Rye and Nicollette entered Ephraim's room on the Kashyyyk base. Ephraim had summoned them for something urgent. He was sitting down and meditating.
"Ephraim? Nicolette asked.
"You called us?" Rye said.
Ephraim opened his eyes. "The team is in danger."
"I. . . doubt that. What makes you say so?" Rye asked.
"This is a new danger; I've never sensed anything like it."
"The Sith?" Nicolette asked.
Ephraim stood up, "Not the Sith, no." He went and looked out the window. "It's much deeper than that. It's. . . Exar." Ephraim answered, both confused and concerned.
"What- What about him?" Rye asked, a sense of protectiveness coming over him.
Ephraim looked out for a moment longer, standing in silence, unsure how to answer Rye. He turned around and faced Rye. When Rye saw the look Ephraim had donned, he knew Ephraim was about to give him some bad news.
Exar paced himself around in a circle, mirroring Heceowa's actions. "You know, if you were the least bit competent, you could've done something to save us."
Shocked by Exar's words, Heceowa replied, "Us?" He motioned around him. He pointed his lightsaber at Exar then said, "You talk boldly for a deserter."
"I found my own path, and you're not getting in the way." Exar replied with a snarl.
Heceowa's head perked up. "I suspected you left to become a Jedi, but I sense a strong presence of the dark side."
That set Exar off enough, and he charged.
They charged and locked blades.
"Why don't you let him out, Exar?" Heceowa asked.
Exar broke away. "Don't tempt me." He shouted, engaging at Heceowa again.
Aang and Jo made it inside the facilities, and realized that they would have a harder time finding what they were looking for. It was a maze. Aang looked at the G.P.S he had and followed the instructions.
"The third left up ahead." He said, pointing to the first turn.
They started going forward, but heard a crumbling sound that didn't come from beneath their feet.
They both waited a moment.
"I hope that was just because you're heavy." Jo said.
"I'm underweight for my species, Jo. Something else is in here with us." He said. Then they heard the crumbling again. Then Jo felt a pebble drop on his shoulder.
"Uh. . . It's above us, and I'm too scared to look." Jo said.
Aang looked up. "It's the rest of them." Then Jo looked up.
They saw some of the Zabrak army on the ceiling, but something was off about them. They looked malnourished, and much creepier to them. They hissed and roared like animals as they started descending down the walls like bugs.
"What happened to them?" Jo asked with a disturbed look on his face as he and Aang started running.
Jo looked back as they were running; he saw the other Zabraks running like the undead, arms and head drooping.
"Stay focused, Jo!" Aang shouted as they took their turn, hoping they could get lost in the maze.
Going along their path, Aang and Jo came across a network of caves that held a resemblance to a hive.
Aang snapped some of his fingers and said, "I have a plan!"
"What? Make a noise to resemble a mating call to calm the swarm down?" Jo asked.
"That's messed up, Jo; but no, I mean we should scramble in these caves and lose them."
"That works, too." Jo agreed as they entered separate caves. Aang shook his head.
They disappeared into the shadows just before the incoming Zabraks followed them to their position.
The one in the lead stopped in front of the catacombs and tried sniffing them out.
"What do you smell?" A nearby Zabrak called, his voice hoarse and deep.
"Man flesh." The lead replied.
"One of ours?"
". . . no. Split up." He said as the Zabraks each entered a different cave.
Aang went deep into the shadow, then soon heard voices and footsteps.
"Of course it's not one of ours, we're not chasing each other." One voice said.
"We used to have humans, too. He was with Exar, so it might've been one that used to be with us." The footsteps then stopped.
"One of them's close."
Then a green lightsaber ignited in the middle; Aang's face illuminated.
The few Zabraks there hissed then crouched down, posing for battle.
"You all are deeply disturbed." Aang said. "You aren't well. Let me help you."
One of them tilted his head. "None of us have changed. It was only the dark one that changed things."
His curiosity piqued, he inquired, "Dark one?"
"When Exar Sunrider left us, we were vulnerable, but we had him to keep us safe. Then he left us to go after him."
Aang lowered his lightsaber and put his hand out, peacefully. "Does this dark one have any relations with the dark side?"
A ghoulish grin was plastered over the sickly Zabrak's face. "Yessssss. That's why you're here aren't you? I didn't expect those rumors to go far."
"Those rumors originated here?" Aang asked. "But you can't leave. How could they spread?"
The grin disappeared. "The dark one returned to us, but not with the kindest intentions. He keeps us captive here; and in return for our compliance, he brings us little food to spare amongst ourselves."
"That isn't what I observed." Aang countered.
"The sustenance provided only satisfies a few; the rest fend for themselves."
"Let me guess, your leader isn't keen on sharing?" Aang asked.
From that remark, Aang noticed that their facial expressions were growing more dim.
"His hold is weakening." The Zabrak noted, then quickly blurted, "Heceowa holds a spell on us to keep us in this animalistic condition. We're all pets to him."
Aang retracted his lightsaber. "If you help me and my friends, we will help you. You will have all the food and drink you desire."
The lead Zabrak began smiling, not with evil, but with relief; his eyes showed sadness. "He won't let us." He said. "The moment any of us step out of line, he breaks us back down. We can never do anything about it."
"Well he doesn't know what's conspiring here. Can you help me find your library from here?"
"I. . . I'll try." The Zabrak said, then signaled the rest behind him to stand down. "This way." He said, turning back around.
Aang followed him, then asked about another loose thread. "Why did this 'dark one' go after Exar? What are they to each other?"
The Zabrak stopped, turned to Aang, then answered, "Friends." Then continued walking.
Exar and Heceowa's battle dragged on. Mostly, they circled around each other, waiting for the other to strike.
"One of us must do something. My army will be finished with your friends soon, then they'll be here to finish you off." Heceowa said. "Unless you let yourself out, take me down, go on with your mission. But you know what that will result in. You don't have to do this, you know?" He held his hand out. "You could join me."
"Nah. I don't feel like becoming a cannibal." Exar declined.
Heceowa put his hand down, then chuckled. "Then you've left me no choice." Then his hand began producing energy in the form of magik.
He shot it out his hand, then Exar simply dodged it with his head.
Exar used the Force to pull Heceowa to him, grabbing him by the neck, then slamming him into the wall, then throwing him to the ground.
Heceowa coughed up a little blood, then laughed. "Come on, you might as well let the beast out. You know you want to. Doesn't it feel good? The dark side?" Heceowa asked. Exar then noticed Heceowa's eyes began turning a yellow shade. "Don't tell me you've forgotten your old friend already?"
Exar held a blade to Heceowa's neck. "I am no friend of that traitor. I'm here to track him down-"
"And do what? You can't kill me. Sion the Second grows more powerful every day; you won't be able to stop him."
"I wouldn't count on it." Exar said, grinning.
That suspicious comment and facial expression actually worried Heceowa. "What do you plan on doing?"
Aang and Jo reunited, and were led to the door to the library.
"We haven't been able to access the library for ages. The door is powered by a crystal, and a shard was taken." Alon Traln said. That was the lead Zabrak's name, as Aang had learned.
Aang pulled up the crystal shard that Exar gave him.
Alon gasped and reached out to touch the crystal. "He did have it." He whispered. "You just have to put it back in its proper place." He said, pointing to the dim crystal placed in the wall above the large door. "And hopefully, it'll regain power."
Aang held his hand out, palm facing up, and let the shard float in his hand for a moment before floating it up to the crystal, sliding it in where it went.
The whole crystal sparked, then slowly powered up again. But for a moment, nothing happened.
". . . I'm assuming the door doesn't open on its own?" Aang asked.
"Hmm? Oh. Oh! Oh yeah. Just put your hand in there." Alon pointed to a hand-sized 'keyhole' in the wall. "You put your hand in there, use the force and stuff, the door will open."
"Really has been a while hasn't it?" Jo asked.
The door slowly opened. There was mold, vines, and webs all over the door, ripping as the door opened.
When the door completely opened, everyone saw an untouched, nearly spotless room full of books, scrolls, and the such.
"All the knowledge you'll find in here is worth more than all the credits that exist in the galaxy."
"If you mean other than the crystal fields out there?" Jo asked.
"You seek information of 'The Dark One?' " Alon asked, specifically.
"You have something on him?" Aang answered, surprised.
"Hold on! What 'dark one?' " Jo asked.
"This way." Alon gestured his hand inside the library.
"Seriously! What's going on? What dark one?" Jo inquired again.
"You'll find everything we know about him in this document." Alon said, referring to a specific book. He went down one aisle and pulled a ladder with him; he climbed it, searching document by document for the specific file.
"Why do you have it on paper? Why not keep information on a computer?"
"We're traditional." Alon said. "This. . . 'organization' raised some of the most powerful people the galaxy ever knew. Either strongest or smartest. If we kept records on computers, they could be deleted." Alon said as he grabbed a book off the shelf and slid down the ladder.
"Why would they be deleted?" Aang asked as Alon handed him the book.
"We even keep information people don't want. We record everything about everyone." Alon clarified as Aang turned to an angle in which Jo could read the book.
'Everything?' Aang asked, gazing at the unlabeled book. He opened it up, read the table of contents and searched for any useful information.
"Take a seat and read." Alon suggested. "There are other books here that will help you understand him and the way he grew up here. I'll get them."
Aang and Jo were reading through the books provided to them, while the other Zabraks stood guard outside. Aang learned about the Dark One, while Jo learned about the cult that raised him.
"Check this out." Jo said. " 'We raise ruthless warriors programmed to kill without hesitation, getting their jobs done no matter what.' "
"Explains a bit about Exar doesn't it?" Aang said.
"I take it he wasn't keen on sharing his story?" Alon said, placing a few last books down. "This is all that you will require. I do ask that you be as gentle as possible. Some of these are ancient."
"Thanks." Aang said. "Uh, hey, what do you know about Exar's life here?"
"Oh he wasn't raised here."
"What?"
"Oh no. To make sure this information was kept safe, we chose to keep this library outside the Outer Rim, but sort of close by the actual home of our organization."
"Where's that?" Aang asked.
"Tatooine." Exar appeared out of nowhere. "We were raised on Tatooine; birthplace of the Chosen One." He approached Aang, who slowly placed the book behind him.
"Who is he?" Aang asked.
Exar tilted his head to the side.
"Codename: Erk? The Dark One? Your friend?!"
". . . I thought so." Exar replied.
"You thought so? He went after you after you left."
"That son of a- . . . I don't know why he keeps twisting the story like that. He left first!"
"What?" Aang asked, his face contorted confusedly and angrily.
"He was my friend, but he left! Just left with my other friends and left me behind."
"Wha- no! Forget that! It's all true? You're associated with the dark one, and have known he's been around this whole time? Have we wasted all this time searching the galaxy for rumors of the Sith? You knew the answer all along?"
"I wouldn't use the term 'Sith.' Much less 'dark one.' " Exar said.
"I would." Alon said, turning some heads. "None of you were there when it happened. He turned to the dark side, then he came after us."
". . . Who are you?" Exar asked.
"Formerly the next-in-line library guardian. I keep all this secret."
"Don't change the subject here." Aang redirected the attention. "Exar, you have a right to secrets, but this information was vital. Everyone has a right to know about this. Everyone should've known about this! What reason could you have possibly had to keep that from us?
"Coming from a former cannibal, that's pretty low." Alon spoke up.
Exar stretched his hand out, pushing Alon across the room into the wall.
"Hey!" Aang shouted, swiped Exar's hand down. "What's your problem?"
"I won't have my authority being challenged."
"You've been challenging it yourself by abusing it." Aang jolted a finger at him.
Exar slapped his finger away and said, "I won't hear any more of it." He started walking away. "Find out what we need to, and I'll stand guard."
"You're unfit to lead." Aang shouted from his distance.
Exar closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then whispered to himself, "I wish you hadn't said that."
From another point in the room, Alon witnessed what was occurring; concluding his train of thought with a simple, "Uh oh!"
Exar opened his eyes back up and turned around. "You can keep asking questions, delaying us, delaying the mission; but I see a bigger picture, and you can't keep me from finishing the mission any way I see fit." As Exar was slowly approaching Aang, his eyes started slowly turning a shade of neon green.
"I've seen what real leaders look like." Aang said as he and Exar stood face to face. "I've lived long enough to see the same eyes in many people. What I see right now, is the face of an incompetent coward."
Exar was about to snap, then Jo spoke up out of nowhere. "I hate to break up your bonding moment, but what happened to the guy we left Exar with in the first place?"
. . .
"Heceowa. Yes, what happened to him?" Alon asked. He'd gotten up from being tossed around moments ago.
That snapped Exar out of it. He blinked a few times, and the green in his eyes faded away. "He, uh, he. . . had a curse put on him. A dark side curse."
"By who?" Alon asked. He suspected it was the Dark One, but wanted to be sure. Exar's sentence structure suggested that Heceowa put the curse on himself, but Alon didn't know if Heceowa was capable of such a spell.
"It was all the work of the dark one. The one we called 'Erk' was the best of us; only he could've perfected the spell." Exar explained.
"So he's been keeping us here." Alon concluded.
"Hold on! The question remains unanswered. What happened to, uh, 'Heceowa,' was it?" Aang asked, looking to Alon, who nodded.
"I did my best to free him, but it took much of our willpower and strength." Exar answered monotonously.
"And?" Aang pressed urgently.
"I'm not sure. He passed out, then I came to you guys."
Aang pinched the skin between his eyes. "So you're telling me: you don't know if you properly freed him from the spell, and he's still up there by himself?"
"With your ship?" Alon asked.
"The ship will be fine." Aang said. "The problem is: if Exar didn't succeed, then Heceowa will wake up alone, thinking that we're probably succeeding with our mission, then he'll reactivate the spell he has over you and the others."
Heceowa awoke; his mind felt like it was on fire. He took a moment to calm himself down, then looked around. Exar wasn't there; no one was, but his ship was unattended. He got up and made his way aboard. Only a few steps in, and he heard a computer voice.
"Unauthorized presence detected." He heard, then a bolt of electricity shot out and pushed him out of the ship.
Noticing the ship was 'conscious' in a way, he guessed that shields were also intact. 'There's only one thing to do, then.' He thought.
"Did you gather the knowledge you sought after?" Alon asked Aang.
"We did." Aang confirmed.
"What will you do now?"
"We will go to Tatooine and put an end to this once and for all." Aang said, then remembering his promise. "Once all is done, I give you my word, you will be provided all the means of living you need."
Alon delicately used the force and returned all the books to their proper place on the shelves.
"Exar, let's go." Aang said, but noticed Exar wasn't moving; he was just standing in place, facing away from them. "Exar?" He called again, walking around to face Exar. Exar had a worrying expression on his face; one of fear.
"Do you sense it?" Exar asked with a shiver in his voice.
Aang and Jo tuned into their senses, and Jo shivered and stood up straight, gasping like he'd never been cold before.
"He's here." Aang said.
Suddenly, they heard groaning and screaming from outside the library doors. 'The spell's been reactivated.'
"And now we have another problem." Aang said, using the force to close the doors. Alon started going under, but Aang passed him out before anything could happen. He caught his head and laid him gently on the ground. "Exar! You know this place. Do you know another way out?"
Exar remained motionless. Aang grabbed his shoulders and shook him. "Exar! How do we get out of here?"
"What have I done?" Exar whispered.
"Okay, I'm sorry Exar. We all make mistakes. Just don't make the mistake of letting us die here." Aang reasoned.
Exar turned his head to the place he forced Alon against the wall. "O-Over there. There's a stone in the wall somewhere that activates a secret passage." Exar said, walking over to the wall, feeling the stones. "It was built as a way for us to transport the documents of this library out in case of an emergency." He felt a difference in one of the stones, then pushed it. Then a stone door opened up.
"How does that work?" Jo asked as they went into the secret tunnel.
"We're not anti technology. We just only use it when absolutely necessary."
They stopped when they encountered a fork in the road. Or in this case, tunnel.
"Don't worry. I remember my way around." Exar affirmed.
Calista set up a three way conference among her, Bolen, and the Chancellor. She and Bolen were on their screens, but the third screen remained empty.
"The Chancellor will be here any minute." Bolen reassured.
Then a hooded figure appeared on the third screen.
"Greetings, Bolen and Calista." The Chancellor greeted.
"Chancellor. It's an honor to communicate with you." Bolen said.
"The pleasure's all mine." The Chancellor said. "I've heard great things about you two, but I know this isn't a social call."
"No, of course not. My scientists have made a rather puzzling discovery. A residue that doesn't match any element on our periodic table, and something like a 'dark side infection.' " Calista said.
"Hmm. . . Is that all you know?" The Chancellor asked.
"No, your highness. The infection I mentioned was a substance injected into the victim's blood stream; and according to one of our Jedi's reports, he was briefly resurrected. If what I read was real, and I'm not dreaming, then he also stated that the corpse was infected with the dark side."
"Corpse? Who was the victim?" The Chancellor asked.
Bolen and Calista shared a look before Bolen decided to take the lead here. "The Jedi believes. . . the identity was Nute Gunray."
"Nute Gunray? The old Trade Federation, Separatist leader? The one who died in the Clone War?"
"Yes-"
"The one -of many- whose body would have decomposed in the past fifty years?"
". . . Yes."
"Was the body decomposed?"
"Not according to the report."
"Where did this all happen?"
"Mustafar."
"Travel to Mustafar has been banned by the Republic. How was anyone able to do anything to the body?"
"That's not the only thing." Calista opened up again. "When I arrived to investigate, the whole planet looked beautiful, like it had recovered from being touched by the dark side, except for that spot. Something abnormal happened there."
"This raises many, many questions. On that note, the situation presented to me seems very far-fetched and extremely bizarre."
"But there's a reason she's our top investigator." Bolen interjected at Calista's defense.
"Remain calm, Bolen. I wasn't discrediting her. I believe her; I've seen my fair share of abnormal and bizarre things, but even the others on my level may find this hard to believe."
'Others on the same level as the Chancellor?' Bolen wondered.
"So what do we do?" Calista asked.
"We have questions no human can answer, so there's only one place we can look."
"We trust in the Force, right." Calista remembered.
"The Force is with us; with the Force, we are one."
Bolen sighed. "Thank you for your time, Chancellor."
"Stay safe. I too will watch this case closely and with great interest. In the meantime, I want you to take an investigation team to Kamino." Then the Chancellor's transmission ended.
Calista sat back in her chair for a moment. She sighed, very confused. "Bolen, how soon can you be here?"
"Once I finish business here, within a few rotations."
"Good. There are other things we need to discuss."
Viran finished his daily meditation, then rejoined the Follnors in the lounge.
"Ah, Viran! Take a seat." Rye said.
Viran just sat down without another word. "Something on your mind?" Viran then asked.
"Yeah. When we mentioned that we got Brett back, you seemed shocked. Not in the 'happily-surprised' way." Erickson said.
"If you didn't sense what I did, then that's concerning." Viran said, stroking his beard. "He's been touched by the dark side."
"He seemed fine when we talked to him." Rye said.
"He began making a clone army, and not for the best reasons. Tell me, where is he being kept?"
"Well, even though he is my son, we do have to take precautions." Nicolette said.
"I just finished meditating, and something seems very wrong. How is he being kept? Do you even have security here?"
"We can handle our own kid." Rye said.
"Is he strong in the Force?" Viran asked. Before anyone could answer, Viran added another concerning statement. "Particularly in the teenage years, the Force can flourish a burgeoning amount of power, typically influenced by the dark side.
Viran was just looking at statues.
"Are you ready for this?" He asked.