Replying to comments:
1)I know that dialogues Take too much space, and it hurts me as well because when I Reach those 4000 words, I'm like 'that's it?'. And I know it can be boring but, I've played through KotOR 2 recently, and the majority of the game is actually talking to people. I have to say that I had more fun talking to other NPCs than I had from actual gameplay. I know it's boring for some of you, but we're still at the very beginning of the events of KotOR 2 so soon more action will take place, I can promise you that.
2)I must admit, I thought about skipping KotOR 2 entirely, but I'll make a lot of changes, and I need to go through them one at a time, so for the next dozen or so chapters (but probably more), Meetra will be the main character. So, I'm sorry if I disappointed you, but it's necessary, in my opinion.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 29
There was only one place on Korriban where a Jedi Master could have been hiding. It was the Valley of the Sith Lords, an ancient graveyard for the darkest of the Sith. Although Meetra has never been there, she had heard stories about that place. It was said that walking across the planet's dead surface could turn a Jedi to the Dark Side. She was sure that the Masters were greatly exaggerating it, only wanting to prevent their students from coming to that place. After all, when the first Jedi, who turned to the Dark Side, came to Korriban, they merged with the local species, and soon, they've become one, known as the Sith.
Although it surprised her, she didn't feel fear. She wasn't sure why. She could only guess that it was because she had touched the Dark Side already during the Mandalorian Wars. And if what she knew about Korriban was correct, the dead could not harm her. Even if those dead tended to spread their teachings even from their graves.
Atton landed the Ebon Hawk in the middle of the Valley. Meetra didn't have to use the Force to realize that this place was empty. Death radiated from it in waves, as it did from Dxun and Malachor V. She quickly noticed that not only the Valley of the Sith Lords was a graveyard – the whole planet was. A perfect hiding spot for any Jedi.
"We've hit the ground," Atton announced nonchalantly. "This is Korriban. Why would one of the Jedi you're looking for come here?" he asked, sounding surprised.
"There is much that would draw a Jedi to this place," Kreia replied, not giving a clear answer, as usual. "The resting grounds of the ancient, and more recently departed Sith contain many teachings believed lost," she explained. "The most likely place to find our lost Jedi is the ruins of the old Academy," she informed Meetra, turning her head towards her.
"What happened here?" Meetra queried, looking through the viewport. Even from her spot, she could see that the Valley was littered with corpses, scattered amongst the tall monuments. She covered her mouth with her hand.
"Revan happened here," Kreia replied calmly. "Near the end of the Jedi Civil War, he came to this place, unleashing all his anger, all his hatred on the inhabitants of the Academy, and not only on them," she added mysteriously. "The Republic came here a few years later, in order to destroy the remnants of Malak's Empire, only to find Korriban as we have – barren and lifeless."
"Well, if the Sith aren't here anymore, finding your Jedi Master should be easy," Atton commented, leaning back in his seat.
"As lifeless as it seems, the Dark Side is very strong here," Kreia countered, scolding him. "The Sith Lords would not ignore such a powerful place. There is much that can be learned, even here," she warned Meetra.
"Then we better get moving," Meetra announced, standing up from her chair.
"If you walk Korriban's surface, you shall walk it without me," Kreia informed her, earning a questioning look from Meetra. "This place is strong with the Dark Side," she reminded her. "It is difficult to center myself here," she explained. "Korriban holds few secrets from me, but much that you should learn," she said, correcting her hood that was covering her blind eyes. "I will remain here and meditate," she announced. "But don't be afraid, our link remains. I shall contact you and provide guidance when needed."
"Very well then," Meetra replied, stretching her back. "Atton, grab a blaster," she ordered, addressing the pilot. "You're coming with me."
"What?"
"I'm not so foolish as to walk into the Sith Academy on my own," Meetra informed him. "I might need every support I can get, and I think it might be good for you to taste some action," she teased him. Atton only huffed at that, crossing his arms on his chest. "Don't worry, you won't be alone," she added, teasing him further. "The handmaiden will go with us," she announced, making sure to speak loud enough for the young woman to hear her. "If you are an Echani warrior, we could use your battle expertise."
"What about me, General?" Bao-Dur asked, offering to go with them.
"I want you to remain here," Meetra informed him. "We need the Ebon Hawk repaired as soon as possible, as well as that HK droid," she explained, looking him in the eyes. "Stay here and wait for our return," she ordered. The Iridonian nodded his head, accepting Meetra's words.
Although reluctantly, Atton stood up and followed Meetra to the loading ramp. He grabbed two rifles on his way, handing one to the Exile. She accepted it with a nod of her head. The handmaiden was right behind them, carrying only the staff that she brought with herself from the Academy on Telos. Meetra pressed the button that lowered the loading ramp, ready to leave the ship and enter the Valley of the Sith Lords.
"Be careful," Kreia warned them from behind their backs. "Dark energy fills these ruins, and even the fallen Sith live still," she informed her. Meetra replied with a small nod of her head. With that, the group of three left the Ebon Hawk.
The first thing Meetra has noticed was the hot air that surrounded the Valley. It made it nearly impossible to breathe. And even though the air was warm, she had to wrap her clothes around her tighter, due to the strong wind. It was carrying the sand and ashes, forcing them into their eyes. She used her hand to shield them.
The center of the Valley was filled with large stone monuments and numerous corpses. Meetra was grateful that the stench of the rotting flesh couldn't be felt in the air, as it was on Peragus. After years of lying on the ground, constantly assaulted by the sun and wind, only bones remained, though some of the corpses still had the remnants of clothes on them. Meetra looked around cautiously, taking a hesitant step forward. Atton and the handmaiden followed her wordlessly.
The three of them have passed by the monuments and the countless corpses, heading forward towards a small canyon. Meetra assumed that it was the path to the Sith Academy. She reloaded her rifle, scanning the area ahead of them, both with the Force and with her eyes. Atton followed her example, keeping his weapon at readiness.
"Did you hear that?" Meetra asked her companions, stopping suddenly. Atton and the handmaiden looked around uncertainly, alerted by her odd question.
"I didn't hear anything," the young woman replied, still looking around. She gripped her staff harder, ready to defend herself.
"I swear I heard something… or someone," Meetra replied. She had to admit that at that moment, she was beginning to feel afraid.
Jedi, a voice whispered, this time louder, allowing her to make out what it was saying. Meetra felt shivers run down her spine, soon followed by a cold sweat. She readied her blaster, looking around. It was a familiar voice, though she couldn't make out who it belonged to.
Jedi, the same voice whispered, though that time it seemed that it was spoken from behind her back. Meetra turned around immediately, aiming her blaster at whoever might have been standing behind her. But she saw nothing, except for a black hole in the stone wall. A cold wind blew from there, causing Meetra to shiver again.
"What is it?" Atton asked, quickly noticing that the Exile was stressed.
"I heard a voice," she replied, not looking at him. "It came from there," she added, gesturing at the hole.
"Oh no, we're not going there," he replied after looking in the direction that Meetra pointed to. He gulped loudly. "This whole place seems… odd. Entering the cave here will be suicide."
Jedi, the same voice said, and finally, Meetra realized who it belonged to.
"It's Revan's voice," she announced, taking a careful step towards the hole that was an entrance to the cave.
"That's impossible," Atton countered, shaking his head. "Revan has been gone for five years now," he reminded her.
"I swear I have heard his voice," Meetra replied, looking at the cave. She took another step forward, approaching the entrance. Atton quickly grabbed her by her arm.
"Don't go in there," he ordered, holding her tightly. "Whatever it is you have heard, it's not Revan!"
"If you want to stay here, be my guest," Meetra countered, releasing herself from his hold. "But I'm going inside," she informed him and resumed her walk forward. She marched faster, afraid that if she wouldn't do it swiftly, she would turn around. Atton sighed loudly and followed her, as well as the handmaiden did.
They walked through the narrow tunnel that seemed to go on endlessly. It was much colder than it was outside. With each step Meetra took, the voices were getting louder and louder. She was touching the stone wall with her left hand in order to know in which way the tunnel went. It was completely dark, though, after a time, their eyes have adjusted to the darkness, allowing them to see some contours of what was ahead of them.
After a few minutes of walking in silence, the rough stone wall became more and more smooth. Meetra noticed contours of strange markings on the walls around her, and soon, she spotted a smooth entrance that was leading further into the cave. There was no door, and it seemed to be brighter beyond the portal. The voices were coming from that place.
"Do you see that?" she asked her companions. She turned around, only to find out that Atton and the Handmaiden weren't behind her. She paled, though it couldn't be noticed in the darkness surrounding her. She was alone.
She knew that she should go back and search for her missing companions, but something was drawing her into the room ahead. Against her senses, she took a step forward, entering the strange room.
The tunnel was wider, and it was illuminated with a strange light that seemed to have no source. She made sure that her blaster was ready and proceeded forward. It's a tomb, she realized after a moment. The smooth stone walls and the markings on them made it impossible to mistake it for anything else.
The tunnel has ended quickly, and Meetra has found herself in a large room. To her surprise, a group of people was standing there. She was terrified, but she couldn't walk backward. Something was pushing her forward.
She gasped when she recognized a tall figure of a man. It was Alek, dressed in the armor he wore during the Mandalorian Wars. In front of him were standing other Jedi; they all had their backs towards her so she couldn't see their faces.
"Do not heed the words of the Jedi Council," Alek's image spoke, sending shivers down Meetra's spine. His voice was one of the voices she had heard when she was walking through the cave. But it was calm, as it always has been during their younger years. "The Republic will fall if we do not act now," he said, and Meetra has recognized the situation immediately. Alek was recruiting other Knights to join them on the battlefield. "Already, the Mandalorians have taken three systems along the Rim. They will only grow more powerful with time," he reasoned with the gathered Jedi. "Come stand with me. We will use our might to help the Republic in its time of need. Join Revan and I. Together, we will battle this menace," he said. It didn't escape Meetra's attention that he didn't mention her. After all, she also took part in recruiting others.
She noticed that one of the Jedi, who were gathered there, has stepped forward, standing behind Alek. The tall man smiled at that. "The Jedi Council is wise but will take too long to deal with this threat," he continued speaking, looking at the other Knights. "We must act now to stop the Mandalorians. I have heard of you," he said, looking at another Jedi. "Your masters speak well of you, of your skill in battle. Join us," he tempted him. Just as the woman before, the man Alek was looking at stepped forward.
"The Jedi Council is wise but can make mistakes," he said, looking at the remaining Knights. "History has proven this time and time again. The Council seems content to watch, to debate, while entire systems fall to the Mandalorians. If we don't act now, there may be no Republic army to assist in the future," he reasoned with them. Just as before, another Knight stepped forward, joining Alek and the two other Jedi. "It is within our power to end the war. And the Council chooses to debate behind closed doors while planets burned. Their vaunted wisdom breeds only inaction. And that will lead to destruction greater than anything born of the Dark Side," he said, causing the fourth Jedi to join him. Only one Knight remained, except for Meetra. She turned to her right to see who it was. Her face paled visibly, and her eyes widened in shock. It was Bastila.
"So if you could do it all again," Alek continued speaking, this time directing his words to Meetra. It took her a moment or two to realize that. "The real question is, would you? The Mandalorians wait on the edge of space, eager to crush the Republic. You know how this turns out. Would you do it any different?" he asked her. "Knowing what it costs you, knowing what it costs the rest."
"I wouldn't," Meetra replied without a single moment of hesitation. "We did the right thing. We have saved the Republic."
"So knowing all that would transpire, would you still follow Revan and I? Excellent," Alek said, smiling gently at her. That smile has sent shivers down Meetra's spine again.
Although her gaze was focused on the man in front of her, Meetra noticed with a corner of her eye that Bastila stepped forward, joining the other Jedi. That's when she realized that something was wrong.
"And now you are all alone," Alek said, though his voice wasn't as soft as it was previously. Meetra heard a metallic trace in that. She watched in surprise as Alek began changing in front of her. A metal prosthetic appeared on his face where his lower jaw used to be, and his armor became fiercely red. "Would you join me now? You didn't follow Revan and I down our path. Join us," he said, reaching out with his hand towards her. "Your journey hasn't ended yet."
"Bastila didn't join us," she countered, avoiding answering Alek's question.
"If the war was longer, she would have joined us," Alek countered. He was still reaching out his hand, waiting for Meetra's answer. "We would welcome her on the battlefield. It is a familiar path… there were those who wished to follow you to war, yet remained behind. They came to hate you for the choices they wished to make."
"I didn't follow you then, and I certainly won't now," Meetra replied confidently. Not after knowing what you have become, she added in her mind.
"Are you so certain?" Alek asked, scrutinizing her with his cold eyes. "Every step along the way, we did what we thought was right. Perhaps the same path lays before you. But the time of words is done," he said, igniting his lightsaber. It was red. "Now it is time you experienced the full power of the Dark Side," he finished. All other Jedi have ignited their lightsabers as well. They outnumbered her six to one.
Acting on her instincts, Meetra leaped backward, raising her rifle. It wasn't the same as carrying the lightsaber, but she had learned to use that long ago. With a precision worthy of a sniper, she quickly aimed at the Jedi that were advancing on her. She wasn't wasting time on second thoughts. She knew that they weren't real. She shot at each of her attackers. She was surprised when she found out that she has managed to defeat them so quickly. It was as if they've thought her to be defenseless. Each time she managed to hit the Jedi in front of her, they disappeared, becoming one with the mist that was present in the tomb. It didn't take her long to be alone again.
"It's not real," Meetra whispered to herself. She was breathing heavily, still trembling from shock. "They're not real," she repeated to herself. She tried to calm her breathing, and after a few minutes, she has succeeded. She slowly opened her eyes. There was no one in the tomb.
Meetra walked cautiously forward. The stone door in front of her slid aside when she approached it, allowing her to go further into the tomb. Her feet were producing a small echo with each step she took. The sound traveled across the corridors, and Meetra feared for a moment that it was so loud that she would most certainly awake whatever Sith Lord was lying in that tomb. But nothing happened. She passed through the corridors until she has found herself in another room. Just as before, this one was also filled with people. This time, though, everyone was wearing the Republic armor.
An old woman was the one who was closest to her. Meetra recognized her immediately as Captain Kriala Harste. She served under the Exile during the Dxun Campaign, and she died there.
"Comm says we've lost another heavy droid transport," the woman said to Meetra when she noticed her. "How can we break through the Mandalorian lines without support?" she asked. Her voice was soft but filled with fear. Other soldiers were waiting for her command, gripping their weapons uncertainly. "The path is mined, and the place is crawling with enemies," she informed Meetra. "I know we've got our orders to press forward, but we're at quarter strength. We can't, General. It's impossible. We need to retreat," she begged her, hoping that Meetra would understand. The Exile has quickly recognized that moment. It was one of the darkest days for the Republic during the Dxun Campaign. And for her.
"Don't do this," she replied, shaking her head. "I had no idea. Revan has ordered me to capture that outpost. It wasn't my fault!"
"General, it would be suicide to go forward," Kriala countered, apparently not hearing what Meetra has said. "There's just too few of us! We've already lost half the men just getting to the path. They've got the rest of the company pinned down by the crash site. You can't possibly ask the troops to go forward. If you ask us to charge, will it make a difference? Will our sacrifice mean something?" she asked desperately. Even though it was just an image, Meetra could clearly see the fear in the woman's eyes. She shook her head.
"Don't do this," she repeated quietly. "The war is long over; you don't have to go!"
"We… we will press forward," Captain Harste announced fearfully. "The path is mined. If you ask us to charge, there will be losses, General," she said. Just as before, she seemed not to understand what Meetra has said. She realized then that it was a different vision than the one with Alek. This time, it was her memory brought to life by the power of the tomb. One of the memories that she wished she had forgotten long ago.
Captain Harste gave her order, and she and her soldiers charged forward, running across a narrow bridge that was hanging above an abyss. Words of encouragement could be heard from the soldiers. They've soon blended into one chant – 'for the Republic!'. On the other side of the bridge, the Mandalorians were waiting, readying their weapons. The Republic soldiers crossed the bridge, but not everyone has made it to the other side.
Meetra couldn't remember how many mines have exploded that day when she ordered Captain Harste and her men to cross the narrow path through the jungle. She could only assume that the number was far greater than she could count. Just as it happened on Dxun, the Republic soldiers from her vision were blown away by the mines that were spread across the bridge. The stone structure, however, remained untouched.
"It is just a dream," she repeated to herself. "The war is over."
But the screams seemed too real to be just a dream. Meetra could only watch as the remaining Republic soldiers engaged the enemy, fighting against the Mandalorians with everything they had. Their opponents were waiting for it, taking pleasure in cutting down more and more of Meetra's troops. She closed her eyes and shielded her ears to block out the sounds that were coming from the other side of the bridge. They seemed too real to be just a dream. And if she didn't know that Captain Harste was long dead, she would have believed that it wasn't a vision.
After a few minutes, she dared to open her eyes. There was no sign of the Republic soldiers, Captain Harste, and the Mandalorians. Just as the Jedi in her previous vision, they've disappeared in the mist. She wanted to turn around and leave the tomb, but something was pressing her to go forward. Against her own instincts, she walked across the narrow bridge and walked further down into the tomb.
She left the room and walked through another corridor. After a few minutes, the corridor split, causing her to choose which path she should take. She was breathing heavily, trembling because of fear and cold. She turned left, heading towards another room. After a few seconds, Meetra has noticed a lonely figure standing inside. As she got closer, she could make out the details. Judging by the contour, it had to be a woman. She wasn't tall, but she wasn't small either. Her entire body was covered with a black robe, and a hood was hiding her head. Meetra gulped loudly. She made sure that her rifle was in a position that was easy for her to reach.
As she got closer, the lonely woman turned around, facing her. Meetra took a step back when she realized who it was, and yet, how different she looked than in the reality.
"You are to be commended for making it this far," she greeted the Exile.
"Kreia?" she asked in disbelief. "What are you doing here?" she queried, watching the woman in front of her carefully. Her entire robe was black, and what little skin she saw was deadly pale.
"You've revisited the dark moments of your past, and now you must face the present," she replied, still standing in the same spot.
"What do you mean?"
"Your confusion is natural. The others and I will help you understand."
"Get away from her!" a voice behind her back shouted before she could reply. Meetra turned around quickly, only to see Atton running in her direction. She couldn't stop the loud sigh of relief that escaped her mouth. She couldn't say how grateful she was that he had managed to find her. "She's a Dark Jedi!" he said, readying his own rifle.
"Atton?" Meetra asked, wanting to be sure that her senses weren't playing a trick on her. "Where is the handmaiden?" she queried, looking behind Atton's back to see if the young woman was with him.
"Atton, I've had enough of your snide contempt!" Kreia scolded him, igniting a lightsaber. Meetra's eyes widened when she noticed that it was red.
"Hey, what's the commotion here?" a different voice asked. Meetra turned to the direction where it came from and was surprised to see Bao-Dur walking from the depths of the tomb.
"Stay out of this, Bao-Dur!" Kreia ordered. "This is a personal dispute between Atton and myself."
"You're threatening Atton with a lightsaber, and I'm supposed to just stay out of it?" the Iridonian asked, readying his blaster. "No!" he declared firmly, reloading his rifle.
Meetra saw with a corner of her eye T3, who rolled into the room from the same direction she came from. He beeped loudly, approaching the group of three people that were standing in the middle of the room.
"The three of you would challenge me?" Kreia asked with a small chuckle. She shook her head. "You sorely underestimate the power of the Force!"
"Think again, Kreia," a young female voice spoke from behind Meetra's back. The Exile turned around and noticed that the handmaiden joined them as well. She was holding her staff in a combat position. "Your dark influence will end!"
"Your… friends are all arrayed against me," Kreia said, turning her head in Meetra's direction. It didn't escape her attention, how the old woman accented the word 'friends.' "Will you stand for this?" she asked her.
"You're just a vision," Meetra replied quietly, directing those words more to herself. "You're not real," she reasoned with herself.
"I will be honest with you," Kreia said, getting Meetra's attention. "I have fallen to the Dark Side," she revealed. "Am I not worthy of redemption?" she asked.
"This is not the real you," Meetra countered. "You're just a vision," she repeated.
"So you will do nothing?!" Kreia exclaimed in rage. "Apathy is death!" she scolded her. "Worse than death, because at least a rotting corpse feeds the beasts and insects!"
"Apathy is death," Atton said, repeating Kreia's words.
"Apathy is death," Bao-Dur replied, turning towards Meetra. T3 beeped loudly again.
"Apathy is death," the handmaiden said with her cold voice.
"Apathy is death!" Kreia repeated loudly.
Before Meetra could realize what was happening, the group of five of her companions charged at her with their weapons ready to be used. Before she could react, she was hit by the handmaiden with her staff. Even though she was sure that it was just a vision, the blow felt extremely real. Meetra stumbled backward, taken aback by the sudden hit. The strength of the blow forced the air out of her lungs.
Their companions weren't waiting for her to catch her breath, and they continued attacking her. Meetra fell to the ground after being hit by a blaster bolt that was fired by Bao-Dur. She was breathing heavily, not understanding what was going on. She backed away, using her arms to crawl until she hit the stone wall with her back.
She watched as Atton approached her, holding his blaster menacingly. Meetra looked at him pleadingly, not believing that even he would turn against her. He stopped around a meter away from her, looking her in the eye. Meetra watched, terrified, as he lifted his rifle, pointing it at her head. She gulped loudly as she heard him reload his weapon.
"Atton," she whispered quietly, looking him in the eyes. His face was a mask, devoid of a single emotion.
"Apathy is death," he repeated. As soon as he said those words, he pulled the trigger.
Okay, that's it for today; I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know in the comments what you thought about this chapter and the story so far. See you guys in the next chapter!