Korriban's golden sun beat down on all of us as we exited the Academy from the top level. Juhani looked down at the valley with a sour expression on her face. She told me that she'd been forced to fight most of the students after I left due to the display she and Dak put on. A target was already on her back—wonderful. Meanwhile, Mission made herself small, hidden, like a shadow. I knew she was skilled at making herself unnoticed but I almost wished she'd stayed behind anyway...

Especially since Uthar's lesson was beginning. Uthar led us down the stairs and spoke to us as we walked.

"Many of you know it to be called the Valley of the Dark Lords. The name does it no justice. To have a tomb in the valley…it is the greatest prestige any Sith can earn. That is why you must find prestige here."

It was a minor relief that he was letting us explore the tombs as a part of our lesson. Now we weren't going to look suspicious as we started our search for the Star Map.

Juhani walked by my side as we climbed down the massive stairway. During the day, the valley had far more life to it—gray-uniformed Sith held datapads in their hands, some scanned the fallen structures, some made notes. Most of the crumbling ruins were sectioned off with yellow tape. It was oddly scientific…I hadn't expected the Sith to even care about research like this. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge was a Jedi saying after all.

The Sith set up a research tent below in the shadow of one of the enormous statues. That is where Uthar led us.

The cool wave of a fan slapped my face as we entered the tent. Mission followed close behind—ever my shadow. Computers of all sorts glowed and flickered. The servers storing the Sith's data had a thin line of sand covering them. A shoddy yet organized setup.

The Sith officers and researchers grimaced at the arrival of the students. A researcher dressed in a dirty white coat stood at attention once Uthar entered the tent along with the other soldiers.

"Master Uthar!" He smiled. "I see you've brought your students…will they be assisting us here again today?"

"Not in the way you expect." He addressed the students. "Many tombs have knowledge that is inaccessible to non-Force sensitives. You will plunder the tombs and find what artifacts you can. Holocrons. Ancient weapons. Scrolls. Databanks. You will find these things and present your findings to me by nightfall. If what you find is suitable, you will earn prestige."

After that declaration, many of the students whispered their disappointment to each other. I noticed the dissatisfied look on Lashowe and Mekel's faces—they obviously wanted to earn prestige in a more violent manner. Yet, knowing where we were, I doubt finding artifacts in these tombs would be easy. Not that I cared to. There was only one artifact I cared about.

Uthar waved at the table to his right. On it were several holocrons—all pyramid-shaped and red. Markings were inscribed on the side of each face.

"Feel free to use the resources we have to find these artifacts. I have high expectations, initiates—if you come up empty-handed then you will lose prestige."

With that, the students went off—some left the tent immediately, others went for the computers, some the holocrons. I turned to Juhani and Mission and pointed at the computers.

"Those computers will probably tell us where Tulak Hord's tomb is. Mission, you know what to do—Juhani, watch over her. I'll see what information I can get."

Mission smiled and nodded. "Gotcha!"

Juhani nodded along with Mission though she gave me a concerned look that I pretended not to notice. I pushed my way past the crowd of students to the back of the tent. The researchers and Uthar watched over the holocrons—many of the students opened them, revealing their holorecordings. Over the sound of ancient Sith voices, a few students interrogated the researchers like Lashowe, who was the main interrogator. Of course.

Mekel stood by Lashowe's side, ever the kath hound. The cruel young woman huffed and then crossed her arms.

"What tomb did the Lord of Pain go into?" she asked. "I wish to challenge him."

A researcher in the white coat answered with a frown on his face.

"That tomb is restricted and closed off to all students. And I highly doubt you could defeat the Lord of Pain."

Huh. Interesting. There were restricted tombs? Perhaps the Star Map was in one of them.

"Then what tomb is the most dangerous? I can't afford to go after easy pursuits," Lashowe said.

"Hmm, that would be the Tomb of Marka Ragnos. An assassin droid has gone rogue and no one has been able to get out alive. One of Darth Revan's old projects, I think, so be careful."

Wait, there were other assassin droids? And this one was rogue?

Great.

"A Sith can't afford to be careful, idiot."

With that, Lashowe stormed out, a woman on a mission. Mekel surprisingly didn't follow and instead watched me with creepy intensity.

Dustil approached the researcher next.

"What is the oldest tomb here?"

"That would be the Tomb of Ajunta Pall but…no one has been able to enter. It has been mysteriously shut for a while."

"So, you're saying if I can get it open I'll be one of the first in there."

"Well, the first in a while—"

But that was enough for Dustil. He shot out of the tent most likely intent on trying to enter Ajunta Pall's tomb. At least that would keep him preoccupied… Finally, I approached the front of the tent myself, but I didn['t address the researcher.

"Master Uthar?"

Almost all the students either were busy with research or had left the tent. The Sith Master sat at a metal desk, looking over datapad readouts of some kind. He raised a brow after I spoke.

"What is it, initiate?"

"I hadn't expected you to be so interested in archeology. How is this going to help the Sith exactly?"

Uthar let out a small snort. "There are thousands of years of history around us. Countless wars, countless battles, and power. Exar Kun told us that knowledge of the past is power. Darth Revan believed the same and would at times come here to review our research. Malak, of course, has more important things to worry about…"

"Could there be ancient weapons here? Maps to weapons?"

Like a Star Map?

"Weapons, maps, yes. But more importantly, forgotten dark side powers." He smiled—obviously, this topic made him eager. "There is a power, Gale, where a Sith strong enough in the dark side can use their own torturous pain to kill a planet."

My mouth went dry at the thought yet I had to pretend to be interested.

"How could I learn this power?"

"Learn?" Uthar chuckled. "Even if you learned of it I doubt you have the power. Darth Revan recorded his findings of this power and of others in his own holocron—there." He pointed to one of the Sith holocrons. It was smooth, unmarked. "He made it for the students here, in fact. You may view it if you like. Malak told us to destroy all of Revan's research, but, well, what the Dark Lord doesn't know can't hurt."

Did I dare? There was no way there would be any information on the Star Map or the Star Forge on a holocron anyone could just pick up and peruse, yet…I was curious. Sure, I'd have dreams of being Revan, yet for some reason, it still felt…false. It still felt like visions the Force shoved onto me even though I knew they were memories now.

"You keep talking about Revan in the third person so I don't even think you believe it."

Carth was right. I still couldn't believe it even now. Maybe it was because of what the Jedi did to my mind. So, if I saw Revan speaking, saw myself speaking…maybe just maybe I could accept it as the truth. I had to accept it. Otherwise…

I hadn't noticed but I'd walked over to the table of holocrons and my hand hovered over Revan's in particular. Then, after a minute, I put my hand down.

No.

Not now.

It didn't matter now.

What mattered now was the Star Map.

High in the upper valley, a tomb had been carved into the side of the mountain and with it were pillars in various states of decomposition. Mission was able to successfully grab information from the Sith's servers. Nothing of major importance, unfortunately, but there were three major tombs the Sith made particular note of. Hord's tomb was one of them along with Ajunta Pall's and Marka Ragnos'. Exploring the other two might give us some clue to the location of the Star Map.

First, of course, was Tulak Hord's tomb.

Tulak Hord had been known as the greatest lightsaber duelist of his time. He met the fate of most Sith Lords. Ironically, his lightsaber skills couldn't defend against a knife in the back.

Mission watched the entrance of the tomb—she perched on one of the column stumps. As we made our way here, she argued against staying behind and wanted to come with us. Once I told her someone needed to watch our backs, she agreed with the plan. Really, I knew there would be dangers in this tomb for those who were not Force sensitive.

Juhani stood by my side, wrapping her dark cloak around her to guard against the red sands.

"I fear what we will find here."

I turned. "You mean you're afraid Belaya will be dead?"

"No." Her yellow eyes wavered. "I fear that she is too far gone."

I stared longingly at the stone entrance.

"She didn't mean to kill her master. It was an accident. If you make her understand that, maybe she'll listen."

"Why didn't you kill me?" I blinked at Juhani's question. When I didn't answer after a minute, she continued. "You didn't know who I was. So then, why? You could have let me die if you wanted."

"I…" Why didn't I? Juhani had attacked me without hesitating, just like the other Sith, and I wasn't known for heroics. I dipped my head once I remembered. "Know that not all that succumb to the temptations of the dark side are lost forever…it's what Master Zhar said before he sent me to you." And Master Zhar was likely dead. It was pointless to think about the double meaning of his words now. Now I know he was talking to me as well when he said that. I glanced over to Juhani. "I suppose I…believed it."

Juhani nodded with a smile. "Then I have no choice but to believe in it too."

She gained the courage to move first towards the tomb.

Darkness. A puff of sand and dust mixed within the air as Juhani pushed the door open. The main corridor was lined with unlit torches so Juhani used her lightsaber to light them as we explored the main foyer.

There wasn't much here. A broken excavation droid sat in the corner, crushed by a fallen rock. The walls had eroded away over the years so the symbols were unreadable. The only recognizable symbol was one of an iron mask hanging on the ceiling beams.

I snorted. "This is supposed to be prestigious? It's crumbling away as we speak."

Juhani sneezed after a loose rock fell from the ceiling. It wasn't stable…I could sense the earth below us moving with the winds. We'd have to watch for both the tuk'ata and the walls around us.

Before we made it to the corner of the hall, a large beast with a tail like a whip bound at me with the speed of the Ebon Hawk. I dodged using the Force and unsheathed one of my blades. More stampeded down the hall at us—dozens. I slashed the side of the one who attacked me first before raising my hand to stop one from stabbing me through with their sharp horns. A wave of the Force flowed from Juhani's direction. Half of the tuk'ata slid to a stop while the other half bound towards us.

While Juhani held half of them off with her tame beast powers, I used the Force to find the tuk'ata's heart so I knew where to stab the cortosis blades. Between the armpits—the skin was soft there. The attacking beasts yelped as I rushed and dodged—the air whipped my now short hair as I glided. To an observer, I would have appeared like a blur and to an observer, it would appear as if five tuk'ata fell dead at the same time.

Yet some survived.

The cortosis blades were either too short or they hadn't pierced the tuk'ata's skin. One sprang up and slammed me to the floor. Taken off guard, I tried to stab the beast anywhere even if it wouldn't have made a difference.

Fortunately, before I was mauled to death, the tuk'ata was flicked away—by Juhani. Her face was strained both due to the attack and also…her attempt to save me meant her focus had shifted.

The rest of the tuk'ata bared their teeth. I sensed another horde making their way toward us. I only gave Juhani one look. It was enough to communicate my grand plan.

Run.

We ran down the hall, both of us using the Force to increase our speed. I considered using the collapsing tomb as a weapon, yet I didn't want to risk trapping ourselves in here. We eventually came to a crossroads—two halls. Only one had the beasts so we had no choice but to take the safe route. Almost as if we were being…herded…

In the corner of my eye, I saw a red light gleam.

I couldn't ponder it for long though. A door. Finally, kriff, a door. Juhani tried to open it, yet she had become exhausted so it was up to me. With a shout, I pushed the stone door open with the Force then quickly turned to slam the door shut, using the iron bar to lock it.

Safety. But we were trapped. I could hear Juhani's heavy breathing in the darkness and I finally saw her face when she lit her lightsaber. A tired smile stretched her features.

"Thank the Force…we made it."

She spoke too soon.

Hiss.

The sound of hissing gas came from our sides. Another one of the red lights blinked at the corner. I covered my mouth with my shirt but…it was too late. Juhani's figure blurred, my muscles stiffened, and the room darkened before I hit the floor.

A shift.

My body shivered, lips dry, stomach empty. The darkness encroached on my mind. Hands crusted with blood…my blood. A scream. I grabbed my ears.

Go away. Please go away. I don't want this. Please.

Explosions. Death. I tried so hard to help them. Yet no matter what I did, the soldiers burned beneath the might of the Sith. Soon, I realized as the Republic soldiers died, they became more determined. More so than when I gave them motivation using the Force.

So, I let them die.

After the battle, the soldiers cheered. Savior. Hero. No. They know nothing. I killed them. Admiral Dodonna shook my hand yet I felt nothing. No warmth. The laugh of a woman echoed behind me.

Weak. You are weak, girl.

A crash. I flinched. Shattered glass scattered around me. I picked up one of the shards with a shaking hand—blood dripped from my palm to the cold stone floor.

The door opened. The shards were gone. The light was blinding, piercing, so piercing I closed my eyes. A strong force gripped my neck and lifted me up against the wall. When I looked up at my attacker…

Wes.

No.

Darth Revan.

His smile had twisted, becoming one of mockery. I tried to remain strong, yet the lack of air had me clawing the wall I'd been thrown against. Revan grew closer, so close I could see the yellow glow in his eyes.

Eventually, he released his grip on my neck. I took a deep breath and before I recovered, he grabbed me by the chin and pushed me against the wall.

"You let them die." I felt something well within my eyes. "And you loved it, Bastila. Oh, you loved it."

"No!" The tears finally fell. "That was a mistake. I didn't…I shouldn't have…"

"A mistake?" I felt his hands push my shirt up then over my head. My skin tingled as he kissed my breasts. "That wasn't a mistake. It made them stronger in the end."

I grabbed his arm and then narrowed my eyes.

"You're not a Sith. Not anymore."

Revan released me and I fell to the ground hard, so hard the skin on my elbows peeled. The skin on my bare legs prickled with bumps and I crawled away to the corner of my cell. I tried…tried not to whimper but…but the pain…

The Dark Lord scoffed. "You made sure of that, didn't you? Wesley Gale was never real. The Jedi created a false identity. You fell for delusions of the Jedi's making. You were never in love with me. You loved the dark side. So embrace it."

"Never!" My voice hurt my throat. "I will never!"

Revan's face twisted.

"Then suffer."

Lightning sparked and arced across the room from his fingers. An intense hot flash erupted all around me. The sounds of the screams, my screams, echoed within my mind. My breath hitched. I tried to remember my teachings. There is no emotion, there is peace. Another flash. I felt my pain, his pain, again and again…

He wanted to die.

My teachings, the Jedi Code…

It didn't work.

The Jedi did this to him.

To us.

The hot flash stopped after an eternity. I spat out blood—I'd cut my tongue after biting down too hard. Above me, I could sense his approach. I decided to look up then…to prove that I wasn't weak.

"Oh, Bastila." He tilted my head up with his hand. I once again saw that smile on his face. "You like it when I tease you like this, don't you?"

Fear. It crawled over my skin.

"No."

"Oh. Now you're teasing me. Cute."

"Stop."

"Stop what?" He got onto his knees. He was close. Too close. "This?"

He pressed his lips against my own and held my chin tight so I couldn't wrench away. His hands brushed against my chest, pushed up my shirt. No. Please. Stop!

One moment nothing.

Next, I opened my eyes. I had to stop myself from screaming. A dead body. A Sith. A human with a face I didn't recognize. Not Revan. Blood poured out of his eyes. My hands…warm. Warm with blood. My body couldn't…I couldn't stop shivering. I went back into the corner and covered my face.

Mechanical laughter echoed above me.

Bastila.

A high pitch rang in my ears as I awoke…aching…tired…I wanted to scream yet my mouth had been gagged shut. I wanted to see yet I'd been blinded—the cloth was wet with tears after I'd seen…Bastila. She was alive. But not well. I didn't have much time left—I had to save her.

I searched out for her with the Force yet I could feel nothing. The only thing I could feel, could hear, was the high-pitched infernal ringing.

"Ah! Awake already, are you? Good, good!"

An old, crusty voice coming from my right interrupted the ringing in my ears. I took quick breaths and pressed myself back…I was laying down on a metal table. Hands bound at my side—shackles. I could smell iron in the air.

"It's unfortunate that you killed some of my pets…really, did you have to go and do that? Most of Uthar's students have the decency to run like the cowards they are."

I groaned in pain—my head began ringing again. This time due to my captor's voice.

"Oh, sorry."

The blindfold fell away and with it a blinding light. I hissed as the light added to the pain in my head…a pale, old man looked down at me with a thin smile.

I recognized him immediately.

Jorak Uln.

The old Head of the Sith Academy ripped away the gag as well. "If you start biting your tongue I will have to put that back. Oh, but you can scream of course. That's the whole point after all."

I unintentionally gaped at Jorak as he stared down at me like one would stare down at a specimen. I'd assumed he was dead, yet here he was. Alive. I shook the metal table I'd been bound to.

"Where is Juhani?"

"The cat? She's still sleeping—got a direct dose, that one. How unfortunate—she won't be awake to hear your screams." He leaned back then tilted his head as if remembering something. "Then there's the other one—he followed you in here like an idiot. I believe his name is…Mekel? Say hi, Mekel!"

"Uuuuh…"

The groan of someone half-conscious drifted from my left. I used the little strength I had in my semi-drugged state to move my head. The young Sith student had been strapped to another metal table…Jorak Uln had been at him before I'd woken up. Blood dripped from Mekel's chest and face…his eyes were unfocused…

Jorak clicked his tongue. "Poor lad. He's had a hard day."

I moved my head back.

"What do you want? Why are you doing this?"

"Do you know who I am?"

I paused. "No."

"Liar. You think I can't tell? Obviously, the Academy is lax in its training, as usual. Stupid Uthar. Well, I'll teach you how to lie properly. Eventually." A shimmer. I flinched as Jorak reflected light into my eyes using a sharp, needle-like knife. "You know already, but I'm Jorak Uln—the Head of the Sith Academy…can you believe that my apprentice, my own dear apprentice, thought I was going too far with my students? It's ridiculous! I needed to train the Sith to be the strongest. The best. I train the best!"

I closed my eyes…feeling the sensation of the neural restraining collar around my neck. I'd broken out of one before. I could do it again.

A punch. Burning heat filled my arm. I sucked in breath after Jorak Uln stabbed the small knife in my shoulder with a flick of his wrist. Blood pooled on the table.

"Nah, ah, ah! I see what you're doing…thought I'd be too distracted to notice?" He paced, there was a gleam in his eyes as he watched me shaking away the pain. "At least you didn't scream. Better than the pathetic worm next to you." Jorak giggled as he flicked my blood in my face. "Anyhow, let's move onto the main event. You see, I'd like to discover if you've got the pluck of an old-fashioned Sith. Most of the drek Uthar has been passing through these days is so pathetic. Take young Mekel here...I already tested him. Didn't I, Mekel?"

Mekel shook. "P-Please…I-I…"

"Yes, yes, you're welcome. You see, Mekel here has the cruel disposition of a Sith... but not the gumption that I'm looking for. I've been training another as well, you see—Belaya. Feisty woman though now she has competition. I have four students. As I should. Darth Revan always always insisted on only having one apprentice. Idiot. Competition breeds strength—that was Exar Kun's motto. I told Revan this, of course, yet my suggestion was ignored, ignored, always ignored! Ah, but now he's dead. Good riddance."

I glared at Jorak…even though he'd only insulted Darth Revan. Not only that, but he knew where the Star Map was. I needed to get that information from him without dying in the process.

"Look...can we talk about this…?"

"Talk? Ah, well yes I supposed we could talk—I'll pass onto you my own personal thesis on ancient Sith philosophies. They're based on all I've learned studying Tulak's tomb. It'll make you a better Sith, I'm sure. The chances of you understanding it, however, are sadly remote."

I shrugged—feigning nonchalance.

"I doubt you could teach me something that I don't already know."

He stabbed the knife on the table again, a smile stretched the thin, pale skin of his face.

"Ah, bravado. That's good. A Sith needs confidence. But confidence that hides one's inadequacies makes for a poor Sith indeed."

"You're inadequate yourself hiding in this tomb. Afraid of facing Uthar?"

Jorak's face twisted. "Uthar can have his school. I will make a better one here in the tombs where they belong…have you seen them? The ghosts. Uthar would rather collect rotting swords but I! I will speak to the dead!"

Alright. So he was crazy. I could work with crazy. Had experience being crazy, after all. I glanced to the side. Mekel was gradually returning to a more conscious state.

"Why not have your Academy in the tomb with the Star Map? That would be a better place for it, right? Who cares about Tulak Hord?"

Jorak froze, his beady, yellow eyes narrowed. "I would if I could, though it is odd that you know of it. The Star Map. Only students that have passed their trials know of its existence…"

So the Star Map is a part of the trials to become a Sith. The only way I'd be able to get the Map is if I gained enough prestige to take the trial. There was no way I was going to get one hundred points in a week. Maybe in a year but I didn't have time for that. Bastila didn't have time for that. Nor did the galaxy.

I recovered from my brief shock. I needed to egg him on for more information.

"Why can't you though? Move to the Star Map. There's more power to be had there. Nothing's stopping you, right?"

Jorak raised his non-existent eyebrow…until eventually his eyes narrowed. He waved the bloody knife at me.

"I see what you're doing. You want the Star Map but you don't know where it is."

I hesitated. "Oh, I knew where it was."

"Tsk, that bravado is a weakness of yours. That will have to be trained out of you."

"I'm not lying. I knew where it was."

Jorak tilted his head. "Hmm…not a lie. Impossible. You're playing a different game. Trying to confuse your master. It won't work." He let out another one of his scary, happy laughs. "Anyway, we could chat all day about it, but where would that get us? I'm quite determined, and you are quite helpless. It's time for your test."

I flinched. "Test?"

"Ah, did you forget already? Yes, a test. Quiz. Don't worry, it will be quite simple."

I laid down on the slab—already feeling tortured by this conversation.

"What happens if I pass your stupid test?"

"Why, you become one of my apprentices, of course! Which means I will let you go. How does that sound?"

Apprentice?

"You're mad."

"Ah, what's a little mental instability between tutor and pupil? What's important is that I'm here to better the Sith as a whole. It's a big job."

"No. You're not mad. You're absolutely insane."

Jorak's face darkened. "Usually apprentices keep their opinions to themselves. We will have to work on that later." He cleared his throat. "So, then! This is how it goes. I'm going to pose a moral question to you. Get it right, and I torture Mekel. Get it wrong, and I torture you. Mekel here is a bit weak...he probably won't be able to take much more punishment. Mind you, if you get too many wrong, you'll die yourself. I don't know what you think of Mekel. Maybe you don't like him. Maybe you think he deserves to be murdered? Well, here's your chance. Fair enough?"

I turned to the side. Mekel was wide awake…enough that I could see the terror drift into his eyes. I could determine his fate here and now and Mekel knew it.

Jorak turned and walked away.

"I will be back, students! There is some setup required."

The crazy old Sith departed with a hum and a skip in his step. Mekel's heavy breathing echoed in the small space. Finally, I could look around and see where we'd been taken.

A grand sarcophagus sat in the middle of the room and each corner had been lit by torches. Metal cages lined the right wall and…Juhani. She was unconscious in one of those cages. Perhaps if she woke up, she could break me out. Beside her, Belaya also laid unconscious—she was worse for wear compared to Mekel. She'd been tortured by this maniac for longer, after all.

A cough.

"Of all people, kriffing Jorak Uln is here…"

I turned to Mekel.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Why do you think? I was going to ambush you—take you out. Get some prestige. I knew you and that Cathar was going to be here."

Ambush? But Mission was supposed to watch our backs…

"Did you see Mission?"

"Mission? You mean…that Twi'lek slave?"

No. He saw her. Which meant…

"What did you do to her?"

Mekel snorted. "Why do you care?"

"What. Did you. Do?"

Mekel stared at me for a long time. Then, he smiled—it was a smile that told me he hadn't left Mission unharmed. I felt my body tighten, my arms twitched, and in my chest, there was a cold emptiness. He was going to die. He had to. It was the only way to escape this and I wasn't going to feel particularly sorry for his demise.

"I'm back!"

Jorak returned…behind him were two floating droids. Torture droids. One floated up to Mekel's table—multiple tool arms from knives to pokers extended from the head. All of them threatened the young man. The other hovered to my side and did the same.

Jorak rolled me back and flipped the table so that I could look at him at an upright angle. The crazed old man sat crossed-legged on top of the sarcophagus as if it was an everyday piece of furniture.

"Now, then, question number one. Your immediate superior amongst the Sith is an effective commander and a fine leader. He trusts you and you like him. You see an opportunity to kill him. What do you do?"

I glanced over at Mekel and he looked back. It was obvious what answer Jorak wanted to hear. So obvious. I smiled…not only because I knew the answer, but because I knew how much pain it would cause Mekel.

"I kill him and take his position."

Jorak nodded. "Yes, that is rather basic, isn't it? Figured I start simple. Mekel! Time for your punishment!"

The droid's arms twisted and lowered a needle onto Mekel's bare torso. He flinched back, but it was no use. There was a spark and with the spark Mekel's body jolted—the metal table burst with static. Eventually, after a minute of this torture, Mekel let out a tired shout of pain.

The sight of it was…cathartic.

"Enough, enough, we need him around for the next question." The droid stopped and Jorak continued with his question. "You come across a group of humans who are threatened by dangerous animals. They plead for help, offering you a reward. What do you do?"

I shot Mekel a smile.

"I take the reward and leave them to their fate."

Jorak laughed. "Yes! The humans would no doubt just be preyed upon by something else later. Stand up for yourself, I say! We're not Jedi shepherds, after all. Sadly, Mekel, the ingenuity of your fellow student is your loss. This is going to hurt."

The needle descended—this time onto Mekel's leg. The droid added another needle—this one on Mekel's shoulder. His shouts rang loud in my ears. As the torture went on, there was a loud boom. Jorak cursed under his breath then waved his hand. The droid stopped and Mekel's body heaved.

"Stupid beasts! I thought I put them back…" He pointed at me. "You stay put now!"

As he left, the sound of the tuk'ata followed him. Mekel's deep labored breathing was once again the only sound in the room. That is until he spoke.

"Well, I suppose this is it then. You're going to let that crazy old man kill me." He shook his head. "I should have just died at the start…"

I blinked. "The start?"

"Yeah? You know. The start of my training." He spat blood onto the floor. "Ah, right, you were a Jedi. Forgot."

"If you're trying to make me feel sorry for you, it won't work. You killed Mission—"

"I didn't kill that girl, idiot, I just knocked her out!"

I narrowed my eyes. "How do I know you aren't lying to save your skin?"

"Why would I lie about that? I'd rather face my death with dignity." Mekel's voice cracked as he muttered under his breath. "Maybe I should have killed her, that way I wouldn't look like even more of a failure of a Sith." He banged his head against the table. "If only that…that coward tried fighting. This…this was a waste."

"What?"

A heavy silence hung in the air. Then, eventually—

"It was like this for us…you know? At the start. When Jorak was in charge." He took a deep breath. "We didn't want to be strong at first. That's why the torture…it didn't stop. Not until we wanted to be strong." Oh. Of course. He'd been taken. Kidnapped. Forced into this demented Academy. Mekel snorted. "It was like this almost…me versus another. That day, I wanted to be strong. I killed—a weak girl was my opponent. They gave us a knife and she didn't…she didn't even try fighting me when I started stabbing. I think she figured…she'd die rather than let the torture continue." His body shook along with his lip—it looked like a laugh. Yet. "C-Coward."

He was upset. I could tell. He was upset at what he had to do to make the torture stop.

"You didn't want to kill her, did you?"

Mekel froze. "N-No. I wanted to."

"No. You had to."

"Shut up!" Mekel's eyes flashed yellow. More blood from his wounds dripped onto the floor. "I killed her and became stronger for it! But I'd been given the weakest opponent, that's why I fail now, that's why I'm dead. All of this was a waste."

This is what Revan tolerated. This is what he wanted the Sith to be. Merciless. Cold. Why? Why had Revan done this? Why did he want the Sith to be trained like this?

…to make them stronger.

That quiet voice once again entered my mind. I sucked in a deep breath.

Not everyone needs to be strong.

The weak die; the strong survive.

It's up to the strong to help the weak.

But if everyone is weak, everyone dies. It's the only way.

What about when the fighting is over? What happens when you don't have to survive anymore?

…the fighting never stops. Peace is a lie, there is only passion. It is how it is.

"Phew, there we go—all put away now." Jorak came back with a bloody forehead—he'd obviously had trouble with his pets. "Now, where were we? Ah, yes, question three…" Jorak hopped onto the sarcophagus again. "You discover an aspect of the Force that gives you great power. Do you share it and strengthen the Sith as a whole or keep it to yourself?"

The answer Jorak was looking for was once again obvious. But could Mekel survive?

Why…did I care about Mekel surviving? He was a Sith. But a Sith…he didn't want to be a Sith, did he? He'd been taken here against his will. Because of me. Because of Revan. So then why should he have to die for what I did?

I met Jorak's eyes again. And smiled.

"I share it. The knowledge would be good for the Sith."

Jorak frowned. "You gained an advantage and you share it freely? Let them rip the secret from my dead hands, I say! I mean...'share it'? Are you mad?!" About half as mad as you, old man. Jorak sighed. "Well, you did ask for this. It's for your own good."

He waved. I flinched back and the droid lowered one of the needles down onto my bare chest. As soon as it touched my skin a blinding flash of heat and pain erupted through my spine. It…was like a million knives piercing my body.

It lasted only a minute yet felt like an eternity.

"Still no screams. Impressive! Your answer however…" He snorted. "Next question: One of your underlings has made a major mistake which makes you look bad. He is normally very competent and skilled. Do you kill him or give him another chance?"

"I…" I took a deep breath, blinking away sweat as I looked at Mekel. "I give him another chance."

"Another chance to make you look poor to your superiors? To make it look like you are weak and deserving of attack? No, no, no. What is wrong with you? You were doing so well too."

The needle lowered onto the stab wound on my shoulder. I hissed…and tried to hold back from screaming…from succumbing to the pain…yet…I somehow held out. I took in deep breaths once the torture ceased.

The test continued but this time I made sure to answer every one of Jorak's questions wrong. If I answered even one right, I doubt Mekel would survive. I deserved worse anyway, didn't I? This torture, this pain, Darth Revan inflicted it on all of these students. It was only fair, right? It was fair…fair that I should suffer.

Jorak grew impatient as the test went along.

"You are answering incorrectly on purpose. Why?" My body had become numb with the torture. So numb I couldn't even answer in full sentences. Jorak glanced at Mekel. "Oh. I see. You have compassion for him. Strange. You know, he hurt that girl you left behind—saw it on my screen there. Probably killed her."

Mekel glared at Jorak and opened his mouth to say something, yet, Jorak didn't let him. He continued the test. I continued to answer incorrectly. This was my punishment. This is what I deserved. Burning skin, flayed skin, cut scars, flesh, bruises, broken bones, boiling blood, pain. All of it. I deserved more than this.

"Well, this is awkward…I've run out of questions."

My eyesight blurred with tears I didn't mean to shed…some of the aches from the previous questions returned. Eventually, I'd grown used to the pain. The first wave of torture seemed like a prick now. And Jorak knew it wasn't an effective punishment anymore.

"This is odd. The test is over and you're both still alive. That's never happened before. Hmmm, what to do, what to do…" He walked up to Mekel and, with a flick, released the boy from his bonds. "I suppose this means you can go. I'll have to just figure out what to do with our friend here though…he is rather resistant to torture! It is…fascinating." Mekel struggled to stand and Jorak waved at the door. "Go along, shoo. Run along, now."

Mekel looked from Jorak and then back at me. Confused, probably, over the fact that the old Sith Master had just released him. Eventually, the fact that he was free registered and he stumbled towards the door. Jorak chuckled as he skipped up to me.

"Now…what should I do with you?"

It happened in a blink. The sound of a hissing lightsaber came from behind Jorak. The crazy old man stepped away quick enough to dodge Mekel's red blade from stabbing him in the back. He managed to swerve away from me in time and, with a flick of his wrist, he used the Force to break my bonds and the neural restraining collar.

I fell to the ground, weak. I couldn't hold myself up, so I crawled towards Belaya and Juhani—the former had begun to stir from her sleep. Jorak laughed as Mekel battled him around the tomb with a pair of short lightsabers.

"This is what I'm talking about! Yes, fight me! Destroy me, Mekel!"

"Get out of here!"

Mekel shouted back…at me. I ignored him though—there was no way I was going to leave without everyone else. I lifted my hand and used the Force to yank the locks apart. The door flung open and Belaya's eyes opened at the same time. She flinched as she saw me then noticed the commotion behind her and…Juhani beside her.

"You…"

A scream of pain. Mekel hadn't been enough—he'd already been weakened by the torture. He fell to the ground after being Force pushed onto the wall, writhing in pain, unconscious. Jorak tutted.

"What a shame…"

Belaya shouted and rushed the old man, using the Force to grab her red lightsaber from the table. Jorak almost hadn't dodged in time and deflected Belaya's attack with a flick.

"Ah, the apprentices are rebelling!"

Belaya didn't take the bait—using a smooth form, she weaved around Jorak's attacks. Aggression pounded onto Jorak with each blow and, although he was a powerful Sith, he was also old. Too old. And completely insane.

Juhani groaned after I released her from her cage as well—removing her collar.

"Gale…what is happening…?"

"No time to explain!"

I hissed as I got onto my feet and ran towards the table where our stuff had been placed. I threw Juhani her weapon and, reaching out, I pulled Mekel's fallen lightsaber to me and unleashed the red blade.

The hum beneath my fingertips and the heat of the red blade warmed my face…I'd missed it…

Once Jorak saw us, he growled.

"Cowards, all of you! Ganging up on your master like this. Well, that's alright, I have backup."

With a long whistle, the torture droids sprang to life and two more rushed from the hallway into the tomb. Belaya took the droids on the right while Juhani started to pick off the ones on our left. Which left Jorak to me.

The duel lightsabers' light bled together in a violent twirl. I didn't bother beating them back and chose to instead focus on dodging his attacks. Twirling my own lightsaber, I beat his blades with an even faster yet more powerful barrage of attacks—the old man had no choice but to focus on his own defense.

The old man has no focus.

He broke out of a parry and tried to use the Force on me yet I countered with a swift kick into his chest. With a cough, Jorak stumbled back but it was enough to break his focus. A single slash. I took one of his hands with a sharp hiss. The old man growled and stumbled back while holding his burning wrist. All of the droids fell moments later. Juhani and Belaya raised their blades with me.

Jorak tried to use the Force but Juhani was quick. She took his other hand and he was forced onto his knees.

I walked up to Jorak with Mekel's lightsaber poised at his face. It was rather…poetic. Belaya raised her own blade, about to make the killing blow, yet I stopped her before she could by pushing her back.

"Where is the Star Map?" I demanded.

And then, in the silence of the tomb, he laughed. Jorak's laugh went on for a whole minute—a chill ruptured the air. A flash. One of Jorak's red blades stabbed through his own torso.

No.

I went onto my knees and threw away Mekel's lightsaber. But it was too late.

Jorak Uln died with a smile on his lips.

The sun was setting as we came out of the tomb of Tulak Hord. Belaya hadn't said a word to me after Jorak's death and she hadn't said anything to Juhani either. It didn't matter at the moment, not when Mission was still at the entrance wounded and possibly dying.

Before we left the main chambers, I picked up both of Jorak's lightsabers. It would prove to Uthar that we'd found his old master…and perhaps we could get some prestige out of it. Because now we needed the prestige. It was the only way we were going to find the Star Map, unless Canderous or Jolee pulled through...

Reluctantly, Juhani helped drag Mekel out of the tomb with me. I would have preferred to leave him behind, but I wasn't going to let the young man die after everything. It would be a waste, after all.

Mission was found unconscious near the entrance. I dumped Mekel's body as soon as I saw her crumpled form. Using the Force, I sensed some pain in her arm. Broken, maybe. Juhani, the only one who was minorly injured, told us to wait in front of the tomb while she went to find healing supplies. Which meant Belaya and I were left to watch both Mission and Mekel.

Mekel awoke only a few minutes after Juhani left. He got onto his feet with a long groan and then gave me a long, thoughtful stare. I thought he was going to say something, maybe thank me for saving him, yet he just limped away towards the tent.

Yeah, you're welcome…

"I should have known you'd come here…you're going after the Star Forge, after all."

I took a drink from my canteen—briefly wishing it was something other than water—when Belaya spoke. The pain from the torture was also starting to come back…

"We came here to rescue you, you know."

"Where is your handler?"

I flinched. "Handler?"

"Bastila."

I stared deep into Belaya's eyes…then recalled a moment. A moment on Manaan. She'd been terrified of me, hadn't she? She'd stalked me in the hotel for reasons I still didn't…

I felt my lips part once I realized.

"You know who I am, don't you?"

A chill—not one from the tomb. A cold shadow crossed Belaya's eyes.

"Sul Koth told me. He…he wanted me to know so that I could…be…"

"Ready to kill me if needed?"

Her lips slammed shut.

"I was…horrified when I learned…learned that you survived. How could the Jedi put the galaxy at risk like that? They should have let you die."

A numbness spread in my bare chest. I looked down at my canteen.

"Well, unfortunately, I'm alive."

"Shut up." Belaya stood from the column she'd been against and walked menacingly up to me. "This is your fault. I wouldn't have…Master Koth wouldn't have died if you hadn't taken my lightsaber. I wouldn't be here if Bastila had just left you—"

"So, then why are you here?" I asked. "Don't you want to be a Sith?"

"I have no choice but to be a Sith!" Belaya waved her hand at Mekel. "I have nowhere else to go! The Jedi…they are no different from the Sith anyway. Look at what they've done, what they've risked to win the war! Using a brainwashed Sith Lord to find a Star Forge—a Sith Lord that now knows he's a Sith Lord. The ends justify the means for the Sith yet the Jedi have used that very same excuse!"

I felt my head fall at her shouting. Yeah, I really needed a drink now.

"I doubt Juhani will last here—she already has a target on her back." I thoughtfully took a drink of water. "I told her it was pointless going after you, but she would rather die trying to save you. And she will die—she wouldn't make for a good Sith."

That made Belaya quiet. I thought that my goading would have gotten through to her, yet I was proven wrong by a sharp kick to the stomach. My vision flashed white for a moment and I doubled over after Belaya hit one of my wounds.

"Never use Juhani against me like that. Ever." She snorted. "Though, I shouldn't be surprised you'd stoop that low, Revan."

I was about to elaborate, however, that is when I noticed Juhani in the distance carrying a bag of supplies. She gave Belaya a single look yet said nothing as she started to heal Mission's concussed head and broken bones with the kolto bandages and splints. Belaya retreated to her column like a spooked gizka once Juhani appeared.

A few minutes later, the Cathar sighed. Mission was as fixed up as she could be, yet she hadn't woken up yet.

"We can take her to the cave and Carth or Canderous can watch over her…" I said.

"But what about Uthar's lesson?"

I sighed. Right. Uthar's lesson.

"We'll worry about that later..."

I trailed off and that's when Juhani finally paid attention to Belaya. Her eyes shimmered with tears.

"Belaya…"

In response, Belaya took a step back.

"Juhani, please…"

"Why have you joined the Sith? They…they tortured you! What happened to Master Koth wasn't your fault. You—"

"I won't hear this."

Belaya made to leave us, yet Juhani ran up to her in order to cut her off. She dug underneath her tunic and showed the necklace.

"You remember you gave this to me, right? Does it mean nothing to you?"

Belaya took a step back.

"This…this isn't about us, Juhani!" She grabbed the necklace and shoved it back under Juhani's tunic. "The Republic will fall—it's only a matter of time. Dantooine is a smoking ruin. The Jedi Council…most are dead. Too many Jedi have died or fallen to the dark side. Don't you see? We lost. If we don't join the Sith, we are dead." She took Juhani's hands. "That's why…you have to join the Sith, Juhani. Truly. I know you're only here for the Star Map, but you have to do away with the Jedi. The Jedi Code…it tore us apart. With the Sith we can be free."

"How could you say that!" Juhani took a step back, taking her hands away. "There is still hope that the galaxy can be saved!"

"Who is going to save us? Darth Revan?"

Juhani froze once that name was mentioned. Her gaze met mine then her head bowed.

"He is no longer the Dark Lord of the Sith."

Belaya let out a deprecating laugh as she looked down at me.

"I knew you were naive but I didn't know you were this naive. Well, now that he knows who he is, I say it's only a matter of time before he takes up the mantle again."

"Please." Juhani placed a hand on Belaya's shoulder, getting close. This caused the woman to flinch yet she didn't move away. There was a fleeting moment of…tenderness between them. "There is no love with the dark side. I know because I fell to the dark side myself. When you left, I began to despise the Jedi. I almost killed my own Master out of frustration. I became…an animal. Enslaved to my own anger. Fighting only for survival. But we do not have to fight. We can—"

Belaya shoved Juhani away. "Fighting is how we survive, Juhani." She sighed then walked backward. "You will see. I will make you see. The Sith…it's the only way."

With that, she limped away from us towards the Academy. At this point, Juhani's body sank…defeated. A moment of silence passed, and without hesitation, she took the necklace off her neck and threw it to the ground.

"Juhani…"

"No!" She twisted around. "I told you! I can't save anyone…" Juhani didn't let me argue again, she walked up to me with the bag of supplies and began to tend to my wounds. After taking care of the stab wound on my arm and giving me a shot of kolto to help with the pain, I pulled my tunic over my head with a wince. Juhani picked up Mission gently.

The sun was about to set. Which meant all of the students would need to present their findings soon. And I had to be there or else I would lose prestige. I couldn't afford to lose prestige…yet I needed to make sure Mission was alright. There had to be another way. Had to.

Juhani nodded and left first with Mission in her arms, leaving the necklace in the sand. There was no way I was going to convince Belaya to leave the Sith since she knew I was Revan. Juhani already tried, so she was a lost cause. So, Master Zhar was wrong—not everyone could come back from the dark side. Hell, maybe if they wiped Belaya's memory, she could come back too...but the thought made my mouth bitter.

Groaning, I limped up to the necklace and picked it up. The gem reflected the sunset and I saw my own reflection flash for a moment in the prism.

I slid the necklace into my pocket…

Hello, I'm back and had a burst of creativity after my forced break :)! Tis' what happens after being away for so long, I couldn't stop writing!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter - I intend for the next few chapters to focus on the tombs (they were one of my favorite parts of the game so of course, heh). I'm planning for Korriban to be one of the longest arcs I think - maybe not as long as Manaan but close! There are so many characters I want to explore and moments I want to get to so I think I will take my time and make sure everything is covered!

Finally, thanks HelioDragon for your kind review! And thank you for patiently waiting. I'll see you next time!