CHAPTER 15

Carletta could not remember the last time she felt this hopeful. After all the training, waiting and fighting, she now flew through space, bound for Kaas City, the place she would find her cure. Exactly how she would find it and escape back home hadn't formed in her mind yet. Luckily she had time. She stood on the bridge, gazing into the swirling blue frontier, while Jadus and Matturn discussed quietly with each other from behind her back. Normally she'd have wanted to know what they were saying, but at this point all she cared about was getting the holocron and saving her village.

The dark side's pull on Carletta had begun to falter. No more did she feel the rage, the burning fire welling up, the lust for conflict to prove her power. It felt as though murky clouds had been lifted from her mind.

'Carletta?' Matturn called. She wheeled round to stand obediently before him.

'Yes, Master?'

'We'll be arriving at Dromund Kaas any minute now, so I want to relay you the plan me and Jadus have in mind.'

Carletta glanced at Jadus, who only stepped away from the pair to stare outside the bridge, thinking to himself.

'Very well. I assume we'll be using sneakier tactics his time?'

'Correct. This is mission requires only a small team. It'll be simply you, me and Jadus finding a way inside the citadel.'

'Have you and Jadus figured out a method to get into one of the most guarded buildings in the galaxy?'

'As a matter of fact, we have. Jadus once installed a special duct system for his former quarters there. To his knowledge, they haven't discovered it just yet.'

'Why would he have a special duct system made?'

'When you reach a high enough rank of power, you may find yourself a little paranoid over your well being.'

'Doesn't sound as though it's worth all that power.' said Carletta bluntly.

'Oh, you'd be surprised how tempting it is. Maybe you'll find out someday, but for now I want you to provide our distraction if anything flies south. Is that understood?'

Carletta obediently nodded.

'Yes, Master.'

The two waited in silence for the battleship to jump out of hyperspace. They only had to wait a couple more minutes before a heavy judder and the steady blackness of space returned. However, Dromund Kaas was not anywhere to be seen as they drifted through the shadow of a gas giant.

'Where's Dromund Kaas?' Carletta asked.

'Did you really think we'd make the most foolish mistake in flying a wanted vessel right before the very eyes of the Empire?' said Jadus sharply.

'N-No, Lord Jadus, I did not.' Carletta stuttered, taken off guard.

'Sharpen your mind Carletta.' said Matturn. 'We'll be flying a shuttle in approaching Dromund Kaas. We're lucky it's not registered under Jadus' ownership.'

'Which is why you'll be piloting Matturn.' said Jadus. 'Considering you out qualify even me in that field.'

'Very well, let's set off. Carletta, follow my lead.'

The three of them strode imperiously to the shuttle awaiting them in the hangar. How fortunate it was that it remained the only craft not damaged by the previous battle. A pair of soldiers guarding the entrance knelt before them as they stepped up the boarding ramp. Matturn took to the pilot's seat, while Carletta and Jadus sat across from one another on the parallel rows of seats. She tried to avoid eyeing him.

'Time for a light bout of treachery once more then.' said Matturn smoothly as he gently moved the shuttle out of the hangar bay. Carletta glanced at the shadowy sky blue gas giant, close enough to notice its sparks of lightning before quickly speeding past it. She continued trying not to gaze at Jadus, still feeling the painful power cascading from him. He sat still as stone and made no sign of speaking, yet Carletta knew his mind wasn't nearly as inactive.

'I hope Matturn taught you to muster enough nerve for this sort of mission.' he said.

'He has, I assure you.' said Carletta certainly. Jadus continued to face her with his blank, unsettling mask. Behind it she knew a penetrating glare was being thrown at her.

'You've been under his watch for several months now, have you not?'

'Yes.'

'And I hear you've roughly trained yourself beforehand?'

'Yes, my father helped me in the beginning, but only for a short time.'

'Then it would be something of an embarrassment to your master if you were to fail, or cry for his help again, wouldn't it?'

'It would, but that won't happen. Believe me, I understand what's at stake here.'

Jadus leaned back in his seat and relaxed a little, perhaps satisfied Carletta thought, and he should be. It was the truth.

'You're worried I'm going to blow this, aren't you?' she said slowly, thinking she might be too bold.

'To be worried is how a Sith survives. Hubris and ego can far too easily cloud one's judgement. A balance must be struck to allow long life. Keep that in mind and you might actually succeed on your part of the mission.'

Carletta felt a strange fascination of Jadus' profound views that left her in agreement, something she thought she'd never find with a high ranking Sith Lord of all people.

'I will. Believe me there won't be any mistakes.'

'We'll see.'

The two spoke no more, silently waiting for Matturn to land the shuttle and get the plan into motion. Carletta glanced out the window and spotted a deep blue marble crackling with lightning that grew ever closer. She instantly recognised it as Dromund Kaas not from its appearance, but from the creeping pull of the Dark Side that didn't just coat the world, it completely absorbed it. Matturn had mentioned it before in passing several times, showing no nervous feelings towards it, but Carletta knew it was a far more dangerous world than he let on.

Although the Sith Emperor wasn't residing there any more, his immense influence could still echo loudly. Rumours of his power causing the eternal storms endured for centuries, as did his legacy. It was best to keep a clear head, Carletta thought, otherwise the planet's power might get a grip on her.

Her thoughts became interrupted however when a voice crackled through the comms, asking for identity and landing details. Matturn casually replied, which seemed to check out fine with the massive Star Destroyer that loomed ahead, granting them a clear line for the surface.

In little time they cut through the thick grey clouds that rumbled with thunder. Turbulence rocked the shuttle, but Carletta had felt worse in her travels and had complete confidence in Matturn's piloting skills at this point. He soon steadied the craft for a landing on a small forest clearing. Nearby the titanic Kaas City citadel could be spotted, but the sheets of rain and evening light made it hard to make out, despite its intense lighting. A small thud made Mattrurn get out of his chair and face his passengers.

'We're here. Welcome to Dromund Kaas, my apprentice.'