Exile could see her breath in a thin mist in front of her face as she stepped away from the exit ramp of the Hawk. Heating systems should have booted up instantaneously after her ship entered, but apparently like the lights, it was off-line. Gritting her teeth together she moved on, trying to keep her body moving.
The academy she had discovered by accident a year ago to this day was now a ghost town. Where young woman dressed in modest white clothes trained and talked to one another in pleasant conversation, was now empty space. Everything electric was shut down, forcing Exile to rely on memory alone in some areas. But what got her the most, was the absolute quiet that had fallen over the place, her boots clanging against the metal floor and slow breathing being the only sound in the halls.
During the few days it took to get here, Exile had noticed large strands of grey in her long, dark raven hair. Even her skin seemed to be paling slightly. She came to the conclusion that it was from opening herself to the Dark Side so fully on numerous times, and decided that it would probably be best to refrain from using the tactic in further fights.
When she reached the council chamber, she paid extra attention while on the thin walk-ways, actually unhooking her lightsaber in her paranoia in case she needed its light.
The lights all around the rim of the chambers ceiling illuminated once she stepped through the entranceway, and forcing Exile squint her eyes for a few seconds to allow them to adjust. Around her, twelve seats sat in a large circle, looking almost like they were carved from marble. But judging by the layer of dust on them, they had not been used in a while, if anytime, in fact. And in the middle of them, was the center stone.
She approached it, gripping the cylinder in her hand tighter as she did. Reaching out, she slowly stroked her hand down the cold rock, passing over the long diagonal burn mark on its front. The memory of that day flashed through her mind: Ten years ago, after being told she was to be exiled, Kavar approached trying to sooth the wound. But she wouldn't have it. She activated her saber and slashed at him, only to hit the center stone behind him after he leapt clear of her blade. They disarmed her and began to inflict the curse on her.
Exile blinked the memory away, turning her head.
"The past hurts more for some then others, it seems." Exile looked past the stone and saw Atris on the other end of the room standing on the edge of a small set of stairs. Her white robes were untouched, as usual, with her hair in its normal tight-nit bun and a lightsaber in her hand.
"I myself can't enter this room without a little bit of that day slipping into my mind. The expression on your face, the hot anger we all sensed within you, and how you tried to cut down your teacher in cold blood." The older woman scanned Exile's body, and the former Jedi saw a quick flash of depression as she reached her belt, though quickly masked it. "But it seems you've succeeded." She commented stiffly.
Exile ignited the weapon in her hand with a Snap-hiss, a scarlet light reflecting softly off her suite. "Let me ask you," Atris interjected, not having activated her own lightsaber yet. "why did you come back?"
For years, Exile had wondered the very same thing. She had run through so many scenarios in her head during her travels, always ending with her throwing up her arms and screaming it didn't matter. After a pause, Atris sighed. "Very well."
The lightsaber in her hand flared to life, producing a brilliant blue blade. But just as Exile lowered herself into a fighting stance, Atris reached into the folds of her robes, pulling something out that she could not see. A turquoise blade ignited from it, and Exile's blood boiled.
Her old saber was sent flying at her before words could be spat, tossed low at her legs. Exile leapt up, missing her old blade to only find Atris coming at her in the air, saber raised. The former Jedi barely got her body twisted to avoid her, landing hard of the ground below as Atris cut through the center stone that was behind her, slicing off the top half at an angle.
On her stomach, Exile grabbed and threw the broken stone at her Atris. It slammed into her forehead, causing dark blood to fall down her face. Then getting to her feet, Exile reached out and grasped her old weapon in Atris's hand, tearing it from the older woman's grip and tossing it through one of the window's behind and into the yawning chasm below.
Looking back up wide-eyed, Atris threw a bubble of energy at her, knocking Exile only to her left slightly, but still used the distraction. Atris was gone, sprinting up the walkway to her chambers. Exile followed, keeping her strides short though even.
The door wasn't open, and after Atris fumbled with its controls, she turned and extended her free arm out. Violet sparks of lightning shot through her fingertips, arcing towards the former Jedi. But Exile simply reached out and caught the lightning with her gloved hand, absorbing the power through her own fingers and into her body.
Panic sunk into Atris, as she dived into her chamber a split-second after the doors parted. Exile grinned, and perused.
Atris stood in the middle of the small room, panting with her weapon arm dangling at her side, the blue blade still active. "I will not fall." She announced.
Exile shut down her saber and returned it to her belt. Then lashed out and grasped the woman with an intangible grip on her throat, lifting her off the ground and almost slamming her head into the roof. The brilliant blue blade winked out of existence as the weapon fell from her grasp, the hilt bouncing on the floor once before coming to a dead halt. Extending her free arm out Exile unleashed blue lightning from free her hand, pouring it into the older woman's stomach and invoking a terrible shriek that only broadened Exile's grin.
She forced herself to stop, clenching her hand and allowing Atris to gasp for much needed breath. I need to savor this, Exile thought as she let loose a second burst, followed by a third, forth, fifth, and sixth, each with its own set of screams. Finally she ceased, her fingers tingling as she pulled her lightsaber from her belt and re-ignited the blade. Exile pulled the Jedi down toward her, digging the scarlet sword into Atris's chest. A gasp was let out as Atris released her last breaths.
"You failed," Exile whispered into the others ear just before deactivating her weapon and letting Atris fall, watching as she sprawled on the floor with a thumb-sized hole in her before stopping altogether seconds later. She shut down her saber and replaced it on her belt.
For a moment, Exile stood in silence, waiting. Then, it came. Waves of cold sensation passed through her head and threw her mind into disarray. Her arms spread out as her body was lifted from the floor, her hair flapping wildly about. Within her, it felt like a dam on the edge of bursting out. It was like this for minutes, but it soon ended, Exile falling to her hands and knees with sweat beading from her forehead, panting heavily. And smiling.
Congratulations, Exile. You've treaded the galaxy for years, and at last that which was rightfully yours has been returned.
Exile's eyes shot open. Kreia had gone missing just after her duel with Kavar on Dantooine, even slipping past both the droids undetected. She had decided that whatever Kreia was up to, it wasn't as important as her mission, so left. But if she was close enough for her to hear the old woman's voice. . .
"Show yourself, Kreia." Exile said, standing to her feet and ignoring the sweat that had fallen into her eyes and obscuring her vision as best she could.
I am not there, Exile. I communicate to you through theses Holocrons. Wiping her eyes, she could see in fact that the walls were lined with small pyramids, all giving off a kind of ruby glow.
"Then where are you?"
It dose not matter. My presence is not needed for this.
Exile's eyebrow rose up. "For what, exactly?"
Only a question, Exile; Are you at peace?
She was taken back. "What?" Exile asked, blinking.
Now with your adversaries dead at your feet, the ones who caused you so much agony, are you finally at peace with yourself?
Exile looked down at the body on the floor, and the images of all the others flashed through her brain. Then, like it was an afterthought bent down and scooped Atris's lightsaber in her hand, then stood. Her hand clenched into a tight fist, enough to make her knuckles white as she looked straight down at her feet and closed her eyes. "No," She admitted in a whisper. "And I don't think I can ever be." Her eyes shot open and a ghostly smile feel upon her lips.
"With my power restored, I may not have peace, but perhaps I can have a challenge." She looked up at the holocron's, scanning each one carefully. "I'm coming after you, Kreia," Exile called out. "you and the other Sith."
So be it, Exile. If battle is what you believe will curb your hunger, then come. But be wary, for you cannot simply cut down a Lord of darkness, or shoot them with lightning, or even bring a building around their ears. You must be smart, cunning, and above all else, ruthless.
"Don't worry," Exile mildly said as she hung Atris's lightsaber next to the others on her sagging belt. "I will be." She strode out of the chamber and only releasing an iota of her new power, shattered every holocron and brought the ceiling of the chamber down in a loud boom.