The terentatek cave only had one resident—Carth. He didn't look up at us when we arrived…in fact I don't think he'd left the fireside since yesterday. It was cold now, he hadn't even bothered to light the pitiful sticks and shrubs of the firepit. Juhani placed Mission's unconscious body on one of the mats near the cave wall. The young Twi'lek was in a deep sleep due to the drugs Juhani had given her to soothe the pain.

A spike of something formed in my chest as I watched Juhani care for Mission. I shouldn't have left her behind like that. Especially in this hellhole. For that reason, I avoided them both and watched the pilot instead.

Carth hadn't said a single word to me as I approached the cool, dead firepit. His normally tight back had slumped and if I hadn't known he was breathing using the Force, I would have almost thought he had died sitting there. Once I ignited the fire, across the flames his lips moved, droid-like.

"I failed him." Carth's voice cracked and echoed in the cave. "I failed my son."

My lips pursed. I could sense the…unrelenting self-loathing. It was a familiar punch in the gut. I almost didn't want to talk to him because of it. Yet…

I sat next to Carth. He hadn't even flinched when I came close like I would have expected him to. The fire crackled for another minute before I dared to say anything.

"It's not your fault. You couldn't have done anything—"

"No. I could have." Carth's dead eyes didn't move as he watched the fire. "I rarely took shore leave. I rarely if ever gave Morgana and Dustil a call. I wasn't there. Of course my own son despises me. I chose war over my own family and they paid the price for it." His shoulders fell. "I should have been there. I should have died protecting them. I should—"

"Well, that would have been pointless."

Carth's dead eyes sprung to life. With anger. His face was illuminated by the orange flames.

"Pointless? How could you say that?"

"So, you should have let Jordo run in the fire after his dying family? If he died, Jordo wouldn't have been there to help us, would he? And you…you wouldn't have been there to save me on the Spire."

His lips upturned in a sneer and scoff. "Oh, so now you admit that I saved you? Well, I don't want your thank you anymore. I wish I left you in that burning escape pod. You're the reason Jordo's family, my family, died in the first—"

"Yes." I felt my face numb, becoming cold. "That's what I'm trying to say. It's my fault. Not yours. So stop blaming yourself. It's pathetic."

The fire in his eyes died and his mouth gaped.

"You…no, that…"

For once, there was a hint of doubt in Carth's words. As a soldier, he had always been so sure. Sure of his suspicion. Sure of his ideals. Sure of everything. Yet now? His expression twisted once more into self-pity. "I still could have saved them." He sighed as I looked back into the flames. "It's no use now. I can't do anything to fix things. Dustil has fallen to the dark side. It's over."

I felt a gleam in my eyes.

"Not if I have anything to say about it."

"Look…I appreciate you helping me back there. It was honestly unexpected, but I would rather you not make things worse."

"Worse?" I quirked a brow at the pilot. "Are you still underestimating me? After everything we've been through?"

"Underestimating you? No. Being absolutely terrified of what you could do? Hell yes."

Well, it was better than nothing.

As I stood, the ground wavered and my bones ached…Force, I almost forgot that I'd gotten a nasty dose of torture from the craziest Sith I'd ever met. So far. Carth leaned back and gave Mission and Juhani a concerned look.

"So, what happened? Is Mission alright?"

I sighed. "It's a long story…"

"I have time."

So, since I had no choice given Carth rarely left me alone without answers, I told him about what we discovered in Tulak Hord's tomb. Juhani remained oddly silent as I told the tale, staring listlessly at the cavern wall.

Carth let out a long sigh once I finished.

"You still haven't explained why you both went into a Sith tomb in the first place."

"To save Belaya, of course."

Carth stood at the familiar name. "Wait, she's here?"

Finally, Juhani moved from her spot at Mission's side. Her sharp eyes narrowed further.

"It…does not matter." Juhani's accent voice was quiet. "It was all a waste of time in the end. She has joined the Sith in earnest."

Carth snorted. "Well, I can relate, but why did she join the Sith? Is it because…?"

"It does not matter!"

Juhani's shrill shout echoed in the cave. A rock fell from the ceiling and a distant howl of…something came from beyond the valley. Her expression shifted from anger to fear—it was a fear I recognized on her face. She feared that she was falling too. Eventually, she snapped out of her shock and limped to the cave wall, sliding down it with a thump.

Carth shot me a look of concern. Instead of bothering the poor Cathar, I decided to change the subject.

"It wasn't all for nothing. Jorak Uln told me that the Star Map is in the tomb for the Sith's trial. If I get on Uthar's good side, we'll get the Star Map."

"What, exactly, will you have to do to accomplish that?"

I paused.

"Does it matter?"

"No. It does. Considerably."

I crossed my arms with a snort, my boots were exceptionally dirty…a speck of blood…

"You know—I've done worse for worse reasons."

"That's exactly why getting on the good side of a Sith is a bad idea. If you fall again, Revan will return. So, even if it's for a good cause, even if it's to find the Star Map…how can you expect to come back?"

I never wanted to come back.

That stray depressing thought lingered for only a moment. Long enough that I found an answer to Carth's question.

"That boy Mekel…I wanted Jorak to kill him. Almost let that maniac do it after what he did to Mission. In some sick, twisted, way I enjoyed his torture. Yeah, I probably am a sociopath or worse, huh." I rubbed my chin, feeling nothing again as the words spilled from my lips. "Yet, I didn't let him die in the end."

"Why?"

"Narcissism."

A pause.

"You really are insane, aren't you?"

I patted Carth's shoulder, and his serious face flinched.

"Lighten up, Orangy. It'll all be an act anyway. And I only have to act like a Sith for a week."

"A week!" Carth rubbed his face. "That's it—I'm going with you. There's no way I'm leaving you to your own devices."

"So, you're stalking me again? Aren't you tired of that?"

"No. I'm babysitting you just like Admiral Dodonna asked me to. And yes. I am tired of it." He glanced around the cave. "Where is Jolee? Canderous? They could have more info. You might not even need to consider doing this. Hell, Jolee will definitely convince you to not do this."

"No idea. Canderous was supposed to report back here…" I had a bad feeling he'd accidentally run into the Mandalorians out there. "And Jolee…that old man does whatever he wants to. We can't go looking for them right now though. I need to turn in these."

I showed him Jorak's lightsabers. In response, Carth grimaced. With that reaction, I already knew it would be a solid plan.

Uthar didn't even flinch when I threw Jorak Uln's lightsabers onto his desk. The research tent was empty—so empty I thought Uthar had left. Fortunately, I checked before I made my way back to my quarters. I could feel Carth's masked form hovering behind me. I told him to wait for me outside, but he never listened, did he?

Uthar's eyes gleamed as he took a closer look at what I'd thrown before him.

"Better late than never, Gale. And to think…you have brought to me my old master's lightsabers. Was it mere theft, or—?"

"He's dead."

Uthar looked back up at me and then behind me to the Sith soldier aka Carth. A small smile carved his dry lips.

"And you killed him?" His smile hadn't left his face. "Impressive. Jorak Uln went mad and disappeared around a year ago. I was going to challenge him myself as an apprentice should. Where was he?"

"In the tomb of Tulak Hord—you can take a look. His rotting corpse is there."

Uthar paused before he nodded. "Good. While this isn't an artifact of power, you have accomplished something that merits prestige anyway. Ten points. Cherish it—that is the most that I give out at a time."

"That's it?"

The pale Sith narrowed his eyes.

"Of course that's it. And I would choose your next words lightly, initiate."

I shrugged. "Well, it's just…your Master was so close to the Academy. You could have found him yourself, that's how easy it was. It's almost like you didn't even…try."

"I had more pressing matters to attend to. Like watching over the Academy."

"Or maybe you were afraid of facing him. So afraid, you let his insanity be the reason why you didn't bother going after him. I wonder…what would Yuthura say?"

Uthar stood, his tall form created a shadow over us. A waver, a chill, blew the torches that lit the tent. One extinguished itself. I didn't move or flinch as I felt this distortion in the Force.

"What do you want?"

"How can I earn enough prestige to enter the trials next week?"

Uthar snorted. "I already explained this to you. You need to impress me and at the moment I am very unimpressed."

"Tell me what I need to do to impress you then. I will do anything."

The Sith's eyes somehow seemed to glow a brighter yellow as he glared down at me. Eventually, a smile grew on his face.

"Impatient, aren't you? Group lessons…are wasted on you. I can tell. Too many worthless distractions." He walked past me and Carth who he'd largely ignored. "Tomorrow, come to my office. Alone."

No, this wouldn't do.

"How do I know this isn't a trap?"

"You don't. But as a Sith you should expect one around every corner."

A gray planet coursed with lightning. Millions of screams shouted through the Force. Explosions. Death. Darkness. Light. I winced, blinded, then…saw a peaceful village. Children laughed then ran through the dirty bantha-dung streets. Their parents shouted at them to behave. An old woman sat under a balcony, telling older children stories of their planet.

That day is when they came.

The Mandalorians.

Burnt corpses. Shouts for mercy.

There is no mercy.

The sensations of heat and the prickling of the sands interrupted my meditation. A red piercing light broke the horizon and washed the valley in a tint of red. I found this place on the cliffside overlooking the valley away from the Sith. I managed to avoid Carth—he didn't bother following me into the dorms because of Dustil. Yet, he'd be after me once he realized I wasn't there.

Today I was going to Uthar's "private" lesson. Honestly? I was less excited about this lesson than about Master Zhar's lessons. At least there was a lack of death involved while training as a Jedi. Well, excluding Bastila's beautiful deadly glares on occasion.

No. Not now. Don't think about her now.

The strange vision disturbed me for only a moment. Enough for me to realize it hadn't just been the sands and the vision that broke my meditation. I froze the knife in midair with the Force before it could skewer my brain.

A tisk.

"Always on your guard." Yuthura's deep voice cut through the morning winds. "I would call it annoying if I didn't happen to admire that trait."

The knife clattered to the ground.

"Shouldn't have bothered."

"Testing you? Perhaps."

Why was she here?

Yuthura moved after staring at me for over a minute. I felt my shoulders tense after she sat next to me. Her legs dangled off the side of the cliff like a child would on a swing. A single burst of the Force could send her careening down, yet it seemed she trusted me enough not to do that. Or, rather, she trusted herself to defend against me.

"You're wondering why I've approached you. It's simple. I saw you from the valley floor. At times, students are found up here…contemplating." I didn't have to ask her what exactly they were contemplating. "Hopefully you aren't here to do the same."

I felt my chest freeze. The numbness consumed me again.

"A Sith wouldn't kill themselves."

"Of course. Though being a student in this Academy…many eventually find death to be preferable." Yuthura's eyes became fogged as if remembering one of those occasions. "A girl named Selene Radis, barely sixteen, came up here after failing one of her lessons. It took the droids a week to clean her up off the side of one of the statues. We sometimes find parts of her still in the valley." My teeth clenched. Unfortunately, my emotions had seeped out enough past my shield that Yuthura sensed it. "That angers you. Why?"

Whatever I said next couldn't be a lie. Yuthura always seemed to know when I was lying.

"One of your students killed herself."

"And?"

"Do you care?"

Yuthura seemed taken aback by the question. Eventually, she let out a snort.

"Care? Of course not. And neither should you." Yuthura's gaze drifted down the side of the cliff. "You're powerful, Gale. So powerful, yet your power will be wasted if you entertain notions of empathy. It's one of the many things a Sith that once used to be a Jedi must learn. No one is your friend."

"Even a Sith needs allies."

"Strong allies, yes."

"Strong? No, I would be a fool if I allied with someone stronger than myself, wouldn't I?"

"Is Master Uthar weak?" I didn't continue, figuring that would be enough of an answer for Yuthura. Yet, she continued. "I heard that you've gotten Uthar's attention—you are to have private lessons with him. This is rare indeed. Tell me…what did you do to earn his favor?"

I smiled.

"You would like to know, wouldn't you?"

"Of course."

"What would you give me for that information?"

Her brow curved. It was then I realized…that she was close. A bit too close. I pulled away before she got closer.

She huffed. "No matter. You shouldn't be happy about gaining Uthar's attention in any case. He'll try to kill you."

It was my turn to raise my brow.

"Strange. It almost sounds like you're giving me advice."

Yuthura smiled. "Well, I do want to make sure my favorite prospect is prepared."

"Favorite prospect?"

"Absolutely. By my estimation, you are far more likely to achieve the prestige necessary to join the Sith than any of the others. Once you get rid of these…notions."

I gaped, surprised that she thought this to be true.

"How do I earn more prestige then?"

"Easy." She stood, sending a rock over the side. "Get rid of your competition."

"Competition?"

"Lashowe is close to earning 100 points. So is Shaardan and, surprisingly, Dustil. If they happen to end up dead…"

"You want me to kill them."

It wasn't a question.

She shrugged. "If you happen to kill them, it would impress Uthar. Not me. I can tell that you loathe them already. It would be no skin off your back to end them. To impress me, you will have to do something more..." A pause. "You rescued that initiate, Belaya. I saw you leave that tomb together. Along with that Cathar. Which means you are attached to them both. It's simple then. Kill them and I will help you."

No.

No.

I couldn't. I would never.

"Why would I want your help? I'm not courting your affection. Quite the opposite, actually."

She sneered. "Uthar isn't stupid. He can see a student's future in their shadow and he fears what your shadow promises. A Sith keeps her rivals close and her enemies closer only to slaughter them in the end. You may gain favor with Uthar now but that favor will only end in your demise."

"I'll find a way."

"Without my help, I doubt it."

Before I made the foolish mistake to deny that, Yuthura walked away down the side of the mountain towards the colony.

Somehow, someway, Yuthura had to be wrong. I could earn my way into the trials without sacrificing Juhani. Yet, I knew…Uthar would try killing me first before he would let me become a Sith. With what I knew, how could he not?

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Carth had found me, it seemed. Well, more like he knew where I would be heading and camped in the area. I considered telling him the obvious. No, this was not a good idea. If my past self was currently in my position, he would run screaming back to the Ebon Hawk, back to Yavin, and hide. Again. Yet, as always, I never seemed to have a choice.

I think Carth could somehow read my mind almost as if he could use the Force. A scary prospect.

"Right. Stupid question." He stepped to the side, no longer blocking the door. "I know that if you truly turn to the dark side, I'd be powerless to stop you. Probably think I'm an idiot, but I won't run away even if you do. Not when my son is at risk."

I stopped right before the door, sensing what I could on the other side. Nothing but that dead, cold sensation I'd felt since I arrived.

"You're right about one thing. I do think you're an idiot."

I didn't let him argue back as I used the Force to open the door and closed it behind me quickly.

No traps. So far. Uthar's office had that sterile, lifeless feel that most of the Sith rooms had except instead of being empty of anything remotely personal, the walls were filled. Cabinets, shelves, and datapad stations were filled to the brim with objects of various uses and types. Some appeared ritualistic—ancient weapons of war marked like Uthar's head. Glowing holocrons were scattered about. I could sense the power they held, and they beckoned to me.

I turned away. Not now. Not when I had to be on my guard.

Uthar sat in the middle of his room, meditating. His desk had been shoved against the wall and he sat where it might have been on a dark mat. I approached, standing over him, my shadow hiding his meditating form.

Eventually, I sat, copying his posture, crossing my legs in front of him. With his back still facing me, he spoke.

"What do you know of the Hundred-Year Darkness?"

I flinched at the question, taken off guard by its irrelevance.

"It…I have no idea."

"Yes. Of course. The Jedi wouldn't teach Padawans about their failures. Particularly when this 'failure' birthed the Sith Empire. I first learned of this schism when I came here as a mere teen with my Master, who was with Exar Kun, forty years ago. I remember the Dark Lord pouring over those holocrons for days. Revan did the same when he arrived." He turned and nodded at the holocrons. "Ajunta Pall fascinated them both the most."

Ajunta Pall. I'd never heard the name. Uthar had turned to the side and he must have realized the name was unfamiliar to me. "Ajunta Pall first came here after being exiled by the Jedi thousands of years ago. His crime? Experimentation with the Force. He wished to use the Force to its fullest potential which disturbed the Jedi's 'balance.' He only succeeded after he found Korriban and its original inhabitants. The Sith." He stood from his meditative posture yet hadn't looked back at me. "I tell you this to make a point. On Korriban, the use of the Force is limitless yet you have been restrained. Curious. After yesterday, I tried to look up your records. It didn't tell me much except that you had a warrant for your arrest. A smuggler—a man with no regard to Republic law. Yet you hesitate with your use of the Force. Why?"

I opened my mouth before I caught myself and straightened my back to hide my shock.

"Habits are hard to kill."

"Yes, and so I am here to help kill those habits instilled within you by the Jedi. Did you know anyone you wished to save? And would you use the Force to do it?"

I felt the world blur around me, and the memories that I now knew to be false stirred within my mind. Faint screams echoed in the distance.

They aren't real. It doesn't matter.

"Yes. And yes."

"Tell me about them."

"My…" I paused, trying to think back. I'd suppressed so many of those false memories that recalling them now hurt. "My parents died when I was a child."

"Ah, yes, mine as well. Go on. Tell me. What happened?"

I glared. "Why should I?"

"The fact that their deaths pain you…it makes you weak. Their deaths shouldn't sadden you. It made you stronger."

"How?"

"What happened?" He stepped forward, arm outstretched. "I have ways of getting the information out of you if you refuse."

He was searching for something…a weakness. That was the only reason why Uthar cared about my past enough to ask about it. It's why Yuthura kept asking questions. They wanted to find something to exploit. Maybe, for once, I should be thankful that my past wasn't real.

"I was raised on Deralia. It was attacked by the Mandalorians, and my parents were killed. I escaped—"

"No. How were they killed? Don't brush it off. Go into detail."

I sucked in a breath.

"I don't—"

Know. I had no idea. Were they shot? Strangled? Did they die in a fire? What was the lie that the Jedi fed me? Some of it wasn't clear enough and it was only after I realized it wasn't real that I even noticed.

Uthar snorted. "You know. The Jedi only told you to not think about it. Perhaps they said something along the lines of the present being the only thing that matters. That is the furthest from the truth. Your past defines you. It shapes you. Pain especially. You are holding back, and if you hold back…you have no hope of becoming a Sith."

He was right. I'd been hesitating. Acting too cautiously. Hadn't I used to hate that about the Jedi? How cautious they were even in the face of injustice? Those children on Dantooine would have never been rescued if I hadn't gone after the Mandalorians. Then…the Mandalorian War itself. As Carth once said, we all would be speaking Mando'a if Revan hadn't stepped in.

I met Uthar's gaze, directly.

I remember now.

"They hid me in the shed and told me not to leave, but when I heard them screaming, I opened the door. They dragged them out of the house…out to the lake. They rounded up a few dozen of my neighbors, my friends, and they used those machines to burn the water around them. They boiled to death for so long...minutes? Hours? I don't remember. I ran after that."

"And you felt helpless, didn't you?"

"Of course I did."

"Then you dreamed of throwing some Mandalorians into a lake. Boil and skin them alive just as they had done to the ones you loved."

No.

Not once.

As I worked as a smuggler, it stopped mattering. Juhani asked me, once, why I wasn't angry at Canderous for what he did during the war. I never wondered why I didn't care. Why didn't I join the war out of vengeance?

You didn't care because the Jedi didn't want you to care about your fake dead parents. There is no emotion, there is peace after all.

"It doesn't matter."

"Oh, it matters." Uthar walked over to the desk and hit a button on a comm. "Bring one of the chattels to my office." Chattel? What was he planning? Uthar must have noticed the confusion on my face. "Jorak Uln took me as a young boy from my village. I barely remember them though I distinctly recall one of Exar's men raping my mother. Before I was apprenticed at nine, Jorak brought me to the man responsible. I didn't hesitate in flaying off his groin. His screams made me learn an important lesson. The weak suffer while the strong thrive. Being a mere child was no excuse for my suffering."

I remained silent, a cold prickle ran up my spine, and I sensed something…wrong in the Force. Before I could try to figure out where it came from, Uthar walked over to a side room, a bathroom, maybe. A few minutes later, he walked back out and placed a bucket of water in front of me.

"What's this for?"

Uthar smiled. "You wish to become a Sith in a week? Well, there is a way to speed that along."

We waited for a torturous amount of time until I heard the door behind me swish open.

Carth was right. Of course he was right. This was a bad idea.

Two Sith soldiers marched into the room, leading a small child between them. Liam. He seemed much smaller than when I last saw him. Dirty, chained, and scarred. A thin scar trailed on his chin. I froze once I saw him and so did he until a faint smile grew on his face.

"Ori'vod!"

Dear friend. Brother. He remembered who I was. Of course he would remember. Taris felt like years ago when it had really only been months. The soldiers led Liam up to Uthar who was raising an eyebrow at the boy due to his strange reaction when he arrived.

"Leave." The two soldiers didn't question Master Uthar. They left the room, leaving Liam with us. That sensation of dread turned from pricks to stabs. Eventually, Uthar nodded to the water. "Hand." Liam, who shivered at Uthar's tone, followed the Sith's orders and placed his hand in the water. "This boy is the son of a Mandalorian. Son to the people who killed yours." Uthar met my gaze. "Exact your vengeance."

No. He didn't…no, I couldn't. Liam did nothing to me. He was only a child.

But you have to. If you don't, you will never get the Star Map.

He's a child!

Some sacrifices have to be made.

I felt a cold sweat on my back, running down my spine. A quiver in the air, a tendril, the Force. I focused…on the metal bucket. The water shuddered as I raised my hand…my hand quivered and I lost my focus. Lost it when I noticed Liam…staring wide-eyed at me.

He doesn't care. He still trusts you. Even after you failed to save him. He thinks you're there to help him.

I'm not there to save him. I'm there to harm him.

Not your fault. The Sith are making you.

A voice, which sounded a lot like Jolee, snorted in my ear.

"You really think this is the only way?"

It is, old man.

"Fool."

I focused on the bucket again, my hand quivered with red, hot, anger. At this joke of a galaxy. Why me? Why did it have to be me? A yelp. I flinched back at the sound of Liam's shout and I collapsed on the mat. Sweat dripped off my forehead despite it feeling cold…so cold.

A tisk.

"Pathetic."

I glared up at Uthar. Liam had taken his hand out of the bucket—his small red hand shook. You did that. You hurt him. And for what? To prove yourself to Uthar? You are weak. The life of one small boy matters more than the galaxy? More than Bastila? Of course not.

Uthar nodded his head at Liam.

"Again."

Liam's small body shook and his innocent eyes peered back up at me. Pleading. Asking to be saved. How could I save him? I couldn't strike Uthar down. He and Yuthura were the only ones who knew the Star Map's location.

But to get Yuthura on my side, I would need to kill Juhani.

Another way.

There had to be another way.

But I couldn't think of one.

I shouted as I raised my hand again, aiming for the bucket. I tried…tried to ignore Liam's shouts of pain, but…they were there. I couldn't ignore it like the pain of my memories. And, again, I collapsed on the mat, exhausted. I couldn't do it. I couldn't—

A stoic "hmm" came from Uthar's dried lips.

"He should be dead already." Uthar used the Force and threw Liam to the wall. I flinched as he collided with it and slid, unconscious, to the ground. "Perhaps you need to be warmed up…" He gazed up at the ceiling. "You will attack the nearby Mandalorian camp tonight and kill them. All of them. Take Yuthura with you. She will serve as my eyes and ears. If you leave one Mando alive, you might as well go back to the Jedi."

I didn't look away from Liam. "That boy—"

"When you come back, you will try again." Uthar gave me his slimy smile. "I rarely give students a second chance. You will succeed next time, I'm sure. Oh, and one last thing." The flash of something silver flew at me. I caught it before it slammed into my face. The sleek hilt of one of Jorak Uln's lightsabers mocked me. "I won't let you go defenseless. I'm not that cruel."

My hand shook before I hooked the lightsaber onto my belt. It somehow felt…heavy. So heavy I wanted to throw it over the nearest cliffside. I stood with shaky legs and gave Liam's unconscious form one last look. How had he escaped the first time? Someone here must have helped him. So then…maybe I could find them and then tell them to help the boy escape again.

But if Liam happens to escape, wouldn't that be rather convenient?

It didn't matter.

"What the hell happened in there?"

Carth immediately asked that as soon as I left Uthar's room. He noticed Liam, recognized him, and asked what the Sith made me do. I said nothing. Anything I told him would put him off of the entire thing. He would follow me, certainly, but it would be easier if he just didn't know.

He stopped asking questions as I marched through the Academy.

Someone saved Liam. There is no way he escaped on his own. A Sith saved him. But who? I would need to investigate the Sith's records…they must have recorded the events of his escape. Who would take pity on enslaved children? Who would even have the ability to? They are probably dead. Sure, but I needed to operate under the assumption that they somehow survived, otherwise…

Otherwise, I would need to kill a child.

You've killed children before, haven't you? You were Darth Revan, after all.

No. Don't think about that.

I stopped before the doors of the Archives. Carth took a deep breath when he finally caught up to me.

"Please, please, tell me what the hell you're doing."

"Carth, I need you to go get T3."

The man flinched. "T3?"

"Only T3 can break into any computers we can find here. Mission might have but…I'd rather not get her into even more trouble."

"Why are we breaking into things? I thought you said we needed to be careful."

I laughed once. "Right. Careful. That's exactly why everything has been going wrong here, hasn't it? I've been too careful."

Carth's body dipped and I could sense the usual horror he displayed when discussing one of my plans. Eventually, his armored body straightened, and he pointed a finger at my chest.

"Go get him yourself. I'm not letting you leave my sight."

I grimaced. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to stay in the archives. It'll look suspicious if I have an astromech droid rolling around near me. T3 will look normal next to a Sith soldier."

"So you say, but you've lied before about what you've intended to do, haven't you?"

"Carth." I let out a long sigh. "Uthar…he wants me to kill Liam. He wants me to kill a child. The only way we can save Liam is if I find out who helped him escape in the first place. I can't help him, if I do then Uthar would know it, but someone else…maybe."

A pause. A fragile silence. Carth's hesitation dwindled for over a minute.

"So, you're asking for help? Truly?"

"Yes."

Another pause. Then, a low curse.

"Fine." He pointed at my face. "But you better be here when I get back."

And my eternal guardian Carth Onasi finally left me in peace. I didn't wait for him to disappear, nor did I miss him. I entered the Sith archives and the door swished quietly behind me.

Shelves upon shelves of datapads lined the room, their red glow barely lit the space. I almost had to use the Force in order to find my way around. Each aisle of datapads was empty of students. One droid occasionally cleaned the dark marble floors of…blood? So, the Sith had fights here more often than study sessions. I stopped once I saw another door. That must be where they kept their records. I approached and tried to open it but, unsurprisingly, it was locked. Which meant I would need to wait for T3 to assist.

I sat at one of the tables in the corner after I found a few random datapads to look over. One rambled on and on about the dark side being the path to victory, the Jedi being weak, something about growing terentateks in jars…

"..."

"Master?"

A shove on my shoulder. Another shove.

"Master! Condemnation: Oh, Master it is so unlike you to be sleeping unguarded like this. Have you been drugged? If I had been an enemy assassin I would have so easily slipped a blade between your ribs. Query: May I do so to someone else, at least?"

At HK's request to murder as my alarm, I groaned.

"HK…not now."

"Query: Have I mentioned how much less fun you are now, Master?" I sat up fully and observed the room. Still no one. No T3. No Carth. How long was this going to take, exactly? HK's lights dimmed once I looked at him. "Statement: I'm here to make my report."

I crossed my arms. "Make it then."

"Statement: It's…not good news, Master, the Echani meatbag discovered my location and tried to destroy me. Fortunately, I was able to get away, but I don't think the meatbag will be too…happy to see you next time."

"Is anyone ever happy to see me?"

"Answer: I am always happy to see you, Master. In battle, of course."

I rubbed my face. Why did I bother?

"Where's Verena?"

She might be able to help rescue Liam at least.

"Answer: She has gone to the Tomb of Marka Ragnos for reasons I cannot fathom. Hypothetical: The meatbag had been carrying a datapad and was occasionally looking down at it. A map of some sort, perhaps?"

Maybe she was trying to find an entrance down into the Academy's basement. It's where the children were being held, after all, and that's the only reason she would go into some Sith tomb. Hadn't there been some crazy droid in that tomb though?

"What exactly is the problem here? Go after her."

HK's lights dimmed. "Statement: She explicitly stated, and I quote, 'If I see you and that evil bastard you call Master again, I'll kill you both.' Of course, that is a declaration of war and it was music to my audio receptors, but—"

"Wait. You're scared of her?"

HK's eyes beamed about as bright as they had ever been. "Refutation: Of course not, Master! It's just… Recommendation: You would be better equipped to deal with the meatbag yourself. There are some things that a droid cannot accomplish. Watching suicidal Echani meatbags is not a part of my programming."

I can't believe this.

"Look I don't care if she's pissed off, she's in danger if she's down there. And I can't go after her—I have other things I need to attend to right now."

"Astonishment: You are expressing desires for me to save the Echani meatbag. I find this hard to believe. Correction: You mean to say you wish to slaughter her right, Master? In that case, I would be happy to make that attempt."

"No!"

HK's lights dimmed and he let out a dramatic sigh.

"Complaint: Oh, you are really, really boring now, Master."

Before I could tell off this stupid droid, the door swished open and T3's happy-go-lucky beeps echoed within the large room. Carth limped after him and despite not being able to see his expression, I could tell he was disheveled.

"What happened?"

T3 stopped by my ankle like a happy kath hound. Carth sighed. "Ran into a group of Sith students wanting to prove themselves…I managed to slip away before they did anything." He waved at T3. "This better be worth it."

The droid beeped once after I gave it the command to unlock the door to the records. It didn't take the little astromech long—the door swished open after only a few seconds. I could see HK's lights dim with envy.

I glared at him. "What are you still doing here?"

"Query: What is it that you desire, Master?"

"Don't play coy with me, go watch Verena and make sure she doesn't get herself killed. That's an order."

HK's lights dimmed until I almost thought he'd switched off in protest, but the droid turned and marched away with a loud sigh. I ignored the tilt of Carth's head as I marched after T3 into the record hall.

It was a much smaller space than the archives with only a few rows of datapad shelves. T3 rolled up to the computer on the opposite end. That would be it. I rushed up to it and turned the computer on, the blue screens lit my face with painful light.

"T3—you know what to do."

Carth walked up to my side, cautiously. I could tell he still didn't like this idea, but I was desperate. There had to be another way. The lights of the computer flickered as T3 spliced into the system. Carth didn't say a word to me as we watched the text flicker. A few minutes passed of this beautiful silence until he finally had to say something.

"What if they're dead?"

I flinched. "You're jinxing it."

"No, Wes, what if you can't save Liam?"

"We can save him. There has to be a way. Trust me."

"This is why I told you that getting on a Sith's good side is a bad idea. Even if you don't kill him yourself, Uthar will—"

"I know!" Carth flinched after I shouted at him. T3 let out a concerned beep back at us which I ignored. My eyes…my body…felt tense. Kriff, I really shouldn't have shouted like that. I must look even more deranged. "Sorry, Carth, I…I didn't have a choice. It's either Liam or the galaxy unless I find some other way. There has to be another way. I will never kill him."

A moment passed. Then, Carth pressed a switch on the side of his neck and his helmet collapsed. For the first time in a while, I noticed an expression of pity on his face. I used to hate that look, but now…after the many glares he'd shot at me…it was refreshing.

"I can see why you're insane."

I scoffed. "Thanks."

"You weren't given much of a choice at all ever, were you?"

I shot him a confused look. "What are you talking about?"

However, before he could answer, the computer stopped flickering and T3 rolled back with a satisfied whirl. Anxious, I typed at the computer, trying to find something, anything, about an escape attempt made by one of the "chattels."

There! I skimmed the report…it was a warrant for Liam, the same one I saw on Tatooine. It had been fulfilled by someone, a Mandalorian ironically. They didn't even know who they'd captured. As for how Liam escaped in the first place…

No.

"They're dead." The words blurred as I read them. "The kriffing guy who rescued him is dead. Yuthura killed him when he was discovered."

Carth didn't say a word to me—of course he wouldn't, the bastard jinxed it.

I only had one choice. The choice I'd wanted to avoid. I had to kill the Mandalorians then I would have to kill the boy. It was the only way Uthar would lead me to the Star Map.

I felt my face heat up and I kicked the computer. My foot hurt.

"Kriffing hell!"

...hello? Heh, I'm finally back with a chapter! Sorry it's been a while, the move ruined my writing flow and I rewrote/replanned some of the Korriban arc. It took a while for me to readjust. I'm very happy with it now - as happy as I could be really. It's been a while but the words are finally flowing out much better than before :)

I hope this chapter was worth the wait! The next one should come out sooner, but I won't promise when it'll come out for sure. I do know where I want to take this now, at least. Indeciviness really does me no favors for both life and writing lol.

Oh, one last thing, if you're still following and such here on FFN I would also follow on AO3 - they have weird updates here on FFN now. Alerts are opt in which is a stupid decision. I have a ton of stories here that I would miss out on if I forget to opt in again...anyway, I always update on AO3 - if you need an invite I'd be happy to send one.

Thanks for reading and for reviewing, and hope you enjoyed! See yah next time!