Chapter 3: Pass or Fail

A/N: Sections written entirely in italics are flashbacks, for the record. Like the one right below this.

As always, any comments/critiques are welcome :)

"You're a lot tougher than you think you are, Vay."

He brought his hand to her face, cradling her chin in his palm. His swirling blue eyes, so much like her own, gazed back at her. Sniffling, she raised her head and looked into them. They were so gentle, she thought. In fact, she couldn't recall a time she'd ever seen them in anger. He squinted slightly as he gave her an assuring smile, and wiped away a lone tear that had fallen down her cheek.

"But I can't do it!" Vaessa's mouth quivered as she spoke, and she could feel more tears welling up. "Please Kade, please don't leave."

"You know I don't want to. It's just the order…" he turned his head away and frowned. "I'll write as soon as I'm able."

He started to rise from his kneeling position, but she didn't let him. Wrapping him in as tight of a hug as her tiny arms could, she pressed herself tightly against him and nuzzled her head into the curve of his neck. His chest expanded against her, then contracted as he let out a sigh. As she felt his arms wrap around her, she stopped holding back her tears. She sobbed into him. Her breaths grew short and uneven. But he held her, whispering hush in her ear. They stayed there for what felt like forever.

Except it wasn't forever, and a voice soon rang out from the other room, calling for him. He let out a sigh and started to rise, but Vaessa tried her best to hold onto him.

He placed a hand on each of her shoulders. "I'll find you again Little Star, I promise."

She wiped a tear from her face and stood there, watching her brother walk out of the room. When she heard the front door slide close a few seconds later, she felt the tears return.

Her hand raced to shield her eyes as she finally reached the top of the staircase leading out of the darkened tomb. It must have been only a couple hours past midday, and the sun's light was merciless, beaming directly down at her. Her face scrunched up as she made her way forward, her eyes slowly adjusting to the daylight. As she went, the wind swept up a thick layer of dirt, which billowed sharply from her right. She choked on the air, coughing out the red dust.

The wind died down as quickly as it had whipped up, and she regained her composure. Then she caught sight of it. The massive steel structure seemed to rise from the stone itself, like a mountain in its own right. It towered upwards, a monument rising out of the canyon. She had to crane her neck just to see the top. At its base, a ramp as wide as it was long ran up the center to a coolly lit interior that she could just make out from this distance.

What really stood out, however, were the slaves. Or, more specifically, the two massive stone statues, one on either side of the pyramid. Each in a kneeling position, their hands behind them as they held the whole structure up.

Of course, how poetic. Vaessa let out a sigh. Two poor souls whose chains will never be broken. As she looked down from the slaves, she caught site of something that caused her heart to skip a beat. Quickly, she started to trudge forward, keeping her good hand in front of her face to shield from the whipping sands.

"Do you require medical attention?" The droid stood there, fumbling around with the holopad on its arm. After a few seconds, it turned its expressionless face towards her.

She was panting, standing there with her arm limp at her side and blood and sweat coating her face. For a moment, she couldn't even respond to the droids inane question. For a droid with no face, it had an incredible ability to look completely confused.

Feigning a smile, she said, "Yes, please, my arm is, uh—" She gestured to down, her arm hanging at her side, "—yeah…"

"Oh my, allow me to fetch a medpac right away!"

Vaessa watched as the droid scampered off to a small station a few feet away. It appeared stocked with all sorts of rudimentary supplies. As he returned, she let out a heavy sigh. As the droid set to work on her arm, she closed her eyes and relaxed.

She was almost too lost in thought to notice them. Moments after walking through the entranceway to the Academy, she was stopped by some Overseer who directed her to meet one Lord Samus for training.

"Are you deaf and dumb?" He'd said. "Get going!" She'd apologized profusely and sped off around the corner. It seemed like dozens of thoughts were swirling her mind, though that might have just been the effects of the medpac. Or the dulled pain she was still feeling. Or she was just cracking under the stress, who was to say? Spindrall had told her to head straight to Harkun, and now she had to report to this other lord. The blue, steel walls rushed by her as she hurried through a small hallway that lead further into the Academy.

From the corner of her eye, however, she noticed their bright, crimson robes. There were two of them, one on each side of the hall. Each stood rigidly at attention, hands at their sides and heels together. Their armor and robes marked them as important. Definitely some type of high imperial guard, though she didn't know for sure. She nearly stopped to examine them closer, when they started to move. In unison, both guards had lowered to one knee and bowed their heads. A shiver ran up her spine. They had kneeled.

Before her. And she liked it.

Quickly, however, she sped off into the main hall. After a moment of searching, she headed down another lengthy corridor before locating Harkun's chambers. It didn't take long to realize she was late – again. All of the other acolytes were circled around a wide, metallic desk in the center of the room. As she scanned the place, she noted a small section of wall that seemed dented.

Kory was off to one side, standing near the front of the group. Vaessa threw a smile her way as she strolled into the center of the room, but the young girl must have been preoccupied with something else, as she didn't appear to notice. The Sith was also present, and his beady eyes seemed to have a nasty predilection for following her wherever she went.

Harkun gestured with both hands towards Vaessa. "Ah, the last one." His voice hung on each word he spoke. "Always the latecomer."

Vaessa approached him and, lowering her head, handed him the writ that Spindrall had given to her.

He snatched it from her hands, and began to examine the small tablet. "Now we can see what the hermit thinks of you, slime."

She backed away to join the other acolytes. A glance towards Kory showed the girl was still deep in thought. Whatever her trial was must have traumatized her.

After a few moments, the Overseer finished examining all of the writs, and turned to face them. Vaessa gulped as his eyes locked onto hers for a second, narrowing as they did so. Then he turned his gaze further.

"Acolyte Kory," he said. "Step forward, please."

Vaessa's eyes widened and she looked quickly over to Kory. The girl jolted at the call of her name, snapping out of her daze. She looked up at the Harkun with those round, tired eyes.

"Y-yes, Overseer?" She stammered.

"You are a weak, pathetic rodent and even a lunatic like Spindrall can see this." He practically spit the words out at her, his face scrunching up in disgust.

Kory looked about ready to cry. "I'm s-sorry, my Lord. I tried b—" She recoiled as the first bolt of electricity struck her. Her body writhed, and she let out a piercing scream.

Vaessa tried reaching for her, but the Sith grabbed her arm, holding her in place. Her eyes awash in terror, she spun around to look at the young man. His mouth was curled into a twisted smile. Shaking her arm loose, she turned back to her friend only to see the girl collapse to the floor, smoke rising from her body. Fists clenched, she turned back to the Sith. She'd have loved to just beat that grin off his smug face.

Harkun spoke first, however. "Before you get any ideas, meet our newcomer, Ffon Althe." The robed man placed a hand on his hip and continued staring at Vaessa. Harkun continued, "This is real Sith strength, and he will tear you apart and crush your bones, slaves."

He went on about how amazing Ffon was, but Vaessa had tuned him out. Instead she was focused on the body of the young girl sprawled out on the floor beside her. Despite trying to think of something else, anything else, Kory's face continued flashing in her mind.

It's not like I knew her! We'd only just met. She thought back to the shuttle ride here, to the stories each shared of life in servitude. Of their families. She looked back up. Harkun was addressing the other acolytes on their next trials. Ffon was still as smug-looking as ever. It wasn't fair. She knew that was a childish outlook, but it was true. Damn Harkun. Damn them both, it wasn't fair!

"He can't kill all of us." The last thing Kory had said to her. Her brow furrowed and she stared at the Overseer.

Don't worry, she thought, he won't.