Chapter 11
The five jedi and Drogan made their way through the Blue Sun complex carefully avoiding being seen. Lebor had been eying their new companion for some time but now they had time to talk. Even if was only quiet.
"Are you really a sith", Lebor asked, Drogan turned to face him with a smile on his face
"What is a sith"
"A servant of the darkside of the force", He replied. Drogan shook his head
"Then no, I'm not a sith. We were taught that the force is a tool and not a power, that it should be used and not served. So no if you put it like that then no". Lebor frowned and looked at Tara, then at Tyr and hoped they weren't listening.
"Very well are you what a jedi would call sith?", Lebor smiled knowing that he had chosen his words well.
"Yes I am but only because a jedi would call something sith because it wouldn't encompass their view of the force. I use the force and all its aspects the darkside is strong, very strong. But it has its limits. That's where the lightside takes over and fills the gap". Labrias was really paying attention now.
"what do you mean?"
"well tell me, what is the darkside in your opinion?"
"but my opinion is the opinion of the jedi"
"That's why I want to hear it"
"Alright", Lebor nodded, "the darkside is the part of the force that consumes you, takes control, it gives you a lust for power and makes you do terrible things. It is the path to evil"
"Interesting, the way that jedi view things. The darkside is powerful, it gives you strength. I'm going to tell you what they taught me at the academy. The darkside is just one part of the force and by acting through passion you can tap that power more directly".
"Is it stronger then the light?" Tyr asked him. Lebor glared at him he wasn't supposed to be listening.
"This darkside is just the stronger side according to them but I have found different. To them it is only strong because it is easier to master, before it consumes you completely. It's not only the darkside but all of the force that can be used through passion. By acting with it you can use it to help you use the force. Yes the darkside is stronger in terms of raw power but that is only a half truth. The lightside can defeat the dark and vice versa".
"So it is true that the darkside will bring a lust for power", Tara now asked the question now and Lebor didn't look impressed.
"The dark path is often more easy to follow and a lust for power will give way to it not the other way around".
"So in that sense not all sith are evil"
"No not really, we believe that the masters are because they work under Dooku and Sideous, at least they used to work for Dooku. One of the reasons I left was because recently a student died during a lightsaber practice. My brother though, is part of an underground against them, one of the leaders in fact. His view is similar to mine and I have seen him do so much good. Once he took on master Jorgand to save a younger student from a beating at great cost to himself. If your view of sith is true then he would never do these things."
"But what about Sideous and your masters, if they are evil what makes you different", Tyr asked again.
"What does that mean", Lebor shot back at him.
"Well I can ask, can't I", Tyr responded sharply.
"Go on, Drogan", Tara said cutting them both off
"I have often wondered this myself and I always come to the same conclusion. That is, there is evil in every group or species as there is also good in them. Even the jedi, only they exile their ones. Just belonging to a certain denomination does not classify you as one or the other. Tyr what is your home world?".
"Corellia", Tyr responded, clearly intrigued by the conversation
"Are there both good and bad humans there"
"Well yes but that doesn't...", Drogan cut him off
"Tara, your home world?"
"Coruscant", she answered
"Clearly there is evil here"
"Lebor", Drogan turned to the last of his companions
"Ryloth", Lebor sighed
"And are there evil doers..."
"Yes, I see your point, I think I understand now". It was at this point that Deslly felt the need to turn look at the conversation. He also felt the need to interrupt.
"You kept saying 'we' the entire time do the other sith really share your opinion?"
"No perhaps not. I thought one did but I was wrong. I am so used to being part of the group I used we too much. The other sith are just as brutal and dangerous as Dooku. They are all about the darkside".
"That is what I thought. This is it, hanger fifteen. Go and wait for me inside. The four started including Drogan, btu Deslly stopped him again.
"Are you going to beat me again?", Drogan asked with an amused look.
"No but you should learn when to keep your mouth shut Drogan. What are you trying to tell them?"
"Are you concerned about my intentions, master jedi?"
"Always. Now tell me the truth and stop playing games, what did you tell them?"
"Maybe you should stop playing games, I only told them everything I wanted you to hear".
"I don't trust you young sith and it will take a lot to earn it. So here is what you are going to start by doing. Stay very close to me and don't leave my sight, if you're smart you might learn something"
"Thank you master Deslly, I will now".
"Good, now don't waste time we have a ship to catch". The two of them followed the others into the hanger to see Tyr talking to the pilot and the rest of them staring up at a really nice freighter freighter ship. Maybe a bit of an older model but still really nice. It had a semi-circle cockpit and a larger engine of the same shape at the other end. Two long parts formed what looked to be a frame on each side of the cockpit but also could have doubled for a physical shield for shrapnel. To cap it off there was two long military grade cannons sticking out each of the two side panels. A tall, furry Togorian stood in the cockpit and waved them in as Sudro stepped down the landing ramp.
"She sure is a beauty. She's from Duro origionally but I sent her to Corellia to be fixed up a bit, as you can see. It's all perfectly legal of course. And she can out fly any droid ship ever built. Model AK-87 but this one is known as the Crackshot. Named so because with the advanced laser cannons on each side she, and of course myself, have no chance of missing. The trick is to get your shot lined up first". He chuckled to himself at his bad joke, "Ladies and gentles, welcome aboard", he made a wide sweeping gesture and stepped on board himself.
Deslly stepped on board as well and looked around, it was not quite what he had expected. The inside left a lot to be desired. It was just an empty space with the two turret gunner positions on the side and the cockpit in the front. It seemed to have a really open design to make it look bigger then it was. On each side of the cockpit there were access panels to separate rooms, possible sleeping quarters and at the back there was the cargo hold with sleeping gear set up on the floor.
"I didn't know how far you wanted to go so I had to prepare for the worst, no extra charge for the cots by the way". Sudro turned to the cockpit and took his chair.
"Your ship will suffice for now", Mena stepped aboard after everyone, "You have our gratitude for your kindness".
"That's good and fine, master jedi but it wasn't for you. I just find that it's easier to deal with well rested passengers instead of the tired and grumpy kind. Jedi or not. There are still mine and Mrogg's quarters on the side here, we can tough it out in pilots chairs, only room for one in each though so I'll leave you to fight over it"
"Jedi don't just fight", Lebor said to the pilot with ice in his voice.
"Yet here we are at the tail end of a jedi war, with your kind mixed up in the fighting the whole way and the galaxy is so much the better for it", Sudro left them to go to the cockpit and Lebor ignored him.
"Can I have the pilots quarters, just one of them I mean, no one said they wanted it yet so I thought that I should ask", Tyr piped up from behind Drogan and Tara, "Might be nice to sleep in something soft for a change".
"Perhaps", Drogan started talking without even opening his eyes, "We should leave them to the ladies. As would only be the expected gentlemanly thing to do".
"Drogan", Mena mused to no one in particular, "That would be very kind indeed, if a bit unexpected"
"Of course", Tyr pointed out, "That was going to be my next suggestion". Tara looked at him with almost a smile on her face and looked quickly away again.
"Perhaps we should get started then", the rather feline looking Mrogg approached them, "To where should we set the hyperspace coordinates.
"Deslly, where should we go. You know lots of safe places".
"Indeed I was thinking of finding my old home world but that would be too time consuming we need a real destination. Something of a base of operations, or so to speak. Young Drogan, this ship you came from, do you know where we could find it".
"You aren't actually considering going there master".
"No, but it is something that I need to see and assess, as do we all. This is one of the threats not only to us but to this new empire. A new unknown player always presents difficulty".
"The nearest system would be Kothlis I think. It always moves but that was the direction that it was heading".
"Very well, we will have to travel there from Sullust and after we have some supplies.
"Sullust it is then, you know if you need to get to Kothlis I might even have a contact for you", Mrogg keyed in the location and they set off out of the space port into the dawn sky of coruscant. Tara found herself next to Tyr at the view port staring, like him, at the fading skyline.
"I never knew how beautiful the sunrise looked on coruscant until now". Tyr spoke softly to her, "This is going to be the last time we'll ever see it again, you know. From here there is no turning back". Tara never knew that he felt that way.
"It makes me sad to know that I'm never going to see something so beautiful again". She sighed.
"There is still beauty in the galaxy", Tyr turned to face her and moved forward the slightest step,
"Sometimes in the last place you expect but sometimes it's too late before you realize it". He stopped himself and left the view port to her, moving back down into the hold. She pressed her hand to the panel and closed her eyes, as if to lock away this last memory of the only home she ever knew. The ship flew up through the red-golden sky and into the cold vacuum of space, where coruscant was but a silver jewel in the distance that vanished for the last time as the stars began to streak past them. The past was gone now, the jedi were broken and all hope was lost. All that remained now was the future and what ever the future had in store for them.
Epilogue
"Did you feel it, Molker", Karala looked up, "like an echo of some terrible tragedy".
"It was like the force running through me. Only it was dark and more powerful than anything I have ever felt before". Molker stood from his meditation rituals.
"This time it was nothing like a flow. It was fast and piercing like a dagger".
"Like thousands of voices all crying out at once..."
"... And then going silent". She finished for him and stood as well
"It's almost as if I have a bad feeling about it"
"About what?", she reached for his shoulder
"Everything", he sighed, "and nothing, I'm still not sure", he met her hand with his own
"So what do we do?"
"Only what we can do". She reached out and embraced him slowly at first but then more confidently. He placed his hand on the back of her head. "Until then we will have to wait".