Showdown
- Jen Sahara / Ness Jonohl -
The Force was blistering; decalescent in its passion and its unmitigated acrimony for whoever dared oppose me. It flared a blinding white through my mind, my limbs, my blood. It was unstoppable.
I will do whatever is needed.
The rage was hot; so very, very hot; it burned away any rational or emotional thought other than itself. I had no visual awareness of my surroundings now, just an understanding that metallic walls encased me and that blips of life were nearby. Non-threatening, and not currently in my way.
Anything in my way I will overcome.
The core of the inferno was the flipside, though. Cold, icy cold thought; straddling ideas and connections, formulating strategies for my end-goal: Bastila. The Headmaster might be a problem if I encountered him simultaneously with the ex-Jedi bitch, but he could be distracted if I manipulated his apprentice. There, there - that was my first objective. Find the apprentice and convert her into an ally.
An ally can help, provided it is not a weakness.
And the blips of life on this freighter were weaknesses, distractions.
There was shouting, there was howling, there was confusion around me, but it was unimportant and I blocked it out as I turned and strode away. I could do this on my own, and I would. My way.
"Jen!" A young girl's voice in front of me. She had large brown eyes. The eyes were staring at me in appeal.
"Get out of my way," the words shot out, low and cold and deep, in a voice that was not my own. My heart was pounding an incessant angry beat: Find Bastila, find Bastila, find Bastila. And to hold onto this rage-fuelled power, I needed to be independent of emotional connections. I couldn't afford any fault-lines that my enemies might exploit.
I must act, now, and leave these handicaps behind.
A crescendo of air currents picked up, centred around me, lifting loose objects into the air. My rage began to transform into sheer, uninhibited power.
And it would stay with me as long as the passion rode in my veins.
"Jen, calm down, please!" the girl begged. "We have to do this together!"
My arms shot out and firmly shoved the blue Twi'lek to the side, hard enough that she staggered back, falling over. Real violence wasn't necessary yet - unless she held me back again.
"Jen, not this way, not this way!" Another voice, and a heavy hand fell on my shoulder from behind. "You leave us like this and you'll lose yourself! Zaalbar won't stop howling, he needs you! Belaya's panicking. And I- I need you too, Jen. Don't go – not this way. Not this way."
This is the way. The only way powerful enough to achieve my objective.
But there was a crack there, now, in the fire-encased ice; a threat to the immeasurable energy that was coalesced around me, waiting for my command.
"Let me go," I hissed to the person behind me. I couldn't listen to him. If I did, my strength would fade, would slip from my grasp, and I would be weaker, unable to do what needed to be done.
Displace him. If he won't move, make him.
"No. No, I won't." His voice was low enough to be a whisper, but there was steel in it too. "I'll protect you from yourself if I have to."
"Jen, you came back to us after Manaan." It was the kid again, standing in front of me somehow. Her wide eyes were vulnerable and hopeful and believed in me when they really shouldn't. The man's hand on my shoulder was an anchor of warmth – not blistering fury-filled power – but gentle warmth that was sinking deep through the tornado of black energy I held with my will alone. The kid blinked, and her light brown eyes glistened and tugged at me. "Don't go away again, Jen. Please."
This is the only way!
"You won't win if you fall, Jen," the man said in my ear.
A violent shudder shook me, deep to my bones. You won't win if you fall. There was a horrifying truth there that my soul understood. The twisting tornado of power that was attracted to my will and my desire convulsed once and then fractured. It collapsed and imploded inward before vanishing.
The Force plunged from my grasp.
I gasped as all emotion retreated, leaving only the numbness from before. It froze my muscles and thoughts collectively. I gasped again, shivering, and suddenly I was spun around, and there were firm arms tight around me, my face pressed against a wall of warm, cloth-covered muscle.
"Shhh, shhh," Carth was murmuring, and gradually rational thought returned, creeping through my anaesthetized thoughts. Bastila, oh no, Bastila. I'd lost it. I'd completely lost it, just there, just like I had on Rii'shn, just like Tatooine. The unyielding and almighty power of Darth Revan's rage had comprehensively swept me aside. If it hadn't been for Carth and Mission, there would have been no turning back. I did not think Revan would have left this time. I shuddered again, and Carth's arms tightened around me, anchoring me to the present.
There was pure terror, there, deep in my mind, at just how easily she could assume command of me when the chips were down. I wasn't a match for her. Jen Sahara had held her at bay for much longer than Ness Jonohl had ever managed to.
Was Jen Sahara actually a stronger identity than Ness Jonohl? Was that why she was in my head?
But… why was Revan?
Bastila knew, but now she was captured. Bastila. No. No…
My brain slowly started processing again, and the sounds of Zaalbar howling in confused despair filtered through to me. I tensed, blinking against Carth's chest, understanding that it wasn't just me in an unhinged state.
"Are you… are you okay, Jen?" Carth spoke into my hair.
"No." The word was torn out of me, unbidden and broken.
"Your expression," he murmured, so quiet I could barely hear. "I've seen that look before, on Taris, before… before I understood… the Dark Side, I'm only really beginning to comprehend what you have to face, now..."
I felt safe, warm, secure; and it was more difficult to pull out of his embrace than it should have been. "I'll do," I muttered, stepping back, grasping at some semblance of control that I wasn't even sure I had. His arms dropped, and I made sure to evade his gaze that I knew was searching my face for any iota of anger.
I saw, then, that I was next to the exit hatch of the 'Hawk. I didn't even remember walking there, just a red-haze of furious power surrounding an ice-cold determination, that cared for nothing except retrieving Bastila, at any cost, to anyone.
At any cost.
I took a large gulp of air, and fumbled for the calm that should have been easier to reach.
Behind Carth, I saw Canderous and HK further down the corridor. They both had blasters raised, tracking on us. HK's, I presumed, were pointed at Carth in the case of a threat to his master. My lips twisted as my stomach turned. That droid… I'd have to do something about him.
But he'd saved my life just one hour ago.
My eyes flicked to Canderous. His expression was inscrutable, although the side of his mouth twitched as he caught my gaze.
"I set it to stun," he answered my unspoken question, lowering his heavy repeater before slinging it over his shoulder. Ah, yes, Canderous, but who were you aiming at? Perhaps I didn't need to know.
"Zaalbar," I muttered to myself, striding past them all a little shakily and back into the belly of the 'Hawk. Zaalbar was still howling, having collapsed to the ground, clutching his head. His fingers were pulling tight against his fur. Kylah screwed his mind somehow. Mission had a hand on his shoulder – she'd run back here then – but she looked up as I approached. Her eyes shone with hope at my appearance, but there was a guardedness there that'd been missing earlier. I'd scared her.
My gaze slipped to the side, and I saw Belaya pressed tight against the kitchenette wall. If I'd scared Mission, then I'd absolutely petrified the Jedi with that show of Dark Side power.
"Who are you?" Belaya mouthed, her words silent and unspoken. Her eyes were stretched wide in fright. I grimaced, and realized that even the non-Force sensitives would have felt something back then. The coppery tang of blood invaded my mouth, and I became aware I was biting the inside of my cheek in a frantic struggle for control.
I need Bastila. That's why I came back from Rii'shn. To stop Darth Revan returning. But Bastila's captured. And I can't… I can't become Darth Revan - not even to save Bastila.
For would Darth Revan care about Bastila, other than to see her as a tool or a weakness? Had Darth Revan cared about anyone?
I swallowed convulsively, and felt the presence of the others follow me in to the common room. One thing at a time. Focus on one goal at a time. My conviction firmed, pushing aside the concerns and doubts that weighed me down. Zaalbar, first.
"Zaalbar," I said as I approached, kneeling next to the Wookiee. He was whimpering now, head bowed, and paws still clawing at his hair. I didn't know the power required to undo this damage, I could only think of a dubious path that may help. I pulled a little on the Force, feeling the anger still burning-
-the power is here, I know what I have to do, how else can I get Bastila back?-
-and gently interleaved it with my next words. "Zaalbar, calm down. Calm down, and tell us what happened. Your mind is your own." I could hear the heaviness in my words - the mind trick I'd struggled with back on the desert planet was second-nature, now. Zaalbar stilled, his arms dropped, and he looked up.
"(Jen Sahara,)" he moaned, and I had never heard him so anguished. "(I have failed you utterly. I am weak of mind, and handed your bond-sister over to the arms of your enemy. I have disgraced myself in the worst imaginable way. Please, I beg of you, allow me to take my life in shame.)" His eyes were deep black pools of despair.
"Zaalbar, I need you," I entreated. "Mission needs you. We need to get Bastila back."
A noise escaped him; half-howl, half-whine. "(I betrayed you, Jen Sahara.)" His voice was hoarse with pain.
"No," I whispered back. "Or at least not by choice. Your redemption can come in the form of aid. I need you strong, Zaalbar, not wallowing in self-pity."
He dropped his head into his paws, but not before giving a shaky nod. He didn't appear to have the heart to say anything further, so I stood, slowly, turning to face the rest of the crew. They were all staring at me with varying degrees of wariness or concern.
"Bastila's been taken by Kylah Aramai hours ago," I said to the silent common room. "Bastila must have been drugged into unconsciousness, which is why I never realized…" My eyes closed briefly. Should I have realized? Was I, in part, to blame? The obscurity of the bond had been unsettling… but she hadn't fully recovered since Manaan. Not the time for recriminations, idiot. That can come later! I snapped open my eyes. "She's got a neural disruptor around her neck. I felt it, just now, just like on Taris. Bastila is completely powerless, and Kylah's taken her to the Academy."
The reactions around the room differed. HK-47 stared at me intently through his red electronic gaze, awaiting my next order. Canderous pulled at his gun, checking the thermal warming light and who knew what else. He spent more time modifying his weapons than sleeping, some days. Mission was still at Zaalbar's side, her eyes darting between us both, wide and solemn and a bit scared. Carth… I had trouble reading him, and I knew he'd be thinking about his son, but his attention was zeroed in on me. He looked a little relieved, a little wary, maybe.
Belaya was still pale, but there was more than just fright lurking in her light blue eyes. "What do you mean, you felt it?" she demanded.
I stared at her for a moment in silence, wondering about Belaya's strength. She had to still be in pain with those ribs. "Bastila and I share a Force-bond," I explained. "But she suffered a great psychic injury recently, which is why I didn't realize earlier… I should have known something was up… I…" Dammit, Ness, get a hold of yourself!
"(Jen Sahara, you cannot blame yourself in any part for this!)" Zaalbar howled suddenly. "(No, I will not allow you to! This was my doing, my blame, my gross misconduct!)"
"Zaalbar," I sighed, looking back over to him. "Kylah screwed you with the Force. How the frell were you meant to stop her?"
"Bitching back and forth about blame helps no one," Canderous snapped. "So quit whining, and let's work out how we're gonna save the princess!"
I gave him a sharp nod, and closed my eyes. My thoughts raced as I thought about the possibilities. Screw Darth Revan. I can do this, with my allies, and we'll sodding well make it work. We have to make it work. "The Star Map," I muttered, opening my eyes again. I looked over to Carth. "That's the single most important thing here. It's time the break the radio blackout. Carth, can you send the coordinates? This might be the last Map left, if the Republic is lucky. We need to get a copy of the data off-world before we storm the Academy in a fight we may not win."
"I don't know Bastila's contacts," Carth replied, his eyes so dark they were almost black. "But I can transfer them straight to Admiral Dodonna. They'll get through to the Jedi from there."
"Do it," I ordered, before turning to the Mandalorian. "Canderous, Mission, you're staying behind. Canderous-"
"What?" the Mandalorian snapped, and he was furious. I raised my hand, forestalling him, and was almost surprised when he subsided.
"The Ebon Hawk must be ready to take off in case we come back running, or don't come back at all. You can pilot. Carth needs to come with me – he might be the only one Dustil will listen to."
Carth had pulled me back from the abyss before, him and Mission both. Maybe I needed him, too.
Canderous grunted, and the frustration on his face abruptly vanished. He swung his heavy gaze on Carth. "Family… clan. There is nothing more important than that. Very well, Jen, I'll concede Republic deserves that chance." He nodded, once, and Carth nodded back in silence.
"Zaalbar," I turned to the Wookiee, and he raised his scruffy head slowly. The look in his eyes could only be described as tortured. "Mission will stay behind, safe on the 'Hawk. Help me get Bastila back." And as the Wookiee clambered to his feet, I saw the anger begin to manifest on his face. Unworldly anger at what Kylah had made him do. It was more effective than despair.
"(I will retrieve your bond-sister or die in the attempt, Jen Sahara.)"
"Big Z-" The Twi'lek's voice wavered, and Zaalbar placed a gentle paw on her shoulder.
"(Mission. You will stay behind.)"
"Listen this time, Mission," I ordered, and her wide eyes turned to mine. "Your safety on this ship might be all that holds Zaalbar together." I saw the Twi'lek swallow once before nodding.
My gaze finally turned to Belaya. She was staring at me solidly, a composed mask hiding the ever-present fear. "I will come," she said quietly. "I came to Korriban to save Juhani, and the bitter irony is that I may have endangered her instead. I will come, and fight at your side to find her."
I sent her a nod. "Get some more kolto and stims from the medbay, Belaya. And get some armour from Zaalbar if you're so inclined."
I turned back to Carth. "Send the Star Map data, Carth. We'll get kitted up, and then-" I breathed in deeply. "Then, we're off to find Yuthura Ban."
xXx
Even in the dead of night, Dreshdae was still bustling with mercenaries and Czerka staff alike. The cantina, however, was mostly empty other than a Mandalorian I didn't recognize skulking in the corner. The stark, rectangular room held no evidence of a Twi'lek Dark Jedi master, but my Force senses were aware of her. And just below the surface, my rage still hummed-
-give into it, this is the stronger way, if I want Bastila back-
-like the heat of embers, banked for now, but ready to catch again at the slightest chance. The steady presence of Carth behind grounded me, and the furious anguish of Zaalbar kept me together. He deserved a chance to redeem himself, and I couldn't give him that if I fell.
Ness Jonohl had never fallen, but Revan certainly had. Though curse her to the Outer Rim and back if I was going to let the rage consume me again. I will not let Revan win. I will not!
There must be a way to succeed without becoming her, and I had to find it.
Behind the bar, to the right, was a blank wall. Beyond that I could feel the dark Force corruption of a Master. I strode over to the wall, my hand raised.
"Hey! You can't go there!" the bartender protested as the Force swept out from my hand and pushed instinctively at the plasteel wall. The hidden door I knew had to be there swung inward, and I walked forward. The clanking noise of HK followed me, along with the steps of the others.
The room ahead was small and windowless, lit by hanging amber lights that radiated over Yuthura and Mekel. A small table graced the centre of the room, and further ahead was a shadowy alcove that likely led to sleeping quarters. They'd shot to their feet, angry surprise evident on Mekel's face as he brandished an activated lightsaber.
Yuthura was composed; her only sign of displeasure her pursed red lips.
"Ness Jonohl," she said silkily, motioning Mekel to lower his 'saber. Her violet eyes trailed behind me. "I understand you have been gallivanting in the shyrack caves."
Perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised she knew that. No doubt, Yuthura had eyes placed everywhere in Dreshdae.
I inclined my head. "I'd hoped to bring you another present, Yuthura, but Thalia May was a bit too keen on jumping on the next transport. For some reason, Korriban isn't really her scene anymore."
"What the actual frakk-"
"Mekel," Yuthura hissed, and he subsided, thwarted for now. His blue eyes flashed angrily at me, but I wondered if there'd been a glint of concern in them as well. It felt that way, through the Force. Mekel's emotions were easy for me to sense; anger, worry, concern - all blended together. Thalia really was one of their group. Yuthura's gaze had narrowed in obvious dislike. "Is this your idea of a joke, Initiate?"
"Check the Dreshdae holo-cams," I said coldly. "Thalia survived, but her companions did not."
Her face twisted as a mass of emotions travelled through her expression before it was swept clean. I was pretty sure relief had been one of them. Disbelief featured heavily too. "I believe I told you to kill her should you find her, Initiate."
"Yes, but one, you didn't think she could still be alive, and two, we both know I'm not an Initiate. Besides, stop trying to pretend like you don't care about your apprentices."
Yuthura paused, her lips pursing again. Her violet gaze returned to appraise the others behind me. "So. Another Force-sensitive, a soldier, a Wookiee and a heavily armoured droid. You have some interesting companions, Ness Jonohl."
I crossed my arms. "Kylah. Let's talk about Kylah."
"Excuse me?" she snapped. There was anger there, and recognition of some sort. Mekel was frowning behind her in confusion.
"Kylah," I bit out. "Where is she?"
"You seem to be under the impression that you can order me around, Ness Jonohl," she murmured, and her hand dropped to the metal cylinder at her waist. "Perhaps you should remember exactly whom you are speaking to."
"I saved the lives of two of your apprentices!" I yelled, and now the rage was back, simmering, boiling, and threatening to overflow-
"Jen," Carth said in warning. I felt my fists clenching, and breathed in deep. Yuthura's eyes tightened as her hand wrapped around her lightsaber. She was wary, now. And I was close to screwing this up.
Channel Bastila. There is no emotion, there is peace. And Yuthura can be an ally. Darth Revan knew that, but so did Ness Jonohl.
"You want to overthrow Uthar," I said, my voice tight with barely repressed emotion. "Uln's head might sway some of the Initiates, but it's not going to work on his Adepts. I can neutralize Dak and Dustil."
Mekel's face twisted. His anger flared in the Force at the mention of his old friend's name. Yuthura stayed blank, cold. "You are proposing an alliance, Ness Jonohl?"
"I want Kylah," I bit out. "I need to find her, and I'm going to the Academy now to do so. I do not want to be distracted by Uthar Wynn."
"Distracted…" Mekel muttered in disbelief, and Yuthura's hand swatted him lightly on the head. He scowled.
"Kylah Aramai is at the Academy?" she questioned, and I knew, then, that Yuthura had no idea of Kylah's plans or prisoner. I relaxed, ever so slightly.
"Yes," I hissed. "What do you say, Yuthura? Shall we go storm the Academy?"
"Let us be completely honest with each other, Ness Jonohl," Yuthura returned. Her gaze was sharp on mine, but her hand had dropped away from her leather-clad waist. Mekel edged closer to her. "I will be the next Headmaster of this Academy. I do not believe you would make a particularly subordinate apprentice."
Despite myself, despite the cursed situation, a chuckle escaped my lips. "I don't want to like you, Yuthura Ban, but it seems I can't help myself. You are quite amusing."
Her lips curved as she recognized her own words, parroted back to her. "What is your endgame, Ness Jonohl?"
"Kylah," I said flatly. "After that, I'm leaving this frell-hole with Staria. And Dustil. And maybe even Dak, we haven't quite decided on that one." I wasn't going to mention Kel, not yet. He was one of hers.
Yuthura subsided into silence, her attention still fixed on me. Mekel, at her side, leaned in close, his angry blue eyes landing on everyone in the room in turn. He really was loyal, I understood, to those he'd pledged himself to.
"Do you have a plan, Ness Jonohl, other than to rush in, lightsabers flashing?" Yuthura quirked an eyebrow, almost mockingly, and I found my gaze wandering over her scantily clad form. She used sexuality as both a tool and a distraction, I realized. The tattoos on her head-tails were interesting. Not many Twi'leks would willingly go through the pain of marking the most sensitive part of their body for decoration. I wondered if she did it to prove something.
"I'll take out Kylah Aramai," I said finally. "You focus on Uthar Wynn, and turning any Initiates you can. Mekel can aim for Lashowe. Staria's inside somewhere and might be able to assist, and I've already told you that Dak and Dustil won't be a problem. That just leaves whatever soldiers and Initiates side with Uthar - and if we're quick with our assault then the rest of my crew should be able to hold off whatever forces Uthar can rally."
Her luminescent eyes narrowed as she lapsed into silence.
"This is your chance, Yuthura," I prompted. "Uthar will know something's up, by now. You're not going to get a better shot than this."
She folded her arms, but I saw the resolution settle on her face. "Very well. If now is the time, then so shall it be," she murmured. "You can lead the way, Ness Jonohl."
Yuthura wanted to see my back, to have the advantage of retreat, if need be. But her prize was Uthar's position; so for now, I could trust her at my rear. I didn't think I had any other choice.
My gaze zeroed in on Mekel. He was handsome and young and didn't like me, but we had unfinished business.
"Mekel," I said. "Tell me what happened to Selene."
I saw Yuthura blink in the periphery of my vision, but it was Mekel's expression I focused on. His expressive face twisted once more, and on the Force ebbed a wave of grief. Selene had meant something to him, to him and Dustil both.
His eyes pinched and he glared at me. "None of your frakking business-"
"I'm making it my business," I snapped. "Dustil thinks you killed her. Did you?"
I heard an intake of breath behind me as Carth shifted position. Mekel's mouth dropped open, and a flush mottled his pale face, a splash of colour against the jet-black of his hair.
But it was Yuthura who spoke.
"I know not what your game is with Uthar's pet, but Selene's death lays at the feet of his Master."
"What?" Mekel snapped, jerking to face Yuthura. "What do you mean, Master? How- why didn't you tell me?"
Her gaze slid to her angry apprentice. "I have no proof, Mekel, only my knowledge of my Master. But Selene was planning to run, even I knew as much. And she would have taken you with her I suspect."
My senses were cinched tight on the Force, and there was outrage burning hotly from Mekel now. It was surprising how keenly I could feel his emotions. They almost seemed to blur into my own. Maybe he was one of those people who left themselves intrinsically open to the Force.
"Yuthura, I-"
"Later, please," she murmured, and her hand entwined with his briefly. She looked back at me and her gaze hardened. "Selene was a risk to both Mekel's and Dustil's training. Uthar always had an uncanny interest in Dustil, and I would lay credits on him manipulating events to cast the blame for Selene's death on Mekel."
Mekel was shaking his head. "Dustil's always blamed me for Selene, but I thought she'd just taken off, like she said-"
"I do not believe so, Mekel," Yuthura said, and her voice was quiet. Her hand raised to touch him once more, light and quick. "Come, we must focus on current events."
It wasn't quite the proof I'd been after, but maybe it would suffice. I took in a deep lungful of air and turned around. Zaalbar, Belaya and HK were flanking the exit, with Carth two steps in front of them. I stepped to face him, meeting his concerned gaze head-on as I readied myself to confront the Academy.
"I won't fall, Carth," I whispered, soft enough that I could at least pretend no one else would hear. "The neural disruptor on Bastila – it caught me off-guard – I… I won't fall. Not again."
"I know." He smiled crookedly, even if it didn't dissipate the unease on his face.
xXx
The ominous ferracrystal doors creaked open as Belaya and I approached. She hadn't said a word since we'd departed the freighter, quiet and resolute in her determination to find Juhani. Wearing a thin chromex suit Zaalbar had found for her, and clasping my off-hand saber, Belaya looked ready to fight the world for her friend. The confusion and shock of everything must have been debilitating to her psyche, but somehow, Belaya had composed herself admirably.
Bastila. Juhani. They had to be inside. I didn't know how much longer I could keep it all together, keep sweeping my allies forward in a shaky leadership that was being thwarted at all turns. But if Yuthura could engage Uthar, then I'd be free to track down Kylah Aramai.
My lips twisted as I fought back the desire to rip the skin from her body, inch by inch.
The extensive ceremonial hall loomed beyond the Academy's doors, and I could see several figures standing to attention in the centre. Uthar Wynn, in the middle, flanked by that blonde-haired Lashowe. A line of soldiers circled them, blasters at the ready. A half-dozen Initiates. No sign of Kylah.
I stepped forward, clearing the threshold, Belaya at my side. HK, Zaalbar and Carth at my back.
The doors slammed shut with a resounding thud, and I spun in alarm. Yuthura and Mekel were still outside. Sithspit!
"Uthar Wynn," I hissed, turning back, lightsaber in my grasp. "Your apprentice wishes to speak with you."
Yuthura had control over those damn doors, she did, unless Uthar had changed something...
The Force swirled a darkness around him and he chuckled. "My apprentice can wait. I believe I have caught you going to Dreshdae again, Ness Jonohl." His occluded gaze veered sideways to land on Belaya. "And you have found a friend of mine."
"Where is Juhani?" Belaya demanded, and a beam of red flared to life in her hands. In my own grasp, Karon's lightsaber emitted a blinding cyan that sparked against the looming statues gracing the circular room. The Force thrummed a calming power through the 'saber.
"Where is Kylah Aramai?" I demanded. The Force was building now, around me, around Uthar, escalating in a torrent of power that brushed against us all. Lashowe's 'saber hissed as it activated, and there was a shuffling as the dozen or so soldiers firmed their collective grasps on their weapons. Six other 'sabers flared behind them as the Initiates flocked to Uthar's back. Initiates, I had hoped, that might have been swayed or at least confused by a challenge from Yuthura Ban.
"(Where is Bastila Shan?)" Zaalbar roared; a wild, unyielding bellow that echoed throughout the cavern. One uniformed soldier snapped, opening fire, and Uthar's arm reached to blast a wave of Force against us all-
…
-the gritty sounds of warfare were all encompassing, but I had to keep the shield up, to aid our advance. Stretched so far around so many, it took all the effort I could muster, repelling the blaster shots and grenades-
…
A thick, solid Force shield sprung up from my will, deflecting the barrage of bolts back through the cavern. I saw at least two soldiers collapse from deflecting fire, and Uthar's clouded gaze widened in surprise. I grunted, my hand held high, as my power overwhelmed his and batted it away.
Not far from here, there was another growing crescendo of power, and it bore the taste of bitter grief and manifesting rage. I recognized it all too well. It felt the same as when I'd first met Juhani, in the hot dunes of Tatooine.
"Juhani!" Belaya gasped, picking up on it too. She sprinted past me, off to the side.
"HK, Zaalbar, protect Belaya!" I ordered, as I saw Lashowe dart sideways to intercept the injured human. At least three Initiates broke away, following the Sith Adept. Zaalbar snarled, flinging aside a soldier in his way. My shield dropped, and HK opened fire, his repeating blaster gutting into the line of soldiers moving to flank the Wookiee.
Karon's 'saber spun in my grasp, parrying lasers back into the crowd, Carth returning fire from my side. Further ahead, Zaalbar snarled in pain as an Initiate dug a lightsaber deep into his flank. The Force shot out from my hand, pummelling a wave of compressed air into the crowd, toppling over the soldiers like dejarik pieces conceding defeat.
"Sith!" Uthar hollered, and his Force-enhanced voice echoed throughout the Academy. "To me, to your Master! Kill the intruders!"
Lightning crackled from an exit as Lashowe sprinted after Belaya; I had a brief glimpse of Zaalbar bodily picking up an Initiate and smashing him into the rock before disappearing after them. HK had already gone.
Force skewered agonizingly into my mind, and I screamed, muscles clenching in protest as Uthar launched a blistering mental attack at my psyche. No finesse, no end-goal in sight, just a violent ripping of the aural patterns within my head.
-counter-attack, succumb to the dark, mine is stronger than his-
No, no, no, not even for this, I'd lose myself again-
-I'll lose myself in every way if I don't!-
There were other ways; shields, diversion, brute mental strength; but the cerebral tearing was so afflicting I couldn't think straight, and it was dredging up an awful echo of darkness that simmered just below my consciousness-
"You dare to walk into my Academy and challenge me?" Uthar roared, and I took that moment to fling a Force shield over my mind, and he attacked again-
My defences shattered under his onslaught, and his psychic attack uprooted a chasm of malevolence that seemed to be at the very foundation of my being. He dragged it to the forefront and it clouded everything.
It was a netherworld of swirling obscurity, a tenebrous arctic where all emotion was frozen solid, boreal and bitter in its unyielding coldness. There was yawning depth of grief beneath it all, ancient and never-ending, a despair so encompassing that it felt like it could cover the entirety of the galaxy.
And around the edges of it all licked the burning flames of rage, wildly feral in its destructive fury.
I vaguely sensed Uthar floundering, staggering back, caught off-guard by the sickening miasma of pure Dark Side.
No! Not this way! I will not!
But there were connections there, thin and fragile and golden, and the brighter ones held echoes of recent importance.
A friend's faith. Even if we have failed before, there is still hope to do better.
A girl's plea. Don't go away again, Jen. Please.
A bond-sister's trust. Do not surrender to your rage! You are stronger than this!
A man's truth. You won't win if you fall.
With a fortitude I didn't realize was within me, I heaved Uthar's power away, hurled it out of my mind, and the Force coalesced around me in a tight shield of pure will.
Uthar's eyes were wide with shock. "You are… darker than I thought, Ness Jonohl."
I didn't give him the joy of an answer, instead I raised my 'saber and charged.
Uthar launched another mental probe, but it skittered off my shield, and he dragged his lightsaber up just in time to meet mine. Cyan sparked against red, and I heaved against him until he stumbled backwards. I lunged forward, aiming for an exposed limb, but Uthar blocked in time, and our lightsabers crashed together again and again in a furious dance of might and will.
My mind sharpened, looking for an opening, even as I was uncomfortably aware that one lone 'saber was not my preferred weapon's choice. Uthar was cautious in his swordplay, his defense tight and unyielding, blocking rather than launching an offensive.
And then, the Force whispered a split-seconds warning before lightning spat from his hand-
I directed it towards me, channelled the electrical energy into a tight, closed, sparking ball, and parried it viciously off my lightsaber. With a loud crack, the sphere shot back and landed directly in Uthar's chest. He howled, stumbling backwards, and I closed the distance between us in three furious strides.
An overhead swing caught him to the side of his torso as the lightning dissipated; his lightsaber blocked but not before mine had scored a hit. With a rabid snarl, Uthar unleashed another mental thrust that staggered me backwards. I grunted, pulled in the Force tight to throw it off, and saw then that Uthar had retreated some metres back.
With one hand pressed on his side, I could see blood seeping through his fingers. It wasn't a mortal injury, his robes were likely cortosis-weaved and had offered some resistance to my strike. But I'd wounded him, and he was angry.
"Where is Kylah Aramai?" I hissed. As I said it, I kept my focus on him, on his face, on the emotions. He knew Kylah, had some awareness of her presence, but overall - through his fury at me - the strongest thing I could pick up on was puzzlement.
"Dustil," Uthar grunted, his bloodied off-hand motioning behind him. There was a dead patch of Force my senses hadn't noticed until now and my eyes narrowed. Everywhere else in the cavern sprawled the bodies of Sith soldiers, and I had no idea how most of them had been downed. Force waves. Force deflection. Pure, deathly Force power. Non-Force users were chaff in a fight like this. "Come to my side, and help me finish this interloper."
Carth. My senses pulled back behind me. I could sense him on the ground, breathing steadily. He was downed, but not out. I'd not had the concentration to spare on him earlier, and worried over his state. I stepped back a pace, lightsaber raised as an instinctive guard, and immediately damned my overt action as Uthar's milky-white gaze slid past me. He smirked.
"One of your crew, Ness Jonohl? Did you really think it wise to bring non-Force users in here?" He chuckled, and his posture straightened with arrogance. I'd hurt him, but his confidence returned as he sensed a weakness of mine. "Dustil, you end this scow's soldier while I take her out."
I laughed, low and mocking. "Good call, Uthar. Let's see what Dustil has to say about that, shall we?"
"What?" Uthar snapped, his conceit fading into angry confusion. He turned his head to face his invisible Adept. Dustil's weaves dropped, and the young man looked between us both, furious and uncertain.
"I told you to leave Korriban!" Dustil yelled at me.
"And I told you that wasn't an option!" I hollered back. "It was always going to come down to this choice, Dustil, and you damn well know it!"
"What is going on?" Uthar barked. The skin hung on his face, and the pallid patches that weren't inked with black began to flush a mottled crimson. "Dustil, explain this at once!"
"Oh shut up, Uthar, it's not all about you," I flared angrily as my gaze slid back to the twisted Headmaster. He looked so far beyond outraged it would have been comical in another circumstance. "Or maybe… maybe it actually is. After all, I'm sure Dustil would appreciate hearing exactly how you killed Selene."
There was a flicker of recognition in those clouded, corrupted eyes, and Uthar's face went slack for a brief instant. But the fury returned like a heat-wave. "You lying schutta!" he bellowed. "Who do you think you are, entering my Academy and throwing these falsehoods about?"
"I am Ness Jonohl," I returned in a low voice. "And I am a Jedi Knight!"
Uthar snorted, and it grew into a scornful laugh of disbelief. "I've seen your mind, Ness Jonohl," he sneered. "A Jedi Knight you most assuredly are not."
"Like I'd believe any kath crap that spews from your mouth, Uthar Wynn," I spat back. "You killed Selene and cast the blame on Mekel, all to drive Dustil away from anyone he cared about."
"Master Uthar," Dustil whispered in confusion, his gaze jumping between the two of us. There was growing anger and frustration there, and I wasn't sure how long the younger Onasi would stay in control of himself. His hand was shaking on his lightsaber.
"Search your feelings, Dustil," Uthar said through clenched teeth, but his attention remained fixed on me. His eyes had narrowed to slits of milky white. "You know Mekel loved Selene and was jealous of your involvement with her."
I snorted. "Mekel is a foul-tongued little creep, but his one redeeming quality is loyalty. He would not have betrayed you." I looked over to the young Onasi, and stared straight into his brown eyes, willing him to believe the truth. "Dustil, if you truly thought Mekel had, you would have killed him by now."
"Dustil," the groan came from behind us, and I stiffened, raising my lightsaber warily. Dustil paled, his expression aghast as he stared behind me. "I failed you as a father. Give me another chance. Please…"
There was a second of dead silence in the room, and Uthar's mouth dropped open as he processed this new information.
"This… this is your father?" Uthar gasped. His eyes widened. "Dustil! Now is the chance to claim your destiny! Kill the soldier, and prove yourself worthy to be my first apprentice!"
"Or, you know, don't," I retorted. "Instead, how about stepping back from the bastard who murdered your girlfriend and implicated your best friend?"
Uthar snarled, and launched a ball of lightning that hit me square in the chest. Static sheared through me, ripping pain across my skin and tearing into nerve endings, flushing out the rage yet again. But a cornerstone of my mind held firm, tamped the unworldly fury back under control, and thrust the crackling energy back at its creator.
Uthar flung it aside like a loth-cat batting a dust-ball. "Dustil," he seethed. "For the last time, kill the soldier!"
I grasped the Force tight, wrapping it around Uthar's ankles and yanking, like a lasso – but somehow he blocked it and the weaves unravelled against his limbs. Dustil looked once more toward Carth in desperation, and then his face firmed.
He raised his lightsaber, and turned to face Uthar Wynn.
"Oh no you don't!" Uthar snarled, and his off-hand flung out in a wide motion, sweeping the boy off his feet and sailing him into the air past me. As Dustil crunched into the wall behind, I charged Uthar with a wild overhead lunge.
Uthar parried, and lightning spat from him once more. My muscles spasmed, and Karon's 'saber slipped from my grasp before I contained myself enough to throw off his attack. Another mental intrusion staggered me to the floor, hands out-stretched as I fell, pushing myself onto my back near where my weapon had dropped.
My focus was fraying; I once more kicked Uthar out of my mind and slammed my shields up, but my strength in the Force was fading under numerous attacks. Stunned, I reached for my dropped 'saber, but it was too late – Uthar was bearing down, a bloody beam of red poised toward my chest-
I twisted sideways just as the sound of blaster bolts hit my ears, and Uthar grunted, a cut-off sound of pain, as he collapsed in a heap just where I'd been.
I looked behind wildly to see Carth with an upraised blaster. My hand shot up, Karon's 'saber thudded to my grasp, and I lunged forward, driving the beam deep through Uthar's warm body.
He twitched once. Thick gouts of blood pulsed from the cauterized hole when I switched the lightsaber off.
I was still on my knees, gasping, staring at Uthar's corpse. His opaque eyes were gazing up at the cavernous ceiling, darkening slowly to a natural brown.
The air rushed out of my lungs in a sigh, and I looked back to see Carth. He stared at me, intent and unblinking.
"I think you saved my life there, flyboy," I muttered hoarsely, dragging myself forward to collapse next to him. "I think you got the killing blow."
He had one hand resting on Dustil's head who was prone next to him. I could sense the boy still in the Force, strongly enough that I wasn't overly concerned. I didn't feel like I had the energy to be, anyway. Hopefully, Dustil had only received a knock to the head.
A sound reverberated from Carth's chest that might have been a chuckle under other circumstances. "Who's counting these days, Jen?"
I felt my lips twitch, but it was less than half-hearted. "Are you okay?"
"Nothing major," he replied. "When my energy shield dropped I took a hit to the legs, and my armour's pretty fried. There's life in me yet. Yourself?"
I leaned back against the wall, the Force retreating in mingled exhaustion and despair. I felt absolutely bone-weary, and still, we hadn't resolved the most important question of all. "I haven't sensed Kylah anywhere," I mumbled. My eyes pinched closed in despair.
Carth sighed. "A moment to breathe, and then we can regroup," he said softly. "Bastila will be in this place somewhere. We'll find her."
"Uthar didn't… I'm not sure he knew anything about Kylah," I replied. My skin tingled and burned all over, a remnant of that cursed lightning. It was worst around my neck, and the slightest movement was aggravating. Sometimes, it was the littlest things that irritated the worst.
"Jen," Carth said sharply, and suddenly his hand was twined in mine, squeezing it. "We'll do what we have to, to get Bastila back. Uthar's dead, now. And you… you prevailed. You won." You didn't fall. The words were unspoken, but I heard him say them nonetheless. My eyes opened again, and I turned to look at him. Carth's face was set, and there was a smear of blood near his temple. His eyes were darkly intent on mine, shining with approval. In that moment, he'd never looked more compelling. A startling wave of attraction hit me then, burned through my gut, and completely blindsided me with its unexpectedness.
What the frell am I thinking? I dragged my eyes away, snatched my hand back, and stumbled to my feet. The shock of the unbidden emotion was like a sucker-punch to the stomach, unwelcome and unneeded. Focus, you bleary-eyed idiot!
I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment and surprise at my own thoughts, and mentally wrested myself back into order.
The room was littered with corpses, dead bodies of soldiers and Initiates alike. I needed to find out what was happening further afield, but my Force senses were spent; exhausted. Who is still standing? Belaya? Zaalbar? Did they find Juhani?
"Jen," Carth called my attention back, and he was still sitting, one hand resting on his son. I heard a faint moan from Dustil. Carth was frowning as he gazed around the room, alert for any threat. "You have to find Belaya-"
The entrance doors creaked open, causing his hand to drop to his blaster and me to spin around. Uthar's death would have released his grip on the giant ferracrystal Force relic, and beyond stood his old apprentice, waiting.
Yuthura stalked inside, a dark storm of wariness on her face as she surveyed the area. Her lekku were twisted around her neck tightly. Mekel trailed her, his lightsaber burning a blood red against his face. So much for Yuthura's assistance, I thought somewhat grumpily. If Kylah had been here as well, I'd have been fried.
"Well," Yuthura said at last, her violet eyes landing on mine. "This place is quite a mess. You have killed Uthar Wynn, so by rights the Academy is yours." Her lightsaber hissed to life in her grasp. "Until the next Dark Jedi cuts you down."
"You have got to be kidding me," I snapped angrily. The Force was weak, and my mind frayed from the altercation with Uthar. I might not be injured, but I was completely exhausted.
"I told you that I planned on being the next Headmaster," she said mildly, and took a step closer to me.
My eyes narrowed. "And I told you I was leaving this rock!"
"I cannot let you do that, Ness Jonohl," Yuthura answered, her voice sultry and calm. "My leadership will not be complete unless I cut down the existing leader. So raise your 'saber, and let us finish this the proper way."
With a wild yell, Yuthura Ban charged.
xXx
