A StarWars Fable

by IAmElvie

The story is based on the SWTOR online game. There will be a mix of my characters & game NPCs. All class protagonists exist & occasionally come into contact with each other. My fable may veer some from the actual game content & timeline is imperfect. You will meet KOTOR descendants & a few Star Wars movie ancestors as well as whatever else I toss in. As always, mature readers only.

5. A StarWars Fable - Prologue Warrior

SWTOR

An Old Republic Tale

Prologue

Warrior – Born to be Sith

Korriban

Syn stretched out on her seat, her arms crossed behind her head to cushion it. She'd proven too much for her old master to handle. In fact, no one at the academy she'd trained at could compete with her swordsmanship and her ability to use the force to ensure she ended up with the best positioning. So, she was plucked from her training early on a promise that she would become some hot-shot Darth's apprentice – as was her due. One day, she would sit on the Council. She was, after all, a noble - born and bred to be a Dark Lord of the Sith. She was not black-hearted and evil, like so many sith seemed to be these days, but she was cunning and shrewd. She would get what she wanted. She was good at getting what she wanted, her mother had trained her well.

She didn't bother to look at the two guards that had accompanied her. Why should she bother with them? As a child she got well used to guards following her around. She was a noble and thus required protection. Despite being good at fighting, she preferred not to risk her person if there was another way, so she did not mind the protection detail. She may be prideful, but she was not stupid. A swing of luck or an unseen blaster could end her life. Despite how good she was, she was not infallible. For now, she would do whatever it took to become this Darth's apprentice and use her new master as surely as he would use her. To the victor goes the spoils.

She sat up and braced herself when the shuttle hit turbulence entering Korriban's atmosphere. She peered out the window and sighed. Dusty old bones of a decrepit planet. The sooner she was gone from here the better. She activated the micro-terminal on her bracer and synced it with Korriban's databases. She was not going to wander around this hellscape without a navigation map. After the sync was complete, she lowered her hand and rested it on her pet mawvorr's headplate. Her parents had bought Pim for her as a young child. She never went anywhere without him. Her parents had paid the academy a great deal of credits to permit him to remain with her. Despite his presence, she did not allow him to fight her battles. So long as she was an acolyte, she would earn advancement on her own merit.

When the shuttle touched down, Syn walked down the shuttle's ramp with the guards properly behind her. She saw a man approaching her at a hurried clip. She frowned. Did the dark-skinned man have to look so much like Willet, one of the manservants in her household that she'd considered an uncle? She felt a slight tug on her heartstrings at the memory and forced it back.

It was hard to believe the young woman walking towards him was Syn-fae Jinn. With her hair the color bordering dark blonde and light brown and vibrant blue eyes set in face that could rival the most beautiful of models, she did not appear frightening in the least. Regardless of her looks, he could feel her power. "At last," Tremel said with both relief and excitement, "you've arrived. Good, good. I'm Overseer Tremel. There is much to do and every moment is critical."

She turned to her guards with a slight nod. They bowed and returned to the shuttle. She continued forward to meet Uncle Tremel. Willet had doted on her so. She wondered of Tremel's intensions. If she didn't like them…no…she would wait to see how things played out. She was not given to rash behavior. Patience often led to victory.

"For decades, I've administered the trials that prove who is and is not worthy to join the Sith Order. The trials are a chance to weed out the weak. Those who face them either survive and become sith or die." He tried not to be distracted by the large, colorful mawvorr with the blue glowing plates. He'd been warned about the beast, he just hadn't expected it to be quite so…large.

His words did not deter her. "I won't die easily. I was born and bred to be sith, just as my parents and ancestors before them were."

She had the confidence of a sith and from what he'd seen and heard, she had the power and skill to back it up. He motioned her to follow him. "It wasn't your pedigree that brought you here." When she caught up to him, he continued. "Yes, you are here ahead of schedule because of me. I expect you to obey. You face your trials, you serve me, and I will make you the most powerful acolyte here."

"While I am aware there is more to learn, never doubt that I am already the most powerful acolyte here," she corrected.

This was a truth he was not willing to concede. Not because he didn't believe it, but because he would not allow her to establish dominance. He had to maintain control. "Leave your over inflated ego at the door – there is no room for it here. And no time to waste. The trials, themselves, are difficult enough, but they are hardly the greatest threat you face. There's an acolyte, his named Vemrin. He's heard of your accomplishments and he will try to kill you. We must prepare you."

"You know why you picked me. Do you honestly think he stands a chance against me?" she scoffed.

Again, he would not concede this. She had to need him. If she needed him, he retained the power. "He is not to be taken lightly, even with one of your skill. But with my guidance, someday you'll destroy all your enemies." He motioned to the sword on her back. "That practice sword you arrived with is insufficient – the blade of lesser acolytes. You need a dominating weapon. In the tomb of Ajunta Pall, there's an old armory. A strong sith warblade awaits you there. The tomb is thick with k'lor'slugs, savage creatures. Be speedy but careful. They've been the end of many an acolyte," he warned. "And do not be caught using your…pet to aid you in your trials."

"Do not question my honor in this. Pim will not assist me in any way until I have achieved apprenticeship," she proclaimed haughtily.

He nodded, not for a moment believing she wouldn't use the beast to her own ends. "That choice is yours. You may also consider less… flashy attire. Korriban is not like anyplace you've been before. That gold you are wearing puts a target on your back," he warned, though he doubted she'd listen. "Once you acquire the warblade, I suggest you spend some time in the tomb bloodying it. Then come to me in my chambers in the academy."

When he left, she looked down at the deep burgundy velvet and sateen duracloth that adorned her. On her shoulders were buckled on leather pauldrons that had two long, dark burgundy strips of velvet that cascaded down her back like a cape. She had a thick, filigree gold belt made of a gold magnetic alloy, and had gold bands on her bracers and thigh-high armored boots. The protection-enhanced armor was a gift from her parents. The academy she'd grown up in had been affluent. She was far from the only one with armor to befit her station. Tremel was right – Korriban was nothing like anywhere she'd been before. But she would not conform to low-bourne standards. If they attacked her – they would face her retribution.

She noticed a shield rose behind her, preventing her from going back out to the arrival pad, though there was nothing for her out there anyway. "Come along, Pim, we have a warblade to find."

The small hall that led from the intake room led up a set of stairs to the right. At the top, she took another set up stairs out into what her MT told her was the Valley of the Dark Lords. She followed the map and took the steps down into the tomb.

As she was told, she did see large slugs in the tomb – though they didn't much look like any slug she'd ever seen before. Still, they seemed more concerned about eating the corpses that littered the cave than trying to make any new corpses. She followed the pathway, through halls and chambers until the navpoint showed she needed to go right. She passed two droids, on either side of the entry, that appeared to be shut down. She suspected they would not remain so for long. Down the stairs at a landing were two pairs of droids. A few more steps down, the hall opened up into a large changer where several more droids were powered down, along with many ancient suits of armor.

In between two massive stone statues was a blade rack. But only a single blade rested in the rack. She carefully lifted the ancient blade and looked it over. It was tarnished and rusty in spots and unlike any blade she could have imagined; but she could feel the power coming from it. She supposed this blade would due for now, if it were stronger than a practice saber, but it was a lightsaber she wanted to hold in her hands again.

She gave the sword a few swings to get used the heft and balance. It was heavier than a practice blade. When activated, she realized it was somewhat similar to a lightsaber, but instead of a full beam that could retract when not in use, the beam wrapped around a solid core.

The moment she moved past a droid, it activated. So be it. "Pim – stand down!" she told her pet. This was her battle. She jumped to her adversary and whipped the blade through it's middle. Sparks shot in every direction as the two halves fell away. She grabbed another droid with her power and pulled it into her warblade, its lights went out.

Destroying droids were a waste of credits but she would not let them prevent her from leaving with her prize. She took on the other droids that activated as she ascended the stairs. After the last one that lined the halls fell, she felt Pim's warm healing mist, that he produced from the gaseous chamber in front of his lungs. She hadn't needed the healing boost, but since he could not fight with her, he acted in the only way he could to keep her safe.

On the way out of the tomb, a few looters thought to take what was hers. After she showed them the error of their ways, she ensured they would never make any mistakes again. The academy was literally a straight shot from the tomb. Once inside, one of the guards pointed her to Tremel's office. When she turned into his private hall, she saw two men talking with each other. It did not concern her. Until it did.

Vemrin held out his hand. "Hey there, acolyte. Hold on a moment. Let me get a look at you." He grinned. "Isn't she a pretty thing, Dolgis?"

Dolgis snickered. "She should be a centerfold in one of them holomags, Vemrin."

"So, you're Overseer Tremel's secret weapon? Impressive to be sure. Men will surely fall at your feet for a smile." He laughed at his witty remark. "But I'm afraid the old man waited too long to make his move. I'm Vemrin, and unlike you I've fought and bled for everything I have. I demand respect."

She took in his measure and shook her head. "Funny thing about respect. You can't demand it. You have to earn it before you get it. And you have shown me nothing," she pointed out.

Vemrin looked at the armored monster at her side. It had rows of wickedly sharp teeth out of some kind of nightmare. Regardless, he was here first and he would not let her get in his way. "Believe it or not, I'm trying to keep you from getting killed. If Overseer Tremel had made his move a year ago, when I first arrived, you might have had a chance. But now – too little, too late."

"This is ridiculous, Vemrin. Let's just kill her and hide the body," Dolgis grumbled.

"We're not on Balmora anymore, Dolgis. There are rules. Traditions. We'll leave the shortcuts to Overseer Tremel and his last pathetic hope here."

"Pray you never find out what I'm capable of," she warned them. Her voice as cold as glacier ice.

Vemrin waved his hand. He was done with the conversation. "We'll see about that. Coming, Dolgis?"

"Be right there," he called out to his friend's retreating back. "Listen to me, you useless priss. Acolytes aren't allowed to murder each other. But accidents happen. And your mommy and daddy aren't here to buy you out of trouble," Dolgis warned with derisive look at her apparel. "No more warnings. Vemrin's the alpha monster here. You go after Vemrin – you die." He stormed past her to catch up with his friend.

She patted Pim's headplate. "Well, that was amusing…and gratifying." The top monster considered her a threat. And he couldn't be more right.

Tremel was not alone in his office, another acolyte with a warblade stood next to him. "I have returned," she stated as she entered the office.

"Good," Tremel responded. He looked her over. "You seem to be in one piece. Tell me, how do you like your new blade?"

"It is an interesting weapon. I've never handled anything quite like it. It's not as nice as my lightsaber, but it's a lot better than the practice blade."

His eyes widened in surprise. "You have a lightsaber?"

She shrugged. "I did. I got it off a jedi that I was forced to kill when we stumbled upon each other. I used it for the rest of the day, but then turned it over to the masters when I returned to the academy."

Eskella scoffed in disbelief. "You killed a jedi with your practice blade?"

"What? Of course not. I force choked him in the middle of his amazing leap. I've been honing my own leaps ever since," she explained.

"It doesn't matter if she killed a jedi, father. I've been here six months and only just got my warblade!" Eskella bit out, barely able to stop her foot from stamping in frustration.

He held his hand up to quiet his daughter. "I have my reasons, Eskella. And you will not breathe a word of this to anyone. Do you hear?"

She dropped her head to hide her emotions. "Yes. Yes father."

"Acolyte, this is Eskella, my daughter. She's one of the advanced students here. On her way to becoming sith, if she minds herself," he warned his daughter.

"I'll keep quiet about your new charge, father. But I won't be there if whatever you're planning blows up in your face." With that, she straightened her shoulders and left with as much dignity as she could. How could any acolyte defeat a jedi? No, it had to have been a…padilan, was it? Stupid jedi words.

"Don't worry about her," he said with a wave of his hand. "She's just sore that I'm keeping secrets. She growls but she's loyal. Now, I thought I heard Vemrin's voice in the adjacent chamber before you arrived. Did he make his move so soon?"

"He did. He is smart to consider me a threat."

"You will be dealing with him in time. Still, I'd hoped we'd have more time. Vemrin's not the type to sniff around for too long before trying to take a bite. In a drive for sheer numbers, the criteria for Academy admittance has been relaxed. Now anyone with force sensitivity is allowed entrance. Vemrin is not like you or I, he is mixed blood. The invisible rot eating at the foundation of the Empire. He must not be allowed to advance."

She crossed her arms under her breasts. "He is not going to give me the chance to supersede him. Let me solve the problem now."

He rubbed his chin and shook his head slowly. "Unfortunately, Vemrin's caught the eye of Darth Baras, one of the most influential sith lords. He's being groomed to be Baras' new apprentice. As his apprentice, the power at Vemrin's fingertips will be considerable. He could change the sith for the worse." He released a slow breath. "You must proceed to your next trial immediately. I want you to interrogate three prisoners in the academy jails and decide their fates. Consider each criminal's story carefully. The decisions you make will be scrutinized, so let your passions guide your judgement."

She inclined her head. "I will see to it, Overseer."

"Good," he replied with a nod, "Speak to head jailer Knash and return to me after you've passed judgment on the prisoners."

She pulled up her map, took a quick look and flipped off the holoscreen of her MT. She turned left and followed the hall around until she turned into the prison chambers. She found Knash in a smaller chamber on the right.

"One more chirp from you, little bird, and you'll regret it," Knash growled, ready to pull what little hair he had left out of his scalp. When the twi'lek grinned and made bird noises again, he depressed the button on the remote and her body contorts with electrical energy.

Vette grabbed at the collar as soon as she could move. "Ow! Jerk. If you don't like that, just say so. I can do other animals, too. Dire-cat, frog-dog, Kowakian monkey-lizard, you name it."

His hand lifted to his forehead and he rubbed it. Footsteps alerted him to someone's approach. This had to be Syn-fae Jinn. At least she arrived before he went home for the night. "I'm Jailer Knash. I run these cells and slave pits. You're the acolyte Tremel sent for the test, right? Hrmph. He thinks highly of you." He took a step away from the beast at her side.

"As he should. But I will continue to prove myself, regardless," she told him.

He bit back a frown. Sith were all alike with their arrogance. "You should know this situation is highly unusual. Normally, an acolyte goes offworld for the interrogation. Overseer Tremel had these three shipped in for you. He thinks you are the next coming of Exar Kun. But you ought to know, Tremel ain't the only one paying attention to you." He motioned towards the cells. "The convicted are usually executed or given trial by combat to see if they're worthy. Whatever you decide, you will be the one to carry out the sentence."

She inclined her head to him. "As you say, Jailor Knash."

He nodded. "The one on the left, she was sent to kill an imperial spy in the Yavin System. Throughout her torture, she maintained that she was hired anonymously.

Solentz put her hands on her hips. "Get it through your damn head – I had no idea he was Imperial and I don't know who hired me. I got paid to do a job. I did it. End of story."

Knash frowned. "See? She doesn't deny the charge. So, now you must decide - execution or trial by combat? Which do you choose?"

"Neither," she said with a shrug. "She is an accomplished assassin. She could prove useful. Send her to Imperial Intelligence."

"Hrmph," Knash rubbed his chin. "You spared her. Interesting."

Devotek grabbed the bars of his cell. "I am a fellow sith. Judge me with an open mind and grant me trial by combat."

"You realize it is unlikely you will win?" she asked with more compassion than she'd intended to show.

"This pile of waste," Knash said as he motioned to the old man, "is Devotek. Once a valued sith champion, until he botched an important mission and caused a thousand imperial deaths. Now look at him."

Devotek gripped the rails tighter. "I served faithfully for twenty-four years, then one mistake and they threw me away. I have been left here to rot. Let me feel the weight of a weapon once more. Let me die with dignity."

"I will grant your wish," she told the prisoner. "A warrior should die with a weapon in their hand."

Knash handed the prisoner a weapon and moved out of the way. "This should be entertaining."

She toyed with the old man – if it could be called that. She let him get in a few close calls and parried the rest of his movements. To give him the chance to feel the thrill once more. Then, she took advantage of his tiring arms and her blade found his heart. A quick death for a man that had served for so many years.

That had not played out as he had expected. "Hrmph. You were playing with him. You could have killed him in the first few seconds."

"That wasn't the point. He died a warrior's death," she told him point blank. "Allowing him to enjoy the weight of the blade in his hand again, took nothing from me. May someone grant you the death of your choice when your time comes."

She was an interesting one. "Come," he said as they moved to the third cell. "Brehg here is a bit of a puzzle. The jittery little wretch is suspected of supplying forged documents to Republic agents." He rubbed his chin. "Strangely enough, he maintains his innocence despite being severely tortured."

He looked up at the sith that would judge him and rose on shaky legs. "I was set up! I did some time in a Rep jail for forgery, so I was the perfect candidate to implicate in this. But straight I've been since getting out, I swear!"

"He's never wavered from that line, and the evidence is circumstantial. I suppose it's actually possible he didn't do it. So, what do you decide?"

She sensed no deceit from him. The alien's emotions were like an open book. And that made the decision all the harder. She could not let him go, to do so would give him knowledge he could take back with him about everything he'd seen up until now. Killing an innocent man was not something she could do without being haunted by it. It would forever be her burden to bear. She stiffened her spine. "It doesn't matter if he did it or not, he knows too much. He will be executed."

"That's not fair!" Bregh wailed. "I'm innocent."

"I know," she said quietly. "And for that I am sorry." She gripped him by the neck through the force and jerked her fist, the snapping of bone sent a shiver down her back. She couldn't bear for him to suffer. It was bad enough she'd had to kill an innocent man. "It is done," she said as she released the body.

A sith who showed wisdom and mercy. "Well, that's that. You're an interesting one, kid. I can see why people are keeping tabs on you. Head back to Overseer Tremel, see what he thinks of your choices." Relief lifted like a weight off his shoulders when the young woman and her beast left. May he never see that thing again in his life.

She turned right from the prison chambers and took the long hall all the way to where it ended at Tremel's office. Again, he was not alone, so she waited. Squatting down next to Pim, she grabbed the protrusions on either side of his head, using them like handles and pulled his head over so she could kiss the top of his nose bone. She rubbed his neck behind the protrusions until the Overseer's visitor left.

"Sorry to make you wait," Tremel said as he rose from the desk to come around it to face her. "These interruptions are incredibly annoying. On to the business at hand – your test in the jails. First, the assassin. You assigned her to Imperial custody. I commend you, that was excellent thinking. Never waste a potential resource. What's more important is that Darth Baras would approve. Now, Devotek, the failed warrior. Why grant his wish for trial by combat?"

The truth was not for him to know. "It took no more time to kill him by sword than to choke the life out of him. He was just another test for my new warblade, Overseer."

He closed his open mouth with a snap. Of all the answers he'd expected that had not been one of them and he did not have an appropriate rebuttal, since she was correct and he had told her to practice with her new warblade. She was a crafty one. He nodded. "Lastly, the forger you sentenced to death. Why did you kill him instead of having a confession tortured out of him?" he asked curiously.

"He had already been severely tortured. I doubt more torture would have accomplished anything but using up more resources to keep him alive. I couldn't release him; he'd seen too much. Death was the only answer," she explained.

"That shows wisdom, acolyte. Your decisions will impress Darth Baras, but you still have a long way to go. Vemrin has been here for a year and is still ahead of you. Because I forced you into the Academy ahead of schedule, Darth Baras will be predisposed to judging you severely. And by severely, I mean fatally. So, let us hurry on to your next trial. Tomorrow morning. Every moment that passes we risk discovery before we are ready. In the caverns of Marka Ragnos is the beast he left to guard his legacy. Go there, sit among the flames and wait for the beast to come to you. Defeating this beast will take your best effort. If you are successful, his body will be examined, so make sure your beast does not assist you in that battle."

She patted Pim's headplate. "Sorry, boy. We will have to find something else for you to eat."

He shuddered at the thought. "Return to the Valley of the Dark Lords, enter the tomb of Marka Ragnos. Return to me when the beast is slain. Good luck."

After she was told the room she was assigned to, her three roommates were not at all impressed with Pim. And since it was dinner time and light still remained in the red sky, she decided to hunt the beast tonight. By the time she got back, hopefully, they would be asleep.

Her micro-terminal showed her the tomb was down in the Lower Wilds. Thankfully, money was no concern since her parents kept her credit chip full. At the skyhop pad, she rented a taxi with a back seat. And she grinned watching Pim squish himself into it.

More mountains of carved red stone and red sand. Quite the miserable place to be. She climbed out of the taxi when it landed. No matter, she would get this done. "Come on, Pim, I have a beast to hunt."

Thankfully, it was a straight shot down the field. There were animals and people acting in bizarre manners, but no one confronted her. At least not until she entered the tomb. So, the acolyte and apprentice rejects hung out in the tombs? She didn't suppose they had much of a choice if they wanted to live. But that did make them desperate for money to try to get offworld. Not that they could beat her, of course.

Seven acolytes attacked; seven acolytes died under her warblade. She entered the middle chamber and turned right. Yes, this was where she should find the beast. The end chamber was large and filled with caskets, statues and skulls. Skulls were piled everywhere. An ancient offering of some sort? Slaves? The original Blood that inhabited this planet? Who can say? It was creepy and unsettling. Some sith were monsters. She had no problem admitting that.

Bowls filled with skulls and covered in blue flames lit the way up a set of stairs to a large stone tablet on a dais. She could not read the script and she doubted it mattered much. The dead bodies in front of the stone steps showed the beast was good at killing. Sit among the flames and wait for the beast to come. And so she shall.

She walked up the steps and knelt in front of the massive tablet. "Pim – stand down."

She spun around when she heard stone fall and tumble across the floor. A giant, spiked beast jumped out of what she though was a large coffin. But perhaps, instead, it led to a lower level of the tomb. She had no more time to think on it as her instincts took over.

Fighting it was an acrobatic act. She dove in to slice at weak points in its armored hide and jumped back to avoid the swipe of it massive claws. When it jumped for her, she used the force to push it back, and continued the dance until the creature took its last breath. And so, it was done. "Now, let's see if we can find you a slug to eat." At his pained growl, she laughed. Well, okay then, how about tuk'ata? We passed some on the way in. Does that sound good to you?" she asked as they left the tomb. Pim growled agreeably.

On the way back, they found a young one. She scared the rest of the small heard away while Pim took down the calf. She watched patiently to ensure the herd did not return while Pim enjoyed his dinner. When he was done, he dragged what was left over to her. "Sorry, Pim, we can't take that with us. But you know I'll never let you go hungry. It grows dark, we need to hurry back, boy."

She could hear the eerie howls of the tuk'ata and cries from species she was uncertain of. This place was no different than most. It became creepy at night. It was nice to finally reach the lit taxi area. Her belly was rumbling, but not enough that she had wanted to share Pim's dinner.

Thankfully, the more expensive taxi she'd paid for was still there and she paid once again for a ride back to the temple. She stopped off at the mess hall and then went straight to the refresher. One look at Pim and the refresher cleared out. She hung her clothing in the decontamination closet and hopped into the shower to scrub the red grit off her body. When she was done, she had Pim join her while she washed away the clingy sand from his scales.

By the time she was done, her clothing was cleaned and she slipped back into it. She used a sani-light on her teeth and returned to her quarters. Two of her roommates were already asleep, the third burrowed deeper under her blanket and turned her back to Pim. She smiled and sank into the mattress with a sigh of pleasure. Pim curled up next to her bed, his panting lulling her to sleep.

By the time she woke up, she had the room to herself. After a quick trip to the refresher, she headed to the mess. She ate a light breakfast and bought a couple of raw steaks for Pim before she returned to Tremel's office.

As she entered Tremel's private hall, she ran into none other than Dolgis again. "Your master let you off his leash?" she taunted.

"So, you do remember me. It's good to know the name of your killer. Notice anything interesting?" he asked as he made a show of looking around. "No witnesses. No witness means no rules. No more shortcuts. No more special treatment. You're just gonna be another dead failure on Korriban."

As his hand lifted to go for his blade, she already had hers out. Her blade bit into his side, but he spun out of it, slashing his blade in a downward arc. Her blade met his, but she could not possibly overcome his sheer muscle. She leapt backwards and flung him against the wall. He came down hard on his knee and charged. A few more swipes of her warblade and he was back down on one knee, this time in surrender, his blade in front of him on the ground.

"No! Hold up! Look, I was wrong. Maybe you were getting special treatment – but the stories we heard about you, I believe them now. So…strong. I don't want to die," he pleased.

"I don't want to kill you, Dogis, but don't cross me again," she warned.

He picked up his practice saber and settled it in the hook on his back as he rose to his feet. "You won't see me again – I promise." With those words, he hurried as fast as his hurting body allowed. He didn't want to risk her changing her mind.

"We must speak quickly," Tremel told her the moment she walked into his office. "I may have made a slight miscalculation. The beast of Marka Ragnos was a great source of dark energy here on Korriban. When it was slain, there was a tremor in the force. Darth Baras felt that tremor and has become aware of you. He demands an audience."

"Tell me more about this Darth Baras." She did not want to walk into this blindly.

"Baras is a serious man but a master of deception. Everything he does and says is calculated. He will attempt to trip you up, test your nature, get to the heart of who you are. Always take him seriously. And I mean always," Tremel warned. "We might not speak again, acolyte. You're the best chance of stopping Vemrin. If you fail, I doubt there will be another strong enough. Now, go. Meet Darth Baras in his chambers. And hurry. He won't take kindly to waiting." He gave her shoulder a brief squeeze. "Good luck." He frowned as she walked out of his chamber. He hoped his miscalculation did not harm her. She reminded him a lot of his sister and he only wanted the best for her.

-BREAK ONE-

Her MT showed Baras' chambers were upstairs. She straightened her shoulders outside his rooms and walked in confidently. But it was lost on the Darth, as he was speaking with other acolytes.

"Most of you will not return from your endeavor. If you die, you will be forgotten. If you give up, you will be killed. Now, out of my sight," Baras growled with a wave of his hand.

Klemral groaned as he headed towards the exit. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"You should," Vemrin scoffed. "This is the end of the line for you, Klemral. Just make sure you stay out of my way."

Klemral spotted the new hotshot and nudged Vemrin. "Look here, Vemrin, I see the upstart but no sign of Dolgis."

Baras glared at the two remaining acolytes and slapped his palms down on his desk, the noise echoing in the chamber. "Klemral, Vemrin, you have been dismissed."

"Yes, master," Klemral said, eager to get out of Baras' sight.

"I underestimated you by sending Dolgis," Vemral hissed. "It will not happen again."

Baras slipped his hands behind his back as she approached his desk. "Are you having trouble with acolyte Vemrin, supplicant?"

"Nothing I can't handle."

He stepped out from behind his desk. "He is thoroughly capable of backing up his threats."

"As am I," she stated boldly.

"Vemrin has paid his dues. He's fought a deck stacked against him to get here. You, on the other hand…" He moved closer to the new acolyte he'd heard so much about. "Let me look closer at you. Hmm…yes, as I suspected. Overseer Tremel has done you and this Academy a great disservice. Your warblade came early, prisoners flown in for your convenience, even a beast hear on Korriban instead of offworld in the wild. The pacing of the trials is deliberate. Only full immersion over time produces results. Your mind is soft, unhoned, undisciplined."

Her spine stiffened. "With respect, I disagree." When Pim growled, she patted the top of his headplate to quiet him.

"It is good you keep your beast leashed around me. I will not hesitate to kill it," he warned. "Now, as I was saying, the first month of trials should be dedicated to philosophy, conceptual tactics, understanding of the Sith Code. Recite the Sith Code for me, acolyte and explain its meaning in battle, war and politics," he challenged, knowing she'd fail because she had been rushed through her trials.

"What you are asking is not new to me. I was not plucked off the street and brought here. I spent years at another academy until they deemed it wise for me to transfer here to complete my training. But if you wish for a report, then I will comply." She slowly and fully told him everything he asked until he waved his hand to get her to stop.

His continued to pace as he recompiled what he knew about her. "Regardless of your knowledge of the Sith Code, you have been given special treatment instead of earning it like everyone else. And it does not matter what your accomplishments were somewhere else – only what they are here. I am your master now. Tremel was becoming lax before you ever arrived. His unwillingness to adapt to the evolving sith paradigm has become a liability. These are the actions of a traitor. Traitors are executed. I grant you immunity from punishment. Kill Tremel and bring back his hand as proof."

"As you say, master," she said with bow.

"I'm sure Tremel is still in his chambers. Don't return until you have killed him. Now, leave," Baras growled.

She watched Tremel rise from his desk at her approach. "We have a problem."

He sighed. "I suspected as much since I did not expect to see you back so soon. Has Baras sent you back to me?" he asked, the resignation tight in his voice.

"He did. He has ordered me to kill you - I am to bring him your hand, not your head. So, are we to fight or will you give me your hand and disappear?" she asked quietly. She did not want to kill a man that so resembled someone she cared for. A man she found herself liking, even if he was a bigot.

He shook his head sadly. "Then I have been outplayed. Baras has the authority but I did not think he would do something this overt. Either I die or he forces me to kill you and destroy my own plan. A master stroke. But it would seem that you have come up with a most cunning solution." He held out his hand and ignited his lightsaber. "This is going to hurt," he muttered as he brought his blade down across his wrist.

He bit back a scream and stared down at his cauterized stump. "That did not tickle." He kicked his hand and it skittered across the floor. "I'll rest and then leave Korriban…covertly."

"I'm sorry it came to this. Live the rest of your life far away from the sith. Maybe you will finally find some peace."

"Of course. Goodbye, acolyte. Rid the sith of that plague Vemrin. My hopes lie with you."

When he left through a hidden passage in his office. She reached down and grasped the hand as though she were shaking it. She was ever so thankful he was wearing a glove. Wanting to get rid of the vile thing quickly, she hurried back upstairs to the Darth's chambers.

When she reached his desk, she slapped the hand down on it. "Tremel's hand, as you requested. I had the body taken care of as well. I'm anything, if not efficient."

He pulled the hand out of the glove and turned it over. The scar on its palm and the ring on its finger gave truth to her words. He pried the ring off. "You have done well. Here, take this ring as a memento. Remembering the past can strengthen resolve and embolden the spirit. I am impressed you had the fortitude to destroy him. You know, he thought of you as family. How did it feel to betray him?"

"I felt no joy in the deed. He treated me well. I did what needed to be done for the sith to prosper."

He nodded. While he could have wished that she'd savored the kill, what mattered most was that she'd had the fortitude to see it through. Even more so because she hadn't wanted to. Perhaps that meant more in the long run. "You have taken your first steps to applying the Sith Code." He turned to peer up at a revered sith statue. "Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, we gain strength. Through strength, we gain power. Through power, we gain victory. Through victory, our chains are broken. The force shall set us free."

He turned back to face the acolyte. "By embracing the code and destroying Tremel, you have freed yourself from his shackles. And escaped his fate."

She inclined her head to him. "You have made your point. I understand."

He grinned beneath his mask. "That's more like it. I had a feeling you'd be a fast learner. Now, there are sacred ruins in the tomb of Tulak Hord. The ancient inscriptions that once adorned the walls of each ruin lie in pieces. You'll venture through the entire tomb, search all of the ruins, and bring me a shard from each of these inscriptions. You will do this or you will die. Vemrin and my other acolytes have already been sent. There are no rules regarding how they secure the shards, and they will stop at nothing." He looked over at her pet. "That applies to you as well. You are dismissed."

She smiled as she turned away from the Darth. She stroked her pet's head. "It looks like I'll be able to unleash you for this, my friend."

According to her micro-terminal, Tulak Hord's tomb was not far from Ajunta Pall's. She hadn't gotten far and already the red dust was creeping up her legs. The taste of it coating her mouth. She longed to spit, but would not be caught doing such a thing.

The first chamber of the tomb was heavily guarded. Since she didn't know where the shards would be, that meant she had to thoroughly comb through every chamber along the way. Tedious but doable. At least she had Pim to guard her back while she searched.

It seemed the guards had gotten no further than the first chamber, which had already been picked clean. Further in, were the bones of those that died exploring the tomb. She did not like the dead, which was why killing was not her first choice. She new it was a childish fear and she kept it well controlled. Still, she could not stop the shiver that ran down her spine. She was sensitive to shades and spirits. And when they found out, they tended to hound her unmercifully. Her first encounters had been terrifying as a child and that unease had never gone away, despite being better able to ignore the undead shades now.

She found the first of the shards in a large chamber with another one of those massive stone tablets. Perfect. Two more to find. The second pathway through the tomb took her back outside where Tulak's vaults were located. Her first stop would be the Archives.

She found slugs, looters, and failed acolytes in the Archives. The looters were the only ones she had a problem with. There were valuable sith artifacts in these tombs and they did not belong in the hands of anyone but the sith. She would prefer the artifacts to remain where they were buried, but that was not the way of things. Unfortunately, the slugs and acolytes chose to confront her too, few backed away and she and Pim were forced to kill any that attacked.

The second of the shards were found in another large chamber where a massive statue held up another of those strange tablets. A pity she could not read the ancient language. No doubt, there was much she could have learned from the tablet. She could find nothing more in the Archives except more things that wanted to kill her, so she retreated from the tomb and hurried on the Machine Vault.

She found nothing in the chanber to the left, so backtracked to hit the other side of the vault. The third of the shards she found in another chamber with the massive tablet. Her only enemy this time had been the bat-like shyracks. She wasn't sure why they were given that name, they weren't exactly shy. Would that she had put that together sooner, it could have saved her a lot of time searching chambers and only searched the chambers that held the large tablets. Though, in hindsight, it did make sense, since the shards belonged to other broken tablets. She patted Pim's head as she laughed at herself.

An inner relief filled her when she stepped out of the tomb, though she kept it locked tight. She would not show anyone her weakness.

As soon as she reached the academy, she made a quick stop at the cantina. She had missed the nooning meal at the mess hall, so chose to pay for their food at the cantina instead. She ignored the stares she and Pim were given and purchased him a raw roast and herself a nerf burger and milkshake. He was, of course, finished before her, even though it felt as though she'd inhaled her lunch.

With a content belly, she headed upstairs to Baras. "Klemral, right?" she asked the leader of the three acolytes that blocked her path along the Darth's private hall.

Klemral looked nervously at his two companions and swallowed hard. "You-you did it, didn't you? You got the shards from the tomb and you're on your way back to Lord Baras."

Her gaze narrowed on his. "Are you hoping to relieve me of my burden?"

Jolip laughed. "She's pretty smart, Klemral."

"Maybe, maybe not. But it doesn't take much to see stupid – and attacking me is all kinds of stupid," she warned, her voice as hard as ice. She knew they would not heed her advice. "Pim – stand down."

Klemral straightened his shoulders to prove he was not frightened. "With your monster at bay, it looks like you are outnumbered."

In a flash, she grabbed her warblade, channeled the force through it and slammed it on the floor, the shockwave making the three attackers stumble and fall to the ground. She kicked Klemeral, sending him onto his back and settled the blade over his heart. "Must I kill you?" she hissed.

"Stop! I'm- I'm sorry. I made a mistake. I tried to get through the tomb, but there were just too many shyrack. I barely escaped. Vemrin is already inside with Baras, all the other acolytes died. You were my only chance. Now, I'm doomed. I'll never become sith. Unless I return with the shards, Baras will have me killed."

She nodded. "He will." With a deep sigh, she reached into her pocket and withdrew one of her credit chips. "Here," she handed him the chip, "there is enough on the chip to get you offworld. Get out of sith controlled space. Become a jedi, if you must. I hear they are nicer to their…padilan. Such a bizarre word," she muttered. "Or get a mundane job and live a long life. Up to you. But you best be gone quickly."

It was the best he could hope for. He took the chip from her hand. "Thank you, my lady. I won't forget your generosity. But…you can't get off Korriban without special clearance."

Did she have to do all the thinking? "Use the chip to pay one of the merchants to hide you in their hold. All merchants have hidden, unscannable compartments. Pay them part now and the rest when you get to safety. You'll find a majority of them in the cantina. Now go and do not waste time, because it is not on your side."

She left him to his own devices and continued on to Baras' office.

"Ah," Baras said, crossing his arms in front of him. "The prodigal supplicant returns – and with all the shards form the tomb of Tulak Hord," he said as she handed him the proof of her deeds. "Superb! It seems your hopes have been dashed, Vemrin."

Fury whipped through Vemrin. He would kill the pretty little princess himself. "Appearances can be deceiving," he growled.

Baras waved his hand in Vemrin's direction. "Excuse Vemrin, supplicant. He expected you to fall on your face."

"Perhaps, he should learn by now that I'm not so easy to trip," she pointed out.

The Darth smiled behind his mask, his steepled fingers tapping against each other. "The tension is thick between you two. A great source of emotion to feed on. I wonder what will happen when it boils over?" You both stand on the precipice of becoming sith. But only one of you will have the opportunity to claim a special lightsaber and serve as my apprentice. I thought it would be you, Vemrin, but I've changed my mind."

Icy cold shot through Vemrins veins. No. "What? I've done everything you've asked. Better than any of the others! The honor should be mine!"

She didn't blame his upset. He'd had a hard life and worked hard to get where he was. But in the world of the sith, only the strongest survived. And, unfortunately for him, she was stronger. "I understand that you, more than most, are aware that life is rarely fair. And I'm well aware you will do your best to ensure you are the last one standing. I welcome the challenge."

Baras held up his hand to silence them. "Today, Vemrin is your equal but the force is stronger in you, Syn, and there is a power sleeping within you." A power he very much wanted for himself. "It was a simple decision." He turned to the young man, "Now, Vemrin, go wait in my antechamber for your instructions. This instant," he growled.

When the acolyte left, he gave his attention to the young woman that was deceptive in her appearance. She appeared pretty, weak – but he knew that to be a deception. He could see the intelligence and cunning in her gaze and the power emanating from her was delicious indeed. If she became his apprentice, he would use her power to build his own. In the end, he would likely have to kill her, of course, she was too strong for it to be otherwise – but until then, she would only strengthen his power base. "Now, I hope you fathom how fortunate you are to be singled out. You have impressed me more than I expected possible, considering your special treatment. If you become my apprentice, the galaxy will bend before you."

With her hand to her chest, she gave a slight bow. "You honor me."

Baras nodded. Indeed, he did. "The lightsaber you will seek is old and powerful. It is housed in a forbidden cavern in the tomb of Naga Sadow where few sith have ever set foot. Almost no one knows how to find the secret entrance. But there is a twi'lek in the holding pens who was caught breaking in there. I hear she is quite willful. Take her and make her show you the entrance to the forbidden cave."

A slave. She missed her twi'lek slave Bree. They grown up together. Bree was soft spoken, but could always get her to laugh, no matter the snit she was in. Though, she was glad her slave was not on Korriban – she wouldn't wish this hellscape on anyone. "I will take care of it," she said with an incline of her head.

"Other acolytes seeking to complete their trials are sent to the tomb, where academy laws are waived. They will try to murder you. This final test will determine if you become sith. So, bolster yourself. To set foot in the tomb of Naga Sadow is to breathe in death itself," he warned.

-BREAK TWO-

With a nod, she departed his chambers. She remembered the slave from her previous jaunt to the prisons. The slave's mouth was as smart as her own. She couldn't wonder how that would turn out. It would either irritate her to no end or they would get along just fine.

Vette's body contorted. "Ouch!" she yelped, grabbing her throbbing neck.

Knash laughed. "I'm just getting my fill of fun while I still can." He heard the footsteps behind him and saw Syn. "Ah, as if on cue. Look who's back. Word is you might become Lord Baras' apprentice. Hrmph. Nice work, if you can get it." He looked at the beast that was staring at him like supper. He cleared his throat. "I'm told you'll be relieving me of this twi'lek. Be warned – she's a pain in the neck."

"Ha!" Vette scoffed. "Who's a pain in the neck? I'm the one wearing the shock collar."

He motioned towards her collar, "Consider it a going away present, twi'lek. Seems you might be useful for something after all. Syn here is going to take you into the tomb where we caught you."

Vette folded her arms across her chest a smug grin on her face. "None of you can figure out how to activate the tomb statues to open the forbidden cavern, huh?"

Syn shrugged. "I honestly haven't even tried. I haven't been to the tomb yet."

"You got some kind of business in that secret," she wiggled her fingers as if she were a scary spirit, "sith chamber, do you?"

Most slaves were either cowed or soft spoken, this one was neither. It would appear that she didn't care if she were punished or not. Stupid or rebellious? If she could get into the secret chamber then she was not stupid. So, rebellious despite the pain it would cause her. She could respect that. She could imagine she would react the same way were she ever enslaved. Not that she would ever let that happen. "Of course, and I'd appreciate your help."

Knash shook his head. "Don't bother being pleasant. Here, kid," he handed her the remote, "take the remote to her shock collar. I just set it on a higher level. Use it enough, and she'll show you the back door to her mother's house." He smirked at his own wit.

Vette sighed. At least getting outside was better than this cage. "I suppose I can play tomb tour guide. A lot of work went into cracking that nut, but I did it once, I can do it again. Just so we're clear, I'm officially on strike when it comes to domestic duties. I'm bad at it and you will not like the results."

She wasn't sure if the slave was lying, but that wasn't something she was willing to test if there was no need. "I appreciate the warning. If I require a maid, I will buy another slave or hire one. You are needed for a more particular set of skills."

Vette grinned. "Well then, maybe things are looking up for me." Her grinned turned wry. "As if they could get worse." She sighed. "Lead the way. I'll show you the unlocking points throughout the tomb and then open the oh so secret door. So long as your dog doesn't eat me first…"

"Pim is a puddle of love. If you don't try to kill me, he won't eat you."

Still, Vette eyed the beast warily as she was let out of her cell. Its massive teeth could bite straight through her leg. "If you say so."

Syn grinned at the slave's disbelief. "I do." She patted Pim's headplate while she waited for the slave to remove her ugly jumpsuit and put on her armor and weapons that had been confiscated when she was captured. Once the twi'lek was set to rights, they left the prison behind.

"Glad to be out of there," Vette told her. "But as places of higher learning go, this one has got to be the scariest."

"Corruption at its finest," Syn agreed.

Vette grunted in surprise. "I can't believe a sith would say that."

"That we are entitled power-mongers? There are few that power doesn't corrupt. It is the way of all things."

"Has it corrupted you?" Vette asked uncertain if she would be punished for the question.

"I grew up a rich and pampered noble, being told I was better than my lessors and given everything I ever wanted. But power?" Syn shrugged. "Outside of being a spoiled brat, I've never had any real power. So, who can say how it will affect me if I ever do have a powerbase?"

"Whoa, talk about a blast of honesty. I didn't expect that from a sith," Vette admitted. "I've pretty much always been a slave." She tilted her head to get a better look at the sith walking next to her. "You know… Most people don't consider themselves spoiled brats."

"I was best friends with my slave, Bree, we grew up together. She was…my lady's maid, you could say. If I was being spoiled, she called me out on it. That didn't always stop me, of course, but it did allow me to see my behavior."

"What happened to your slave?" Vette asked curiously, though more out of self-preservation.

"Happened to her?" Syn laughed softly. "Nothing. She is still at home. I will send for her once I'm in a position to do so. I miss her a great deal," she admitted.

Another dose of honesty from the sith. Who'd have thought? "You are not like any sith I've ever met."

Syn cocked her head to better see Vette. "Why? Because I care?"

As if it wasn't obvious. "Well – yeah."

She shrugged. "My parents doted on me. I was not just a future pawn for advancement on their part. I was their most precious jewel. Of course, they didn't treat their slaves like I treated Bree, but I grew up with her, we were best of friends no matter our stations. She is family to me. But were someone to cross me, I would show them the sith I am."

"Good to know," Vetter chirped. "Crossing you is not at the top of the list of things I want to do."

Syn brows quirked and she laughed. "Good. Because killing you is not at the top of the list of things I want to do."

"Superb!" Vetted proclaimed with a pump of her fist. "Since killing each other is at the bottom of both our lists, then I'm sure we'll be besties before you know it."

"I'm Syn-fae Jinn, though everyone calls me Syn – or princess if they are being an ass. Though I suppose there are worse things I could be called," she admitted with a grin, though few had ever attempted to call her anything else.

"Yeah…there are. You hear them all as a slave. I go by Vette. I prefer that to slave, if you are feeling generous. Here it is, this is the tomb."

The three of them cleared out the looters and then Vette activated the switch on the statue.

"Done," The twi'lek said and then noticed Syn shiver. "Whoa – are you okay?"

"Of course. It was simply a chill," she retorted briskly. It would seem Vette was more observant than most.

"If you say so," Vette responded, even though she didn't quite believe the sith. "The next switch is this way."

She followed Vette around to the next chamber, also filled with failed acolytes that wanted to take her place. Once the last one fell, Vette quickly located the switch and activated it. "Hurry, this way."

The third switch was directly across from the second one, in the next chamber. The final switch lay behind an ancient suit of armor. Neither had been easy, they had to fight every step of the way.

"There. Now we should be able to enter the forbidden cavern," Vette told her with a grin. She led the way, letting the sith do most of the fighting. When she entered the chamber, she spun around in a circle. "This is it! The secret entrance to the hidden cavern is over here! Just give me a few minutes to -"

Vemrin stepped out of the shadows. "Take your time, slave. Just have the entrance open by the time I finish killing your new master."

Syn's lips curled up into a tight, cold smile, her eyes becoming a golden red as her power coalesced around her. "I was wondering where you were. Your remarkably predictable."

He looked at the beast that snapped its teeth together and then at the acolyte whose eyes had become chilling, glowing with a power he hadn't realized she had. But it didn't matter. He would kill her or he would die. There was no other outcome…and he intended to be the victor. "My passions run deeper than yours. I am the true essence of what it is to be sith. My legacy has suffered long enough. After today. You will be forgotten. It ends here and now!"

She blasted him and he rolled over and back onto his feet, charging at her. She jumped, flipping in the air, adding to the momentum as she brought her warblade down over the top of him. His warblade came up in time to block, but the power of her drive had nearly sent him to his knees. She tested his weaknesses, in his stance, his movements, his knowledge of swordsmanship techniques. She kept her blade turning, relentless, not giving him a chance to think about his next move. She controlled the battle…and she toyed with him.

A cold smile formed on her lips. "I'm done playing with you, Vemrin." She used the force to grab him by his neck, squeezing until the warblade slipped from his grip. He failed in the way that most people did…he concentrated on his throat instead of his next move. She held her blade out and yanked him to her. The warblade sank into his belly. She pulled the blade out and let his body fall to the hard, stone floor.

"It would seem I missed your heart. Pity that. Would you like some bacta?" she asked with a cocked brow. She was hoping, if he were wounded, he would finally give up.

One his knees and one hand, he covered his wound, trying to staunch the flow of blood. He lifted his gaze to meet hers, her eyes blue once more. "Being Baras' apprentice was my destiny. Did I come this far and overcome such adversity, only to be proven unworthy?"

"You fought well, Vemrin. But…the sith have enough black hearts in their ranks. There is no room for growth in a vacuum of hate. The sith must change if we are to survive. I ask you again, do you want some bacta?"

"Shut up!" He growled. "There is only victory or death. I refuse to live a…lesser life. Finish me. I will not accept mercy!

"Ah…but killing you quickly would be a mercy over letting you slowly bleed out or having other acolytes toy with your dying body, seeing how much pain they can make you suffer before the end. But, never fear, Vemrin, I will show you the mercy you were incapable of showing to others." With that, she swung her warblade at his neck, the neck and stump both steaming as they parted ways.

Vette clapped her hands briefly, tickled by how the sith handled Vemrin. "Wow. Nice work – and I love how you threw mercy back in his face. I think I could come to like you," she teased the sith.

"I did rather enjoy that," she acknowledged with a smile. "Now, about the forbidden cavern?

"Oh! Right! Give me a sec," Vette said as she darted up the stairs and started depressing stone mechanisms.

There was a grinding of stone on stone and the statues guarding the cavern's entrance turned to face each other and then pulled back, sliding the door open as they moved. "Thank you, Vette. You have been most helpful."

Few masters ever bothered to thank their slaves. "It's nice to be acknowledged for a change."

Syn nodded and then motioned to the droids she could see within. "Looks like the fight isn't over yet."

Vette unholstered her blasters and twirled them. "Ready when you are."

They cut through the droids lining the path and reached a large, inner sanctum that had a multitude of bowing statues on either side of the central isle. Shades flitted about between the statues, but she ignored their presence. It was like some kind of religious cult worship scene frozen forever in stone. Down the aisle, at the top of the dais was a sarcophagus situated below a massive statue of a sith long dead.

"Whoa…this isn't creepy at all," Vette proclaimed in a strained voice. "I think I'll stay back here.

"I am uneasy too, Vette. Something is not right in here." She moved down the aisle, one row of statues faced the aisle on each side. One statue on each end of the rows had its head bent in offering. The four in the middle of each row stood tall. Behind the single rows lining the aisle, were a great many statues facing forward, bowing towards much larger statues.

At the top of the stairs, she used her power to force open the sarcophagus. Within lay the bones of an ancient sith, Naga Sadow. She gingerly slipped the lightsaber out of the skeleton's fingers without touching the bones.

Once in her hand, she tested its weight before igniting it. After a few practice swings, she snapped it to her magbelt. Before she could walk away, a purple haze rose from the dead sith and shot down into the stone statues that faced the aisle she'd walked through. The statues shattered; undead guardians jumped down from short wall they were standing on.

"I told you this place was creepy!" Vette shouted from the rooms entrance as she pulled her blasters.

Every time they took the entities down, the shade jumped to another set of statues to take their place. When the eighth fell, she looked around at the other statues to see if they, too, were coming to life to kill her. She let her gaze pass through the enraged sith shade that had done its best to defend its resting place. "We are done here."

The return trip was much easier. She saw other acolytes, this time they did not attack. Enough blood had been spilled this day. But unfortunately, even more was spilled outside of Bara's chambers. Eskella brought two men to attack her for killing her father. She had not wanted to kill the woman, but nor would she betray Tremel and herself by admitting the man still lived.

She shook off the frustration of needless deaths and entered Baras' rooms.

Baras lifted a hand to his chest. She had succeeded in something no one else had been able to do. "I am beside myself. Not only did you get the twi'lek to cooperate, but you completed an impossible task and claimed the ancient lightsaber. Vemrin was not in my chamber as I instructed. I take it he sought to stop you and claim the ancient weapon as his own?"

Her brow lifted. "He tried and failed. Vemrin was nothing if not consistent," she retorted dryly.

"Bravo. I see you may indeed become on of the strongest sith in the galaxy." It galled him that Tremel had been right about that, even if he wasn't right about the reason for secreting her here. "You are now my apprentice. This is the beginning for us both. With you as my right hand, we shall strike fear into the Empire's enemies. I must convene with the Emperor and inform him of your progress." He held a pass out to her. "This shuttle pass will take you to Dromund Kaas. Meet me at the Citadel there."

The Emperor? Wonderful her new master was insane. No matter, for now, she needed him. "Do give the Emperor my regards."

Baras nodded. "I'm sure he will be pleased. Take the twi'lek slave as my gift. Do with her as you will."

She gave a slight bow and left his chambers. "Don't say it," she whispered to Vette. "For now, we will just play along. Crazy or not, right now I need him."

"Better you than me," Vette retorted with a choked giggle.

On their way to the shuttle, Vette saw a stone slide into her master's path. When the sith stumbled forward, she saw a large Blood shoot a bolt of lightning at her as he passed by, she felt a hum through her slave collar and then it went quiet. She winked at him and mouthed a thank you as she hurried to her master's side. "Are you okay?"

Syn brushed the hair out of her face and tossed the stone with a wave of power. She looked around, but didn't notice anyone giving her undue attention. That rock had simply not been there before. "It would seem someone is playing games I don't have time for. I want to leave this hellscape behind and hope I don't have to ever return."

"Ditto," Vette agreed.

-BREAK THREE-

As they climbed the ramp and entered the shuttle, two people chose to leave rather than be anywhere near Pim. In all fairness, Pim was looking a little hungry. The shuttle took them to the Black Talon. Baras had assured she had her own room with two beds.

The Black Talon was no luxury liner; and it certainly didn't appear to cater to passengers. A basic transport at best. With little to do during the days, Vette had taught her a number of card games. She learned really quick not to make large wagers against Vette. The twi'lek was crafty with cards and gambling in general, while she, herself, had no claims to even being passably good.

Shortly after a fuel stop, an officer stopped her after leaving the galley.

Sylas gave a slight bow to the sith. "My lord, I'm Lieutenant Sylas, second-in-command of the Black Talon. I wanted to alert you that your droid boarded during our refueling stop."

She shook her head. "I'm sorry, lieutenant, there has been some mistake. I do not own a droid."

"Oh?" Sylas asked in surprise. "My apologies, my lord. The machine asked for you, so I assumed you were its owner. In any case, it seems someone wants to get in touch. The conference room is down the hall; I'll be on the bridge."

"I don't think it's Baras," she told Vette when the soldier was out of earshot, "he would have used a communicator – my family as well. This is odd, let's go check it out."

NR-02 looked up to see the sith approaching and scanned her. "Identity confirmed. Good day, I am advanced protocol unit NR-02. My functions are diplomacy, translation, manslaughter and calumniation. I have an urgent message for you from my master. Please stand by. This is unit NR-02 to Grand Moff Kilran. You are now in contact with the Black Talon."

A large, scarred man's projection appeared over the holo-table. "Well – so I am. And it seems you've brought me just the person I needed to speak to. My name is Rycus Kilran. I'm commander of the Fifth Fleet, second to the minister of War, and – my all-time favorite – the so-called "Butcher of Coruscant."

"Congratulations on all of your titles, Rycus Kilran, but it does not explain what it has to do with me. Why have you sought me out?"

"it's apparent I need another set of hands. So, I had NR-02 board the Black Talon and locate you. Six hours ago, the Republic engaged in an illegal border skirmish on the edges of Imperial territory. One enemy warship escaped. That warship – the Brentaal Star – is carrying a passenger of vital strategic importance. Yours is the only vessel placed to intercept."

"Who is this passenger that is of dire importance?"

"The warships passenger is code-named the general. We don't know his identity, but the Republic believes he possesses military secrets – our military secrets. I trust the reports. The general must be captured or killed. Captain Orzik – the man commanding your transport – doesn't share my enthusiasm. He's disobeyed my orders to attack."

"As well he should. He was ordered to delivery me to Dromund Kaas. What you are wanting him to do will delay my arrival…over a passenger you know nothing about. That is unacceptable, Moff Kilran."

Kilran's hands slipped behind his back. "The general will be dead or in custody by day's end. If he's not, I assure you – your ship will never reach port."

Her hand shot out and began close, using the force to close the Moff's throat. "Do not ever threaten my life again, you arrogant little worm." Her hand closed tighter. "You do not demand I do something. You do not threaten if you don't get your way. If you want me to do something for you, clear it with Darth Baras first. If he consents, then you ask me nicely or don't ask at all. Have I made myself clear, Moff Kilran?"

"Ye-es…"

She released her hold and retrieved her communicator. "Sorry to interrupt your affairs, Darth Baras, but Grand Moff Kilran threatened my life if I did not do as he demanded. I showed him the error of his misjudgment."

"That is as it should be, apprentice. Does he live?" Baras inquired.

"He does. I am to assume he will think twice before threatening an apprentice's life in the future. He has requested my assistance. He wants me to commandeer this ship and go after a Rep ship by the name of the Brentaal Star. He believes there is an Imperial defector or traitor on board and wants him captured or killed. It will, however, delay my arrival to Dromund Kaas."

"He is lucky I do not kill him for his impertinence," Baras growled. "I will contact Moff Kilran concerning his handling of this situation in a bit. For now, you may attend to the traitor. You have portrayed yourself well, my apprentice."

She slipped the communicator back into her pocket and looked at the Moff, who was still rubbing his throat. "I will adjourn the bridge. I'm sure your droid will keep you well informed."

"I will lead the way." NR-02 informed her. "Once Captain Orzik is deposed and our hijacking is complete, we may proceed to the Brentaal Star."

They came to a stop when soldiers and a barrier blocked their progression to the bridge.

"Please move aside immediately," the lieutenant ordered. He frowned when she continued to approach. "Halt, my lord. This is a restricted area – the command deck entry hatch. No one's allowed in until we reach our destination. You'll have to leave immediately."

"Do not do this. There is no reason for you to die today," she warned.

He stiffened. He did not want to fight a sith, but an order was an order. "Our orders were to treat any approach as an attack. You need to take your droid…and your beast and move it!"

"Then you leave me no choice." She ignited her lightsaber and threw it at the lead soldier that stood in her way. It sliced through his neck and returned to her hand. When they were dispatched, she could see the soldiers further down and knew it would mean a fight to bridge. Needless, senseless death. She should have killed Moff Kilran and been done with this waste of time and life.

They stormed down the aisle, taking out anyone that did not give way. Her anger building with each death. By the time she reached the captain, she wanted nothing more than toss him and Kilran on the same pyre and watch them burn. At least…until she met the captain. They spoke at length and the captain proved himself to be an amiable fellow with a sound head on his shoulders. In the end, he agreed to go after the Brentaal Star.

"Emerging from hyperspace now. A Thranta-class warship on the scanners. Powering up…" Ensign Hetter warned the captain.

"Enemy is firing! Turbolasers, missiles…and what looks like transport pods," Another warned.

"Evasive maneuvers!" the captain ordered. "Keep the pods at a distance – they look harmless, but they'll latch on the hull and cut at us with sabotage droids."

"Sir, three shuttles on an intercept course!"

"I'll handle the boarders," she said without thought.

Orzik nodded. "Security, such that it is, will meet you at the entrance to the shuttle bay. Defend the ship at all costs – and we'll get you to the Brentaal Star."

After leaving the bridge, the ship shuddered under her feet.

"Warning: Secondary power systems damaged. Nonessential systems may be inoperable," the ship's computer warned.

They took the elevator down to the cargo bay. Republic troops were filing in and the death toll was rising. None were willing to surrender and either injured or dead, they were eventually all neutralized.

"This is the captain. If you can hear this, we need you on the bridge."

Well damn, she'd been hoping to take one of the Rep shuttles over to their own ship. They took the elevator back up to the bridge.

"Please stand alert. Grand Moff Kilran's representative has returned," NR-02 informed the bridge.

Orzik turned to face the sith. "I see you took care of the Republic assault. Welcome back to the bridge."

"Thank you, captain."

He nodded. "We survived the first wave of attacks from the Brentaal Star. Things will be calm until we enter fighter range – another minute…maybe two."

"Transmission coming in! Long range…it's a message, but it's not from the Brentaal Star," Brukarra informed the sith.

"Put it through, ensign," she told him. A woman with braided hair appeared on the holocommunicator.

Satele slipped her hands behind her back. "This is Jedi Grand Master Satele Shan hailing unidentified Imperial vessel. I'm en route to your location with sixteen Republic vessels. I'm asking you to retreat before more lives are lost."

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Syn-fae Jinn, apprentice to Darth Baras and in command of this vessel."

Satele had not expected manners in a sith. "I'm glad to hear a voice of reason. Let us end this conflict together. The Brentaal Star is under my protection. Our convoy was ambushed and I sent the Star ahead. We will reunite. I just crippled three Imperial dreadnaughts. I don't wish to destroy you – the peace between the Republic and the Empire is fragile already."

"I am aware of that and I cannot condone the needless loss of life on either side. So, you see, that leaves me in a quandary. I cannot leave without the general. Tell the Brentaal Star to hand over the Imperial defector and we will leave in peace."

A sith who did not want to destroy everything in her path? If only more sith believed as she did. It was unfortunate they could not work together. For the sith to change, they needed people like the young apprentice. If there had only been another way. "I'm afraid I cannot comply. The general has a role to play in the Republic," Satele explained, her tone undeniably somber.

"I'm sure his intel on the Empire would be most advantageous to the Republic. It is unfortunate we could not reach an accord. I bear you nor the Brentaal Star any ill will, but I cannot leave without the general. May the force be with you, Grand Master. End transmission."

"Affirmative. Ending transmission," Brukarra stated.

"Entering fighter range," Hetter warned. "The Brentaal Star is launching its first squadron."

Orzik sighed. So, let it be. "It's time for us to do the same. I assume you'll be going to the starboard hangar and lead the boarding party to go after the general?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way. Stay safe, everyone."

With that, she left the bridge and boarded the shuttle in the starboard hangar bay. She wasn't sure how they were able to slide under the radar and slip into the Star's hangar bay. But they were here and it was time for her to take care of the business at hand.

There were a few Reps in the bay, but they had not expected to be boarded and that gave her boarding party the advantage. Once they left the hangar bay behind, it was obvious the Star was taking on damage as well. They passed random fires as they fought through the resistance.

Her communicator chimed, but she had to wait for a break in fighting to answer it. When she had a moment, she flipped it on. "What do you need NR-02?"

"I've been scanning the Brentaal Star's communications, and security forces appear to be moving to protect the escape pods. It is extremely likely that the crew is attempting to evacuate the general. You must retrieve or eliminate him before he escapes."

"I appreciate the update, but I know what I must do," she said tightly. She deactivated the communicator and dropped it back into her pocket.

Vette snorted. "The droid's a bit much, don't you think?"

"Oh, I think," Syn agreed. "Maybe I'll shock his bolts when I get back."

"Wish I could do that," Vette muttered.

Syn synced her MT to the ships database and pulled up a schematic of the ship. "That's where we need to go. No time to waste. We won't survive if the Grand Master's fleet catches up to us."

As far as she could tell, no one stood down. They'd had to carve a path through the transport deck to reach the elevator to the engine deck.

Resistance grew heavier as they approached the escape pods. Was the general so bloody important that it was worth the cost of so many lives? In truth, he wasn't important enough to her for this kind of death. If she failed then everyone on the Black Talon would die. It was she who forced them to be here. And only she could save them. It wasn't lost on her that she could have refused the Moff and gone straight to Dromund Kaas. It is what she should have done. The weight of these deaths was on her. Now, she could only try to save as many as she could. So far, she'd been able to save a few of the Reps by using her power to propel them into rooms and locking them in.

Before they could walk through, the door in front of them closed and locked. That would not keep her out. She closed her eyes and drew the force into her. When it burned like fire in her veins, her hands shot out, the wave of power slammed into the door and sent it skittering across the ship's deck.

Yadira held out her hand. "Halt where you are. I am Yadira Ban, padawan of the Jedi Order. I was sent to protect the general, and you will not pass."

Padawan…so that was the stupid word. It was not a strong word. It reminded her of a baby in swaddling clothes, though she didn't know why. "I am Syn-fae Jinn, apprentice of the Sith Order. I was sent to retrieve the general. I did not want any of this to happen, but nor can I leave without him. Indeed, I must pass."

Yadira shook her head and stood firm. "I cannot do that. A jedi does not surrender the innocent into the hands of evil. I intend to drive you back – just as the Republic pushed the Sith Empire into the dark of the galaxy," she proclaimed with conviction.

Syn admired the conviction and spunk of the jedi. "That is very poetic. I like your spirit. It is unfortunate that I will have to extinguish it – in another time, I would think we could have been friends. Is there no way we can end this peacefully?"

Was this sith for real? No, she would not be distracted by pretty words. "Unless you retreat, then there can be no peace." She launched herself at the sith.

The jedi was talented and even managed to knock her and Vette on their asses a few times. But Pim was relentless and a great distraction. In the end, the twi'lek fell, but Syn felt no pride in her death. After the jedi, there were only a handful of men standing between her and the man that could only be the general. She respected the troops who fought even though they knew they would not survive. But she would have preferred they run and hide than earn her respect.

The general closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. So many lives lost in protecting him. "You can put aside your weapons, I won't try to run." Not that he could if he wanted to.

"How did you get hurt?" she enquired.

"Unlucky," he said with a shrug and then groaned as pain engulfed him. "I was caught in your ship's attack. I'm told the wounds aren't fatal, but that doesn't make it hurt any less." His breath hitched. "I was a general in the Imperial military service. Did they tell you that when they sent you? Did they even know?"

"No," she said with a shake of her head "- only that they were told someone intended to spill secrets. Why did you betray the Empire?"

"If you knew what I knew, you'd understand. If you heard what both sides are plotting, you wouldn't be eager to restart this war."

"You are wrong about me, general. Just because I'm sith, doesn't mean I want war. All this death is a waste. I want peace for both sides. There has to be a way to co-exist."

He shook his head slowly. "It's too late. They're building doomsday weapons. Shields that envelope planets; missiles that darken suns. Republic and Empire are planning to raze worlds – annihilate civilizations. It will be unlike anything the galaxy's seen since the Great Hyperspace War. And it's too late to stop it – the so-called peace is already lost."

"If both sides are will be responsible for this, then why defect to the Republic?"

"There's no place for me in the Empire anymore. I though my last act might be to even the odds – create a stalemate. But it is a moot point now. What will you do with me?" he asked, not really caring at this point. His life was forfeit regardless.

"You'll be transported back to Dromund Kaas and taken into Imperial custody," she explained.

He sighed. It was as he figured. "Where I will be tortured or executed, or – at best – placed in a cell for the rest of my life…"

"I know…" she muttered to herself as the guards hauled the general away. He had made his bed, there was nothing she could or would do about it. She could only hope his dire prediction of the future never came true.

She found a holoterminal outside the hangar deck and commed the Black Talon. The captain took her com.

"Captain Orzik here. I understand you're on your way back - I assume congratulations are in order. Our marines will be recalled back to the Black Talon. As soon as you are aboard, we'll jump to lightspeed – Republic reinforcements could arrive any minute."

"Understood," she said with a nod. "Prepare a holding cell, we are bringing a prisoner."

"I'm sure the droid and Grand Moff Kilran will be pleased to have the general alive. I'll see you on the bridge. Congratulations again – Orzik out."

Her shuttle evacuated first, the marines' shuttle following suit. When they hit the hanger, she was out and hurrying towards the bridge. Now was not the time to dawdle.

The feeling on the bridge was decidedly more chipper than the last time she'd been there. The captain ordered them to lightspeed as soon she'd hit the bridge. Once they were safely away, they managed to exchange some pleasantries before Kilran commed them.

There was a distinct air of discomfort during her conversation with the Grand Moff. But he was contrite and even apologized again for his lack of manners on their previous com. He seemed as relieved as she when their com came to an end.

Dirty, hungry and tired, she took her leave from the bridge and returned to her quarters to freshen up and didn't leave them until they arrived on Dromund Kaas. Not even to eat. She wasn't sure how Vette did it, but the twi'lek always came back with the choicest of food, at least for the transport they were on, and even pilfered raw meat from the galley for Pim.

-BREAK FOUR-

By the time they docked at the Dromund Kaas spacestation, she was more than ready to leave the ship. She wanted real food – a real bed – and a real honest-to-goodness shower rather than just a sani-clean field. There is nothing like hot, stinging drops warming your skin and tenderizing your muscles.

She stretched when she stepped out of the airlock. It made little sense as she had plenty of room onboard the ship, but perhaps akin to freedom. Once again, several of those that were on the shuttle she boarded for the surface chose to leave and wait for the next shuttle rather than fly down with Pim. She sniffed, but he still smelled clean from their last sani-clean. She shrugged, trying not to grin when she saw Vette petting Pim.

They were met by one of Baras' slaves after they used a terminal to clear their visit to the planet. He essentially told them to look around before going to Baras' chambers at the Sith Sanctum. Good enough, then she would see him tomorrow, because it was already heading towards sunset.

As they left the port, the jungle opened up in front of them. "Welcome to Dromund Kaas, where freedom goes to die and legends are forced on the galaxy," Vette scoffed dryly. She wasn't sure how Syn felt about the place, but it was actually worse that Korriban for her. Korriban was full of wannabe siths and a lot of them died. Boo-hoo. But here… here they dominated. Here they became monsters before they were unleashed. Would Syn become a monster too? For now, she could only watch and wait and hope.

"Not a fan, eh?" she asked as they walked over to the speeder pad. The slaves. "Right. There are a lot of slaves on Dromund Kaas and a lot of bloated egos that make mine look like joke. I can see it hasn't changed since the last time I was here." She rented two speeders. The face mask under the seat sealed to the front of her face. "Let's get to the sanctum. I want to locate our room and then we can go grab something to eat."

Vette had expected to get zapped for sure with that loose-lipped comment. Or at least she thought she'd have to pretend to be zapped. For a big, bad sith, Syn continued to surprise her. She didn't even mind that they had to fly slow so that Pim could keep up with them. Feeling the wind race along her lekku was an exhilarating sense of freedom, despite the malfunctioning shock collar.

When they arrived at the sanctum, Syn checked to obtain her room number. She was disappointed when she found it only held one bed, but discovered the sofa pulled out into another bed, though she wasn't sure if it would be any more comfortable for Vette than actually sleeping on the sofa. She shrugged; it wasn't her concern. She flipped on her holocommunicator and commed her mother.

"Rael! It's our baby!" She smiled at her daughter. "I'm so proud of you! The academy commed as soon as you became an apprentice!" Megs' smile slipped. "It's unfortunate you got that toadie, Baras – but you won't need him for very long."

"So…I take you know he's er…soft in the head?"

She laughed at her daughter's choice of words. "You mean crazy as a bantha on creetian berries? "

Rael-kai grunted as he moved in closer to his wife's communicator. "And damned near as big as one!"

She couldn't see her father, but it was nice to hear his voice. "Hi, dad. Good to hear you." Her parents didn't live the typical life of sith. They ruled a self-sustaining planet that had been in her father's family for generations and they were happy with the lives they led. So, yes…if the truth were known, she was actually princess, so to speak, and that was why the use of the name didn't offend her, even if they used it in a deriding manner.

"I'm going to tell her, Megs. I can't hold it back any longer! We have a surprise for you, baby! Towards the end of your stay at the lower academy, I had a ship commissioned for you. The Dusky Pearl. She's on her maiden voyage to Dromund Kaas right now!"

"And, baby," Megs cut in, "Your slave, Bree's onboard. Davor's with her, but he'll return to us after you take possession of your new ship. Your cabin's closet is full, love. Nothing but the best for our baby girl!"

"A new ship?" she mouthed to Vette, her grin spreading from ear to ear. "I can't believe you've done this for me! I mean – you never mentioned it. Either of you. I'm stunned."

"That's the point of a secret, baby." Megs lifted her finger to her mouth. "Not to tell." She grinned and nudged her husband with her elbow. "I honestly thought your father would cave. He loves spoiling you to pieces, darling.

"Of course, I do," he glared mockingly at his wife. "She's daddy's little girl."

"Ok, you two…your embarrassing me in front of Vette. Baras gave her to me and I'd rather she not think I'm a prissy little miss," Syn pointed out.

Vette darted over to get a closer look at the woman in the holo. "Hi, mom and pops! Oh, do keep embarrassing her – it's way too much fun."

"Nope," Syn spit out before her parents could say anything more. "She's going to hear enough from Bree – she does not need to hear my embarrassing childhood mishaps from you too."

"Your no fun," Vette poo-pooed before plopping down on the soft sofa. She moaned. This was heaven.

"Thank you and I love you both, but I need to go for now before Pim decides Vette's as appealing as a rump roast."

"Hey!" Vette cried out. "My rump isn't that big or juicy!"

"I think your slaves are going to get along well together. Comm us soon, darling. We love you." Megs blew her daughter a kiss and cut the holofeed.

She snapped the communicator to her golden magbelt. "We're getting a ship! I can't wait until she arrives. And I can't wait to see Bree." She felt as giddy as a schoolgirl with her first crush. She cleared her throat. "Let's grab something to eat and forget my gleeful silliness."

"Not on your life, sith. It is good to see you happy once in a while," Vette admitted as she followed her master out the door of their quarters.

She frowned. "I'm happy."

"That frown on your face could have fooled me," Vette retorted.

She blinked and pursed her lips to keep them from frowning. She paid for an extra-large taxi for Pim and took it to Kaas City. "Your right," she admitted to Vette. "I was happy on Dolryn. That's the planet my parents' rule. Beautiful planet, extraordinary life. But I couldn't remain a pampered child forever. No. that's wrong. I could have. They probably would have preferred it. But I suppose I wanted to follow in their footsteps."

"Become a sith and then find some planet to rule?" Vette quipped with giggle she tried to hide behind her hand.

She wrinkled her nose at the twi'lek. "Become a sith. See what's out there in the galaxy. I've been sheltered all my life – until the academies. I want to taste the galaxy before I retire an rule in a lap of luxury."

"Must be nice," the twi'lek chided. "I followed in my parents' footsteps too. And look at me, I'm still a slave. Woo-hoo. Good one, Vette."

Maybe she shouldn't be harping on how great she had it to someone who's had a lifetime of slavery. That had been unfeeling of her. "As long as you're with me, you'll never want for anything."

Yeah, but she'd still be a slave. "Just so you know – the galaxy tastes like ass."

Syn shuddered as they walked into the Nexus cantina. "I don't even want to imagine how you know that."

Vetted choked over a laugh and then grinned. "No, you don't. You really don't." And that's all she was going to say about it.

After Vette took the last bite from the plate, she pushed it away and groaned as she leaned back against the chair. "I can't even remember when I last ate a nerf steak. Do you always feed your slaves this well?" she asked, giving her master a lazy look.

That was an odd thing to say. "Am I not supposed to? Bree always ate with me – unless dignitaries showed up. The rest of the slaves ate in the kitchen. Still, they ate the same meals we did." She cocked a brow. "Would you feel more comfortable with bread and water?" she teased.

"Slap me in a cage and I'll feel right at home." Vette pursed her lips, but nothing would keep the question from being asked. "What's up with your eyes? Most sith have either freaky glowy eyes or normal eyes. You're the only sith I've ever seen bounce between the two."

Syn absently fed Pim what was left on her plate by dropping it into his mouth. "Am I? I suppose it's because I don't keep the force tethered to me. Keeping it balled up and writhing inside you is hard on your body. It can allow you to use it on a moment's notice, giving that sith a slight edge, but I've been training since I was a child to draw the force like you would draw a blaster. The more you do it, the faster you get at it. If I pull heavily from the force, my eyes change color and revert when I release my hold. Releasing my hold also releases a bit of my own energy into the force, thus it becomes a give and take rather than the enslavement of the force that is normal for a sith." She shuddered. "Have you seen what raping the force does to a sith? No thank you. I'm far too pretty to want to look like a monster."

"Anyone ever tell you you're vain?"

"Only a time or ten. But it's not like I can hide the truth. And I'm not going to play some simpering denial act. If I act the fool, it will not be intentionally."

"Fair enough," Vette replied with an agreeable nod. She supposed if she was an ethereal beauty, it would be silly to deny it. Then again, if she was prettier, she'd have been forced into a life on her back rather than learning something worthwhile.

"Come on, I'm grabbing a bottle of Corellian Red and we are going to have a nightcap before we go to bed."

Vette sighed in bliss. "You say the most endearing things."

With wine in hand, they returned to Syn's quarters, watched a vid and drank wine until sleep called them to bed.

Come morning, she spent a fair amount of time in the shower, scrubbing both herself and Pim down. She used the Sani-clean on her protective clothing and then she, Vette and Pim ate a quick breakfast in the apprentice dining hall before heading up to see Darth Baras.

Baras looked up from his datapad when his apprentice entered his chamber. "Not a moment too soon. Your timing is impeccable."

Vette looked around the room and shivered. "Did it just get considerably colder?"

Baras shifted his hands behind his back, barely giving the slave a glance. "I see you decided to keep the slave. I hope she amuses you. I trust you've been acquainting yourself with your new environs? Did my minion point you in the right direction?"

"He performed his duties well," she told him.

Baras nodded. "A properly beaten-down slave is the only trustworthy creature in the galaxy."

The idiot. That they would have to agree to disagree on. But before Syn could say anything, Baras' monologue continued.

"Your responsibilities will mandate contact with my various minions. Meet my directives, and you may do as you will to anyone you encounter, adversary or ally." He lifted his hand. "Do not be too quick to kill either. I hope you understand that the most powerful weapon in a sith's arsenal is information. I have painstakingly built a vast network of spies and operatives embedded throughout the sith. Republic and jedi alike. I have fingers, eyes and ears everywhere."

Syn cocked a brow. "So, which am I to be – a finger, an eye or an ear?"

His pulled his shoulders back. "You're my enforcer – deployed to protect my interests, intimidate my rivals, and destroy my enemies. It's time for your tenure to begin. A military starship is touching down at the Kaas City cargo port 87, delivering a vitally important prisoner to me. You will meet Commander Lanklyn there and make sure he and his men successfully off-load this prisoner.

"The importance of this prisoner cannot be overstated. Go to the cargo port now and stay sharp. You are dismissed."

She inclined her head to him and motioned to Vette with slight jerk of her head that they were going. They took a taxi to the Kaas City Central taxi. When they reached CP87, they took the elevator to the hangar bay.

In the bay, she saw a higher ranked military man dictating instructions to underlings.

Lanklyn snapped his boot heels together. "All right, men, let's hurry up and get this hunk of carbonite to its owner."

Vette held her hand up to one side of her mouth. "Hey! Captain oblivious – boo!"

Lanklyn spun around, spotting the sith and the twi'lek and…the beast. "Oh, I – I didn't see you enter. Lord Baras didn't need to send a welcoming party. My men and I have performed far more dangerous duties for him than this. The prisoner is frozen in carbonite, so he's not a flight risk – and this is friendly territory. Surly we are safe here."

"Safe here? Where it's every sith for themselves? No, commander, sith interests are…complicated."

He tapped the heals of his boots together. While he may not agree, he would hold his tongue. "Yes, my lord. Whatever you say. Let's get this oversized block to your master."

Syn stiffened when she felt the presence of others approaching. She spun and ignited her lighsaber. A low-life thug came towards her, blaster aimed.

"Not so fast," Slestack ordered. "My master wants that block of ice. So, step away from the carbonite man and no one ends up in the grave."

"Is that so?" Syn mocked. "I'm afraid your master is going to be disappointed."

His hard eyes narrowed on the pretty little thing. "Perhaps I didn't make myself plainly clear. I'm here to relieve you of your burden. Whether that includes your own lives as well, is up to you."

TuMarr grunted. "Lookie, lookie. If it ain't Slestack. Your master be wanting the frozen man too, huh? Too bad for you – it mine."

Syn tapped her foot on the ground. "Friend of yours?" She asked Slestack. This could end up working in her favor.

"Not likely," Slestack sneered. "To know TuMarr is to hate TuMarr."

"That go true for you too, Slestack. If you don't flee, this be like killing two stone with one bird," TuMarr retorted. Scrawny little human always under foot.

Lanklyn's hand wrested on his blaster. "I'm such a fool. I'll never doubt you again. What do we do?"

"Let this play out," she returned quietly.

"Go home, TuMarr. You and your lackies are hardly worth my time," Slestack told ugly houk with a flip of his hair.

TuMarr pointed at Slestack. "You mouth get you in trouble. It about to chew off mor than it can chew."

She turned to look at Slestack. "Is that true?" she asked him.

"Very funny." He shrugged. "I do relish the opportunity to rid the world of TuMarr and his drones. So, I'll be with you presently, instigator."

She grinned for a moment, while she watched the two bands of thugs shoot it out. She sighed and gave half her attention to the commander and nodded.

"Well done!" Lanklyn proclaimed with a slight bow to her. "While they fight, my men and I will deliver the prisoner to Lord Baras. Thank you for buying us time, my lord."

She kept the commander and his men under surveillance until they'd reached the sanctum. Then she led Vette to a merchant store and bought them both a couple of bags and outfits each, along with sleep-wear.

Vette wondered if the sith would ever stop surprising her. She ran her fingers over the purchases, the fabric soft and silky to the touch. It wouldn't replace her protective gear, but it wasn't for that purpose. There was a dress and pantsuit and heels and flats. Belts, lacy underclothing, jewelry – nothing she'd ever really thought about getting for herself. But they'd felt heavenly when she'd tried them on. "You continue to surprise me. I've never worn anything like this before in my life."

"Every woman deserves to feel special once in a while. Bree and I…I'm sorry. I know you're not her, but doing this sort of thing with you brings back good memories."

"Bree is lucky. I've never felt very special before. I – you know, maybe being given to you has made me lucky too," Vette admitted to herself as well as a sith. She still wanted to be free – but for now, she was content…and that surprised her.

She shrugged. "Maybe so," though she'd never considered that. She treated the twi'lek how she'd always treated Bree and thought nothing of it. "Tonight, we're going out dancing."

They dropped their packages off and returned to Baras.

Baras felt the approach of his apprentice. Her power in the force was unmistakable. "Lanklyn informed me of the ambush at the cargo port. Apparently, there are even more eyes on us than I thought." He paced before his carbonite prisoner. "I have felt a disturbance in the force. It leaves doom imprinted on my dreams – a grave and mysterious threat that could bring down my power base." He stopped and slapped the carbonite. "This frozen man is a top Republic agent, captured while investigating my most deeply imbedded spy on Nar Shaddaa – one of my invisibles." He tapped his steepled fingers together. "The force grants me a vision of doom, and immediately, my untraceable spy – who has left no footprints, no trail – is almost exposed." His hands tightened into fists. "It makes me furious."

"Are you sure it is more than coincidence?" She did not feel the disturbance he was talking about. Maybe because it didn't affect her or maybe it was because she was the future disturbance he felt. Then again, maybe it was insanity filling his mind full of imaginings.

He looked at his apprentice for a moment in thought but then shook his head. "It is not coincidence. I can feel it." He turned to look at the frozen man. "I must learn what tipped off the Republic agent. He is the key to uncovering the nature of this threat. Now, while I thaw the prisoner out and painfully siphon every morsel of information I can from him, I have some concerns that require your special talents."

Vette rolled her eyes. "No rest for the wicked, I guess." Would they still be going out dancing tonight? She was afraid she didn't want to know the answer to that.

He sent a brief glance at the slave. Her words were truer than she realized. "Go to the Imperial post in the jungles outside the city. Commander Pritch is stationed there. I need you to assist him in a seek-and-destroy task. "Waste no time. I have more for you to do once this is complete. You are dismissed."

They took speeders to the post and managed to locate Pritch, thanks to a trooper's assistance. That was when she'd learned about the slave rebellion and couldn't help but wonder if a sith had their hand in establishing the rebellion as a part of a much larger plot or power play. She choked back a laugh when she found it Baras was behind it. The slave captains were blackmailing him and he wanted it taken care of. Pritch let her know that the captains were actually selling the freed slaves back into slavery.

She grinned. "Blackmailing the blackmailers. Deviously poetic. I like it."

Pritch nodded. "sounds good, my lord. I'll await any proof you salvage from the slave captain's belongings."

She avoided as many slaves as possible. Even though Baras was responsible for the rebellion, slave lives mattered. She finally found the information she needed pilfering through the leaders' trunks and hurried back to Pritch.

His brows rose in surprise. She was back sooner than he'd expected. "My lord, you're back. Did you find sufficient proof that the slave captains are selling their people back into slavery?"

She pulled out the datapads with a grin. "The captains kept log books," she said as she handed them over to the commander.

He glanced down at the datapad – this couldn't be any more perfect. He tucked the datapads into his satchel. "Most impressive, my lord! I can see why Lord Baras has such faith in you. Now I can threaten to expose the truth. If the slave captains don't want to be torn limb from limb," he said as he ground a fist into his palm, "they'll stop blackmailing Lord Baras. I must say, my lord, it's been inspiring to watch you work."

She doubted he'd seen anything from where he stood. What he liked were the results, not how she did it. "You've been very helpful, commander."

"Thank you, my lord. I'm pleased to hear that. I'll inform Lord Baras that the situation has been handled," he said with a small bow.

She straddled her speeder. "It's not quite lunch time yet, so we might as well find out what the next big to-do is that we were supposed to hurry back for."

It started raining. "Oh great! Another shower. With my clothes on, no less." Vette groused. "Yippee."

They dropped the speeders off near the sanctum, and as they walked through the entry, they were dry once more, thanks to the drying field in place. Vette was grateful she didn't have hair when she saw Syn frantically combing her fingers through her long dark blond – or was it light brown tresses, trying to tame the fluffy mass that fell down her back. Caramel. That was the color of her hair. She groaned. And now she was hungry.

Baras wasn't tucked away in his office this time, no. He was in the main room, the prisoner thawed and had obviously been tortured, holo-strapped down to a table designed for just that purpose.

Grik glared at the sith. "I -I don't care what you do. Break my bones, burn my flesh – I'll tell you nothing!" If he had even the slightest bit of moisture left in his mouth, he'd have spit on the fat Dark Lord.

Baras responded to the irritating claim with a burst of lightning from his fingertips. "I will not be denied!"

Grik's body contorted with the flow of the current, straining against the holobands that held him in place. "M-m-monster..." He managed to get out before another blast hit him, silencing him its jaw gritting power.

Vetted cringed. "I didn't know bodies could bend like that." Her hand flew to her mouth when the taste of bile hit the back of her throat. "I think I'm gonna be sick."

Syn swallowed hard herself, but refused to voice her own discomfort. "Turn away, Vette. You shouldn't have to see this." There were far better ways of getting information out of people than this barbaric display.

Baras stopped his ministrations when he heard the two talking. "Ah, apprentice, I was hoping you would return promptly. Commander Pritch has confirmed that the slaves have been silenced. Good. I'm still trying to extract the information I crave from this Republic agent. He's much more resilient than anticipated. I have another important task for you. It involves a renegade sith lord named Grathan. A particularly bothersome thorn in my side. Meet with my apprentice, Ba'al. He's my covert operative in Granthan's compound. Ba'al claims to have made a key discovery. Grathan's presence is useful to me for now, so cripple him – don't kill him."

She quickly departed her master's chambers when he returned his attentions to the man on the table. "I'm guessing lunch will run a bit late," she said as they stepped back out into the light drizzle. She flipped on her micro-terminal and located Grathan's estate. Not wanting to get shot down by flying over it to get closer, instead she chose the closest landing pad on the outskirts of his estate. "There. Got the navpoint." She patted Pim's head plate and made a beeline for the taxi pad.

"So…another apprentice," Vette said with no small amount of uncertainty. "Don't you guys usually try to kill each other?" she asked during the taxi ride.

"From what I've seen, it can be just as bad between apprentices as it was between acolytes." She cast a quick glance at her slave. "Don't worry, Vette. He'd have to get through me to get to you and I'm not so easy to get through."

So, her master would protect her. Most slaves were expendable. But she was starting to think that might not be the case this time. That was good for her survival chances, which had a way of improving her outlook on life.

-BREAK FIVE-

The taxi settled down at the Dromund Kaas Wall outpost. Grathan lived in the jungle outside of the city's wall. They stuck to the shadows once they went over the bridge, crossing into Grathan's lands. During the taxi ride, Baras had sent her Ba'al's location. She found the warehouse not too far inside Grathan's compound gates. They'd had to relieve the three guards of their lives who were guarding the gate, but other than that, no lives were lost. So far.

Dri'kill Ba'al shook his head when he saw pretty little princess enter his office. "You must be the operative Lord Baras sent. I thought he'd choose a stealthy assassin, not some little princess. This isn't a tea party, little girl."

She smiled sweetly at the taunt. "I don't let being a princess get in my way – you would do well to remember that."

He just blinked. That was not the response he thought he'd get. "Are you saying -" he shook his head. He wasn't sure if she meant she really was a princess or if she had delusions of grandeur. Either way. She was too pretty to take seriously. "You're not talking to one of Baras' Imperial peons. I'll be working for Lord Baras long after you've worn out your welcome."

She cocked a brow. "Must we do this right now?"

He nodded. "We've got business to handle. With the entire complex roused, we'll have to get in each other's faces another time." He ignored her rolling eyes. "Now listen – Lord Grathan is a rogue sith who boldly defies the Dark Council. Locked away here, he's been untouchable. Baras wants to let Grathan know he can be reached. And after a year undercover, I've discovered the way – Grathan has a son!"

She bit back a retort on how little he'd uncovered after a year and instead, folded her arms under her breasts. "I'm fascinated to hear where this is going.," she proclaimed dryly.

He leaned back against the edge of his desk. "He's kept his son a secret in order to protect him from his enemies. Grathan would be devastated if his only child and heir was dead. That would send a message."

"I'm sure it would – but I don't kill children. Period," she growled.

Of all the prissy-assed…he shook his head. "You won't have to, princess. Grathan's kid is nearly twenty and strong in the force. He's been trained in the ways of the sith since birth. You'll have your hands full," he warned.

"He is not the only one trained in the force since birth. I'll handle him."

He shook his head at her foolishness and crossed his arms over his chest. "Alright," he mocked. "Maybe underestimating your foes works for you."

"His failing will be the same as yours – underestimating me. I always find that quite amusing."

When the beast at her side growled, his body stilled but clamped down on any display of emotion. Blind arrogance had been the fall of many a sith and it would be hers too. "Grathan's away on business. I managed to hack a special spike that will get you inside his private quarters – but you're going to have to knock out the surveillance stations so you aren't seen. There are several monitoring stations on the compound and well…stick your lightsaber in them. Think you can you handle that, princess?"

Her fingers itched, wanting to choke the life out of the moron in front of her. But he'd probably haunt her for the rest of her life. "Is that all?" she asked sweetly.

"The son's name is Beelzlit. I'll meet you back here when you're done. Don't screw up."

She took the spike from him and left. Getting into the compound was easy, it seems the guards were distracted by a man who had just darted out of the compound and they'd decided to give chase. That was an amusing spot of luck. She found the first terminal in front of a lift. She did as she was told and impaled her blade through the control panel and then took the lift down.

After taking out the third monitoring station, she located little Grathan's quarters and applied the spike Ba'al had given her. The door slid open. With lightsaber in hand, she moved carefully forward. She found a young man seated behind a desk and woman not too far from him.

Beelzlit looked up surprised to see anyone in his chamber. "Mother, a stranger approach."

"You don't know the half of it, kid." Normally Vette wouldn't like the idea of killing someone barely out of childhood, but he would soon be a sith and the world would be better off with less sith in it.

Callvanta spun around, her hand dropping to the top of her lightsaber. Why had she not sensed the intrusion? She could certainly feel the woman's power now. "I'm Callvanta Grathan! How dare you enter my son's room uninvited! Who are you?"

"I have the unsavory duty of killing kid Grathan. My master wants to teach Grathan a lesson he won't soon forget," she admitted without preamble.

Beelzlit came out from behind the desk and took his mother's arm. "Mother, if I am the target, save yourself. I don't want to see you die," he implored her. She'd been his protector growing up more times than he could count. He wasn't sure if he'd have survived his father's temper without her.

Callvanta covered her son's hand with her own. "My son, you must not sacrifice yourself for me. I would die to keep you safe."

"Noble," Syn acknowledged. "Not something I expected. I don't want to have to kill you, kid. But my master forbade me from killing Grathan – my hands are tied."

The older woman stepped in front of her son. She wasn't sure her ploy would work, but the young sith didn't seem to like what she was charged with doing. "I have a better idea, assassin. Spare my son, take my husband's life, and bring me his helmet. My son will wear my husband's armor and assume his place. No one will know. You will be doing everyone a favor – killing a tyrant and sparing an innocent boy."

While the old woman's plan was far more appealing, it didn't make sense. "My informant told me your husband was away – why would you want me to kill your husband anyway?"

"Your informant was wrong. He is in his chamber right now." She eyed the young sith. "You are too young to be a mother, you cannot know the love a mother has for her child…and her child's future. I married Grathan for power. It was a means to an end – now you have given us a new possible future. I'm strong, but I can't touch my husband. How long I've waited for someone to end his oppressive rule."

She looked knowingly at the older woman. "And would your rule be any less oppressive? Why should I replace one monster with another, perhaps worse one?" Syn enquired with a quirk of her brow.

"You are wrong about me, assassin. Yes, I will rule through my son until he can stand on his own." And perhaps longer, since her son loved her so. "But I know things have to change. Not right away, slowly, so as not to raise suspicion."

She looked from mother to son and slowly nodded. "Not too slowly," she warned. "Don't make me come back to correct this problem."

"Of course not, my lord," the old woman agreed. Freedom, she could almost taste it. She pulled a passcard from her pocket and held it out to the assassin. "Use this to enter Grathan's secret chamber – turn left when you leave here. Remember to bring back his helmet. And be wary, assassin. Few are as attuned to the dark side as he."

Vette's hand tightened around the butt of her blaster. "Uh…I don't think I like the sound of that," she admitted as they left the boy's chamber.

"You don't have to go in with me, Vette. Pim and I will take care of old man Grathan."

The next room down on the left had another security console. She slid the card into the slot and the door opened. She heard laughter as she entered the chamber.

"My uninvited guest finally arrives," he said as he turned to face his adversary. "Your feelings betray you, youngster. I sensed your murderous intentions the moment you entered my sanctum. What's more, your poorly shielded mind has revealed your accomplice – my loving wife. Callvanta is a user, child. She's obsesses with power. It's one of the things that attracted me to her – but its outgrown its amusement." He stepped forward pulling in more of the dark energy, his body drinking it in as if it were parched. It filled his cells and lapped at his anger. He would kill his betraying wife next. "I am death itself, child. Come embrace the darkness!"

She ignited her lightsaber. "No thank you. I'm far to vain too ever allow myself to be ravaged and twisted into a monster like you."

The battle was intense, but briefer than she'd imagined. If it weren't for the shielding collar she'd kept on Pim, he would have perished in the battle. His bravery and courage outweighed his abilities…at least, when it concerned powerful force users. Vette, despite her fears, has also joined in. In fairness, it was Pim that had given the old man a deathblow. His teeth had torn through a weak spot in the sith's armor and severed an artery. The loss of blood had slowed Grathan down and eventually weakened him, allowing her to take his head.

Warm healing mist engulfed her as she leaned down to pick up the offensive trophy.

"Eww," Vette replied with a gagging sound.

"Yeah. And I'm not removing the helmet."

Holding the head out in front of her, she returned to the kid's room, thankful she did not have to drop it to fight. She set the helmet down on the desk, resting on its neck stump and tried not to think about it. "It's not empty," she warned. "You'll need to repair the damage on his armor's thigh, but the rest of the armor did not suffer over much."

Cellvanta grinned. "Yes, I sensed my husband's death. What pleasure to think he suffered."

Beelzit sucked in a waver breath and stood taller, having to tear his eyes off the mask that contained his father's head. "Mother, what does this mean? Am I truly to become the master of this house?" he asked with baited breath.

She patted her son's arm. "You will wear his mask son and assume his identity. But you are not yet ready to rule, my dear. The voice will be yours, but the words will be mine. I will mold you into a great leader."

"Do not let your guard down and be seen, kid. And remember your words to me, for I certainly shall."

"Of course, my lord," Cellvanta agreed. "You have done us a great boon today, my new friend." She eyed the beast with blood on his teeth warily and cleared her throat. "Your parlay with Lord Grathan was successful and you will be welcomed on our lands. My son and I have become your allies. Not your master's allies – your allies," she clarified. She sensed the young sith's growing power and she wanted to be a part of that power.

Syn inclined her head to the pair. "Please wait a bit to announce your son's murder. We shall speak again, I'm sure, Lady Grathan."

As they'd been told, no one attacked them on their way out. In fact, it appeared as though the entire base had been alerted that she was a guest at the compound. Just as she walked into Ba'al's office, the alarm went off and a description of a male assassin was barked from an intercom.

Ba'al folded his arms across his chest. "I'm surprised you survived, princess. And it is apparent you have killed Grathan's son. Doesn't say much for Grathan's security forces if you were able to get into his private living quarters. Who knows, maybe you smiled and they swooned at your feet."

She sighed dramatically. "I find your empty chatter amusing."

He pulled his lightsaber. "You'll find this far more sobering. Killing the murderer of Grathan's son will solidify my cover. Baras can replace you easily."

She grinned at his stupidity. Not only in underestimating her but in not paying attention. "Interesting and not unsurprising, but you should clean out your ears. They are looking for a male assassin. I, however, have become a friend of the family. You would be surprised what a title and riches can buy you." This, of course, was deception. The Grathans knew nothing of her royalty – though they would surely learn of it soon enough.

He scoffed at her ridiculous words. "That's ridiculous. You have no business being on this compound. It is obvious you sneaked in and killed the boy." He held up his hand and opened his MT. "Though I'm more than capable of killing you myself, a smart man uses every advantage. – and I am a smart man."

An alarm started blazing to alert the guards. "The intruder," Ba'al shouted, "the intruder is here! Everyone, to me! Attack!"

The guards looked at the sith holding the lightsaber and the woman tapping her foot on the floor. Davith looked at Jory. "I'm afraid there has been a mistake, my lord. Princess Syn-fae Jinn is a welcomed VIP and friend of the Grathan family."

Ba'al's mouth fell open and then snapped shut. "She tried to attack me! Kill her!" he ordered, trying to save face.

The guards pulled their electroblades and advanced. "You are the one holding the lightsaber, my lord. We will be taking you into custody for threatening royalty under the protection of the Grathans. Deactivate your lightsaber, my lord," Jory warned.

This was not happening. A year. A year in this place and his own men turned on him. With a growl, he launched himself at the guard, his lightsaber raised. He came to a halt mid leap and was yanked backwards with a yelp of surprise. Icy cold shot through his body and he looked down to see a golden glow in front of his body. "What?..." A lightsaber? Darkness tunneled towards him and swallowed him whole.

She deactivated her blade and the apprentice's body dropped to the ground. "Are you both okay?" she asked the guards.

"Yes, my lord," Jory replied in a shaky voice. "I've no doubt you saved our lives. We will ensure Lord Grathan is made aware of your heroism."

"Very well. But you should know, I followed this man as he fled the compound. I suspect this is the rogue that took that dear boy's life."

"We never saw him leave this room, my lord," Davith assured her.

"A smart man has another way out. I imagine you will find it if you open the doors of that armoire." She had a similar hidden passage in her own room.

Davith hurried over to the wardrobe closet against the far wall and opened the doors. "I'll be damned…" he mumbled when he saw the dark passage at the rear. "We will let the Grathan's know right away. I'm sure they will want to investigate who their man really was. Thank you, my lord, for catching young Grathan's killer."

"You are most welcome. We must be on our way, there are a few things I'd like to get done in Kaas City before nightfall." With a nod to each of them, she retrieved Ba'al's lightsaber, snapped it to her magbelt and left the office.

Once they were out off of Grathan's lands and crossing the bridge, Vette couldn't keep quiet any longer. "You are amazing! Not only did you befriend the family, but you figured out another way to pin the blame on that backstabber! I didn't think you had it in you?"

"Why?" she asked curiously. "Because I dislike sith politics?"

"Well…yeah."

She laughed softly at Vette's naivety. "I may have been raised as royalty, but I have also been raised in a sith family. I can be as cunning and manipulative as any sith. He tried to betray me. His fate was deserved."

"You'll get no arguments from me. I loved the way you handled him!" Vette responded as she hopped into the taxi next to her master.

They stopped off at Kaas City for a late lunch and then took a taxi to the sanctum. She could hear Bara's bellows before she ever reached his chambers.

She bit back a retort. He was acting the fool, but she was not yet in a place to call him on it. So, instead, she waited for him to acknowledge her.

He spun to face his apprentice and pulled at imaginary hair. "This is impossible. An unknown power must be shielding this man, which only confirms my suspicions. This Republic agent is the key to unlocking the threat we face. I must harness my rage and frustration. They will lead me to an answer."

She inclined her head, willing to play nice for now. "Trust your feelings, master."

He sucked in a harsh breath and barked out a laugh. "The minion advised the master. Very good, you demonstrate your progress. Word has spread that Lord Grathan is incensed at the slaying of his secret son and that Ba'al was the assassin behind it. Is that true, apprentice?"

Hmmm…how best to explain what happened. "No, my lord. I was able to manipulate the Grathans into believing I came in friendship. I left with them none the wiser that I committed the crime. When I reported the success back to Ba'al, he decided he'd expose me as the assassin and kill me. I manipulated the guards and turned the tables on him. I was forced to kill him when he attacked the very guards he'd called in to kill me. They appreciated my heroism."

He laughed at her ingenuity. It was impressive but also something he'd need to keep an eye one. She was more cunning than he'd imagined. "My confidence in you is growing. Ba'al had served his purpose. Every sith must attempt to orchestrate his own promotion. You have done well, apprentice. Go. There is something I want to look into."

-BREAK SIX-

As her master had promised, they both had dressed up and danced the night away. She didn't feel like Vette the slave. This night, she was a free woman. She drank, she laughed and she swung her hips in abandon. It was a glorious night until she woke up in the morning with a headache from hell…but it was so worth it.

They laid about the room, recovering from their hard night, and having food brought to their room. Being rich did have its advantages. The piddling stipend Baras gave her covered next to nothing. They dressed to the nines later in the day and she took Vette out shopping again. This time, purchasing her a much larger wardrobe, including some intricate filigree lekku bands along with the luggage needed to carry her new wardrobe.

"How come you didn't buy yourself anything today? Not that I don't appreciate your generous credit chip," she added quickly.

"My wardrobe will be arriving on my new ship. The couple of outfits I bought will suitable until the rest of my clothing arrives. It is you I want to have something to wear for every occasion. I enjoy dressing you up."

"Like your very own doll?" Vette quipped, hoping her master would take it the right way.

"Yes." Syn frowned. "No. Not like a doll. Like a friend. I am allowed to have them, you know."

A friend. Friendship was nothing new to Vette, but being friends with someone she was enslaved to seemed surreal. "Of course, you are. But I didn't think that you thought of me as a friend," Vette admitted. "It's not possible."

She dragged her share of Vette's clothing into their room, settled them next to the couch and turned to face Vette. "Why would you say that?"

"A little birdie told me," Vette sing-songed as she pointed to the shock collar around her neck.

Syn's eyes widened in surprise. "I forgot all about that!"

"I didn't."

"No, of course you didn't." She shoved her hand into pocket after pocket. "Now, where is that…" Her fingers wrapped around the small remote. "There it is." She pulled it out and clicked the button to unlock the collar. It dropped from the twi'lek's neck and rattled against the floor.

Vette rubbed her neck. "You mean all I had to do was remind you of it?" She slapped a hand to her forehead. "I should have asked sooner."

"Then we are even - I should have thought about it sooner," she admitted, heat crawling up her neck and into her cheeks. "Sometimes you might need to nudge me if I get too self-absorbed."

Yeah, right. Nudge a sith. She doubted her self-preservation would ever let her do such a thing. "Whatever you say," she mumbled under her breath.

Later that night, they went back out for another night of revelry.

Come mid-afternoon of the next day, her holo chimed. She glanced down at the incoming frequency and grinned.

"Honey…I'm home," Bree intoned with wide smile that threatened to tear her face in half when she finally saw the woman she considered a sister. "You never com…you never visit…what is a sister to think?"

Vette fanned her face. The twi'lek in the holo was extremely well endowed and had soft, sultry voice that nearly caused her to change her mind about dating women. "Is she for real?"

Bree cocked her head. "Come closer so I can see you." She didn't have to wait long to see a face pop up next to Syn. "Have I been replaced?" she teased with a mock pout.

"Well, it would seem I got tired of waiting for you to join me." Syn shot back. "A girl needs a side-kick, after all. Bree, let me introduce you to Vette. She'll be joining us aboard the Dusky Pearl."

"Wonderful!" Bree said as she clapped her hands. "I'm sure we'll get along famously! Oh – wait until I tell you all the most embarrassing tales of Syn as a child!"

"I'm gonna love her!" Vette said with a grin.

"Now wait a minute, you two. Don't go and ruin all my mystery and intrigue, Bree. Not to mention dignity and pride," she muttered under her breath.

"Stop dawdling," Bree motioned them with a come-hither hand. "Get over to the spaceport and see your new ship. It's in bay D11."

When the holo winked out, she attached it to her magbelt. "You heard her. Come on, come on…let's go."

They took a taxi to the pad outside the port and hurried up the steps. She pulled up a map for D11 and nodded. "This way."

She came to a stop when she entered the bay and first set eyes on her new ship. The outer hull gleamed like a dark pearl.

Vette whistled her approval. "Nice ride!"

She could certainly see why it was down on the D deck. It was larger than she thought it would be, built somewhat like a missile, tapered in the front – meant to cut through space with little to no resistance. The back end was wider – almost like small wings, in some semblance like a broom, though far sleeker. The engines were obviously housed in the rear, she had no doubt it would outrun most ships out there. In a shimmery creamy color, Dusky Pearl was written along its side.

She smiled when she caught sight of Bree running down the ramp and hurried over to greet her dear friend with a heartfelt hug. "I've missed you so much Bree!"

The other twi'lek was far more alluring in person than on holo. She wore the finest clothing. Her burgundy color was richly adorned with gold jewelry and her bright blue eyes were a striking contrast to her skin's coloring. This was a slave? Vette watched the two reunite. Even Pim was jumping around them all excited. She couldn't imagine greeting her sister in such a manner and these two weren't even real sisters. Perhaps that is what made their bond stronger. Or maybe it was growing up having everything rather than fighting over scraps. She loved her sister, but they'd always been very different people. Hands grabbing hers and shook her out of her thoughts.

Bree gripped both of the other twi'lek's hands in her own. "It is so good to meet you, Vette! I can't wait to swap stories with you. I'm sure your life was filled with far more adventure than I've even been able to dream of!" She let go and slipped her arms through both of theirs. "But I'm here now and we are henceforth Trinity against all enemies! I so declare it!"

"Here, here!" Syn replied in agreement.

Both sets of eyes swung to her. Vetted blinked. Oh, yes…she was a part of this Trinity. "Here, here! Trinity united!"

With arms linked, they hurried towards the ramp, where Bree released them and shooed them in front of her to enter first.

The airlock was a small contamination room. It only took a moment for the decontamination field to flow over them and the inner airlock to open.

Bree stepped in to play tour guide. "Across the hall is the pilot's cabin. To the left is the Bridge with a captain's seat in the middle and a navigation chair on the right and weapons chair on the left. The ship has an A.I. that can handle all aspects of flight and warfare, if you do not have the seats filled. The A.I.'s called Pearl."

"Welcome aboard, Captain. I am here to assist you in any capacity you may need."

Her parents had an AI on their ship and she was tickled they'd included one on hers. "Thank you, Pearl. Bree, please continue."

Bree showed them to the bridge. "Both forward and Aft cannons can be operated manually here. The weapons station has a full 360-degree view via virtual window holo-screens. I recommend you allow the AI to fire the weapons, but it is your call. The pilot can also control the forward canons, but the aft can only be controlled by the AI or the weapons chair. The navigator seat also has a 360-degree view and as you can see, your galaxy map is here too. As you know, permaglass is a structural weakness. The only live view you have is here on the bridge. There are virtual windows throughout the ship, via a plethora of sensors embedded in the ship's hull. All three seats warm, cool or massage as needed – believe me they are heaven…already tried them out," Bree admitted with a grin.

She turned her attention to the stations on the bridge. "The two side stations have full wrap around consoles, which only activate if someone sits in the seat. Take a seat," she said, motioning towards the stations.

Syn sat down in the plush seat; platforms on either side of her whooshed out and snapped together, completely encircling the swiveling chair. The wrap around consoles lit up and 360-degree virtual windows surrounded them in a magnificent holo-display. "This is better than my parent's bridge!"

"This is spectacular! Vette exclaimed as she spun around full circle in the chair. "I can't wait to blow up stuff from this chair!"

Bree grinned at their excitement. It still excited her and she'd had time to get used to it. "If you rise from the chair, the console will recede. Please rise so that I can finish this tour."

They moved down the hall. "If you look down you will notice some of the floor panels have lighted borders. In the case of evacuation, the panels will slide open to reveal ladders. The ladders will lower and connect with the decks below. Beneath the third deck are the evacuation pods. There are twelve in total that sit four each. There are 6 exit tubes on each side of the ship. The pods are programmed to seek out known, nearby habitable locations. If none can be found, the inhabitants will be put into stasis to preserve them until they are found or until the power cells deplete."

The hall opened into a large room. "This is the command control." There was a large station in the middle that currently displayed a full holo of the ship. There were consoles surrounding the ship's holo as well as terminals along the port and starboard hulls. Even Bree didn't know what they were all for yet – probably to keep the crew busy, if necessary. "To the far right is the XO's cabin – the cabin I've claimed as my own." They walked through the command control and stepped into the room and the lights came on. It was spacious as far as ship cabins went. To the right of the doorway was a bathroom with a tub and shower. There was an 'L' shaped desk that sat against the hall wall. It was large enough to support two chairs and terminals. Down three steps and parallel to the office area was a sofa against the far wall facing the front of the cabin and two chairs were facing the sofa, with a table between them. At the far left of the room, butted up against the wall, was a large bed, two night-tables, with a closet and dresser on each side against the walls. Between the steps and the bedroom area, within the hall facing wall was lighted shelving, in which she'd already placed some of her most precious mementos. "As you can see, the cabin was built for two in mind. Not that I expect to find Prince Charming. All four cabins were designed for two occupants, though the two guest cabins closer to the airlock are smaller than these because the ship flares out a bit towards the aft. All the furniture is magnetically sealed to the floor. But there are levers to break the seals which allow the furniture to be rearranged. Oh – and all the cabins have a virtual window above the beds – which I've enjoyed to the fullest in this cabin," Bree admitted shamelessly.

They exited the XOs quarters. "Parallel to my cabin is the Captain's cabin. It is virtually identical to mine, though longer and the furniture is more luxurious. It is also lacking the lit shelving." The lights popped on as they entered. To the right of the entry way was the bathroom. Within it nestled a toilet, large dual basin sinks and a large tub with dual showerheads, one on each side of the tub. "There are holo-controls for temperature, water spray, tub jets, shampoo, sani-gel, and quick-dry, but you are already familiar with all of that from your parents' ship."

A few feet from the bathroom was another 'L' shaped desk that faced the rest of the room. The entryway, bathroom and desk area were raised. There was a slight ramp leading down into the rest of the cabin. On the other side of the desk was a wet bar with four stools. Behind that, there was a long 'C' shaped sofa facing the port hull. There was a slot for a large, edgeless vid-screen to come down in front of the sectional, but the screen was tucked away at the moment. A coffee table sat in middle of the 'C'. She smiled when Syn stopped to admire the in-wall aquarium along the port hull that took the place of the shelving. The large aquarium was filled with a beautiful array of fish. Something Syn had at home in her bedroom. "In the back, behind the door is a bedroom similar to what you saw in the XO cabin. It has a couple of lounging chairs, but the same in all other regards, or nearly so. The bedroom floor temperature can be regulated."

Just as Bree had mentioned, there was a small sitting area to the right of the bedroom door, there was a lit shelving area along the side of the of the sitting area. But outside of that, the bedrooms were identical…except hers was actually walled off as a separate bed chamber, whereas the XO's room it was all open. Syn greatly approved the added wall.

As they exited the captain's quarters, Bree pointed across the command control. "The two guest cabins across the way are smaller than mine, but were still designed for two, albeit a more cozy atmosphere. They have their own refreshers, but have a shower instead of a tub."

"We'll give you a moment, Vette," Syn told her. "Go take a look at both and choose the one you want."

She couldn't believe she would be given her own room. "You are the best!" she squealed and dashed off to see both rooms. Both rooms were mirrors of each other, except the one across from the Captain's cabin was designed with lighter colors. She spun in a circle in her new room. "Life is amazing!" With a grin on her face, she ran out to join the other two women. "I'm taking the one across from the Captain's cabin. It makes me feel like I'm in a tropical paradise!'

Bree nodded to the blue twi'lek. "As soon as I knew you would be joining, I thought you might like that cabin. The other seems a bit…manly. Come on, let's finish this tour. We have two more decks after this one!" She led them towards the lift. "As you can see, there are refreshers on either side of the lift. This lift is rather unique. It can be walked through as well as descend to the other decks. On the other side of the lift there are also two refreshers. Follow me."

She led them through the lift, showing them the controls to open the rear door. "You can also ask Pearl to open the door if your hands are full." They stepped through. "On the right-hand side is a meeting room and on the left is a long-distance communication station. Beyond that is cargo space."

She led them back to the lift. "Deck 2. Rear door." When the lift opened it was to the rear. Here are stasis chambers and below them safety chairs with harnesses, if the need arises.' The room was narrow but wide from side to side. There were 12 pods and seats on each side, wrapping around on all the walls. Five port and aft and two in the middle, hull side, to connect the two rows of five. They essentially looked like narrow "C"s. "Through the door ahead is more cargo storage."

She returned to the lift and led them through the other side. "On the left is your Crew Quarters. As you can see, there are 10 rows, three cubicles high. Each cubicle is approximately 3' by3'. There is a ladder between rows for access to the higher beds." She stood next to one of the cubicle's and placed her hand on biometric pad. The bed extended outward and the interior lit up. "The beds are 6.5 feet in length and 3 feet wide. Each bed has several 5-inch shelves on each side, which can be used or folded away. People should be able to sit up or lean against the padded rear wall. The units are soundproofed, neighbors will not be disturbed. Besides the shelving for personal items, each unit has a built-in locker."

She keyed the bed closed and opened the front panel of the bed. "A place to store clothing and other items too large for the shelves. The lockers, once assigned, only open to that individual's biometrics. Both yourself and Pearl override the security measures, if a crew member is suspect." She closed the locker. "Along the shorter wall," she pointed, "there are 3 units designed for people who cannot fit into the standard beds."

"Besides the terminals you see in this room," Bree continued, "there is an entertainment room with vidscreen and sofas and a couple of small gaming tables in the connected room. Follow me." She exited the room. "Further down on the left are the male and female crew facilities. On the right, across from the crew quarters is the starboard lounge." She stepped into the lounge. "There's a wet-bar, small dance floor and several sofas. And, of course, a large virtual window. There is also a virtual fireplace. The lounge can also be entered via the galley." She moved through the door leading to the mess hall filled with tables and proceeded on into the kitchen. There were several ovens and microwaves lining the wall as well as a large refrigerated storage and a large walk in pantry. Stove tops lined a central island. "A standard kitchen meant to feed quite a few by the looks of it. Of course, your parents fully stocked it."

She left the kitchen and turned left at the hall. "The next room on the left is a workout room that is fully padded. Free weight benches, workout centers, sparring area and dummies."

Bree didn't enter the workout room. She assumed they both knew what a workout room looked like. Instead, she continued to the door at the end. "This is the forward battery." She stepped through but only proceeded far enough to allow the two to check the room out. "Right now, the canons are retracted, this allows for maintenance and protection. Let's hit the final deck."

Bree hurried back down the hall and entered the lift. "Deck 3. Rear door." When the door opened, she led them in to an area that she knew little about. "This is engineering. If you acquire any engineers, they can vent, cool, and reallocate power as needed to keep the core stable – otherwise, Pearl will handle engineering. Let's go before we break something," she teased.

Bree led them through to the other side of the lift. "There are only two additional rooms we are going to visit on this deck. The MedBay and the Armory. Before them, on the left, are refreshers and a laundry room. On the right is the AI core."

Since all the rooms were clearly labeled, she followed Bree into the room on the left. The armory. There were rows of guns, every shape and size, lining one of the walls. Below each type of weapon were clips of ammunition. All magnetically affixed to the wall. "There is calibration equipment for guns and mods and tables for minor repairs. There are lockers on the wall to store individual armors. The lockers will sanitize and recalibrate the armor within. If more extensive repairs are needed, that will have to be seen to by the gunnery chief, if you have one. Like the bed lockers, these lockers only open via biometric scan."

Bree then led them into the MedBay on the right-hand side. There were a few odd machines and a couple of desks with terminals and an array of medical diagnostic equipment that she had no clue what to do with. "As you can see the beds in here are similar in nature to those in the Crew Quarters. Scanner arms and beds are tucked away in the wall unless needed. There are scanners located inside the chamber to monitor patients, letting the medics know if they are asleep, awake, or in need of more medication or medical attention. The severely injured can be put into stasis until a medical facility can be reached. The far end of the room, between the AI and the medbay, is a working lab – I'm not sure if we'll ever need it, but your parents thought of everything.

"There remains only the hangar bay on this deck." She led them through a door within the med bay and found herself in the hanger bay. "Both the armory and the medbay have a door that leads directly to the hangar bay. In case of emergency." She took a sharp left and they were behind a wall. "If we'd have come in through the main door," she motioned to the door on the left, "we would have had to turn left or right to get around the small wall. That's because," she then pointed to the door on the right, "this is the Aft Battery. Behind this door, you can seat yourself into a chair and then lower the cannon down for 360 degrees of manual control." She continued until the wall ended and turned right into the main hangar bay. Along the port side sat two shuttles, one in front of the others. That was obviously well thought out and practical. Along the starboard side there were smaller spaces, two of which held which held an airspeeder, a landspeeder, and several mountable speeders. Down the center was a large runway, above which, powerful magnets held two high-end fighters and a submersible. Each of the vehicles were labeled with the Dusky Pearl's name to show ownership. What did her parents think she would be doing that would need all that?

"I have never seen a ship like this fabtablulous. Every ship I've ever been on has been serviceable and utilitarian. This…I mean – wow! You'd think you were a pampered princess or something," Vette teased.

"Funny," Syn said with a roll of her eyes. "You did an amazing job with that tour, Bree."

Bree smiled, her blue eyes glowing with happiness. "Didn't I? I can't tell you how long I spent studying everything. Pearl could have given you the tour, but I wanted to do it."

They headed back to the lift and took it to the command deck. "Have you been practicing your moves, Bree?"

Bree nodded. "Every day. Your parents continued to work with me even after you left."

"Good. Then I want you to have this." She pulled Ba'al's lightsaber from her magbelt and held it out to her friend. I'm sure they will agree that you have earned this."

Bree looked down at the lightsaber in her hand as if it would bite her. "You're not going to make me enter the academy, are you?"

Bree would never survive the deadly machinations in the academy. She had it in her to kill if it saved a life, but she was far too kind hearted for the treachery required. "Absolutely not! If anyone asks, you are my apprentice. At least you will be, once I am a sith lord. Until then, you can be my mother's apprentice, I suppose. Though, likely no one will care enough to ask."

Relief flooded through the twi'lek. "Then I can't think of a better gift!" She snapped the weapon to her magbelt and hugged her dear friend. "Thank you, Syn."

When she pulled back, she smiled at Bree and ran her fingers down the twi'lek's burgundy cheek. "Why don't you get yourself into something more…protective. You can help us gather our things from my academy room. We're going to be sleeping aboard the ship for now. I want to become familiar with it and frankly, I could use the privacy."

"Be right back!"

She watched Bree dash over to the XO's cabin and then turned to Vette. "Do you think you'll like it here?"

"As much as I like breathing," Vette retorted in surprise. "What's not to like about this ship? It has everything! You must be joking – my cabin is better than most people's homes!" Vette just blinked when Bree rejoined them. She wore a sapphire blue coat trimmed in gold and beneath it was a blue velvet looking dress. She had fingerless half gloves like Syn and the same gold banded arm guards. There was a gold magbelt at her waist and a flesh colored headband that had a filigree gold emblem in the center of her forehead. "Wow."

Syn's brows rose and she looked over at Vette's leather. "Would you like a new set of armor?"

"Me?" Vette squeaked. "No," she said lifting her hands in surrender. "Princess looks good on both of you, but not me. Nope. Not me. There's not a princess bone in my body.

Syn shook her head and laughed. "You looked pretty dressed up for dancing," she pointed out.

Her blue nose wrinkled and she had to stop herself from sticking out her tongue. "Yes. But that was a costume. On for a night of fun and off so I can relax and just be me. "This is how I'm most comfortable," she said as she gripped the sides of her long leather duster.

"And you look so daring and dashing in all that leather," Bree told her with a smile.

"Agreed," Syn said with a nod. "Now, let's take two of the airspeeders. Bree follow us. Pim," she said as she settled a hand on his head. "I need you to stay here and guard the ship. We'll need the back seat for our things."

-BREAK SEVEN-

Vette sank into the pillowy soft seat of the airspeeder. "Bliss," she groaned. "A girl could get used to this."

"Now you can see why I'm spoiled," Syn agreed with a grin.

She turned her head to look at her master. "I'm guessing with the lightsaber and all that Bree is sith too?"

"My father is a Darth, so he has the power to make her a sith lord someday. Right now, she is essentially an acolyte, whereas I'm an apprentice. Once I'm sith lord, I'll make her my apprentice. It is what we've planned all along."

She didn't think that was a very well thought out plan on her master's part. "Um…don't sith apprentices try to kill their masters?"

Syn couldn't help but laugh. "It's true enough for some. The blacker and more twisted the sith, the more likely it will happen. But my mother was my father's apprentice and they are both alive and well. Bree and I are like that. We're family. We want each other to succeed. Besides, we complement each other. I am better at swordplay, manipulating people's minds and the most delicious force choke. She is better at healing, throwing multiple objects and pushing back larger groups."

So, they were the perfect team since childhood. Great. "Then how do I fit in?"

Ah…so that was what concerned her new friend. "We are a Trinity, Vette. We all have our parts to play. You are a whiz with blasters and you know your way around electronics – plus…you are damned good at solving puzzles."

Vette grinned, relieved that she truly was needed. It felt good to be needed. "Point taken. We are a team."

They set down at the landing pad outside the sanctum. It did not take them long to gather up their belongs and tossed them in the back of the airspeeder. "Follow me to Kaas City. We'll stuff ourselves and bring home some meat for Pim. No cooking or clean up tonight. Dinner's on me."

"I think I'd prefer it on a plate," Vette quipped.

"Eww.." Bree replied with a wrinkle of her pert nose. "Did you have to put that picture in my head? Plate…yes…a plate is best."

"Come on, you two. I'm hungry enough to eat you both if you don't hurry up," Syn groused.

"If you were a guy, I might just take you up on that," Vette said innocently.

Syn closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. "You are so deranged."

"Thank you, master!" She hopped into the passenger seat and groaned.

"Syn. Not master. Syn."

"Syn, then." Vette had seen how Bree addressed her master, but it felt strange…in a good way.

Though there was a lot of catching up over dinner, she and Bree made a point of including Vette in their conversation.

When they eventually returned to the Pearl, they helped Vette put away her things and bid her goodnight. Bree followed Syn back to her room and the two stayed up late catching up over the time they were apart.

Sleep eventually drove then to their own beds and Syn sank into a comfort she'd been denied for too long.

After breakfast, she received a message from Baras. The three of them armored up and squeezed into a airspeeder, with Vette sitting on Bree's lap so Pim could hog the backseat.

He was pacing the floor when she arrived. She wrinkled her nose when she saw the prisoner, who was now looking gaunt and smelled even worse.

Baras looked up to see the four enter his chambers. "It would seem you have been busy building your own power base," he said with a wave of his hand. Her power base only strengthened his own. "The prisoner has remained impossible to break," Baras growled with a motion towards the man on the table. He began to pace once again. "There's one last possibility to break him. I thought I impossible, but perhaps there's a small chance you could pull it off. Over a millennium past, the Emperor claimed Dromund Kaas and made the Dark Temple the epicenter of the dark force energy. In the bowels of the temple, he conducted horrifying experiments that drained the knowledge and life essence from all the greatest sith lord of the time. He siphoned them to make himself immortal and all-knowing. The Emperor created a device called the Ravager that ate his victim's minds and delivered to him their greatest secrets. No one could withstand the Ravager's intrusion – even the strongest sith lords of the Empire confessed whatever the Emperor craved. The Emperor keeps the Ravager hidden in the Dark Temple, which has, in his absence become a death trap. There's a good chance the horrors that await you will be too severe. But it's worth your life to me. The legends describe a secret chamber in the depths of the Dark Temple where the Ravager was encased. You'll know the device by its inscription. Be swift, apprentice."

He was so quick to try to throw away her life. If he ever came under attack, she would do nothing to save him. One day, he would understand the error of undervaluing her and underestimating her. One day, she would have the last laugh. As cliché as that might seem, she had little doubt how things would end between them. His callous attitude and disregard ensured that outcome.

"Scary master you have there. Bites to be you," Vetted said with a shiver. Never had she been so glad not to be force sensitive.

"I'm merely biding my time. It will work out in the end, Vette. You will see."

Bree looked over at Syn, trying to get a read from her as they hopped back into the airspeeder. "Will you be okay in there?" she asked quietly.

Syn set the navpoint and the airspeeder lifted off before she answered. "I know not to look at them. I'll be fine."

"Um…did I just miss something?" Vette asked. The conversation had been a bit eerie.

"I suppose you should know," she said tightly. "I am…sensitive to spirits and shades. I was born that way. I've learned to pretend I don't see them. Because if they know I've seen them, then they cling to me for either help or because they need validation of being seen."

"Wow. Tough break, Syn. If you do see any…try not to tell me about it. I don't like the idea of someone I can't see watching me," Vette replied as a shudder rippled through her body.

"Do you feel that?" Bree asked as they drew closer to the temple. "It feels cold and dark."

"I feel it too. Look down. Something is wrong with those people. They are swaying, not in control. Something is very wrong here." Without preamble, she drove the airspeeder directly through the temple's front door and set it down in the expansive entryway and locked it up tight after they'd all gotten out. "Try to keep away from anyone you see in there. I think – I think they are possessed. If so, they may eventually be saved. Stay close," she warned. "I've got Baras' navpoint.

"You don't have to tell me twice," Vette grimaced. Her eyes opened wide when she got to the top of the stairs. Boxes, crates and all sorts of goodies were scattered all about. A treasure trove of goodies. If you didn't mind the crazies contorting in some kind of bizarre dance. But the credits… "Man…I could make a fortune in here. You think maybe I can just take a little?" She caught their glares and sighed. "Okay...okay."

They skirted the room towards the right and ducked into the first doorway on the right. There were crumbling stones and debris, but the long hall was lit well. The hall ended in stairs the descended further into the temple.

"The cobwebs and the faces carved into the ceiling above the stairs is creepy," Vette hissed.

"That was probably the idea," Bree agreed. "We're not alone," she said, peering down at the bottom of the stairs.

"I can feel them. They are not right in the force. We won't be able to get around them, there's too many too close." She tore her lightsaber off her magbelt and ignited it. "Come on girls, let's get this over with." And then she leapt down to the nearest possessed body, her lightsaber cleaving it into two halves. The other two of the trio were slammed hard into the temple's wall. Blaster bolts took out another a little further back.

At the end of the stairs, the hall turned left and towards the chamber they'd been told to find. There was a sith shambling around inside the chamber. He went down quickly.

Vette rubbed her forehead. "Um…guys? I'm hearing voices in my head any way to shut off the radio chatter?"

"I think so," Bree told her. "Stay close, I'll shield you."

Vette moved in closer to the other twi'lek and sighed in relief when the oppressive weight and voices disappeared. "I could kiss you right now – though I won't," Vette added quickly.

"Do you need shielding?" Bree asked Syn.

"Thank you, but no. I am handling it for now." She slowly approached the protective stone container. She could feel the power, even through the stone and more than anything she wanted to leave without the Ravager. What lay inside, no one should ever have access too. She felt the approach of others and turned to face the intruders.

Vacuus sneered at the group of women in the chamber. His chamber. "It was foolish of you to come here. I am Lord Vaccus. The conqueror of Begeren. The killer of Garatak the Singed and I will exact my revenge on Lord Pharshol! Leave or burn!"

"Hmmm," she hummed as she tapped her chin. "I choose burn." Her eyes warmed as she drew in power and she knew they were changing color.

"Die at the hands of Vacuus!"

"Pim! Stand down!" She grabbed a stone with the force and threw it at the man's head. His eyes rolled up and his body fell with a thud, his lightsaber winking out. Bree knocked out the other two similarly. She nodded her approval. She felt the shade's anger, but did not look for him. "They were possessed like the others. Vacuus and Pharshol died a long time ago. We need to leave."

With a shove of power, she toppled the stone lid to the ground and pulled out the device by the small bridge in the middle. Under no circumstances would she let that thing get anywhere near her face. She pulled a cord out of a small pouch and tied it securely to her belt.

They weaved their way back through the possessed to their airspeeder. Her head didn't clear until she was past the spirit-controlled lands. "Vette, I'd like you to take a look at the device. If there is any way you can hinder what it can do or ensure that it overheats not , long after use. Anything."

She held out her hand. "Let me take a look." She turned the device over, taking in the components and how they worked together. She was good with electronics, for the most part, but breaking something and making it break soon were two very different things. One thing for sure, she was glad she didn't feel the sithy power in the device that the other two felt. "I think I know what to try." She pulled out her belt of tools and started to play. "It will work for a while – though I don't know how long and I'm not sure what it will do when it burns out. But there were some components in there – I'm not sure if they can even be replaced anymore."

"Good job. Better than I hoped. With luck, Baras won't find a way to fix." She took the device back when they exited the airspeeder. She paid a fee to park it, since it wasn't a taxi and hurried in to see Baras.

He was relieved when he saw his apprentice stroll through the doorway. "When I sent you into the Dark Temple for the Ravager, I thought it might be the last time I saw you, apprentice." He was glad she returned. Not because he cared about her life, but because he was not yet done using her for his own ends. He wanted her power and if he was honest, he needed it. For now.

Syn handed him the Ravager and forced herself to watch when Baras put the Ravager on the prisoner's forehead; she did not turn away from his suffering. It was because of her that he suffered – at least as far as the Ravager went.

The Republic agent told them much. A jedi by the name of Nomen Karr, an old enemy of her master's, had a padawan who could see the light and dark within anyone. This is what had given his spy away. Before Baras could find out the padawan's current location or race, the Ravager sparked and the smell of cooked meat and wiring assaulted her nostrils. She swallowed hard, trying to force the bile back down into her belly. At least the prisoner died quickly after the Ravager malfunctioned.

He tore the Ravager off the dead man's forehead and threw it against the wall in a fit of rage. It shattered and that only made him angrier. "That is all we have to go on," he seethed. "A few random places within the greater galaxy where Nomen Karr and his padawan may have been."

"But it's a start," she pointed out. "The device did what you needed it to. We know why, we know who and we know some probable wheres. We've come a long way in a few minutes," she reminded him.

He sighed and nodded. "You are correct. We now have leads to follow." He began to pace. "Nomen Karr is a relentless crusader, and his padawan's unprecedented power threaten everything I have achieved." He stopped to look at his apprentice. "I've been told you have a personal ship that arrived recently – is that report true?"

"It is. It was a gift from my parents for becoming your apprentice," she told him.

Sometimes he forgot she was a princess. He would enjoy using her more than any other apprentice. Her titles bore no weight with him. "Good. Your duties are likely to take you to the far reaches of the galaxy. I will need to deploy you at will. Do what you need here and let me know when you get to your ship. I will tell you where I need you to go at that time."

She inclined her head. "It will be done," she told him and then spun around to leave the toad to his corpse. He'd gone on and on about Nomen Karr. So, the jedi beat him once. He survived and he'd grown stronger. But hanging onto that old hate had twisted him.

Bree's feet moved quicker, though not intentionally. "Your boss isn't quite right in the head, is he?" she whispered.

"No, Bree. He is not. He is cunning. He is manipulative. And he is insane."

"Crazy as a loon," Vetted agreed.

They packed back into the airspeeder, flew around the spaceport and entered through the field in back that kept the air pressurized. She settled the in the belly of her ship and hopped out. "We're going to drink, eat and enjoy our evening. I'll contact Baras in the morning...or afternoon, whenever we crawl out of bed."

"Best plan ever!" Vette agreed, in a sing-songy voice.

"Um…who's cooking? Because you might not like what you get if you give me that chore," Vette snickered at the truth of her words. She'd given more than one person a serious case of the belly cramps.

"Did I forget to tell you?" Bree beamed; her baby blues lit with mischief. "Your parents included an advanced protocol droid to do the cooking, cleaning and medic services. Hear he's also supposed to be good with a firearm. He goes by CC-M1. Though I've just been calling him CC and he's fine with it."

"Your parents really did think of everything. Do you think they'd be willing to adopt me?" Vette teased with a wink.

"I couldn't think of a better family to be a part of," Bree declared passionately. She even had their surname, which was not unheard of for slaves. "Don't think I'm not going to cook just because there's a droid to do it. I'm still going to cook more often than not – just not tonight."

That night was the best any of them had in a good long time. Three women, wine, funny stories, good food and so much laughter that their bellies hurt as much as their heads come late morning when they rolled out of bed.