Chapter 14: Looking for answers.
After one day of travel, Kraig entered in the Telosian system, he was unsure if Revan's plan would work. He escaped from the planet where he and Revan were captured easily; lucky for him the fleet orbiting the planet didn't stop him. But he was unsure if Revan's friends would trust him, His thoughts were disturb when he heard the scanners beeping, he was close to Telos. There it is, Telos. Revan was right; the Citadel Station can be seen kilometers away. Kraig thought himself. "Okay, let's hope the patrols don't destroy the ship." He muttered.
In Citadel Station, the guarding post was scanning the area for any enemy vessels, when one of them detected a ship. "Commander, I have detected an unidentified ship." One of the officers said.
"You know what type of vessel is Lieutenant?" The Commander asked.
The Lieutenant checked the scanners and saw that the ship was, actually, a Sith fighter. "It's a Sith fighter sir." He answered.
The Commander thought for a few seconds, he could give the order to destroy the Sith fighter, or he could capture the Sith pilot and interrogate him to know what he was doing near Telos. "Do I send a patrol to destroy the ship?" The Lieutenant asked.
"What? No, send a patrol and inform the pilot to surrender if he doesn't want to be destroyed." The Commander answered.
"Aye, sir" The Lieutenant said and a patrol was displayed. "Unidentified Sith pilot, this is Commander Grenn of the Telos Security Force, your presence in the area has been detected, if you don't surrender, your ship will be destroyed, you have one minute to confirm you compliance." The Commander informed through a comlink.
Kraig took a deep breath, he knew he needed to surrender, so he could talk with Carth and inform him about Revan. "This is Kraig, pilot of the Sith fighter, I surrender." He answered.
The Commander and the officers were surprised that a Sith gave up so easily. "On behalf the Telos Security Force, I accept you surrender." The Commander said. "Please dock in bay 110, and wait until the security officers aboard your ship."
Kraig landed the ship in bay 110 and waited until the officers a boarded the ship and took him out of the ship to one of the interrogation rooms.
"Nihilus." Sion said.
"Sion, have you received any news from Traya?" Nihilus asked.
"Yes, she informed that one of the members of the Council has fallen to the Dark Side." Sion answered smiling.
"Good, with two Siths inside the Order, they will take care of the Council, but even with that, I'm not taken any risks." Nihilus said.
"What are you planning Nihilus?" Sion asked.
"You will find out in the next days." Nihilus answered.
Revan was sitting on his bed inside the cell, he could feel his body weaken everyday he passed without food, the only thing with the Sith provide him was water, but even with that he felt weak.
He felt the hours passing by, when two Sith apprentices opened the door of his cell. He lifted his head only to meet with the two apprentices smiling at him.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"Kryat wants to see you." One of the apprentices said.
"Get up Jedi scum." The other said.
The apprentices grabbed Revan for the arms and lead him out of his cell. They lead him to the torture chambers where Kryat was waiting for him.
"Revan, it's good to see you." He said.
"Enough with the sarcasm Kryat. Did you bring me here again for interrogation?" Revan said. "'Cause you know I'm not going to tell you anything."
Kryat chuckled. "No Revan, I didn't bring you here for interrogation." He said. "I brought you here to prepare you."
"Prepare me? For what?" Revan asked.
"For your surprise." Kryat answered.
"So, you're still gonna do his dirty work?" Revan asked.
Kryat chuckled. "Don't worry about me Revan, once I've prepared you, my master will reward me." He said. "You know, every time you come I can feel your fear, possibly you think `It is today the day he will torture me to death? ¨"
Revan's blood went cold, he knew that every time he came to the torture room, he was at risk of dying because of the torture, and above all that meant not see his friends, including the only woman he had ever loved; Bastila.
Kryat smiled. "I heard you made friends with an old friend of mine, Kraig. Too bad he just disappeared a few days ago, now you're completely alone." He said. "Prepare him." He ordered to the two Sith officers that were with him.
They put him the shackles on and activated the energy chains which held the shackles. "Do it." Kryat said. The officer nodded and pushed a button; Revan felt his body burning with the bolt of electricity that entered in his body. When the electricity stopped, Revan had a blurred vision, but still he could see Kryat standing in front of him.
"You only bring me…here again… to electrocute me?" Revan asked panting.
"No." Kryat answered and took the laser whip and ignited it, with a single move of his hand, the two lashes of the whip penetrated in Revan's back causing to arch his back in response of the pain and let out a cry of pain.
It had been four days since the Hawk and its crew arrived at Citadel Station, the group spent the days in the residential complex where their apartment was. It was afternoon when Atton found Meetra sitting on a sofa reading a book.
"Hey babe." Atton said.
Meetra look up at him and smiled. "Hi Atton, what are you doing?" She asked closing the book.
"Looking for something fun to do." He answered.
"Really? I thought you were playing pazaak with the others." She said.
Atton chuckled and sat down in front of Meetra. "No, I want to go out of this residential complex, we train all day, and although I like to play pazaak when we are not training, today I want to do something different."
"Why you don't go to the cantina?" She asked.
"Would you like to come with me?" He asked. Meetra stared at him for a few seconds. "Please tell me you have been in cantinas before."
"Yes." She answered.
"So are you coming with me?" He asked.
"Sure, let me change my robes." She answered and went to her room. Five minutes later Meetra went out with more civilian clothes. She and Atton left the apartment and exited the residential complex. They walked down the hallways of the Citadel Station until they reached to the cantina.
When they arrived at the cantina, music could be heard, they entered and saw many people, they made their way in and sat on a table not far from the bar. "Wow, I've never seen many people in a cantina." Atton said.
"Yeah, I know." Meetra answered.
"Okay, so what would you like?" Atton asked seeing the menu. Meetra though for a minute and said: "Maybe tarisian ale."
"Good choice." Atton said. "So, it's gonna be two tarisian ales, I'll be back." He said getting up and went to the bar. A few minutes later, Atton returned with the two drinks, he gave Meetra her drink and he sat down. They started talking about Meetra's days as an exile and later about Atton's days when he was younger.
"I can't believe you wanted to be a musician when you were younger." Meetra said almost laughing.
"Yeah, I know. Years later I drop that idea when I started to pilot ships across the Outer Rim in the Mandalorian Wars." Atton answered. The two laughed and stayed silent for a moment. "Hey, do you want another?" He asked looking at the empty glass in Meetra's hand.
"Oh…no, I would prefer a beer." She answered.
"Okay, I'll go for it." Atton said and disappeared in the crowd.
Meetra couldn't fight back a smile. She waited for Atton to return when someone talked to her. "What we have here?" A man asked to his companions.
"A beautiful girl in a cantina." One of his friends said. Meetra only rolled her eyes in disgust. "What is doing a beautiful girl like you in this cantina all alone?" The man asked.
"I'm not alone." Meetra answered.
"That's right, you're not alone anymore. Let us invite you a drink." The man said.
"No thanks." Meetra answered.
"C'mon, I insist." The man said.
Meetra was about to answer but someone else answered for her. "Sorry, but she said no." Atton said.
"Who the hell are you?" The man asked.
"I'm Atton, her boyfriend." Atton answered upset.
"This punk is your boyfriend?" The man asked. "Let me told you something girl, if you want to be with someone who is worthy I'm here."
"What did you say?" Atton said getting upset.
"Just kidding kid, besides no many fall for a scoundrel." The man said. Atton was angry, although he tried to control himself, he couldn't. Meetra only saw Atton's anger and stared at him. The men laughed and Atton hit one of them in the face.
The man fall on the floor and when he got up, he hit Atton in the face, and a fight started in the cantina, Atton fought with the man, he tried to hit him but the man move and Atton's fist slammed against the wall, he felt pain but he didn't care. The other two friends of the man tried to hit Atton, he returned the hit with great force that one of the men was thrown on the bar breaking the cups and the glasses that were on. When Atton turned around the man and his friend punched Atton in the face and he fell down on the ground, the men took advantage of Atton's position and started to hit him in the face over and over again.
"Alright that's enough." An officer said. Two other officers separated the men from Atton.
"Atton!" Meetra said and knelt next to Atton. "Are you okay?" She asked.
"I had a big headache." He said. Meetra sighed in relief.
"Okay, you three are coming with us." The officer said arresting the three men. "Miss Surik, you can take Mr. Rand to the medical facility."
"Thanks officer Fainz." Meetra said and help Atton to get up on his feet. Moments later, Atton was sitting on a bed of the medical facility; He had a napkin hanging from one of his nostrils. Meetra was only staring at him.
"Don't say anything." He said.
"I wasn't planning to do it." She answered.
"I know what you are going to say, it wasn't too smart of me."
"Yeah, it's right."
"I know it's just that I hate to hear that I'm not good for something or for someone."
"Atton you're good at what you do and you are the person right for me."
Atton couldn't believe what he was hearing, although he had fallen in love years ago, he believed he wasn't the right person. "You really think that?" He asked.
"Yes." Meetra said cleaning the blood of Atton's cut behind his right eye. She took his hand in hers. "Ouch." Atton said.
"Are you okay?" Meetra asked.
"Yeah, it's…just…my hand is aching." Atton asked.
"Let me see." Meetra said, she checked Atton's left hand and realized he had fractured it. "Your hand is fractured, maybe when you hit that wall you broke your knuckles and your wrist." She answered.
Then, the doctor came in and checked him, and indeed he had fractured his hand. The doctor applied kolto and put a splint on the hand, the doctor recommended rest. Meetra and Atton thanked the doctor and returned to the apartment.
Revan was sweating and breathing heavily, all his sight was blurred and he could only hear Kryat's laugh. His back was burning and a small pool of blood was under his feet. Kryat move again his hand to hit Revan one more time with the laser whip when Sion entered in the room.
"That's enough." He said.
"Master." Kryat said bowing in front of Sion.
"You may raise Kryat." Sion answered. "Release him." He ordered to the officials.
The officials released Revan and sat him on a bench. "Take him back to his cell and give him something to eat." Sion said.
"Are you going to be good with me now Sion?" Revan asked.
Sion chuckled. "No, but you don't serves us dead." He said. "Take him to his cell."
The officers nodded and lead Revan to his cell, minutes later, he received a bowl with soup, after Revan ate, he decided to rest just a little. Hours later, he woke up with a bright light above him, he tried to move but his body was tied up to a table, then Sion entered.
"Revan, it's good to see you awake." He said.
"Where am I?" Revan asked.
"In one of our special interrogation rooms." Sion answered.
"Are you going to interrogate me Sion?" Revan asked. "Well, let me tell you, it's going to be useless your interrogation." He said.
"I don't think so Revan." Sion answered as he was walking around the table. "Since we discovered you were alive, we knew you had information about the holocrons, then we heard what the Jedi Council did to you." He said. "I know you still remember where the holocrons are."
"You're wrong Sion; I had no memory of the holocrons." Revan answered.
"We'll see." Sion said. "Have you ever heard about the Dxunian bull slug?"
"It's only a legend." Revan asked looking at the celling. Sion smirked while he was preparing something.
"No, it's real. Before you were…mind-wiped, you discovered this little slug on the Mandalorian moon of Dxun, but since you can't remember…" Sion said. He approached to the table and placed a silver bowl on the table next to Revan.
Revan's eyes wide and his heartbeat quickened as soon as he heard the slug. "This is the Dxunian bull slug." Sion said. "The Mandalorians used it to interrogate their prisoners." Revan turned his head to look at the slug, his heart froze in the instant he saw it and looked back at the celling.
"The slug enters through your mouth and travels through your body until it reaches the back of your head. Once the slug is there, it latches onto the brain stem and releases a toxin which makes you very susceptible and forces you to answer any question planted." Sion said grabbing a pair of tweezers and grabbed the slug. Revan looked at the slug briefly and took a deep breath.
"You know, when the days start to pass, the slug grows inside you and releases more toxins making you to suffer hallucinations and nightmares. You will be lucky if the slug doesn't kill you."
"So I'm going to ask you again, Revan. Where are the holocrons?" Sion asked holding the slug above Revan. Revan saw the slug moving desperately to free itself from the tweezers; he took a deep breath and started to recite the Jedi Code, "There is no emotion, there is peace…"
"As you want." Sion said. One officer grabbed a rubber hose and opened Revan's mouth, the other officer grabbed Revan from the ears and made his head back, then Sion released the slug in Revan's mouth. The slug started to travel through his body, in response Revan's body shook and he let out a cry of pain.
Meetra walked to her room, when she saw Atton lying in his bed. "Hey Atton." She said entering in the room.
"Hey babe." Atton said.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"You mean, besides staring at the ceiling of my room?" He asked joking.
Meetra chuckled. "You're bored, right?" She said.
"Yeah, since they put me this thing in my hand two days ago, I've been confined to this apartment; I have nothing to do besides playing pazaak with T3 or Mission." He said. "So, what you have been doing?" He asked.
Meetra let out a long sigh and sat on the bed. "Checking the repairs of the Hawk, Bao said that is going to be ready in a few days." She said.
"Good." Atton said. "Are you still concerned that we're going to Malachor to look for the holocrons?" He asked.
"Yes, it's not easy when you return to the place which cost your affiliation with the Jedi." She answered.
"You think we will find Revan?" Atton asked. Meetra took a deep breath and lay down next to Atton resting her head on his chest.
"I hope so." Meetra answered.
"I hope you don't mind, but I want to know when you met Revan." Atton said.
"I met him when we were kids, he always have been taking care of me like an older brother." Meetra answered.
"So, he is like your older brother?" Atton asked.
"Yes and I'm like her younger sister." She answered.
Atton chuckled and stared at Meetra, she looked in Atton's eyes and kissed him, when they broke apart they stayed in silence until they fell asleep.
"Are you sure he requested to see me?" Carth asked to the officer, they were walking down the corridor to the prison block.
"Yes sir. He asked for you." The officer answered.
"I don't understand this, why a Sith would surrender so easily?" Carth asked confused. When they reached at the cell where Kraig was, Carth interrogated him.
"I'm Admiral Carth Onasi, who are you?" He asked.
"I'm Kraig, Revan told me to talk with you." Kraig answered.
"Revan? Where did you meet him?" Carth asked.
"If you can find and bring Bastila Shan, I will talk with both of you I swear." Kraig said.
Carth was confused but still he went to talk with Bastila. Hours later they were walking to the cell. "Are you sure of this Carth?" She asked.
"I'm sure, he said that he knows Revan, but he will only talk if you are there." Carth answered.
"Kraig, she's here." Carth said when they arrived at Kraig's cell.
"You must be Bastila right?" Kraig asked.
"Yes, that's right; now tell me where did you meet Revan?" She asked.
"He was my cellmate back on the planet where we were imprisoned." Kraig answered.
"Where is this planet?" Bastila asked.
"Sorry, but I had been lock up for a very long time, that I never heard the name of the planet." Kraig said.
"Give us a reason why we should believe you." Carth said coldly.
"Well, if you're not going to believe me Admiral, maybe she will." Kraig said looking at Bastila.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
Kraig took something out and handled it to Bastila. "What's that?" Carth asked.
"I don't know." She said and examined the robe that Kraig gave her. "It's Revan's."