Chapter 4

Bale resisted against the braces. His mind was reeling. He hadn't eaten since his capture. The only light was the faint light emanating from a control panel on the other end of the room. He tried reaching out with The Force but felt nothing. His connection was severed by something in the room. His body and mind were numb. He had no idea where he was.

The lights flicked on, blinding him. He suddenly remembered. He was on a Sith space station. He had fought a Dark Lord on Yavin IV. The Sith had knocked him out and taken him away. Now that same Sith Lord stood next to him. His violet eyes looked the Jedi apprentice over.

"You're awake once again." Zanatos said. He placed gloved hands on the boys arms.

"What do you want from me?" Bale asked.

"Wrong question. You should be asking what I could do for you." Zanatos said.

"What do you mean?"

"You're a Jedi padawan. There's nothing you can tell me I don't already know. We know where the other Jedi Academies are. We know who sits on the council and what they're capable of. And military strategy and logistics is far below a pupil's paygrade. So, there's nothing you can offer me."

"Then why do this? Why not kill me like the rest?"

"You are strong with The Force but your talent is wasted on the Jedi." Zanatos waved his hand in front of Bale's face. The young Jedi could feel the screws turning in his brain. The Sith was prying. Bale's psychological defenses were poultry to the dark lord. "You're angry. Master Clowd never acknowledged your talents. He always passed you by and treated you like an outcast."

"He was ashamed." Bale said. Tears were forming in his eyes. "He failed my mother."

"He was weak and afraid. Afraid of your power." Zanatos hissed. "The Jedi do not value strength. They delude themselves, spread their power thin to protect as many people as possible. And in doing so they lack the strength to protect anyone."

"The Sith are evil." Bale argued.

"There is no such thing as evil." Zanatos smiled wide as he pushed his will deeper into Bale's subconscious. "Anger, hate, fear, these are all natural parts of life. The Dark Side is a natural part of life. Love, attachment, all these things the Jedi consider taboo is what makes us strong. They fear strength. Because once you break the shackles of the Jedi, you are free. When that happens, they can no longer control you."

"Shut up." Bale whispered.

"You know it's true." Zanatos said. "You wish to be strong. That is why Clowd feared you and favored your sister."

"Shut up."

"Your mind is an open book to me. Only through studying The Force in all its aspects, can you finally find yourself and protect that which you love most."

"SHUT UP!" Bale's mind screeched. The lights went out once again. He felt a cold presence in his heart. The shroud of the Dark Side had fallen over him.

The Third Dusk was still shuttering from the ruptured engines. The Republic fleet was beginning to back off. The deadlock was setting once again. The Jedi had won this round. Eagen had escaped Taranus' clutches once again.

"Captain, prepare my shuttle." Taranus ordered. The Sith Lord examined the enemy fleet as they fell back, but his mind was elsewhere.

"But sir, the emperor made it quite clear that you are to remain…" Captain Tryfell's voice caught in his throat.

"Did I stutter?" Taranus' voice was calm and menacing. Tryfell dropped to his knees, choking on the power of the Dark Side. "The Jedi is not to be underestimated. He is alive. I can feel it. I am the only one in the sector qualified to take on this task. This was the Republic's plan all along." He released the captain and turned to face the blue-faced chiss as he caught his breath.

"As you wish, my lord." He said.

Taranus abandoned the bridge and headed to his personal quarters. He knew Eagen would try destroying the planetary shields. The generator was far from his ship's trajectory so he had plenty of time to beat him there and lay a trap. But he had to inform the emperor first. He had felt a second powerful presence on that ship. Eagen had taken an apprentice, and a powerful one at that.

"Emperor Near." Taranus hailed the ruler of the Sith. A pureblooded sith from Korriban. Near was the most powerful force wielder in the galaxy, possibly in the history of the galaxy. She was the fourth emperor of the current sith regime and by far the strongest.

"Darth Taranus, has the Republic fleet been broken?" Near's voice seldom rose above a whisper. Her power was not domineering like her predecessors. Rather it was like a virus, infecting all those she came into contact with. It had been too much for Taranus in the past. But he was far stronger now.

"Not yet my lord." Taranus admitted. "Master Eagen managed to slip through our shields. The Third Dusk is in need of repair. I am going down to the planet to…."

"Do whatever it takes to fix this mess." Near said. "Do not forget that you are the one who made Master Eagen who he is today. It was you who failed to capture him time and again. I will not accept such weakness in a man of your position."

"I understand." He nodded. "There was another with him. He's taken an apprentice."

"Yes." Near nodded. "I have felt it since we struck a blow on Yavin IV."

"Will Darth Narciss and I be enough?" He asked. Narciss was his apprentice who was stationed in the main naval base on the planet below.

"You are his master. That is for you to decide. Unless….you want Darth Mallow to take over."

"No!" Taranus stood up. "We will handle this."

"See to it." Near said as she cut the communication.

Darth Taranus sent a message to his apprentice to meet him at the shield generator with as many inquisitors as he could rally. Even if Hypori was lost, the death of Eagen would be enough proof that Taranus was ready to challenge Mallow. The strong rule the weak. The stronger challenging the strong and taking over their positions in the empire. The Sith Military was a multi-pronged ladder where only the Emperor was ever truly free. Everyone craved that power. And Taranus was growing dissatisfied with his position as Grand General.

Zanatos paused for a second before opening the door to his chambers. He knew what was waiting for him on the other side of its threshold. He cocked a grin as he opened it. Sure enough, Darth Mallow was standing there, looking at the artifacts the sith had stored on his shelf.

"Thought you'd have left by now." Zanatos said.

"The Boy, has his will been broken?" Mallow's voice was cold and mechanical. His yellow eyes burned with righteous anger. It was the source of his strength. Emperor Near's greatest pupil would like people to believe he was invincible. But Zanatos knew better. Nobody was invincible.

"The Dark Side runs through his veins." Zanatos said as he placed a hand on the taller man's shoulder. "I know what this child means to you. And I can assure you, the emperor is vastly aware of this too. I wonder…" Zanatos leaned into Mallow's ear to whisper. "What would Taranus do if he knew you had children."

"Hmm." Mallow growled. He slammed his hand around Zanatos' throat. "What is it you want?"

"I'd love to take him as my apprentice." Zanatos choked out. Even though Mallow was lifting him off the ground and crushing his neck, the Intelligence Director kept smiling, refusing to break under Mallow's power.

"You have an apprentice, I do not." Mallow said.

"Then how about….that holocron you have in your palace back on Korriban." Zanatos said. Mallow released him and drew his lightsaber.

"How do you know of that?" Mallow asked.

"I've been around for a very long time Darth Mallow. You'll find there isn't much I don't know. For instance, I know that holocron is wasted on you. A former Jedi, one who has felt the power of light will never be able to access its darkest secrets."

"And you will?" Mallow asked. Zanatos put his hand to the crimson blade of energy and hurled it back into the hilt.

"I care not for power or position Mallow. Be mindful of that. Give me the holocron, and the boy is all yours."

"So be it." Mallow growled. The deal was struck and the fate of Bale Rayne now rested in the hands of Darth Mallow.

The jagged rock of the cliff pierced Sia's hands. The Force flowed through her veins, guiding every moment as she scaled the heights. This was a test. Eagen was waiting on top of the plateau to continue her training. Using The Force to know which jagged pieces of stone she should use was taxing on her mind and body. But she persevered.

She reached the top and rolled onto her back. She didn't have time to recover before a laser blast hurled towards her face. She rolled onto her feet and drew her lightsaber. Eagen's blasts were aimed at her legs. He extended his will to cloud her vision. She thought a blast was coming to her right leg but it ended up hitting her left foot. She fell to the ground, bracing herself with her arms.

"What is The Force?" Eagen asked as he withdrew his weapon.

"It's an energy field that surrounds us and binds us." Sia answered.

"It is that which connects all things." Eagen said. "Not just those who can use its power. If something is totally disconnected from the Force it ceases to exist. You can muddle it, dampen it, silence it, but it still remains."

"Understanding is balance." She repeated.

"Understanding is power." Eagen said as he paced around. "Your thoughts dwell on your brother and on the shadow that looms in your mind. There lies the path to the Dark Side."

"That wasn't the first time I encountered Darth Mallow." Sia said as she looked her master in the eye. "He killed my mother."

"Yes, I know." Eagen sighed.

"Why?"

"I can't say. Search your feelings. Internalize the Force. Self-realization is the best way to discover the true will of the Force."

"You know something!"

"I'm a Jedi Master, I know a lot of things. Like, if I were to tell you everything, you'd try forcing your growth, and you'll lose yourself forever. The Will of the Force is stronger than you know. I can pass on knowledge and skill and give you opportunities for experience. But wisdom, discovering The Will of the Force. That is something you can not teach."

"How will I know when I find it?" Sia said as she sat down in a meditative stance.

"When you discover what the Force wants, you'll have already done it." Eagen said as he sat down in front of her. She closed her eyes and breathed deep.

"Who was he?" Sia said. "Who is Darth Taranus to you?" The question had plagued her mind nearly as much as Mallow.

"I already told you he's my responsibility. Focus on your own path."

"As your apprentice, we share the same path now." Sia said. "That's what Master Clowd believes." Eagen gave a sigh. This is why he wanted professionals on his crew, not eager young padawans. He could feel her trying to probe him. She was strong but he was still far above her abilities. Even so, it was only a matter of time before she would find out. And sense it didn't concern her own path to self-realization it was best to come clean.

"He's my brother." Eagen said. "What's left of him anyway." He sensed a twinge of fear igniting inside her.

"Is the same going to happen to Bale?"

"That is up to him." Eagen said.

Bale was unshackled. His hands and knees were on the cold metal floor of the station. It was a dark room illuminated by crimson lights. A dark shadow towered over him. His head was bald and scarred. A mechanical rebreather covered his mouth. His yellow eyes were illuminating. His dark armor reflected the red lights in the room.

"The Jedi have abandoned you." Darth Mallow said. "Even if you return to them now they will treat you even more like an outcast. They will see you as corrupted. They will possibly have you executed. Is it your desire to be destroyed?" He ignited his lightsaber.

"No." Bale hissed as he stood to face the Sith Lord.

"Resolve. You wish to conquer your fear. That is good. It is a vital quality for someone to be my apprentice."

"Why?" Bale huffed. "Why should I submit to you?"

"Because I am your father." His voice was cold but his eyes were strangely warm. Bale slumped over in shock. Darkness and sorrow swelled in his heart. "They will always see you and your siblings as the children of a monster. Lian Clowd knew this which is why he always looked at you with fear. Even your sister, who you believe he showed favoritism to, was held back by his fear." Mallow held out his hand. "Help me save them from that arrogant fear."

Bale swallowed his tears. His soul was being split in two. Deep down he knew that Mallow was right and the only way to protect that which he valued was to become Mallow's apprentice. With his shattered resolve being reforged, he grabbed his father's hand and hoisted himself up to his feet.