"You knew I would come after you." I almost didn't hear Canderous' voice over the shrill of the dust storm winds. Veela led us past the makeshift gate into the camp itself. There were three Mandos every five meters. A lot—more than I would have guessed. I raised a brow back at him. Through the low visibility of the storm, I could see a rough smirk on Canderous's face. "Why didn't you just ask me? I said I would follow you to the end..."

In a way, he was right, it was a gamble. It was always a gamble. Yet, it wouldn't have been out of character for Canderous to go after me.

I shrugged back.

"I'm not used to giving orders."

"Liar."

I sighed. "Fine. If I ordered you to come here…" My gaze drifted toward the enormous tent we were approaching. A voice…that I couldn't recognize echoed in my ear. …whatever you're getting yourself into, I'll back you up in a heartbeat. That unknown voice…always seemed to spring to mind recently. A cold filled my chest. "I wanted it to be your choice. You need to do this for yourself, not for me."

There was a pause.

"What's wrong with wanting to do this for you, exactly?"

There were many reasons why it was wrong to follow me. But I didn't have time to list them. Veela's bodyguards parted the tent flaps for her and I could sense their glares as we passed into the warmth of shelter.

Inside, the space was ascetic…Jedi like. Torches only lit the solitary raised cushion in the back. Behind that "throne," goods of all sorts were stored. Weapons, high quality, armor…ancient quality, and shields.

Veela's bodyguards almost followed us in but she waved. They both flinched and spoke in their harsh language.

"Are you sure—?"

"I have killed many Force sensitives in the war. If anything happens I'm more than capable of killing this one."

They didn't argue back despite the fact that they even questioned Veela's orders…perhaps they didn't see her as a strong leader. Not a good thing when it came to the Mandalorians.

Once they left, there was an awkward silence only broken by the howling of the winds. I let my hood fall—the gravel and sand collected from it fell with it to the ground. Before I could try to say something…Veela lifted her hand and pressed a switch on her neck plate. She grabbed the mask from her face as her helm collapsed into her blue armor. Underneath was a middle-aged woman. Wrinkles lined her eyes and a few gray hairs speckled her auburn strands. A scar, much like Canderous', crossed…a blind eye. Unlike Gadon Thek's blind eyes, however, no prosthetics were there to help her see.

Canderous didn't comment on this. Instead, he walked up to his estranged wife…then passed her. He stared at the objects behind the throne.

"You kept Clan Ordo's heirlooms."

Veela scoffed and spoke back to him in Mando'a.

"Of course I did. I wasn't going to listen to you and throw it out of an air lock like—"

"—the trash that it is?" Veela's shoulders rose and fell. Before she could shout back, Canderous nodded at me. "He understands you, by the way."

At the mention of me, her shoulders stilled, only for her to point crudely at me, finally speaking in Basic.

"Who is he? Why are you following a Sith?"

"He doesn't matter."

"Oh no. He matters. He said that he knows where to find Mandalore's mask. Which is impossible."

"Impossible?" Canderous narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"You think I didn't try to look, Canderous? That I gave up like you?" He flinched at the barb but Veela either didn't care nor notice. "You were there when Mandalore took his last breath. Revan took the mask so only he knew of its location. Finding it now is impossible because he's dead. He likely destroyed it like he destroyed our basilisks."

…with fire…blasters…mines. Yet the metal refused to melt…

"He couldn't." At the sound of my voice, Veela raised a brow. "It was made of beskar. Impossible to destroy."

Veela narrowed her eyes at me. Canderous stormed up to her side.

"If you think it's gone, then why are you trying to find it?"

"Without you, would the clan still be together? If they weren't united by something they would have left to pillage freighters long ago like Clan Fett. Without a fight, without a purpose, we would all be petty mercenaries to crime lords like Davik Kang."

Canderous' shoulders tensed as he glanced at me. For once, I actually saw fear in his eyes.

Veela's face, which had been tight the entire time, finally slackened as Canderous continued to remain silent. She sighed before limping to the back of the tent. Finally, she sat on it with a heavy thud, the weight of her armor engulfed the cushion. She didn't ask for us to sit with her but it was implied. I sat on my knees and Canderous sank to the floor.

The howling winds once again filled the silence. Eventually, Canderous spoke.

"You knew about that?"

"You weren't the only Mandalorian on Taris."

"And…you didn't try to approach me? I was told…"

"That I was looking for you?" Veela laughed then shook her head. "From who? Those who refused the call of Mandalore? No. I only told them what they wanted to hear to get them to join us. Honestly…I would have preferred it if you stayed on Taris indefinitely."

Canderous' lips curled back. "What did you tell them?"

"I did everything I could to preserve the clan, Canderous. When you left, they would have left too. So, I told them you were searching for Mandalore's mask to atone for our loss at the end of the war. They believed me because why would they not?"

I could sense a simmer coming from Canderous' direction. The sort I would sense before he would strike out at me with his fist. I placed a hand on his shoulder and, thankfully, he calmed down.

"I left for a reason. The time of Mandalore is over. The clan doesn't need to be preserved. It's over, Veela, the war is over. I told you—"

"The fight is never over." She shook her head after a tinge of sadness creased her eyes. "You have truly fallen out of the way if you've forgotten that, riduur."

Canderous snorted. "The way? The way you proposed was thoughtless revenge. When we last spoke, you wanted to build another army to fight the Republic. Revenge would have meant the death of the clan. That is why I left—to save what was left. Another fight would have destroyed us."

"Ah, and that too." She smirked. "I didn't want them to learn that you had become a coward."

"I don't care—I'm a coward!" Canderous stood. "Mandalore was wrong. There are times we need to fight…and times when we need to stand down. That is what Revan taught me."

Veela's eye sharpened, her blind misty one was a cold marble, as cold as the air. Eventually, she snorted and decided to address me.

"Do you truly know the location of the mask?"

I glanced up at Canderous. He didn't look down at me.

"I used to."

Veela's stiff face didn't budge.

"What do you mean?"

"I forgot."

"You want something then?"

I shrugged. "I might remember someday, but right now…"

"Do all Force users speak vaguely? What do you want?"

Right. Not like she would even believe me if I told her.

"I need you to mount an attack on the Sith Academy. Just long enough for them to be distracted."

She stared at me for a long, awkward moment.

"Why? So that you can get us killed without lifting a finger?"

"They've taken our young ones, Veela," Canderous cut in. "He's only trying to protect them."

"Oh, really?" Veela blinked as if shocked by that information then snorted. "I didn't think you were gullible enough to fall for a Sith's lies, Canderous."

"If loyalty makes me gullible, then sure. I would lay down my life for him if I could." He paused. "If you do this…I'll return to the clan. I promise."

Veela's eyes became steel then. Behind those eyes, I could tell that she was thinking hard about what Canderous was proposing.

"If you come back you will need to act as Mandalore. I told the clan that is what you wanted."

"I will tell them that I've changed my mind."

"But that will disband Clan Ordo."

"So be it."

"I do not accept your offer." She stood and I stood with her. She waved behind us. "I will let you leave with your life out of respect for Canderous, Sith. I will tell them that you are continuing your search…but I'd advise you to stay away for the good of the Clan."

Canderous shot me a defeated look. But, I wasn't going to give up. I couldn't. Otherwise, everyone would die for sure. I cut in, finally, despite knowing she wasn't going to like it.

"So it's fine to lie for the 'good of the clan?'"

She flinched at my remark and then turned her sneer to me.

"If I must."

I shook my head. "They will learn the truth eventually. They deserve to know even if it hurts."

"You don't get it, dar'jetii." She walked up close, close enough that she towered over me. "The clan is all I have and I will stop at nothing to keep us together. It'll hurt worse if the truth comes out."

"So, if Canderous goes out there right now and makes the truth known that you lied…well, you can't exactly kill him before he does that, can you? He's the only thing holding Clan Ordo together even though he doesn't want it to be in the first place."

Her eyes widened as she took in my words, and horror dawned on her face. Canderous eventually got the message and rubbed his chin.

"Hmm…right, I could tell your buddies right now that I gave up on the search—"

"No." Her voice became harsh. "I should have expected this…Sith…blackmailing…" She spat. "Fine. I will send men—but not many. And I will be going with them."

"Then here's the plan. In the cover of this storm and the night, you will shoot down one of their statues. Before the attack, you will open one of the tomb doors—they'll think that you're raiding for Mandalore's mask. Instead, you will come with us to a cave we've been hiding out in. And…" I took out the comm Yuthura gave me and held it out to her. "You will declare your intentions using this."

Veela glanced over at Canderous.

"You've made friends with an idiot."

He looked at me then shrugged.

"Perhaps."

I narrowed my eyes. "I never said it was going to be a surprise attack—only confusing. All you need to do is shoot down a statue then pull back once the Sith start retaliating."

"A Mandalorian doesn't run away after retaliation."

I shrugged. "Then you can die. Your choice to be an idiot, but…well, I don't think you're an idiot."

Veela grabbed the comm from me with a muffled grumble and held it to her mouth.

"This is Veela of Clan Ordo."

Silence. Hiss. Then, the sharp voice of Yuthura answered.

"How have you intercepted this communication?"

I shook my head at Veela. Yuthura couldn't know this had to do with me. She rolled her eyes.

"I'm smarter than you think, Sith." Veela paced away from me. "It doesn't matter. I know where Mandalore's mask is and I'm going to claim it tonight."

Silence. Then…

"And you're telling me this…why?"

Veela groaned before answering.

"I want to claim it through battle. Is that a problem?"

More silence.

"Foolish."

It was enough. I felt something shift in the Force. Her attention was turning away from Dustil and Belaya…turning towards the Mandalorian problem. For now. It would buy me enough time. Veela threw the comm and I caught it before it landed on the stones.

"What do you have to gain from this exactly? Why tell that Twi'lek our plans?"

I studied the dusty comm, the flashing lights.

"Failure isn't an option…for a Sith."

We had to move—fast. Yuthura was surely coming after us and, while I relished the idea of facing her, killing her, I also needed her. She couldn't know this was due to my manipulations. Which meant it was best that we split up.

We left the tent after that and I told Canderous my plan to go after Yuthura. He gave me a weary look. He didn't like the idea of being alone with his ex(?)-wife but…he needed to lead them to the cave and I needed an alibi. Veela left to gather the troops and returned with fifteen strong. Barely enough to make a dent but we weren't going to start a war. I spoke to Canderous again.

"Once you see us on the cliffside, start your attack. Since Veela isn't taking everyone, you need to make it seem like there are more of you." I pointed to their grenades. "Make bigger explosions. Carry two blasters. I'm sure they'll have fun."

There was a grumble. From Veela.

"There is no need to order us around. I know." I nodded. Before I left the camp across the bridge, Veela called out to me. She threw a silver tube. Ah, right, the lightsaber I left on the bridge. I caught it and studied the dark etchings, almost wishing that I could drop it. I went to leave, but she once again shouted after me. "Before you go, what is your name? If we're going to die for this, I would like to know the name of the Sith leading us to our deaths."

I paused. Then, a memory from Dantooine…a strange memory of an old injured man. A man who, obviously, knew who I was.

"Nemo."

Veela huffed. "Nemo?" She paused to look at Canderous who was smirking. "That isn't really your name, is it?"

"I don't know who I am."

"So, Canderous pledged himself to a man who doesn't know himself?"

"I know. Strange."

"..."

I left her with that by raising my hood and ran out into the night, using only the Force to guide me.

Yuthura wasn't happy. Nor were the other Sith students that had returned. She ordered us to meet back near the Sith Temple, to risk our lives in this storm, so that we could find and slaughter the Mandalorians when they showed up to attack the Academy. The way back was, thankfully, uneventful. The creatures of the night hid within their caves, knowing that it was crazy to risk suffocation in the storm. All of the students were wrapped in their dark cloaks. Dustil and Belaya had a few scraps bandaged, most likely from the beasts, but Yuthura hadn't laid a hand on them. If she had, they would be dead. Lashowe and Shaardan sneered as I approached—I was the last one to make it to our meeting.

The Twi'lek Sith used a scope to search the landscape for any sign of the Mandalorians.

"This is a trap, not even the Mandos would be stupid enough to tell us their plans." She cursed once again in huttese. "Lord Uthar will not be pleased."

"Does this mean we won't earn our prestige now?"

That had been Shaardan. Yuthura snapped back at him in response.

"Forget about prestige! Uthar tasked us with destroying the Mandalorians and if he learns they slipped past us…"

It was what I expected. Yuthura may have wanted to rebel against Uthar, but her plan was to attack him when he didn't expect it. So, she needed to act like the perfect apprentice, and if she failed to carry out any of Uthar's orders, it would mean her plan would have less of a chance to work. Her yellow glowing eyes passed over me for only a second. I sensed…suspicion. "We find them first, before—"

Through the fog of the dust storm, a faint spit of orange clapped the air near the center of the valley. A crumble of rocks cut one of the statues, and in a blink, the large structure fell with a boom. Before I could properly react to what happened, Yuthura unleashed her lightsaber and rushed off the cliffside. I followed half-heartedly with Dustil and Belaya trailing behind. Lashowe let out a maniacal laugh as she darted past me, eager to have Mandalorian guts on her humming blade. Shaardan lagged.

Yet, before we could approach, a rain of blaster fire pelted down from the collapsed statue. I deflected all the blows and made sure none of them reached another target. Over the sound of blaster fire, Lashowe shouted to my left.

"Master, over there!"

The doors of one of the random Sith tombs had been opened, just as planned. Yuthura growled and waved at us.

"They're raiding us. Lashowe, tell Uthar we are under attack! Dustil, Shaardan, come with me. Belaya and Wes…" My name lingered in the air. "Defend this position."

I glanced at Belaya. Perfect. I wouldn't get another opportunity…

The four of them left, Lashowe begrudgingly, and despite Belaya being ready to defend against the Mandos with her life, I used the Force to take the lightsaber out of her hand as soon as I saw Yuthura disappear.

"Wha—! Hey!"

The Mandalorian attack ceased once our lightsaber blades disappeared. Before Belaya could run, I used the Force again and shoved her to the ground. She struggled but I didn't dare let her go.

"Let me go!"

"No, listen to me! Yuthura wants to kill you!"

Her struggles stopped for only a second.

"What?" She laughed. "No. This is a trick to make me—"

"Believe me or not, you're coming with me and I don't care if I have to make you!"

Her eyes grew wide and before she could protest I focused on the Force and used a powerful stasis on her legs. Using all the strength I had left, I lifted her over my shoulder and started to run towards the caves. The Mandalorians had stopped their attack just as I planned and were now heading in the same direction.

I was the last one to run after them, and they were running faster than I was due to the lack of dead weight. As I entered the maze of cliffs, a sharp kick hit my side and I hissed in pain as some of my wounds from the other day flared up.

"Let me go you evil son of a—"

She really wasn't going to make this easy? Well, it would be better if she wasn't able to walk over being dead. I threw her against the wall of the canyon and used the Force to hold her in place. A chill, like a fever, rippled the air. Just like I had with Sunry all those weeks ago, I focused on Belaya's leg. Snap! Leg broken. She screamed in pain, screams that I tried to ignore as I lifted her up once again. She wasn't going to walk for a while, which meant there was no way she could go run off to the Sith again.

Her heavy breaths deafened me as we ran. Eventually, she muttered.

"I…am going…to kill you…"

I sighed.

"Sure."

"No. I really, really, really, really…am going to kill you."

She didn't say anything else. Not even when we arrived at the terentatek cave. Squeezing in, I noticed the flicker of flames in front of me and loud boisterous shouting. One voice sounded like…Juhani. As soon as we arrived at our camp, I stopped in my tracks.

Juhani's blue lightsaber hummed and she stood next to the cave wall. Mission stood near her and her blue eyes met my gaze immediately. At the sight of me, and Belaya, Juhani's tight posture relaxed. Though I could tell she still hated the sight of the Mandalorians before her. I lowered Belaya to the ground. Happy to be away from me, she nursed her injured leg on the ground, ignoring the brewing conflict.

"Wes!" Juhani's voice shook. "What is this? What are these Mandalorians—"

"A Jedi?"

Veela, who now had her helmet on, paced in front of the group, studying Juhani.

One Mando behind Canderous snorted.

"And a Cathar." Juhani bared her teeth, yet before she could fully retaliate, the Mandalorian growled. "What the hell is your kind doing here? Bad enough we have to deal with these Sith, but now there's a stinkin' Cathar on this world too?"

A few other Mandos, six dressed in green with the skull of an unknown creature on their shoulder, nodded their heads. They weren't wearing the sigils of Clan Ordo. Oh, great, there are xenophobes among Veela's group? Veela, however, wasn't having it. She raised her hand.

"That's enough, Xor, not all of us were there on Cathar."

"I'm not staying in here with a Cathar."

Canderous turned and before Xor could argue he pinned the helmeted man against the back wall by his neck. The other green Mandalorians pointed their blasters at Canderous' back.

"Better get used to it then, Fett."

Canderous' deep growling voice made the armed Mandos hesitate. After a moment of tension, Canderous finally released Xor. Immediately, the Mandalorian popped off his mask and retracted the helmet. His face, pockmarked, wrinkled, and scarred, sneered at him.

"I thought the leader of Clan Ordo intended to become Mandalore…yet he hides behind a pet Cathar. We should have exterminated all Cathar when we had the chance."

Veela groaned. "Xor. Not now."

"Wha—What do you know about my world?"

Juhani's voice was small, fragile. Her body was shaking. I glanced down at Belaya who's face had grown serious.

Xor snorted. "I know enough that…" He paused as something dawned on him. "Hey, wait a minute. You look…familiar—"

A blaster shot hissed on the cave wall next to Xor. He flinched and shut his mouth immediately.

"I. Said. Not now."

Xor narrowed his eyes. "You're not the leader of Clan Ordo, are you?"

In response, Canderous spoke.

"Shut up."

And that was that. The green-armored Mandalorians retreated away towards the terentatek skull, while Veela and the rest—blue-armored Mandos of Clan Ordo—sat near the fire. And, for now, they would wait here until the Sith gave up the chase. Whenever that would be.

Mission let out a long sigh of relief before sliding to the ground herself. Canderous walked over to me with a concerned expression.

I crossed my arms. "What the hell was that about? Who are they?"

"Veela's…recruits." He sighed. "She gathered more than just old followers of Clan Ordo. She found deserters from Clan Fett as well…" Canderous shook his head. "A big mistake."

"Is there a reason she brought them along?"

"Well, they aren't as loyal to the Clan. She would rather they die first. As would I, really."

I tilted my head. "I didn't realize the Mandalorians were so…political."

"Heh, well, you used to know." His eyes glittered. "Always found a way to break us apart based on the different clans' beliefs. It really was…brilliant."

I winced yet didn't comment on Canderous' fawning. Instead, I walked over to Juhani and Mission, both were still on high alert due to the altercation that almost occurred. Juhani pointed at the bunch.

"Wes…why are we housing all of these Mandalorians?"

"To save her." I pointed to Belaya who stared vacantly back at us. "They were a distraction. Yuthura was going to kill her…and I'm afraid she'll keep trying as long as Belaya's around."

Juhani's expression dropped. "And you kidnapped her?"

"She didn't exactly give me a choice."

"I know." Juhani sighed then glanced both at the Mandalorians and at Belaya. "But…what do we do? She'll try to go back."

"I broke her leg. She isn't walking for a while."

"Then you do not know Belaya. She will walk through the pain if she has the motivation. I doubt she will wait until tomorrow to leave."

"Then…" I considered for a moment then stuck my hand in my pocket. I lifted up Belaya's necklace. "You'll convince her to stay."

Juhani stared at the blue jewel. The light from the campfire played with it, turning it purple. Her head shook.

"I-I can't—"

"Can't? Or won't?"

Anger flared in her eyes. "Of course, I would! I would save her even if it meant my own death!"

"Then try." I pushed it into her hands. She accepted it, blinking her eyes rapidly. I let out a rare smile. "She only trusts you. That has to mean something. She still feels guilty about killing her own master. Tell her, like I told you, that it doesn't make her broken."

Her hand squeezed the necklace. "But…what if I fail?"

I shrugged. "If she truly loves you she would listen to you, wouldn't she?"

"Yes." Juhani nodded. "She would."

"Then make her listen."

She chuckled. "You make it sound…so easy."

"Well, it's not."

It wouldn't be easy. In fact, I wouldn't expect Belaya to even try hearing what Juhani had to say. At first. Belaya still stared at us. A flash of yellow in her eyes. Her pale skin reflected the flames. But Juhani had time now, and time was all that she needed.

Canderous was left to watch over the other Mandalorians and was also tasked with making sure none of Fett's crew made any moves on Juhani or Belaya. I was surprised that he was so eager to defend the Cathar he'd prodded on the entire journey. Honestly, it was relieving and I could tell Juhani appreciated it. They would stay there for now—I had a feeling they wouldn't leave until I told Veela the location of Mandalore's mask. She will have to wait...I couldn't stay behind. If I was gone for too long, Yuthura would get suspicious. And Dustil was still in danger.

Veela's voice was harsh. "You promised to tell me, Sith."

I shrugged. "I'll need you later. If you need details on why, ask Canderous."

"Your friend is absolutely frustrating to deal with," she said, muttering to Canderous in Mando'a.

With that, and with Canderous giving me a tired look, I marched towards the flickering lights of the Academy. Plans and brainstorms floated around my head. It was…a strange sensation, really. Ideas upon ideas, one after another, all flooded my brain like the Force. A dark thought also cropped up. These thoughts and ideas were exactly how Revan used to think. It's how he came up with his battle plans.

The thoughts quieted after that.

Yuthura couldn't kill the students while they were around Uthar at the Academy, but she would figure out a way to do it, subtly, or through me. And I dreaded the idea of killing Dustil with my bare hands.

The Academy was stirred up after the incident with the Mandalorians. Many dark Jedi swarmed the area with their lightsabers, searching for any sign of the attackers. The tomb we'd lured Yuthura into was now closed and Dustil and Shaardan stood nearby. Before I went to investigate what was going on, Yuthura stepped by my side.

"Uthar wishes to see you."

I felt my shoulders tense.

"Why?"

"Why do you think?" She waved at the destruction. "You were tasked with destroying the Mandalorians and instead they've destroyed the Academy."

I lifted a brow. "I'll simply tell him you were too busy trying to kill his loyal students over assisting me."

A dark expression crossed her tattooed face.

"So, you've decided to side with Uthar?" She snorted. "Strange. I feel like the Mandalorians' sudden attack has something to do with you now."

"Interesting theory, but the Mandalorians would have never listened to me."

She pursed her lips in thought then sighed. "How about a deal? Belaya—she can be knocked out before the trial. She can be spared."

"Belaya is dead."

Yuthura lifted a thin brow.

"Did you…?"

"The Mandalorians killed her."

"Ah." She snorted. "I'm not surprised. She was one of the weaker students. Then I will extend my offer to spare Dustil. In exchange, you will keep quiet about my plans. If I hear that you talked, the boy is dead."

"And you will help me get into the Sith trial?"

"I'm not sure if I can trust you. You are more likely to stab me in the back when the time comes." Her eyes glittered with humor. "But as a Sith, that danger is always present. Uthar will not give you prestige for what happened today, yet I will tell him that circumstances were out of your control. It will at least stop him from killing you."

"How will I earn my way into the trial then?"

"Training." She smirked. "I will tell Uthar that I see potential in you. I will personally train you from now on. At the end of the week, I will tell him that you are ready."

"It's…that easy?"

"Yes. Uthar trusts my word when it comes to the students. It is one of his many follies. You will need to prove your capabilities on occasion, of course. Murder a student here or there. Nothing you can't handle. Oh, and Lashowe and Shaardan need to die. You don't care about them, do you?" No. Not really. Killing them would be easy. When she saw my serious look, a thin smile curved her lips. "Good. Then let's go see Uthar."

Uthar's office was a quiet refuge from the chaos that had been happening outside. The bald Sith sat at his desk with a strained expression on his face. After Yuthura finished her story about what happened with the Mandalorians, he never stopped staring at me. I tried to avoid staring back and instead focused on Liam…who was still hunched over in the corner. Doubt Uthar fed him anything while we were gone.

Another dread pricked the back of my neck.

"So." Uthar's voice was careful. Yet firm. "The Mandalorians seemed to know that you were coming?"

Yuthura nodded. "Yes. When we arrived, the camp was deserted. They were already on their way here."

"So, my theory was correct then. They've allied with the deserters."

I glanced over at Yuthura, asking her a silent question. There were deserters? Which meant…some Sith students rebelled before? She ignored me.

"We didn't see them. If they were allied, we would have seen lightsabers among them."

"I trained them. They're smart. There is a mole amongst us, feeding them information." He paused. "You took other students with you, didn't you? I told you to only go with Gale."

Yuthura huffed. "Gale wouldn't have been enough. We would have been outnumbered—"

"Weak." He slammed his fist onto his desk. "I've had it with your…weakness, Yuthura. Though, at least it narrows down who could possibly be a mole." Uthar leaned back. "Who went with you?"

I gave Yuthura a stern look. Begging her not to mention Dustil's name. But she either didn't notice or ignored me.

"Dustil, Lashowe, Shaardan, and Gale. Belaya is dead."

Uthar shook his head. "It's Dustil." He cursed. "The boy…he learned the truth, didn't he?"

I felt my face twist.

"Truth?"

Yuthura waved. "No. The deserters are not fans of Dustil. It is either Lashowe or Shaardan."

"Well, I find that to be impossible as well. Both have been loyal to the Sith ways."

"Then it might have been Belaya. The Mandalorians killed her."

Uthar sat back in thought, rubbing his smooth chin. Thinking. I didn't like it at all.

"Yes. Maybe. She was only a Jedi recently..." He let out a frustrated growl. "Now you know why you must listen to me, Yuthura. My wisdom as the Academy's Master surpasses your street smarts in the alleyways of Nar Shaddaa."

Yuthura's silence grew into a quiet simmer. I could only imagine Uthar making many comments like this, pricking at her ego. Fortunately, she didn't attack her Master right there and then. Instead, she waved at me.

"Although we did not defeat the Mandalorians, Gale demonstrated strength as we traveled to the camp. He has potential…yet the ways of the Jedi are still a bad habit. I wish to train him, one on one."

"Hmm, so you noticed as well, Yuthura? I was starting to doubt his loyalty to the Sith which is why I sent him with you. Gale struggled with harming the child. All students raised in the Academy loath weakness, yet it seems like Gale finds value in it. I think further training would be a waste of time on any still entertaining Jedi-like notions. Yet…" He turned to face me. "You can still be redeemed." He waved at Liam who shivered, chained in the corner. "Kill him and I'll consider it."

And here I was. Back again to this choice. Choice? What choice? My body moved against my will, my feet dragged as I walked up to Liam. He looked up at me…with round eyes. Begging. He knew I would save him. And I had saved him. Still, even after I'd hurt him, he believed in me.

Make it quick. A flick of the wrist. A broken neck. He wouldn't feel a thing.

No. I couldn't. It would…if I killed Liam then Wes was dead for sure. Revan would return.

Dead? Wes was never alive. Wes was never real.

No. Bastila…she saw. She thought there was goodness in Revan still. For some reason, she saw it in me. Isn't that why I snapped out of it on Yavin? Why I was trying to rescue her? Why I was trying to find the Star Maps? To prove to her and to myself…that it was true?

Killing the boy means nothing. You have no choice. She would understand.

I raised my hand. Shaking. Fingers shaking.

A long sigh broke within the hissing in my mind.

"Hurry up. If you were a true Sith, he would already be dead."

"Uthar…"

Yuthura's voice cracked.

I felt my body numb, face warm. How did Revan do it? How did Revan commit these atrocities? I'm Revan right, then why can't I do it? Shouldn't I have the same lack of empathy he did? Why can't I kill a boy in cold blood for…for this stupid Star Map? For the galaxy? Weak. You're weak. If you cannot do this, then—

Crack.

Liam's body collapsed. Pure eyes, blank, blind.

Dead.

I felt my mouth drop after he died like a bug squashed against a window. I turned to Uthar and the heat of anger swirled in my mind. I hadn't done that. He killed him—

Uthar growled. "Took you long enough." He waved a hand. "Fine, you may train him if you must, Yuthura. Make him kill quicker, will you?"

No.

He was acting as if I'd done this.

She…Yuthura…if Uthar hadn't killed Liam, then…she…she…

Yuthura's cold gaze didn't move as I stared back at her. I didn't make a sound. Not a sound of anguish, hatred, loathing—she needed to die, she will die—terror. Then, she gave me a smirk yet this smirk was different than the other mischievous ones. It shivered like my hands.

"Thank you, Master."

She bowed then turned. Didn't even…give Liam a second look. I turned and looked down at the boy. But I couldn't stay...couldn't mourn…Uthar was staring at me…suspicious of me…

"..."

Outside of Uthar's office, Yuthura didn't stop walking. I followed her, determined. She will die. The Star Map…it didn't matter anymore. If I couldn't protect a child, I couldn't protect anyone, could I? She walked outside. The dust storm finally settled. The dawn was silently approaching…the sun marked the ruins red. Like blood. I didn't wait to strike.

I unhooked Jorak Uln's lightsaber and slashed it down at Yuthura. She sensed me immediately. Her red blade staved off my own, calm, collected. Her eyes…were silver, no longer a stark yellow. I shouted and beat down on her blade. Over and over. Forms…all wrong, wild but it didn't matter. She needed to die.

We got to the steps and I used the Force to try and fling her down. She fell yet managed to right herself halfway, saving herself from a fall to her death. I wanted to follow her, yet she shouted up at me.

"If you didn't kill him, Uthar would have!" She let out tired breaths from our fight. "He would have made it painful, Gale. Why? To make you suffer. To turn you. I've seen it happen before to other Jedi."

"No!" I pointed the lightsaber at her. "There could have been another way—!"

"Have you already forgotten the Sith Code?" She took a step up. "Peace is a lie, there is only passion. You still believe in peace. This naivety of yours is a weakness." Yuthura waited before taking another step yet she stopped after I threatened her with the lightsaber again. "I could see it, Gale. Sense it. You didn't want to kill the child. Tears were in your eyes. They are running down your cheeks now. You didn't want to make the choice."

I felt my body again, finally. Felt the tears on my cheeks. I sneered.

"You—"

She took three more steps.

"My first lesson will be to help you break free."

"I'm already free!"

"No. You were never free. Uthar has you in chains."

I felt my tongue numb in my mouth. The Force, which had been buzzing in my arms, drifted away. I tasted the salt from my tears, disgust.

"How are you free then?"

"I'm not. Not until Uthar is dead." She gave me a soft smile. Then raised her hand. "We can break free. Together."

How could I possibly consider working with a Twi'lek woman who killed a child in cold blood? Yet, she spared you from having to kill a child in cold blood. She killed him after she saw…the struggle. The pain. If she hadn't done what needed to be done, finding the Star Map would have been impossible now.

And she was right. Liam would have been dead even if I refused to kill him. I could have saved him if I hadn't been chained like this. I wasn't free at all. As a Jedi. As Wes. As Uthar's student. As…whatever I was now. Left and right I was forced into these impossible decisions because I refused to act.

It was time to break free.

The red beam from the lightsaber in my hand returned to its casket. The cold metal became red in the dawn light. Yuthura smiled up at me before she switched off her own blade and hooked the lightsaber on her belt.

"I…" Her expression dipped. "If it…makes you feel better, I am sorry that he had to die."

My voice broke. "Sorry? You killed him!"

"I, well—" She hesitated. Then, sighed. "We all struggle with weaknesses, and the boy, the children of the Mandalorians, they were mine." Her face turned. "I saw them being sacrificed to the Lord of Pain every week. It disgusted me. It shouldn't have. As a Sith, I should have been stronger, yet I saw them one day, chained together, broken, enslaved. I made a stupid decision. I released that boy on his way to the Lord of Pain. It was...the same boy that I killed. I smuggled him out, killed witnesses, then found the Ebon Hawk. Davik Kang always hung around the port like a pest. Being enslaved by a crime lord…at least the boy would have lived."

I felt my shoulders fall. From what I read in the records, it matched her story. Yuthura had been the only remaining witness to Liam's escape.

"I saved him on Taris. He would have died there if I hadn't—"

"So, you understand why attachments like this make you weak?" She tilted her head. "Uthar found a weakness in you. Your empathy for the boy was evident. He exploited it. A Sith must be made of stone like the statues that sit in the valley. Isn't that why you refused to let me peer into your mind?"

Yes. I'd faltered. Uthar had seen through me by using Liam. If I'd shown no reaction, shown no pity, he might have been alive today.

Yuthura finally walked up the steps. I didn't dare look her in the face.

"Ten points. Five for our trip to the camp. Five for killing the boy. That makes your total…twenty-five." She sighed. "We have five more days. Which means you will earn around sixteen points a day. Challenging, but I think you will manage." She patted my shoulder. I flinched. "Rest and eat. At 1100…come to the training hall. We will begin our lessons there."

I promised myself at that moment. After I found the Star Map, after I had no more need for her, she would die a painful death. She passed me and, finally, I turned to look at her. Yuthura's usual confident gait…was slower. Tired. Maybe it was my mind playing tricks on me, or the Force, but I almost sensed…guilt too.

It was an illusion. A Sith like her, a Sith who killed a child, wouldn't feel remorse, would she?

"Wes! There you are!"

I couldn't rest despite needing it. I couldn't eat despite feeling starved. So, I sat at the bottom step, staring at my boots. A few Sith students passed me to the tombs yet I ignored them. The sun had fully risen. I looked up immediately after I heard a familiar voice call out to me. And once again I felt dread.

Mission skipped to a stop in front of me and smiled, nervously, down at me.

"You forgot about me!" Her smile cracked after I didn't respond. "Um…are you…okay?"

My voice felt distant. Weak.

"Go back, Mission."

She puffed her cheeks. "No, no way, I'm not sticking around in that cave all day. I'm feeling better! See!" She waved her leg. "That stupid Sith won't get me next time. So, let's—"

"No!" I stood as I raised my voice, stopping her before she stepped forward again. Her smile fell. "This isn't a game. Yuthura or Uthar will kill you if you stay near me."

"Doubt it." Mission snorted. "They think I'm your slave, remember?"

"They're starting to doubt I'm serious. She'll see you and—"

"I told you, I can take care of myself!" Mission's face twisted. "I'm coming with you whether you like it or not!"

A buzz. With a flick, I forced Mission against a pillar with the Force. Her face twisted in more shock than terror. I applied a small amount of pressure as she struggled against my power.

"Wha…what are you—?"

"Go. Back."

She struggled again, but as soon as she realized how pointless it was, her body slumped.

"But…but you can't do this alone."

"No. You're…weak."

She blinked. "But it-it's okay if I'm weak. You said! if I'm there just to support—"

I looked at her. For a long time. The thoughts swirled within my head again. No. No, I…I was wrong, wasn't I? All of this trouble wouldn't have happened if I'd gotten attached to them. To Dustil, to Belaya, to Liam. If Carth, Canderous, Mission, Juhani, Verena…if they hadn't come with me they wouldn't have been in danger now. I felt my hand shake, then, eventually, I shook my head.

"I lied to you."

Mission looked up from her staredown with the dirt.

"What?"

"I lied about…" A false memory. All a mirage. "I hadn't been strong back then. I was a burden. Weak. And my mentor…" False. Lies. "She was laughing at me, Mission. She never cared about protecting me. She wanted to loot the Mandalorians. She thought my stupid coin was pathetic."

The false memory came back to me. The crew's laughter rang out. After she told me to keep the coin, she told me to pick up any loot that I could carry. That day I became her servant. Wes decided that he would prove to his mentor that he could be worth at least a coin. The coin…it was a reminder that I, that Wes, had earned that worth.

"I lied to you about my mentor and that stupid coin. Not that it matters. Turns out, the memory was a lie too. The worst thing you can possibly be is weak, Mission. That is what my mentor taught me." I felt my mouth grow bitter. But I had to. I had to scare her away. "You are weak, and you'll only get in my way."

"No." Mission's eyes filled with tears. "No, you're just…I know what you're doing! You're pushing me away again!" I threw her off the pillar towards the direction of the cave. She scrambled quickly to her feet and glared at me as she pushed herself up. Then her face turned melancholy. "Something happened…what happened?"

"Nothing happened." I waved in the direction of the cave. "Go."

"Liar!" Her shout pierced the air. Her brow creased. "How could you…Wes never lied to me!"

"I'm not Wes," I hissed, low. "Leave. I'll drag you there myself if I have to. And I'll know if you're following me."

"I'm not a pet gizka you can just…drop off, sleemo!" Her breath hitched, waiting for my retort. When I didn't take the bait, her face twisted again in anger. "Fine! Abandon me like Griff did! I don't need you either!"

A pain shot into my chest. I ignored it as she stomped away back to the cave. It's how it was supposed to be anyway. Mission…shouldn't be here. They were all putting themselves in danger. The mission—it all depended on me. It always depended on me. This burden, it's what I deserved, right? I looked up the long winding stairs. A flash of fatigue…weakened my bones as I thought about Yuthura's lessons. Then, another thought. One that came from the depths of Wes' mind.

I wasn't worth the price of that coin anymore.