Chapter Eight: Fates
The chamber of the eleventh vault was quiet, stilled, as the two powerful figures stared one another down. They stood opposite one another, so near and yet so far. They had spent much of the last decade stars apart, but never out of touch, never beyond the other's sights, never isolated, as much as one would like the other to think. The two Sith tightly gripped the ignited lightsabers in their hands, beams of crimson softly humming at their sides.
"Well, what are you waiting for Syrosk?" Tash calmly asked of his opponent, the entire length of the chamber remaining between the two combatants. The alien remained silent, continuing to cast his sharpened gaze at the unsettlingly warm Darth. The Human carried an uncompromising pride, a snide sense of superiority in every fiber of his being. "Could it be you know exactly how this is going to end?"
"If I did, would that mean I was right all those years ago?" Syrosk rasped, breaking his silence. The Darth offered the stern arch of his brow, his warm countenance giving way to a curt stoicism. Tash looked to the alien with a dulled expression, unwilling to give Syrosk the satisfaction of emoting.
The Human took his first step away from the vault. Then another. Then another. Syrosk broke his stilled stance as well, slowly closing the gap between the two as they simultaneously made their way to the center of the chamber. The pair of Sith came to a stop just out of reach of one another, leaving a safe buffer between them as they continued their exchange of looks and stares.
"After all this time, of all the things you could have chosen to hang on to, you decided it best to continue opposing me," Tash stated, maintaining his sense of eloquence, but abandoning all pretense of cordiality.
"Someone had to," Syrosk replied.
"No. Someone really didn't," Tash countered. "You could have stayed away. You may have faded into obscurity, but you'd still have your life."
"The life I was left was no life," Syrosk rasped.
"We all have to make do with the hand we're dealt," Tash declared.
"It's not so easy for people like me and the acolytes to accept what we're given."
"It isn't about acceptance. It's about making the best of what you're given. Not giving up because you had some vision."
"Well you're in luck," Syrosk stated, raising his weapon. "Because I have no intention of giving up. I'll not permit you to succeed here, Tash."
"I don't think you have much say in the matter," Tash replied, raising his own weapon.
"I shall speak regardless, until I draw my last breath," Syrosk declared.
"Alright. Let's talk."
Tash pushed his feet off the ground, gliding along the floor toward his opponent, readying a powerful strike. Syrosk reaffirmed his stance, raising his guard to meet the charging Darth.
Tash swung wide with an equal balance of speed and power, his blade clashing with his opponent's. The entire chamber shook as the two collided, as did the defender's arm. The blow was mere posturing, a strike delivered not to harm but to display the raw strength behind it. The Human was battle-hardened. For all his schemes and manipulations, he was a more than accomplished combatant, earning the title of Darth on the battlefield. Every motion was fueled by the Force, every muscle fiber pulsing with energy. Beneath Tash's aged, stoic visage, was a passion that carried him through the war, drove him forward, allowed him to persist where others would falter. And all of this was communicated in a single blow. It was a reminder, so that Syrosk might not die in ignorance.
There were sparks amidst the shattered and torn consoles of the downed shuttle. The transport's system were nonfunctioning, lifeless aside from the repeated siren needlessly informing its passengers of the befallen catastrophe. In the half of the cockpit not shredded and exposed to the open, Jresh slumped forward in his co-pilot's chair.
There was a low groan as the Pureblood stirred, pushing himself up from the dashboard. Wiping the blood from his forehead, the armored warrior immediately began surveying his surroundings. Frantically he looked about the cockpit for his companion, only to find himself alone. Jresh quickly began searching for his partner, poking his head into the passenger bay with no evidence of injury in his movements. Looking through the giant hole in the right half of the cockpit, the warrior saw the ship had embedded itself into one of Coruscant's numerous skyscrapers.
Beyond the chunk of missing shuttle was the interior of a commercial building, an office that had already been abandoned. Numerous desks and personal data terminals were pushed away and overturned in the invaded room. Resting amongst them was a lone robed figure lying prone upon the office floor.
Jresh immediately leapt from the disabled shuttle, passing through the metallic wound and rushing to his companion's side. Placing a gauntleted hand on his partner, the warrior was greeted with the irritated groans of the inquisitor. Relief washed over the Pureblood. They were both alive, and neither seemed to have sustained any significant injury. Taking hold of Lorrik's hand, Jresh carefully lifted his companion from the floor. The two surveyed their surroundings, taking note of the important details.
"We crashed," Lorrik nonchalantly declared.
"I noticed," Jresh stoically replied.
"This is the wrong building," Lorrik added.
"We had almost arrived. This tower is likely adjacent to our target," Jresh explained.
"Then we better get moving," Lorrik stated, taking the first steps deeper into the building.
Jresh noticed his partner favoring a leg as he walked, but sensed no pain in the inquisitor's mind. He moved forward with an unwavering resolve, unwilling to see their progress halted. The warrior moved to his companion's side, relishing in his confidence, offering his own so that they might sate each other.
Within the large chamber of the eleventh vault, Tash and Syrosk were embroiled in a tempestuous duel. Each strike, each swing of the blade, seeped in the power of the Force. Decades upon decades spent honing their craft provided the Sith with a level of skill reserved for the greatest of their Order.
Tash controlled the flow of battle, lashing out alongside advancing steps whilst Syrosk remained on the defensive. The time for subtle maneuvering had long since passed. Now was the time for unbridled combat. Neither was content with the other's presence, seeking only to render the them as lifeless as the Republic defenders strewn about the chamber.
Seeing himself driven into a corner, the alien Sith Lord stood his ground as the Darth brought his saber down. The two connected, holding firm, blades sparking as they maintained contact with one another. The Sith pushed against one another, teeth gritted, eyes sharpened, but neither would yield.
"What are you hoping to accomplish here, Syrosk?" Tash asked, not breaking away from the clash.
"I'm taking my students back," Syrosk rasped, putting the entirety of his weight behind his lightsaber. The two continued to cross swords, energy flashing between them.
"As always, you act beyond your capabilities," Tash countered. The alien pressed forward, not with his weapon, but with his skull. Driving his cranium forward, Syrosk delivered a swift headbutt to his opponent, the tip of his right horn being clipped by the crossed blades between them.
The Human reeled from the first direct blow of the duel, clutching at his nose as he stumbled back. Before he could press the advantage, Syrosk felt an overwhelming wave of telekinetic energy wash over him. The shockwave emanating from Tash's outstretched palm crashed against him, sending the alien sliding backward as he struggled to keep his feet firmly planted upon the ground. As his knees scraped against the metallic flooring, Syrosk finally came to a halt with a few added meters between himself and his opponent. He could see the severed tip of his horn on the ground in front of him, as well as the bloodied face of Tash.
The Darth released a blunt snarl as a stream of crimson lightly poured from his nostrils. "They were never your students, Syrosk. I control them! I control their lives! If not for me, you and every one of them would be dead!"
"Is this the point where I'm supposed to thank you?" Syrosk rasped, lifting himself from his knee.
"I'd never expect you to understand. After all these years, you remain just as blind as always. I tried to save you. From your master. From the other Sith. And you rewarded me with nonsense and slander."
"All you've ever wanted was control," Syrosk countered. "I had served my purpose. Gathered you acolytes to use as you saw fit. After that, you had no problem casting me aside. I simply provided you a means to justify it to your apprentice."
"Vai recognized your willingness to surrender yourself to your visions himself," Tash declared. "I have never been dishonest with him."
"Then why does he believe this operation's intent is to benefit the acolytes?" Syrosk asked. Tash offered the stern arch of his brow toward the alien. "That's right. I've conversed with your apprentice. Mere days ago in fact. I don't suppose he made you aware of that fact."
The Human displayed a cold smirk. "Vai is free to act as he pleases. A certain level of independence behooves the trust I've placed in him. But what makes you think I've lied to him?"
"Because that's what you do," Syrosk rasped. "You lie. You manipulate others into doing your work and then reap the benefits."
"Are you any different?" Tash countered. "If given the same opportunities could you honestly say you wouldn't take them. I mean, come on Syrosk, it comes with the territory. The image your master painted for you of the Sith couldn't have been all sunshine and rainbows."
"My master taught me about personal worth. About honor. About bettering the Empire, instead of destroying it from within with wanton selfishness," Syrosk declared.
"And if you knew what my master left me, you'd understand the necessity of the actions I've taken," Tash defiantly stated. "You think I'm selfish? You think I'm not bettering the Empire? You think those acolytes would be better off serving you? Wrong on all accounts. But that's your problem. You're never wrong, are you? You can't even fathom the possibility, because your master led you to believe you possessed a connection to some omniscient source. Your master instilled a petulant idea in your head, and you proliferated it to your students. You ruined their chances within the Empire, just as Omnus ruined yours. I thought that after everything had been taken from you, you would roll over just as easily as when you were beholden to your visions. That you would fade away, no longer able to spread your corruptive influence to other Sith. I was mistaken. As always, you chose to persists only when it could harm yourself or others. I spared you because you were once a friend, because I thought maybe you could change your ways. But after all this time you still blindly oppose me, all the while debasing the next generation of Sith. But no more. I lost eight acolytes to you, but I will not risk more. Nor I will not risk my apprentice to your influence."
Darth Tash surged forward, closing the gap between the two of them in an instant. The Human brought his saber down above Syrosk's head, but the alien Sith Lord effortlessly defended against the one-handed arc with his two-handed guard. As the two blades clashed in a vibrant display of crackling energy and sparks, electricity began arcing between the fingers of Tash's free hand. A bolt of Force lightning leapt from the Human's clawed hand, striking Syrosk in the gut. The destructive energy wracked the alien's core as it surged through his body, eliciting a raspy growl of pain.
Syrosk pushed back the blade of his opponent, shoving Tash away and breaking the arc of electricity between them. An immense pain overtook the alien's stomach, extending upward into his chest. Each breath of air brought with it a harsh sting as his lungs felt as if they were on fire. The Sith Lord maintained eye contact with his opponent, who continued to offer a cold, enduring glare as he readied his next attack.
Lorrik and Jresh made their way through the empty halls and corridors of the Coruscanti office building. The dull and monotonous architecture resembled what the Sith had seen in Imperial designs, but it possessed a far less oppressive palette. The pair moved through tight corridors and passageways, path unobstructed, only the faintest of echoes telling them of the building's fleeing occupants. Various desks and chairs not affixed to the floor lay upon their backs, overturned in the scurry to evacuate.
The occupants of the structure, as well as most of Coruscant, made their way downward, into the depths of the Republic capital, seeking the relative shelter of the Undercity. Though the towers fell and crumbled around them, there was something almost resembling safety beneath the ecumenopolis' skyline. But the Sith had other thoughts on their minds. They had long ago abandoned notions of hiding away and hoping for the best. They vowed to take part in something greater than themselves, and unforeseen setbacks kept them from their destination. But they would not be deterred. Maneuvering though the beige halls of the office building, the Sith marched, side by side, subtly guiding one another, whilst simultaneously relying on pure instinct.
Lorrik and Jresh came to a halt as the hall they traversed did the same. Ahead of them, there was nowhere left to run, but they were on target. The entire face of the corridor's end was composed of glass, allowing the two Sith a clear look toward the building's exterior. The pair gazed into the skyline beyond the transparent barrier.
"We're facing north," Jresh confidently stated.
"Which means our target is right there," Lorrik declared, eyeing the tower directly across from them. Between the two buildings rest enough space for a dense flow of traffic, currently nonexistent due to the civilians being forced from the airspace. An urban canyon rest between them and their destination, an industrial void shrouding the base of both towers. "How big do you suppose the gap is?"
"Less than a hundred meters, though not by much."
The inquisitor panned his gaze up and down the target building looking for something, anything he and his partner could work with. "Look, down there. There's a small outcropping."
The Pureblood focused his gaze at his companion's direction, spotting the small balcony that extended from the target building a few levels lower than their own. There wasn't much to the projection, spanning the width of only a few windows and extending just far enough to give its user some semblance of walking space. "Small target."
"It's the only one we got," Lorrik bluntly stated. Thrusting out his hands, the inquisitor released a burst of telekinetic energy, shattering the entirety of the window before them, and sending the fractured shards tumbling into the depths below. "How's your leg?"
"Not exactly fit for this type of jump. Less so for this kind of landing," Jresh admitted.
"What about your arms? They at full strength?" Lorrik asked. The warrior offered an assured nod. "Alright. We'll go one at a time. You help me across the gap, then I'll catch you on your way over."
The Pureblood looked deep into the eyes of his partner and saw only a undying confidence. And if his companion believed they could do it, he would too. Jresh offered another assured nod as Lorrik made his way back down the hallways. As the inquisitor put some running distance between himself and his partner, Jresh lowered himself to his knee, breathing deeply as he concentrated, gathering his focus.
The Human signaled he was ready and the Pureblood did the same. Lorrik began running toward his partner, toward the hallway's end, toward the gap that separated the two buildings. As his companion drew ever closer, the warrior began channeling the Force, searching for the right mixture of control and raw power. Slightly offset to his partner's path, Jresh allowed Lorrik to run right past him.
In that final moment, as one passed the other, the two began moving in total cooperation. As the inquisitor bent his knees and prepared to launch himself forward, the warrior twisted his body supplying the accompanying sweep of his hands parallel with the Human's movements. The second Lorrik pushed his feet off the floor, he received additional propulsion in the form of as calculated Force wave provided by his companion. The combined efforts of the two Sith sent the individual flying across the urban ravine, meter after meter of empty space passing beneath the inquisitor's feet. Lorrik soared with a graceful arc, arms and legs extended as he approached the targeted balcony.
The journey that should have lasted only a few seconds persisted in the Human's focused mind. Time slowed to a crawl, his eyes perceived every subtle motion and vibration that passed before his gaze, his ears picked up even the most minute sounds of the surrounding chaos and calamity. Finally, the inquisitor's feet once more had a solid surface beneath. Impacting against the target building's outcropping, Lorrik rolled upon the ground, skipping across the metallic surface before finally hitting the tower's exterior wall.
Lying on the cold surface, halted, the Human blinked his eyes in disbelief. Without a moment's hesitation, Lorrik leapt to his feet, pumping his fist in the air, releasing a series of jumbled, exuberant exclamations, the echoes of which could be heard by his partner who watched from afar.
The Pureblood looked to the shrunken image of his distant partner with a mix of relief and pride, releasing the breath he had been holding for the past minute. Moving himself backward, the warrior did as his partner had, putting some distance between himself and the open end of the hallway. With suitable room for a running start, the Pureblood focused his mind, adopting an almost meditative state. As he gathered himself, he could hear his partner speaking through his mind.
"Just remember our early trials. When Syrosk pushed you off a cliff, and I caught you."
Jresh remembered. He remembered the early test, in which he and the other warriors were bound and shoved from a cliff, relying on their companions to slow their descent. He also remembered the second time Syrosk pushed him off a cliff, in which Lorrik crippled his leg and placed himself on the brink of death. He remembered. He could not force himself to forget, but he could choose which memories to hold dear. In the early days of their training, the Pureblood found himself constantly surprised by his companion. But not anymore.
There wasn't much he thought his partner incapable of. Even in the first months of their relationship, Lorrik showed himself willing and able to care for someone other than himself. A fact the warrior could not immediately understand. He questioned the Human's methods, questioned his abilities, questioned his strength. But he had proven himself time and time again. The day they faced that trial, they succeeded because of their combined efforts. But now, Jresh knew Lorrik could succeed by himself if given the same trial. But he also knew that together, they could do more than just succeed. They could thrive. They could accomplish more than any individual could alone.
The warrior shot a quick mental note to his partner, signaling he was ready. The inquisitor shot back a quick confirmation as he readied himself on the other end. With a calm exhalation, Jresh began running down the hallway. The Pureblood's body was moving on instinct, his mind utterly focused on the destination. He ignored whatever possibility of failure existed. He ignored whatever pain he incurred with each stomp of his right foot. He ignored each and every thing that didn't pertain to him successfully crossing that gap. Pressing down hard on his left foot, the warrior launched himself forward from the hallways with a mighty Force leap, soaring across the gap with a heavy arc.
Standing firm across the way, Lorrik reached out with his open palms, clawing at the air as he focused his mind and channeled the Force. Rather than a powerful wave, the inquisitor sought to carry his partner across with an enduring current of telekinetic energy. The Pureblood fell toward the outcropping, limbs extended, experiencing the same moment of clarity his companion had. But as time slowed for the warrior, he had the pleasure of gazing upon his partner who awaited him. But the force required to carry the Pureblood across the gap proved to be more than substantial. Jresh reached the balcony by slamming into Lorrik. The two were sent crashing into the ground, tumbling across the hard surface with their arms wrapped around one another.
The pair finally came to stop with Jresh on his back, Lorrik lying on top of him. The Human lifted his head off his partner's armored chest, and the two Sith looked into one another's eyes, hearts racing.
"I think we made it across," Lorrik muttered, somewhat dumfounded.
"I think we did," Jresh replied, still pinned beneath his partner's weight. Before he could utter another word, the inquisitor pressed his lips against the warrior's own, and the two shared a brief kiss.
Picking himself up from atop his companion, Lorrik offered a helping hand in raising him off the ground. With a gauntleted hand, the warrior accepted the offer and moved to his feet.
"Come on, I sense the acolytes nearby," Lorrik declared. The Pureblood nodded, and the two Sith burst through the door between the balcony and the building's interior.
Once more traversing the corridors of a Coruscanti skyscraper, this time they were only a short run from their destination. Moving through the otherwise business oriented structure, the pair made their way toward their original set of coordinates. Somewhere nestled within was the targeted vault, secured and hidden amongst the commercial dealings around it, more so a bank than a repository of military armament or forbidden secrets. A series of locations to be beneath the notice of would-be thieves, yet equally capable of deterring them. But they were not of Coruscant's many criminals and gangs. They were Sith. And they were determined.
Maneuvering though the halls, moving through the various levels between them and their target, Lorrik and Jresh eventually reached their destination. Ahead of them, a number of acolytes gathered around the sole entrance to a large chamber. Most stood pressed against the walls, shielding themselves from the occasional volley of blaster fire sent their way, a few tending to the wounds suffered by the survivors.
The acolytes were in a huddled panic, unsure of what to do or where to go. One by one, they caught sight of the approaching Sith, but were unable to decide if the sight was a blessing or a curse. One encased in armorweave and hardened plates below the neck, the other garbed in form-fitting robes, the pair of approaching figures were immediately recognizable as Sith, but unrecognizable as individuals. Halting their rushed advance, Lorrik and Jresh pressed themselves against the wall alongside the students.
"What's the situation?" Lorrik stoically asked.
"Who are you?" one of the acolytes replied, a mixture of confusion and hostility in his voice.
"Reinforcements. That's all you need to know," Lorrik confidently declared. Though the apprentices had spent many a year amongst the other students of the classrooms, the fact that they belonged to separate groups and wore atypical garb meant they went unrecognized. But the students recognized they were Sith, which while not a pleasant addition in itself, was better than the alternative.
"Two Jedi. A squad of security forces. Light blasters," the acolyte listed, a level of distress hanging off every syllable. "We can't get in, but they can't get out either."
"Well, that's about to change," Lorrik declared. "Everyone, get ready and follow our lead."
Before the student or any of his fellows could respond, the inquisitor and the warrior removed themselves from the wall and launched themselves into the vault chamber.
The sabers of Sith Lord and Darth clashed, sounds of the collision echoing throughout the chamber of the eleventh vault. Syrosk and Tash moved about the chamber, utilizing the open terrain as best as they could. But they were not acrobats. They were powerhouses of the Force, maneuvering with blinding speed and unleashed strength. The two brought their blades against one another, hoping each strike would bring them closer to breaking the other's dwindling guard. But they would not prove easily broken. They continued, untiring, driven to see the other fall.
But their respective assaults would not go uninterrupted. Outside the chamber, outside the Coruscanti tower, the invasion was still underway, spreading its destruction as the Imperial navy razed the surrounding districts. As the Republic scrambled what it could of its defense force, the invaders seemed unstoppable, but that would not prohibit individuals from falling.
An Imperial bomber carrying a full payload had its wings clipped and was sent into an uncontrollable spiral, eventually crashing into the side of the building that housed the eleventh vault. The subsequent explosion blew apart much of the tower's face and compromised the section's structural integrity. As the Sith Lord and Darth did battle within, they continued unfazed as one of the chamber's walls slowly ripped itself free from its conjoined fellows. The faces containing the chamber's entrance and vault stood firm, but the fourth wall fell alongside with the rest of the building's eastern facade. The large chamber had become that much larger as it was exposed to the elements, the burning skyline of Coruscant resting within the combatants' sights. But their focus remained on their opponent. So long as they had solid ground beneath their feet, they could continue their duel undeterred.
Lorrik and Jresh entered the chamber to a renewed volley of blaster fire. The inquisitor's defensive stylings meant he was adept at deflecting the incoming bolts. Drawing attention to himself, the Human intercepted the combined efforts of the security forces single handedly, opting for total protection rather than precise redirection. As the bolts bounced off the inquisitor's blue blade, soaring over the heads of friends and foes alike, the Pureblood closed the gap and entered the fray. Witnessing the two Siths' prowess, the acolytes weren't far behind.
The Jedi quickly overcame their momentary confusion toward the color of the inquisitor's weapon, and set their sights upon the approaching warrior. Igniting their sabers, the pair of Knights moved to intercept the Pureblood, only to find their blows expertly parried. The pair had the advantage against the single opponent, but they would not have the chance to exploit in as the inquisitor moved forward, taking his position at his companion's side. The two Sith moved with martial grace, movements coordinated as they exchanged blows with their opponents, switching between each other's foe at a moment's notice.
Switching his style, the inquisitor shifted his lightsaber into his left hand. The Human could barely guard with his weaker arm, but it left enough of a gap to throw his free hand forward, electricity arcing between its fingertips. Lorrik's right hand grasped the Knight's mouth and streams of Force lightning transferred from his gloved digits to the Jedi's body. The inquisitor's opponent convulsed as the dark energy pulsed through his system before passing out and crumbing to the ground.
Meanwhile, the warrior engaged his opponent with a calculated, yet furious flurry of blows, clashing blade against blade time and time again , testing the Knight's guard at every opportunity. But the Jedi would not remain on the defensive. Spotting an opening along the Pureblood's flank, the defenders brought down his weapon with a fierce, diagonal swing. The warrior moved to intercept, blocking the strike not with his lightsaber, but by batting the blow away with the armored gauntlet of his free hand. The Jedi Knight's eyes grew wide as he watched his weapon ineffectually bounce off the Sith's forearm, the armor plating surrounding it possessing an almost inky blackness. His blow deflected, the Jedi could only watch as the warrior responded with a swing of his own, raking the crimson blade of his saber across his chest.
Tash and Syrosk pressed one another, unrelenting in their challenge. As the fierce competition continued, each fighter's strikes were slower than the last, each more cautious. But neither could afford to tire. Neither could afford to concede. They fought one another alongside the chamber's newly created edge, the winds of Coruscant carrying in ash and dust in from the neighboring destruction.
The two found a gap had been placed between them and each paused their assault. The Human and the alien stared at one another with unrelenting glares as they drew heavy breaths. The first signs of exhaustion were making themselves known. Muscles ached. Sweat dripped from pores. Both combatant's paused their unending exchange of blows, waiting for the other to strike. They waited for the other to make the first move, ready to counter, ready to retaliate.
But the missing wall had broken the previously sealed chamber. In the distance, one of Coruscant's many power stations were stuck by the invading forces. An explosion unlike any that had preceded it rang out, shooting up a column of fire higher than even the tallest buildings and shaking the ground kilometers around it. The event rested firmly in the sights of Tash and Syrosk as the floor beneath them shuddered. It was only for an instant, but the Sith Lord's guard momentarily faltered.
Rushing forward, Tash capitalized on the shaken alien. Syrosk thought to correct his stance, but as he place a foot forward, he found it intercepted by Tash's saber. The Darth swung his crimson blade, lopping off his opponent's right leg just above the knee. Syrosk let out a harsh growl as he struggled to maintain his stance. Wobbling upon his remaining leg, the Sith Lord was dangerously close to falling over the edge of the exposed chamber. But Tash wouldn't allow it.
The Human placed his left hand on Syrosk's shoulder, steadying him, preventing him from falling, before plunging the tip of his saber through the Sith Lord's gut. The alien was silent as all the strength left his body, his hand unable to maintain its grip on his weapon. The hilt fell to the ground, deactivating as it struck the hard surface of the floor. Syrosk struggled to act, struggled to move, struggled to do anything, but he had already lost control of his body. The blade had passed through his spine and the only thing keeping him upright was Tash.
Hand still firmly gripping his opponent's shoulder, the Darth pulled Syrosk closer, saber still piercing his abdomen, so that his mouth stood adjacent to the alien's ear.
"I trusted you. I protected you," Tash softly whispered, his voice lacking the previous animosity. "I spoke on your behalf. Accommodated you. Stood between you and every Sith who wanted you dead. And this is how you repay me? Well, I guess you were right after all. I hope it was worth it."
Tash pulled the blade from his opponent's gut as Syrosk released an inaudible rasp. The Sith Lord started to slump, but the Darth kept him upright. Returning his weapon to his belt, Tash supported the weight of the defeated foe as Syrosk held on to the last vestiges of life still within him. The Human slowly carried the alien across the room, toward the chamber's entrance. Carefully he sat the paralyzed Sith Lord against the wall.
Tash made sure the alien was situated in such a way that he would remain upright propped against the wall. "Wouldn't want you to die before seeing the fruits of our labor, now would we?"
Without another word, the Darth left the slowly rasping Sith Lord in his place whilst he crossed the chamber back toward the vault.