Chapter Two: Darkness's Shroud

Caedus Solo stood mere feet away from his StealthX which had been named Viper's Secret by his elder cousin, Schatten Cruentus Durron. He was awaiting repairs to be completed from a rough firefight in the middle of an asteroid field a few days before. Luckily, he had survived and managed to emerge on the planet of Hapes. A member of the Hapes Consortium, Shakal, had been asked to find someone to manage the repairs since Tenel Ka had been too occupied find anyone.

Shakal was exceptionally beautiful, much like the rest of the Hapans, but she also had an attitude that withheld ignorance and callousness. She was glaring at Caedus, her hazel eyes narrowed and her expression had dissolved into one of disapproval. Her hand reached up towards her face and she pushed back a lock of red-gold hair, "I don't suppose your mother ever taught you a thing or two about piloting nor manners?"

"You're one to talk aren't you?" Caedus interjected with a smirk.

Shakal started to retort, but closed her mouth and scowled at him. It was silent for the next few moments aside from the repairs taking place. Caedus's eyes drifted towards the water nearby, the liquid was clear and gently rolling; he returned his attention to Shakal. "Don't see how you people manage to live on a planet surrounded by excessive amounts of water."

"Says the boy from the city; you wouldn't understand what it's like to be surrounded by water, obviously." She remarked.

"Man from the city," Caedus corrected, "Honestly, don't you pay attention to anything? You would realize by now I'm not a child any longer."

"Perhaps, but you still act like one." She said with a self-satisfied smirk.

Caedus rolled his eyes and simply folded his arms across his chest instead of replying. Shakal was stubborn, there wasn't any denying to that, but it didn't matter, soon he would never have to deal with her again in his life.

"Repairs have been completed." One of the Hapan males announced.

"Wonderful." Shakal said and looked at Caedus expectantly.

"I'm not thanking them. I never even asked for these repairs to be made, not by a crew you selected that is." Caedus said coldly.

"Caedus wishes to convey his gratitude." Shakal told the group who had made the repairs as they walked away.

"I don't know if your attitude is only directed at me or if you treat everyone equally." Caedus said.

"Just you, darling, just you," Shakal replied.

Caedus heaved a sigh and Shakal made eye contact with him abruptly, "Your repairs are finished, I suggest you to be leaving now. The Hapans do not appreciate your sorry arse remaining around here."

"My…why…" Caedus sputtered; he was at a loss for words by her continuous insults.

Shakal flashed a mocking grin, turned on her heel, and walked back to Fountain Palace.

"Flirting again, dear brother?" Anakin's arrogant voice called.

"Possibly, but I wouldn't consider ignorance one to play with." Caedus responded jokingly.

"Playing with females now? Goodness didn't think you could get much worse. Now stop turning this situation into a joke." His brother replied.

"You began this discussion; if anyone's to blame it is you. What appears to be the problem?" Caedus said in seriousness this time.

"Your decisions would be the problem. I've been informed of your choice to follow your namesake's path of the dark side." Anakin said.

Caedus remained silent for a few moments then spoke, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I've merely decided to focus my life on the studies of philosophy of the Force. You and I both know that."

"Ideas change throughout time." Anakin retorted.

"Perhaps, but I assure you that I have no intentions of becoming associated with the dark side." Caedus said.

"You're lying," Anakin said simply through gritted teeth.

Caedus's blue-green eyes met Anakin's own ice blue ones, "Would I lie to my equal?"

Anakin was surprised by the softness of his tone and truth behind his words, "You were always a talented liar. Yes, I do believe you would lie to your equal. As long as we're being candid, I'm also under the impression that if you had a lover you would lie to her as well."

Caedus appeared to flinch, but it was a movement so swift Anakin had to think whether he'd imagined it or not. Caedus's hand reached to his lightsaber hilt and immediately there was a blood red blade inches away from Anakin's chest. Caedus's mouth twitched into one of a malicious grin, "There are some things in life, Anakin that you would prefer just to keep to yourself to save you from discovering the utterly dark truth."

Anakin's eyes slid to the blade held near his chest, he didn't dare attempt reaching for his own lightsaber. Was his brother really willing to kill him? What had convinced him to follow down this path? When did he construct a new lightsaber? So many thoughts crossed through his mind, but deep in his heart he somehow remained convinced this was either a nightmare or Caedus was being his typical self…this was just another of his cruel ploys.

There was a long moment of agonizing silence; one of them was bound to die. And it was most likely going to be Anakin.

Anakin swiftly Force Pushed his brother against the StealthX when he least expected it. Using the Force he leapt to a great height, activating his lightsaber, and landed next to his brother's now limp figure. He placed his booted foot against his brother's chest and added weight unto it until there was a crack.

Caedus grunted as the anguish flooded through his body once a rib had been broken. Before he had a chance to make a counter-attack, there was an ice blue blade mere centimeters from his throat.

"I beg of you not to continue down this path." Anakin pleaded.

"You cannot alter my choices, even if you are my family." Caedus said, his breath growing shallow.

"Then I really hate to do this," Anakin replied.

He had intended to force the lightsaber blade into his brother's throat and end this before it began, but instead the blade was injected into the ground where Caedus's figure had been only moments before.

A lump formed in Anakin's throat, he hesitantly examined his surroundings, but still could not locate his brother. He removed the blade from the ground, but didn't deactivate the lightsaber. Fear began to creep into his mind…his brother had gained more knowledge and power than Anakin had thought previously. He was going to die, he had to accept that. His brother would find some way to sneak a final blow that would sever his life.

Something else changed…

He could no longer feel his brother's presence within the Force. Had someone else killed him before he got the final strike? Or…no, it couldn't possibly be…

Had his brother learned to conceal himself in the Force?

Before another thought even surfaced his mind, there was a sharp pain between his shoulder blades and he fell helplessly to the ground. His lightsaber deactivated as it followed in pursuit to the ground.

"Yes, your brother has learned to conceal himself in the Force." Caedus answered Anakin's unspoken question.

Anakin's body was filled with much anguish which erupted ever so violently as he reached for the hilt of his lightsaber. Caedus's booted foot stopped him as it came down upon his elbow, crushing it under the weight. Anakin bit down on his tongue to keep from shouting out in pain.

When did his brother become so cold? What caused him to change?

Unexpectedly, his brother's lightsaber blade came down upon his back, the same very spot where the sharp pain had been placed earlier. The blade was just neatly against the skin, not deep enough to cut through each layer of the flesh, but enough to leave burning scars there forever.

Anakin could no longer suppress a scream. The agonizing scream was like peace to Caedus's mind.

"What…what…have…you…done…to…me," Anakin gasped.

"The simple effect of concealing my presence keeping you in awe allowed me to make my attack. I first lodged a vibrodagger in between your shoulder blades causing you to fall over in suffering pain. That left you defenseless and unarmed. Next, I scarred you with a burning 'X' using the blade of my lightsaber. Dear brother, you should have realized I never kill before getting the pleasure of watching one suffer my attacks." Caedus explained with a tone that hinted he enjoyed every moment of the duel.

"You're…vile…I…don't…understand…anymore…" Anakin responded in sorrow.

"You never will either." Caedus simply said and deactivated his lightsaber. "If you'll excuse me, I must be making my departure."

With that, Caedus left his brother to suffer and possibly die. He entered his StealthX and when he was out of reach from the planet, he placed a gloved finger upon a button.

Before this is accomplished…

He closed his eyes and focused his mind on the image of Shakal. He grinned coldly and used the Force to combust her brain. He watched through the image placed in his mind as she dropped to the floor instantly; dead.

Once that had been completed, he pressed against the button his finger was still upon, triggering the bombs he had secretly placed all around Fountain Palace.

The entire Palace erupted, taking the lives of many innocent as well as guilty with it.

"Yes, I am positive of my decisions." Caedus said to himself and set the coordinates for Korriban.