Chapter Nineteen: Guides
There was an eerie quiet as Jresh walked the empty halls of Yerrig's palace. With each step, the sounds of his feet colliding with the pristine floor echoed throughout the grandiose chambers. The warrior made his way to Yerrig's office, only to discover that it was as empty as the halls that preceded it. The plans and diagrams, that once covered the room with an organized chaos, had been utterly disheveled and tossed about. Terminals had been accessed, the safe on the far wall had been rummaged through, and Lorrik was nowhere to be found.
Stepping inside, the Pureblood found himself oddly intrigued by the slaver's base of operations. He passed his gaze over the works that now littered the floor. Maps. Surveys. Blueprints. Designs that by themselves were nothing more than the benign tools of industry. It was the will of a single man that determined the fates of every person on this planet. Yerrig held such a place of prominence, that if only the slightest of minor details regarding him had been altered, the ramifications would have been vast.
A different ideal. A different attitude. A different strategy. Any difference at all regarding this single entity, and the lives of hundreds would have been fundamentally altered. Only now did the warrior realize, that with the simplest and easiest of motions, he forever altered the fates of everyone tied to this man. He had removed an entire element from a complex equation, single handedly forcing a new destiny to emerge. Years in the Academy had conditioned the Pureblood to believe that his actions could only directly affect those around him. He once believed that he could affect nothing beyond the reach of his own hands. Such limitations would be proven false. And for the things he could get his hands on, he'd find their reach quiet extensive.
Stirring himself from his own thought, Jresh was ready to leave in search of his companion, when the encased crystal upon Yerrig's desk caught his eye. The warrior picked up the glass cube and held it in the palm of his hand. Within the display case, the golden crystal shimmered as the room's light passed through it. It was a thing of beauty, enough color shining through its translucent structure whilst remaining free of imperfections. As Jresh studied it further, he realized that the crystal seemed oddly unfamiliar.
Stepping into the hallway, the Pureblood maintained his grip on the encased crystal, carrying it with him as he ventured toward the domicile of Lorrik's parents. As he arrived, he could hear the warm murmurs of conversation on the other side of the door. Lightly tapping his knuckles on his entrance, Jresh paused for a moment before entering.
The door rescinded, and the warrior was greeted with the pleasant sight of Lorrik and his parents sitting in the living area. The inquisitor and his family wore smiles they had not worn in quite some time. All three of them housed an internal pain, physical and emotional, but it could not dampen the overwhelming joy each of them displayed. It was a sight unlike any the Pureblood had laid eyes on before. It was a scene he long ago thought impossible to attain for people like himself and his partner. And yet, right before him, Lorrik found himself in the company of those he loved most. More so now that Jresh had walked through the door.
"Jresh! Come over here, have a seat," Lorrik welcomed, patting the adjacent cushion on the couch. The warrior remained stilled for a moment, watching as the warm faces of the Velash family fell upon him.
"Yerrig's gone," Jresh softly stated, as he made his way toward his partner.
The inquisitor breathed a sigh of relief. "So that's it then. Somehow I thought it'd be less simple. I guess I'm so used to dealing with other Sith… it's weird seeing someone so afraid of me."
The warrior took a seat beside his companion, setting the encased crystal on the adjacent armrest. "The feeling is mutual."
"Really? I mean, don't take this the wrong way, but it seems only natural that some people should fear you," Lorrik jokingly declared.
"I meant how weird it was seeing someone afraid of you," Jresh corrected.
Lorrik offered his partner a playful jab to the arm. "You don't have to say it so nonchalantly." Meanwhile, Lorrik's parents looked upon the two Sith with a hesitant curiosity. "Oh, I don't think I properly introduced you… Jresh, this is Meylin and Garen Velash."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Jresh said with the bow of his head.
"Likewise," Meylin stated. "Lorrik's been telling us a lot about you."
"Has he?" Jresh muttered, playfully arching his brow.
"I wanted to make sure they were comfortable with the whole 'Sith' thing," Lorrik admitted. "Didn't want there to be any confusion regarding me or you."
"And how far did you get explaining the 'whole Sith thing'?" Jresh asked.
"Not very," Meylin answered for her son. The mother let out a soft chuckle. "He was too busy asking about my arm."
"All I'm saying is that we can get you a cybernetic one," Lorrik stated, scratching the back of his head. "Artificial limbs aren't that expensive, and we're going to have some credits coming in."
"We are?" Jresh asked.
"Assuming Arlia manages to sell her crystals," Lorrik reminded. "It's not like I'm going to need them, so whatever my cut ends up being, I want to use it helping out my parents and the other slaves."
"Yerrig left behind a considerable amount of wealth, did he not?" Jresh asked. "I promised a portion to what remained of his security to protect the freed slaves. The rest could be spent helping the workers start new lives."
"There should more than enough for that," Garen said. The father spoke with his son's candor, but his voice possessed a heavy gravel in its tone. "Most of the workers would want nothing more than a handful of credits and a ship offworld."
"What about repurposing the mines?" Lorrik suggested. "Replace the workers with droids. Build suitable housing. Buy some detoxifiers, clean up the area, turn this place into somewhere worth living. I mean, it would be a challenge, but it would be home. And profits from the mines could go directly to the settlement."
"This place is no home," Garen softly declared. "Even if we wiped away every last trace of Yerrig's operations, this place is forever stained by his actions."
"Are you sure?" Lorrik asked. "I mean, I can understand wanting to leave someplace behind you, but there aren't a lot of better options out there. The galaxy's a big place… but an extremely limited one as well."
"Life is limited, Lorrik," Garen muttered. "All we can do is hope, and pray, that we might be given some semblance of control over those limitations. When you were taken ten years ago, your mother and I were 'freed', given a place to live amongst luxury, cared for in almost every way imaginable… and we were miserable. Utterly, utterly miserable. Not knowing whether it would last into the next day. Being stuck here. Trapped. Limited. But we weren't slaves, we had been given a new life, we should have been overjoyed. And for the first few days, after we came to terms with your departure, we were. But there's a difference between giving someone a new life, and giving them the chance at a better one. You can help these people. That, I believe wholeheartedly. But if you attempt to dictate their lives, regardless of your intentions, they'll resent you as much as Yerrig."
Lorrik bit his lip as his eyes fell to the floor. "I just want what's best for you. What's best for them."
"We can't decide what's best for others," Garen stated. "We can try to justify it. We'll say we know better. We'll say we're looking out for them. We'll say that everything we do, we do because it is absolutely necessary. But none of us are perfect. None of us will ever be perfect. The best we can do, is offer one another guidance. Understanding that, marks the difference between a leader and a tyrant. A mentor and a controller. A parent… and something else."
"It seems like telling other people how to live their lives is a Sith tradition," Lorrik said, tearing his gaze from the floor. In a single, swift motion, the inquisitor lifted himself from his seat. "Luckily, I've never considered myself much of a traditionalist."
Moving toward the domicile's exit, Lorrik looked back to his family and partner.
"You stay here. I'm going to go make an announcement."
With a smile gracing his lips, the inquisitor ducked out of the living area, leaving Jresh alone with the Human's parents. There was an awkward silence as the Pureblood sat across from his companion's family, who looked to him without an ounce of trepidation or discomfort. The same could not be said for the warrior.
"I should be with him… in case he needs help," Jresh declared, trying his best to maintain his composed stoicism.
"Go ahead," Meylin advised, smile upon her face, her words followed by firm nod from her husband. Jresh offered a nod of his own, taking a step toward the exit. The warrior paused, picking up the encased crystal before resuming his trek. Stepping out into the vacant halls of Yerrig's palace, Jresh could see his partner heading for the deceased slave master's offices.
"Lorrik," Jresh called out, before rushing to catch up with his companion. The inquisitor halted his pace, allowing the Pureblood to take his place by his side.
"What's the matter?" Lorrik teased. "The parents make you uncomfortable?"
"I wouldn't say that," Jresh stated.
"Of course you wouldn't," Lorrik offered with a chuckle. "Then again, what we're willing to say and what we truly feel are oft unaligned, are they not?"
"Yes, I was uncomfortable," Jresh bluntly admitted, maintaining his rigid gait and stoic demeanor. "Your mother and father are kind, loving people. They possess traits I had long since stopped believing in. Seeing them care, hearing them speak, it reminds me of my own parents. A thought simultaneously uplifting and burdening. Sitting in there, I start to forget about these last two years. I start to forget about Tash and Syrosk. I start to forget that I am a Sith. Things that I know I can't afford to forget. Not now. Not until our work is done."
The inquisitor was surprised with his partner's candor. "Wow, I honestly wasn't expecting you to be so open. Any other admissions you'd care to make?" Lorrik teasingly inquired.
"I killed Yerrig," Jresh stated. The inquisitor stopped dead in his tracks.
"What?" Lorrik muttered, confusion overtaking his face. The Pureblood stopped ahead of his companion.
"I asked if he was willing and able to start up a new operation elsewhere. He answered yes on both accounts," Jresh explained. "That made him a threat and a liability, so I made sure he wouldn't… couldn't hurt anyone else."
"I see," Lorrik replied, no hint of surprise or displeasure in his voice. "A part of me wanted him dead. A part of me wanted to wrap my hands around his throat and watch the life leave his eyes."
"No. It's better that you didn't. That's not you," Jresh declared.
"Oh, but it's okay for me to make you do it?" Lorrik offered, a slight whimper in his voice.
"It was my decision. My choice," Jresh emphatically stated. " I was protecting you, just as I had done a few days ago. Only this time, I acted not out of blind rage, but a centered calm. I could not risk Yerrig starting the cycle all over again, but neither could I risk the same fate I suffered befalling you. I protect you, not because you are weak, but because you are strong. And I would see that strength preserved. Cultivated. Allowed to flourish."
The inquisitor locked eyes with his companion, and the two shared a silent, impassioned connection.
"I love you, I hope you realize that," Lorrik offered, as his lips curled into a smile.
"I know," Jresh quickly replied, wearing a smile of his own.
"Come on, I have a speech to give," Lorrik stated as he resumed his journey toward the Yerrig's office. The Pureblood remained where he stood for a moment as he arched his brow.
"Speech?" Jresh muttered to himself.
Within the disorganized mess that was Yerrig's primary place of operations, Lorrik moved with calculated steps amongst the terminals that lined the walls.
"When I was poking around earlier, I uncovered Yerrig's communications systems," Lorrik stated. "This terminal here's linked to every mine, every house, every building within the man's domain. It's time to give the workforce an update."
Placing his hands on the communications terminal, the inquisitor leaned in close as he opened a channel with every available speaker.
"Attention," Lorrik began, his voice calm but firm. "My name is Lorrik Velash. I am here to announce that Olto Yerrig is dead. His mines will be closed. His slaves will be freed. His enforcers will be relieved of their duty. His funds will be divided and distributed amongst you all, provided you do not take this newfound revelation as a reason to lash out against one another. This is the beginning of a new life. You are no longer slaves. You are no longer slave masters. You are people. People who can accept the gift that I offer, or receive nothing. The choice is yours. Transports will arrive in the next few days. They will take you to the locations of your choosing. Once you are off this planet, you control your own fate. And the instant you are off this planet, others will try to strip you of that control. No matter where you go in this galaxy, there are those who would seek to enslave you, literally and figuratively. Those who seek sanctuary amongst the Republic will find themselves buried and forgotten amongst the masses. Those who journey to Imperial space will find themselves tested if not outright broken. Those who seek to hide amongst the neutral territories will find themselves in the domain of men who make Yerrig seem benevolent by comparison. I cannot promise a good life, but I can promise you all a second chance. How you utilize it is up to you. Please, everyone return to your quarters, and plan for your futures. Dismissed."
Lorrik closed the outward channel and tore himself away from the communications terminal, taking and releasing a deep breath as he did so.
"Succinct, but effective," Jresh offered.
"I can only hope no one tries to do anything stupid," Lorrik admitted. "It's hard letting go of a grudge. Not to mention, the other workers didn't exactly have the luxury of living in the palace for the past ten years like my parents. We lost the enforcers their jobs and surrounded them with a bunch of newly freed slaves, whilst they still have their equipment and weapons. It's a recipe for disaster."
"It seems like most of what we do is," Jresh declared. "Sometimes, all you can do is act, then endure."
"I guess so," Lorrik stated. "Come on, let's unload our stuff from the shuttle. We're going to be living here for the next few days."
The Pureblood nodded before stepping out of the office, the inquisitor following soon after. The two Sith walked the halls, side by side, satisfied with the results they had achieved. As the pair approached the palace's front entrance, Lorrik noticed the encased crystal his companion continued to hold within his hand.
"I didn't know you were one for souvenirs," Lorrik joked. The Pureblood raised the ornament, holding it in front of him as he continued to walk.
"It's not a souvenir. It's just…" Jresh began, before trailing off, a hint of confusion in his voice.
"Something the matter?" Lorrik asked.
"Just… a bit of curiosity," Jresh admitted. The inquisitor looked to his partner with an arch in his brow.
"What? You'll confess to being uncomfortable with my parents but won't tell me your thoughts about a simple trinket?" Lorrik teased.
The warrior continued to stare into the golden crystal for a few seconds, before finally breaking his silence. "This is what this entire operation was about, correct? This is what Yerrig was digging for?"
"Yeah," Lorrik replied. "Luxury gem. Pretty rare. I think Yerrig's charts listed only a few planets in seven systems in which it could be found."
"I can't help but notice that this crystal is different from the one I supposedly had already seen," Jresh explained. "Different transparency, colorization, makeup. I'm starting to question whether Syrosk's amulet is really composed of the same material. But if that were the case, then I'd wonder what sort of gem the amulet actually holds. And then I wonder what reason you would have to mislead Syrosk about its origin." The inquisitor continued to walk in silence, eyes affixed to the path ahead. "Lorrik?"
"The line between guidance and manipulation is a blurred one," Lorrik softly declared. "That fact, is the curse of the Sith. One that Syrosk learned too late. One I continue to puzzle with. Regardless of that amulet's power or purpose, the end result was that it held power over Syrosk. Restricted him. I needed him to believe in people, not things. I needed him to believe in himself. I needed him to believe that others believed in him."
"So you lied to him."
"I lied, so that he would accept the truth," Lorrik admitted. "His master believed in him. His students believed in him. If not for Tash, if not for the rest of the Order looking down upon him since they first acknowledged his presence, maybe he'd have reason to believe in himself. I gave him a reason when he couldn't find one."
Jresh looked deep into the shimmering crystal as he two Sith continued their journey in silence. Soon, they found themselves amongst the palace exterior, Imperial shuttle firmly within their sights.