's dismay. Carth hoped that at age twelve (and a half, as his son constantly reminded him), Dustil was not too old to play this game.
Dustil peered through the railing. "Do you have any booty to share?"
Carth pulled out the package of sweet rolls from his jacket. They were Dustil's favorite, and the reason he had gone to the store in the first place.
Dustil tossed the rope ladder over the side.
Carth climbed up the ladder quickly, before his son could change his mind. By the time he got to the top Dustil retreated to one corner and sat with his lanky arms crossed. There was a pouty scowl on his face. He looked expectantly at his dad. Carth ripped open the sweet cake package and tore the cake in two. He passed half over to Dustil, and for a minute they both ate in silence.
Carth took the opportunity to study his son's sanctuary. He hadn't been up here for a while, and he was startled by how much had changed. Most of the walls were still covered by Dustil's sketches, but instead of space pirates and asteroid dragons he was now drawing battle ships and sports heroes. Carth was secretly pleased to see that there was even a drawing of his own ship, the Intrepid. His son's sketches were noticeably better and showed signs of true talent. Thank god there aren't any pictures of girls yet.
He pointed to the ship drawings. "Has your Mother seen these?"
"Not yet."
"Why haven't you shown them to her?"
"Because she'd make a big deal out of it."
"Yeah, you'd probably make her day. Wouldn't that be horrible."
"You know how she'd be. She'd show them to everyone."
"Why is that bad? She's proud of you."
Dustil rolled his eyes. "Because, Dad, it's embarrassing."
Right. "Then why don't you make her happy by coming down to dinner instead?"
"Why don't you make her happy by not leaving tomorrow?"
"You know I can't, Dee."
"Why not? You were supposed to stay for another week. You're going to miss my game."
"I know. I'm sorry." He'd said the words so many times, they were completely worn out. At least he hadn't promised he'd be there; Carth had learned a long time ago not to make promises. Although his tour ended in six months, and he had no intention of re-upping he hadn't told Dustil yet, just in case something went wrong. He did not want to make any promises to his son that he wasn't sure he could keep.
"You always say that. You're always sorry. But you leave anyway."
"Dustil, we've been through this before." Revan's forces were tearing across the outer rim, the Republic had just lost two major battles in the last month. If the Republic didn't get a victory soon, they were going to be in big trouble. How do you explain to that to a twelve year old boy so that he understands, or cares?
Dustil dismissed him. "Whatever. I don't care." But his stomach rumbled, traitorously.
"Come on Dee. Your Mom worked really hard on dinner." He tried humor. "If we don't go in now, she might accidentally burn the house down. You wouldn't want that would you?"
"I guess not."
"So, let's go rescue dinner from your Mom."
Dustil was still sullen, but he climbed down the ladder and stomped into the house.
Carth followed, guilt tearing up his guts. He couldn't make the promise to his son, but he could make it to himself. Just six more months, Dustil and I'll make it up to you. I swear it.
The Ebon Hawk: Now
"Again," Juhani demanded.
Min and Juhani circled each other in the swoop bay, which had recently been converted to the Ebon Hawk's training room. Min charged, lifting her wooden practice swords. Juhani neatly sidestepped Min's flurry attack. Min recovered quickly, and attacked again which Juhani easily parried. After exchanging several blows, Min tried to get cute and went for a kick at Juhani's midsection. The Cathar, having had several days of training to get used to Min's penchant for cheep shots, anticipated this move. She blocked Min's foot in mid kick and pushed back. Min stumbled backwards and landed squarely on her bottom. By the time she looked up, Juhani had the practice sword at her neck.
"You are trying to be too clever Minuet. You need to have patience. Next time, allow your opponent to come to you."
"Humph. That's the problem with kids these days. They never show any restraint. They're as twitchy as Diluvian chiggers."
Mission, who was observing from her perch on the back of the swoop bike, sniggered.
Min gave Jolee a dirty look. "I'm sorry, I don't remember asking the geriatric contingent's opinion."
"Mouthy too. Incapable of giving their distinguished elders the respect they deserve. Did I ever tell you about a lad I knew named Andor?"
Min rolled her eyes. I wonder when he's going to drop the senile act. "Yes. Twice."
"Truly, Min. Juhani is correct. You must try to be more patient. Perhaps we should lengthen our evening meditation for another hour." Bastila said.
Before Min could express her distaste at that idea, Juhani surprised her by snapping at Bastila. "I would ask that you not interfere with Minuet's training.
Bastila's voice dropped several degrees. "I am as much of a part of her training as you are Juhani. I am merely trying to help."
"She came to me for training, not you."
"That does not mean that I have nothing valuable to contribute. Min can learn from my abilities and experience just as much as she can from yours."
"Oh yes, I have been told all about your vaunted powers with the Force, your battle meditation that can turn the tide of any conflict."
"What does my battle med-"
"If you are so powerful, then why could Taris not be saved?" Min and Bastila exchanged confused looks. Min scrambled to her feet.
Bastila tried to explain. "It does not work like that. It-"
Juhani turned on Min then. "If it were not for you and your precious Bastila, the Sith would have never had reason to destroy that world! It was your fault for being there, and your fault for rescuing Bastila! Without your intervention the Sith would have had no cause to lay waste to my childhood!"
Damn it, she's from Taris. Min mentally kicked herself for not discovering this sooner. "Now wait a minute. What happened to Taris was not Bastila's fault, or mine."
"What did you think would happen by aiding the Republic?"
"Certainly not that!" Bastila interjected.
"We were shot down over Taris, Juhani. We didn't choose to be there."
But Juhani was too caught up in her pain to stop. "Just let me vent my anger! I need someone to blame…something...anything! I hated that world, yet everything I learned as a child I learned there. It is as much a part of me as the air I breathe. I have this ache inside me where all my childhood memories lay, and I find your face there with them. If it was not for you, that world would still exist! It is so hard to lose your entire past. You would not understand."
"I'm sorry Juhani. I didn't know you were from Taris. But there was nothing we could have done to stop it."
"I suppose you did what you had to and it could not have been avoided. The Republic needs you and Bastila. Maybe needs you more than it needed Taris."
"Juhani-"
"I do not wish to speak of this anymore. Please excuse me." Juhani fled, leaving the other three Jedi gaping after her.
Min started to follow when Jolee stopped her. "Let her go. I think she needs to be alone right now. She's not ready to listen yet."
Carth found Min in her office. The room had formerly been the Captain's quarters which Davik had occupied and decorated with his usual garish tastes. It had been so slimy that even though the room was a bedroom with its own 'fresher, no one wanted to sleep in there, preferring instead to split the crew quarters between men and women.
On their last day on Kashyyyk, Min and Bastila had decided to clean out the room. Since it would be unfair for anyone to have quarters all to themselves and needing a place to spread out all of their equipment, the women turned the Captain's quarters into their office.
Going through Davik's belongings had been both disgusting and highly amusing at the same time. Min had never seen anyone turn so red from embarrassment as Bastila had when she started going through the drawers. They discovered that Davik had some very adventurous tastes. But now all of the purple satin and Davik's effects had been dumped off the ship. The bed was folded into the wall and was now replaced by a desk and chair made of dark rich pleakwood, a couch, and two overstuffed chairs of the finest Corellian leather. All of which were scrounged from what was left of the Czerka manager's office. A deep red hand woven area rug was on the metal floor, a gift to Min from the Wookiees. There was even a Dejarik board in the corner. The only piece of original furniture that was left was Davik's well stocked wet bar, which was, thankfully, not purple. Carth had to admit that the effect was classy. It figures she'd steal the best furniture on the planet.
T3 was in one corner working on putting the computer interface back together. Carth studied the equipment wryly. He'd still hadn't come up with a way to get back at Min for making him carry it back to the ship. Well, at least any way that was…appropriate.
Min sat at the desk pouring over a stack of datapads and Bastila was on the couch, doing the same. As he sank into one of the overstuffed chairs, Min looked up and asked, "What do you know about Revan and Malak?"
"I used to think that those two were the best humanity had to offer. Now I'd like nothing more than to put a blaster to both their heads. Although I suppose only Malak is left, isn't he? Turned on his own master, not that Revan didn't have it coming. Typical for their kind, I guess. Why?"
"I'm trying to get a sense of who they were. The council told me almost nothing about them, but I think if I could get inside their heads, I could figure out what Malak is up to."
"I think you're probably right about the Star Forge being some type of weapons plant. When they returned from wherever they went after the Mandalorian Wars, they had an entire fleet with them. Nobody knows where they got the ships. As the years have passed there always seems to be more and more while our forces dwindle."
"Did you ever meet them?"
"No, not personally. But without them the Mandalorians would have finished us for certain. In the fleet, we didn't see much of the Jedi. I only saw Malak once, but I was impressed by him. I guess that just shows how much the dark side can change someone. What about you Bastila? Did you ever think about joining all the Jedi who were running off to follow Revan and Malak when they went to fight the Mandalorians?"
"That was over seven years ago. I was still an apprentice, my Battle Meditation hadn't even manifested itself. Yet even then I had the wisdom to obey the will of the Council. Unlike Revan."
"That would have made you what, twelve or thirteen?"
"Well…yes."
I doubt Revan and Malak would have let you go with them. "Don't you ever wonder if things could have been different? Would Revan and Malak still have been corrupted if the Council had supported them instead of dragging its feet?"
Bastila began to turn a shade of pink. "Do not blame Revan's corruption on the Council! Your Republic saw only the threat of the Mandalorians, but the wisdom of the Masters saw beyond the immediate threat. When Revan and Malak left, they took almost an entire generation of Jedi Knights with them, all of whom are now dead or turned to the dark side. The order is still trying to recover. There was something lurking out there, something that devoured Revan and Malak - and many other Jedi. Had the Council sent us all into the unknown, how many more would have fallen?"
"So you're saying they should have done nothing? Just let the Mandalorians conquer us unopposed? I mean, the Republic was under attack, and the Order abandoned us!"
"We did not abandon you! But the Council were not about to throw lives away foolishly. In time, we would have aided you against the Mandalorians. But you could not wait. Revan and Malak offered a quicker answer, and the Republic chose to walk the easy path rather than the path of wisdom. Now we see the results all around us. You asked me if I think things could have been different? I know they could have! If Revan had only listened to the Council, millions of innocent people would still be alive."
"Yeah, right. And every single one of them would be speaking Mandalorain."
"I can see that this conversation is going nowhere." Bastila stood, straightened her robes and stalked out of the room.
"Good to see the trend of everyone not getting along continuing."
"Hey, it's not my fault!"
Min smiled. "I didn't say it was, Carth."
"Actually, that's why I came to talk to you. Are you still going to take Juhani with you when we reach Korriban?" Mission had filled him in on what happened in the swoop bay.
"Yes. In our vision it looked like the star map was in some kind of ancient temple or tomb." Min handed him a datapad which had a map of the settlement and ruins. "If I'm right, the Star Map will be in the ancient Sith ruins that are next to the Academy. It wouldn't surprise me if the ruins are there because of the map, since the map itself is a thing of ancient dark side power. According to the information that we have," she tapped a finger against the data pad she'd been reading, "the only way to access those temples will be by going through the Academy. I figure Juhani, Jolee and I can pose as renegade Jedi."
From the way she paused he could tell that she was considering carefully what to say. He anticipated her.
"No way, Min."
She confirmed his suspicions. "You and Bastila will have to stay on the ship."
"That's unacceptable."
"Carth…."
"No. I'm not letting you go into the Sith Academy with just a crazy old man and a Jedi who once tried to kill you. A Jedi, who by the way, is mad at you."
"First of all, we both know that Jolee is not crazy. Long winded and crotchety perhaps, but not crazy. And Juhani won't try to kill me."
"You don't know that."
"Yeah, I do."
"How? She fell once to the dark side, and now she's mad at you. You want to take her into a place full of dark side power?"
She was skeptical. "What do you know about the dark side?"
He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "I used to think that it was a fancy name for something that I see every day. Corruption is everywhere. People are greedy and stupid and do horrible things. I'm starting to think it's different for the Jedi, however. That there's this evil watching them, waiting for its chance."
Her skepticism was gone. He could tell he had her full attention now. "I worry about you Min. You have so much courage and strength in you yet, somehow, I have no trouble imagining it differently. Like the flip side of a coin. It's not just you. It's Bastila, Juhani and Jolee as well. You're all so...intense. I don't pretend to know much about the force, but I know evil."
She started to interrupt, but he held up a hand to stop her. "All I'm saying is that when you have so much power, the stakes are higher. I can only imagine the kind of conflict that goes on inside you. Neither you, Bastila or Juhani are fully trained on how to handle your power. I'm just concerned at what might come. I wouldn't want to see you hurt." He added as an afterthought. "Any of you."
"I don't have much of a choice."
"I know. I suppose finding the Star Maps is more important than your training and your safety. I just hope there isn't a price for you to pay. But that's why I want to go with you into the Academy. You're going to need someone around to watch your back, someone who is not a Jedi."
"It's a Sith world. You're a well known Republic hero. Someone might recognize you."
"That's what disguises are for."
"And what would we disguise you as?"
"Your bodyguard."
"That won't work. The Sith aren't going to let me to bring a bodyguard into their Academy. Besides, if I bring a bodyguard, I'm sending a message that I'm not strong enough to be there."
He couldn't believe that he was suggesting it. "Slave then."
She laughed as she spoke. "As appealing as it would be to have you answer to my every beck and call, I somehow think that they would see right through that."
"We did it on Taris."
"Where I introduced you as my indentured servant, to a bunch of drunk Sith officers who were talentless enough to land a post on a hole like Taris. Not the same thing at all."
His lips twitched in amusement and exasperation. "Are you saying I'm not good enough to be your slave?"
"No. I'm saying you're too good. Carth, no one is going to believe that you are a slave."
"Why not?"
"Well, for one thing, it's the way you carry yourself. You've been in the military for twenty years and it shows. Canderous carries himself the same way and it's not something that you can unlearn in a couple of days. Besides, your face is far too honest. You're so damn wholesome, you'd give us away in a matter of minutes."
"Wholesome? Wholesome!" One of these days woman, I'm going to show you exactly how wholesome I can be!
Her dark eyes crinkled with amusement at his reaction, but she refused to elaborate any further. She continued as if he weren't sitting in the chair, sputtering in outrage. "I won't ask Zaalbar to pretend to be my slave and there is no way I am going to take Mission in there. That leaves Juhani and Jolee."
She had him. And it ticked him off. And he was still annoyed about the wholesome comment. "Blast it woman! Why do you have to be so damn logical!"
Min shrugged. "I can't help the way I am." She read his mind with the next sentence, pointing a finger right at him. "And don't get any ideas about following me Onasi, like you did on Taris. Not only do I have all these nifty new force powers, I also have a Wookiee who owes me a lifedebt and a Mandalorian Merc on my payroll. I'm not afraid to use them."
He knew that this was not an idle threat. He conceded defeat and cracked a smile. "I'm not sure if my manly pride could stand that."
She returned his smile briefly, but her next words were serious. "Carth, if I had a choice, you would be the first person I would ask to come. I wish I could take you with me. To be honest…Korriban scares the hell out of me. Even through our vision, the pull of the dark side was strong. I can't imagine what it is going to feel like when I'm actually there. You know, I haven't I haven't actually really been tested yet. I have no idea how I will react. At least Juhani and Jolee have more experience than I do. If there's anyone you should worry about falling to the dark side it's me."
Carth was touched that she trusted him enough to admit that.
She looked down at her outspread hands as if they offended her. "I really hate being a Jedi. But I'm just going to have to suck it up and do it, because there isn't another option."
He couldn't hide his frustration. "I hate that they've put you in this position."
"I don't think they had much of a choice. Anyway, whining about it isn't going to help." She abruptly changed the subject, clearly not wanting to talk about it anymore. "Are you up for a game of Dejarik?"
Wanting to take her mind off her worries, he said, "Sure."
She stretched her long legs as she stood and gave him a slow smile. Carth tried not to stare. "I have to warn you. I'm very good at this game."
He cleared his throat. "Well then, let's see what you can do."
Min's suspicions about the location of the star map unfortunately were right. Once they made orbit around Korriban, T3 confirmed it. The star map was smack in the middle of the Valley of the Dark Lords.
Before they left, Min confronted Juhani. The Cathar had been completely aloof since the incident in the swoop bay and Min had taken Jolee's advice and left the woman alone. While Min wanted to give her time to get her emotions under control, time had just run out and she needed her now.
"I have to know Juhani, if you think you can handle this. Because if you don't think you can, you need to stay on the ship."
Juhani's face was unreadable, but she answered. "I can."
"Good." I hope I'm not making a big mistake.
Walking through the Sith settlement, Min could almost smell the corruption. In the background she could feel the dark side taint lapping seductively against her mind and she did her best to tune it out.
The Sith students ran in predatory packs of two or three and civilians scurried to get out of their way. Min wondered what would possess a non-Sith to live here. The worst were the force blind hopefuls, bowing and scraping to the Sith students in hopes of gaining entrance. The students delighted in humiliating them at every opportunity. Min couldn't decide who she hated more, the sadistic Sith students or the groveling hopefuls who would do anything to get into the Academy.
Except for a few brash students, most stayed clear of the three Jedi and their utility droid. The few that dared to confront them, she sent scampering away with a few well phrased threats.
When they reached the entrance, Min demanded and was given entrance. They were brought before the Master of the Academy, Uthar Wynn, a heavily tattooed human who might have been handsome before his skin had turned a deathly shade of grey. Min quickly dismissed him as her attention was riveted by his second in command. The violet Twi'lek was one of the most beautiful women Min had ever seen. Yuthura carried herself with a liquid sensuality that she tried to mask by her horrible militaristic uniform. What intrigued Min the most was the crafty intelligence that shone in her eyes. Uthar might have more power, but she is far more dangerous.
Uthar accepted them into the Academy and they were assigned to a group of other hopefuls for testing. The first person who gained enough prestige from their group would be given full admittance. Everyone else would either be dismissed by Uthar as unworthy or have to wait until the next round and compete again. If they gained enough prestige, then they were rewarded with yet another test, which would take place in the tomb of Naga Sadow, where of course the star map was located. Min hoped that they wouldn't have to come up with any acts of prestige and that they could just access the tomb and leave without jumping through hoops.
She scoped out the other hopefuls in her group. There were only three that stood out. Lashowe, a tall brash blonde, was already sending signals to Master Uthar. It was pretty obvious the path she was going to try to take to gain her prestige. Mekel, was a tall teenage boy in his late teens, who already had a hard edge to his eyes. Shaardan was the worst. Short tempered with an arrogant demeanor and a cold cruel face, he was flanked by haggard female slaves. He leered at Yuthura, who returned the look with cold contempt.
What a fool.
After dinner that night, they made their way to the tomb of Naga Sadow and tried to break in. The valley was empty, almost everyone had retreated to the Academy for the evening. In the fading sunlight, the feeling of despair and evil that radiated from the temples was horribly oppressive. Min found it difficult to concentrate.
T3 confirmed that the Star Map was in fact in there. After two frustrating hours, Min realized that it would be impossible to break into the temple. The ancient temple had a complex lock which, from what she could tell, could only be opened by an ancient key. They were going to have to steal the key or gain some prestige, and Min was not looking forward to it.
"Ah, there you are. My favorite prospect." Yuthura's satin voice drifted through the stone hallway.
Min was on her way to her new quarters. Juhani and Jolee had already entered their rooms so she was alone. "Really."
"Absolutely. 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?"
No.
Yuthura didn't wait for an answer, she just turned assuming that Min would follow. Deciding that it would not be in her best interest to piss this woman off, Min followed reluctantly. They entered Yuthura's quarters, and Min took a covert look around. There wasn't much to look at in the sparse stone room. The only personal objects that she could see was a leather neural restraint slave collar and a wickedly sharp dagger, both of which graced the nightstand. The lack of any other ornamentation or other personal effects was unnerving. Yuthura took a seat at the table in the corner, and gestured for Min to do the same.
Refusing to call her Master Ban, Min addressed her as an equal. "What is this about, Yuthura?"
Yuthura smiled at her audacity, and didn't correct her. "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?"
I should have known.
Hoping to get more information she asked, "Tell me about the tomb."
"It is an ancient ruin on the surface that was visited years ago by Darth Revan and Darth Malak. They discovered a Star Map there of great importance. Reaching that map, as they did, is part of the final test. Uthar wears the key to it around his neck. It is a symbol of his position as Master of the Academy. At any rate, it is not the tomb that is important. That Uthar will be alone is what is important."
"You want me to kill him."
"Is that such a daunting prospect? It is not as if I am asking you to perform the task alone, or as if you will get nothing out of it. We destroy Master Uthar together and I will take his place and you will take your place at my side. A beautiful plan in its sheer simplicity."
"What makes you so certain that Uthar will pick me?"
"You are very powerful, far more powerful than any of the other hopefuls. Besides, Uthar has a weakness for beautiful women and you are his type. My 'part' in this is to help you gain enough prestige and slow down the progress of the other hopefuls. I want you in that tomb when the time is right."
"Why have you chosen me to be your co-conspirator?"
"I dislike repeating myself. You are the one Uthar is the most likely to pick."
"And you could arrange my death or sabotage my efforts like you plan on doing to the others. You know how you affect men. A man would be so much easier for you to control. So I ask you again, why me."
Yuthura looked at her in stony silence. She finally answered. "You are the leader of the Cathar and the old one. I assume that once you are in you will bring them along with you. So I prefer to deal directly with their leader. Lashowe is to stupid and brash and Mekel is too weak to be any use. Shaardan is…unacceptable."
Min's eyes flicked over to the worn leather slave collar. "Does Shaardan's unacceptability have anything to do with that slave collar over there, Yuthura?"
"I was a slave to Omeesh the Hutt. I am sure you don't need to know more."
Oh, I think I do.
Min would not let it go. She used the polite euphemism. "As a dancing joygirl?"
Yuthura looked her in the eyes as if daring her to disapprove. Min looked back. Whatever Yuthura saw, it satisfied her enough to continue. "Yes. On Sleheyron, the Hutts control everything, and a slave is nothing to them." Yuthura's eyes glittered fiercely. "I was determined not to be 'nothing'. One night when the drunken worm had me alone in his chambers I stabbed him and escaped the compound. I stole onto a cargo ship and was not discovered by the crew until they reached the next system. They left me for dead on a desolate planetoid, alone. But that was fine by me. I was glad to be anywhere other than Sleheyron. It was not luck that I was eventually rescued, of course. The Force was strong with me, though I didn't know that at the time. Not until the Jedi told me, that is."
"The Jedi?"
"They took me in and trained me even though I was a bit older than most Padawans. But I never progressed beyond that. I had discipline, but no peace. After my treatment at the hands of the Hutts there was little room in me for the ways of the Jedi."
Her bitterness towards the Order was laced in her voice. "I wanted to use the Force to free the other slaves I knew, to fight for what I knew was right. The Jedi restrained me until I couldn't stand it any more. They claim the dark side is evil, but that isn't so. Sometimes anger and hatred are deserved and right. Sometimes things change because of it. There is suffering and injustice in the universe. I am surprised the Jedi can even stand the stench of it, much less stand by and do nothing." She paused to gather her thoughts. "I know this may sound strange, but only my compassion stands in my way, now. Once that is gone let the slavers beware. I suppose I shouldn't be telling you these things...sharing my weaknesses with you. Being a Sith doesn't make me a monster, however."
No, I guess it doesn't. For the first time, Min was understood why the Sith were so dangerous. If our situations had been reversed, that would have been me. I would have done the same thing. She nodded her understanding. A chill slithered over her dark skin. Is this what Revan and Malak thought?
After a minute or so of thoughtful silence, Min asked, "How many slaves have you saved lately?"
"What?"
"You know, since you joined the Sith. How many?"
Yuthura ignored the question, but Min knew she had hit a sore spot by the way her head tails were twitching. "I will begin to make preparations for your final test. Your only worry now is to get there. Don't disappoint me."
At breakfast the next morning Jolee, Juhani and Min tried to determine how they were going to gain some prestige or steal the key from Uthar. Most of Yuthura's suggestions involved betraying or killing someone. They went over their other, very limited, options.
"There is a rumor that no one is has been able to retrieve Ajunta Pall's sword from his tomb. We could find it and present it to Uthar." Juhani suggested.
"Any sword of Ajunta Pall's is bound to be a powerful artifact. I'm not so sure we want to give Uthar something like that." Jolee said. "What about that crazy droid? We could destroy it."
"I am uncertain that it will be bloody enough to satisfy Uthar."
"Isn't bloody what we're trying to avoid?" He looked at Min. "What do you think?"
"Hmm?"
"Kid, have you been paying attention to a word we've been saying?" He followed her distracted gaze across the room to three young men. "Aren't they a little young for you?"
"That kid over there, sitting next to the tall friendly looking one, he looks familiar." She nodded towards a good looking teenager with dark brown hair and chestnut eyes.
Jolee was surprised. "You're right, he does."
Min noticed Yuthura getting up from the headmaster's table and heading out of the hall. Figuring that she was the fastest way to get answers she said, "I'll be right back." She was gone before Juhani and Jolee could protest.
She stopped Yuthura in the doorway. Yuthura's tone was deceptively casual. "I trust you have a good reason to speak with me so publicly."
"Those boys over there over there sitting with Mekel. What are their names?"
"Kel Algwinn and Dustil Onasi. The two of them are practically inseparable."
Ice water filled Min's stomach.
"Did you say Dustil Onasi?"
"Yes. Perhaps you've heard of his father? Captain Carth Onasi, the Republic war hero."
Min was speechless. Yuthura took her silence as a yes.
"Forget about any schemes that you may have about Dustil Onasi. He is off limits. His entrance to the Academy was sponsored by Admiral Saul Karath who has plans for him."
"What kind of plans?"
"I don't know. Uthar keeps all of that information to himself. You would be wise to steer clear." Yuthura turned on her heal and left Min standing dumbfounded.
How am I going to tell Carth?
Carth woke to Min's voice whispering in his ear. "Carth. Carth wake up."
He ran a hand over his face, groaning. After a few confused seconds of wondering why Min was here, he asked, "What time is it?"
"Early morning. I need to talk to you."
"Now?"
"Yes." Her hand was warm on his bare chest. He covered her hand with his and almost pulled her into the warm bunk with him. But then he saw her face in the grey gloom of the port side crew quarters. His grogginess was replaced by sharp concern. "What's wrong?"
"Not here." She whispered. Right. Canderous and Zaalbar. Both were sleeping, Zaalbar managing to keep his snoring to a low rumble.
Carth followed her out into the common room, half blinded by the bright lighting. She sat down on the couch and he did the same. But she couldn't sit still, rising and pacing in front of him. He hadn't seen her for four days and she looked like hell, there were dark circles under her eyes and she looked completely worn out. He really began to get worried when she actually started wringing her hands.
"Min, what's going on?"
She stopped, took a deep breath and turned to face him. "I…."
"Is it Jolee or Juhani? Are they all right?"
"What? Yes. They're fine." She ran her fingers through her hair and looked him in the eyes. "Your son is alive."
He was overwhelmed by emotions so tangled hat he could barely get his thoughts together. Finally, he managed, "Dustil...Dustil is alive! How do you know?"
"Because he's at the Academy."
"Are you sure it's him?"
"Positive."
He stood. "Well we have to go get him. We have to rescue him."
Min placed her hands gently on his shoulders. "Sit." And because of the look in her eyes he did. She sat down next to him.
She spoke slowly. "Dustil's not a prisoner, Carth. He's a student."
"What?"
"I found out that during the bombing of Telos, Dustil was picked up by one of the Sith patrols. They took him to Saul Karath, who sponsored his entrance to the Academy. They have plans for him."
Fury surged through him. I'm going to kill you Saul, and I'm going to enjoy every second of it. "What kind of plans?"
"I'm not sure." Her next question completely confused him. "Was your wife a Jedi?"
"No. She was an engineer. She designed star ships."
"Did she ever show signs of force sensitivity?"
"I don't know. Maybe. Why?"
"Because they're training him to become a Dark Jedi."
He began to shake with rage.
"You're not force sensitive, so it must have come from her. And he's strong, Carth. Very strong."
He shoved the rage aside and stood. "Well, whatever. We'll figure it out later. Right now we need a plan to get him out of there."
"That's not necessary. He's coming here." He stared at her. She continued, "We spent a long time trying to come up with a plan to get him here, but eventually he approached us. He wants to see the ship. We haven't told him about you yet."
"A long time?" Carth lost his temper. "How long have you known he was at the Academy Min?"
She couldn't even look him in the eyes. "Three days."
"Three days! You've known this for three days and you didn't tell me!"
"I - "
"I'm his father! I deserved to know! What did you think I was going to do? Charge in there and get you all killed? Give me a little bit of credit woman!"
"Of course you wouldn't. I know that."
"Then why did you wait?"
"Because I didn't want to face you! I didn't know how to tell you. And you would have sat here for days, unable to do anything, and it would have eaten you up." She looked up and her eyes pleaded with him. "I'm sorry. I know it was wrong. I should have told you right away. But I…I wanted to spare you as much as I could."
His anger evaporated. "It's alright, Min." He sank onto the couch. "Thank you. I know how dangerous this is. I just have to see him. I have to know what happened to him."
"I know."
"When does he…."
"He'll be coming after the midday meal."
My son. "All this time I've thought he was...he must be a man by now...."
Min's com link beeped. "What?" she snapped.
It was Jolee. "Girlie, you better get back here right now. Uthar is going to make some kind of announcement after breakfast and Yuthura is not happy."
"Alright. I'll be back in a few minutes." She cut the link.
"Go. I'll be fine." She looked like she didn't believe him, but after giving his shoulder a squeeze she left the ship, leaving Carth alone with his thoughts.
Min made it to breakfast just in time for Uthar's "presentation." Since she couldn't take her seat without drawing undue attention to herself, she stood at the back of the hall. Yuthura silently glided up next to her.
"Ahhh...what is this you bring me, Shaardan?"
Looking very pleased with himself, Shaardan dropped to one knee and presented Uthar with a silver blade. "It is none other than the sword of Ajunta Pall, Master." He obviously expected to be awarded with full admittance.
Uthar examined the blade. "Fool. All the trouble you went through for your deception, and you did not even make an effort to verify the sword's authenticity?"
"M-master? What…what do you mean?'
"There is no place for fools amongst the Sith." He threw a stasis field around Shaardan and lifted him into the air. Uthar took the blade and slid it slowly into Shaardan's heart. Shaardan's screams turned into gurgles as blood gushed from his mouth and his chest. After a minute of twitching he was dead. Uthar let the body drop to the floor.
Everyone resumed their breakfast.
"You switched the swords on him, didn't you?" Min murmured.
Yuthura just gave Min a cold smile.
"Was that really necessary?"
"Yes. If he had presented Uthar with the actual blade, you would have lost and our plans would have been for nothing." She added as an afterthought. "You were the one who pointed out that I had done nothing to help free slaves. In a way, you inspired this."
Min felt the bile rise at the back of her throat. Why couldn't I keep my big mouth shut?
"Oh, don't look so shocked. We both know that the galaxy is now a better place without Shaardan." She left Min with a warning. "You need to hurry. The others are gaining on you."
Dustil and Kel walked briskly through the brightly lit corridors of the Sith settlement Dreshdae.
"This is a bad idea Dustil. These three are too powerful to mess with."
"We're just here to do a little reconnaissance for Mekel, that's all. There might be something on that ship that he can use to convince Uthar to choose him." Then he will owe me.
"I don't see what. Everyone knows Uthar is going to award entrance to the Avery woman. She's too powerful for him not too. Besides, she's his type."
Dustil silently agreed. The woman had so much power and force wrapped around her it was frightening. In his two years at the Academy he had never seen a student so powerful. "It's to our advantage if Uthar chooses Mekel. And even if he doesn't, we need to make sure that she is an ally. If she does make it in, she is too powerful not to have on our side."
He stopped in front of the docking bay. "Remember, let me talk to the woman, you stick with the old man and the other one. And try not to give away any information. Okay?" Kel was his best friend, but he had the disturbing quality of being far too trusting of people. They had met at the prisoner detention center three years ago and had been best friends ever since. Kel's niceness had almost gotten them both killed several times and Master Uthar had urged Dustil to get rid of him. But Dustil refused to abandon him. Since Selene's gone, he's the only thing I have left.
As the docking bay doors opened Dustil was greeted by the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.
"She's hot."
"Oh yeah."
Both boys looked up at the Ebon Hawk in awe. They just stared at it for a minute or two in silence appreciating the ship. Eventually they noticed the old man and the cathar sitting on a couple of crates playing Dejarik.
The boys approached the pair in time to hear the Cathar woman growl softly at the old man.
On the Dejarik board, the holographic ronto charged across two squares and rammed into a holographic kath hound. The hound went down screaming and the woman frowned.
"Jolee, I do believe that you cheat."
The old one looked pleased with himself. "Heh. Young ones, always assuming the worst. You can't cheat at Dejarik."
The Cathar looked skeptical.
"This is not a game for true warriors."
Dustil turned felt her presence on the ramp before he saw her. He exchanged a look warning look with Kel and boarded the ship while his friend joined the other two outside.
"Welcome aboard."
"Where did you get her?"
"Her? Oh, you mean the ship." She gave a faint smile of satisfaction. "I stole it."
Dustil was still digesting that piece of information when he entered the common room. He saw a lone man standing in the center of the room. It took a second for it to register who it was.
"Dustil."
Dustil turned to Min and snarled, "You bitch. I'll make you pay for this!" She stood her ground, staring at him with her intense black eyes but she remained silent. Wheeling back to his father he added, "It figures that you'd show up after all this time. Couldn't you have gotten yourself blown up on some ship and saved us the reunion?"
"Dustil...what? What are you talking about? I...I thought you were dead!"
A mixture of fury and pain lanced through him. "Too bad you didn't still think that. Or did you really think I would be happy to see you? Look, everyone! It's father, come to rescue me at long last! Sure, he may have left mother and I to die on Telos, but that doesn't matter!"
"No, I didn't abandon you! The task force arrived too late. Telos was in ruins, and your mother...I held her while...But I looked for you. I swear I looked everywhere-"
"Save it. You abandoned us long before. We were alone all during the wars, and even once you came back, you still didn't stay."
"I didn't have a choice! I was needed - "
"Yeah? Well you were needed at home, too. You were needed when the bombing started and I got captured. You know what? It doesn't matter. Not any more. I have a new family now, a family that cares about me. I don't need you." He saw the pain in his father's eyes and was surprised that it didn't feel as satisfying as he thought it would.
"The Sith? You can't mean that! No, the Sith killed your mother! The Sith destroyed Telos!"
"So? You're the soldier, Father. How many mothers have you killed?"
"No, you've been brainwashed. The son I knew would never-"
"You never knew me! You weren't even there to know me, so don't presume to tell me what I would or wouldn't do!'
"I don't know what's been done to you, but you're coming with me out of here. Now." Carth stepped towards his son.
Dustil, overcome by fury, raised his fist towards his father. "Is that all you do? Give out orders? Well you can't show up after all this time and expect to give me orders! I'm not your soldier and I'm sure as hell not your son! Touch me, old man, and I'll kill you. You better get off this planet before I tell the Sith that you're here!" Dustil ignited his lightsaber.
He was shocked when his father did not back down. "No. I won't accept that. I won't give up on you."
"Why not? You gave up on Mother and I a long time ago. We were just an afterthought next to your glory-hunting! You were the great Republic war hero who fought in the battles of Halbara, Marngar III, Ession and Torvik. We were just your family."
"Stop it, Dustil! Stop it! I won't let you go on like this! What have they done to you?"
"They gave me a life, old man. They gave me power! You...you didn't even give me so much as a second's notice."
"No, that's not true! I was there when you were younger, but I had to leave to fight! I fought for you, for your freedom, your future!"
"No you didn't. You fought for yourself. For glory. Well, the Sith can do that, too. We learn to fight...and to kill. You want to see what I've learned, Father?" Dustil lifted his lightsaber.
The Jedi stepped between them. Pinning him with her eyes, she spoke with an authority that was impossible to ignore. "You don't want to do that, Dustil. Extinguish your lightsaber. Now."
Dustil saw that her own two lightsabers were still on her belt. Deadly power radiated from her and Dustil realized that if he made a move towards his father, that she might actually kill him. She could do it, easily.
Dustil extinguished his lightsaber.
"I'm only trying to protect you, son."
When I needed your protection, you weren't there! "I don't need your protection! Not anymore. The Sith give me everything I need."
"You can't mean that! The Sith are...they're evil. They're the dark side. They... they took me away from you and your mother. They're what took you from me!"
"No, they're not evil! They're not! The dark side is superior, and you were at war long before they came along!"
"If I failed you, son, then it's my failure. Please don't add to it by becoming part of something evil."
"Prove it. Prove that the Sith are so evil and I'll think about it. I'll stay right here. I won't tell anyone you're here...for now. You find some 'proof' and you bring it to me. But, if I hear you asking questions about me or doing a single thing to jeopardize my position in the Sith, I swear I'll tell everyone what you're up to. You got that, father? You prove what you're saying is true. I'm not going anywhere, otherwise."
"I got it, Dee. I'll find you your proof. I swear it." It was those last words that actually gave Dustil pause. His father had never made promises lightly.
He tried to sound like he didn't care, and he hated the fact that part of him still did. "Whatever."
Min watched Dustil storm off the ship. Bastila emerged from the corridor where she had listened, unobserved by the boy.
"Was he lying? Will he turn us in?" Min asked her.
"No. I did not sense any deception about that."
Both Carth and Min let out simultaneous breaths of relief. His knees buckled, and she caught him and eased him gently down on the couch. Bastila wisely made herself scarce.
She could tell he was about to lose it. His hands were shaking and his eyes were squeezed tightly shut and when the first tear slid down his cheek, her heart broke in two.
She sat next to him and he reached for her. They wrapped their arms around each other and he buried his face in her hair.
It was a while before he was able to speak.
"Do you think you will be able to find…."
Even though she didn't want to, she answered truthfully. "I don't know." Dustil had to know that the Sith were evil, there were examples of murder and cruelty all around at the Academy, most recently being Shaardan's very public death. Dustil's sending us on a wild goose chase.
She wasn't sure what would convince him to leave. But then she remembered what Yuthura said. Unless...I could find some proof that the Sith have evil plans for him, personally.
She gently turned his face towards her. "I have an idea of where to start. But if I can't, we'll just have to come up something else, because there's no way we're leaving him here. Okay?"
He swallowed and nodded. "Min, I…thank…."
Her fingers on his lips silenced him. She brushed his hair back, kissed his forehead and murmured the words next to his skin, "I'll be back as soon as I can."
Uthar called another assembly the next afternoon. Dustil and Kel sat at their customary table waiting for the proceedings to start. They were joined shortly by Mekel who looked terrible. His usual impeccable uniform was rumpled and covered in dried blood. His movements were stiff as if he was in a lot of pain and there were dark smudges under his eyes.
"Where have you been? You look like shit." Dustil said. Mekel had been missing since yesterday.
"I went after Master Uthar's old master, I thought I could gain prestige by killing him." Master Uthar hadn't actually managed to kill his old master, Jorak Uln, he just tortured him until he went insane. But Jorak had escaped and had holed up in one of the tombs, killing all the students who went in inside. He'd been there for the last two years.
Dustil and Kel exchanged shocked looks. "I told you not to go in there! No one ever comes out."
"Did you kill him?" Kel asked, eyes wide. Killing Jorak would be an act of great prestige, Mekel would gain entrance for certain.
"No."
"How did you escape?"
Their conversation was interrupted by Uthar's booming voice. "What do you bring me Minuet Avery?"
Although she was as bloody and disheveled as Mekel, she arrogantly strode up to Uthar and with a look of angry defiance threw a bag at his feet. Jorak's head rolled out of the bag and thumped against Uthar's black polished boot. Uthar levitated the head for a closer inspection. He looked very pleased. A low rumble ran through the room.
"You are the victor. Your trial will begin at dawn tomorrow. You are all dismissed."
Mekel stood up and walked out of the hall. Kel and Dustil followed, scrambling to keep up. When they reached Mekel's room, Dustil asked, "What happened?"
Mekel's voice was strangely detached, as if he were still in shock. "I went to the tomb yesterday. I thought I was strong enough to kill Jorak, but I tripped a booby trap of sleeping gas. He captured and tortured me." Mekel shuddered and he couldn't seem to stop shaking. Kel and Dustil waited for him to continue. "I thought for sure I was going to die. Then she and her friends came. They must have tripped the same trap, because she was half conscious when he brought her to me. He had all of us tightly wrapped in stasis fields and said we had to take a test. He told her that if she gave him the right answers, he would kill me instead of her, but if she failed the test he'd kill her instead and let me go."
Mekel ran water in the sink and began to wash the dried blood off his hands. "The questions were easy and the answers were obvious. She spat on him, and refused to answer. With every question she didn't answer he shocked her. Five times. The crazy bastard kept his word and set me free."
Still shaking, Mekel turned the water off. He rested both of his hands on the side of the sink and watched the water swirl down the drain. "I attacked him. It was enough to break the stasis fields. I'm not sure in the end, which of us killed him. I thought for sure she would kill me then. You should have seen her face, for a minute it was even more frightening than Jorak's, but she let me go."
He looked at Dustil and Kel. "When I asked her why she helped me, she said that no one deserved to die like that. I…I don't want to be a Sith anymore Dustil. I'm leaving on the first ship that will get me out of this place. There's a transport leaving the day after tomorrow, and I plan on being on it."
"We should go with him." Kel said.
"What?"
"Dustil, this place. We don't belong here. At least, I don't feel I belong here. I thought maybe I did at first, but now... I don't know. I just have so many doubts."
"What has gotten into you?"
"I've felt this way for a long time. Juhani and Jolee said that the Jedi would probably take us in. They might even train us."
Dustil's fury began to build. "So that it then. You're going to throw everything we've worked for away."
Usually Kel was a pushover and Dustil could talk him into doing anything, but for a change Kel was firm. Why does he have to grow a backbone now? "I don't want this Dustil. I never really did." That was actually true. It had been Selene's idea to join in the first place. He'd had to wheedle Kel into coming with them. "I don't want to wake up one day and discover that I'm like Master Uthar." He turned to Mekel. "Do you mind if I come with?"
Mekel shook his head. "Dustil, you won't tell anyone we're leaving will you?"
He's abandoning me, just like everyone else. Master Uthar was right, the only person you can count on is yourself. He was tempted to turn them in, Master Uthar would reward him greatly if he did, but he would probably have them both killed. Kel was still his friend even if he was leaving.
"No. I won't tell anyone." He turned and walked out the door. For the second time in his life, he felt completely alone.
Min was exhausted; she hadn't slept in two days. Other than their brief adventure with Jorak, she, Juhani and Jolee had been searching non-stop for Dustil's proof.
The confrontation with Jorak had been a truly frightening experience. Not really because of Jorak himself but because she had almost succumbed to the dark side. She had been so enraged by Jorak that she had almost killed that poor kid. The dark energy had been constantly wearing on her since she stepped foot onto the planet, but it was twice as bad in the tombs and she was afraid if she stayed much longer it was going to win. Min could see by the strain on their faces that it was taking a toll on Juhani and Jolee as well.
We need to get out of this place. Soon.
She approached Uthar's bedroom, which was flanked on both sides by Sith honor guards. She had discovered from Yuthura that Uthar kept all of the records on the students in his bedchambers. They'd tried to break in earlier, but security was just too tight to get past. That left only one way in.
She pressed the call button on the door. It slid open and Uthar stood in the doorway. The look in his eyes made her skin crawl, and she didn't even try to hide her contempt.
He stepped aside and she strolled past him into his bedchamber. She saw Lashowe in a state of undress on Uthar's bed looking very angry.
Ewww.
Uthar snapped his fingers. "Leave."
Lashowe was outraged, even in the dim lighting of the room, Min could see that the girl was turning a shade of bright red. But she obeyed.
Uthar slowly approached Min. "I knew you would come."
"Is that so?"
He stopped and stood right in front of her. She could feel his breath on her face and fought the urge to take a step back. "Of course. You want the power I can give to you."
She looked him in the eye. "I didn't come here to talk."
He smiled.
She smiled back, and shoved the sleep stim in his neck. Uthar's eyes widened in shock and filled with anger. After a few seconds he crumpled to the floor in a heap.
Min looked down at him with great satisfaction and wondered whether she should cut his throat. Figure it out later. There's work to be done.
She found the key around his neck and managed to get it off without actually touching his skin. She walked over to the computer terminal and inserted a security spike which allowed T3 remote access from the Ebon Hawk. Once T3 broke through the system's security she started pulling up information.
Twenty minutes later, she found it, and began to upload the information to the Ebon Hawk's computer. She pulled out her comm link.
"Carth, are you getting this?"
"Yes." His voice was tentatively hopeful. It was the first good thing she had heard in a week. "I think this will do it."
"Good." She patched Jolee into the comm.
"Jolee here."
"Jolee, get Juhani and find Dustil. Tell him we've got his proof and take him to the Ebon Hawk. You better round up Mekel and Kel too. This concerns them as well."
"What about you?" Carth asked.
"I'm going to get the coordinates from the Star Map."
"By yourself?"
"I don't have time to argue with you Carth. I'll be back in the Ebon Hawk in about an hour. Be ready to leave."
Min walked alone through the Valley of the Dark Lords with the key to Naga Sadow's tomb in her hand. It was the dead of night, and the only light that she had was from the stars. She used her force senses to navigate her way to Naga Sadow's tomb.
Alone in the creepy darkness, she wished that she'd taken Juhani or Jolee with her. But she figured if anyone found Uthar, having one extra Jedi wasn't going to help much against the entire Sith Academy. At least this way they were safe on the Ebon Hawk.
On the bright side I get to skip their stupid test.
Min used the key to bypass the security system and disable the testing sequence. When she saw that there were two terentateks and an acid river on the menu, she was glad she had stolen the key. Slipping through the forcefield she made her way to the Star Map and downloaded the coordinates.
Maybe it was because she was tired or maybe it was because of the temple itself was causing interference, but she didn't feel their presence until she slipped back through the force field.
She could see the dim outlines of Yuthura and Uthar in the starlight. Even though Min's own empathic force abilities were weak, she could feel the hatred pouring off of Uthar in waves. "I do not know what game you are playing at Minuet Avery, but you will regret letting me live."
She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose with her hand. "I already do."
Min and Uthar's lightsabers ignited with the familiar drawn out hiss. Min waited for Uthar's attack, and Uthar launched at her, his blade swooping in a deadly flurry of deep red light. Min blocked with one hand and slashed at his stomach with the other. She missed, barely. He retreated a few steps.
He raised his hand, palm outward and contracted it slowly into a fist. Min felt the horrible pressure squeezing her windpipe. She gasped frantically for air. Forcing herself to focus despite the black spots that clouded her vision, she pushed at Uthar with her mind. He flew back several meters and landed on the ground, unhurt.
Air rushed into her lungs. She tried not to give into her anger, but she failed. Fueled by fury, Min charged. Lightsabers clashed and Uthar was on the defensive. He tried to choke her again, but she this time she was ready. She wrapped the force around her in a protective barrier and his force attack slid off her.
Die worm.
She called electricity. It snaked across his body. He screamed like a wounded animal and dropped his lighsaber. She pushed him back again. He flew back and hit a protruding rock. She advanced.
Uthar was lying before the rock. His leg was twisted at an unnatural angle. She could see white bone pushing through the bloody skin. The rock had punctured his side and his grey uniform was darkening with blood. It pooled on the ground. She stood over Uthar in silence.
Disbelief crossed Uthar's face, then terror. He knew he was going to die tonight, she could see it in his eyes. And she relished it. She could feel the force singing through her veins. The darkness was calling out to her now. All she had to do was reach out and take it.
"Kill him." Yuthura said softly, emerging from the shadows. "Take your rightful place."
Min hesitated. Uthar tried to scrabble away, making small whimpering noises. Yuthura stopped him by stepping on his head.
"We could work together, you and I. Think of all that we could accomplish together. I saw it in your eyes Minuet. You understand. You see the Jedi Council for what they are. Kill him and all of this," Yuthura gestured to the Valley and the Academy, "could be ours."
Min pushed the darkness away. It hurt so much that she shook with the effort. "I don't want it."
"That's too bad." A dark blade flashed in Yuthura's hand and she bent down and cut Uthar's throat. Min could feel the dark power pulsating from the poisonous weapon. Ajunta Pall's blade.
Min threw the status field around Yuthura a second too late. The Twi'lek tried to fight it and their wills clashed but Yuthura was overpowered. By the time they were finished fighting the silent battle, Uthar was dead.
Yuthura realized that she had made a deadly mistake. "You are...too strong for me. I was a fool to think otherwise. I am...at your mercy. Gather your hatred and strike me down."
Min's voice was sturdier now. She extinguished her lightsabers and hooked them to her belt. "No. I'm not going to kill you. At least not today."
"Why not."
"I don't strike down people who are at my mercy. Besides, you're right Yuthura, I do understand. Hell, given a different set of circumstances I would be you."
"Are you just going to let me go?"
"I don't suppose I could convince you to return to the light side and go back to the Jedi?"
"Return to those old fools? All the Jedi do is talk about their high ideals in their little ivory tower while those around them suffer. I will never go back to that."
"The Jedi may be old fools, but they're better than the Sith. All of this killing and power grabbing is such a waste of time, energy and life. And while the Jedi Order may not be actively stopping slavers, they would never allow someone like Shaardan to join them in the first place. Seems to me you'd have a better chance of convincing the Jedi to stop slavers than convincing the Sith. Unfortunately, I don't have time to discuss this with you."
Min yanked the steel blade out of Yuthura's hand. Yuthura screamed as though Min had just ripped off a limb. Dark energy shot up Min's arm. She pushed it back with her mind.
"I wish we could have met under different circumstances. And I'm sorry about the headache you're going to have." Min brought the hilt down on the back of the Twi'lek's neck, Yuthura slumped in the stasis field, unconscious. Not wanting her to be attacked by predators while she was unconscious, Min moved Yuthura's body into the temple. She left Uthar's body where it lay.
"Isn't this a little dramatic? Dragging us out of our beds in the middle of the night? This better be good."
Dustil, Kel and Mekel stood in the Ebon Hawk's computer bay. Jolee and Mission lounged silently in one of the corners. Kel and Mekel were clearly confused as to why they were here as well, but both of them looked like they were ready to travel, with duffel bags slung over their shoulders. I wonder what Jolee told them to get them here.
Carth gestured to one of the computer consoles. "I have some information I want you to look at. You knew someone named Selene?"
"Selene? She's the one who convinced me to come to the Academy with her." Dustil gave the screen a cursory glance. He recognized it as a de-encrypted Sith security file. "Why? Where did you get this?"
"Look at it. It came from Master Uthar's files."
Carth watched his son scan the file. "Yes, it's his. But...he told me.. he, he said that she'd been lost on a mission in the valley. This says that they...."
"Killed her because she was hindering your progress. Your friend Kel was next. Uthar had plans to replace him with Mekel."
Dustil turned to Mekel. "Did you know?"
"No! All I knew was that Uthar wanted me to get into your group. He said that they had plans for you and that you were going places. But I swear, I didn't know about Selene or Kel."
"He's telling the truth. It's all there. You all have files. Superiority at any cost, Dustil. There's your evil. Or can you live with that?"
"No. No, I can't. I had no idea...they lied to me."
Carth fought to keep his voice steady. "Well, there's the son I remember. Now will you leave here?"
"I...yes."
The computer terminal in front of Dustil began to beep and information started flashing in front of the screen.
Carth and Jolee leaned over Dustil's shoulders and peered down at the terminal.
Dustil held up his hands as if he were afraid that he had just broken something. "I didn't do it."
Carth looked at the screen. "What the-? It's a data dump. It looks like…coordinates." Why would Min be sending this info through her comm, unless….
Jolee said it first. "She's in trouble."
The burst of information ended as Carth reached for the comm.
"Min?"
"I've been made. They're about to raise the alarm. Get out now!"
"Where are you?"
"It doesn't matter. You need to leave, before they think to ground the ship."
Carth realized that arguing with Min would be pointless. He turned to Mission. "Find her position." Mission slid behind one of the terminals and quickly started working. "We're not leaving you behind Min."
"God damn it, Onasi! I'm ordering you to leave now!" Her comm went dead.
Mission pulled up a map. "She's here."
"That's in the valley, close to the Academy entrance."
Carth turned to Jolee. "Get everyone up. If it looks like they're going to ground us, leave."
Dustil followed his father out of the room and watched him grab his blasters. "You're going after her, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"There's the entire Academy between you and her. You'll die."
"I don't leave people behind, Dee."
"I know a way around. I can take you."
Carth stared at his son and then nodded.
"I'm coming too." Mekel said.
"Thanks, Dustil."
"Don't thank me yet."
Dustil led the way down the dark trail, running at a fast trot. While he could have gone faster using his senses to guide him, his father and the big Mandalorian could not. He, Kel and Selene used to use this trail to sneak into Dreshdae after curfew hours. Behind him, he heard his father stumble and curse. Ahead he could hear the sounds of battle.
"We're almost there."
Dustil rounded the corner in time to see Minuet electrocute three dark Jedi. He looked down into the valley. From where they were standing it was a thirty foot drop. She was pinned down behind an outcropping of rock His senses told him that she had absolutely nothing left. He could feel her exhausted panting, one arm was limp, and in the other hand she carried a strange blade. There were at least seven bodies between her and a group of students standing at the doorway to the Academy, led by Lashowe. Several carried blasters, but most had lightsabers. The students were milling around, trying to figure out what to do. The Jedi was lucky, there weren't any Sith masters here yet. It looked like Lashowe was going to try to use this as a power coup.
"Come on out, Jedi whore! And I swear I make your death as painless as possible." His father and Canderous exchanged hand signals and silently moved into position.
His father spoke as he moved past. "We'll cover you son."
Minuet tried to goad Lashowe into doing something stupid. "Why don't you come get me? Or are you too cowardly to do your own killing? You saw what I did to Master Uthar. What do you think I'll do to you, little girl?"
Dustil felt the grenades fly through the air. He yanked them to one side as they went off, but in the valley the shockwave was too powerful and the Jedi woman was thrown against the rocky side of the valley.
His father and the Mandalorian began shooting, laying down a curtain of covering fire. Dustil and Mekel, using the force to slow their fall, dropped down into the valley.
Dustil shouted at Mekel. "Grab her!" He used his lightsaber to deflect the incoming blaster fire.
Mekel darted behind the rock, threw the Jedi over his shoulder and began to run. Dustil used the force to enter the minds of as many students as he could. The force amplified the thought. Be afraid.
Several students turned and ran towards the entrance, cutting down in a panic, everyone who was in their way. In the complete pandemonium that followed, he and Mekel used the force to climb up the rocky embankment. Before the remaining students could recover and figure out what was happening, they retreated up the path.
Thankfully, the Ebon Hawk was still at the landing bay when they got back. As soon as they were all aboard, Mission and Bastila took the Ebon Hawk into orbit.
By the time Mekel had followed Jolee's direction and taken Min directly to the med bay, she had started to regain consciousness. Carth stood back and watched as Jolee took over.
Min looked awful. She was covered with blood, bruises and blaster burns. There was a ring of nasty looking bruises around her neck and her arm hung limp against her side. Somehow, she managed to sit up. Jolee tried to get her to lay back down; but Min pushed him back with the force. Something's not right.
It was then he noticed that she was carrying an unfamiliar steel sword.
Min slid off the table and advanced on Carth, blade in hand. He looked in her eyes and he saw something there that he had never seen before.
Murder.