Balancing the Force: Part 1

Tredmond sat on top of the Tarentatek's back and watched as the shuttle floated over head. "How are we going to get this, in there?" He kicked the Tatek's husk and glared at Edranus.

Edranus looked at the shuttle and the beast; it was going to be a tight fit. "Tell them to open the main cargo bay."

Tredmond jumped of the husk and looked up, "Open it up, Devin!" The lower cargo hold parted and the ramp slowly descended and then stopped.

Devin replied back over the communicator, "That's as far as it will go!" Devin peered out of the open hatch and down at the monstrous beast below. "How did he kill that thing?"

Tredmond replied back, "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you."

"Tredmond, tell the General that it will be a tight squeeze, but we can't take the ship down any further. The rock face is too narrow for this shuttle."

"Understood." Tredmond walked toward Edranus and sighed. "Like we thought, the ship is too wide for this area. Devin thinks the Tatek will fit, but we can't load it from here."

Edranus nodded. "Tell them to get ready. I'll lift it up to them."

"You'll what?" Tredmond smirked.

Edranus reached out and began to focus. He could move the Force freely, wrapping it around the lifeless beast. He then felt the weight of the Tatek upon his arms, and began to make it rise. Slowly he lifted it, using all of his focus to maintain the Force around the creature and take it higher into the air.

"Incredible!" Sebrani gasped.

Tredmond gazed in disbelief. "No way!" He fumbled the communicator in his hand. "Uhh… Devin. Here it comes!"

Devin looked down as the beast began to float towards him. "Damn! Captain, hold the ship steady and prepare to increase vertical lift! The package is coming in."

- - - - - - - -

The shuttle landed just beyond the rock area after receiving the dead Tarentatek carcass. Tredmond, Sebrani and Edranus slowly began to walk back to the ship, each distracted with their own inner thoughts. However, none of the thoughts were as confusing as Edranus's sudden change of heart.

Sebrani, with her complete loyalty, marveled at the new glow that radiated from Edranus' Force Aura. She knew that the good within him would shine through, but never did she imagine it would come so soon, or be so powerful. She watched his stature, his walk, and even his eye movements. His face was no longer twisted by the dark side, and for a human, Sebrani found him to be very handsome. She girlishly shied away, as if she had just done something wrong.

"Your thoughts betray you, Sebrani." Edranus suddenly stated.

Sebrani averted her eyes, nervously trying not to reveal her deepest thoughts. "It is simply this change within you, master. The light side has…"

"Light side?" Edranus curiously questioned. "You think that I have somehow turned to the Light?"

"Yes… master. Is this not what I sense?" Sebrani looked into Edranus's eyes deeply, and suddenly. She was confused by his question.

"There is more to the Force then Light or Dark. Don't let the teachings of your homeland be forgotten, Sebrani. Haven't you been trained to balance the dark and the light?"

"Yes. Wait … master. What are you saying?" Sebrani stopped walking. Tredmond, who was leading the group, turned to see what the issue was.

Edranus paused and smiled to Sebrani as he always had. "My training and understanding would have me choose, Light or Dark, yet there is something within me that chooses neither. Perhaps your people were right in their teachings. Perhaps it is better to remain … neutral."

Sebrani lowered her head, shocked and mortified at these words. "You … you told me to follow you. To follow you and see the power of the Dark Side, and eventually I could posses this power. I swore to help you regain the peace that you had locked away, yet now… now you say that I gave up my life, my world, for nothing!"

Edranus's smile suddenly faded. "The choice you made to follow me was based on my blind obsession and anger. It was not for nothing. It was a change you had to make to set yourself free. And now you must turn back to what you have forgotten. You must remember the words of your teacher and everything you learned."

"Do not say that!" Sebrani stepped away from Edranus; confusion displayed across her face. "I fought to redeem you, to bring you back from the path of darkness. But now you say that darkness threatens to rule me. Me. The one who loyally served you and stood by you even when you ordered my sisters death! The Tarentatek even said that you were a Jedi! How can you … how can you?"

"I can, because I must. This is what you must accept. My pursuit toward the Dark Side may have faded, but my ideals have not." Edranus stepped closer to Sebrani, cutting the distance between them in half. "I never agreed that I was a Jedi. Therefore you can not confuse me with some lowly Jedi or Sith. What I have become, what now resides within me, is simply my passion. What I have discovered about myself and my past, and the future I must pursue, is who you see before you. The Jedi and the Sith all have it wrong. There is only the Force and the path it has for you. I fought to escape its control, but it is impossible. It had to be removed from me in order for me to understand this. I gained the power I needed, because I allowed the Force to return to me."

Sebrani lowered her head in despair, still confused about what Edranus was saying, and what he was. "Was my sister's death in vain? Did I kill her for no reason because I followed you blindly?"

"No. You never followed me blindly. As I said then, I say now; had it not been her, it would have been you. She would have killed you because of the laws of your people." Edranus stepped closer to Sebrani and attempted to calm her. He placed his hands to her shoulder but Sebrani pushed him away.

"I … don't understand this. There is something about you that I … something that I can not accept." Sebrani pushed passed Edranus and ran toward the ship. Edranus watched as she ran, and he could sense the heaviness upon her heart and mind. The Force was pushing her away from him because of her adherence to the Dark Side.

Tredmond stood at Edranus's side and looked at him from the corner of his eyes. "General, I mean no disrespect, but I sort of agree with her. This is all very confusing."

"I know, Corporal." Edranus began to walk toward the shuttle and Tredmond followed. "It's confusing, and at the same time it all seems very simple."

"General, do you mind if I ask… who's Karen? You said the name when you were fighting the Tatek."

Edranus paused suddenly, but then continued to walk. "Yes, Corporal. I do mind."

- - - - - - - -

Sebrani stepped onto the lift, and pressed the controls to raise it into the ship. It quickly pulled her upward as she paced from side to side. She was still torn between Edranus's words, his actions, and the powerful Aura that surrounded him. Somewhere during their travels together, Sebrani had fully embraced the Dark Side and she could no longer discern the differences within Edranus. Was he good or evil? This was all she could comprehend, yet the instructions of her Teacher filled her mind. His teachings no longer made sense to her, yet only a few days ago it all seemed perfectly clear. She had be trained to remain neutral within the Force, to not allow the influences of the Dark or Light side to sway her powers. Simply, she was trained to find the balance within the Force. But now, she was much to consumed within the Dark Side to understand everything she had been taught.

"What has happened to me?" Sebrani thought to herself. She rubbed her head aggressively hoping that the sensation would calm her, but it didn't. She wanted to lash out, to hit something or to fight, to unleash the aggressive Cathar nature that she had been trained to suppress. The ramp stopped with a soft his and Sebrani opened her eyes, and paused at the sight before her.

"Mana?"

Mana slowly stepped passed the Sith Troopers standing before her, lowering their weapons slowly. "I felt the change the moment it happened. And luckily, you have also felt it. Despite my history with him, Edranus is no longer fit to lead us."

"Mana … you do not know what you are saying. Edranus is…"

"Edranus has turned to the light side! And that is all that matters. He has turned against Revan and that is unforgiveable." Mana stepped closer to Sebrani. "Do you stand with Revan, or Edranus?"

Despite all that she knew, all that she could understand about Edranus and his new power, she felt something that made Mana's words clear and understandable. The Dark Side was absolute, and power ruled absolutely. Her loyalty swayed like a grass in the wind, and she no longer felt any adherence to the thoughts that were clouding her mind.

"Tell me more." Sebrani curiously stated.

- - - - - - - -

Edranus paused as his neared the ship. He gripped Tredmond's shoulder and held him at bay. The disturbance in the Force was heavily weighted, but it was increasingly negative. He could feel them all, everyone aboard the ship, and they were all creating a dense aura of darkness. This was not unusual for Sith crew, yet it was much different then before. Only moments ago, everyone was eager to work together to achieve a common goal, but now there was malice and contempt for each other. Something was causing a great disturbance within his team, and Edranus felt that it was all against him.

"General, what's wrong?"

Edranus removed his hand from Tredmond's shoulder and simply smiled. "Nothing. Let's go." The ramp lowered to the ground and they both boarded. It began to lift them up and Edranus glanced upward into the gazing eyes of Mana. They said nothing to each other, but Edranus knew that something had happened. Once they reached the top and the ramp sealed closed, Edranus looked around for Sebrani, but she was nowhere to be seen.

He looked to Mana, "Report."

"Ship is ready for dust off. The Captain has laid in the course to the Star Forge, and we will arrive in six days." Mana calmly stated. She was off balance however, and Edranus felt it. She was hiding her thoughts and attempting to keep him from reading her mind. Edranus didn't force the issue, he could have easily broken down her mental wall, but he wanted to see what was really going on. Edranus walked further into the ship as Mana pressed the com button on the wall. "Captain. Take off."

The ship began to slightly jostle as the shuttle lifted into the sky and away from the planet's surface. Mana quickly followed Edranus and gripped him by the hand, pulling him toward the ship's crew quarters.

"Mana?" Edranus questioned but received no answer.

Mana quickly looked into the room and made sure it was empty and then pulled Edranus inside, sealing the door behind them. She nervously began to fidget with her thumbs and she paced around the room. Something wasn't right. Edranus peered deeply into her mind and saw the confusion within.

"Mana?" He pressed her questioningly, as if forcing her to acknowledge him.

She snapped to attention. "Forgive me, master. I … I don't know what … what I was thinking."

"Calm yourself, Mana. Clear your thoughts and tell me what's wrong."

Mana stopped pacing and folded her arms across her chest. "Captain Bellmore said something to me while you were out." Mana inhaled deeply calming herself and allowing herself to think freely. "He said that you were not fit to lead us. He convinced me that I … that I should take your spot at Revan's side."

Edranus held his peace and waited for her to continue.

Mana looked away. "I believed him.You let our ship get destroyed, and hundreds of your soldiers died. Bellmore said that you do not have the leadership ability needed for such a task. They were all ready to fight with me … against you. But at the last moment, I … I made them … I told them to leave, and return to their duties. Master, forgive me. I don't know what came over me. Bellmore, he was so convincing, he made me think that I had the power to defeat you. He…"

"That's enough, Mana." Edranus softly added. "Faith in your leader is something that is earned. But I have not forgotten that my crew is based on Sith teachings; the strongest shall rule."

"I have shown my weakness, master. I was afraid of you, and I knew I couldn't win. You may punish me however you see fit."

Edranus smiled softly as he stepped toward the com panel. "Captain, once we've entered hyperspace, come to the crew bunks to discuss the next phase of our mission." Edranus reached out with his hand and Mana's lightsaber pulled away from her arm guard. It flipped end over end, and into his hand. He depressed the com and then looked to Mana. "Sit down till he arrives." Mana obeyed and silent sat on the nearest bunk. A few moments later the door parted and Captain Bellmore confidently walked through.

"I'm here as ordered, General."

"Bellmore, Mana has told me something most disturbing." Edranus smirked. "She says that you told her to take command. Is this true?"

Without hesitation Bellmore proudly responded, "Yes. You have made several mistakes while in command. While you may have been successful in retrieving the Tarentatek, you failed all of the members of your command."

Edranus walked away from Bellmore and stood against the opposite wall. "Mana, have you anything to say?"

"No, master. As I told you, I agree with him. However I would never try to overthrow you!"

Edranus nodded his head, agreeing to what they had both said. "Perhaps I did make mistakes. Perhaps you are both correct. Perhaps Mana should be in charge. However, the rules of the Sith apply here, as you are all Sith troopers. So command belongs to the one with the most power." Edranus began to walk toward Bellmore and held out Mana's lightsaber. "And by Sith law, that would be me."

Edranus stepped forward toward Bellmore, and held the blade of the saber at his throat. But the door slid open and another lightsaber crashed into his and pushed it down. Sebrani stepped into the room, her lightsaber firmly held against Edranus, while Bellmore smiled wickedly.

"Believe what you want, Edranus. Kill him, master. I will be in the cockpit." As if a switch had been tripped, Mana stood from the bunk as the word 'Master' echoed in her head. Bellmore walked out of the room, and Edranus could only watch. He felt a quick something at his side, and realized that his lightsaber had been pulled away. He ducked as Mana swung toward his head. Another swing from Sebrani swept toward his side, he was barely able to dodge. He quickly pushed them both away, sending the two of them slamming into the bunks across the room.

Edranus watched as they both staggered to their feet. "Mana… don't do this." Yet his words fell upon deaf ears. Mana and Sebrani sprang forth, their lightsabers held high, and determination swelling within their eyes.

- - - - - - - -

Several Hours Ago

Bellmore gagged as he recovered his breath. Mana had taken him to the edge of death, but spared him. He frowned sternly at her as he wiped the sweat from his brow.

Mana hovered over his cowering form, "Tell me more of what you think."

"You have all the leadership qualities needed, to lead. Edranus is simply Revan's lap dog. Despite your affection toward him, you will never be able to make him forget his wife." Mana frowned at the words but let Bellmore continue to speak. "He uses you simply as a second attempt at finding something he lost, but he will never let her go. He is using you. However, you can prove to Revan that Edranus is not worthy of this command, and crush him before he tosses you to the side. You've seen how he caters to that lowly Cathar vermin."

"And you are talking nonsense. Edranus may not be a skilled leader, but you can not ignore his power. There is no one here who can best him. And my 'relationship' with him is none of your concern. This conversation is over." Mana's lightsaber glowed to life.

"And if I told you that I can make it possible for you to beat him, what would be your answer? Let me show you." Bellmore pulled a small device from his pocket and smiled. "This can greatly increase your power. Place it within your bio regulator and feel the power it gives you, and then tell me if you still believe that he can not be beaten." Bellmore passed it to Mana and she examined it closely. It seemed to be nothing more than a simple reflex package used to boost physical abilities, yet it had been modified.

"It will take more than this to beat him…"

"It is more than it seems, I assure you."

Lured by the promise of power, Mana slipped the item into her belt holster and it instantly began to inject its payload into her blood stream. But the results were not what she was told it would be.

Bellmore smiled as he watched Mana's pupils fully dilate. "First, we need that Cathar to side with you… Master. Convince her that we must kill Edranus. I will deal with the Troopers. I will obey you, Master. Do you understand, Master?" His words twisted within Mana's head. Calling her 'Master' yet fully ordering her around as if she were a slave; a puppet to his will.

"Yes, Bellmore. I understand perfectly. Edranus will die." Mana smirked wickedly, her mind and body completely folding to Bellmore's mind altering device. Her mind was numb and free to any form of suggestion.

Bellmore turned to his seat as the com channel came to life. "This is Corporal Tredmond, Darth Mana, do you copy?"

"I copy you, Corporal. Report."

"I don't know how, but Edranus found and beat the Tarentatek. Track my signal and bring the ship."

"Understood." Mana nodded and Bellmore closed the channel. "It begins."

- - - - - - - -

Edranus stepped back as Mana stood to her feet and rubbed her head frantically. He had just defended himself against a nearly endless assault from Mana and Sebrani. He watched as Sebrani gathered herself for another charge, but he could see that the confusion within Mana was staggering. Her mind was jumbled, shattered, and chaotic, and Edranus could sense it all. Her ability to wield the Force was slowly fading, and her ability to focus was incomprehensible. She walked back and forth and nearly swung her lightsaber at Sebrani.

"Mana, gather yourself!" Sebrani roared in protest. "I cannot do this without you!" Edranus didn't hesitate to take advantage of this distraction. He pounced, leaping across the room and gripping the hilt of Sebrani's saber. He drove his knee deeply into her stomach, catching her off guard and subduing her in one quick attack. She crumbled to the floor and blacked out.

Edranus then turned his attention to Mana, blocking the wild swing from her lightsaber, and than froze her in place with a stasis grip. She froze, yet the uncontrolled aggression within her snarled to be free from the Force holding grasp.

Edranus stepped closer and glared into her eyes. All he could see was hate and confusion, and he didn't understand why. It had come so suddenly and Edranus could not believe that this was the woman that swore her soul to him only a few days before.

"Did I do something to bring you to this, Mana?" Edranus pleaded. He knew that the stasis field would only hold her for a few more moments. "Was it my decision to take Sebrani with me and leave you here, or did Bellmore say something more? Did he say something to turn you against me? I … I can't do this without you Karen…" A slip of the tongue, but none the less he had said it. That moment slipped away from him as the name of his dead wife flowed from his mouth. Edranus froze and watched as the Stasis field around Mana vanished.

She staggered forward blankly gazing at him as a tear rolled from her eyes. Not even the mind control could keep her from feeling the heartache of hearing Edranus call her by his departed wife's name. The mind device feed off of this sensation and increased its hold upon her, using what she had just felt against her.

"You were going to use me!" Furious, Mana attacked. Blindly, she swung her lightsaber in wide arcs, slashing the wall, ceiling and floor of the bunks. Edranus easily dodged her attacks, and even though he knew it would be pointless he attempted to put another Stasis field around Mana. She easily resisted the duplicate attack, even in her weakened condition.

Sebrani shook the cobwebs from her head and rubbed the bruise upon her stomach. She looked up as a wild swing from Mana scorched the deck beside her. She rolled clear and reached for her lightsaber; ready to assist Mana in Edranus's fall.

Edranus reached out and pulled the saber away from Sebrani. As it floated toward him he cut the hilt in half, and returned to defending against Mana. Sebrani slammed her fist to the ground. Without her blade, she stood no chance of fighting against Edranus.

"You swore to me… you swore that you would not turn against me!" Mana blindly roared. Confused and manipulated by the device attached to her side, she angrily spat words that had no logical connection to what she was truly thinking. "I gave my life to you! Yet you call her name!" Her mind was being filled with hatred, spewing words that only increase her anger. This was the power of the mind device given to her by Bellmore. She lunged forward, and trapped Edranus in a corner. He reared back to block against another wild swing, but his arm hit the wall. He blocked Mana's lightsaber yet he couldn't maneuver. He pressed his thumb to the power control, yet it didn't turn off fast enough.

Mana fell upon the blade and slumped into his arms.

"No, no, no, no, no…." Edranus dropped the powerless hilt and cradled her waist. He then cupped her head close to his chest. He slid down the wall as Mana drew upon her last breaths, and faded from life. Her body went limp, lifeless in his arms, and his own lightsaber fell from her hands. There was a cold sense of irony that she was killed by her own saber, but this was the furthest thing from Edranus's mind. "You can't. Don't die. Mana."

Sebrani gripped Mana's lightsaber and hovered over them. She watched as Edranus pulled at her lifeless body, reaching for her personal communicator, and attempt to call someone to help. But even if someone with medical training came, there was nothing that could be done for Mana. The saber wound was through the heart.

Sebrani powered on the lightsaber, but Edranus didn't care. She stepped closer, but Edranus didn't care. She raised the blade to swing, but paused as she watched at tear roll from his eyes. She listened as Edranus pleaded for someone to come and help her, but no one answered the com. The door flung open and Tredmond stumbled in.

"What in the hell?" Tredmond stumbled across the room and examined Mana's wounds. "What happened, General?"

Edranus could barely form words, so Sebrani stepped forward and turned off the lightsaber she held; Mana's saber. "She was tricked into doing something she never would have done. And so was I." She leaned over and placed a hand on Edranus's shoulder and she was instantly pulled into his mind again. She could see it, just as she did before; the perfect balance of light and dark within him. Edranus was no longer the dark storm of chaos she saw when she first touched him. Now he was calm and balanced, not light nor dark, he was something in between. Sebrani remembered when she began to change. It was when she first touched him and saw within him. That moment she was on her home planet, struggling to find a way to escape from him, it was the moment she saw into his tormented will that she gave in to him. She became dark in order to align herself with him. She understood now, she felt the change wash upon her, and soon she would began to realign herself with him. The closer her contact to him, the closer their alignment would be. But what was this bond they shared and what would be its affect? Sebrani pulled away, releasing Edranus's shoulder and stepped back.

Sebrani looked to Tredmond and pulled her cloak upon her head. "Can you fly this shuttle?"

Tredmond looked at her curiously. "Of course, but the Captain is…"

"Stay here, Tredmond, and watch after my … my master." Sebrani turned and walked out of the cabin. The door closed behind her and Tredmond sighed heavily.

"General. I'm sorry. She's dead." Tredmond could only watch as Edranus pulled Mana's body even closer, fighting against the anger and pain in his heart. "Did, Sebrani do this, Sir?"

With his head buried into Mana's shoulder, Edranus simply muttered, "No. I did."

Sebrani slowly walked passed the technicians and the troopers as she made her way toward the cockpit. She watched as Captain Bellmore spun in his chair and looked at her.

"Is it done?"

Sebrani left the hood upon her head, cloaked mysteriously in the dark aura. "No. He still lives. But he is in no condition to fight. He has lost the will to fight once he killed Mana."

Bellmore stood. "Mana is dead and you stand here as if everything is fine? If given time he will regain the strength to fight! Get back there and kill him. Finish what Mana started!"

"Who are you?" Sebrani softly questioned. "Why and how did you convince Mana to turn against her master? This is more than a Sith trying to gain power. This is some form of trickery."

"Mana started this …"

"No." Sebrani interrupted. "No she did not. She loved him. She loved him more than she loved herself. Yet you sat idly by and waited. What were you waiting for? When the battle began, you said you would help, yet you did nothing. Now, that I have cleared my mind of confusion, I feel that somehow you put Mana up to this." Bellmore backed away, struggling to maintain his usually calm persona, but Sebrani pushed deeper into his mind. "Tell me, Captain, what is your role in this betrayal?"

Bellmore could feel Sebrani's power diving into his mind, searching, seeking, and tearing away at the thoughts he was having. Anger, hatred, trust, lust, love … Sebrani tore it all way in order to find the true meaning.

"As I said, it was Mana." Bellmore gripped his temple, fighting off the invasive probe.

Sebrani focused. "And within your mind… I see … a device. You gave it to Mana. She took it freely and … you used her feelings against her."

"Kill her!" Bellmore screamed as the two technicians pulled out their blasters, but before either of them could fire at Sebrani, she had already severed their heads. Bellmore stepped back and quickly drew his blaster and fired one bolt, thinking he had caught Sebrani off guard. She blocked it with her open palm and reflected it back at him. The blaster bolt struck him in his hand, forcing him to drop his blaster. He grunted in pain and backed away from Sebrani.

She glared at him from the shadows of her hood. "Why?"

Bellmore held his hand and answered directly. "Because it is the way of the Sith. But so long as you Force wielders exist, I will never rise to the top as I should. This was my chance. My chance to show Revan that even a normal Trooper could complete difficult assignments. But I needed the Tatek's corpse first. Controlling Mana was simple, her love for him was blinded by your presence, and then he changed after fighting the Tatek. That only made things easier." The hiss of a lightsaber cut Bellmore's words short.

"This hilt belongs to Mana. It is only justifying if it be the one that cuts you down." Sebrani heard footsteps behind her and turned just as two Sith Troopers began to fire with their rifles. She blocked the massive weapons as best she could but two rounds slipped through and struck her across the leg. She stumbled and Force pushed the two Troopers away. She then turned as Bellmore picked up his blaster, and she stabbed him through the chest. She pulled the saber from the wound and cut off both of his hands. She stood and gasped at the pain in her leg, but she knew that it wasn't going to stop her. Bellmore tilted forward and landed face first upon the cockpit deck.

Another blaster volley scorched the wall of the cockpit and Sebrani darted into the mix. There were three more Sith Troopers to deal with, and they were all wearing their full battle armor and helmets. She dodged quickly into the open compartment and the Troopers couldn't keep up with her speed. She slashed one of them across the waist cutting his torso in half. The other pulled up a long Vibrosword and attacked. His ability to fight with the weapon was honorable. The vibrosword was designed to resist the lightsaber. While it was not as powerful as the Jedi and Sith weapon, the vibrosword was useful for anyone with adequate dueling abilities; this trooper was well prepared. Sebrani, hindered by the wound in her leg, jousted against the man and was easily able to defend against his attacks. However, she couldn't muster the leverage to attack. The other trooper fired at her from the side, and she found him to be an easier target. She quickly side stepped the sword baring Trooper and stabbed the other.

"Mikal!" The sword barring Trooper shouted as he watched his partner crumble. Sebrani instantly recognized the name and the voice that said it. She had just killed Mikal and Devin was the Trooper holding the vibrosword. "You Cathar bitch!" Devin, the old and experienced trooper, charged Sebrani again. Sebrani raised her saber and the two weapons collided.

- - - - - - - -

Tredmond stood at the door ready to fling it open and rush out to assist his team. "What is she doing?"

"Correcting a mistake." Edranus whispered.

"General, she's killing my men! I can't stand here and do nothing!"

"You leave this room and she will kill you."

Tredmond looked down at Edranus with a curious gaze. "You told her to do this?"

"No. But she feels that this is what needed to be done. They tried to kill me. Mana and Sebrani. They attacked me as if I had betrayed them. She went to find out why, and this is the result. You weren't involved in this, Corporal. But if you go out there and assist your men, you will die."

Several blaster bolts echoed beyond the door, and Tredmond instantly recognized the sound of Mikal's modified Sith Rifle.

Tredmond jumped up and pressed his ear to the door. "Mikal." He pulled his personal com from his pocket and called out. "Devin, Mikal, get to the back of the ship. This isn't our fight! We will work with the General! Copy?" No answer returned. Where they dead or unable to answer because they were in the heat of combat? He quickly slapped the wall door control and it slid open.

"Corporal, this is combat situation and she is surrounded by the enemy." Edranus looked up as Tredmond began to walk out. "If you go out there, there is no telling what will happen."

Tredmond ran into the main compartment as Devin valiantly fought against a wounded Sebrani. He spotted Mikal's body lying lifeless on the deck and he ran closer.

"Stop it!" Tredmond shouted. Sebrani backed away from Devin, but he rumbled towards her again. "Devin, that's an order!"

"She killed Mikal and the others!" Devin aggressively replied. "We'll be next if we don't stop her!"

Sebrani roared back, "you sided with the Captain against Edranus!"

Tredmond pleaded, "So did you, or have you forgotten?" Sebrani lowered her head in shame. Tredmond stood between them. "We are going to work with Edranus from now on. I don't know what happened while we were gone, and at this point it doesn't mater. We have always supported the General, and that can't change."

"Bellmore lied to you, Devin. He lied to all of us. My master is not going to betray you. I made a mistake and fell from the path; my oath to my master."

Tredmond walked closer. "No one else has to die. The captain started this, and now it's over. Lower your weapon. That's an order." Devin slowly lowered his vibrosword and walked to Mikal's body. Sebrani powered off her lightsaber and exhaled deeply. She then began to limp back to the cabin.

Tredmond watched as she walked off. "Sebrani. We'll clean things up. But I want you to remember what happened here." She simply nodded, and continued to walk toward the back of the ship.

Devin pulled off his helmet and cursed beneath his breath. "She killed the entire command crew before I even knew what was happening."

"Be thankful she didn't kill you." Tredmond sighed as he knelt over Mikal's body. "Poor kid."

"I don't trust her, Sir." Mikal added sternly. "She turns sides too fast. What's to stop her from turning against us again?"

"From what I can understand, so long as she's close to the General, she'll stay loyal to him." Tredmond rubbed his chin in thought. "Since Mana is dead, I don't thank we'll have a problem with Sebrani. However, I'm worried more about the General. If either of them is going to go off the deep end, it might be him."

"I say we jump ship. It'll be six days till we get back to the Star Forge. We may not make it alive with those two onboard."

"Let's not be too hasty." Tredmond laughed. "Don't forget, Bellmore started this uprising, and unless we try to cross them we should be fine."

"Too many 'what if's' for my taste." Devin sulked. "From what I've gathered, you never trust a Sith Lord."

"Well, no need to worry about that. They aren't Sith ... I think."

- - - - - - - -

Edranus held Mana close; her body began to grow colder by the moment. Soon all that would be left of Mana would be a cold lump of human flesh. He didn't want to loose her. He didn't want to forget her the way he lost his wife.

"Karen." He mumbled softly.

Her memory was so distant. The way she felt, how she talked and laughed, her smile… everything was distant. Darkness had washed her memories away, and he had fought to replace Mana as the new love in his life. They had not shared much time together, and their feelings were never shared. Edranus recalled the one passionate night they shared together on the Cathar world. It was after they had capture Sebrani, and it was that night that they shared their unspoken bond, however it was now just a memory; but a memory that he did not want to forget.

"What can I do?"

"Who are you asking?" Through his mind the voice echoed.

"Who is this?" Edranus whispered to himself.

"Across space and time, you have felt me and my presence. You have called out to a distant wind, and now you ask whom it is you speak. How fickle your mind is. Though you may have reason to ponder 'how' you are talking to me."

"Are you, another of the Tarentatek's?" Edranus questioned.

"There it is. This explains to me the heart of your power and why it radiates even from my seclusion on the far side of space. The beast that Revan has sent you to acquire? No, I am not. But a powerful ally I can be, if you trust me."

"Trust in what I can't see? Unless you wield the Force from beyond the grave …"

"Beyond the grave? You think that you have contacted me from beyond death? You think to highly of yourself. Or perhaps… you did not know that you could do such a thing."

"Who are you?"

"Your mind, it is filled with pain yet you cling to something very dear to you. Deeper I must look into you and your being. Let me see the pain that consumes you. Yes… there it is … a woman. Life has left her yet her Force Aura is … bonded to you. She is holding on to you, even in death. If you want her, I can show you how."

"Please… tell me!"

"It is not a difficult thing for you to achieve. You have done it before, but now you must do it again. Feel her Force power before it fades. Call upon it, and seize it within your grasp. Make her a part of you by embracing her Force Aura. You will be together, as she will become a part of you."

Edranus focused and sensed the dwindling Aura swirling from Mana's lifeless form. The Force that made up her very being began to flow away, drifting into the drifting flow of the Force. If he left her alone, she would simply become one with the Force, yet if what the voice was saying is true, Mana did not want to go. As he has done only twice before, Edranus drew the Force from Mana's dead body and feed upon it. He could feel her within him, her mind swirling into his own, becoming one and the same, yet Edranus was still himself. He could feel Mana's emotions; her joy and fears.

"And now, you are one. Yet you will not hear her, you will not see her, you can only feel."

"Thank you." Edranus smiled. The door opened and Sebrani hobbled inside. Edranus laid Mana's form on a nearby bunk and stood over her. "How did you know?" He thought to himself.

"Your pain called out to me. And now, I ask a favor. Join me."

Edranus looked at Sebrani as she slowly sat on the opposite side of the room. He thought within himself, "I must report to my master first."

"To Revan? I gave you the means to hold close the feelings of your departed love, yet you seek to face something you are not yet ready for. You must not go to Revan's side, not now. The Revan you knew is no more. Malak is even now in the midst of fleeing Revan's vengeance. Revan is now too far from you, and there is no longer any place for you to stand."

"What has happened?"

"Come to me, and I shall reveal all. But going to the Star Forge now, would only result in your doom."

"How do you know so much?"

"Again you question, yet my answer remains the same."

"I contacted you, and you aided me. I will trust you for now, yet if you cross me or anyone within my team, you will suffer."

"I only ask that you Join me in my cause… you may know of it."

"Tell me."

"Our goals are the same, while you are indifferent to the cause you still believe in achieving it. Together, we can defeat the Jedi council."

The words sent a chill down Edranus's back, remembering his vow to see them pay for their actions. "Who are you and where can I find you?" There was something about this voice that he needed to submit to, and the Force was calling him to go there. Was this the voice of the person he sensed not too long ago?

"It is the world where your power was first discovered. It is the world where your first life ended and your second life was born. It is the world where darkness now reigns and a new life still awaits you. Come to Malachor 5 and I will find you. I have an academy here and pupils that train in the dark arts. My name is Traya, and I will be your greatest ally."

To be continued.

Notes: Deeper into the mind of torment we go as the will of the Force and Edranus's mind collide. What is Traya's part in all of this? Well now, have you ever wondererd "how" Traya knew so much about the Void in the Force? She had a reason for searching for the Exile in KotOR 2... perhaps she encountered another hole in the force before. And don't be surprised by what is coming up next... because it isn't what you think.