Darth Terentous sat alone in his quarters aboard the bounty hunters ship, fiddling with the holocron of Jada Katarn. He could feel the power emanating from the ancient artifact, and he couldn't help but be intrigued by it. As he fiddled with the holocron, he began to recall the visions he had received through the Force about its previous owner, Darth Millennial.
Terentous knew that Millennial had been weak, too attached to his lover Hanan. He didn't want to go down a similar path of weakness, and he was determined to prove himself to his master as a loyal and strong apprentice. As he thought about Millennial, he realised that he had not yet shared his vision with his master, but he was prepared to do so if she ever questioned his loyalty.
With a slight smirk on his face, Terentous continued to fiddle with the holocron, contemplating the power that he could gain from it. But he quickly reminded himself that his focus should remain on his training. He knew that he had to be careful with the holocron, as it could easily become a source of weakness for him as well.
As he placed the holocron back on the table, he couldn't help but wonder if his master would ever find out about his visions, being aware of her own visions she sometimes received through the force. He rose from his seat, heading towards the door to rejoin the rest of the crew.
Terentous made his way to the lounge area where Lyra was playing Sabacc, and Vek and Jax were sitting at the opposite end of the room. Jax gave Terentous a scornful look before turning away, while Vek ignored him completely. Lyra, on the other hand, gestured for him to come over and join her game.
"Hey big guy want to join us?" Lyra asked, patting the seat next to her.
Terentous hesitated for a moment before reluctantly sitting down next to her. He didn't know how to feel about the situation. He knew that Jax and Vek despised him for being a Gamorrean, but he wasn't sure where he stood with Lyra.
As they began playing, Lyra tried to engage Terentous in conversation, asking him about his past and his interests. Terentous answered some of her questions briefly but remained silent on others.
Lyra noticed his reticence and tried to pry more information out of him, but Terentous remained guarded. He couldn't let himself get too attached to the crew, especially since his true loyalties lay with Cognus.
As the game progressed, Terentous began to relax slightly and even smiled at a joke Lyra made. But then, he caught Jax glaring at him from across the room, and he quickly turned back to his cards, not wanting to cause any more trouble. It wasn't a question of not being able to handle himself if an altercation arose, but he didn't want to disappoint his master by merely killing for the sake of killing.
Lyra leaned back in her seat, taking a sip of her drink before starting to speak. "I wasn't always a bounty hunter," she said, her voice softening slightly. "I used to be a slave, to a wealthy pub owner. He thought he could do whatever he wanted to me, but I showed him otherwise." She paused, a flicker of sadness crossing her face before she continued. "I killed him and escaped, and that's when I started working on my own as a bounty hunter."
Terentous remained silent, simply looking at her with a blank expression. She hoped that sharing her story would make him feel more comfortable opening up to her, but it didn't seem to be working.
Instead, he replied coldly, "You just traded one master for another in working for Set Harth."
Lyra felt a pang of hurt at his words, but she knew better than to take it personally. "Set Harth gives me freedom and resources to do what I love, and he doesn't own me like that pub owner did. I choose to work for him, and I'm grateful for the opportunities he's given me."
Terentous didn't respond, simply taking a sip of his own drink and staring off into the distance. Lyra sighed inwardly, realizing that it would take more than just her opening up for him to do the same. She resolved to keep trying, to show him that she was someone he could trust and confide in, but for now, she left him to his thoughts.
As the sabacc game wound down, Lyra revealed her winning hand, a straight sabacc. Terentous had played well, but he couldn't beat her. Lyra grinned triumphantly, collecting her winnings and offering a sympathetic smile to her defeated opponent. "Better luck next time," she said with a playful wink. Terentous nodded in acknowledgment, though he seemed more stoic than disappointed.
Jax leaned back in his chair, smirking as Lyra laid her cards down on the table, revealing her winning hand in the sabacc game. "Come on, Lyra," he said, taking a sip of his drink. "Taking advantage of a Gamorrean? That hardly seems fair. They're not exactly known for their intelligence, are they?"
Terentous clenched his jaw, clearly not amused by Jax's taunting. He stood up from the table, pushing his chair back. "I don't have time for this," he muttered, turning to leave the room.
Jax wasn't about to let him go that easily. He grabbed Terentous' shoulder and spun him around to face him. "What's the matter, big guy?" Jax said, getting in Terentous' face. "Can't take a little friendly banter?"
Terentous' eyes flickered with anger, and for a moment, it looked like he might strike Jax. But instead, he grabbed Jax's hand as he threw a punch, and used his momentum to throw him backwards. Jax stumbled over his own feet, falling to the ground in a heap.
Lyra and Vek burst out laughing, enjoying the sight of Jax getting his comeuppance. Terentous looked down at Jax, his expression inscrutable. "I suggest you keep your mouth shut," he said quietly, before turning and leaving the room for good.
Terentous made his way to the ship's kitchen, feeling the hunger pangs in his stomach after the intense sabacc game. He rummaged through the cabinets until he found a ration pack that suited his fancy and began heating it up in the microwave.
As he was waiting for his meal, he heard the door to the kitchen open, and turned to see Vek walk in. Terentous didn't say anything, but he didn't mind the company either.
"I just wanted to apologize for Jax's behavior earlier," Vek said, leaning against the counter. "He can be a bit of a jerk sometimes."
Terentous shrugged. "I don't care about his opinion," he said, as he stirred his meal in the microwave. "Gamorreans are used to being underestimated."
Vek nodded. "Yeah, I get that. But I have to say, I have some respect for you, Terentous. You showed Jax that he isn't the biggest fish in the pond, so to speak."
Terentous raised an eyebrow at Vek's words. He didn't necessarily admire humans as a whole either, but he appreciated Vek's attempt at being friendly.
"Thanks," Terentous said simply, before turning his attention back to his meal.
Vek seemed to take the hint, and after a moment of silence, he bid Terentous goodbye and left the kitchen. Terentous finished his meal in peace, his mind wandering to other matters. He didn't need anyone's respect, but it was nice to know that someone saw him for more than just a Gamorrean.
Feeling bored and restless, Terentous retrieved the holocron that had once been in the possession of Darth Millennial. He turned it over in his hands, contemplating whether or not to activate it. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to go ahead and unlock the device. As the holocron sprang to life, he navigated through its various files and entries, finally settling on the personal logs of Jada Katarn. As he listened to her recordings, he found himself drawn in by his tales of the darkside, allowing himself a small smile at the weakness the jedi displayed.
"I fear that the darkness is winning. I can hear its call, growing louder and more insistent with each passing day. I've tried to resist, to hold on to the light, but it's becoming harder and harder. The Jedi in me is dying, and I can feel myself slipping further and further into the abyss. I know that I won't be able to hold out for much longer. I fear that soon, I will be lost to the darkside forever". Jada's voice trembled as he spoke, the weight of his struggle clear in his eyes. "I only hope that when I do fully succumb, I will be able to make peace with what I've become".
He expressed his fear that the Jedi Council would never find him. He also mentioned that he had been tempted by the power and strength of the dark side, and how it could help him survive on this harsh planet. Jada ended the entry by saying that he was not sure if he would be able to resist the pull of the dark side for much longer, and that he feared for his soul. He had looked directly into the holocron and said "May the force guide me" before the entry ended.
Terentous studied the holocron intently, a sly grin creeping across his lips as he listened to Jada's words. He couldn't help but mock the Jedi in his mind, finding his adherence to the Light Side of the Force to be laughable.
To Terentous, the Dark Side was not something to be feared, but rather something to embrace. Unlike the weak Jedi, the Sith drew their power from their suffering, their anger, and their desire for revenge. And while the Jedi might have clung to their ideals of peace and harmony, the Sith revelled in the strength that the Dark Side provided.
His curiosity about Jada's fate grew stronger. He knew that he had been a Jedi, and that his commitment to the Light Side of the Force made him vulnerable to the machinations of the Dark Side.
Terentous hit play on the last entry of the holocron, eager to discover what had become of Jada. As he watched the holographic image flicker to life, he couldn't help but wonder what secrets the Jedi had kept hidden, locked away in this holocron for who knows how long.
In the final video diary entry, Jada appeared as a changed man. His once serene expression was twisted into a scowl, and his eyes held a new depth of malice. He began by stating that he had given in to the call of the dark side and that he had embraced its power fully.
He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. "I fought against it for so long, but it became clear to me that the Jedi Council was wrong. They taught me to suppress my emotions and deny my true nature. But the dark side called to me, it offered me true power and strength."
Jada's eyes seemed to darken as he continued, "I saw the truth then. The light side may have offered temporary peace, but true strength was found in embracing the power of the dark side. I would no longer be held back by the Jedi's weak morality and limited understanding of the force."
He explained that he had initially fought against the dark side, but as the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, he found himself becoming weaker and weaker. He realised that he needed the power of the dark side to survive on Haruun Kal, and that's when he let it in.
The holocron recorded Jada's every word, capturing the moment of his fall from grace. He looked directly into the holocron, his eyes cold and calculating. "I will use my newfound power to rule this planet, to rid it of the Jedi and any other who stand in my way. I am Jada Katarn, a Sith Lord, and I will not be denied".
Terentous sat silently, reflecting on Jada's fall to the dark side. He couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at the other man's demise. He had always found the Jedi's strict code to be suffocating, limiting their true potential. It was clear to him that Jada had finally realized this truth and embraced the power of the dark side.
It was at that moment that Lyra approached the door to Terentous' quarters and knocked twice. After a brief pause, the door slid open, and she saw Terentous sitting on his bed, lost in thought. He looked up at her, surprised to see her there.
"Lyra, what brings you here?" he asked, puzzled.
"I've been thinking about you," she replied, moving closer to him. "I find your strength attractive. I want to be with you, if only for tonight."
Terentous recoiled slightly. He had no desire for attachments of any kind, especially not romantic ones. But something about Lyra's boldness and confidence intrigued him.
"I have no need for such diversions," he replied coldly.
Lyra leaned in, placing her hand on his shoulder. "It's not a connection I seek, Terentous. Just a momentary escape from reality. And I know you feel the same way."
Terentous hesitated for a moment before relenting. He knew he should resist, but Lyra's advances were hard to ignore. He allowed her to stay, and the two spent the night together in his quarters. However, even in the heat of the moment, Terentous couldn't shake the feeling that he was making a mistake.
Terentous knew that his master would not approve of his actions with Lyra. She was a mere diversion, offering no tangible benefit to their ultimate goals. But in that moment, Terentous found himself unable to resist her allure, the power he felt in being wanted and desired. He knew it was a weakness, one that his master would not tolerate.
As he lay there beside Lyra, his mind raced with thoughts of his master's reaction. Would she discover his transgressions? Would she punish him with force lighting or a suffocating force choke? He had learned long ago that keeping secrets from his master was a futile endeavour. She always knew, and the punishment was always severe.
Despite the fear of his master's wrath, Terentous couldn't help but feel a sense of freedom and rebellion. For once, he had allowed himself to indulge in something purely for his own pleasure, without concern for his master's plans. It was a dangerous line to walk, but in that moment, it was worth it.