Chapter 7
Revan and Kyle stood on their ship while Maicah sat, all surrounding the holocron projector located in the east of their little "home." Both Revan and Kyle watched the holocron from the Sith Academy with much interest, but Maicah looked around in boredom. She yawned, leaning back in her chair and propping her legs up on the projector carelessly, crossing her feet in the process.
"We've watched this how many times now? 20? I think we've got all the information we can from this." Maicah said impatiently, placing her hands behind her head as she stared at Revan and Kyle. Revan frowned after a moment.
"You're right. Well, let's talk about what we all heard from it and we'll put the information together." Kyle smiled, looking excited. "Yes, that's a great idea!" Maicah raised a brow, looking to the ceiling.
"Let's start with the obvious" Revan began, "this being is going to be, if it's not all ready, in charted space anytime now. It was supposed to be a very effective weapon used against the Jedi, but the Sith couldn't get to it in time to use on my journey or yours." She motioned to Maicah then continued. "The Sith never specified exactly what it could do; only something about 6 items and gained power." Revan looked at the other two, waiting for some input. Kyle looked deep in thought, but Maicah looked skeptical. "Well, since they couldn't get to this thing in time, maybe they gave up and it won't show up anywhere." Maicah nodded to agree with her own statement and Revan frowned again.
"Do you guys feel something weird?" Kyle asked, breaking the tense silence Maicah had created with her pessimistic thoughts on the whole matter. Revan looked to Kyle then narrowed her eyes, nodding. Maicah's eyes glanced down from the ceiling to her partners. She was surprised she had not felt it before, but there was something wrong. Something was on the ship that didn't belong. She slowly stood, shaking her head.
"Revan, search for any ships that may be on the radar nearby. Kyle…look busy." She left the room, cautiously making her way down the corridors. She kept her eyes open and her ears alert to any noise or sight that would signal her to something. After a few minutes of walking down corridors and checking rooms, she finally came to the sleeping quarters. "Hello?" She called out with a slight grin, not expecting to receive a greeting back. Suddenly, a strong feeling hit her like a wave. It wasn't something she could explain, but she just knew someone was in the room. She became tense, looking around, but saw no one. "Show yourself, now." She demanded, spinning around to see if someone was in the exit. But still, she saw no one.
"If you don't show yourself, I will…-" Her sentence was cut off by a male's voice, one she recognized all too well; one she had dreamt about for so long. "Fine, fine. No need to get all upset. I have to say I'm impressed, and a little disappointed, you've actually remembered our little pazaak mind protecting trick." She spun around again, not believing her eyes. There, upon her bed, sat Atton with a grin on his face. "I would've loved to have heard your thoughts just now. You're just too cute when you're frightened."
Maicah shook her head, stepping back. "I've officially lost it." She mumbled to herself, stumbling back some more until she could clutch the door frame to the quarters for support. Atton stood, a strange smile on his face. "No, you haven't lost it. I've spent quite some time looking for you, but I've found you! Aren't you happy?" His voice, something was different about it.
"You're not Atton." She whispered in confusion. "Atton is dead." Her voice cracked as she spoke the last word, tears filling her eyes. Atton smirked, walking towards her. She wanted to move, to run away from this illusion, this ghost, whatever it was. No matter how hard she tried, she found she just couldn't. Eventually, he was standing directly in front of her. He wasn't fake, he was completely real, but something was different. His eyes, the way he acted, even the way he moved and carried himself. She closed her eyes, keeping them shut. Something about this wasn't right. She had to be dreaming, this couldn't be real. After a few more moments had passed, she opened them again and he was gone. She looked around in confusion, regaining her composure. She could still feel something, but any physical trace of it was gone. After yet another few more moments, she took about six steps into the room and frowned. What was the matter with her? Suddenly, she realized nothing was wrong with her. She was just being foolish; he wasn't gone, only hidden. Hidden with something as simple as a cloaking device. She quickly spun around, lightsaber already drawn and held up to block another from striking her. It's color, a deep, true, burning red was shone reflecting brightly off the face of the man she loved.
"Atton! Why are you doing this?" She asked, strain obvious in her voice. Her eyes watched his face, puzzled as their lightsabers clashed against one another. He didn't answer in words, only with a look of pure hatred in his eyes. Continuously, he made quick attacks on her, but she continued to only defend herself, never making a counter attack on him. Eventually, it proved to be too much for her. He was so strong now, so fierce, she just couldn't defend herself any longer. After what seemed like hours, but was truly only a few minutes, she felt a sharp, excruciating pain in her side. She cried out as he pulled the sword from her side and fell to her knees, clutching her wound and staring up at him. She was confused, not only about why he had attacked her, but why he had switched from using a lightsaber to a sword instead. Suddenly, everything around her began to go fuzzy, and soon after…everything was black.