Obroa-skai

"This way, Lord," Lord Khos called from below.

Judecca vaulted over the guardrail into the trench, where five other Sith Lords were standing around the entrance to a drainage tunnel. "You're certain?"

"I don't think it's coincidence that several of us were drawn to this particular location. And it's as you said. A unique presence. It's faint, but it's there."

Judecca narrowed her eyes. 'Faint' was not a good sign, especially if this relic was as powerful as she'd been led to believe. "Khos, Yarl, with me. Hopefully together we'll be able to pinpoint the location more efficiently."

Flanked by the two fellow Sith, she made her way into the tunnel. Sure enough, each turn was easily made, each fork in the path figured out within seconds, until they reached a hole, where the aura was emanating from, clearer than ever.

No doubt now.

In a swift motion, Judecca swung her lightsaber igniting it midway, cutting down Yarl, then using Khos's shock to her advantage to impale him. She looked down at her handiwork as she put her weapon away. "Overcome by the artifact's influence, Lord Yarl sought to take it for herself only to be cut down by Lord Khos, who erroneously deemed it the best course of action to destroy Lord Phagos's prize, leaving me with no other choice than to carry out my master's wrath, and leaving Phagos none the wiser as to who ended up with the artifact. Perfect." She smirked as she leapt down the hole.

She landed in a cavernous area. The aura was here, somewhere. Following her senses, she didn't even need her lightsaber to guide her path as she made her way to a tall flat-topped rock. Sensing the aura but unable to see it, she unclipped her lightsaber, held it over the stone, and ignited it. Her breath caught in her throat.

Nothing. Nothing but what looked like black ash.

"But," she sputtered, "But, it's here! I feel it!" She reached again, thinking that maybe her senses had somehow been deceived. But no; her senses pointed her to the stone before her—the stone where the artifact had once lain.

They'd gotten there first… and were still too late. And with no tangible lead as to the artifact's next location…

With a roar of frustration, she cleaved the stone in two.

The Devourer

Judecca strode angrily across the hangar and through the halls, not caring who she bumped into or forced to adjust their course, as she made her way to the captain's quarters, sealing the door behind her. She went over to the holocomm in the left wall and activated it and sent out the call.

Moments later, the image of her master materialized, his hulking figure obscured by his black hooded robe, as Judecca went on one knee.

"Ah, apprentice," Darth Phagos greeted, "I trust you're calling with news of the artifact?"

"Not good news, master," Judecca spat as she looked up. "We beat the Republic to the planet as hoped, but were still too late. The artifact… it's gone."

Silence. Even across the lightyears, Judecca could still feel her master's seething anger at the news.

"It seems for every small bit of progress, we are set back even more so," Phagos said, putting venom into every word. He gave a deep sigh before refocusing his gaze on his apprentice. "And how goes the overall attack on the planet?"

"It's… an attack," Judecca answered, "We've left no doubt in the minds of the people of our intent toward conquest. Even with the artifact's loss, we can still salvage this by bringing an entire world under the Emperor's thumb."

Phagos nodded, seemingly willing to take what good news he could get. "Then finish your campaign. Bring your heel down upon Obroa-skai, or burn it all to the ground, failing that."

Judecca smiled at the permission that she hadn't even needed to ask for. "It will be done, my master."

Dantooine

"No! No way am I—"

"Look, no offense to him but I don't really think—"

"Master we've been through this a thousand times—"

"With due respect sir, I'm not sure this is the best—"

"It's the only way," Orrickos said simply, lifting his hands to calm them. "I'm the highest ranked Master in this temple, with all the duties and responsibilities that go with it. I can't just take on an apprentice like that. Plus, I mean…" He gestured to his wrinkled face. "Look at me!"

"Master," Uriel began, "Find any other Knight or Master in this enclave. But I will not teach her."

Adrielle couldn't help but glance at the man next to him. She was no keener on the idea, but she still couldn't help but feel put off by the firmness of Uriel's declaration.

"Uriel, a moment please?" Orrickos requested as he stood and walked over to the door, gesturing to the hallway.

Uriel sighed, stood and followed Orrickos out.

"Really, Master? Hiding behind your position? That's a new low."

"Was any of what I said wrong?" Orrickos asked innocently.

"Not the point and you know it." Uriel leaned against the wall. Come on, Master. You and she clearly have a connection literally minutes after first meeting her. Do you really think that's wise to not make use of that?"

"Interesting that you speak of 'wise' to me. I find myself questioning your wisdom in your staunch, some would say stubborn refusal to take her on. To take on any new Padawan, ever since Janiah."

Uriel sighed audibly. "There's really nothing at all I can ever do or say to convince you that I'm fine, is there?"

"There's one thing." Orrickos placed a hand on Uriel's shoulder. "Look, just give it a shot. Give her a shot. She clearly needs help, and you've always been nothing short of an exemplary Jedi. What Jedi would ever turn his back on someone struggling with her connection to the Force? Just… try to help her find her balance. If you do that and still have no interest in taking her on, then you end things, no complications. I'll find someone else to take her on."

It was at that moment that it dawned on Uriel. "No… wait." He looked at his master. "Family."

Orrickos looked at him. "… She has one."

"Course she does."

"Why does this surprise me?"

"You're not used to dealing with people with."

"Why did this never even occur to me?"

"Because the only people you hang around with are Jedi." Uriel sighed, half with exasperation, half with relief. "Okay. I'll help her find her balance, but then we have to send her back home. We can't just take a nineteen year old college student away like an infant."

"But if she has the power of the artifact within her…"

"Ah damn, you're right." Uriel sighed and looked at the floor, as though a solution would emerge from beneath his feet. Funnily enough, it more or less did. "Okay so she did mention that she's seen Jedi on her homeworld, meaning whatever planet she's from, we apparently have a presence there. We just ask her where she lives once her training's done, and we'll send her back, but make sure that whatever the local Jedi presence is there, they keep an eye on her, her family, to make sure that no one comes after them. Who knows, maybe they can even serve as unofficial tutors to help maintain her control and discipline over her abilities."

"Right. It's the best we've got so far." Orrickos grimaced at having missed such an obvious external factor as he opened the door again and entered.

Uriel followed him in and stood looking at Adrielle. "All right, I'll help you. But—" He raised a finger when he saw her eyes widen, "This is just temporary. Just enough so you can live functionally with your new condition, then we'll bring you back to your family."

That last part brought a clear smile to Adrielle's face. "Thank you! You have no idea how much this means after everything that's… happened." She had to shake her head to bring herself back to the present.

"Yeah well," Uriel chuckled dryly, "we'll just see how thankful you are once we've really gotten started."

Moraband

Having sensed her moments before, Darth Phagos opened his eyes just seconds before he heard the chime from his door. He uncrossed his legs to bring his feet back to the floor as the boulders that had been likewise floating around him came crashing down. He allowed himself an additional few moments to savor the delicious but woefully fleeting fear that had briefly surged from the inhabitants of the living chambers in the lower floor. Gazing at the door, he unlocked it with a casual wave of his hand.

The door slid open and in walked a fully armored figure, with a full helmet concealing her (based on her overall figure and how she walked) completely.

Though nothing compared to the Lords of the Dark Council, Phagos's place of status within the power structure of the Empire nevertheless awarded him great wealth, which he used on resources, weapons, and connections to make his many operations and ambitions execute more efficiently. But none of those acquisitions compared to his greatest asset before him: a Mandalorian bounty hunter contracted exclusively to him.

"You got another job?" Viah Thavid asked.

"Yes. I think I might have just the kind of hunt that you've been craving." He allowed a malicious smile to cross his face. "The planet Obroa-skai. An artifact of great importance is lost to us. You will find the fool with a death wish who dares steal from me, and deliver them and my artifact to my custody, so I may grant them their wish."

Thavid nodded simply. "Near impossible, with minimal clues or evidence as to even confirm its existence. Just the challenge I live for." She nodded at Phagos, raising a fist in solidarity. "Consider it done."