Chapter 59
Of Carth and Jolee joining their 'Masters' to the academy Yuthura took only a small moment to remark on Jolee, saying only that there something strange about him. Apparently having to other Jedi close at hand was enough to shift her senses just enough deflect a true reading that he was a Force wieldier as well.
Of course there was the obligatory warning about making sure the 'servants' did not disturb either Ravensong or Juhani's training or cause any trouble. And that both Jedi were responsible for them.
It was only when Carth was sure Yuthura was out of earshot did he mutter under his breath. "You know she made it sound as if we were stray hounds the younglings brought home and begged mommy to let her keep us."
Revan snickered. "She did, didn't she? It's a wonder she didn't remind Juhani and I to make sure we took you out for walkies along side making sure you were fed and watered properly."
"Yeah well don't get any cute idea of using a rolled up acrylic newssheet of on my nose and call me a bad boy if you think I did something naughty, Sister."
"I wouldn't dare." Revan smirked. "I get the feeling you'd like it too much. Besides I don't see you crapping on the floor even if it is a Sith floor anytime soon."
"Oh hahah." Carth snarked back. "Crap on the floor no, might take a leak in their pool, though."
"EWW! You would." Revan's face screwed up in an expression of child-like distaste
Jolee and Juhani exchanged a hopeful smile. Things might be looking up if those two were back to teasing one another.
Treading along the long dusty path that lead from Dreshdae to the Academy, Juhani and Carth exchanged a sorrowful glance towards one another upon seeing Purple Tunic lying dead on the sandy earth.
"Aw the efficacy of young hopefuls weeding out the undesirables and unworthy." Yuthura said in an almost bland tone as she glanced at the human who had finally come to dehydration and heat stroke.
Carth wasn't swift enough to school his features as the Jedi had.
"Your servant doesn't seem to agree with out methods."
Juhani turned to Carth who had the foresight to look a little theatrically abashed.
"He's unaccustomed to such open displays of the Sith's mentality of the survival of the fittest."
"You are?" Yuthura challenged.
"I have the medallion taken by my hand from a perspective hopeful who could not only not hold on to it but now lays dead by my hand, thus proving me the stronger, more capable warrior. What my servant feels is irrelevant, though he should know better than to allow his mask of indifference and discretion to fall in the eyes of others."
Yuthura actually found herself chuckling at the young Cathar's remark. "Indeed."
It was Revan who looked to the human male then remarked in a sarcastic aside "Or perhaps it is simply that his expression is that of disgust in imagined thought of a decaying body left to rot in the desert sun and the evitable kriffing smell it would leave lingering in the air."
Now this comment drew more laughter from the Sith Master. "Perhaps it is so. Often the simplest explanation is often proven the more truthful." She turned and studied the two women before her. Perhaps unlike the others the Jedi and Zeison Sha could appreciate just where they were. She would see. There was so much potential in both of them, most especially the Nagai. The Force was exceedingly powerful with her. She might just be the one…maybe…
Revan looked at the towering pyramidal edifice of the Academy nestled within the canyon. It was awe inspiring, crewel and yet strangely beautiful. It was constructed of stone and durasteel and reflected the sun trained at the apex of the structure. At the base of the Academy the entrance was located at the top of a wide staircase and framed by two kneeling humanoid statures representing slaves bearing the weight of the Sith's power. There was no escaping the cold grip of the Dark Side. It pulsed like the heartbeat of a great beast.
"This building is more than an academy. It has its own life." Revan said to no one in particular
Now Yuthura was truly impressed. None of the other perspective students had ever commented on the building or what it meant within history of the Sith.
"Very perceptive. This temple was built many thousand years ago to collect and focus the Force. Here you can feel the Dark Side at its strongest. No doubt you are aware this is not the only training academy we have at our disposal.
"Those who hold notable power of the Force yet are limited in their abilities to wield it are sent to Honoght, Gentes, or Gamoor. There they become either Warriors or Marauders. They are taught to channel their emotions into their rage and battle fury, They are mindless brutes of death and destruction when they are enraptured by the Dark Side.
"Brute strength will not win you the Republic." Juhani said.
"No." Yuthura agreed. By her tone she was well pleased by the Cathar's assessment. "Too many believe that the Dark Side is pure strength. Though a rancor is pure strength it possess no thought beyond the pure base."
"How queer, I gave that same example to one of the hopefuls when they proclaimed they were the stronger." Revan said with a hint of a smile.
"Those with greater prowess in the Force are sent to worlds that have seen fit to ally themselves to us. Worlds that once rallied to the Sith's side because of Revan's initiative. Rythoth, Umbara, Nar Shaddaa. They become creatures of the shadows, learning to use the Dark Side for secrecy, manipulation and deception. They are capable of drawing on the Dark Side to kill their targets without ever moving a muscle."
"Do you think they are a match for the Jedi?" Revan probed.
"Divided? No." The Twi'lek shook her head causing her lekku to shake from side to side. "Our Academies on Dathomir and Iridonia and Yavan are similar to this one. There apprentices who serve under Masters perhaps not so dissimilar to that of padawan and their Jedi Masters. They become adepts and acolytes of Sith sorcery. Here we are counterparts of the Jedi Knights and their Masters. Only on Korriban do we become Sith Lords. Here on Korriban we will be granted the title of Darth."
The Sith Master looked to the Jedi and the Nagai-Zeison Sha. "Come; let us see what destiny has in store for you both."
The halls of the Sith Academy were constructed of the smoothed obsidian stone. The polished sheen paradoxically both seemingly absorbed the interior ruby illumination and refracted it in a natural yet unworldly way as if the obsidian possessed its own interior luminescence.
Symbolic of a Sith's climb to power, the Academy's main hall was located just past the main doors and contained duel staircases leading to the upper levels, the center piece of the main hall was a narrow stone monument which was carved with the faces of the Sith, the statue was meant to remind students that the climb to success meant crushing those who vie for power along the way.
As a place of study, the Academy was equipped with dormitories to house its students. The Sith Archives were situated off the main hall and contained several levels of reasearch contained on scrolls and holocrons as well as datapads and holobooks.
The Academy lower levels contained many chambers for studying, lecturing, meditation and training as well as jails in which prisoners would be kept before interrogation.
Guarded by the Dark Honor Guard, the Academy also houses secret Ritual Chambers were creatures such as the Bloodfiend once lived. Many of the secrets the Academy held are not easily given up. It did not stop its Masters or students from digging for it. Of all the buried secrets buried here, there was only one that was of any interest to the Jedi and their companions, the last piece of the Star Map that would lead the companions to the Star Forge.
"Your servants will go no further; they may take your belongings to your assigned quarters. Then they will familiarize themselves with the slave quarters, you may call them once the induction is over." Yuthura commanded, broking no room for disagreement. "This servant will see them there." purple fingers waved over an aged Zabrak male with a back so bent it resembled the arms of Zaalbar's bowcaster. His horns were more the nubs of a youngling than one of his age might have indicated. There was none of the formidable pride in the purple eyes that might have hinted of a warrior's blood. Either he was taken very young, a cast out or the willful nature of the Zabrak was beaten out of him by a slaver it was difficult to discern.
What wasn't difficult to see was his utter deference to Yuthura as his superior and leash holder. "As you command." His voice was reedy—thin—broken. When he walked he did so with a particular hobble that anyone with arthritic joints would sympathize with. The heat of the desert must suit the bones well for the cold would surely be almost unbearable and more than crippling. He looked to the human males and made a gesture that they should follow him; he waited fro only a moment before headlining in the opposite direction of the acolyte dormitories.
Always ready to play a part Revan nodded and gave an imperious wave to Jolee. "You heard Master Yuthura, Graybeard. You will do as ordered." The addition of an antiquated yet venerated title of Graybeard softened the command a bit.
Jolee was swift to hide his expression wither it was age or the years living as a hermit in the Shadowlands that gave him this pokerfaced ability to play his part was unknown even to him. He bowed his head, his voice gruffer than normal, making him sound like the day after an all night bender on nothing but triple filtered malt whisky.
"As my master commands. Come on boy, you heard the orders." Jolee grabbed Carth by the arm before the younger man could issue a protest and headed for the slave quarters.
For himself almost as soon as Carth entered the pyramid his brown eyes searched every passing student, every male warm body for the familiar lanky frame of his son. Fortunately his wandering eyes played off for wonder of the chamber before them and not someone on the hunt for another soul. But that 'wonder' could not last longer than a day before drawing suspicion.
"Go." Juhani said.
Carth reluctantly obeyed. He was finding this part more difficult to play than his role as 'Grounded Spacer' he had adopted on Taris. Knowing if they were to pull off this masquerade, Carth would have to play his part, and he'd have to do it so convincingly well that no eyebrows were raised in his peculiarities. He had already done so outside, no other mistakes could be tolerated, lest he unintentionally out them for that they truly were, Jedi spies.
After a moment almost too long Carth bowed from the neck as Jolee had done and not trusting his tongue mutely followed Bendo and the aged Zabrak down a length of corridor until they were well out of sight of the main entrance.
"Come, we tarried too long." Yuthura said and headed deeper into the Pyramid proper
Already gathered in the Central Hall around the miniature isoliles pyramid were the students, Revan, Juhani and the others had met in Dreshdae. As well as a humanoid male who bore the presence of a commander.
Master Uthar Wynn was not garbed in traditional robes of either a Sith Lord or Jedi Master but in the grays of a Sith officer. This jarred Revan more than she cared to admit. But why should it? What had she expected? No she wasn't jarred, she was disappointed.
Cutting a glance to Juhani, that disappointment was reflected in those golden feline eyes. Even Darth Bandon had been bedecked in his black armor was cloaked in cowl and cape. Even that was preferable to the imagination than seeing a Jedi Master garbed in the sleek straight lines of gray of a common Sith officer. On his chest were the ribbons of honors gained not only in the Mandalorian Wars but in this current conflict of the Jedi Civil War.
The only outward hint of Uthar Wynn's connection to the Dark Side was the yellow eyes indicative of corruption that often marks humans. His skin was pale and pinched over his gaunt frame. The only hair on his bald head was the five o'clock shadow of scruff on his chin and above his upper lip, and eyelashes. His eyebrows like his hair had been shaved off-all the better to show off the elaborate geomorphic designs of his puce colored tattoos. They striped down his neck hinting these markings covered not only his shoulders but snaked further down his torso, no doubt they covered the entirety of his back
He caught Revan's eye, frowned slightly before he shifted his gaze to Juhani and finally rested upon Yuthura Ban. There was a silent conversation going between Master and his Apprentice, questions asked and not answered. It was a challenge, a challenge seemingly accepted.
"Greetings perspective students. It appears we have late entries. Who do you bring before me, Yuthura? A Nagai and Cathar bristling with the Force?" Uthar spoke with a clipped accent that neither Juhani nor Revan could place.
"Ravensong and Juhani they have some training it seems, Master. Both very promising."
"Promising?" Mekel scoffed. "That Cathar is not worthy of licking spit off your shoes Master!"
"I met this one in the Colony." Lashowe was equally swift to dismiss Revan. "The knife ear is unworthy if you ask me."
"I'll judge them for myself, thank you." Uthar commanded. He looked to Juahni first, "Tell me Jedi what do you know of the ways of the Sith? What preconceptions has your mind been polluted with?"
"I know that the Sith are powerful, a force to be reckoned with." Juhani answered.
"A diplomatic answer, if not the core of the matter." Uthar did not seem to be disappointed with the young woman's' response.
"Our power is obvious. The question in truth goes much deeper than the surface. And what of you Nagai of the Zeison Sha? Do you have the same view as your furred counterpart."
"If I am being honest, I've killed too many Sith to have preconceptions about them." Revan said evenly.
"Most impressive if it is true. Those who are too weak to stand against you deserve their fate. So expect no retribution from us. There is much you can learn from the Sith and we from you. The Jedi equate the Light with goodness and strength and the Dark with weakness and evil. That is their tradition and it's truly no surprise that they cling to it for comfort.
"We however do not treat the Force as a burden; we treat it as a gift. Something to be celebrated. We use it to acquire power over others and why should we not? Because the Jedi say we should not? We are as the Force is meant to be. The Jedi would hide that from you. They will tell you that the Dark Side is too quick, too easy, also that they need never challenge the passion that lies within them.
"Joining with us means realizing your true potential; it means not stifling yourself solely for the sake of high bound shamans and their antiquated notion of order. Be what you are meant to be."
Uthar turned his hawk eyes to others now encircling the room. He addressed first the only other young female. "What say you Lashowe? Are you ready to learn the secrets of Dark Side? Dare you?"
The blonde gripped her fist before her chest and stood proud, ridged. "I dare, Master Uthar. I am ready!"
"Brash and fiery as expected." Uthar almost complemented the young human. "Turn that passion to your advantage, child."
She smirked and bowed low from the waist almost as if she were on stage taking a bow before the audience after curtain fall. Uthar paid her no further heed, instead his attention went to the pinched faced male human, Juhani had the ill luck of encountering before the great doors of the Academy.
"What of you, Mekel."
"I am Master! More than ready!" as Lashowe before him he stood proud before dipping into a subservient bow.
"I sense much anger within you. That is good." Uthar all but purred. "That will provide you with power." As before Uthar ignored the secondary bow his student gave and addressed another human male. "And Sharrdan, what of you?"
A bow as the others before. "I am always ready."
"I see." Uthar was disappointed that much was clear. "You had best gather your wits for the trial ahead boy or you will not last."
How it was that Sharrdan had disappointed his Master so quickly was unclear but most certainly had. Had Uthar known of what had transpired in the Colony when he had toyed with how to torture the hopefuls he had before him? More than likely, but it was the knife ear and fur-licker's fault those wamp-rats had run off as they had. Glaring at the pointed eared bitch, he began to plot against her and earn back his Master's favour.
"And what of you young Cathar? Are you ready to learn more of what I speak?"
"Yes, I am ready to learn more." Juhani said, keeping her tone as even as it had been before.
"Are you? I can see into your heart young Juhani and see the dark kernel is there. If it is ready to sprout remains to be seen. And what of you Ravensong does this interest you?"
Rather than answering with an affirmative, Revan placed her own argumentative statement. "But…power without consideration of morality is a weakness."
The collective body of the acolytes gasped to hear such a remark, Sharrdan grinned. Perhaps the arrogant knife-ear would get herself killed by such open defiance, hell he may not be his Masters least favored if she kept that up.
To everyone surprise Uthar broke out into laughter. "You are brave to answer so. I have met few students who would speak so openly to me." His eyes went to perhaps the only other student in a very long time who had: Yuthura Ban. "Ask yourself first what this morality is. How is it created? Who does it benefit? Where do your notions of good and evil come from? You may come from a position that morality is just an obstacle to overcome or not. The discovery is yours to make, should you be ready.
"Now then all of you six recruits have shown a facility with the Force. You all have the potential to become true Sith. Only one of you however will succeed. The one that succeeds will be admitted into the Academy as a full Sith. All others must wait until the next year's trials and make the attempt again. If you survive.
"Look around you, remember where you are. This is the Pyramid of Power. Legions of Acolytes enter the Sith Academy every year. Few survive long enough to become Sith. Looming over the valley of the Dark Lords, the Sith Academy casts a long shadow across the ravine, just as the Dark Lords cast a long shadow over all of us. The Pyramid's base represents the masses, the peak, rising to a point and seeming to pierce Korriban's harsh sun, embodies the blinding power of our great Lord Darth Malak.
"Every Acolyte that passes through the Sith Academy halls dreams of climbing this pyramid of power and joining the elite ranks of the Sith. But to climb you must gain prestige. My pupil Yuthura will be your Master and teacher while you prove yourselves. Heed her words."
Yuthura took the queue and stepped up; it was her turn to address the students. "As Master Uthar said none of you are true Sith yet. For that to occur one of you must do enough worth to gain enough prestige to be selected. What is an act of worth? You must learn that for yourselves. Remember that you are competitors here. Fight for your destiny or go home."
Uthar took over once more. "If you wish to gain a lead on your competitors the first of you to learn the Sith code and tell me of it will be rewarded.
"Within these halls we your Sith Lords conspire and orchestrate excavations of the tombs outside. Overseers instruct each generation of fresh, vicious Acolytes. On the top floor, are the hallowed chambers once the very Seat of the Dark Council. Once the most powerful Sith in the galaxy issued their rule of dominance. The Sith Empire once had a thrown room deep in the Academy, though now it is seldom used
"Through Darth Malak that power will be realized once again. The Sith will return the Galactic Empire. Through his visions no longer will galaxy sufferer the likes of Mandalorian warmongers or the corruption that runs rampant through out the Senate, or the weakness of the Jedi who refused to protect the people when they cried out for the strength of a true leader, of true power to save them from oblivion."
Revan stepped up and raised her hand. "Yeah about that, Master Uthar, unless Darth Malak intends to completely rewrite history entirely, it was not Malak but Revan and her Revanchist who rose up against the Mandies. Malak only followed his Master to war, he lead but only from her shadow. It was she not he who defeated Mandalor in single combat. It was Revan that took Mandalor's head and helm. If I am not mistaken it was also she not he who reopened this Academy as well as the others on Ryloth, Dathimeer, in fact all of them owe their very existence to her endeavors.
"The very lessons you teach, you do so because of her orders, her instructions, not Lord Malak's. To ignore this is to diminish that accomplishment. To do it because it is inconvenient to Malak's personal history is to ignore all that has been accomplished to bring you to this point. You would not be Master of this Academy if not for the Revanchist. Is that not so?"
"It seems Master Yuthura you bring before me no ordinary recruit," Uthar said, a sneer marred his voice. He looked at Revan, "but one who knows of history. Tell me young one how is it that you know so much of Darth Revan; did you follow her during the Mandalorian War perchance? Or is it because you are both Nagai that you show such devotion to a dead woman?"
Juhani looked worriedly at her. Now was not the time to proclaim the fullness of truth. Not that anyone would believe her friend if she did openly declare herself: Darth Revan.
"Would it change anything if I did say I was once of the Revanchist, that I was there when Revan took Mandalor's head? Or that I was present when Malak decided not to confront his Master in mortal combat as Sith tradition dictates to take her power but took the much safer path and fired upon the Ravager when she was facing a Jedi boarding party? Malak stole the glory and credit of the death of his Master from the Jedi Sentinel who had led that same boarding party…"
Revan smiled that enigmatic grin of hers. "I am merely student of history, Master Uthar. Legacies interest me. This Temple is filled with them and I fully intend to gleam all that I can from these halls. The power that lays here is not just what we clutch at with closed fists, but what can be learned from the ancient ones. This includes the truth however inconvenient must will out."
"And what is the truth young Ravensong?" Uthar challenged.
"That is all from a certain point of view." Revan answered carefully.
Once more Uthar let out a deep chuckle. "Indeed it is young one. Indeed it is. Welcome to the Dark Side my children. As your fellow student pointed out your one chance of greatness lays here." His last words were most certainly a dismissal. As the others departed Uthar and Yuthura eyes lingered on the Nagai's back
After they had all gone the human turned to his apprentice, watching her with calculating harsh eyes. "This one is one to watch." Uthar said to Yuthura. "Her connection to the Force is very powerful. If I didn't know better I would have claimed she was more than a Jedi Knight, that she was indeed a Master. She speaks as one who has known command."
"She claims no connection to the Jedi but to the Zeison Sha and to the Night Sisters." Yuthura said her lekku twitched ever so slightly in annoyance.
"Who exactly is she?" Uthar demanded. "She curiously possesses almost encyclopedic knowledge of the Sith history. Clearly more than any of the other prospects. What have you brought me Yuthura? It seems almost too convenient."
"You imagine a plot against you Uthar?"
"Shouldn't I? You said she was of the Zeison Sha. That Order knows what it is to hold true powers of survival. And the Night Sisters have a unique bond with the Force, you'd do well to ally yourself with one such as her if you mean to wrest the power from me."
"You are too paranoid, Master Uthar."
"Not paranoid Yuthura, cautious. You had best heed caution yourself; with so many powerful and ambitious young Sith they may seek to supplant you as favored amongst my pupils."
"Like Lashowe? It is clear you favour her above the others."
"She is hungry for power just as you were when you first came here to learn at my feet."
"All who come here to learn are hungry, Master."
"Some more than others. That Cathar, I said I sensed the kernel of the Dark Side in her heart, but she fears to let it out. She tasted that power once and it frightened her. She follows the Nagai as dutifully as any Padawan her Master. Ravensong is one who is served, she does not serve. Those that come here are malleable, eager to learn, to serve the Dark Side. Ravensong is not so malleable. She is of your age, too old to be a mere acolyte."
"Too old? Now you sound like the Jedi. Ever they seek younger and younger pupils. Soon they will take only infants on as their students, pure and innocent leaving all other Force sensitives to seek other means of education in how to use their power.
"Foolish. Those who are turned away from Jedi can be easily be lured to the Dark Side. Did not Darth Revan foresee this eventuality? Was it not her vision to create so many Sith Academies to take in the disenfranchised, the disillusioned Force wielders and mold them into her image."
"What Revan wanted is illrelevant. Our loyalties belong to Darth Malak. He proved himself the stronger." Uthar says sounding more as if he is trying to convince himself
But did the Dark Lord truly do so? Ravensong was right, Malak did not face Revan; he did not confront her in single combat. Instead he used the diversion of the Jedi boarding party and fired on the Ravager. Revan's death was by all accounts by the galaxy at large not given to Malak but to Bastila Shan Jedi Sentinel. Even Uthar doubted their Lord's prowess.
Was Malak not capable of facing Revan and defeating her? Many within the Sith Armada's High Command have voiced their doubts that Darth Malak truly earned his position as their great Dark Lord but rather stole it from the Jedi. Was it any wonder Malak was eager to rewrite history to his vision of events. Treachery was the Sith's endless game. Revan's greatest fragility was that she took her apprentice Darth Malak for granted and thus was taken by surprise when he fired upon her flagship.
Many saw this as an act of a cowardness, which Malak knew his Master was far too strong for him to confront alone and thus unused a moment of opportunity to fire on Raven's ship while she was distracted by the Jedi boarding party. Others saw this act as a brilliant move to take out two enemies at a single stroke. Whatever views one abated the line was clearly divided. Even here in the Academy, Uthar saw Malak's move as genius, while Yuthura believed it to be spineless and Malak unlike Revan owed no devotion of his supplicants for it was not truly earned.
It is not a weakness to call upon the aid of another to thwart a superior enemy, what was weakness that after an enemy fell you claimed the fullness of battle as ones own power and show of strength. The Twi'lek had no time for such games of false posturing. She had seen enough of such folly in her youth.
Uthar turned to his pupil with more scrutiny he had shown her in the past. "It is fortuitous that this Nagai arrives now at our doorstep just when Darth Malak's hunt for a new apprentice has only begun."
"Fortune or the Force, Master?" Yuthura challenged.
"That has yet to be seen, Yuthura. I would not place such a wager on that willful defiance to be an ally if that is what you plan. Still we both know that the Jedi will not be defeated by soldiers. If Ravensong becomes a Sith Master then the tide of this war may yet turn." Uthar rubbed the scruff of whiskers on his rounded chin. "I wonder as you must after feeling her power only briefly, if she is the one prophesized."
"You speak of the Sith'ari." Yuthura said in awe. "Is that even possible?"
"Come now my pupil you must have felt what I have. Being near Ravensong is like being near the heart of the Force it self. Still…if she is to even claim that title she must survive her training."
KOTOR~ KOTOR~ KOTOR~ KOTOR~ KOTOR
"You there, Mandalorian…you are the one flying the Ebon Hawk? I saw you disembarking earlier." A very rare purple skinned rodian said approaching Ordo with a hesitant yet contrarily bold step.
"Who wants to know?" Canderous's hand hovered over the butt of his heavy blaster.
"Lurze Kesh." The rodian noted the merc's move over the weapon though he did not cower. "You can tell Davik that my people are spitting plasma over this. We've been waiting for this shipment for months now! I suppose we should be grateful that the shipment survived Taris at all, though, Right? Anyway…hand it over and let's finish this."
"Not so smart are you bug-eyes threatening a Mandalorian. You should know Kang is dead. So whatever you want ended with him."
"But that's the Ebon Hawk."
"Yeah. So? It is no longer Kang's. She now belongs to … a dark Jedi." Canderous added the last part with a sadistic smile. "She took it from him, right under his nose in his own home. Now get to the point about this shipment bug-eyes, I'm a busy man."
"Yes, yes fair enough. To be honest I really don't care about what happened to Davik or how your…boss got hold of the ship. My point is my people had an arrangement for several kilograms of spice to be shipped to us here. Perhaps Davik left it on board?"
"That ship has been scoured from hull to keel. If there was any spice on board it isn't now." Canderous said knowingly. He knew the Hawk pretty damn well and he knew for a fact there was no spice aboard her.
"Perhaps it's still in the container we gave him." Lurze pressed, not willing to give up on the notion what he sought was still there somewhere aboard the Hawk. "It will require a code."
"I'm telling you bug-eyes, there is nothing like that on the ship. Now piss-off before I make bug paste out of you."
"Please have a look!" Lurze pressed desperately. "Red 47! That's the code. If you bring it I will pay you…one thousand credits."
Canderous continued to ignore the spice dealer and headed into the bar. It was clean almost spartan in its décor. The furniture as utilitarian was you'd see on any soulless military starship. Hell there wasn't even any music let alone dancers.
He'd say it again: Dreshdae what a shit hole. At least the stinking cease pit that Nar Shadarr had fracking dancers, entertainment, pazak dens, swoop treks and whore houses. This place…ugh, boring as hell. It was more of a tapcaf than anything remotely resembling a tavern.
There were few patrons in the bar, one purple skinned Twi'lek that Canderous had to admit was gorgeous but by the cut of her uniform she was one of the Sith. Best to leave her alone. There was a peach-skinned Rodian playing with a pazak deck, on the opposite side of the bar were a aged couple pilots and no one else.
"Greetings sentient. You are the own of the Ebon Hawk, yes?" the bar keep said in Huttesse
"Seems the Hawk is pretty damn famous here. What does everyone know about her?" Strange. Canderous knew that Kang had a lot of dealings with Sith and smuggling operations off Taris but the old crime boss kept pretty tight lipped about what he did on Korriban. Not even that loud mouthed sweat-hog Holden blabbed about Dreshdae and that man couldn't keep quite about anything once he had more than two drinks in his gullet. Then again Holden hadn't been the Hawk's primary pilot. That had been Hudrow.
But after a botched mission with the Sith. Davik had Hudrow sent to the 'special guest quarters' aka torture chambers and Holden then took the big chair on the Hawk. Canderous never pressed for answers on why Hudrow was in a cell. Frankly the old merc hadn't cared enough. Now he was beginning to get a clearer picture. It was Hudrow not Holden that flew frequent flier-miles to Dreshdae.
"Yes she is. Very famous." the Rodian said bringing Canderous back to the present.
Canderous shook his head. "Let's get one thing straight. I'm not Hudrow or Kang. Kang is dead and the new owner is a woman you don't frack with. I'm one of her bodyguards." If everyone knew about the Ebon Hawk keeping a low profile was not going to be easy. If you can not control the current narrative, change it.
"I am honored to meet you. I am Mika Dorin, manager of this establishment. Is there something you are needing, sentient? The owner of the Ebon Hawk or her employees are always welcome in the Dreshdae Cantina."
"Sirocco whisky-neat. Leave the bottle."
"Yes yes." Mika nodded. "Very expensive. Triple filtered."
"Don't worry, I've got the credits." That was another thing he learned long ago. Sometimes you flexed muscles. But after working for Kang and dealing wit the Hutts sometimes you flexed a little credit chit and that opened a slew of other doors brute force simply wouldn't.
After retrieving a bottle of high end booze he poured what the humans called two fingers worth into a decanter and left the bottle beside it as ordered.
"So what's the word around here, anything interesting? Dreshdae lacks a swoop trek so there's gotta be something worth doing."
"Hum….some of the locals bet on which of the hopefuls get into the Academy and which will be this year's graduate. If you are looking for noise it will not be here. This cantina has been provided by the Czerka Corporation and it is a quit place. This is as I prefer it. Elsewhere in Dreshdae it is not always safe or quit. Dreshdae is run as the Sith wish.
"The Sith are not always pleasant in their dealings with others. If I had a say, I prefer they and their Academy were not present here. But I do not."
"Pretty bold words, Mika." Canderous deliberately used the bug-eyes' name. "Sometimes something so simple as the use of a name gained a lot of footage with one abused. Hell he knew that working with Davik's slave kennels. The Twi'leks were always that much more attentive if he uttered their names while they serviced him.
"There is a place on the surface of this planet called the Valley of the Dark Lords, I believe the Sith are digging amongst such ruins for many artifacts. But no one is allowed to go to the ruins other than the Sith themselves. They killed the Czerka people when they offered to help with the digs. Now Czerka stays away from the ruins as I understand it."
Canderous continued to tilt the bottle into his decanter filling it with the superb drink. "If this place has a place called Valley of the Dark Lords, I'd say the Sith have been here a very long time."
"Yes. I think the Academy has been here always. The Sith come here to train students. Many go there to train, though I know not why, many are not permitted to train and many die in their attempt to be admitted.
"Many of the students and the Sith, themselves, come to my cantina. Look around you and you will see them. I have little choice as to their presence."
"You have a choice. Leave."
"No. Czerka has my contract. I cannot go. If I try they will kill me."
"That's a choice." Canderous said evenly. He had no patients for those unwilling to lift themselves up and fight for themselves. That in the least he had very much in common with the Sith.
Taking his bottle, Canderous decided to sit near the other humans, mindful to keep his back to the wall, lest someone try and pull a fast one and knife him or shoot him. Of course of one of the Sith punks used their Force abilities there was nothing that having your back against the wall could defend you against.
"Greetings friend." One men said watching Canderous take his seat. He was a balding gray haired man with a goatee, an much older version of the young ginger man sitting with him. His own beard clipped and style very much like Orange Coat's.
"A fellow pilot are you? Wouldn't mind taking a spin in the Ebon Hawk, myself. Sleek ship, that one."
"Seems everyone knows about the Ebon Hawk/" Canderous said spilling more whisky into his glass.
"In a small colony like this everyone knows everyone's business."
Pazak! A blabber mouth. Canderous saw the old man's empty glass and tilted his chin towards it and raised his bottle.
Gray-Goatee was only too eager to take advantage of someone offering him two fingers of top-shelf booze. After a pause Ordo offered to top off Ginger's drink as well.
"It's much better thinking too much about the Sith lurking about here. The Hawk's been in and out of here for ages. An out-of-the-way star port is a good place for us…privateers. Not saying you are one."
"If I were?"
"Hey that's your business, Mandalorian." Gray-Goatee said holding his hand sup in the universal symbol of surrender. "We just pilot a boring freighter. We've had some pretty steady work here, though, since the Sith started their excavations up on the surface."
Canderous kept the drinks coming.
"In case you're forgetting partner, they don't exactly want us talking about their business either."
"Ah who cares about them? I've seen some of things they're digging up in those ruins in the valley. Pretty creepy, if you asked me."
Canderous had by now slowed his own ingestion but made sure his table companions' glasses never emptied. "What sort of artifacts?" Talking wasn't Canderous thing but hell if it was what Revan wanted, he'd do it. He had made a promise both to the Whelp and again once he knew her true identity. He was her man through and through.
So he was talking or rather getting these plug-heads to talk.
"Weird artifacts. Looks like alien stuff. I mean real alien-alien stuff, not tail-head alien or whatever. Maybe aliens lived on Korriban a long time ago, who knows." Ginger shrugged.
"Don't be stupid. I was talking to one of these Sith and he said there are tombs dating back when this Sith were here in ancient times."
"There were Sith here in ancient times? Sounds like he was feeding you a line. Korriban's only been settled for a short time."
"So says you. He said that the planet was settled by the Sith a long time ago, and then they all left or something. Some of those tombs are really important to them." Grey-Goatee urged.
"Tombs, hey? That makes the stuff they end us even creepier. Wish I didn't have to haul it around"
"Where do you take these things?" Canderous asked carefully.
"We used to haul everything to Taris and the Sith would take it off our hands there. Now sure where we'll be bringing it now." Grey-Goatee answered.
"Do you have any of these artifacts now?" Canderous took a sip of his whisky. Neither of the other men seem to notice that the level of his drink had not gone down.
Again it was Grey-Goatee who answered. "Naw. We're not due for another shipment for at least another week."
"How would one get to these excavations, exactly?" asked Canderous.
"It's in a valley on the surface, beyond some mountains to the east. No land route…that's why we have to fly in." Slurred Grey-Goatee as if he were speaking to someone especially thick-witted.
"Shows what you know, Pop. The Academy has a route through the mountain—that's how all their students get to the excavation site."
"Well regardless boyal, the Sith don't let anybody near that valley. Even when we land, they watch us like a Drayborian hawk and want us gone. Quickly." the last two words were heavily accented as if to press the importance of them.
"Well enjoy the rest of the bottle, boys. I gotta go."
"Sure thing. Good flying, friend." Grey-Goatee toasted Canderous's retreating back.
With this much attention and that Hutt's spawn spice dealer lurking outside the cantina, Canderous didn't trust the rug or the clanker to look after the Whelp's ship. Once there he'd compile a SitRep, encoded it and send it along the private comm-channels. The more Intel the Whelp…no, not the Whelp-this woman was not simply a young Jedi Knight, no knife-eared Night Sister, or Blade scout, she was General Revan and she deserved her rightful title.
As he was thinking before his brain interrupted him, General Revan needs this information and fast. Now that he established himself as one of her bodyguards there was a precedence for him to speak with her openly but it was better for their cover if he relayed the information on a more secure manner.
Whatever secretes the Sith had hidden out there at the excavation site it was for the General to unravel. Thanks to her visions they already knew the Star Map was in one of the tombs, the shipping of relics well whatever hocus pocus they held the Sith wanted them badly which meant they had some sort of value, which meant the sleemo should be deprived of them.
That's were being a merc and smuggler came in, since working for Davik Kang and living on Taris, Canderous had become very adept at both vocations. Speaking of smuggling it was time to find out just what Red 47 was hiding.