"That is why," Ithica's voice carried across the Plaza as the Sullustans gathered around, "You have been chosen to be an example." The large screen hid the contours and features of his face, Krii'nek knew it was Ithica. Even know, twisted and changed, Krii'nek could pick out the familiar tones that Ithica spoke with. He had only met the Twins once but they were so memorable he would never forget.
Krii'nek ducked low and slid between two short Sullustans, his nimble, Bothan frame glided effortlessly through the thick crowd. There were large screens like this one all over the city. It usually gave good news, updates on the Republic, happenings all over the galaxy. Today, however, it broadcast the ultimatum that Ithica now delivered.
"You will be pleased to know that your deaths will prevent any further bloodshed. Your lives will show the only alternative." The shadowy thing, that used to be a Jedi, straightened. "Your deaths will signal the Republic to surrender to the might of the Sith!" The pride that the voice emanated turned Krii'nek's stomach.
"You underestimate the will of the Republic." A Sullustan male shouted in the throng of onlookers. The crowd murmured responses, some were affirmations of strength, and some were negations of power. The tension was almost palpable to the Bothan Watchman.
The screen suddenly snapped off and sent a wave of gasps through the crowd. Without warning, the ultimatum was finished. Krii'nek had arrived late and missed the first part of the speech; though he was sure that he could fill in the rest.
Krii'nek crouched down among the crowd and fished in his pocket. The device he carried was a long shot, especially if they were jamming any transmissions from the surface. Krii'nek wasn't even sure if the small transmitter would reach his friend. It is worth a try. Krii'nek smiled to himself as he remembered an old Jedi saying: There is no try.
Krii'nek flipped open the small device and thumbed the transmitter to life. A small screen reflected a hologram of his face, distorted into an eerie blue. The recorder had already started.
"Korin, my friend." Krii'nek spoke low and fast. "Something is happening on Sullust. I could use your help." Krii'nek snapped closed the transmitter. The message had a better chance of getting through if he kept it short. He deposited the transmitter back into his robes and drew out his data-recorder. The small round media receiver would be his next gamble.
Krii'nek stood and looked to the public screen. Under it were several public access terminals. These terminals would hold the information about the transmission that was just broadcast to the world. Krii'nek made his way to the terminal and plugged in the recorder. His hands worked the controls and began the download the entire transmission. The data streamed slowly, due to access overloads. In less than 5 minutes the transmission was the hottest thing on the planet and everyone wanted to understand what was about to happen.
Krii'nek turned from the terminal, letting his recorder do the work, and took in the plaza. The main city was huge and sprawling, not as large as Theed or Taris, but it was still impressive. Krii'nek had turned the city into his headquarters when he had come to the planet as it's Watchman. He hoped that it would remain.
It was hard for Krii'nek to understand what happened next. A great swelling in the force poured through his senses and his muscles twitched. An electric hum started to fill the air around him and Krii'nek began to panic.
He turned and snatched the recorder from the terminal. It didn't matter whether or not the downloading was complete. If he didn't act fast, there would be nothing left to care about.
"RUN!" He shouted out, his loud voice carrying through the Plaza. "Get out of the city, now!"
Some in the crowd followed his advice. Others stood and stared straight up. Krii'nek didn't look up, he didn't want to. He already knew what was coming.
Bending his short legs, the Jedi Watchman leapt over the heads of the people in the crowd. He landed with a start in the center of the Plaza and was instantly in the air. He had to keep moving if he was to stay alive.
Ithica stood in the front section of the bridge. The view of Sullust was magnificent. The light brown of the world seemed to fit the mood. Soon there would be large black score marks but that would add to the effect he wanted to send; the message to the Republic that his master had entrusted him with.
"This is it, Lorgan." Ithica crossed his arms in front of his chest. "This is our destiny." The words that weren't Ithica's poured out of his mouth. He felt each syllable in the back of his mind and each word stung him. He fought against the thing that spewed out the words, fought against the presence that drove his body. Ithica wanted to scream, the thing that was wearing Ithica simply smiled. "This is how our futures will be shaped, Lorgan."
The Captain said nothing. He stood staring out of the viewport. Looking to the planet below. No doubt he was working out a strategy for the attack. Always the workaholic.
Ithica smiled as he turned from the viewport. "Destroy it." He ordered as he walked away. "Erase it from existence."
Korin stood with the air whipping around him. The hill on which he stood seemed like it was melting as the sand blew off of it. The sand was everywhere; in Korin's hair, in his mouth, in his shirt. The way his body felt gritty made him all the more unpleasant. He could only guess what the Hooded-One felt.
The Hooded-One was as strange as the planet that Korin now stood upon. He was not tall, not particularly built. In fact, he was rather small. In his hand he had a bright red lightsaber. Under the hood, Korin could see nothing of his face. He couldn't tell if this person was a Human or otherwise. This one was an enigma.
Reaching out, Korin could feel the other Jedi that he stood with. The most prevalent within the force was Master Adaffa. Second, after him, was Master Yokit the Whill. Korin could easily feel the others that stood with him. Master Vandaar and then Joran Bender; they too stood on the dusty hill.
Ahead of Korin, deeper in the depression that was at the bottom of the hill, was the leader of the
Jedi Council. Master Renbe'cul stood with his arms outstretched, his saber extended.
At that moment, Korin realized where he was. He wasn't on some distant planet. He wasn't even awake. He had been fooled like this before. Almost every time he had a vision he believed it was real for the first part of it. Today, as he looked at the saber of Renbe'cul, a saber he had never seen, he realized he was deep in a vision.
Still, for a vision, this felt very much real. He could feel the weight of the saber hilt in his hand. He could feel the other Masters and Joran through the force so vividly that it was almost like they were there. He could feel the Hooded-One too. The hate and fear emanated from the Hooded-One so much that Korin almost had to take a step back. Almost.
Without a word, all of the Jedi extended their sabers. The first into the fray was Renbe. His saber flashed up and whipped around in a wide arc. The Hooded-One deftly avoided the strike and slashed back with his saber. The energy blades sparked and shuddered as the two met and riposted.
After another strike, the Hooded-One leapt above the Council Master. As he landed behind Renbe, the bright red saber snapped straight behind him.
Korin felt Renbe die before his eyes ever processed the information. It was like a great hole in the force just opened up. Like a star collapsed to become a black hole. Korin's heart sank as he watched Renbe's body slump to the ground. The Twi'Lek lay lifeless in the dirt of this planet Korin had never visited.
The next to go was Master Vandaar. He leaped into the depression with his golden double-blade spinning. The Hooded-One stepped to the side and brought his saber up. The red blade passed through Vandaar's waist and felled the Master like some great tree. His body tumbled to the dirt to lay as lifeless as Renbe'cul.
Letting out a great scream, Yokit flew into the battle. The small Whill didn't have a chance to defend as the saber blade traveled into his small chest. The little Master gave one last dying gasp as the Hooded-One tossed away the body like a discarded toy. Korin looked into they eyes of the Whill as he lay there. His face was knotted into an expression of betrayal. Korin couldn't guess why.
Master Adaffa slowly walked into the depression. He drew out his force whip and let the chain fall to the dirt. The energized metal chain sparked and danced on the ground. Turning bits of the dirt into superheated glass. Master Adaffa said nothing. He stood, simply, and stared at the Hooded-One.
Without a word, the two moved in on one another. Master Adaffa let his whip fly up and snap at the Hooded one. The energy whip cracked and snapped at the air. The Hooded-One had more of a problem avoiding the Jedi Master's weapon. He dodged to the side and tried to make a strike with his saber. Each time, his blade never met and was batted away by the energy whip.
With another dodge, the Jedi Master moved in to make a kill. This time, because of his zeal, the Jedi was bested. As the whip came around, the Hooded-One ducked under it and leapt up. His saber traveled through the middle of the Jedi Master and all of Adaffa's limbs snapped taut. The servos and cybernetic implants that kept Adaffa alive now shorted out. The Jedi Master fell to the ground and twitched as the last bits of electricity faded out of the Master. Korin felt a great heaviness in his heart.
Joran ignited his two sabers and, using every bit of Ataru he could, leapt towards the Hooded-One. His twin blades whipped around and batted away the red saber. Spinning, he lashed out with both sabers. The Hooded-One barely had time to get out of the way. The red saber tried to make it's way in at Joran's side. Joran was too good for that and he slapped away the saber.
Lashing out again, the Jedi Fencer was on the Hooded-One. He used all of his strength to overpower the Dark Jedi. The Hooded-One fell back onto his knee and struggled to keep upright.
Joran screamed as he brought both sabers up in a killing blow. Korin winced, even a Padawan could see the glaring hole in his defense. The red saber snapped up and through Joran's stomach. A bright red light poured out of his mouth followed by a great gout of blood. Korin's heart sank further.
The Hooded one stood upright as Joran's body fell to the ground. It was a defiant gesture to make to the Jedi Knight that stood now. Korin remembered the weight in his hand and he looked down to the golden energy blade. The weapon had been his tool over the last 17 years and he was now going to use it on this planet he had never been. Against a foe he had never known.
Though he couldn't see the Hooded-One's face, he knew that a smile was spreading across his evil face. Korin gritted his teeth and squeezed the saber as hard as he could. His knuckles were white as Korin started to walk towards the Hooded-One. Every time his feet fell, Korin became more determined. He would end this Hooded-One, or die trying.
"In the name of the Jedi Council, I hereby place you under arrest." Korin raised his saber and leveled it right at the Dark Jedi's chest.
"What council, Jedi?" The Dark Jedi spat from beneath the hood. Korin could almost make out the voice, though the name escaped him.
The Hooded-One raised his red blade and let it touch Korin's golden saber. The two blades sparked off of one another and Korin didn't move. He kept his gaze on the hood. His eyes tried to penetrate the great darkness but he, ultimately, wasn't able to.
Korin smiled, it didn't matter who this dark one was. He would dispense justice equally. Korin swung his saber wide and began his fight. He brought the saber around and struck with the Dark Jedi. He then brought the saber around in a quick arc into the red blade again. Each strike, each riposte, was a marvel of Shii-cho. Nothing was fancy. Nothing was grand. He simply struck with deliberation and purpose.
Neither the Dark Jedi nor the Jedi Guardian gave up an inch of room. They stood stalwart as they slammed sabers together. Korin followed the moves of the Dark one and used them to his advantage. He could almost tell what the Dark one was going to do next. It was like he had trained this Dark One himself.
With a spin, their sabers met and stayed. Bright flashes sparked off the blades as their faces grew together. "Who are you?" Korin asked. His question went unanswered.
The two then struck sabers once more, this time a quick low strike. They both spun in the same manner and hit sabers again. This time, like before, the sabers stayed connected. Korin and the Dark Jedi took a step into one another. "Who are you?" Korin asked again. He wanted to know. He needed to know. He needed to find out who just murdered his family. He wanted to look this one in the eyes.
With their sabers still connected, Korin reached up and pulled the hood from the Dark Jedi. At first he couldn't believe his eyes. He wouldn't believe it. How could he?
Korin opened his mouth to scream, just as the Dark Jedi was beginning to laugh.
Korin sat bolt upright in his bed. The sweat dripping off of his brow. He didn't know where he was and he couldn't see anything in the darkness of the room. Korin began to panic and he reached up his hand. As he found the first object, he drew it to his hand with the force. He thought it was his lightsaber, instead he got a houseplant. The large vase flew into his fingers and caused Korin to curse as it tumbled to the ground, spilling its contents on the floor.
Cursing even more, Korin threw off the sheet on the bed and stumbled across the room to the glowing touch panel. With a flick, he turned on the lights. In less than a second, the room was bathed in the soft orange glow of the lamps.
Korin sighed as his eyes searched the room. When he didn't find anything, Korin allowed himself to relax. Nothing was out of place, save for the vase he had mistaken for a saber.
Cursing himself again, Korin went to pick up the remnants of the houseplant. He wasn't mad because he mistook the houseplant for something it wasn't. He was angry because he had fought for months to smuggle the Blumbush out of Yavin. Most of everything from that dark planet was illegal. Especially this bush. It was said that the bush could give you long life if you kept it near you while you slept. Korin didn't believe such superstitions, but still, it was good to have around. The plant helped him relax.
Korin couldn't shake the image of the Dark Jedi from his mind. He saw it every time he blinked. It was eerie. Nothing had ever shaken Korin this much. He finally resolved that he needed to speak with someone about this.
Korin dressed quickly and then left his room. The interior lights of the Fearless were dimmed; everyone except back-up personnel were asleep. Korin didn't really know whom he wanted to speak to about the dream. He wasn't even sure he wanted to speak about it. The dream, no, vision, the vision had been disturbing. Korin couldn't even guess on what it meant.
Korin moved forward in the D-15 cruiser. The Fearless was quite a ship when it was in action. Right now, as it traveled through hyperspace, it seemed like a sleeping giant. Korin knew what the ship could do, right now it did nothing.
Korin looked at the walls of the ship. The D-15 cruisers were such an odd design scheme. The walls were cut at odd angles and the edges were very abrupt and sharp. There was a certain appeal to the design but Korin failed to see it. He meandered around the ship further. Some times he changed decks, sometimes he would stop off in rooms that were unoccupied. He didn't really know where he was going.
Korin's mind, however, knew exactly where it was going. He wandered about the memories he had and then his focus came on the future. Ever since he set out from Dantooine on the Fearless his mind was alive with thoughts of what was happening in the galaxy. Reports of attacks from an unknown enemy were pouring in from countless systems. Some were just small hit and runs, others were large scale bombings. All of the attacks had the same aggressor. The Republic had yet to know just who the aggressor was.
Working off of what little data was gathered, Korin was starting to form an accurate picture of how the enemy worked. They would roll into a system, do what needed to be done and get out without any danger of counter action. That fact struck Korin the most; they were efficient. Far more efficient than the Republic, Korin thought.
Korin found himself walking through the door to the repair bay. No one was on duty so he was alone to marvel at the craft that sat before him.
The Republic had a lot of different types of fighters. The Chandra-class was one of the best. Because of its cost, the Republic as a whole never adopted it. Instead, they used the snub fighters that stood off to the side of Korin's own. The snub fighters, nicknamed Proton Coffins, were what the Republic based its defense on. The fighters contained one pilot in an upright standing position. The only thing that didn't make them look like a coffin was the small engine pods that protruded from the back.
As he brought his mind back to his star-fighter he marveled at the sharp contours to the craft. It, unlike the Coffins, held the pilot in a more traditional seated position. The fighter, often times regarded as a Jedi Star-Fighter, was over three meters long. It had small triangle wings that housed the weapons systems along with some of the sensor equipment. There was space, directly behind the pilot, for the standard astromech that helped the pilot with calculations and other flight activities.
Korin stepped up to the mirror like canopy and thumbed in the combination to open the fighter up. When it had raised, Korin stepped in and closed it down. When his ears had popped from the compression, Korin sighed. Already, he felt better. Whenever he was in a place like the fighter's cockpit, he felt the most useful. He felt like he could face anything that might upset him or cause him stress.
He slouched down in the seat and let his headrest against the plush seat behind him. Too often, when he was in a dogfight, he never took the time to enjoy the ship's comforts. Korin closed his eyes and tried to focus on something. Something tangible, something that he could use. Korin drifted off into thought for a moment. A short moment, however, as a small beep resonated from the cockpit of the fighter.
Korin opened a single eye as he scanned for the source of the beep. Within an instant, he sat bolt upright and searched for the small transmitter that he kept in the cockpit. Korin had five of these transmitters, each of them tied to a Jedi that was operating across the galaxy. Joran, Adaffa, Krii'nek, Tyridac, and Vandaar all possessed one. Finding it tucked under the instrument panel, Korin brought it up to his face.
The scrolling text across the face of the receiver alerted him as to the sender of the message, it was Krii'nek. He clicked it on to converse with his friend. The receiver crackled as he heard the gruff voice of the Bothan Watchman on the other end.
"Korin, my friend, something is happening on Sullust, I could use your help." With that the receiver clicked off. The Message was done. Korin sat back in his seat, puzzled.
Korin had barely had time to mull over the message when something in the force struck him. A great pain through the force weighed down on his shoulders. Korin cried out as his mind ached and pounded. His knuckles popped as he clenched his fist and slammed it into the canopy of the star-fighter. Korin closed off his mind as the pain grew. He gasped in air and slumped in the pilot chair.
Within a few seconds, Korin had pushed open the canopy and sprinted across the bay. His feet and the force pushed his body along as his mind tried to shake away the feelings that had just come to him. The pain of death, the pain of fear; all of it had been too much and he had to close off his mind to that aspect of the force. Korin had only done that once, when the ship the twins were on had crashed into a city on Talus.
Turning the corner, Korin continued to sprint towards the bridge. He wasn't sure who would be working right now. He wasn't even sure what it was he wanted to do. Korin made it to the door as it started to cycle open. Once it was open, Korin stepped into the dimmed bridge. A few people worked in the front of the ship, working the controls and going about their own duties. Korin sighed as he wished to be so oblivious to the force. Oblivious to the pain.
"Captain Mayin." Korin stepped up to the spindly man that wore the captain's suit. Korin never regarded the captain as much, just another officer in the army of the Republic. "I need you to change course."
The people that had been ignoring the Jedi now turned to face him. Mayin sputtered for a moment before regaining his composure. "That's a tall order, Jedi." Mayin said as he straightened his back.
"I understand that, but you have to trust me, Captain. The Sullust system, that's where it's happening." Korin stammered out.
"Slow down, what's happening on Sullust." Captain Mayin turned to the communications officer. "Raise the Life Day." The communications officer followed the Captain's orders as she started to work the controls. "The Life Day is the Republic cruiser that is assigned to Sullust. If anything is happening, we'll find out."
"Captain," The communications officer looked up, "No response from the Life Day."
Captain Mayin's smug expression melted away. Korin was right there to act on the information that had just come in. "Something is happening," Korin spoke slow and methodically, "If we do not divert, there might not be a Sullust left." Korin turned and started walking out of the bridge. "Once we drop from hyperspace I'm scrambling Magenta Squad." Korin didn't care if the Captain had any objections. Magenta Squadron was his personal fighter group. They would follow his orders, not Mayin's.
Korin just hoped that he knew what they would be doing when they arrived at Sullust.
The first bolt from the ships in orbit slammed right into the square that Krii'nek had just fled from. The super concentrated energy blast struck right in the center of the crowd, instantly turning flesh, bone, stone, and sand into vapor. The leftover kinetic energy exploded outward. The blast threw bodies and debris high into the air. The dust spread out over a kilometer and buffeted the back of Krii'nek.
The Bothan twisted in midair to glance behind him. The square was just a pile of debris and bodies now. Those Sullustans that hadn't followed his advice were now dead. Heaviness fell onto his heart and Krii'nek cursed himself for failing to sense this sooner. Krii'nek landed on a rooftop and instantly started to run. His fatigue melted away as he called on the force.
As he reached the edge of the roof, he gathered himself and leapt off. The nearest rooftop was about 30 meters below him and he focused his energy on making a soft landing. As soft a landing as time permitted. Krii'nek had to find a way out of this city. He had to get out before the ships reduced it completely to rubble.
More bolts passed down from the upper atmosphere and slammed into the buildings and roadways of the Sullustan capital city. Buildings crumbled and exploded from the onslaught that was coming down from the atmosphere. Krii'nek could hear the screams of the Sullustans as they ran from the death that came down on them.
Krii'nek collapsed onto his knees as the feeling of death crept in all around him. He couldn't take the screams and the fear that was flooding onto him. He wanted to close up and cut himself off from the rest of the Galaxy. He couldn't feel anything else. It was true pain; the kind that only comes from great suffering.
Krii'nek's anger built. He hated the Sith in the orbit. He hated them so much for their disregard for life. He wanted to tear into them with saber, claw, and tooth. Krii'nek stood and plucked the saber from his side. He was already off the building and flying through the air when the turbo-laser blasted through the building, right where he stood.
Krii'nek ignited his green blade and slashed through a piece of debris. The saber sliced through the sandstone and flung the two pieces out of Krii'nek's way. He twisted again in midair and landed on the side of a building that was still standing. The claws of his feet dug into the stone as he then pushed off the building. He continued through the air and landed on another roof top. The laser onslaught had grown and it was raining down all around Krii'nek. He sprinted across the roof as the blasts tore into the building.
Nearing the edge, Krii'nek flipped over the side. He free fell as the building crumbled behind him. When he neared the ground, he pushed off the side of the building. The force flowed through his body like great gouts of water from a broken main. It blasted out of his limbs and propelled him through the crumbling city. As he hit the ground, Krii'nek dashed around a crumbling roadway. His saber still clutched in his hands. The glowing blade giving him strength and determination.
Krii'nek gritted his teeth and let his entire pent up emotion boil to the surface. His hate, his anger, he didn't care any more. He didn't care if it went against all of his Jedi training. He didn't want to face the death without something to comfort him. His anger fueled him. It made him stronger.
Something broke in on his focus. A soft sound that invaded his mind and frightened him. It was a voice. Why was there a voice here? Krii'nek gritted his teeth even more. They threatened to crack under all of the strain he put on them. Roaring, Krii'nek spun around and brought his saber up. He readied all of his muscles and his stamina for what awaited him. No matter what it was he would cut it down right in front of him. He would laugh into the sky as the invader lay dying. His Bothan brothers would tell stories of his gallant stand on a world far from their own.
Krii'nek raised his saber and looked into the eyes of the invader. He brought the saber down and roared as the little girl screamed in terror. Krii'nek's roar caught in his throat as he fought to stop the saber. He took his hand off of the ignition button and extinguished the blade just in time. He tumbled over and landed with a thud next to the cowering girl. She curled up into a fetal position and sobbed into her arms.
Krii'nek sat up and looked at his hands. What was I about to do? Krii'nek asked himself. He was about to kill a small child out of the shear rage he felt. This wasn't what he was here for. He was a Watchman. A guardian of life. Krii'nek slipped the saber under his robes. It came to rest close to his chest, nestled in the fur that covered his body.
Krii'nek scooped up the little girl. She whimpered and wrapped her arms around his supple Bothan neck. Her small hands clamped down on tufts of his fur and Krii'nek snorted. The pain the little girl was causing him was immaterial when compared to the pain he felt through the force.
Krii'nek gathered himself up and began to sprint across the courtyard. The little girl sobbed against his shoulder. "What's your name, sweetie?" Krii'nek asked, his voice was a little more ragged than he thought it would be.
"Cuiv." She squeaked out. Tightening her grip around his neck.
"I'm Krii'nek. You're gonna be ok." Krii'nek reached the edge of the courtyard and took off through the city streets. He had to be nearing the edge of the great capital city. The buildings were getting smaller and smaller. The attack from the atmosphere wasn't getting smaller. It seemed to be getting more intense. Krii'nek leapt above a falling building and landed with a start on the other side. The little girl cried out and Krii'nek sent a wave of calming emotions over her. She relaxed in his grip.
The Jedi Watchman dodged around more debris as the city crumbled around him and Cuiv. She still sobbed against him. Krii'nek started to fret. He wasn't sure if he could escape with his little passenger. Krii'nek wanted to scream.
Another building crumbled in front of him and he dived around the structure. On the other side was a small courtyard that he quickly went into. The buildings all around the courtyard were falling but it seemed untouched. Krii'nek set Cuiv down and looked around. She stayed close to him, pressing against his leg. Krii'nek couldn't blame her.
"Stay here for just a second, kiddo." Krii'nek pulled away from her and jogged out into the grass. The blasts had ceased for the time being. Ahead, he could hear the city continuing to be leveled. Krii'nek turned and jogged back towards Cuiv.
An instant before the blast hit, Krii'nek's fur bristled. His senses through the force told him something was about to happen, he just couldn't guess what exactly that was. The bolt impacted 20 meters behind Cuiv and propelled her body forward. Krii'nek flew backwards also. He twisted in the air to catch Cuiv but she was already past him. He reached out with his hand the same instant she did.
The next event seemed to happen in slow motion. Another bolt, this time closer to the two, slammed into the ground ahead of Cuiv's flight path. The little Sullustan girl gave a look of surprise and anguish as the energy ripped through her body, turning her into vapor right before Krii'nek's eyes. He tried to extend the force around the little girl but it was too late. The energy buffeted him and burned through his extended arm. The flesh melted away and the smell of singed fur hit his nostrils an instant before he went tumbling back through the air.
Krii'nek didn't know how far he had flown. He wasn't even aware of landing on the dusty ground. He tumbled over and over before coming to a stop, his eyes gazing into the sky. The pain of that little girl flooded over his body, her anguish that lasted for a split second tore into his mind and brought tears flooding into his eyes.
He didn't look down at his arm. He didn't want to. He didn't even want to look at the sky. His eyes closed as a single tear escaped into the open air. Krii'nek would have sobbed but, thankfully, he slipped into unconsciousness.
In the atmosphere, aboard the Flagged Truth, Ithica smiled. The destruction was far greater than he could have asked for. It was magnificent. All of the pain from the surface came flooding into him and seemed to bolster his mind. He reveled in how it felt to him and his smile grew even wider.
In the back of his mind, what Ithica once was cried out in anguish. It screamed in pain and lamented its own flesh. The thing that wore Ithica laughed aloud.