Chapter 47: Bonds
The storm rose out of nowhere.
They had been riding through the night, seeking out the nearest rendezvous point set up by Major Locke. Fenn had hoped to arrive by first sun up, and from there, get their bearings.
Then we shall know, he thought morosely.
Then we will be able to count our losses, and prepare where to go from there.
He had no idea how many Survivors had made it out of the Beggar's Canyon trap, or how many Zakuul might have survived, and if any did survive, they were likely calling for reinforcements, right now.
It would have been nice to believe that they were safe, that all of the enemy had perished in the canyon. Avy's trick with the freighter had been impressive, but still.
Fenn sighed.
If Master Jas had taught him anything, it was to never assume anything in combat.
If something could go bad, it likely would.
The first step in evading an enemy was being prepared for everything.
The Survivors didn't have the people or materials to stand toe to toe with Lenix Gul and his knights. So, the only choice was simple, run and live to fight another day.
Speed was their ally now, they needed to get reorganized, and get off this planet, and quickly.
Before some larger trap snapped shut around them.
First dawn was not far off when he saw it, a massive wall of swirling sand on the horizon. Lightning flashed within the clouds, as it rumbled its way over the dunes.
Right in their path, the storm was cutting them off from the rendezvous.
Fenn fought the urge to curse.
What else could go wrong today?
Avy squeezed his waist to get his attention.
"I know a place we can seek shelter," she shouted over the roar of the motor, "bring us about twenty degrees, we should be able to make it before the worst of that storm hits us."
"Where are we going," Fenn asked her.
"Some place safe," she replied.
"Trust me."
He nodded, and followed her instructions.
The winds were already beginning to pick up, soon the storm would be upon them.
The only good thing he could think about that was that blowing sand would erase any tracks they left behind, and any probe droids scanning for heat, pheromone, and any other possible signature would be blinded by the blowing grit and lightning.
The storm was likely a blessing, it would buy them time, slow them down, yes, but in the end hide them from their enemies, until they had the chance to flee this place.
Avy rested her head against his shoulder, her breath warm on his neck. He couldn't deny that it felt good, her arms around him, her body pressed against his.
He had been denying her, after his recent conversation with Darth Agony, her attempt to…reward him in his quarters.
He still hadn't told Avy about that, yet, and he was guessing that Agony hadn't mentioned it either.
So far, Avy had not pushed him on the matter, but that didn't mean that she didn't know something had happened.
She suspected something was amiss, and he had done a poor job of putting her mind at ease.
He had thought about it many times, his and Avy's time together, those quiet moments in his quarters, their hands moving over each other, even now, he could not deny that he missed those moments, those sweet times, just the two of them, in the dark…
…and that was the problem.
He had started to think that he had gone to far, by accepting her promises of comfort, he had set himself down a dangerous path.
He had needed time to recenter himself, and he felt that he had done just that, but now…he could not escape the fact that he and Avy had grown closer.
That closeness reflected not only through their bond in the Force, but also through how it felt when they were close like this.
He felt…need…desire.
He tried to push that away, at least for now.
There would be time to sort through these feelings later, after they had made their way off this planet.
Once they escaped from Tatooine, there would be time.
Yes…
…there would be time.
IOI
The storm had nearly washed over them when they finally slid to a stop within the walls of the old mining complex.
The speeder bike had struggled those last few kilometers, the wind trying to blow them off course.
By the time they had entered the cave, they were both spitting sand. The winds behind them building to a dull roar.
They had made it…barely.
Avaryss nodded as she slid off the bike, her legs stiff from the long ride.
She looked around, her senses taking in what remained of the mines, and the destroyed Sith mobile base that had once been connected here.
Memories flitted through her brain. The destruction that she had wrought here. The flash of Kalo Nord's lightsabers. The hissing of the abominations created by the late Inquisitor Chayn, and the realization, the moment that she had discovered how limited her life had been, how little time she had had left in the body of Keera Lylos.
That loss didn't bother her, not anymore. She had a new life now, and a new body.
She took solace is that.
Fenn coughed, as he pushed the bike farther into the tunnel, out of the blowing grit coming from the cave mouth.
"What is this place, Avy?" he asked.
"The remains of a revenge carried out to its utmost," she replied.
Fenn snorted and looked around, the Sith structure itself had been slagged, but most of its shell remained, fires had wash through these tunnels, creating an atmosphere with the smell of burnt metal, and melted glass.
Nothing of Chayn's experiments had survived, the birthing cradles that had held his abominations had been torn apart by the explosive charges that Avaryss and her allies had set. Yet, the dark side echo remained, it was still quite strong.
Avaryss could not help but notice that this place looked untouched, that no one had come here after she had destroyed it. No Jawas had come to sift through the wreckage, no desert creatures had sought out the protection of these caves. She and Fenn seemed to have been the first.
Again, unsurprising, the dark side didn't give up its hold so easily, this place would remain strong in it for decades, if not centuries.
She was pleased that her actions had left their mark, this place had marked her, after all.
All those things, everything that had come to a head here. They had changed her life, setting her on a new path, a path that had led to the here and now, and now…this place would shelter her, not only from the storm, but any attempt made by Lennix Gul and his Zakuul to find her.
From here, she would plan her next move, and what came next would be bad for Gul and the rest of his fellows.
Their entire mongrel empire would share the same fate as Inquisitor Chayn. She welcomed the chance to see all of Zakuul destroyed so completely.
She not only welcomed it; she reveled in it.
Soon enough, she thought.
Soon.
She took in a deep breath drinking in the carnage that had been, it had been years since she had last looked upon these chambers, the very air tainted by the violence and the foul creations that Chayn had brought into being within these dark chambers.
All and all, the place felt intoxicating…
Delicious!
She and Fenn had started heading deeper into the caves, when the sound of another speeder bike stopped them. Both drew their lightsabers, but stopped as a familiar presence filled the Force, two of them, actually.
Darth Agony, likely drawn to the presence of her long-time ally and leader, brought her bike skidding to a halt.
"FENN!" she shouted, "HELP!"
He stepped forward, seeing for the first time the second rider on Agony's bike, and got there just in time to keep her from falling into the dirt.
"By the Force," he gasped, "MAJOR!"
Galadriel Locke moaned weakly, her face red from the heat of the blast she had escaped, blood trickling from her nose and mouth.
She coughed weakly as Fenn lifted her up.
"Stupid girl," she whimpered, "You…you should have left me."
Fenn carried the wounded soldier deeper into the caves, Agony at his side, speaking at the speed of light.
"I found her near the canyon opening," she said quickly. "She was still hanging from one of the stone outcroppings. I cut her down before the sky troopers could get her."
Fenn nodded, setting her down on the nearest sand dune that he could find.
Gilly moaned weakly, her entire presence in the Force filled with pain.
Avaryss and Agony stood back, watching the Jedi as he worked, as he examined the wounded soldier.
Avaryss frowned.
She was no expert in the medical arts, and she didn't need to be.
Gilly Locke didn't look good.
Torment radiated out from the old sniper. Her life force flickering in the Force like a fading candle. The blood from her nose and mouth were not the result of a simple injuries. Avaryss could only guess how bad the internal bleeding might be.
She frowned slightly.
She was no healer, but she didn't need to be.
She knew a dead woman when she saw one.
Fenn pulled out his medical pack, the basic one all the Survivors had carried. He gave the major an injection in the neck, something to help with the pain.
Locke moaned, after a few moments, her eyes seemed to clear. She grabbed his arm.
"The rendezvous," she gasped, "You…ugh…need to get to the rendezvous, the longer you…you wait the harder it will be to escape…ugh…es…escape this place."
Fenn nodded, reaching out with the Force, trying to calm the injured woman.
"There is a sandstorm outside," he informed her, the fact that she didn't realize that told him all he needed to know about how badly hurt she was.
She winced and lay back.
Fenn offered her some water, she drank, but even that seemed to hurt.
She coughed and groaned, closing her eyes, her right arm hung useless at her side, her left gripped her old imperial officer's cap tightly.
Her lucky cap, Avaryss remembered.
Why it was lucky, she couldn't say, Gilly had not told her.
Perhaps there was something to it, the woman had survived this long.
How much longer, however, she couldn't really say.
Fenn touched her forehead, again, Avaryss could sense him reaching out with the Force, trying to sooth the major, offering her any healing he could.
It wouldn't be enough, the dark lord realized.
Fenn was not a Jedi healer, he could handle minor wounds, and heal himself if needed be, but this…
…the major's injuries…
…those were beyond even a Jedi's talents.
Locke…knew that too.
She wheezed as he inspected her body. The injection finally taking effect, blocking the worst of the pain.
"You…you need to go," she said, "All of you, get to the…the…rendezvous."
"We will," Fenn promised her, "Once we have gotten you stabilized, and the storm clears, we will head out. It shouldn't take too long to make it Anchorhead."
Gilly chuckled; a laugh cut short by a burst of pain.
She looked sadly up at the Jedi.
"Kid, we…we both know that there is no stabilizing me."
Fenn shook his head.
"Don't talk like that. I…I can help you."
"You…you shouldn't be wasting your time," she said, "I'm…I'm done. Had Ag…Agony not took me with her, I would have been dead already. Heh…I am dead…. already."
Fenn didn't try to deny it, Avaryss could not blame him.
They were connected through the Force, after all.
They could both sense that the major was done.
She didn't have much time.
Gilly winced and held out her cap.
"I…I want you to bring this back with you, back to Krys…he…he won't understand…he…he will blame himself."
The sniper gasped, and clutched her side. Fenn held her hand, reaching out with the Force, helping to sooth the pain.
As it passed, Gilly Locke met his eyes, the old sniper had tears in her eyes.
"I…I was always going to end this way. I…I suppose that I deserved it. All those years, fighting the Sithies, and before that…running with the gangs on Coruscant…"
She shook her head.
"I was never going to die peacefully in my sleep."
She sighed.
"Krys…he will blame himself, stupid flyboy, he always thought everything was his fault. Even when we broke up…he…I…"
Locke sobbed.
"Tell him for me, tell…tell him…I…I never blamed him. If…if anything…it was my fault. The mission…the…the baby…I didn't know…didn't…didn't know…"
"Hush now, major," Fenn said touching her forehead, he sent out calming energy, trying to make her comfortable, at least…until the end.
"Krys," she sobbed, "I'm so sorry. So…so sorry. I…I should have…have never…never…tried…tried to…"
The major's eyes rolled back in her head, and she collapsed against the rock. Fenn tensed, fearing perhaps that the woman was fading.
She lay there, wheezing, mumbling in her sleep, begging for forgiveness. Begging for the man she loved.
Avaryss said nothing, she merely watched.
Part of her looked upon the dying soldier with disdain. Those who ask for mercy were not deserving of it, that was the way of the dark side.
Still…
She frowned.
Still…the major had saved her life.
Better she had died quickly, with a blaster in hand, than end like this. Whimpering in some cave like some wounded animal.
It wasn't right.
It wasn't a fitting death for a soldier like Galadriel Locke.
Agony came up to Fenn, she seemed troubled.
"Can't you help her," she asked, "Use the light. Heal her."
Fenn shook his head.
"If…if only I could. I'm…I'm no healer."
He rubbed at his eyes; Avy realized then that he was holding back tears.
"I…I can make her comfortable, that is about it. Ease her passing into the Force. I…I can be here for her, it…it is what the Colonel would want.
He looked down at the old cap in his hand. What she had asked him to give Colonel Capistan.
Poor, Krys," he murmured.
"Poor, poor Gilly."
Avaryss leaned back against the canyon wall. She watched her dream friend, caring for the dying major.
She could sense the woman's pain, even drew a small amount of strength from it, rejuvenating herself after the fight with the Zakuul, and their flight through the desert.
The weak deserve their fate.
She knew that to be true, but Gilly Locke was far from weak. She wasn't begging for her life, or ranting about the fact that she was dying. Her only sense of sadness came for those she was leaving behind.
The man she was leaving behind.
The dark lord's brow furrowed.
She had said something about a baby. Curious, as far as she knew the major had no children, not with Krys Capistan, or anyone else.
She thought about the Colonel. She had no love for the man, he had pulled a blaster on her the first time they had met, and his people had nearly killed her when they destroyed the Shadow's Embrace.
She should have been pleased that he would suffer the death of his woman. She should have been shivering in anticipation at the pain that he would feel when he found out she was gone.
Yet, she wasn't.
She couldn't say why.
The Survivor were her tools, pawns, nothing more.
But…Gilly had saved her life on Hutta, that mattered for something…
…didn't it?
Agony was on her knees, sitting next to them. She watched as Fenn tore a strip of cloth from the sleeve of his combat suit, soaking it in water, he pressed it to the wounded soldier's forehead.
"I can't help her," Fenn said shaking his head.
"I can't."
Agony reached out and touched his arm.
"It isn't your fault, Fenn," she said, "You are doing all you can."
"All I can," he said bitterly.
Agony rose, and went back to her friend and ally.
Avaryss looked up at her.
"I'm…I'm going to keep watch, Avy. I…I will let you know if the storm lets up."
Avaryss nodded, and watched her pass.
She pursed her lips.
She had noticed something.
Agony's eye had changed, the patch hid one, but the other. Her good eye no longer blazed yellow with rage, with the power of the Sith.
It had turned a gentle blue, the same as the blue eyes of the girl that Agony had once been.
She shook her head.
What the hell had happened?
How had Agony turned back into Taya?
How?
Why?
Locke moaned in her sleep, Fenn stayed close, holding her hand.
Avaryss, disgusted by the weakness she was seeing, rose and went up into another section of the caverns.
She cursed under her breath.
First Agony, and now Fenn…
She growled.
She...she could feel it. She had come to respect Major Locke.
Death was for the dead. Fenn should have put the woman out of her misery. It would be a mercy.
Those that ask for mercy, do not deserve it, but the major had not asked.
Agony, Taya, she…she should have killed the major back at Beggar's Canyon.
Why had she brought her back here?
Why?
Why?
WHY!?
Darth Avaryss didn't like this, not one bit.
She was above compassion; she had driven that out of herself years ago…
…so why…why now…did she…she…
NO!
She reached for her lightsaber, she would go back in there, and end the major, it was better than letting the woman go so weakly into the Force.
It was the only mercy that the Sith offered.
A quick painless death for a worthy foe.
Yet, she paused.
Fenn would try to stop her.
He would not understand.
Wasn't a quick death better than slowly fading away?
He said it himself, there was no hope for the old soldier.
It was not like Fenn could save her, not in this place, not with the dark side so strong here, eclipsing his light.
He…she…
Avaryss blinked.
Yes.
The dark side was strong here, very strong.
The dark lord smiled, a wide predator's grin.
She respected Locke, that was true, and her death would weaken the Survivors, Colonel Capistan especially, but that wasn't what she wanted, not yet.
Not until she had all the keys in hand.
The woman's death would be a tragedy, for Krys Capistan and the remaining survivors, but…sometimes…just sometimes…
A tragedy was not just a tragedy…
…sometimes…it was an opportunity.
She almost laughed, but held it in.
Fenn would not have liked to hear the mad cackle that nearly escaped her.
He wouldn't understand, but he would…oh yes.
He would soon.
She went back down the tunnel. She now believed that what was happening had been preordained.
The dark side was still holding her hand, she was sure of it.
Certain.
She approached Fenn. The major was still alive, her breathing wheezing between her bloodstained lips.
Fenn blinked, he had been in the Force, keeping the woman calm.
"Yeah, Avy," he said.
"You can't save her," she said flatly.
Fenn scowled.
"Tell me something I don't know."
She didn't take offense. Fenn was a good man, hurting.
She could help.
"You can't save her," she repeated, "But…"
He looked up.
"But?"
She smiled wickedly.
"But," she purred, "I think that WE can."
That got his attention.
"What do you mean?"
Avaryss shivered.
Excellent, she thought.
Delicious!
'This place, this fallen facility, it is very strong in the dark side. You can feel it."
"I suppose I can," he agreed, "Yet, that won't help the major."
"You think so," Avaryss asked.
"The dark side is weak in the healing arts. It doesn't have the power to save a life."
"Normally, that is true," she agreed, "but not in this case."
"What are you going on about?"
"I'm talking about us, Fenn. I'm talking about the bond we share, and what it might be capable of doing."
The dark lord giggled.
She truly was brilliant.
She couldn't wait to tell Zay about this.
Her apprentice would be amazed.
"How does our bond help Gilly?"
"Your healing skills aren't strong enough to help, Gilly. That is not some insult, it is fact. I'm not a healer either, my expertise, my power has always been in the manipulation of energy. Heat, light, electricity, even life energy. It all bows to my will."
"The point, Avy."
"The point," she said, "Is that I can draw in the power of the dark side that fills this place, I can absorb it, and channel it."
She touched his shoulder.
"I can fill our mutual bond with dark side power, more power than you would ever need, more than enough to boost you healing abilities."
Fenn blinked, finally understanding what she was saying.
"I…I could use our connection," he said, "Use our bond…like…like a type of filter."
"More like a lens," She clarified. "In our bond there is no real difference between the light and the dark, it is simply power, power that we can both draw on. I can channel it into our bond, and you can take the power into yourself. You can use it.
She leaned in closer.
"You can't save Gilly, not alone, but together. I can give you what you need, you are no stranger to the darkness Fenn. It is a part of you, it always will be. You can use my power to augment your own. We will be able to save the major's life. I'm sure of it."
Fenn nodded, he knew enough about the Force, and he had grown up with their bond, he knew that too.
He looked down at Gilly. She whimpered in her sleep, mumbling nonsense words.
She…she didn't have much time, he knew that, even now, he could feel her life fading, like a candle going out, in a chamber with little oxygen, oxygen that was being used up too fast.
"I could take your power," he said.
"We could save her," Avaryss repeated.
"I would be exposing myself to the dark side, giving into it to do this."
Avaryss nodded, she tried to keep her expression solemn, but inside she was practically cheering.
Finally, she had found it.
The answer she had sought for so long.
To save a life, Fenn would give his, not to death, but to her.
Yes.
This was it.
This was key to corrupting her dream friend!
The dark side provides again.
She almost laughed.
The perfect trap for a young Jedi.
Darth Hecaetus would have been pleased.
She felt his hesitation. He feared what he might become if he did this.
She had to restrain herself.
She almost asked him if he wasn't a little too old to be scared of the dark.
That would not help, he had to see her as the only way, the one last answer.
He could let the woman die, or he could take this one chance.
A life, for a life.
His own Jedi code would damn him, and in that damnation…
He would finally fall into her arms.
Perfect.
"We can do this, Fenn," she said, "Trust me."
Fenn sighed, she felt it, the shift, the sweet moment of surrender.
Finally, she thought.
It had been a long time coming.
Fenn looked up at her.
"How…how do we do this.
Avaryss smiled.
She had it all worked out.
It was so simple.
"Lay your hands, upon her, Fenn."
He did as she asked.
He rested his hands on Locke's chest, she moaned. Krys' name escaped her lips. Tears ran down her cheeks.
Avaryss rested her hands on her dream friend's shoulders.
She took a deep breath.
"Close your eyes, Fenn."
He glanced over his shoulder.
"Avy…I…"
"Trust me…close your eyes."
He hesitated again, but only briefly.
Finally, he did as she asked.
He closed his eyes, and went into their bond, that place where darkness and light met.
"Now," she murmured.
"Come with me, Fenn."
She felt him gasp.
Everything faded…
…and in that moment, all was darkness.
Distantly…Avaryss cackled with delight!
Finally!
Gotcha!
IOI
Fenn Shadowstone gasped.
One minute he had been in the cave, feeling the darkness closing in on all sides, and the next…
He was falling.
The cold suffused him, pushing out the light and scouring him empty of its touch.
He had always seen the Force as an ocean of light, its currents and eddies filling him with a sense of calm and purpose.
That…was all gone.
In its place was only darkness. Cold and bitter darkness…
…and he was drowning, he couldn't breathe!
He was lost!
He felt Avy's presence, the darkness flowing through her. He could barely sense her presence, only a sense of satisfaction.
Had…had she betrayed him.
Had this all been some trick!
NO!
NOOOOOO!
His anger lit, the rage that he had denied all those years ago, burst forth, no longer an ember, but an open flame, a flame that threatened to turn into an inferno!
He found Gilly Locke, her spirit weakly flickering in the dark.
He could have destroyed it in that moment, part of him wanted to destroy that spirit, shatter it for all time.
It was because of her that this had happened.
The darkness was within him, overwhelming him.
He didn't want to help her.
This was her fault!
HER!
FAULT!
He…he…
No, Fenn!
STOP!
He gasped, as another presence filled the darkness, filled the bond he shared with his dream friend.
It wasn't Avaryss, it was something else, something older.
Don't lose yourself, boy.
Focus!
You did this to save a life.
To find justice, to give life another chance.
Don't give in!
The darkness can only take you if you let it.
Your stronger than that Sith shutta.
Fight.
Use your strength.
Save your friend.
DO IT!
NOW!
Fenn felt himself rising out of the dark currents. He was being pulled up by…
He looked into the eyes of the one that saved him.
It was a face he didn't know, but…did…
He almost sobbed.
The figure that held him up glowed with a blue light, the light of the Force in all its purity. Her features so familiar, but not…
He didn't know her name, but knew she was with him, that she had always been with him.
The woman held him with her calm even gaze. Her dirty blond hair was chopped in an almost violent style, her long red skirt was slit in one side, giving her legs freedom of movement, the armored leather jacket she wore gave her a tougher than durasteel look.
He didn't know her name, but…he knew her, in his blood, and in the Force.
He had always known her.
"Stay with me, kid," she said.
"Stay with me, reach out with the light, let it fill your friend. You have the power, use it."
He nodded, and focused, the darkness flowed into him, through him, and through the strange woman.
She smiled.
"We've both been touched by the darkness," she said, "It touches us, but that doesn't mean that it owns us."
She gave him a confident smirk.
"You're not that girl's pawn, you got this, boy."
"You've got this!"
He felt Avaryss reaching out, trying to touch him, pull him deeper into the shadow.
The blue woman stopped her, her light brightening, blinding Fenn as well.
"Leave him alone! Get away from him, you shutta!"
Fenn gasped, almost overwhelmed by the power he felt.
He filtered the darkness, and used the pure Force within.
He felt Gilly's life, the dying embers of it.
He blew on those embers with the Force. He called on the power.
He felt it, the fires blaze anew, he could see inside the body of dying woman, the wounds closing. He…she…
He felt himself being thrust up, back into the world of life and light.
The blue woman let him go, but he sensed her emotions as she faded away.
Love…love and pride.
"Watch your back, kid," she whispered.
"That girl isn't what she seems."
Watch.
Your.
Back.
Fenn cried out.
He felt the world of living crash down around him, and then…it was done.
They…were back.
IOI
Avaryss groaned.
Her head throbbed painfully, but…but…
She coughed.
Had she been successful.
She…she had felt…something.
She had almost done it. Fenn was drowning in the dark side.
Then…then there had been the light, that blue light.
She shook her head.
What was it?
She…she couldn't remember.
She looked up
Major Locke lay on her side, moaning weakly.
The dark lord reached out with the Force.
What she sensed surprised her.
He did it.
She smiled.
The crazy kath hound had done it.
Gilly Locke was alive, her body burned with life. Her heart beat strongly, she breathed easily. She would be in pain for a while, recovering from such injuries were not easy, but…
…she would recover.
Avaryss sensed it.
Fenn…had managed to pull it off.
AMAZING!
Speaking of Fenn.
She stumbled to her feet, shaking her head.
Fenn lay next to the major, he was breathing heavily, shivering against the cold that was not a part of the real world."
"Fenn?" she said.
"Can…can you hear me?"
He groaned and sat up.
"Wha…what happened?"
She smiled.
"You did it," she said, "We did it."
Fenn laughed.
"Good," he panted, "Yay, us."
He leaned back against the cave wall, Avaryss came up to him, reaching out with the Force, checking to see if he had suffered any injuries.
She sensed none, but there was a change, a positive one, as far as she was concerned.
Their bond had come through in a major way.
He looked at her with new eyes.
She almost laughed.
Sith eyes.
Fenn's eyes were as yellow as hers now, they blazed with dark power.
She almost took him into her arms and kissed him.
Finally, she thought.
No more resistance.
No more excuses.
She giggled.
Welcome to the dark side, Fenn Shadowstone.
I think you are going to like it here.