So, well, yes, here it is, chapter five of the story you're reading.... Go ahead, read it! It's what it's here for!
TRAINING AT THE SITH ACADEMY
"What do you mean, Carth?" said Jarek after they had returned to the Ebon Hawk.
The Jedi Council had instructed them to find the Star Maps on the other four planets seen in the one they discovered in the ruins. The Jedi Alora saved from darkness, Juhani, had requested she come along with them on their journey.
"I mean, I want to know what's been going on in there between you three and the Jedi Council."
"If that information concerned you," said Bastila calmly, "you would have accompanied us inside."
"I just hate being left out of the loop like this."
"Left out of the loop?" said Jarek incredulously. "Carth, I'm not trying to keep you out of the loop. If I could, I would take you straight to the Council and have them tell it all to you, but I can't."
"Look --"
"Carth," said Jarek, "there are some things that don't concern you. I know you're not used to it, but...." Jarek looked around the room to make sure Alora was not present and lowered his voice to a whisper. "I'm afraid of what would happen if you found out."
Carth sighed.
"Alora took you with her to finish her third task. Doesn't that count for something?"
"Well...yes, but.... Okay, then tell me this: is there anything you can say that won't 'endanger our lives'?"
"The information the Council gave us would not endanger your life," said Bastila. "It would endanger the mission."
"Bastila, there is one thing we can tell him," Jarek recalled. "The Council did say there's...there's a bond between Bastila and Alora."
"You mean, like a friendship?" said Carth bemusedly.
"No, Carth, I mean a literal...er...bond." Carth folded his arms again.
"So...so you're saying they're connected in some way?" He gave a hoarse laugh. "I find that hard to believe."
"A Jedi would never lie, Carth," said Bastila, sounding mildly irritated.
"I'm not accusing you of lying, I just...."
"Don't trust easily," Jarek finished.
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"The reasons are my own, like I've told you before."
"Carth, don't you want this to work out? Don't you want to be friends? If we're going to face Malak together, I want to know you better."
Carth sighed. "Look, I'm just...I'm gonna go see if everything's all right up in the cockpit."
"You just did that five minutes ago!" cried Jarek.
"I just need to go up there."
"Fine. Bye. End of conversation."
"Good," Carth muttered, and he stalked away to the cockpit.
"He wasn't like that with me," said Alora, coming out from the corridor. "At least, not as much."
"I wonder why," muttered Jarek bitterly. Alora gave him a quizzical look. He didn't say anything.
"We need to stop focusing on this and start thinking about where we're going to go next," said Bastila. "There are four Star Maps on Kashyyyk, Manaan, Korriban, and Tatooine, and we need to figure out where we're going first."
"I like Manaan," said Alora. "It looks spectacular, from what I've heard."
"I'll stay away from Tatooine for as long as we can," said Jarek. "I'm in no mood to fry to death."
"Why not Korriban?" came an unfamiliar purr from the corridor.
A tall woman in Jedi robes entered. The little hair she had was made in a ponytail and she had stripes running down the back of her neck. Jarek didn't know who she was, but Alora did.
"Oh, hi, Juhani," she said. "Korriban, eh? What do you guys think?"
Jarek pondered for a moment, considering it, then said, "Why Korriban?"
"Revan and Malak would have most certainly gone to Korriban. We might be able to gather more clues there, making it easier to find the Star Maps on the other three planets."
The Cathar had a point, Jarek thought. He didn't mind going, but the planet was overrun with Sith and he didn't want to deal with them. Still, he did want to get Korriban out of the way. And from the look on Bastila's face, she didn't mind either.
"Okay, then," said Jarek. "Go tell our pilot."
Alora stood up and strolled to the cockpit to tell Carth they're next destination.
Jarek headed for the armory to store some weapons. As he was putting his father's vibroblade on the rack, he felt the ship rock and lift up from the ground. When he was done, he strode to the swoop hanger, where he found Canderous leaning against the bike.
Alora wanted to find a track to race on, but Jarek had tried to talk her out of it. She said that after racing for the first time on Taris, she was hungry for more. Jarek told her that she could get hurt, or worse. And without her, finding the Star Forge would be impossible.
Jarek muttered, "Hi," to Canderous and stepped over to the workbench. He got to work upgrading his lightsaber. The crystal they found on the body of the Jedi Knight in the ruins was known as a Bondar crystal, which would increase the physical damage his lightsaber inflicted by a small amount. Since Jarek was the only Guardian besides Juhani on the ship, everyone decided he should take it. He was fitting it in his lightsaber for the duration of their flight, and had finished just before they landed. He put the lightsaber on his belt and waved good-bye to Canderous before heading back out. When he emerged from the swoop hangar, he found the rest of the crew huddled around the holoprojector.
"But the Sith will recognize you, won't they?" Jarek heard Alora say to Bastila.
"Perhaps. Most of them only know my name, but some might recognize my face. I'll have to stay behind, for the sake of our mission."
"Okay."
It took several minutes before the group decided who was leaving and who would be staying behind, and nobody even seemed to notice Jarek's presence. In the end, Carth and Juhani decided to leave with Alora, while the others stayed behind.
"I'm not in the mood to deal with Sith right now," said Jarek, and everyone jumped to see him standing behind them. "I'm staying on the Hawk."
So Alora, Carth, and Juhani all packed up their equipment and weapons. "If we get into any trouble," she said, "we'll let you know." Jarek nodded. The three of them marched down the loading ramp and out of sight. Jarek sealed it up and went into the kitchen to sit down.
He found a spot near the doorway and took a seat there. After a while he saw Canderous head off to the crew quarters to sleep. The droid they had bought on Taris, T3-M4, had been shut down temporarily. Bastila was at the cockpit, tinkering with something, and Mission was at the workbench, working on her vibroblade. Zaalbar, as usual, was eating. Jarek began to wonder how they would have enough food to last. Eventually they would probably have to hide some from Zaalbar, Jarek figured, and forced a chuckle.
Jarek wasn't sure what to do, since there wasn't really anything to do on the Ebon Hawk. But then, he thought, he didn't really know much about anyone else's past. He knew Mission's story, and part of Carth's past, but since Canderous was resting, he couldn't ask him. So he stood up and approached the only person he didn't know about -- Bastila.
She didn't speak a word when he entered or sat down, and there was a moment of awkward silence afterward.
"What are you doing?" he asked her.
"Making sure everything's online. I don't like this planet. I don't like to think about what the Sith would do if they caught us."
"You're acting paranoid," he said. "You've been here ever since Alora left."
"It's only been several minutes," she said absent-mindedly.
"That's more than long enough to know everything's fine." Jarek gently took her hands with his own, and put them on her lap. "What's wrong? You're acting like Carth."
"I suppose...it's just the Sith. They're absolutely everywhere. If they find out I'm on here...."
"I wouldn't let them touch you," said Jarek.
Bastila looked away to hide a blush. "Thank you. I've seen what you can do with your lightsaber. You're incredible."
Feeling she was trying to change the subject, he said modestly, "Not really."
"Where'd you learn it?" she asked.
Jarek paused. "My father." Just the thought of him was painful. "He taught me swordfighting when I was a young boy, to protect myself. He fought in the war of Exar Kun and taught me afterward. He wanted me to learn to defend myself. He was a Republic officer."
"Was?"
"He died during the Mandalorian Wars. He met my mother after the previous war and then they had me. After that, he didn't want to go back to war. He wanted to stay there with us. But he was forced to leave. I don't remember all of it; I was too young. All I remember is seeing my mother crying in her chair, waiting. We waited for days after the war. He never came home."
"You think he's dead?"
Jarek forced himself to say it. "Yes."
"Do you have any proof that he is?"
"Not really," he whispered, staring out the window. "They found his helmet and his vibroblade, but nothing else. I remember someone knocking on our door one day, and saw a Republic captain standing in the doorway. He gave my mother the helmet and the blade." Jarek closed his eyes, trying to find a way to say it without bursting into tears.
"And my mother...she was taken away shortly after by the Mandalorians. I...I watched them...." The harsh memory of this would not allow Jarek to finish his sentence. All the images of that horrible day came flooding back into his mind.
"I'm so sorry," she said earnestly.
"They slaughtered her like a wild bantha. She was so old, there was nothing she could do. So...I picked up the sword of a fallen soldier and killed them. I killed them all!" He slammed his fist down on the console, nearly shattering a monitor screen. Bastila tried to calm him.
"There is no emotion," she said.
"There is peace," Jarek finished. "I'm sorry. That wasn't something I've had to relive too many times." Desperate to change the subject, Jarek asked about Bastila's parents.
"Naturally, I left them to go join the Order," she said. "I was partially glad to leave, though. Not everyone in family was on good terms."
"Good terms?"
Bastila nodded.
"Who didn't you get along with?"
"My mother and I...weren't close. She pushed my father into one treasure hunt after another, and I hated her for it. We spent nearly all our money getting his equipment, but he rarely found anything of value. I was glad to be away from my mother once and for all, but cried over my father. I loved him so much, and sat for three days in my bedroom thinking it over, whether or not to leave. In the end, my parents -- my mother, at least, decided it would be best for me to go. She wasn't heartbroken that I left. In fact, I suppose it made her more cheerful. That's why I hated her so much."
"Do you still hate her for what she's done?"
"Sometimes, when I'm alone at night, I wish I hadn't left in the first place. I wish my father and I could have gone to some place in the hills where we could live in peace, without my mother prying him away from me to go look for gold."
"You didn't answer my question."
"So I didn't." Bastila paused, looking down at the floor, a different emotion flashing across her face every second. "Yes, sometimes, I do still hate her for what she's done."
"The Council wouldn't like to hear that," said Jarek.
"True. I'm not acting very much like a Jedi."
"I don't mind," he said. "It's good to know you're not always huffy, edgy, and overly critical all the time."
"I am not!" Bastila protested indignantly. "I --"
"You are sometimes, but that's nothing to worry about."
"Of course it is! Don't you realize? These emotions can lead to the dark side! Look at all the Jedi who have fallen because they weren't perfect all the time!"
"What about the Jedi who were perfect? Like Revan."
"Please don't talk about Revan."
"Why?" Bastila said nothing, but avoided Jarek's eyes. "I know it's hard. I feel guilty about it, too."
"But you must remember the Council's reason for this! We need to find whatever it is Revan and Malak found after the Mandalorian --"
"I know their reasons, Bastila," Jarek sighed. "But hardly ever does it help. Sometimes I wish I could just tell someone."
"But you know what problems that might cause!" said Bastila.
"I do know. And I'm smart enough to only think about doing it. I've had to live that way all my life. Besides, they'll find out eventually. It is inevitable." By "they" Jarek meant Alora and the others.
"I suppose you're right. But we need to keep it a secret for as long as we can. It's --" But Bastila broke off, and both she and Jarek jerked their heads behind them and stared, as if waiting for a river of gizka to pour into the room. "Do you feel it too?" she asked. "Hatred.... But it stands out."
"Something's happening with Carth," said Jarek, squeezing his eyes shut. "I can feel it. He's in pain...but not physical pain." Jarek remembered the radio Alora took with her.
If we get into any trouble, we'll let you know.
For a fleeting moment he considered contacting her, but thought better of it. She could be overheard by the Sith, and that would only cause problems.
"I think I'm going to go to bed," said Jarek after a moment. "I'm too tired to wait for them." He slid his chair back and stood up, saying farewell to Bastila. He walked very fast to the starboard quarters, where he found Canderous asleep and snoring softly. He took off the jacket he had been wearing (he didn't wear his Jedi robed — he didn't want to arouse suspicion that he was a Jedi) and hung it on the rack, put his boots by the bed and slipped under the covers. For the first time since he had met her, he had actually been glad to be with Bastila today. He didn't know how their relationship would develop and how far it would go, but he couldn't help sneaking in a few thoughts about it.
Jarek awoke far before he should have. The sun was setting and he was still extremely tired, but he climbed out of bed anyway when he saw Canderous gone and Alora back on the Ebon Hawk. Carth, however, was nowhere in sight.
"Where's Carth?" asked Jarek groggily when he came out. Alora looked around the room nervously to make sure no one was looking. She grabbed Jarek by the arm and pulled him back into the room. She closed and locked the door. "What's going on?" he said. "What are you doing?"
"How much has Carth told you about his past?" Alora asked.
"He..." said Jarek, probing his memory. "He told me all the way up until Saul. He didn't get past mentioning him."
"Okay," said Alora, pacing the room and trying to find the best way to say it. "Well, Saul betrayed the Republic, as you probably have already surmised. But it's more than that. Malak ordered Saul to bomb Carth's home planet, Telos. His...his wife was killed in the attack. He had a son, Dustil. After the attack, he searched for him. For years he was looking but there was no sign of him anywhere. Finally, he gave up, too miserable to continue. Carth says he had originally planned on flying his own ship to kill Saul. He always thought he would either die trying or die escaping.
"But today...." Alora inhaled deeply, not sure how to say it. "We found out Dustil did survive. He's...he's become a Sith."
"What?" Jarek blurted out
"He's training here at the Sith Academy. When Carth came, he...he was full of such hatred. He said he was disappointed Carth was there. He wished him to have died in his 'mad quest for revenge.'
"Carth couldn't convince him to change his ways, but promised Dustil he would find proof that the Sith were evil. Then we left."
Jarek just sat, open-mouthed, gaping at Alora, for what seemed an eternity. Then the shock subdued and he spoke. "How did you get into the Sith Academy?" he asked.
"Oh, that. I told them I had once been a Jedi and had fallen, so they took me to see Master Uthar, the leader there. He accepted me into the Academy. I haven't learned much yet, but Master Uthar's apprentice, Yuthura Ban, plans to kill him with my help, so she can become ruler of the Academy...."
Alora went on to tell Jarek about everything she had learned so far. She told him that Master Uthar told her about the Valley of the Dark Lords, the burying place where they kept the four most famous Sith Masters of all times. She said that one of the tombs was sealed off for all of the students, and that she guessed the Star Map was hidden there.
"I'm going to bed," she said afterward. "Tomorrow we'll continue with our mission."
She turned around and began to undress. Jarek turned his back on her and stepped out of the room, knowing to close the door behind him.
Jarek headed for the quarters on the other side of the ship, put his head on the pillow of the nearest bed and closed his eyes. He didn't go to sleep, but he reminisced the day's events — his conversation with Bastila, Alora's news about Carth's son, and everything else. After about thirty minutes of lying there awake, he heard Bastila enter and lay down in her bunk. He didn't know how long it was until he fell asleep again.
Jarek woke up the following morning before the sun had even risen. He clambered out of bed and stood up. In the other beds he saw Bastila, Carth, and Mission all sleeping soundly. He quietly slipped out of the room and looked out of the window of the cockpit. The sky was still black, and nobody was out patrolling the area around the Ebon Hawk like they usually were. He tiptoed back through the ship and jumped back when Zaalbar came into view around the corner.
"Oh," he whispered. "It's just you." A horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach that Zaalbar had just been munching on the remnants of their food supply, Jarek crept over to the ladder that led to the top of the ship Outside it was equally silent as interior of the Ebon Hawk. Millions of starts dotted the otherwise black sky and the cold breeze gave Jarek goose bumps.
He turned to face the ladder, extended his arm, and a moment later a hot cup of coffee zoomed into his outstretched fingers. He took one sip and instantly felt warmth spread throughout his body. Every inch of his skin warmed up, his eyes opened fully, and his face felt clear of all wrinkles and blemishes.
Jarek stood silently watching the stars, pondering everything that was happening lately. Nothing was the same anymore. Not since he signed up to protect Bastila on the Endar Spire. And the only reason he agreed was because Galnar had signed up. If he hadn't ever done that, Jarek wouldn't have done it, he would have never met Bastila, they would have never found Alora, and he wouldn't be standing here where he was now. There were some advantages, yes, and Jarek was getting experience in the real world, but sometimes he wished he had never been discovered as Force sensitive.
It was nearly twenty minutes later when he heard footsteps behind him and wheeled around to see Alora climbing up the top of the ladder, holding a cup of coffee as well. He looked down in his own mug and stared at the lukewarm drink that was inside it.
Jarek and Alora silently greeted each other by smiling, and she took her place standing next to him, gazing up at the cloudless sky with him.
"What are you doing up this early?" asked Jarek. "Out of all of us, you need to get the most rest."
"I couldn't sleep," she replied simply. Jarek nodded and took another swig of his cold drink.
"What are the plans for today?" he asked.
"We're going back to the Academy. I need to gain enough prestige to be accepted as this year's Sith."
Jarek turned to look at her, an eyebrow raised. "You want to be a Sith?"
"Only a real Sith can go into the locked tomb in the Valley of the Dark Lords. Like I said, I think the Star Map is hidden inside. I couldn't think of a better place for them to hide it. But I haven't even been to the Valley. That's where we're going to go today." Jarek nodded and was about to take a drink when he realized that he wasn't in the mood to drink cold coffee in a freezing sunrise. He stepped over to the edge of the Hawk, checked to make sure nobody was watching,and dumped the contents of his mug onto the ground below. When he returned to Alora, he saw she was smiling widely, obviously amused by this deed.
There was a moment of awkward silence, in which both Alora and Jarek stood staring at the stars, until she spoke.
"Can we talk?"
Jarek turned to her and said, "Uh, sure."
"I've seen what you can do with a lightsaber, Jarek. You're...amazing. I wish I could do the things you can. And the truth is, I've come to depend on you. Not just for the sake of our mission, but for my own safety as well." She took a step closer to him, but he decided to ignore it. "I'm...I'm glad you came with us," she said
"The Council asked me to," was all he could think to say.
"I know, but I mean, when I'm with you, I feel safe. I feel like no evil can touch me. Like...like you'll protect me." She took another step toward him, but he remained still.
"Of course I will. Without you...." Her expression changed to a bemused look. "Nevermind," he said, his eyes lining up with hers.
Their eyes were locked into each other's for what seemed like hours. And then Alora, who was already mere inches from him, leaned in closer. For a moment Jarek remained still, until he came to his senses. He took a step backward.
"No," he said softly. "I...I can't."
She backed away too, apparently slightly embarrassed, and said, "Why not?" only loud enough for him to hear.
He made an excuse. "I'm a Jedi. It's not normal."
"You don't act like a Jedi most of the time," she said inoffensively.
"I know. I...I'm sorry. Please. I can't." Jarek turned and walked away, down the ladder and back to his bed.
She didn't stop him.
Later that morning, Alora, Jarek, and Carth all left to the Sith Academy that was located past Dreshdae, the town in that area. They entered through the enormous front door, down a long, empty, winding corridor and to the very heart of the academy, where Alora approached a bald man who was kneeling in the center of the room. The whole time Jarek felt as though Alora was avoiding his eyes.
"Greetings, my pupil," said the man, who Jarek now noticed had tattoos covering his face. "So you return another day, another day to learn the ways of the Sith." He smiled at Alora.
"Yes, Master Uthar," she said, bowing. "Of course." Uthar smiled again and returned to his meditation. The three of them left.
"No," said Carth when he realized they were leaving to the Valley of the Dark Lords. "We're not going out there yet."
"Why not?"
"Because we have to find that proof for Dustil."
"Carth," said Jarek seriously, "I know how you feel right now, but there are other things on our mind." Carth ignored Jarek and turned to Alora with a pleading look.
"I think...I think we could look for a while, and if we don't find anything...."
"Thank you," said Carth. Jarek sighed quietly and followed them. They searched the academy for nearly fifteen minutes before they found themselves in a dueling room. A Sith with a single red lightsaber was fighting a man in ragged robes. Jarek watched fervently as the Sith student took several hits to non-critical areas of his body, and in the end he was victorious. The man in the torn clothes fell dead to the ground. Jarek heard Alora utter a quiet gasp.
"You want to try next?" the student asked Alora. "I'm done." He revealed a deep wound in his side, and then covered it again with his hand. "You only have three prisoners to fight, so try not to have too much fun." And the Sith left for the infirmary, Alora shooting one last look of disgust at him. Upon hearing cries of pain, she turned her head and saw a student torturing some Republic prisoners by using Force Lightning.
"Don't," said Jarek, seeing the horrified look on her face. "We have to find the Star Map, remember? We can't blow our cover." Alora resisted her temptation to jump forward and free the prisoners. Jarek, trying to distract her, pointed her to a console near the entrance.
"I can hack it," she whispered. She set down her backpack inconspicuously and took out some computer spikes. Jarek watched as she hacked into the system.
Command?
With a quick glance behind his shoulder, Jarek looked down at the options written on the screen.
1. View Academy Surveillance Video
2. Release Prisoners
3. View Academy Datafiles
Alora paused for a moment, her hand hovering over the second option, but chose the third instead.
Loading Datafiles...
FILE: Student Dustil Onasi
FORCE POTENTIAL: Considerable
DETAILS: Fellow Student Selene Hindering Progress...
Further file details downloaded to personal Datapad.
Authorization: Uthar Wynn
"Uthar?" whispered Alora.
"We need to get that datapad," said Carth anxiously. "We have to get into Uthar Wynn's room and get that datapad!"
"But who can pick the lock on his door?" said Alora.
"Teethree," Jarek muttered. "If it can pick the lock on the Sith military base, it can do this." It was true. T3-M4 was the only one who could break into Uthar's room. "Let's go."
The three of them traipsed out of the academy, went back through Dreshdae, and to the Ebon Hawk.T3-M4 lit up with glee when they beckoned him over.
Retracing their steps through the Sith Academy, the four of them crept to Master Uthar's door and acted as though they were deeply fascinated by it. When the only guard nearby had swept away to continue his patrol, T3 got to work.
Jarek didn't watch the droid pick the lock, however -- he had taken a few steps from the door and kept a lookout for anyone coming by. Whistling quietly, he nodded and smiled at anyone who passed. After a few boring minutes, he heard the stone door rumble behind him. When he turned around, the others were already inside scouring Master Uthar's quarters.
"Here it is!" said Alora triumphantly as she held up a datapad over her head.
Apart from various notes by Master Uthar, she found a piece about Selene and Dustil. Alora scanned it silently, while the others read over her shoulder.
The pupil known as Dustil has shown remarkable progress. His talent with the Force is great. The same, however, cannot be said about the human female that he arrived with, Selene. She has little talent. Moreover, Dustil holds a great degree of affection for her. This is a weakness in the boy and is slowing down his training. Orders were sent this morning to have the girl removed from the academy and terminated. I will tell Dustil she was killed in the valley. He will forget her soon enough, I think.... He is too strong to lose at this juncture.
"I wonder if Dustil knows his friend was disposed of like that," said Carth. "If not, that could be our proof for him." Jarek nodded.
Carth was practically running when they left. Alora and Jarek had difficulty keeping up with him, and eventually had to tell him to slow down. They headed back to the student quarters and approached a young man with smooth, black hair. Jarek noticed his mouth and nose was very much like Carth's own, though his eyes seemed unfamiliar.
"Back already?" said Dustil coldly. "So, where's that 'proof' you promised me, Father?"
"Right here," said Carth, handing his son the datapad. Dustil, still in disbelief, scanned the datapad. Once he started reading, however, his expression changed completely. His mouth was open and his brows were furrowed, and when he had finished he looked up and dropped the datapad.
"That...that's not true," he said, struggling to find his tongue.
"It is, Dustil, and you know it."
"But Master Uthar said she died in the Valley of the Dark Lords."
"Did you read the datapad, son? He said he would tell you that."
All that came out of Dustil's mouth was stammering.
"Is that enough proof, Dustil, or do you want to wait until the Sith kill someone else you know?"
"No," the boy replied. "I...think that's enough for me."
"Good. That's the son I know. Now, will you come with us?"
"No," said Dustil. "I need to...I need to find out more about all this. I need to...."
"I understand, Dustil. Just be careful."
"I'm still not sure about..." Dustil was sizing Carth up. "About us, but I'll see. Maybe, after all this is over, we can...meet? On Telos?"
"I would like that, Dustil. I would like that a lot." Before Dustil could do or say anything, Carth took him in what looked like a painful embrace. He didn't resist, though. He didn't smile or scowl, either. When Carth let go, he spoke.
"I'll see you later...Father." And he ran off.
Carth turned to Alora. "Thank you," he said. "Thank you for helping, both of you."
And for the first time in a long time, Carth smiled.
Over the next few days, Alora, Jarek, and Carth (who seemed considerably happier) searched the tombs in the Valley of the Dark Lords to gain prestige. In the tomb of Ajunta Pall, they retrieved that Sith Master's double-bladed sword and killed a hopeful who tried to take it from them. The blade, however, they did not return to Master Uthar, as they figured they could use it later.
In the tomb of Marko Ragnos, they found a rogue assassin droid hidden away deep inside. They tinkered with the droid's systems and deleted its assassination function so it could escape. The droid thanked them profusely and left. They told Master Uthar that they had dealt with the droid.
They also explored the Shyrack caves and found the rebel Sith students they had been told of. They killed a giant terentatek and cleared the way for the students to leave. They lied to Master Uthar and told him they had killed the students.
"Very good, my pupil," he said, and after a brief pause, added, "I think, by estimation, you have gained enough prestige by now to...further your training." A wicked smile flashed across Uthar's face and he flung out his arms. Jarek thought at first that he was going to give her the kind of bone-cracking hug Carth had given Dustil, but instead, Uthar placed his arms around her, quickly let go, and patted her on the back saying, "Congratulations."
"What now, Master Uthar?" she asked.
"We will make preparations to enter Naga Sadow's tomb and complete your training. Your companions," he added, turning to Jarek and Carth, "I'm afraid, will not be able to join you on this expedition. Now, get some rest for tomorrow, and then we will go." Alora said good-bye and trudged off to her quarters while Jarek and Carth headed back to the Ebon Hawk.
"I'm happy for you, Carth," Jarek told him as they were walking. He didn't tell him, though, that Alora had already explained Carth's story. "I hope you get everything cleared up with Dustil."
"Thanks." Carth smiled again. "Hey, you want to get a drink?"
"Sure," said Jarek, and they bought some ale from the bartender at the cantina.
Carth told Jarek about the Mandalorian Wars. He talked about how brutal and ruthless the Mandalorians were. He told him how Revan was such a tactical genius and of some of the plans Revan devised.
But soon the conversation turned to what the Council said to Bastila and Jarek on Dantooine.
"Carth, you know I can't tell you that. It's private Jedi business."
"Well, why could Alora hear about it, then?" said Carth, taking another swig of his ale.
"She's a Jedi," he replied stubbornly. When Carth didn't seem the least bit satisfied, he said, "I just fear it would be too much of a shock for you."
Carth scoffed. "I've been through the Mandalorian Wars. What can you say that would shock me?"
"No, Carth, not like that. A different of shock. One I can't explain without giving it all away. It's...just private Jedi business, like I said."
"I knew better not to ask Bastila, but I didn't think you wouldn't tell me anything."
"We swore to keep it a secret," said Jarek, feeling angry.
"I figured that."
"Carth, when a Jedi promises something...well, it's like when you promised Dustil you'd find him proof about the Sith."
Carth sighed. "You're right. I guess I was...well, I'm used to being a captain, and maybe I forgot that I'm not right now."
"Right," said Jarek, who was glad Carth finally realized it.
"It's about Alora, isn't it?" said Carth.
Jarek inhaled deeply. He had to tell the truth. "Yes." Carth leaned back against his chair and rubbed his chin.
"What about her?" he said.
"No. I've said too much already. I shouldn't --"
"Fine, then. If you don't want to tell me --"
"It's not that I don't want to. I can't. Look, Carth, it'll be revealed eventually. It has to happen sometime."
"True," said Carth. "I guess after all my life I still haven't learned patience."
Now he gets it, thought Jarek angrily.
Carth looked down at his watch. "We better go. We'll need rest to pick up Alora tomorrow morning."
Carth pushed his chair back, and stood up. Jarek did the same. Carth tossed a few credits on the table and they left. Both men were silent on the way back to the Ebon Hawk, and Jarek wasn't sure he really wanted to talk anyway.
Carth was a real child back there, he thought to himself. Can't he just accept that some things don't concern him? I should have never told him anything.
When they reached the ship, Carth headed for the kitchen to get a snack and Jarek went to the armory.
Two...six...four...four... He entered the code on the keypad and heard the locks clicking out and the door opened.
It was incredible, really, how many weapons they had already acquired. Nearly a dozen blasters sat on the shelf, at least twenty swords hanging from the rack, and an empty container for lightsabers. Jarek laughed softly at the sight of it -- he always carried his lightsaber with him, as did all Jedi. But, he thought, there can always be spare lightsabers.
Jarek approached his father's vibroblade and gently took it down. He unsheathed the sword and looked at his own reflection in the durasteel blade. He would no doubt use this one day, but he dreaded the moment it came. This sword was specially made by the finest Echani craftsman in the galaxy. The blade was indestructible and made with a cortosis weave. Jarek had never used it once after they found it, and he had no intention of using it soon.
He put the sheath back on the blade and put it carefully in its place. He left the armory and sealed it again. With no intention of sleeping soon, Jarek remembered the hidden passageway that led to the side-mounted turrets. He had only tried the one on the starboard side of the ship, and decided to take a look at the other.
When he reached the crew quarters on the port side, he found Mission sitting on one of the beds, reading a datapad.
"Hey," she said, not looking up.
"What're you reading?" said Jarek.
"A book," she replied simply.
"Right," Jarek muttered, and went to the bed at the north end of the room. He sat down on it and scanned the buttons on the pad at the foot of the bed.
"Whatcha doing?" she asked.
"Trying to find the button.... Here it is!" Jarek found the same green button as last time, except here it was pointing in the other direction, corresponding with the wall on this side. Mission watched in awe as the bed began to sink into the ground and reveal the corridor that led to the turret.
"Cool!" she said. Jarek climbed off of the bed and set off down the bronze-colored metal passage. Mission jumped down and followed him.
It was the same except for a locked door halfway into it.
"Hmm," said Jarek, pushing against it. "I wonder where this leads to."
"Ooh!" squealed Mission, and she took out a small knife. She pulled out a couple of small gadgets from the knife's handle and inserted them into what appeared to be a keyhole on the door. "Hey!" she said. "It won't go in!"
"Whoever made this obviously didn't want people going in," said Jarek. "What could be inside it?"
"I don't know," said Mission, a bit put-out that her knife didn't work. "Maybe we'll find out later.
Mission turned around to leave, but saw the turret at the end of the corridor. "Whoa! So that's where these are! I never knew how to get there before." Jarek smiled at her fascination.
"Come on," he said, and they walked back through the dingy passageway and to the bed. Jarek pressed the button and they ascended.
"Hey!" he said. "Shoes off the bed!"
It was midday before Jarek decided to find Alora. He had been up for a few hours before they left, and he and Carth headed back through Dreshdae to the Sith Academy.
The guard at the entrance halted them.
"You are not a student nor do you bear a medallion. You cannot enter the academy."
"We've come to see the student Alora Danis!" said Carth importantly.
"Be that as it may, you are not a student and cannot enter the Sith Academy."
"We won't cause problems."
"It's not me that's saying this. It's Uthar. He's made it specific that you can't go inside." The guard cleared his throat. "Section B, Clause 15 of the Decree of the Sith Academy of Korriban states...er, how did it go? Oh yes...
"'Only students who have been accepted into the Academy for training are permitted to enter and leave said Academy. Non-students may only enter if they are accompanied by a Sith or student who have given permission to the non-student or non-students in question or have—' "
The guard was cut off as the doors to the academy opened and Alora emerged, clutching her side. She was bruised and had several minor cuts on her face.
She tipped forward and lost her balance. Jarek and Carth caught her before she hit the ground. They each put one of her arms around their shoulders, and lifted her up to full height.
"Let's...go back...to the Hawk," she panted. So they carried her back to the ship and patched her up.
"What happened in that tomb?" Jarek asked after she had recovered.
"They took me inside to find the Star Map. I had to fight two tarentateks."
"Two?!" said Jarek in disbelief. "That's impossible! Fighting one with aid is hard enough, but how did you fight two on your own?"
"It wasn't easy," she sighed. "I recovered Naga Sadow's poison blade —" she showed Jarek a long, silver blade that had obviously been wiped clean of blood "— and finally got to the Star Map. It was incomplete, though. I couldn't figure out where it was pointing. I think we'll need to check the other planets, too."
"What happened after you found the Star Map?"
"I returned to Uthar and Yuthura. Uthar tried to kill me, but Yuthura and I fought him. After he died, she told me she would have to kill me as well. I fought again. She was badly wounded. I tried to convince her to change her ways and she considered it. She never told me where she left to, but she limped out of the tomb. When I came out, she was gone. And then I came back."
"How did you survive all that?" said Jarek.
"I don't know. Maybe it was the Force."
Yeah, Jarek thought. It was the Force.
He walked up to the cockpit where he found Carth and Bastila sitting in the pilot's and co-pilot's seat and asked, "Where to next?"
"I was thinking to go to Tatooine," Carth replied, "but it's not my place. Where do you think?"
"I think we all deserve a nice break to Dantooine," said Jarek. Bastila nodded.
"Sounds good to me." And they were off.
Questions? Suggestions? E-mail me! Chapter Six coming soon -- Part 1 of Tatooine! Huzzah!