Malachor.

Now he knew why the people who spoke of this planet spoke of it in hushed tones with a stammer in their voice, if they even spoke of the planet at all.

Dustil was almost overwhelmed by the planet's sheer emptiness. Even in his time as a Sith apprentice on Korriban he had never experienced this. Korriban was a desolate planet much like Malachor but it still teemed with the ghosts of the long dead Sith. This planet just echoed with desolation, like it was in it's own vacuum.

Focus, remember your training.

He continued his precarious walk making sure to watch his feet so he didn't slip.

Now where are you going Exile?

He used the Force to push his perceptions across the valley. He smiled when he managed to feel the prescence of one Zane Stormblast, exiled Jedi Knight. The Exile was easy to sense on such an empty planet, his aura was like a bright candle in a dark room.

Dustil continued his walk along the cliff following Stormblast's aura. With the help of the Force and his years of physical training he was able to keep himself from falling. All he had to amuse himself was his own mind.

When I told Master I needed a vacation this was definitely not what I meant.

Dustil couldn't hide his sadness as he looked out the window of the shuttle to see Telos' scarred surface. His Master put a hand on his shoulder, "The planet will grow in strength again. You can feel it, yes?"

He nodded. "I was just remembering the bombardment. It's the first time I've been home in a while."

"You have to make sure to leave such memories in the past. We have to focus on our objective."

Dustil sighed and turned away from the window, "You're right Master. The best I can do for Telos is to focus on what we're doing now."

Juhani smiled at her apprentice, she had taken over his training three years ago and had grown to adore him very much.

"Master Jedis, we're here." The TSF officer spoke to them as he brought them down on the polar mesa.

"Thank you Lieutenant." And with that the two Jedi disembarked the shuttle and pulled up their hoods as they strode across the mesa. Dustil looked up into the sky and could see faint lights of the space battle raging over Telos, the Citadel floating ominously as it's fate was decided.

"Found it." Juhani called to him as he jogged to catch up to her.

She stood crouched by a small hidden door in the snow. She pulled off one of her gloves and placed the palm of her hand on the door. She closed her eyes and Dustil could feel her reach out to the Force. Small bursts of electricity began to pulse through her fingertips. After a few seconds of this Juhani removed her hand from the door and it sprang open.

"You always show off Master."

She just chuckled and the pair walked through the door, into the Academy.

Dustil's little excursion to Malachor V was his first mission without his Master. A test. Sometimes even he was doubtful of his abilities as a Jedi.

He thought of his time on Korriban. He had been so swallowed by darkness that it seemed like there would never be a light at the end of the tunnel.

But then Master Revan came. Master Revan believed in him, believed that he was worth saving and he had reunited Dustil with his father.

Focus.

He trotted down the trail making sure to avoid the poisonous gasses that spewed from craters in the cracked planet surface.

He managed to duck down right in the knick of time as the lightsaber hurling towards his head cut through the air.

Dustil barrel rolled across the ground and snapped back up to a standing position, igniting his own silver blade.

"Who the fuck are you?" his red haired assailant yelled to him as she summoned her golden blade back to her hand.

"I'm a Jedi!"

The red haired woman rushed towards him, swinging her weapon down in an arc to meet his.

"Yeah right, the Jedi are all dead."

Dustil pivoted backwards bringing up his blade in another defensive pose.

"If you reach out you may be surprised."

She stopped and he took the chance to use the Force and yank the blade from her hand. Her eyes widened when she realized he was telling the truth.

"But how?"

Dustil placed the woman's weapon on his belt, he stretched out with the Force and felt the woman's conscious and he gently prodded at her mind. She fell to the ground as he extinguished her mind into unconsciousness.

"Great" he muttered. He walked over to the woman and was surprised by how young she was. He pulled the woman up into a sitting position and easily lifted her over her shoulder. She was light as a feather.

A cascade of lightning cracked viciously across the sky and Dustil looked up to see the Ebon Hawk fall towards the surface of Malachor.

"Looks like I've got more walking to do..."

The door sprang open under Juhani's touch and the pair ignited both their weapons.

"Wow" Dustil muttered as they walked through the ornate hallways of the Academy.

"This Academy was for students who failed the Trials. They were sent to Telos and other planets to serve the Republic as farmers and scientists."

"Master, I feel unsettled."

"As do I. Something seems off here. But I cannot pinpoint exactly what it is."

"It feels like death."

"I agree. There has been battle here."

Wails began to echo through the chasmic halls. It was such a primal sound, that sounded like it was coming from everywhere at once, the sounds of a wounded animal bouncing and reverbarating off the high ceilings.

"Come on!" Juhani yelled.

In the meditation room they found her. Crouched over the bodies of several young girls. The room was shaking with her rage. When she saw them she looked up, the tears streaming off her face, she let out another scream.

"YOU WILL NOT TAKE ANYTHING MORE FROM ME."