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Into the Dark SideChapter 7
Zekk wasn't surprised that the homing beacon had stopped transmitting upon Fett's arrival at the deserted ocean planet Ceto. As he piloted the Dragon Heart over the waves, the apprentice could feel that the planet was seeped in the Dark Side, the dark and cloudy sky only increasing the gloomy feel of the world. He landed the ship on one of the deserted floating cities, the location where the homing beacon ceased to transmit.
"This search will be futile," Kirana Ti admitted as she walked down the boarding ramp. "This place is too strong in the Dark Side for us to get a glimpse of what happened here."
Stepping onto the cold metal surface of the city, Zekk shut his eyes, stretching out with the Force. It felt like he was a flower in a field of weeds that were trying to choke his brightness. But he could sense something. Fett had indeed been here. He slowly opened his eyes and stared at an old hut. "Let's look there," Zekk suggested as he stepped forward.
The hut was mostly barren, but Zekk noticed a control panel near the wall. Using the Force to aid his vision, he activated the hut's power generator. After a low whir, the ceiling's glowpanels illuminated the tiny workshop.
"This equipment looks old," Kirana said, noting the Clone Wars era machines that littered the hut. An old holotransmitter resided at the far end of the room.
"Early Imperial or late Galactic Republic," Zekk guessed as he walked over to the old desk, where an old terminal resided. "But this equipment seems to be in perfect working order, almost as if someone repaired it."
"You think Fett did it?" Kirana said as he intently observed Zekk.
"It's possible," said Zekk as he brought the terminal back to life. The apprentice scanned through the files, noting that they were mostly accounting records. But when he tried to access one area, he promptly discovered that it was restricted. "Weird," he said before trying to use a few hacking methods he learned over the years, but made no progress.
"What is it?" Kirana asked as she stared at the holographic screen.
Not even looking at his master, Zekk said, "These accounting records are very recent. But they don't look like they'd be of any use to a bounty hunter." He scanned through more of the accounting files and quickly found more restricted areas, leaving him to draw his own conclusions. "Someone's apparently been doing a lot of business with a planet called Ashgard. Prince Isolder was saying something about that planet."
"This is getting strange," Kirana said. "Something doesn't feel right."
"I agree," Zekk stated. "I think Fett expected us to track him so he could lead us here."
"To find this information?" Kirana thought aloud. "That doesn't make any sense."
"No, it was for another reason," Zekk said. "I doubt Fett would care about this information very much. I don't think it's a link to his employers."
After a few hours of a nearly futile attempt to break into the protected files, Kirana sighed before stepping outside the hut. Zekk shook his head before he felt a sudden surge in the Dark Side that hit him like a tornado on a calm day.
Kirana Ti was at a loss. If her apprentice was right, their trail had run cold. But she didn't know why Fett would lead them to Ceto. She would just have to try to find answers in the Force.
Just as she was about to search for those answers, Kirana felt someone approaching. She ducked out of the way just as a red energy blade cut through the air where she had been standing.
Taking a brief second to stare at her attacker, Kirana noticed she wore a black cloak and had a pale face. She had flowing red hair, but it was well concealed. The hilt of her blade was long like that of a staff.
Wasting no time, the Jedi drew her lightsaber and her violet-white blade roared to life. It was at the right moment as her attacker swung her weapon at Kirana's head. The Dathomirian pivoted and parried the blow. Before her attacker could press forward, Kirana was on the move, changing the angle of her wrist to strike towards the woman's waist.
But like the Jedi, the dark warrior was just as swift, defending expertly before backing away from Kirana to spin and deliver a powerful kick to her chin. The Dathomirian was knocked off her feet and fell onto the metal city surface. Just as she was about to move in for the kill, a teenager with a blue laser sword rushed forward to defend his master.
Suddenly, the woman held out her hand and used a Force push to knock Zekk onto the metal floor beneath him. "You are meddling in matters that do not concern you," she told the duo.
Again, she moved in for the kill. But this time, she was surprised by blaster fire from above. With expert skill in the force, the dark warrior rolled out of the way just in time before leaping to her feet.
A two-seated Drake fighter descended from the heavens, pounding the metal surface of the forgotten city with its blaster cannons to give Kirana Ti and Zekk a change to stand again.
The Dark Jedi leapt onto a water speeder and activated the engines. She quickly sped away from the city, disappearing over the horizon in a few seconds.
Kirana and Zekk were quickly back on their feet just as the Drake fighter landed beside the Dragon Heart. They weren't surprised to see that Doc and Tenel Ka had decided to follow them. The canopy opened and the duo exited.
"Doc!" Zekk exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
Doc placed his feet on the metal city floor before saying, "Master Solo had dispatched us to investigate reports of a presence on Ceto. Looks like we found it."
"She let Tenel come along?" Kirana inquired.
"Meet my new apprentice," Doc said.
"Do you think my mother would have let me come along if I wasn't Doc's apprentice?" Tenel asked.
Kirana and Zekk both suppressed their shock, both knowing that Doc was the least likely Jedi to take an apprentice. "Well, you have a point there," Kirana admitted. "But I'm surprised the Queen didn't have a conniption fit when she found out that the town drunk would teach her daughter the Jedi way."
"Oh, everyone's a comedian," Doc said as he scowled playfully before everyone failed to control their laughter.
"This could work to our advantage," Kirana finally said. "We lost Fett's trail, so we're going to head to Nar Shadda for information. We did, however find some very recent activity here. Someone has been using this planet as a base."
"Some recent accounting records on a computer," Zekk said, pointing in the direction of the hut. "You're better at breaking into computers than I am, Doc."
"We can investigate here," Doc said.
Tenel visibly flinched at the idea of staying in an area strong in the Dark Side, but said nothing.
"Besides, she needs to get to work on constructing her lightsaber," Doc said. "She's not going to use mine to train."
Kirana didn't believe that the princess was ready for that test, but said nothing. It wasn't her place to disagree with someone else's teaching methods. "We'll keep in touch," the Dathomirian said. "May the Force be with you."
The Black Hawk, a ship based on the Sith Infiltrator's design, rocketed out of Ceto's atmosphere. Darth Gorgon was visibly upset as she piloted her new ship. The Jedi had infiltrated her hideaway and probably discovered some of the work she had been doing with the Black Sun on Ashgard. She had to cover her tracks. There couldn't be any risks taken.
With the push of a button, the ship entered hyperspace.
Jacen and Jaina had found themselves once again in another training room in the Shadow Academy. The twins had not seen Lowbacca in over a day, leading them to belief that Brakiss had given the order to train the Wookiee away from the Solos.
For Jaina, it was unwelcome. Ever since the incident in the holo chamber, she had been wary of her brother. Jacen exuded a cool confidence that bordered on dangerous, for it seemed to be the plan that he would try to destroy the Dark Side from within.
"Brother, what is wrong with you?" she questioned, pulling her lightsaber from her belt as she prepared for a new test.
Jacen turned to her, allowing her to see the dark circles under his eyes. "Nothing's wrong," Jacen told her. "I don't think they're going to make us fight this time, but I hope you've been practicing your saber skills."
"I refuse to," Jaina spat venomously. "The teachings here are not the Jedi way."
"Have it your way," he told his sister, turning away from her gaze. "Since I built this weapon, I might as well use it."
"Wait, you built yours!" exclaimed Jaina. "But Uncle Luke said…"
Jacen turned to his sister, his brown eyes are sharp as daggers. "Uncle Luke isn't here!" he returned. "You need to train, but do it however you want. I can't get us out of here if you don't survive."
"What do you mean?" she asked, shocked by Jacen's suddenness.
Without even bothering to look at her again, Jacen said, "You'll see."
Suddenly, panels in the ceiling flipped open, allowing ten training remotes to fall into the room, hovering before they hit the floor. The white and gray spheres were meant to help train marksmen and saber wielders alike, but Jaina had a bad feeling that the Shadow Academy's remotes wouldn't be placed on low settings.
"Five for each of us if it's fair, but don't bet on it," Jacen said casually as he unclipped his recently built weapon from his belt and ignited the scarlet energy sword. Jaina saw now room for argument, promptly activating her ruby red blade.
Without warning, the remotes began to execute their program, launching volleys of high-powered shots at the twins. Jacen narrowed his eyes, opening himself to the Force as his uncle had taught him. Within a split second of the bolts being fired, his hands were already being guided as the energy blade arced from right to left before angling downward, catching three blasts.
Jaina reacted similarly, her red sword swirling through the air as she attempted to block every incoming bolt. Left to right, right to left and differing angles. The twins were doing well enough against the ten remotes, but some shots managed to hit their mark, earning burn marks on their skin.
Seeing his opening, Jacen leapt forward, slicing through two remotes with a fifty degree left to right slash, sending the four smoking halves collapsing to the floor. However, the intense drive allowed the remotes to concentrate on the male twin as he was pelted with powerful bolts. Howling, Jacen instinctively drew on his rage, feeling the power flood his system.
The entire confrontation moved in slow motion for Jaina, but sensing her brother's sharp burst in anger through her twin bond brought her back to reality. Much more was at stake than simple survival. As her brother twirled his blade by his side, knocking back a bolt to the remote, she was on the move, deflecting blasts with a beginner's sloppiness while still maintaining some form of grace. Her red blade pierced a remote. Six remained.
Jacen felt exhilaration beyond anything he had ever experienced in his short life. From the pit of his rage came a surging firestorm of power. Holding the hilt of his lightsaber with his left hand, he held out his right palm, using the Force to ensnare the remotes. Then, using his raw power, the remaining devices crumpled, crushed by the Force.
Jaina backed away from her brother, staring at him apprehensively. "What did you do?" she asked.
As the adrenaline rush of battle ebbed, Jacen deactivated his lightsaber and clipped it to his belt. "I don't know," he finally said after a pause. "I can't describe it."
Eyeing him warily, she closed her energy blade. Just as she returned her weapon to her belt, Brakiss, dressed in black robes, entered the training room.
"Well done," the Dark Jedi Master praised. "You are progressing very nicely, Jacen, but your sister seems to be showing signs of hesitation."
Jacen bowed politely, something his sister refused to do. "I never would have come this far in my training had I remained with Master Skywalker," he openly professed, leaving Jaina to ponder if her brother was really just acting.
Brakiss didn't seem to think so. "Skywalker's methods do not allow people to reach their full potential," he told the twins. Then, to Jaina he said, "You will enter individual training with Garowyn. I will not have you dragging your feet."
"Why can't I train with my brother?" she asked, hating the idea of not being able to protect him from the Dark Side's influence.
"Because I expect results from my students," Brakiss answered. "Until you show results, you are to be kept separate from Jacen."
Jacen visibly flinched, but quickly regained his composure as he watched Brakiss escort Jaina from the training room.
In many ways, Nar Shadda was like Coruscant. Both were masses of rock in space that were mostly covered by buildings. Only Nar Shadda was in Hutt Space and home to some of the galaxy's most dangerous criminals. However, through Kyle Katarn, the Jedi had managed to acquire a few contacts. Kirana Ti hoped they were reliable.
In a small tavern located in Ood City, one of the roughest spots on Nar Shadda, master and apprentice strolled through the crowds, trying to ignore the flagrant drug abuse by the patrons and the sounds of music coming from the stage. They were meeting one man in the office behind the bar.
"So, you wish to know about Fett's activities as of late?" the old human man, Bor Lan asked. He was a husky man with hair that had gone gray years ago, the result of many years of working on the other side of the law and evading the authorities. "There have been a lot of bounties on Hapans lately and many up and comers are eager to take them."
"What about the assassination attempts on the royal family?" Kirana inquired, staring intently at Bor.
"There are two players in this game," revealed Bor.
"Know anything about them?" Kirana quizzed.
"Just that there are two bounties on the princess: one for her alive and the other for her death. The bounty for her death is substantially higher than the one for her life." Bor shrugged and after a pause, offered, "They keep trying to outbid each other, but that's how it stands now."
"It's safe to assume that Fett is out to kill the princess," Zekk said.
"That's pretty much what my contacts in the Bounty Hunter's Guild told me," Bor finished. "I'm sorry that I can't offer more."
Kirana gave the man a false smile. "Thank you for your cooperation," she told him before leading Zekk from the office.
Later, out on the streets of Nar Shadda, Zekk asked, "Do you think he's lying?"
"Possibly," Kirana replied as she wove through the traffic of bodies. "Short of going to the Bounty Hunter's Guild ourselves, I don't see us catching Fett."
"Maybe Doc's found something," Zekk suggested as they approached the hangar where they parked their ship.
Ceto wasn't the ideal training ground for a Jedi. The ocean currents were so rough that Tenel Ka couldn't swim without causing herself any harm. Doc had been busy for two days trying to access the protected files, which would hopefully provide some leads on who wanted her dead.
Though Doc would pop into her new apartment on occasions, providing her moments of instruction, the princess was mostly on her own. She had scavenged for a day to find the components that would make up her first lightsaber. Luckily for her, not all of Ceto's wealth had been plundered. She had managed to find a focusing crystal in one of the city's many computers. The rest of the components were easily scavenged.
Concentration was essential to lightsaber construction for a weapon with faulty design could fail at any time. Doc had told her stories of Jedi during the Clone Wars fashioning a new weapon within a few hours. He had said that though it was possible, it was not a recommended procedure for building a first weapon.
Tenel used a calming exercise to relax her fingers before attaching the power cell to the cylinder that would house her blade. She had taken time the previous day to fashion the cylinder into a shell of the hilt, the notches and grooves for buttons and knobs already cut. Once in place, the princess resolved to work with the mass of wires she had accumulated.
She, like every other Jedi in the galaxy, had already heard of her friends' capture. Tenel had a gut feeling that the abduction was somehow connected to the assassination attempts on the royal family, but she could not find those answers through the Force.
"Keep your mind on the moment," she promptly reminded herself, blinking her eyes before resuming wiring activities. Tenel had never been good with machines in her life. Luckily for her, Doc was a machine expert and had given her a few basic lessons.
After snapping a few more components into place, Tenel heard a ship landing not far from where she was staying. Stretching out with the Force, she could sense that Kirana Ti and Zekk had returned. Leaving her partially constructed lightsaber on her worktable.
Doc was already outside, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched Kirana and Zekk descend the boarding ramp of the Dragon Heart. "Anything?" he asked them.
The Dathomirian shook her head. "Not what we were looking for, but we managed to get some information about the bounty on Tenel," Kirana told him. Then, to the princess, she said, "One bounty is for you to be taken alive, but the other…"
"Is dead or alive," Tenel finished, her voice as serious as her facial features.
"Any luck on the protected files?" Zekk asked Doc.
It was Doc's turn to show disappointment. "Not a lot," he told everyone. "I've decoded some of it. I found out that Dathomir was mentioned a few times."
"Dathomir?" Kirana asked. "Why would anyone want anything to do with my home planet?"
Tenel fought the urge to argue. Though home to honorable warriors, Dathomir didn't offer much material value to anyone other than a large population of Force sensitive inhabitants.
"There's a few mentions about someone named Gorgon in those files," Doc said. "But when I tried to go further, the computer shut down and I couldn't start it again. I have a feeling that I may have hit a dead end here."
"Probably had one of those security checks," Zekk surmised. "You probably needed to do something periodically or it would have wiped the memory."
"Or not do something," Doc said.
"This mystery is getting more complex at every turn," Kirana noted as she looked out to the sea. "Bounties, strange accounts and a mention of Dathomir."
"They have to be linked somehow," Zekk said to his master. "Maybe that fortress we saw on our last approach will hold some answers?"
"It's probably wear that Dark Jedi was hiding out," Kirana said to Zekk, remembering the woman that attacked her a few days ago. She was as cunning as she was deadly and the Dathomirian had been barely a match for her.
"You're probably right," Doc said. "We don't have a reason to stay her anymore. If that Dark Jedi returns, things could get pretty nasty."
"Why don't you and Tenel go check out the link to Ashgard?" Kirana, being the most senior Jedi on the field, suggested.
"If you let us take your ship, sure," Doc said, giving his conditions. "Tenel needs to finish working on her lightsaber and she can't do that in a starfighter."
"The Dragon Heart is yours to use as long as you contact Yavin 4," Kirana said, agreeing with her comrade's sentiments. "We're going to check out the fortress."
Moments later, two ships had departed the city. Tenel tried to wrap her brain around the plot against her life and how it tied to all the new information, but came up empty on her ride towards Ceto's atmosphere.
The Black Hawk landed on one of the many landing pads that now occupied Imperial Central on Ziost. Darth Gorgon was not pleased as she piloted a speeder away from her ship, riding towards the Imperial Palace. She did not want to report her failure to her master, but Lord Fenrir had insisted that she return to Ziost.
As usual, the Sith apprentice had no difficulty entering the heavily guarded palace. She ignored the battalions of Stormtroopers demonstrating outside and the royal guards that seemed to see everything, even without the Force. Her master's throne room awaited her.
Darth Fenrir was staring at the sea from one of the many windows in his throne room. The palace had been constructed many years ago to overlook a bluff. Ancients had believed that power over the sea was very important, even during the years when space travel had become common. The ancient Sith had retained that mentality even after their contact with the Republic of antiquity. The sea was analogous to the Force, a powerful current that could be ultimately bent to the will of the wielder after an incredible amount of training.
"You seem to have attracted some attention to us," Fenrir said without looking at his apprentice. "The Jedi managed to track you to Ceto."
"Blame it on Boba Fett," Gorgon said, choosing her words carefully. "He attempted to assassinate the princess, but the Jedi tracked him to my planet. Fett has no business on my planet because I didn't employ him."
"I'd hope not," came a cold, menacing threat. The Sith Lord turned away from the window to observe Gorgon. "Perhaps it is time to raise our price on the princess?"
"My master, I've poured my family fortune into your endeavors, but I can't afford to compete with this other player," Gorgon said, presenting the facts. "Perhaps I should…dispose of this competitor."
Fenrir appeared in deep thought, as if he had to hesitate about her proposal.
"Master?" Gorgon asked after a pause. Lord Fenrir was rarely at a loss for words.
"It is time for me to accelerate my plans," Fenrir said after his long silence. "Make sure the Jedi can follow your trail this time. I have a use for them."
Gorgon bowed to Lord Fenrir before walking away from her master. She did not Jedi in any other sentence that didn't involve murder, but she would bide her time. Once she had disposed of the Jedi, then she could become the master, a plot that was her closely guarded secret.