"It would appear our colleagues grew impatient and entered the Telosian Academy, Master," Rena pointed out.
"So it would appear," he agreed. "Well, we have no choice but to enter. Let us hope that the others are all right."
"I feel nothing but despair within this place, Master."
"I feel it too, Rena. Try to focus on our job. We need to see if Atris survive—or if anything has survived, for that matter."
Rena only nodded as both Jedi brought their lightsabers to their hands and entered the installation.
They walked through the entrance, taking care to walk through the vestibule as quickly as possible. They continued to feel a wave of despair shudder throughout the installation. Whatever had been here had certainly left its mark. Neither Dante nor Rena felt the others anywhere throughout the structure. It was obvious something had gone awfully wrong.
"There is a nothingness to this place," Rena observed as they walked through the dark, silent place.
"I concur. This place is a tomb." He paused as he noticed a command console. "Perhaps there might be something within the system that will shed light on what happened." He walked towards the console and tapped in several keys.
Access Denied. He sighed. He tapped on the keys a few more times, to no avail.
Dante sliced into the system, tapping a spike into the console's programming, which consequently allowed him unrestricted access to the entire Academy's system commands. His eyes lit up; never before had he seen such a complex system. There was one problem though—no matter how much information the system carried, most of it was irreparable. Sighing, he cycled through the systems and uploaded an area schematic to his datapad.
"There we go," he said. He turned around and saw Rena gazing out into a hallway that ran parallel to another one that also seemed to stretch on for quite a bit and lead towards a vast chamber. It occurred to him then that they had only entered the first set of rooms. There was a major chamber that led towards a hangar bay. There was one thing that disturbed him, however: if the team had gone inside this tomb, why was there no one trying to communicate to them? And most importantly, where was everyone?
"Master," Rena began, taking an interest in the console, "let us check for any records of what may have occurred here."
"Good thinking," he said, as he manoeuvred away from the console so she could take a look at it.
She cycled through the commands, ensuring that certain security systems were disabled; it wouldn't be to their benefit if an automated turret opened fire on them or something much worse was released on them. She smiled as she found the security camera system, opening it and cycling through to the holorecords, which displayed what occurred in the last 3 hours. There was nothing else that dated further than that, which Rena found most curious. "Master," she said, as she opened one of the security holovids.
"What is it?"
"I believe that I have found out what has happened to the Telosian survey team."
Dante walked over to join her as one of the monitors displayed the holovids.
"This is Commander Street; we've decided to go in ahead of our visitors in order to secure the site." Commander Street led the procession of the team down, scanning through the room and hearing on the comlink that the first group of chambers and quarters were all clear.
"Sir!" One of the officers calls out as they noticed a jam door.
"Stand by, blow that thing!" Street orders as most of his team takes up firing positions near the door.
A large explosion is heard, followed by the whining and hissing of the door opening.
The team moves in and the feed is cut.
"That's all, Master," Rena states as Dante looks around for the doorway.
"There's got to be something more," he whispers. With a reluctant sigh, he looks at the hallway. "Looks like they went this way then. Shall we?"
"After you."
Both Jedi held their lightsabers up at a ready position, thumbing the activation plate as they walked through the long hallway cautiously. They looked at each other as they reached the halfway point.
"Point of no return," Rena joked half-heartedly.
"No return to what, though?" Something does not feel right, he thought darkly. There is something elusive, but what? He eyed around the hallway—nothing stood between the bottomless drop. A light breeze ran from dark chasm, ruffling the Jedi's hair just a bit. He paid it no mind.
The light hum of generators filled the silence as suddenly a loud whirring sound was heard, followed by screams. And then a wave of pain, death and screaming rushed over the two Jedi through the Force, causing them to cry out in pain as they collapsed on the ground.
Both Jedi tried to get up, as Rena noticed the door from the main chambers opened, revealing two Telosian men from the team came running out.
"Help! Help!" A third one called out as his plea was cut short by a bloodcurdling scream.
Forcing his eyes open, Dante witnessed one of the two men being pulled high into the air from an invisible force and thrown down into the black chasm, screaming for his life. The sounds echoed throughout the hallway. Sith! Dante screamed in his mind as he rose. He saw Rena rising, albeit slowly. The pain they felt in the Force had washed over them and both of them felt the intensity of it resonating in their bodies as they rushed towards the last Telosian, who ran towards them with everything he had.
"Help! Kill it!" He screamed. "For the love of--," he was cut off as a silver glint came whirring towards him, shearing him in two.
"Rena, down!" Dante yelled as he realized the flying propeller was the blade of a sword without a hilt. Calling on the Force he shove the whirring blade away from her, causing it to spark against a pillar, as it careened into the chasm.
She rose and looked at Dante, who retrieved his blade. "Thanks," she replied.
"Stay on your guard, Rena," he replied, as he began racing towards the entrance of the killing chamber.
Both Jedi stopped in front of the entrance as they witnessed the bodies of the team found all over the chamber. The darkness and dying lights that flashed momentarily revealed the blood and gore from the blade, and in the middle of it stood a dark figure.
"So you've come," he stated, "just like she said you would."
Dante's brows furrowed in confusion as he tried to understand what the figure was trying to say. "Who said that we would come?" The voice seemed all too familiar, yet he couldn't place it.
"Though I must say," the figure continued, ignoring Dante's question, "you are a bit late. But don't worry, I had a chance to entertain company."
"Who are you?" Rena asked.
He stepped out of the shadows to reveal himself: a man with pale skin, which seemed to be decaying in some parts. His blond hair was now matted in the blood of those he killed. He only wore black breeches; his boots were silver in colour. His defined muscles in his torso were covered in blood, as he continued to walk towards the pair. His eyes seemed to be missing, as his sockets spewed out streaks of blood, which ran down his pale, sunken cheeks. "I am her Disciple," he introduced. He brandished an obsidian coloured cylindrical object that was twice the length of the two Jedi's lightsaber hilts.
It then occurred to the Jedi Knight where he had heard the voice. The figure that appeared out of the shadows was a young man who had once fought for the ideals of the Republic, and more accurately, believed in the Jedi. He had been an agent that worked for Carth Onasi at one time. He had traveled with the Exile Theresa Falcus, and now he stood there, once a bastion of light, now a corrupted, twisted soul that reeked of the Dark Side. "Mical," Dante whispered as the shock registered on his face.
"Greetings," the former Republic soldier bowed. "Times have changed, haven't they?"
"They have, for you to have fallen so far," the Knight replied.
"Fallen?" Mical laughed as he heard that one. "She has shown me the truth! I see everything clearly."
"That's ironic, since you have no eyes with which to see," Rena replied curtly.
"Come," he said, "let us end this banter." He ignited both ends of his lightsaber, revealing cruel, bloodthirsty crimson blades.
"Have you killed Atris?" The Knight asked the Dark Jedi. It amazed him that in all these years, the figure before him had been strong in the ways of the Force and not once did any other Jedi know about it. The Dark Side seemed to slither around him, almost as if Dark Force tendrils leapt out from him, seeking to ensnare others. It was seemed very irresistible to Dante.
Only Rena seemed unaffected by it.
"Rest assured that Traya is alive," he replied as he leapt over the two and slashed at their backs.
Both Jedi ignited their blades and met Mical's slash, blade for blade. Rena leapt over the Dark Jedi and the battle was on.
Mical brought his lightsaber twirling back and forth, slashing and thrusting at both Jedi, as they relentlessly parried and clashed blades with the former Republic intelligence agent.
Dante arced his lightsaber high into the air, forcing the mutilated man to be pushed on his heels.
Rena crouched and went through with a low horizontal slash aimed for the Dark Jedi's legs. She was rewarded with a swift kick in her face, throwing her back. Before her vision blurred and went dark, she witnessed Mical plant his lightsaber onto the ground and leap high into the air and over her Master.
Dante felt her wink out, for a few moments. He turned around to face the Dark Jedi, only to notice that he was smiling.
"What's the matter? Have you lost your nerve?" Mical snorted derisively. He cackled at the Jedi, which began to infuriate the younger man.
Dante slashed left and right, meeting Mical blade for blade, as they began to move towards the main chambers again.
Mical wouldn't allow himself to be forced back. He slashed high and low, forcing the Jedi back on the defensive, as he planted the blade onto the surface once more and leapt out at the Knight, feet first, sending the other man back.
Dante grunted as he stumbled back. The fight would have to end soon, for Mical was slowly gaining the advantage. The Dark Jedi had him on edge with thoughts of what would happen to Rena if he were to fail.
"Now you're beginning to understand," Mical teased, "that you will not walk out of here alive. And that apprentice of yours…" he trailed off. The eyeless man smiled.
"I won't let you harm her," Dante said with resolve as he readied himself. He felt the currents of the Force guiding him towards his center, allowing him to channel his anger and feed off of it. He strode across the hallway, covering the distance between one another and lunged.
Mical brought his blades whirling about, knocking the sapphire blade away as he brought the blade within hovering distance towards Dante's face.
The Jedi spun about, locking his blade onto one end of the Dark Jedi's blade, only to snap his elbow out at the man's nose, hearing a satisfying crunch and yelp as the man fell back. Dante brought his blade over his shoulder and down across Mical, growling as he snapped the Dark Jedi's hilt in half, sending one half flying into the dark chasm below.
Mical lost his footing and stumbled back as he noticed that for some inexplicable reason, the battle began to turn.
Seizing Mical's momentary lapse, Dante pivoted his hips and threw his weight on his left leg as his right leg snapped out and slammed the Dark Jedi in the chest, throwing the man further back.
The Dark Jedi began to yelp, as he was surprised with the sheer ferocity the Jedi had come out to greet him with. He noticed the end of his other lightsaber had gone flying off the chasm as well, as he suddenly came face to face with the tip of a sapphire blade, eager to lop off his head. And out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the crumpled form Rena.
"It's over; you've lost, Mical," Dante declared.
"I don't think so," he replied smugly as he extended his hand, sending the Jedi flying back with crackling blue energy. Seizing the opportunity, Mical rose and turned to run into the main chamber—eager to find a weapon with which to attack the man. Before he could move one inch, he was stopped as he felt an immense invisible fist clamp his throat.
"It never even occurred to you that the Force would have taken care of me," he replied with disdain. Dante's hand was extended, revealing his forefinger and thumb millimeters away from one another while his other hand held the lit lightsaber. A dark expression had formed across his features, revealing a darkness that unsettled even the blind Mical, as blue light highlighted the darkness Dante carried within.
"Do what you will, but you'll never stop Traya," Mical spat, struggling for air.
"We'll see about that," Dante replied evenly, as he closed his hand into a tight fist.
Mical gurgled as his hands reached his throat. The sound of his bones cracking echoed throughout the hallway.
"What a waste," the Jedi murmured as he threw the body down into the chasm below, not even giving it a second thought. It no longer bothered him that his opponent had been defenceless—and that Dante could have spared the man's life, like a true Jedi. No, Dante reasoned, Mical would have hurt Rena. It is better this way. One less Dark Jedi to deal with, besides, he would never have given me the answers I sought. He deactivated his blade and clipped it to his belt as he ran towards the fallen Rena, who began to rise under her own strength.
She groaned as she rose, noticing that Dante had come to help her up. She took his hands and stood up, noticing that the Dark Jedi was nowhere to be found. "Where is he?"
"He's dead," Dante replied, looking off to the side, as he appeared somewhat shameful of his deed.
"Oh," she said, looking askance. Her expression seemed saddened to hear the news. "I'm sorry Master," she said after a moment.
"Sorry for what?" He grew confused.
"For not being able to aid you when we fought him. I made one slip and he could have killed--,"
"Rena," Dante said reassuringly, cutting her off, "you did what you could. I would never have allowed him—or anyone for that matter—to hurt you or myself. You are still a Padawan, your abilities will grow and so will your skill. I will be there to guide you along. You've come very far and you've taken a very difficult Form to master, and that will take time. You will become a far greater Jedi than I could possibly hope to be."
She smiled softly, as the intensity of her eyes was restored. I will master my skills and the Force, she thought determinedly. I will make you proud of me, Master.
Feeling her resolve growing stronger, he breathed deeply and said, "come now; we have to see if Atris still lives or if Mical was telling the truth after all."
Both Jedi left the hallway, making their way into the dark chambers. As they passed through the bloody chambers, both Jedi came across another hallway, that revealed another chamber—a Council Chamber. Both Jedi glanced at one another in surprise before they walked towards the doorway.
The doors did not open.
"I think it is welded shut, Master," she said as she noticed that the edges of the doors were welded together in a particular pattern; a pattern that indicated the use of a lightsaber.
"I believe you're right," he said as he ignited his lightsaber, driving it into one end of the doorway and creating an entrance of his own. After he arced his blade into a rectangular pattern, he extinguished his blade and with a Force-push, the makeshift door gave way. He turned to his apprentice and smiled. "That's another lesson for you: if someone locks you out—improvise. After you," he gestured towards the interior of the room.
After they had entered the room, which happened to be dim lit, their jaws dropped as their eyes revealed a plethora of Jedi antiquities.
"There is a plethora of Jedi wealth here," she exclaimed as she couldn't believe her eyes.
Sparring swords, Jedi holocrons—even lightsabers and monuments were found—littered the room. The cube-shaped holocrons seemed to lay strewn across the floor, revealing several empty shelves.
Dante walked over, studying the shelves as he picked up one of the holocrons. He noticed dust—almost as if this room had barely been open—and the dust covered everything—except for immaculately square-shaped spots.
"I think that we have uncovered an abundance in the artifacts that were lost to Malak's plundering," she said as she couldn't help but smile. She picked up one of the swords and stared in awe at its balance and weight in her hands.
He dropped the holocron on top of one of the square spots and noticed something peculiar: they didn't match up in size. For some odd reason, these massive shelves were empty—and it wasn't because someone knocked over these holocrons. Someone had taken something more important away. Something that seemed to match the Jedi everywhere in the Galaxy. He turned around and realized his worst fears were confirmed. Someone had been here before they did, undoubtedly plundering the room for one thing and that one thing was something that could drastically change the fate of the Galaxy in a way that would make most people think the Jedi Civil War was a border skirmish.
Rena noticed how uncomfortable Dante was and felt something from him. Something that seemed to unsettle her. "Master? What's wrong?"
His expression was serious and his voice betrayed no emotion as he spoke, cradling the Jedi holocron in one hand. "I think we need to inform the Council that the Sith holocrons are missing. And so is Atris."
