A LONG TIME AGO IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY…

STAR WARS

The Old Republic – Episode Six

LUNATICS ON BOTH SIDES

With Overseer Tremel disposed of, acolyte

ARKARIX KRELL finds himself at the

command of the imposing Sith Lord,

DARTH BARAS.

As his rigorous training continues, fellow

acolyte and former slave REYENNA DESME

has completed her Trials, becoming

rhe apprentice of DARTH ZASH.

While Reyenna prepares for her journey to

DROMUND KAAS, capital of the SITH

EMPIRE, Arkarix Krell receives word that

his final Trial is about to begin…

Chapter One: A Means to an End

He was Sith, and Sith feared nothing.

Arkarix Krell repeated this like a mantra as he walked to Darth Baras' office. It did nothing to calm his apprehension. Overseer Tremel had been a fool, blinded by his obsession with bloodlines, but even he had recognized the truth: Until the Trials ended, Krell would be no more a Sith than the lowliest of slaves.

Until he completed his last Trial, he was nothing.

"Come forward, Acolyte."

Darth Baras sat in the chair that had once been Tremel's, behind the enormous desk that had once been the overseer's as well. The conqueror, enjoying the spoils of a vanquished enemy.

Baras seemed to sense his thoughts. "You disapprove?" He gestured to the desk.

"It's a bit ostentatious for my liking." Krell stared directly forward, refusing to allow his apprehension to show in either face or voice. He would not show weakness to Baras.

The Sith Lord inclined his head. "I agree. This desk is a monument, proclaiming power. Just as only a fool is compelled to announce his own cleverness, only a weakling declares his own power. Still, I do not intend to remain long on this planet. The only question is whether I will be leaving alone."

Baras stood. He clasped his armored hands behind his back and began to pace.

"You are to seek a very special lightsaber," Baras told him. "It is old, and it is powerful. It is housed in a forbidden cavern in the Tomb of Tulak Hord. Few have ever set foot there. Almost no one knows how to find the secret entrance. But…"

Baras stopped, looked back at him. Though any expression was hidden by his mask, Krell had the distinct impression that he was smirking.

"We have a Twi'lek in the holding pens who was captured breaking into it." His amusement was unmistakable. "Take her. Make her show you the entrance to the forbidden cave."

Krell bowed.

"As you command, my Lord."

"One more thing," Baras said. "Other acolytes have also been sent to the Tomb. You are well-known as Tremel's pet. With him gone, they will try to earn my favor by murdering you."

Krell remained impassive, standing in place and looking forward at the Sith Lord.

Baras had apparently anticipated a reply, either of dismay or of bloodlust. Krell's silence irritated him. When he spoke again, his voice was harsh, even angry.

"Bolster yourself, Acolyte," he snarled. "When you enter the Tomb of Tulak Hord, you will breathe in death itself!"

He found the Twi'lek in a cell in the holding area. She had been fitted with a shock collar. The jailer was testing the device, cackling as he applied repeated shocks. The girl was curled into a fetal ball, moaning from pain – but she earned a hint of respect from Krell through the look of hatred she shot at her tormenter.

"Enough of that, I think," Krell said as he approached.

The jailer straightened. "My Lord." He jerked his head at the Twi'lek. "I hear you'll be relieving me of Vette. I won't miss her. She's a pain in the neck."

"Who's a pain in the neck?" Vette snapped, her fingers gingerly rubbing the skin around her shock collar.

The jailer immediately punched his finger on his wrist activator. Vette's body jerked spasmodically. The jailer then removed the wrist device and extended it to Krell.

"I took the liberty of turning up the pain settings," he leered. "The wrist device also reads your life signs. The collar will explode if you die, or if she is more than 10 miles away from you."

"Can I reset that distance?" Krell asked. "The restriction may become inconvenient."

"Easy," the jailer shrugged. "Go into the code and reset it to whatever you'd like. Just don't forget to do that if you're going off-world and plan to leave her behind. Otherwise, you'll come back to a mess."

The man grinned, reveling the thought, as he opened the door to Vette's cell. He lingered by the open door, grinning.

"What are you waiting for? A gratuity?" Krell snapped. "Leave us!"

The jailer shrugged again, then ambled out. Vette lingered in the cell, eyeing Krell warily.

"I expect you would prefer life out of that jail," he said drily.

"Depends on the life." She still had not moved.

"I am Sith. I have been surrounded by slaves my entire life. I have never molested any of them."

"I am no slave!" A hint of fire in her eyes, anger in her voice. Good.

"Your life ceased to be yours the instant you were captured," he said. "This is your new reality. The rest of your life depends upon your obedience and usefulness."

He spoke coldly and bluntly. The faster she accepted the truth, the better it would be for both of them.

She fingered her collar, and her defiance gradually drained away. She eyed the control unit on his wrist.

"You won't…" A hint of fear, though she kept it controlled.

"Only degenerates and weaklings inflict pain for their own pleasure. I am neither. But if you attempt defiance, I will discipline you."

It wasn't much of an agreement, but it was the best Vette could expect. She stepped toward Krell, leaving the cell.

"You were caught breaking into the Tomb of Tulak Hord," he said.

Her eyes widened, and for the first time she smiled. "You can't figure out how to open the forbidden cavern! None of you!"

"I am certain we would get through in time," Krell replied. "But my Master is impatient. Can you access the cavern?"

She hesitated, weighing her options. Krell said nothing. He didn't need to. She was clearly intelligent. No nudge was required for her to see that she had no options.

"I guess I can play tomb tour guide," she said. "It's what I came here for in the first place."

He inclined his head, gestured toward the door.

"Just so we're clear," she added. "I'm officially on strike when it comes to domestic duties."

"No, you're not," he said casually.

She glanced at the device on his wrist.

"No," she acknowledged. "No, I'm not."

As he and Vette left the grounds, Krell checked the time. Reyenna's shuttle would still be boarding. If he hurried, he should be able to catch her.

He arrived as she was preparing to board. She stood with Darth Zash and the monstrous Dashade, Khem Val. Reyenna saw him, said a quick word to Zash. The Sith Lord nodded, and Reyenna moved to him with a grin.

"Come to see me off?" she said. "We're going on a Gage-class transport ship. We'll get there quickly, and in comfort. I feel almost like a queen!"

Then she noticed Vette. Her eyes narrowed as she took in the shock collar, and her expression grew dark. "What is this?"

Krell cursed himself. He should have told Vette to wait a safe distance away. It wasn't as if she could run away.

"She's just part of my final Trial," he explained. "Nothing of consequence."

"Hey!" Vette protested. "I'm standing right here!"

Reyenna reached for Krell's wrist and activated the collar. Vette cried out, reaching for her neck as she fell to the ground.

Krell switched it off, startled at Reyenna's actions.

"You must be new to being a slave," Reyenna snapped at Vette. "A few survival tips. Never talk back. Never speak unless you're spoken to. The more invisible you are, the better."

She turned back to Krell. "What's this about your final Trial?"

"She can get me into a secret chamber in one of the Tombs." His voice all but pleaded with her to understand. "She is a means to an end, nothing more."

"That's all a slave ever is." Reyenna glanced back at Vette. The Twi'lek was already pulling herself to her feet. "Well, she's very pretty, and she seems to have some spirit. I'm sure you'll find her amusing."

"I have no plans to – "

She laughed. "Oh, please. Do you think I'm jealous? We both knew what this was. I got something from you, and you got something from me. It was fun, and it was useful, but it was never anything more."

Krell shook his head, bewildered. No part of this encounter was going as he had planned.

Reyenna smiled at Krell, but this time it was devoid of warmth. Her gaze was cold, harsh, and cynical.

"Good luck with your Trial," she said. "I'm sure you'll succeed. You always do."

She walked away, to her waiting shuttle. Krell stared, slack-jawed, after her.

Vette spoke up from behind his shoulder. "You've got it bad, don't you? I almost feel sorry for you."

Krell shot her a glare. She flinched, glancing at his wrist.

He didn't activate the device, though. It would be wrong to punish her when all she had done was speak the truth.