Chapter Seventeen: Exchanges

Lorrik ducked back into his suite, the two notes held firmly in his hands. Jresh watched from the living room as the Human approached with a peculiar bounce in his step.

"Jresh, you need to take a look at this," Lorrik advised, holding out one of the sheets of flimsiplast.

The Pureblood extended a hand, slowly accepting the offered note. The warrior's eyes hovered over the sparse information, passing over it again and again, processing it over and over in his mind.

"That's the name of the man who killed your parents, right?" Lorrik softly asked.

The warrior continued to stare at the name etched onto the flimsiplast sheet. "Their deaths were at the hands of his apprentice, but… yes, this was the man ultimately responsible," Jresh stoically declared.

"Every one of us got a note like that. Something from before our lives at the Academy and a series of coordinates," Lorrik explained. "I think it's a gift. I think I convinced Vai to help us. He's trying to give us a piece of our lives back, I know it! Don't you see what this means? I thought it was all over. I thought we had nowhere to go. But now-"

Lorrik stopped mid-sentence when he saw his companion calmly rip up the note within his hands. He tore the sheet into halves over and over until there was little more than tatters. A moment later, he released them from his grasp, letting the scraps gently float down to the floor.

The inquisitor looked at the tattered note with wide eyes, stunned. "Jresh, why did-"

The Human found himself once again interrupted, this time by the Pureblood reaching around him and pulling him close. The warrior's arms constricted around his companion's shoulders, holding him and pressing his head to his chest. Lorrik remained silent, arms pinned to his side by his partner's tender yet firm embrace.

"Yesterday…" Jresh muttered, barely rising above a soft whisper. "When I sensed that you were in danger, I ran as fast as I could. Faster than I thought possible. I ran and I ran, only a single thing running through my mind. You. And the fact that I had to protect you. That if I didn't get there in time, I would lose you. But something happened along the way. I can remember the moment I set eyes upon the men attacking you. I was filled with an indescribable rage. In that moment, nothing could compare to the hate I felt toward the man who held your life in his hands. And so I used that hate, that rage, to fuel myself. To punish those men who threatened you. Though every move I made was deliberate and every action I took was calculated, I was not the one in control. It was like I was trapped inside my own body, forced to witness the events unfold around me. My movements, my actions, my words… they were mine, but they did not belong to me. And yet, I wanted each and every one of them. Only when I was sure that you were safe, only when I had killed those men, did I regain control. But even then, I hadn't. My heart continued to race. My senses remained heightened. The passage of time had been unbearably slowed. And though I wanted nothing more than for it to stop, it persisted. Some part of me wanted to preserve that feeling. That bloodlust. That power. But I knew I could not allow it. During that fight, I felt closer to the Force than I ever had, but I could also feel myself slipping away. The power I displayed threatened to consume me. Consume every part of me that desired that power in the first place. I had to focus the entirety of my mind on preserving what I truly desired, lest those desires become subservient to that consumption. I could not allow that power to take precedence. No power, no matter how great, is worth sacrificing who I am or what I care about."

As Lorrik remained locked in his partner's embrace, he could hear the warrior's heart beating in his chest. What was once a furious thumping had since been replaced by a calmed beat.

"I will not lose control and risk losing everything I have tried so hard to gain," Jresh softly declared. "I can train. I can fight. I can protect you without succumbing to that darkness. I cannot make that promise were I to meet my parents' killer. For me, there is nothing in my past worth returning to. For you, there is something worth holding onto. Something worth preserving. My family's gone. Yours isn't. I'll not see myself distracted by some vendetta, not while we remain embroiled in much more important matters. If we must leave the Academy, we leave together. I will stand by your side wherever you may go, because that is where I truly want to be."

Jresh slowly loosened his arms around Lorrik, eventually relinquishing his grip and taking a step back. The wide-eyed surprise the inquisitor displayed had given way to a soft appreciation. The two looked into one another's eyes as they realized that no matter how much had changed in the last few days, there was something in the other person that they could always rely upon. They protected one another, from things far more important that bodily harm. They provided shelter. They provided guidance. They provided a way forward.

"You know, twice now you've saved me from certain death," Lorrik stated, eyes firmly planted upon the Pureblood's visage. "And I've yet to properly thank you for it."

Jresh dipped his head, closing his eyes as he regained his composure. "You are my partner, you don't need to-"

He was suddenly interrupted by the Human taking hold of the warrior's robes, lifting himself up, and placing his lips upon the Pureblood's own. Jresh's eyes shot open to see his companion's face pressed against his as they shared a brief but tender kiss. Lorrik then broke away, ending the connection as quickly as he had initiated it. The two apprentices once again stood locked in one another's eyes. Lorrik retreated with a bashful smile whilst the warrior attempted to maintain his stoic demeanor. Such attempts would prove insufficient as the Pureblood's lips began to curl into a smile.

Hours passed. The Korriban sun beat down upon the eight apprentices as they stood outside the Academy halls. But that was the only familiarity they possessed toward their current predicament. Together they stood, arranged in the same line standing across from their master, only this time, there would be no trial. Instead, they stood, luggage and containers at their side, staring at the shuttle that was to ferry them offworld. Between them and the vessel was Lord Syrosk, garbed in black robes rather than his battle attire, looking upon his students with an unusual weariness behind his eyes.

"My apprentices," Syrosk rasped. "Our time on Korriban has come to an end. Though I know none of you possess fond memories of this world, you must undoubtedly understand the important part it has played in your training. As we depart, we are unfortunately leaving behind something that shaped all of you into the men and women you are today. This shuttle will take us to the orbital station above Korriban. From there, we will plan our journey in greater detail, but I'm afraid the time has come for us to leave the Academy."

"We're leaving. You're not," Lorrik declared. The Sith Lord arched his brow, studying his apprentice. The Human was utterly confident in his words. Not only that, but each of the seven other students were confident in them as well. They stood united, more so than ever before. More so than the trip to the wastes. More so than the trip to the tombs. Once more they were called upon to journey into the unknown, and they stood ready. But for the first time, their master was to make that journey with them. And for the first time, they would deny him.

"Do you plan on elaborating?" Syrosk curiously asked.

"You said that even though we were banished, you could remain if you so chose," Lorrik recalled.

"Indeed. But your training cannot continue so long as I remain here," Syrosk declared.

"Then maybe it's time for our training to end," Lorrik stated. The Sith Lord remained silent, not wanting to interrupt the Human's musings. "We've learned pretty much everything you could teach us, it's just up to us to hone our skills, right? We don't need the Academy or its grounds to do that. We can continue our training elsewhere, readying ourselves as we always have for what it surely to come."

"And that would be?" Syrosk rasped.

"Our confrontation with Tash," Lorrik declared. "You think everything we've done, everything we've been through is over, just because we're being forced off this dust ball? When have things ever been that simple? Whether or not this was orchestrated by Tash, he's not going to stop. And even if he's stopped caring about us, there are still scores of students in that Academy that remain bound to his will. You can still operate within the Academy. You can still keep an eye on his operations. He thinks us defeated. Disbanded. He thinks you've given up. And maybe you have. But we haven't. We will continue to fight until each and every one of us is free from his clutches once and for all. If you truly want to do right by us, stay here, watch for new developments, and trust in the teachings you've provided us."

"Were I to stay, where would you all go?" Syrosk asked.

"We can't tell you," Lorrik bluntly answered. "We all have our paths to take. Paths we must walk alone. But with the bonds we have forged, we will never truly be separated from one another. And as hard as you may have tried keeping yourself detached from your students, we all share that same bond with you. But if you require something more tangible, you can contact us through the datapads you gave us when we first began our training. When the time comes for us to reconvene, we will do so. Until then, we will spend our time accordingly. You've been a great master, and we remain your apprentices, but the time has come for us to depart."

The Sith Lord looked upon the Human, then the others, each of then sharing the same sentiment. Syrosk processed his student's words, wondering if this was truly the best course of action, but the determined glint in the inquisitor's eyes provided a sufficient answer.

"Very well," Syrosk said with the subtle nod of his horned head. "I will remain on Korriban and keep tabs on Tash's operations. You are all free to go and act as you please. I trust in your judgment."

"Thank you, master," Lorrik offered with a respectful bow of his head.

"No. Thank you. All of you," Syrosk rasped. "You have all proven yourselves capable and determined beyond measure. I am proud to have taught you these past months. Looking at each of you, I see the greatness I envisioned all those years ago when I set out to find the next generation of Sith." The Sith Lord began to walk toward his apprentices, stopping only a couple steps away from them. "And you Lorrik, you have managed to defy nearly all of my expectations."

"Here's hoping that's a good thing," Lorrik said with a chuckle. The master accepted the jovial offering, but maintain his usual gruff stoicism.

"There is something I wish for you to have," Syrosk declared as he reached beneath the folds of his robes. His rough hand returned holding an amulet attached to a chain that circled the Sith Lord's neck. Carefully, he lifted the necklace, maneuvering the amulet up and over his horned head. The student looked at it with a contained fascination. The jeweled amulet was something of simple beauty, a dark yellow crystal enwrapped with silver. "This amulet belonged to my master. He passed it down to me during my training as a Seer. It provided focus. Accentuated my abilities. Because of it, my visions became clearer. Because of it, I was able to find all of you amongst the vastness of this galaxy. I am aware of your distaste for precognition, but I would like to pass it on to you as my master did to me."

Lorrik stared at the chained amulet held within him master's hands. With wide eyes, he carefully reached out, taking the prized possession in his hands, studying the golden gem closely.

"I'm not sure what to say," Lorrik admitted, somewhat astonished.

"In many ways, you remind me of my master. It seemed fitting that you be the next to receive it," Syrosk explained.

"Thank you… but…"

"But?" Syrosk repeated with confusion.

"This gem isn't anything special," Lorrik admitted. The Sith Lord offered a firm arch of his brow. "This kind of crystal, I mean, it's valuable in the cosmetic markets, but they don't have any Force properties. This is the stuff me and the other slaves mined before I came to the Academy."

Syrosk continued to stare at his apprentice, for the first time in life truly dumbfounded. His mouth articulated, but no words passed his rough lips. The Sith Lord was unable to properly convey the jumbled thoughts running through his head.

"Why would my master have me put my faith in some worthless trinket?" Syrosk muttered.

"Oh, it's far from worthless. Beyond the monetary value, I mean," Lorrik stated. "It still gave you focus. It still gave you something to believe in. Only instead of drawing upon some outside Force to grant you power, you drew upon the bond between you and your master. You drew upon the power already within you. Everything you've done has been because of you, not some artifact. What you believed to be granting your insight, was simply a construct to get you to belief in yourself."

"He must have died before he could have told me the truth," whispered to himself. "Or maybe he never had any intention of telling me. He knew how important he was to me. He knew if he ever died there would be no one to replace him. So he gave me something to believe in, because I would be too stubborn to believe in myself. He accepted his death, because he believed in me, even if I didn't. After all this time, he managed to impart one final lesson." The Sith Lord let out a soft chortle. "I'd like for you to have it nonetheless, Lorrik."

The apprentice replied with a warm nod, placing the amulet around his neck.

"My students, we've delayed long enough," Syrosk declared, a subtle warmth in his tone. "Your shuttle awaits. Your transport off the orbital station should arrive in a few hours. Safe travels."

Without another word, the students' master began his trek back toward the Academy, turning his back on his apprentices for the last time. The eight Sith watched the Lord march along the dirt path, arms folded neatly behind his back. Without further delay, they shared one look amongst each other and picked up their luggage, carrying the assortment of bags and containers onto the shuttle in front of them.

The eight apprentices piled into the vessel's passenger bay, neatly storing their luggage and preparing themselves for the journey ahead. With everyone in their seats, the shuttle lifted itself from the landing pad, beginning its ascent toward the Korriban sky, followed by a quick trip past its atmosphere.

"This is our first time going into space since arriving isn't it?" Lorrik casually stated.

"Is anything not nonchalant for you?" Arlia accusingly asked. "How did you know Syrosk would just let us go like this?"

"I didn't. Then again, maybe I just did," Lorrik stated. "I don't think he truly had a plan for what came next. He told us himself, there were few options for where we could possibly continue our training. This is for the best. We get to go where we please without interference."

"Yeah, I noticed you didn't tell him about where we plan on going," Arlia continued.

"Where ARE we going?" Kar'ai asked. "I mean, I know we plan on following up on the coordinates mysteriously left for us, but how do we go about getting there? I don't think we can go about this with a single shuttle."

"Syrosk didn't say how we'd be leaving the orbital station," Ryloh stated.

"Suppose we had to fly together, do we seek out the nearest major starport and book our own rides from there?" Kar'ai suggested.

"We don't exactly have the means to pay for our gallivanting around the galaxy," Ryloh stated.

"I think I can take care of that," Arlia declared as she reached beneath her seat. Slowly, she pulled out a small footlocker and maneuvered ahead of her feet. Undoing its latches, she opened the container's lid, revealing a colorful assortment of extravagant and rare lightsaber crystals. "The ones we procured from our delve into the tomb. Took a purple one for myself. Figured the others would come in handy sooner or later. Since I plan on visiting Nar Shaddaa, I can sell these for a hefty sum while I'm there. That'll give us a pool of credits more than able to cover our expenses."

"Arlia? Sharing?" Lorrik joked.

The purple Twi'lek cast her sharpened gaze toward the Human. "Keep that up and you're on your own."

"I'm only just kidding," Lorrik warmly offered. "But, uh, you wouldn't happen to have another purple crystal in there or anything?"

"Nope, just the one. You're stuck with blue," Arlia teased.

"What other colors do you have?"

"Come on, Lorrik. These are meant to earn us some credits. Stop being so selfish," Arlia playfully chided. The Human offered the grinning Twi'lek a sideward glare and he fell silent. As the cabin grew quiet, only the soft hum of the shuttle's mechanical working struck the apprentices' ears.

"You know, I wish these things had viewports," Lorrik muttered.

As the minutes passed, the students could sense the vessel approaching its targeted destination. Eventually, the shuttle touched down in one the hangars of Korriban's orbital station. The eight apprentices calmly gathered their belongings as they exited the craft, stepping out onto the cold metallic floor of the station. The students looked in awe toward the outward face of the hangar, seeing the planet they had spent the last decade of their lives on surrounded by the vastness of space.

The sight beyond the chamber's magnetic barrier was simplistic and viewed by countless individuals, but it was something utterly new to them. Ever since they were brought to Korriban, they had been strictly terrestrial beings. Now, they saw how little Korriban was amongst the surrounding astral sea. They continued to admire the image, until a station official arrived to guide them deeper into the orbital station. Luggage in hand, the eight apprentices headed toward the lobby where they would await their next transport.

Walking amongst the ordered architecture of the station, the students saw passing Imperial engineers and technicians going about their daily routines. Armed security patrolled and guarded the station, panning their gazes over the travelers from beneath their faceless helmets. The students found themselves amongst something new. The station resembled little from Korriban's surface structures. The peoples populating the station ranged from simple to benign. The eight apprentices slowly realized that Korriban and the Academy were unique amongst the galaxy, their journey ahead promising a litany of new experiences.

The students settled down in the station's lobby. Sitting on benches, surrounded by their belongings, there was little more for them to do but wait. Time passed. First minutes. Then hours. The apprentices wondered what awaited them, and whether it intended to arrive any time soon. Just as they were about to think themselves abandoned, one of the station's staff approached them, informing the students that Syrosk had arranged their transport. The plainly garbed Human then led the eight apprentices toward one of the station's many hangars.

Passing the threshold of a large bulkhead door, the students were greeted with the sight of four shuttles situated in two pairs on opposite sides of the hangar.

"Which one is ours?" Lorrik asked.

"All of them," the attendant explained.

"Has anyone noticed our master has a strange knack for acquiring shuttles?" Kar'ai asked.

"Perks of being a Sith Lord," Arlia replied.

"So we each get our own shuttle," Lorrik stated. "Does each pair have someone who can fly said shuttle?"

"Each vessel possesses its own Astromechanical Logistics Droid," the attended explained.

"Does each pair have someone who can converse with an Astromechanical Logistics Droid?" Lorrik asked as the station attendant ducked away.

"Is fine. No worry," Nesk briskly offered, already heading toward one of the docked vessels. As he and Vurt approached the nearest shuttle, they left the other three pairs scratching their heads.

"I guess there's really nothing more for us to say to one another," Lorrik muttered.

"No, I suppose there isn't," Arlia replied. Moving to the Human's front, the female Twi'lek extended her hand. The fellow inquisitor accepted, and the two amicably shook hands. "Well, Lorrik, it's been interesting to say the least. Do try not to die, you've a bad habit of that as of late."

The Human offered a smile and the two parted ways. As Arlia headed toward one of the shuttles, Isorr locked eyes with the Pureblood.

"We didn't get a chance to finish our duel," Isorr stated. "I hope to remedy that one day."

"I'll be waiting," Jresh stoically declared. The two warriors offered a brief nod of their heads as the Zabrak caught up with his partner. Now only Lorrik, Jresh, Kar'ai, and Ryloh remained.

"Honestly, is this how you saw any of this panning out?" Kar'ai asked.

"Not in the slightest," Lorrik warmly offered. The Rattataki replied with a light chuckle.

"Thanks for everything you've done. You know, keeping us together, keeping us alive," Kar'ai listed. "We were lucky to have you, even if it meant withstanding your constant chatter on occasion." The warrior offered a slight bow of her head before departing toward one of the shuttles.

Ryloh began to followed her, but stopped after taking a few steps, turning back toward the Human. The blue Twi'lek dropped one of the sacks he carried onto the floor, loosening its bindings. Reaching inside, he returned with a black, featureless facemask in his hands.

"This is the artifact we managed to procure from our trip to the tombs. I thought you should have it," Ryloh stated. Lorrik carefully took hold of the smooth facemask, feeling a strange energy coursing through it. "If you wear it, it masks your identity, your thoughts, your very presence. You seem to run into the most trouble out of all of us, so I thought you might be able to find a use for it. We never liked it that much. Using it puts you in a very insular state. I felt disconnected, even from Kar'ai, when wearing it. I know that wouldn't appeal to you neither, but I figured if things really got bad, you might find use in it. Plus, Kar'ai thinks it's kind of creepy."

Lorrik gently placed the artifact amongst his packed belongings. "Thanks, Ryloh. I really appreciate it." With that, the two inquisitors parted ways. Jresh and Lorrik were alone as the other pairs began loading into their own shuttles.

"So. This is it," Jresh declared. "After all these years, we're finally leaving Korriban behind."

"Yup."

"I take it that means you're ready?"

"Yup."

"Alright, let's get going then."

"Let's."

Luggage firmly in hand, Lorrik and Jresh made their way toward the fourth shuttle.