Author's Notes: Greetings, this fair Samhain night, may the fates bless you on this sacred holiday. I upload this early, because I shall not have computer access on All Hallow's Eve, though that is when this message is intended to be read. Now, on to the chapter... Korriban. I have a deleted scene from early on in this chapter, based on the Charmed episode: Sin Francisco, but it didn't fit in right... if anyone wants to read it anyway, my AIM name is on my author page. The song is here because I made some Rocky Horror references in this chapter (well, that and I like it anyway)... there's a Sweet Transvestite quote hidden here, along with a much more blatant reference from slightly later in that show. Chocolate awards, this week, to whomever can name the third Sith Sister (this one's trickier than the popular-culture ones, since it's more Revan's area of expertise... mythology).
The Shadow Priestess: Sorry I didn't answer your ch7 review. Lol, and I'm entirely un-sorry for the mental image ::insert evil maniacal cackling here:: ... very bad joke, Whisper.
Cantankerous: Also sorry about missing your ch7 review. This is the ch9 I was talking about - it's not incredibly dark, it's just obscene/twisted... the really dark chapter is ch11. Lol, glad to see I caught you off-guard about the Bandon Lamar thing.
Dark Lord Daishi: Thanks ::bows:: ... here's Korriban.
Ozziegrl: Thanks ::grins:: glad you liked it.
RollingSkull: Thankies. You're right, he's not... but everyone has some connection to the Force... normal people rate 0.001, he's just 0.0015, or so :P (assuming 2 is very low-level Jedi Apprentices). She's been Sithy since Genie died, she's just hiding it for now. Heh, I was wondering who'd comment on that thing with the Star Map - that was just Malak's dirty mind (or mine, if you'd prefer :good: .
Firera: Yes... I explained it to Skull in the line above this one, and don't feel like repeating myself so soon. Lol, Candyman is appropriate, since I promised chocolate for anyone who named him ::gives you chocolate:: ... as for Jolee; like he said, it was a test and Revan passed - had she truly been a Sith, she would have left Malak to fend for himself, in the face of such a legendary threat.
Darth Arachne: Glad you liked it. Um... Mandalore... scum... how so? I mean, I was trying to portray only Katzof clan in such bad light. Yes, on to Korriban, let's do the Timewarp again ::insert hysterical/evil maniacal laughter here:
Thylja: Hey, welcome! Good to see you're enjoying it. I have incorporated a lot of my favourites here (Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, South Park, Buffy/Angel, Harry Potter, etc) Kill Bill is just the most utterly blatant so far (though this chapter's Rocky Horror references are pretty blatant, too.
F-15 Eaglestrike: Well, it was a frelling nightmare getting those comics from Amazon - I ordered three, and they could only manage to send me one... was worth it, though. Yes, that's Candyman ::gives you chocolate:: ... and as for Jolee, see what I told Skull about Revan's Sithyness. The gold-team leader is Carth... and all the gold-squad fighters returned to the Defiant, while Revan stormed the Mandys' docking bay. Well, Bandon can fight... when he's able to use the Force (and when he's not up against power-gamer PCs :good: first time I fought him, he was a challenge, so he's not utterly hopeless). Yes, the Ysalamiri were guarded... that's why Bandon took the stealth-ops, so they could sneak past the guards.
Brynn: You'd think she'd do something smart like that, wouldn't you? But Bioware set the basics for me to work with, and they say she didn't. Glad you liked the cameos.
Trunxluvr82190: ::gives you small bag of chocolate:: you got those all right... no one got the big prize though.
ether-fanfic: Glad you liked it. Here's more darkness from both of them, now.
"I've done a lot, god knows I've tried,
To find the truth, I've even lied,
But all I know, is down inside I'm bleeding.
And super heroes come to feast,
To taste the flesh not yet deceased,
And all I know is still the beast is feeding.
And crawling on the planet's face,
Some insects called the human race,
Lost in time, and lost in space,
And meaning."
-Rocky Horror Picture Show, Super Heroes.
x x x
Chapter 9 - Darkness
The return journey through the forest was uneventful. The flight to Korriban passed quickly, and soon the Defiant was in orbit over the dark world. Even the Force-blind soldiers on the ship could feel the power in this place.
Revan took Malak, Bandon, Derrin, Cassie, Matt and Tyr, with her to the surface of the world. Their shuttle docked in the Czerka-run city of Dreshdae. Cassie, Derrin, Matt and Tyr wore civilian clothing, which blended them well into the smugglers and spacers of Dreshdae, but Revan, Malak and Bandon's Jedi robes stood out like a sore thumb. Bandon and Malak, at least, wore dark enough colours to be passed over by an idle observer as regular dark-coloured clothes, but Revan's crimson robe, mask and cloak could not be so easily dismissed. She was attracting a lot of curious stares.
The Czerka shops there held little of interest, and it didn't take long for Derrin to drag them to the cantina, which was irreverently named 'The Drunk Side'.
"Careful in here, Malak." Revan said, her sing-song voice taunting, "The odds of getting drunk and waking up with new tattoos are much greater on Korriban than on Manaan."
"That's not funny, Revan." Malak noted coldly. Derrin sniggered, and tried to look innocent at the same time... which really didn't work. Malak smacked Derrin in the back of the head (where there weren't any horns) for his sniggering.
"And they're even likely to stoop to the level of spiking your drink with hypnostim." Revan added nonchalantly.
"Good thing I've no intention of ordering a drink, then." Malak said, even more coldly. The thought of what Revan had so casually said gave him chills, and made him nauseous.
This place felt creepy... it had an element of dark power to it, even though the bar they were now in was so seedy. The people sitting around were either drinking, gambling, plotting some unseemly dealings... or some combination of the three.
Revan found them a table near the back of the cantina, which would seat all seven of them, and sat with her back to the wall, so she could see the whole cantina. Malak sat next to her, watching her carefully. He was suddenly acutely aware of the way she carried herself, like she thought she was better than everyone else here. It shouldn't have bothered him, but for some reason, it made his blood boil.
"Hey, those are our seats." a male voice said. Malak looked up, to see three thugs looming over them. They all looked pretty rough, but they certainly didn't intimidate the group of Jedi.
"They're our seats now, boys." Cassie said cheerfully.
"Oh yeah, girlie?" one of the thugs tried to grab Cassie, but Tyr caught his hand, and with a slight flick of his wrist, he broke the thug's arm. The thug yelled in pain.
"You might want to put some ice on that." Tyr said bluntly. Another of the thugs made a move to try to grab Cassie, too, but Tyr blocked him and said, "What hospital are you going to? I'll visit you and your buddy, and sign your casts." his tone enough of a threat that the thug backed off.
"You think you're a tough guy, huh?" the third thug asked, cracking his knuckles.
Tyr just looked unimpressed, "Fuck off."
The thug took a swing at him. Tyr grabbed the thug's arm before his fist could make contact, and twisted it around, behind the thug's back. He pulled the arm very sharply, "I said fuck off, you fool. Now, either do as I say, or I'll rip off your arm, and demonstrate the first half of my order on you, with the bloody end!"
Cassie blinked, "That, I'd like to see."
"Let him go, Tyr." Revan said calmly, "He is really not worth the effort."
Tyr shrugged, the act of which twisted the thug's arm a bit more, then he let the thug go, with a kick to the back of the knee for good measure. The three thugs glared at the seven Jedi, before cutting their losses, and backing off.
Derrin watched the door the thugs had left through, for two seconds, before deciding to stand up and wander over to the bar.
"If someone spikes your drink, don't say you weren't warned." Revan noted to him. Derrin shrugged and dismissed Revan's concerns blithely.
"So what is the plan, Revan?" Cassie asked, glancing around the room agitatedly.
Malak felt an irrational surge of resentment... everyone automatically thought Revan had a plan... everyone looked to Revan for leadership. Just once, Malak would like to be able to be in charge. Just once. He shook his head, frowning... why did he just think that?
All eyes were on Revan, now... albeit with varying degrees of interest. Tyr seemed preoccupied with tinkering with one of his daggers. Matt looked edgy, Cassie even edgier, and Bandon just plain bored.
"The map is somewhere to the east of Dreshdae." Revan answered, "The problem is, it's inside one of those large structures all the smugglers are avoiding."
"What are they, anyway?" Bandon asked blankly.
"Tombs." Cassie answered, "They just have that feel about them."
Revan nodded, "Exactly."
"This is going to be fun." Malak noted sarcastically.
"Well, we won't get anything done with a negative attitude like that." Revan said too chirpily. Malak just glared at her.
She stood up and left the cantina. The other Jedi seemed to miss this detail, though. Cassie was staring dreamily at some random smuggler... not even what most would call particularly handsome, though Malak was certainly no judge of what constituted an attractive male. Tyr was still fidgeting with his bladed weaponry, and Derrin was ignoring all in favour of alcohol.
Malak stood, and snapped, "Stop drooling." at Cassie. He then turned on Tyr, "Do you want me to advise you on where to stick that dagger?"
"You're snappish today." Tyr said coldly, putting the blade away.
Malak stalked over to Derrin, plucked the glass out of the Zabrak's hand, and poured its alcoholic contents over Derrin's head. Derrin spluttered, and called Malak several obscene names.
When Malak stalked out of the cantina after Revan, the others followed him.
x x x
Revan gave Tyr and Matt instructions to guard the ship, then she announced, "Bald guys without horns, you're with me." Bandon and Malak exchanged a glance which said clearly that neither of them were too happy with her description of them, "Derrin and Cassie... just... just stay on the ship and don't do anything. At all." she shook her head and muttered, "Korriban is obviously bad for your health."
Derrin sulked, and emptied the bottle of some alcoholic drink or other he had in his hand, before stepping onto the ship. Cassie was also sulking, but at least she wasn't indulging her darker instincts yet.
Revan led the two men down towards the ancient buildings to the east.
"I'm not sure who I pity more." Malak noted conversationally, as they walked, "Derrin or Cassie."
"Derrin." Bandon said flatly, "Cassie can be scary."
"You just don't like strong women." Revan said flatly.
"So?" Bandon asked blankly.
Malak sniggered. Bandon actually hadn't figured out yet that Revan was female. "You don't know Derrin that well. You see these tattoos?"
"Yeah..." Bandon said warily.
"Derrin's fault."
Bandon blinked a couple of times, "I don't even want to know."
x x x
When they got to the ancient building, Revan examined the entrance, "We have to go through here." Revan said flatly, "The cartography readout said there was no other way into the valley."
"This is great. Force knows what booby-traps and monsters we'll stumble across in there." Bandon muttered sulkily.
"Want me to go back and get cannon fodder? Um, I mean Tyr?" Malak asked innocently.
Revan looked at Malak carefully, "I think we'll be fine without him. Or any of the others, for that matter. Bandon is just as good as any of them."
"Am I supposed to be take that as a compliment or an insult?" Bandon asked blankly.
"Neither." Revan said blithely, waving him off.
"How do we get in?" Malak asked.
"Break the door down." Bandon suggested.
"Far too crude. There must be a lock." Malak retorted.
Revan reached up, and knocked the door sharply, three times. It made an unnaturally loud, echoing sound. A grinding sound followed, and the door opened slowly. The two men stared at Revan, stunned.
"What?" she asked innocently.
"That's just not right." Bandon muttered.
"It's Korriban. What did you expect?" Malak asked.
"Open invitation..." Revan mumbled, "Proceed with extreme caution."
"You don't need to remind me." Malak muttered coldly. The last open invitation he'd had into potentially hostile territory had certainly not gone well.
Revan warily took a step into the building, extending her Force senses through the structure. Malak tried to do the same, but all he could detect with his own Force senses was power and darkness. 'There are about a dozen sentients in this building.' Revan informed him, through their bond. Malak's hand went for his lightsaber, just in case. 'Don't be so paranoid... at least we can sense them.'
'Not as reassuring as you'd think... they're strong in the Force, aren't they?'
'How did you guess?'
'I can sense the Force in this place... and it's very, very dark.'
Revan gave him a calculating look for a moment, before responding, 'Yes. It is, isn't it?' she then turned and continued to lead the way into the building.
They passed through a long corridor, into a large circular chamber. It appeared to be deserted. Well, until... "Ah, greetings." a female voice, lilting and alluring, "New prospects for our Master? Or new toys? What are you?"
The body that went with that voice - just as alluring, with sensual curves and a lithe grace that turned both Malak and Bandon into gawping morons - sauntered into the chamber. She wore skin-tight jet-black fabric, which flowed so beautifully... and the fine braids of her ice-blonde hair just brushed her shoulders... even though most of her face was concealed, her gleaming golden eyes seemed to draw Malak into them, and-
'Snap out if it!' Revan's thought snarled in his mind.
Malak blinked a few times, and suddenly realised the woman he was looking at was using the Force to hypnotise him... though she really didn't need much Force skill to hypnotise Bandon, who was still gawping.
"Bandon, close your mouth." Revan snapped aloud, "You look like an utter prat." Malak sniggered. 'You didn't look much less of a prat a second ago.' Revan scolded. That stopped Malak's sniggering.
"Jedi." the woman said gleefully, "The Master will like this. Come with me, darlings." she beckoned them deeper into the building.
Bandon started to follow her, but Revan gripped him with the Force... like snapping a choke-chain on a disobedient kath pup, it sure made Bandon stop in his tracks.
"What is your name?" Revan asked the woman coldly.
"Stheno." the blonde answered, turning sharply, to glance at Revan over her shoulder, the tiny beads at the end of her braids clicking as she did so, "Come meet my sisters, and my Master. I promise, we won't bite." by the way her eyes crinkled, it was clear she was grinning evilly. She sauntered off down the corridor, her hips swaying rhythmically, until she disappeared into the shadows.
"Get a grip on your hormones, boys." Revan hissed coldly, before following Stheno. Malak and Bandon followed her, and Malak did notice Revan's hands grip the lightsabers on her belt, and the aura of loathing she projected towards the other woman.
They were led to another chamber, smaller but still circular, in which Stheno and two more women, identical to her in every visible way, were waiting for them. "We know perfectly well that this is a trap..." Malak said warily, carefully constructing mental walls to block the mind-tricks they were trying to use on him.
"What is it you want from us?" Revan asked coldly.
One of the three women sauntered over to Revan, and eyed her up... "What do you look like under that mask, scarlet?"
"Could ask you the same question." Revan hissed.
The woman laughed at Revan, and then, "Got a name, scarlet?"
"My name is Revan. And if you call me scarlet again, I'll paint the walls that colour with your blood."
"Ooo, I like this one." one of the other two blondes noted gleefully.
The three women - they must be sisters - surrounded the three Jedi. One of them draped herself over Bandon, who didn't even try to pull away from her. Another one reached a hand out to Malak, who stepped back out of her reach, glancing at Revan, who was glaring daggers at the third blonde, "Which one of you is Stheno?" Malak asked.
"That would be me." the one standing right in front of him purred.
"And what is your name?" Revan asked the one she was glaring at.
"Euryale." she answered, smirking, "Do your boyfriends have names?"
"I'm Bandon." the Padawan answered obediently. His voice sounded kind of like it was a strain to think that much, right now.
"And you, handsome?" Stheno asked Malak. She was slowly chipping away at his mental defences, and it was exhausting just resisting her mind-tricks. He certainly couldn't resist looking at her, in spite of Revan's outrage.
"Don't see any handsome men in here." Malak said blithely.
"Gee, thanks." Bandon retorted, snapping out of the third sister's spell, and pushing her away from him.
"Care to tell us what you three are doing in an ancient Sith temple?" Revan asked coldly.
"Could ask you the same question." Euryale retorted, laughingly.
"I asked first." Revan said coldly.
"We study the ways of the Sith." Euryale said, smirking.
"Our Master teaches us to become powerful." Stheno added, trailing her fingers down Malak's chest. He took another step back, away from her.
"Yeah... and who taught you to be such skanky whores?" Revan asked acidly.
"Some people like skanky whores." Euryale said coldly, holding her hand over her chest as if Revan's statement had hurt her.
"I'm not one of those people." Revan hissed.
"Now, now. Children, please." a male voice echoed through the room. A middle-aged bald man was watching from the doorway. He was wearing black clothes (they weren't quite skin-tight, which was a blessing really, but they looked like they once had been, and he had shrivelled a bit as he aged) and a cape. "Play nice, now." his voice was cold and fairly high-pitched.
Revan turned her Force senses on this man, 'He's less sane than Derrin.' she informed Malak, "Who are you?" she asked the unidentified man.
"My name is Jorak Uln. I am these lovely girls' Master."
"Makes them sound like slave-girls." Malak noted coldly.
Stheno laughed at him for that, "Hardly." she purred, grabbing the front of Malak's robe, and leaning against him. He couldn't very well back away without her falling on the floor, now... though he did consider it. "Our Master teaches us to use the dark side of the Force. Like your Jedi Masters teach you to use the light."
The third sister was being at least as friendly with Bandon... but Euryale was watching Revan like the hooded figure was the plague. Which was probably all the better for the blonde's health, really. "So you're Sith?" Revan asked Jorak. The man nodded. "And these harlots? They're yours?"
"My students." Jorak said, smirking. The expression contorted his pale face into a twisted mockery of what a smile should be.
"Yeah... and you teach them such sweet innocent things." Revan growled sarcastically, stalking over to Stheno, and dragging the girl by the hair, away from Malak. Stheno snarled, and Revan was sent flying by a wave of the Force.
Malak was too surprised to react... but Revan picked herself up and sent a flash of lightening at Stheno for that.
"Ah, the Jedi know some party-tricks." Jorak crowed gleefully, "Excellent."
Revan turned to face Jorak, "What do you mean?"
"You could make a great Sith. The power, the anger... yes, you could be great." Jorak informed her.
Revan snorted, "I don't need you to tell me I'm powerful." she hissed. Stheno and Euryale edged away from Revan... Stheno was rubbing her arm where the lightening has struck her, and clearly sulking.
"True, indeed. You are proud... you could do well with learning our ways."
"Depends what you're teaching." Revan hissed, "I have no intention of being turned into some table-dancing whore like these little girls."
"We don't dance on tables." the third sister snapped indignantly.
Bandon raised an eyebrow at her, "You're not denying that you're whores, though?"
"We don't sell ourselves for money... but we do enjoy the company of men." the blonde replied, her golden eyes gleaming as she stared intently at Bandon.
"These girls are worse than Cassie." Bandon said flatly.
"Actually... we go for pretty much anyone who can play obediently." Euryale said, her eyes on Revan, "Not sure what you are, besides powerful I mean... but I like you."
Malak did to try to get rid of the mental picture of an orgy involving these three women, and himself and Revan... but it was a persistent thought. He knew Revan would not like it- 'Malak! Stop thinking that! It's... ewww!' ...too late... she got the image. He was now trying not to laugh at her outrage. 'When I made a Force-bond with you, I clearly should have read the fine print... the male brain is a disgusting thing.'
'You still love me, angel.'
'Yes... but you usually, at least, block such thoughts from me.'
'I was trying. I think those three are using some sort of mind-tricks.'
'They are.' "Call off your sirens, Jorak. My boys aren't interested." Revan said coldly, shooting a few more psychic recriminations at Malak for his thoughts.
"Speak for yourself." Bandon protested.
"Shut up, Bandon." Malak growled.
"Very well... girls, come on. Leave them be for now." Jorak said, clapping his hands sharply. The three blondes backed off, and sauntered over to hover behind Jorak. Suddenly, all the sensual allure in the room evaporated, and the three of them looked so evil they were almost repulsive. Almost. The radiating darkness Malak now sensed from them was as strong as he had sensed from Master Kendra's illusion of a Sith, during his trials for Knighthood... it wasn't as sickening as it had been to him then, but it still repelled him.
"Now... if you don't mind... we were just on our way to the valley-" Revan said, indicating back the way they had come, "So we'll be out of your hair, now."
'Bad joke to make with three bald men in the room.' Malak informed her.
'I thought so. That's why I said it.'
"Not so fast, Jedi." Jorak said pointedly. Revan watched him coldly, now. "What business have you in the valley?"
"We're looking for an artefact. None of your business, really." Revan answered.
"Oh, I think it is. Artefacts in those tombs are of great interest to me. I study the ancient Sith histories and philosophies. Anything you find may also interest me." Jorak said. Then he grinned, "And I may already know of what you seek. Perhaps you would be interested in making a deal?"
"I don't make deals with Sith." Revan said flatly.
"Heh... touché." Jorak laughed, "Not the most trustworthy by reputation, are we now? But all I was offering was an exchange of information. We can help you find what you're looking for, but in exchange I want you to attend the lessons I teach."
"Depends what you teach. If these three are your shining example, I'm not interested." Revan growled.
"They are my most powerful students... however their, ah, promiscuous tendencies, are not typical of what I teach." Jorak said flatly.
"And what do you typically teach, Jorak?" Revan asked coldly.
"Sith history, philosophy and mythology."
'You're going to accept his offer, aren't you?' Malak thought. Mythology was, after all, Revan's favourite obsession... especially now that Mandalore was dead.
'How ever did you guess?' Revan answered in mock innocence. "I like the sound of that." she told Jorak.
"Excellent." Jorak said gleefully, "Why don't you stay for the night? We have accommodation for students." Jorak smiled, that twisted smile that made him look really creepy, "And if you wish to study the Sith teachings, that is what you are now. My students."
x x x
The three Jedi were led to their separate rooms... if you could call them rooms, that is. They didn't have doors - they may as well have been sleeping in the corridor. The only concession to privacy was that the small alcoves were out of sight of each other. Malak didn't like this idea... but Revan accepted Jorak's offer, so they would stay.
There was no foreseeable way that Malak would get any sleep, that night. He just did not like being so exposed, like this. He didn't understand how such a treacherous mistrusting organisation as the Sith could sleep in such unprotected locations, where just about anyone could try to murder them in their sleep. Sith must be really light sleepers.
He sat, cross-legged, on the bed provided for him, and closes his eyes. It took him a while to sink into a meditative state, but when he did, what he felt was amazing. Korriban was so intense, so... powerful. So dark. The volcanic ground around them seethed with power, as if it was infused into the rock itself by the heat of its prehistoric lava flows. The stone building they were in was carved into the rock, giving it the same feel. The tombs out in the valley felt even stronger, the ghosts of their occupants screaming out for acknowledgement. And the Star Map called to him from there, as well. He was eager to find it.
He could, in this state, both relax and sense the life around him. There were, as Revan had said, about a dozen sentients within the building. The triplets, he could tell, were in a separate area of the accommodation block. Jorak was in the main area of the building. Others were scattered around the place, but none were near enough to be a threat.
It was probably dangerous to meditate, on this dark world. A chance it could affect him, turn him... but he didn't consider it that great a threat. He was strong, after all. And the darkness he sensed didn't seem particularly malignant. It was inviting, actually.
"What are you doing?" a female voice asked. It snapped him out of his trance, and he looked up to see one of the triplets standing in the corridor outside his 'room'.
"It's called meditation. Go away." Malak said coldly.
"Oh, no need to be so impolite. I was only curious." she said, pouting.
Malak rolled his eyes, "Which one are you, anyway?"
"I'm Stheno." she replied, her golden eyes lighting up.
He hadn't had the chance to create sufficient mental defences, as he hadn't expected to encounter her again that night, and he found himself staring at her with rapture.
She twirled one of her braids idly, then sauntered slowly over to him, and sat on the edge of his bed, uninvited. He didn't complain. "So... you never did tell me your name..." she purred.
"My name is Malak." he said distantly. How do her eyes glow like that, anyway? They're beautiful.
Stheno smiled, and leaned closer to him, "You're very attractive, Malak."
"Th-thank you." now that was a dumb thing to say... talk about being tongue-tied.
She trailed her fingertips down the side of his face, the touch felt electric... and then, her hands moved to his shoulders, and she pushed him sharply backwards, so he fell back onto the bed. Within a second, she was on top of him. "Let's get you out of those nasty Jedi clothes." she purred, ripping the fabric of the robe, as she tore it from him.
He could distantly sense the Force in her words, as well as her actions. But it didn't seem to bother him, even though he knew it should. She removed the mask from her face, revealing her skin to be pale as snow, her lips an odd shade of purple that looked almost dead, and she had a few faint lines around her temples, which looked like veins. Malak shivered - he still managed to find something attractive in this twisted mockery of a woman. Her eyes drew him in, like a moth to a flame.
She trailed her fingers lightly down his chest, then placed the palm of her hand over his heart, and leaned over to kiss him. His eyes flickered closed of their own volition, and he returned the kiss enthusiastically, his hands reaching up to her waist.
But she caught his hands with the Force, and pinned them to the bed, above his head, not moving her own hands to do so. "I don't like to be touched." she murmured, "I prefer to do the touching." Malak didn't even try to struggle against the invisible bindings she had conjured. He let his hands fall where she had put them, and she released him. She kissed his lips lightly, "Good boy." The way she touched him, the way she kissed him... it was very... arousing.
She shifted her position slightly, and started to unfasten Malak's trousers. As her attention and focus left his mind for a moment, it suddenly registered with him that this was wrong... that he shouldn't be doing this. She was incredibly alluring, but aside from the fact Revan would pitch a right fit if she found out... this woman was a Sith, and he was a Jedi... talk about sleeping with the enemy. Both were very good reasons to resist her.
He focused all his willpower on blocking her mind-tricks, and then reached down to grab her wrists. She looked up at him, startled. She had been just about to pull off his trousers, and she clearly had not expected him to try to stop her. "Let go of me." she hissed, trying to pull her hands out of his grasp.
"How about you get off me?" Malak suggested.
Stheno's eyes seemed to glow that little bit brighter, "Why would I do that? I was having fun." she said, her tone lilting and saccharine.
"Get off me. I don't want you, Stheno." Malak snarled.
"But you do want me." she said, the Force in her words.
Malak's mental defences barely stood up to the attack... but while he did resist it, he couldn't summon the will to physically lash out at her. Not with that seductive energy radiating from her. So instead, he rolled them both over, so he was on top of her, pinning her to the bed.
She started to tremble, and Malak sensed fear from her, "Let me go!" she yelled, all semblance of allure discarded in favour of anger and venom, as she struggled in vain against his superior physical strength.
"What's the matter, Stheno? Don't like the tables being turned on you?" Malak taunted. He was tempted, very tempted, to just take her, like this... she had been eager enough a minute ago, and it would teach the little bitch a lesson for trying to seduce him. But then, Revan really would pitch a fit.
"Get off me!" Stheno shrieked.
Malak winced... he had no doubt Revan heard that, even if she hadn't already heard his thoughts. He let go of the Sith woman, and threw her off his bed, keeping his mental defences up. "Get out." he growled.
She gave him one angry glare, before turning and bolting down the corridor. As soon as she was gone, Malak allowed himself to collapse face-down on the bed, his face buried in the pillow.
The sound of a feminine scream attracted his attention, and he looked up in time to see another of the triplets run down the corridor, from the general direction of Revan's room, headed in the same direction that Stheno had gone, with her hair on fire. Malak smirked darkly... looks like Revan's pyromania (which was only triggered by Tarek) found a new target.
x x x
The next morning, Malak had a problem. His Jedi robes were ripped beyond repair. He only had one set of robes left, and it was in his room on the Defiant... buried under some datapads, a chair, and the remains of breakfast from some time last week.
He needed new clothes. Even the trousers of his Jedi attire had been ripped... he wasn't sure how she did it, but it was unwearable. He decided his last resort was to root in the footlocker in his 'room', for anything even semi-wearable, to pass for clothes until he got back to the Defiant.
The clothing he found did not surprise him. Black stretchy fabric, which would likely look utterly ridiculous, even if it did fit him. He certainly wasn't going to wear it on its own. He could just picture Revan's thoughts on that matter. 'Just wear it, Malak... it can't be worse than running around the Sith tombs naked... can it?' Revan asked him.
'How long have you been spying on me, angel?'
'Since I woke up... a few minutes before you did. Nice dreams, by the way.' Revan thought, amused. Malak blushed - the dream in question had involved Revan, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce. 'Must try that some time... it looked fun.' That made him blush even more.
'Back to the relevant point.' Malak thought, 'This outfit won't leave much more to the imagination than wandering around naked would.'
'I like the sound of that.'
Malak rolled his eyes, and dressed in the offensive clothing. It was actually very comfortable. Still, he ripped some of his Jedi robes, and turned them into what on Ravnos would be a fashionable accessory (Ravnos is infamous, even to fashion-blinds, for its torn, bedraggled, and goth-style fashion). It would do, temporarily.
'Look in the mirror.' Revan thought.
'You're looking through my eyes?' Malak asked her, stunned.
'Have been since before you woke up... it's how I saw your dream... I always thought my butt was bigger than that.'
Malak spluttered aloud, 'Voyeuristic witch.'
'Thank you. Now look in a mirror.'
Malak glanced around, 'If you see one, please tell me.'
He heard Revan's laughter from down the corridor, and she quickly appeared in the 'room'. She looked him over critically, "Looks acceptable. I like what you've done with the remains of your robes."
Malak snorted, self-consciously, "This makes me look like a prat."
"It shows off your muscles... I like it."
"Why do I surrender to looking like a fool, just because you say you like it? First the tattoos, now this!" Malak all-but-whined.
Revan laughed, "Because you love me."
"Yeah... that's the reason."
x x x
Lessons at the Sith Academy - for that was what Jorak referred to the place as - were a great deal like history lessons at the Jedi Temple. At least, for Malak, they were. He was on the verge of falling asleep in class (though the late hour to which he stayed up, the previous night, could have effected that somewhat).
Jorak prattled on about various Sith Lords of old. A few things did filter through Malak's boredom. Ajunta Pall was the one with the sword... Marka Ragnos was the defensive, wiser one... Naga Sadow was considered the powerful one... and there was another tomb out there, but Malak wasn't interested enough to remember the name of the dead Sith in it.
Eventually, after the history lesson, Jorak got on to the good stuff. Sith philosophies. Malak considered a lesson in comparative beliefs, to see how the two sides related to each other, might be a bit more interesting than the history. Revan seemed to find both fascinating, however.
"The Sith believe in survival of the fittest. The strong shall rule, the weak shall serve or die." Jorak said, clearly proud of this belief, "This Academy is designed to teach its students to use the dark side of the Force to gain their power, to make them strong enough to rule."
"But doesn't power corrupt?" Revan asked, "If you become corrupted by the power you wield, you lose focus of your original goals."
"That is a Jedi superstition. There is no good and evil, only power... and those too weak to seek it."
"I thought the Sith saying was: 'There is no good and evil, only power... and power corrupts the weak-minded'?" Revan persisted, "Which is why I asked the question in the first place."
Jorak gave her a very calculating look, "Where did you hear that version of it?"
"I found a Sith document in my Master's quarters." Revan said flatly.
"Then the Jedi probably tampered with it." Jorak dismissed blithely.
"She wouldn't have. She valued all knowledge, even that of the Sith. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, which is why you need a lot, so you know how not to misuse it." Revan said, smirking. It was something Master Kendra had once told them, and Revan had certainly taken it to heart.
"Trust no one, child. That is the first rule of the Sith. Everyone is out for their own good, and you should be wary in case someone else's plans involve your ignorance... or your 'accidental' death." Jorak growled.
Revan glared at Jorak, who actually flinched slightly, in spite of the fact he couldn't see her expression under that mask. "Then you say I should not trust you, either?"
"I... you are making this incredibly difficult, Revan." Jorak said coldly.
"I pride myself in my ability to turn a person's own logic and strategies against them. You have heard about the recent Republic-Mandalore wars, haven't you?" she asked innocently.
"Yes. We have heard what you did there, Revan. It is very impressive, which is why I wished to see how receptive you were to the Sith teachings."
"I'm always willing to listen." Revan said, smirking.
"Then perhaps you will do so, and cease to argue with me!"
"But your quote didn't match something I had already learned from other Sith sources." Revan protested.
"The version you heard was once spoken by Marka Ragnos... a twisted version of Naga Sadow's more accurate quote." one of the other students supplied - a tall man in his late twenties, with wiry black hair, and golden eyes. He wasn't as pale as Jorak, but he was well on his way to it.
"That makes sense. Ragnos was the more defensive, more cautious, of the Sith Lords. Sadow was too hot-headed to see long-term problems." Revan said calmly.
Jorak glared at her, "If you know so much about the Sith, then answer me a question. What is the one emotion most dangerous to a Sith."
Revan frowned, "Compassion. It is a weakness, it leads to mercy. Mercy is the worst weakness a Sith can display. Show an enemy mercy and they will return to hurt you when you least expect it."
"And tell me, what emotions are most useful to a Sith?"
"Passion fuels the Force." Revan said calmly, "Even the Jedi admit it, they simply believe it is more efficient in the long run to act with logic and clarity. So, as passion is our source, our power... then love would be the most useful."
"NO! No, no, no, no!" Jorak yelled, hitting the desk he stood behind with the palms of his hands, "Love is a vice, a danger! It can lead to compassion!"
"Love is stronger than any hatred." Revan said coldly, "It can make a man move mountains, even without the Force on his side. Hatred is destructive, love is constructive. Love is something both sides fear." she stood up, "Why is that, Jorak? You want power so badly, but you fear to stare into the sun, the greatest source of power, in case it blinds you! But tell me something else... you stare into the abyss instead... does it really stare back?"
"Nice metaphors." Bandon muttered, smirking.
"Yes, it does stare back. And if you listen, it calls to you, too." Jorak said, also smirking, "And of course love blinds you, you foolish child. It blinds you to the greatest threat... one you trust so completely as to love them will undoubtedly be one you least suspect to harm you."
"You are the fool, old man." Revan hissed. She turned and stormed to the door, only pausing to add, "When I find what I am searching for, you will regret it. Korriban will become a target, as much as Mandalore Prime. Stay the hell out of my way." and she left.
Malak and Bandon exchanged a brief glance, before coming to the unanimous decision that they had no use for the history lesson, if Revan wasn't there to keep them awake. They followed her out of the room.
x x x
Revan led them down to the tombs. It was even creepier here. The darkness was much stronger. Revan made a beeline for Naga Sadow's tomb, following the scent of power the maps gave off, like a kinrath on the scent of blood. Malak and Bandon barely kept up with her brisk pace.
'You seemed adamant in your defence of love.' Malak noted.
'I'm not blind to your... behaviour, Malak. I would not be fool enough to ignore the signs if you were up to no good. But I also see into your mind, and know you are loyal to me. I know what happened with Stheno, last night.'
Malak bowed his head, looking at the ground, 'I-'
'You rejected her.' she smiled, 'Thank you. I actually wasn't sure if you would, or not... I shouldn't have doubted you.'
'What, exactly, happened that resulted in the other one running away with her hair on fire?' Malak asked... he really couldn't contain the sadistic tone that came across in his thoughts. He wanted to know exactly how stupid the Sith girl had been, and then laugh about it.
'Euryale...' Revan thought, amused, 'She tried to seduce me.'
'Now there's a mental picture.'
'Oh, please. She's not my type!' Revan protested.
'And what is your type?'
'Besides you, you mean?'
'Yes.'
'Well... if I were ever to experiment with females... they wouldn't be human.' she then gave Malak quite an obscene mental image involving a female Twi'lek.
Malak spluttered, and almost tripped up, 'Thank you. I'm never going to get rid of that image.' though there was no sarcasm in his thanks... it was actually a very... fascinating thought. 'Not practical, though...' he noted.
'I know... lekku don't do that, do they?' Revan thought, barely avoiding laughing, 'Hey, you're not the only one with twisted fantasies, around here, Malak.'
'And boy, are those twisted fantasies.' Malak retorted, referring to Revan's mental images. And he thought she was sweet and innocent... he should know better, he really should. Back on track, now... she sure knew how to distract him from what he meant to talk about, 'So what, exactly, happened with Euryale?'
'She came into my room... I looked like I was asleep, but I wasn't. I really can't sleep with this stupid mask on, but I was still wearing it. I had no intention of taking it off in a public place like this.' Revan explained. Malak nodded, and she continued, 'She sat on the edge of my bed, said she was drawn to my power, said she wanted me... funny how she said that when she didn't even know if I was male or female.'
'Those three seem drawn more to power than looks.' Malak noted.
'True.' Revan thought, nodding, 'I told her to sod off. She said she didn't want to. She tried to take off my mask. I set her hair on fire with Force lightening - those beads they wear are highly flammable, all it takes is a spark. Simple as that, really.'
'Wish I'd seen it.' Malak thought, trying not to laugh.
They were still a fair way away from Naga Sadow's tomb, and Malak couldn't think of anything to say. Revan, however... "Bandon... you're being awfully quite."
Bandon looked up at her, surprised, "So were you."
"Telepathy. You're out of the loop." Revan said bluntly, "Now why are you being so quiet?"
He shrugged and looked at the ground, a slight smile tugged the corner of his lip.
"Let me guess..." Malak said coldly, "One of those three Sith women?"
Bandon was startled by this, "How did you know?"
"They tried to seduce both of us." Revan said, "Oh, don't tell me you-"
"He did." Malak said flatly. The colour in Bandon's cheeks was enough proof, "What, exactly, did she do to you, Bandon?"
"Malak!" Revan snapped.
Bandon's face turned an odd shade of red, and Malak sniggered, "If you're that embarrassed about it, it must have been good." Malak noted.
'Malak, I'm warning you.' Revan growled in his mind.
"Yes... it was good." Bandon mumbled, "And I'm not going to tell you the details."
Malak shrugged innocently, "Whatever."
He could sense some degree of relief from Revan at the fact they reached Naga Sadow's tomb, and the conversation had ceased. She examined the door to the tomb, carefully. "It's locked." she announced.
"How do we open it?" Malak asked.
"I have the key." a low voice said, from nearby. Standing next to one of the stone pillars, a few feet away, was the student who had spoken up during Jorak's class. He eyed them carefully, making sure all their attention was on him, before continuing, "What exactly are you looking for?"
"Who are you, anyway?" Bandon demanded.
"You don't need to know my name." the man said, with a wave of his hand, and Force in his words.
"Um... yes we do." Malak said coldly. Bandon had received the full effect of the man's Force persuasion, but Malak and Revan had only been secondary targets, and also had superior mental defences to the Padawan.
The man glared at Malak, "No you don't." stronger Force persuasion in his words, but Malak did resist it. Barely.
"Quit playing games with us." Revan snarled.
The man chuckled, "My name is Uthar. I am one of Jorak's favourite students. I would be his most prized student if it weren't for the demonatrix sisters."
Malak smirked, "Cute name for them."
"It's appropriate." Uthar noted bluntly, his eyes on Revan, "I liked your outburst, during our lesson, Revan." he smirked, "Very few would be brave enough to talk back to Master Jorak."
"I'm not afraid of him." Revan said flatly.
Uthar raised an eyebrow, still sizing Revan up... then after a moment, he bowed his head, "And I'm not fool enough to deny that I fear you."
Revan watched Uthar, with some degree of surprise, for a moment, before she said, "Well, what do you want, then?"
"I said I had a key for that tomb. I found it in one of the Academy's catacombs." Uthar explained, "I'll help you get in there, if you help me."
"What do you want our help with?" Revan asked.
"Disposing of the triplets." Uthar answered, smirking, "Don't care how you get rid of them, I just want them out of my way... then I can become Jorak's apprentice."
Revan considered this for only a few seconds, "All right. Let us in, and I'll get rid of those three for you."
Uthar grinned evilly, "Excellent." he walked over to them, producing a key from a pocket on his jacket, and placed the key in the lock of the tomb. As soon as the door was open, Revan entered, growling, "Stay out of our way, now, Uthar."
The Sith wisely backed off.
The tomb wasn't booby-trapped. Revan detected two beasts that were the same as the beast they had sensed on Kashyyyk, but they were in another part of the tomb, and not an immediate threat. They found the map easily enough. Revan activated the map without the problems she had had on Kashyyyk, and it lit up the interior of the tomb quite spectacularly.
"Wow." Bandon murmured, staring in awe at the map, "This is what you guys have been looking for?"
"No... this is just a map... to guide us to it." Malak answered, "What have we got, now, Revan?"
"We're missing one of the six points of the coordinates for the final location. But we have another planet location, here." she looked up at the two of them, "Dantooine."
"You are bloody kidding me." Bandon said flatly.
"I kid you not."
"If there was something like this on Dantooine, surely the Jedi would have found it by now?" Bandon asked.
"I'd be surprised if they hadn't." Revan agreed, "I'd also be very surprised if they told every Knight and Padawan about the exact location of a source of dark power on one of their planets."
"She's got a point, Bandon." Malak put in, "Do you really think they'd want nosy kids like us running off to investigate something like this?"
"Then why are we here?" Bandon asked.
"Why were we in the war in the first place?" Revan asked flatly, still examining the map intently.
"Um... because you disobeyed the Council?"
"That's right." Revan said, cheerfully. She circled the map slowly, taking in a few more details from it, before stepping back, and allowing the map to close, "Next stop, Dantooine, boys."
x x x
Passing through the Academy, again, they were confronted by Jorak and his three witches. "I don't appreciate being threatened, Revan." Jorak growled.
"And I don't appreciate you getting in my way." Revan said calmly, "Shoo, now, fool."
Jorak's eyes narrowed, and he made a slight gesture to the girls. One of them beckoned Bandon to her, and he obediently went to her. The other two used the Force to physically pull Malak to them. Malak could sense the difference between Stheno and her sisters, now... and one of the two who had drawn him to them was Stheno. She pinned him to the wall, using the Force as well as her own body, "I'll teach you not to fight back, Malak." she hissed at him.
"Sorry, Stheno. There's only one woman I'd ever allow to pin me down like this." Malak said quietly. He tried to push her away, but physically couldn't resist her when she used the Force to enhance her strength.
He noticed Revan throw Jorak across the room, using the Force. Uthar, who must have been lurking nearby, intervened, "Leave him alone, Revan." he snapped.
Revan tilted her head to one side, "Why should I?"
Stheno's hand trailed down Malak's chest, while the other sister traced her fingers over the tattoos on his head. Malak responded to this by using the Force to electrically charge his skin, shocking both of them.
"Because you can't beat both of us, without your bodyguards." Uthar said flatly.
Revan glared at him, "Why do you protect him?"
"Jorak is my Master." Uthar said calmly, "He raised me, he's like a father to me. Of course, one day, I will rise to take his place... but today is not that day."
Jorak smirked as he limped to Uthar's side, "Well said, my boy. Now kill this upstart for me."
Uthar raised an eyebrow at that. Revan laughed at them both, "You're kidding, right?"
Malak chose that moment to lash out at Stheno. Normally, he would never hit a woman, but these two had it coming to them. Especially Stheno. He hit her in the side of the head, with his forearm. The blow was calculated to knock a man unconscious, but he had never fought hand-to-hand against a woman, before... especially not one so thin as Stheno. Her neck was much more delicate than the men he was used to fighting, and it snapped like a twig. She fell to the ground, dead.
Revan sensed the death, and turned to stare at Malak. She was surprised, but not horrified. She threw lightening at the other Sith woman, a lethal dose. Bandon wasn't so eager to fight, however... actually, the Sith who pinned him to the wall had her hand down his trousers, and he certainly seemed to be enjoying it.
Revan turned on the third Sith woman, and lifted her off the ground with Force grip around her throat, dragging her away from Bandon. Revan threw the Sith woman at Jorak, who had the poor timing to have activated his lightsaber a second ago... probably with the intent of using it on Revan... but it ended up impaling the third Sith woman, as she flew into him, knocking him down.
All three of the women were dead, now.
Bandon blinked a few times, looked around, and saw the dead bodies, "What the hell?!"
"Still think you can take us down, Jorak?" Revan asked, amused.
Jorak picked himself up, staring at the dead bodies of his favourite students, "I... no. No, I cannot fight you." he said flatly.
Revan smirked, "Good to see you're not as insane as first appearances led me to believe." she said brightly, "We'll be on our way, now." she turned and swept out of the Academy.
Malak gave Bandon a brief disdainful glance, and then followed Revan. He soon heard the Padawan's footsteps hurrying behind him.
x x x