A droid stood across from a Twi'lek, igniting an orange lightsaber and marching towards the young woman. The sabers in Nemi's hands ignited as she made swift acrobatic strikes at her training droid. She had programmed the droid to match every strike with a block, this was strictly practice after all, and she'd only just gotten this droid. Over time, a small group of Jedi masters, their padawans and a class of younglings started to build by the viewing window to the training room.

"Ah! Gather round children, I imagine this will prove to be quite the show. My former padawan is quite an artist with a lightsaber." The master at the head of the group of younglings smiled, a hint of pride on his face as he nodded to Nemi when she caught his gaze for a moment. In that moment, the droid struck at the young woman, nearly catching her wrist before she could deflect its saber.

"Wha-" Nemi gasped as the droid struck at her again and again, nearly knocking her completely off her footing. She used the force to push the droid back, a sudden fire growing in her eyes as her failure in programming and her prior mission filled her mind. The Jedi master leading the class felt his former student's anger and moved his hand towards his lightsaber, reaching for the door on instinct.

She shook her head as she noticed her master reaching for his hip, mouthing "I've got this." In an instant, she moved into an acrobatic twirl, both of her sabers moving in a flurry of green and blue. Her strikes became more varied, throwing the droid's defenses off and causing it to leave an opening; an opening Nemi exploited with a surgical strike as she crossed her sabers across the droid's neck and force pushed it towards the wall.

The droid's head landed near the window, causing several of the younglings to cheer and others to recoil in fear.

The door to the training room opened and the young Twi'lek had already met the older man's embrace. "Master Noss!" she almost shouted with excitement, forgetting her anger from the duel.

"Master Keross," He returned, his smile as warm as always, though his eyes showed a fatherly concern "Are you alright? You may be a Jedi master now, but that doesn't mean you're allowed to scare me like that." Kyril Noss spoke sternly, but his voice betrayed his worry for his surrogate daughter.

"It's nothing I couldn't handle, though I'll need to see where I went wrong with the programming of the droid...and, may need to submit a request for a new one..." She motioned towards the head of her former training droid.

The older man shook his head "I suppose I could put in a word with my fellow council members...but only if you promise to meditate on your rush for lightsaber mastery. I'm uncertain they'll continue to accept my repeated excuses for such... expensive purchases." His light jest at her repeated requisitions earning him a playful punch on the shoulders.

"Enough. I promise to be more careful, though, if they'd only hire a programmer who specialized in combat droids instead of leaving it to a hobbyist..." She mockingly waved her hand and rolled her eyes "...but, enough of my spending habits. What brings you to my corner of the temple?"

"Well..." Master Noss stroked his graying beard and motioned for the other masters to take the younglings off to their lessons "...I'd heard of your mission on Nar Shaddaa. I am sorry to hear of the loss of your-"

Nemi cut him off with a pained look and opened her mouth to speak, her expression betraying the hurt she felt at the words she knew were about to leave her master's lips. "Zass... fought well. It was to be his final trial before knighthood, he would've been my second..." her voice trailed as she fought back her urge to choke up.

Master Noss pulled his former student into his embrace "I too know your pain, my child. Remember, it was the falling of one of my students that pushed me to take on another."

She let her tears fall, staining his sleeve. "He saved my life... before you worry about my droid, see to his posthumous knighthood. Please..."

Kyril nodded without hesitation. "Tell me, you know I can't let you bottle these feelings and it's clear you don't want to."

Nemi's face froze as her last mission flashed through her mind. "We'd just broken into an Imperial base. There weren't supposed to be any Sith there, but..." she frowned "...Darth Sirax was there, hiding his force presence. He knew we were coming."

"Darth Sirax..." Knoss' voice faltered for only a moment at the mention of his fallen apprentice. "Please, if you're willing to recount your run in with him..."

Nemi nodded after a while, wiping away her tears as the memories flooded back...


"Zass!" Nemi shouted as she used the force to push her padawan away from the incoming force lightning. "Stay back! Let me handle the Sith!"

The young Rodian looked to his master and nodded, letting her take the lead while he kept the imperial troops from getting close enough to disrupt the duel going on behind him.

"You.. You fight with passion..." A scarred and disfigured Darth Sirax spoke in a hoarse voice, his skin white as snow "You would make a fine apprentice. A pity you will both die here, Jedi." Without another word, Sirax threw out his saber towards Zass and his free hand towards Nemi, lifting her off the ground while she looked to see her student deflect the saber and using the force to choke her within an inch of her life.

As her vision started to fade, Nemi tried to reach for one of her sabers that had been tossed aside as she was raised from the ground, but Darth Sirax felt her movements through the force. He fought her for control of the blade with his free hand and smirked. In a flash however, Zass had disengaged from his battles and jumped to the aid of his teacher.

"Leave her alone!" The young Rodian shouted, landing a lucky strike on the sith's leg and breaking his concentration; giving Nemi a chance to recover. Darth Sirax howled in rage at the denial of his kill. Before Zass could strike again, he caught the padawan's wrist and crushed it in his grip.

Zass cried out in pain "M-master! Ru-!" The Rodian found himself reduced to screams and groans as the Dark Lord in front of him covered his face with his hand, slowly and painfully draining him of his force essence.

Nemi let out a roar as Sirax let the body of the teen fall to the floor. "You bastard! I'll kill you!" She screamed, sending a blast of force energy that hurled the lesser combatants in the room to the walls, killing all but those furthest away. In an instant, she pounced towards Sirax, a flurry of green, blue and red surrounding them both. As the duel dragged on however, Nemi caught the Sith on the arm and sliced clean through, leaving his saber and hand on the floor.

Without a word, Darth Sirax pushed Nemi into the wall and grabbed his saber with his other hand "You will fall to your hatred in good time Jedi, I look forward to breaking you." With that, Sirax turned on his heel and slipped away to his ship, leaving his prey to grieve her padawan.

"Zass..." Nemi ran to the side of her student, she felt the faintest hint of life in him at the start of her duel, but now even that was gone. She let her tears fall over her dead padawan as she lifted him into her arms, ignoring the pain across her body and heading back towards their ship...


"Nemi..." Master Noss tried to find words of comfort for his former student. He could only imagine the pain she was in. "I will see that Padawan Zass earns his knighthood and I'll deliver your report to the council. Go, you've earned yourself time to recover. Send a message if you need anything." The older man patted Nemi on the back before starting to make for the council chambers.

"Master…" she called out, causing the man to stop "I wanted to kill him, I want to…" he put up his hand as if telling her to stop.

"I know, child, I know. I have been down this path before." He let out a sign "He will face justice in time. Have patience and trust in the force."

Nemi bowed her head, took a moment to inhale and collect her thoughts "Thank you, my Master. May the force be with you."

The old man chuckled "And you as well, my friend. Now, go. I believe there's a visitor in your quarters." He gave her a wink and continued on his way.


Nemi rushed through the halls of the temple as the setting sun's rays came through the windows. She knew who was waiting for her in her room, a little secret her master caught wind of when she was still a Jedi knight, a secret he'd always kept for her.

She rounded the corner and stopped at her door, taking in a deep breath before opening it with the force. Inside sat a young woman, her face rough from growing up down in the underbelly of Coruscant, a blaster sat in her hand and aimed at the new arrival. "Raia, I…"

With an unreadable expression, the young woman twirled her blaster and holstered it at her side before jumping up and rushing her Jedi lover, pulling Nemi into her arms and making sure to shut the door behind her. She then struck Nemi across the cheek just hard enough to sting. "Three months and no bloody word!" She whispered, feigning hurt in her voice; something she let fade as she looked into her lover's eyes "What-"

"Zass…didn't make it." Nemi felt her emotions from her duel with Darth Sirax start to flood back for a moment, the anger boiling in an instant, only for them to be dashed away as Raia pulled her close and danced her fingers along Nemi's lekku.

"I…I'm sorry, I know how proud of him you were." Her voice softened as she took Nemi's hand and nearly dragged her to the bed "Let me stay with you tonight then? Someone needs to make sure you remember to take your kolto shots."

Nemi looked her lover over with surprise "Here? Tonight? Why not your ship?" Her cheeks started turning bright red, something not helped by her blue skin.

"Because for once," Raia smiled coyly, "I'm not just trying to get you out of your robes. I had a job come across my desk the other day and I could use your negotiating skills. Maybe get you away from the temple for awhile?"

Nemi nodded and slipped her cloak from her shoulders, "Raia, the 'great pirate queen' herself, turning to the Jedi for help? This isn't like you."

"Are you complaining? Blasters only get you so far." Raia playfully shoved her partner and leaned her head on her shoulder, closing her eyes to savor the moment. "I miss this. It's been so hard to see you since you were made a master. I-"

Raia found herself cut off by Nemi's lips on hers, holding her there for only a moment. "Here. Tonight. And…I'll take the job." Nemi whispered into Raia's ear, earning her a giggle as they rolled into each other.


Kyril Noss stood before the Jedi council and relayed everything Nemi had told him, speaking on Zass' behalf and pushing for a posthumous knighthood at his funeral. Each master listened to his report, all of them nodding when the request for knighthood was brought up.

"You're certain she crossed blades with Darth Sirax?" An aged Kel Dor spoke up. He was Grand Master Berus Va, a longstanding figure at the Jedi temple on Tython.

"I saw no lie in Nemi's eyes, her thoughts and emotions were genuine. She watched him siphon the life energy from her student!" Master Noss responded, frustration evident in his voice.

Master Va stood from his seat and advanced towards his longtime friend. "Kyril, we will see to it that Darth Sirax is brought to justice. I promise you that. But…" he sighed, silently dismissing the other council members before he continued. "We have received word from an anonymous knight that Nemi Keross has broken the code and taken a lover."

Kyril's face hardened as he realized his student's secret was out and the implications of Master Va's tone did not bode well for her. "Master, I…"

Berus simply put his hand up "You were protecting her as though she were your own. I do not fault you for that. However, our rules are rules for a reason…" Kyril braced himself for what he knew was to come next. "After the funeral, I will have a word with her. She will be expelled from the order…"

Kyril nodded in resignation, knowing there was little he could do to change the mind of his mentor. "I… I understand." Despite his response, his heart shattered at the news. His friend gave his shoulder a squeeze.

"I promise you, I only act on the will of the force. This is her path, her destiny." Berus spoke firmly but warmly, "She will not be permitted to stay here, but she will be welcome on the grounds of this temple as a guest should the force guide her here. This is not an exception to be made lightly, but for an old friend…"

Kyril's smile returned with an affirming nod, "I have never doubted your judgment, though I know this will not be easy for her. Will you permit me to investigate her findings for some time? If Sirax is involving himself with the Emperor, I worry there may be something sinister at work here."

Master Va simply nodded and sat to meditate. "Make your preparations, my old friend, you are to leave after the funeral. You are dismissed."


The following morning, the temple was abuzz with energy. The highest ranking masters to the youngest padawans all made their way to pay respects to a fallen brother. Nemi had woken early, sleep proving to be elusive despite Raia's best efforts. The pirate had returned to her ship before first light to prepare for their departure after the funeral. As Nemi donned her finest robes of pure white, she observed herself in the mirror before placing her lightsabers at her hips and marching out of her room.

Numerous Jedi tried to stop her to offer condolences, but she couldn't give them more than nods of recognition and the occasional "Thank you." She knew she couldn't allow herself to wallow in her grief for any longer than she needed to, so she kept walking until she saw it. The pyre in the courtyard. Atop it sat a small, broken figure that had once been her student.

Without a word, she moved to her place next to her master before the pyre, listening as Master Va delivered a eulogy to the fallen Rodian. She smiled as she felt the sincerity of his words, nodding in approval as he finished his memorial by recognizing the Jedi before them as Knight Zass. As soon as he did, the attendants moved to ignite the pyre, stepping back as the flames rose to engulf the body resting atop it.

After the ceremony, Berus Va stepped towards Nemi, motioning that he'd like a word with her. Her surprise was obvious as she moved towards the Jedi Master. "Master Va, if this is about the droid…" Berus shook his head and motioned for her to follow him back into the temple interior. Once they'd covered enough distance, he sighed "I've been made aware of your relations with Raia Dax." He spoke with a sadness in his voice that made Nemi's blood run cold. "Young one, you may be a master, but even we are bound by the Jedi code."

"Master Va! I-" Nemi stammered and tried to find anything to say to defend herself.

"You are hereby stripped of your rank in this order. Out of respect for your service and my friendship with your master, you are permitted here as a guest should you be guided back to us, but you are not permitted to call this temple your home any longer. I know this is a lot to-"

"You're damn right it's a lot!" She almost shouted "My student is dead! I have only just begun to process my grief and you want to add this to my pain?!" She fought back her tears and thought back to her history with the Jedi order: her first lessons, her knighthood, falling in love, her first padawan and her trials. In her thoughts, she accepted that this was a mistake of her own making. Swallowing her pride and mustering every ounce of restraint she had, Nemi nodded in acceptance. "I understand, Master Va. I won't pretend to like it, but this is the consequence for my ignorance."

The Kel Dor put a hand on her shoulder, his tone shifting from one of a stern teacher to that of a caring elder. "You have been one of the finest students of my tenure here, Nemi Keross. You do this order proud and it pains me to have to do this. I promise you, this is merely the will of the force. Find your own path, but look to the force for guidance. Remember your teachings." Before he motioned for her to go, he placed a communication device into her palm. "If ever the force guides you here, you need only call."

She smiled softly at the warmth of his words, she'd always liked Master Va for his tenderness and patience with troubled students, a kindness she found herself in great need of during her early years with the order. "If you will permit me time to gather my things, I will be gone by sundown."

Master Va nodded and turned to gaze out the window behind them "May the force be with you, Nemi Keross."


Nemi raced through the temple, having gathered her traveling gear and lightsabers before moving for the landing pad where Raia's ship awaited her. As she crossed the doorway into the near blinding sunlight, she took a moment to adjust her eyes; frowning as she spied the figure of her former master speaking with Raia by her ship's ramp.

"Master Noss?" She called out to him, slowly moving towards the pair "Did you…?"

He shook his head and stroked at his beard "No, and I'm concerned at how word leaked. While you cannot stay here, I will do what I can to investigate and be in touch." Despite the distance, Nemi could tell there were tears in his eyes. He'd already lost one student to the dark side, now this? His voice shook for a moment as he regained his composure "Be careful, Nemi. You may not be obligated to remember my teachings, but-"

She'd crossed the gap between them in an instant and hugged the older man "Thank you, Kyril. For everything." As she pulled away from her former master, she looked to her partner "...Ready?"

Raia gave a quick nod and motioned for her to take the lead before tossing Kyril a tracking device for her ship. "I know you'll want to make sure we're safe. Take this in case you need to find us," she looked back at the temple for a long moment, "I promise, I'll take care of her."

"I know you will," The aged master smiled sadly. "That's what concerns me. I have felt her struggles with the dark side and there will be those that will try to use you to hurt her," he paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. "Be careful, I will be in contact as soon as I learn more about this new Sith threat."

"Understood, Master Noss. We're headed for Coruscant, I have a job that calls for a Jedi's tongue. Seems I can't solve everything with credits and blaster fire." She turned on her heel to head aboard. "If you don't hear from us in a week's time, come looking for us." With that, she disappeared into her ship's interior, fired up the engines and made a swift exit from Tython's atmosphere.


A lone Jedi knight sat at the window in his quarters, watching as the ship on the landing pad faded out of view into the clouds above. Smirking to himself as he moved over to the comm terminal, he entered a code and fell to one knee, bowing his head low.

The holographic image of Darth Sirax gazed down at his apprentice "You're early, Jerrick Riggs. Report." He spoke in a raspy tone, obviously not expecting an update so soon and making his frustration at the interruption of his affairs clear.

"Apologies for the disturbance, my lord. Keross has been expelled thanks to the information I'd discovered. These foolish Jedi didn't even attempt to verify the accusations!" Jerrick spoke with a refined tone, reveling in his success. As soon as he'd looked up to meet his master's gaze however, he felt his throat begin to tighten as Sirax began to force choke him.

"Your arrogance will be your undoing, my apprentice." He held the young man in place for a moment longer to drive his point home before releasing his grip, allowing Jerrick to catch his breath. "Return to your duties. I will be in contact with further orders soon."

Jerrick bowed low, trying to sound dignified "Yes, my master. As you command."