Kyradia sat still unable to move as the last few minutes played back through her mind. Zash was back and she seemed stronger than ever, this wasn't right this shouldn't be happening, it couldn't be. She closed the door on that chapter of her life she didn't ever want to think about it again, how was she even back? she'd been locked in a mind prison. Kyradia wasn't an expert on Rakatan tech but that seemed like the exact thing the prison wasn't supposed to allow. But that was her no doubt about it Kyradia would recognise that arrogant tone anywhere she was back and she seemed vengeful. Her mind was filled with memories she'd rather forget, she'd been gaslighted for years as they trained together being told that she had a great purpose. The old hag had just wanted her body but that didn't change all the years of manipulation. This was exactly what she was trying to avoid now this was a whole thing that she would have to commit to, all she wanted to do was to reconnect with Ashara!

Terri parried the yellow blade as it collided with her saber creating light green sparks that danced around the clashing sabers

"leave us ALONE" Terri screamed at the orange Togruta who she had fighting since Lusari entered the temple. She pushed the Togruta back with the force giving her some distance to breath, Terri was very quickly running out of stamina this fight had been going on forever. They seemed evenly matched but Terri was still very wary of her inexperience with a saber however but she had to keep going to allow Lusi the time she needed.

The Togruta stood still for a second seemingly collecting herself, she definitely fit the Jedi bill she'd probably try to tell her she was misguided next.

"why are you doing this?" the Togruta said lightly smiling walking slowly towards Terri

"you wouldn't understand Jedi" The Lady had explained Jedi would think what they were doing was against their precious code, Terri was inclined to agree from her limited experience the Jedi were hypocrites to say the least

"when I was a padawan I was manipulated into feeding my ancestors ghost to a sith lord giving me no other choice than to follow them" she paused looking confused "It was complicated, try me"

Terri hesitated for a second from her look she seemed like a Jedi but her story seemed truthful maybe she could understand why, if she just explained it right. Terri was about to open her mouth when she saw the red and blonde blur of Lusari running out the front of the temple "Terri! we gotta go now!" she ran past the Togruta and grabbed Terri by the hand and began to run into the forest

Terri quickly put the conversation with the Togruta to the back of her mind and turned to Lusari "did you do it?" she asked as they ran deeper into the forest. Terri looked back and surprisingly saw the Togruta wasn't chasing them and instead heading into the temple, but? the sith lord manipulated her why would she go back?

"yep next stop the temple of Exar Kun" Lusari said grinning Terri let the lingering curiosity go and smiled back at Lusi she couldn't wait for this to be over.

the echoing voice rose around them laughing "yes not long now my dears I can't wait to see the world like you do again"

Kyradia had been sitting there for way too long, they were getting away she should be chasing after them why was she just sitting here? She tried to get up and couldn't bring herself to, she took a deep breath as she put her head in her hands. What was wrong with her? yeah Zash was back but she could easily destroy Zash, she'd dealt with powerful sith lords before Zash included why did this feel so much harder for her. Maybe because she had moved on from petty sith conflicts, if Marr had been right about one thing it was that sith infighting was the dumbest and most detrimental part of their society. She had to deal with this quickly don't make it into a thing, it doesn't have to be she can still catch them right? Zash would want a physical body almost certainly and the ritual had to have something to do with that right? and maybe those girls too. As she sat there she felt a hand on her shoulder, how long had that been there? suddenly it began shaking her.

"Kyradia! KYRADIA!" Ashara violently shook her as she returned to reality "are you ok?" Kyradia turned to Ashara without a word taking a deep breath "Kyradia! what happened?" Ashara continued wide-eyed as Kyradia let Ashara shake her

Kyradia took a deep breath and bit her lip as she got ready to talk "she's back" Ashara squinted confused "Zash is back, she's in that holocron they're carrying around" Ashara's brow raised as she stepped back a bit

"As in the woman who was inside Khem!" Kyradia weakly smiled remembering how furious Zash had been stuck inside the Dashade.

"yeah the one who trained me and uh taught me to be sith" Kyradia fidgeted in the space not wanting to recall it

Ashara kneeled down putting a hand on Kyradia's shoulder "we're gonna catch her don't worry" she smiled and leaned in hugging Kyradia tightly, Kyradia hugged her back looking off at the wall, she didn't deserve this hug, she didn't deserve any of it. They had to catch Zash and they had to soon, she felt a warm sensation on her eyelids and quickly wiped her eyes man this place was dusty.

Ashara let her go and looked at her maintaining eye contact "hey come on lets not let them get anymore of a head start" Kyradia nodded and got up

"where are they going now though" Kyradia had been so caught up in everything that she had let them get away "we have no idea where they're going"

Ashara smirked "well signs point to the temple of Exar Kun" Kyradia frowned at her

"how do you know that?" Kyradia was under the impression there was multiple places they could go right now

Ashara's smug look continued "i put a bug on the Milirian" Kyradia's frown quickly turned into a devious grin

"this is why you're the best" Kyradia felt suddenly invigorated with a new energy, they could sort this quickly and simply they just had to catch up

Ashara grinned joking "I know Ky I'm pretty great" before grabbing her hand "now lets go catch a sith lord" they raced out the temple, Kyradia knew Ashara was right but she still could feel the lingering doubt that she hadn't felt in a long time…