Chapter 22: The Dawn
They didn't bind his hands or take his weapon.
His escort said nothing as they led him down the darkened corridors. The Lady Hand led the way with the Yimm sisters bringing up the rear.
Jas found himself walking next to the observer. He was still unsure what to make of the creature. It wasn't human, that was for sure, despite its features.
He tried to think what it might be, the galaxy was vast, but there were plenty of stories of lifeforms that could masquerade as other creatures.
It was possible that is what he was seeing now, but he couldn't be sure, and why was it here? What possible reason could it have to…observe the Sunset Collective?
He had few answers.
The observer hadn't stopped smiling since they had met, he felt like it knew something, but had no desire to share it.
He glanced over at the tall pale humanoid.
Finally…it acknowledged him.
"You have a question, Jas Dar Bynn?"
In truth, he had many, but only one came to mind at the moment.
"You are not here of your own accord, are you?"
"That much is clear," the observer replied with a shrug, 'there are those…interested in the comings and goings of the First Speaker and his flock, it for their benefit, that I've come."
"Anyone that I may have heard of?"
The observer giggled.
"Oh, but that would spoil the surprise. We can't have that now, can we?"
Jas wasn't sure how to respond, so he stayed silent.
In this case…however…he didn't think he liked the thought of what surprises that the observer might have up his sleeve.
He again reached out with the Force, trying to sense his companions. Sadly, this was a place shrouded in the dark side; piercing such a veil was problematic for one such as him.
The Hand of the Faith chuckled.
"Trying to sense your people, are you?"
He shrugged.
"I assumed they were here, that is what Temm Yimm said."
The Tunroth snorted.
"And what would you do if I said: yes?"
Jas had to be careful now. If he seemed too eager to find them, that would likely break the illusion of his desire to join the collective, but if he was too dismissive, his friends would have no further use, and might simply be discarded.
He gave the Lady Hand a sneer.
"They were valuable tools. I would hate to see them wasted."
The alien snorted again, but didn't reply, he couldn't say if he had reassured her or not.
This was a very dangerous game he was playing.
He had to be very careful with the moves he made.
"Your servants are here, and alive," the observer informed him, "How long they remain that way is up to you."
Jas nodded, and there was the threat that Miri warned him about. Despite their invitation through the door, he was still being watched closely, his crew were just another incentive to behave and not do anything rash.
He glanced down at his right wrist, at the metal band wrapped around it, it was innocent enough, the only decoration was three red lights, lights that could turn green.
So far, none of them had, he would need to watch that too. After all, he had a plan.
He needed to stay focused on that, for the sake of his allies.
No more words passed between them, and soon they stood before a turbo lift. The Hand led them inside with Jas, the observer, and the Yimm sisters following close behind.
The door hissed shut, and the Hand pushed the up button
Jas took another deep breath, and again checked his wristband…
…Still all red.
He tried to remain nonchalant.
He had hoped things would have been moving more quickly.
Nothing you can do about it now, his conscience reminded him, stay focused…
…and…stick to the plan.
IOI
After a few moments of rising through the station, the turbolift doors finally hissed open.
The Hand of the Faith led their party out.
Jas found himself on the station's observation deck, above them the stars glistened. A protective dome shielded them from the vacuum; while, at the same time, giving them an almost three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the void that surrounded the station.
A lone man stood awaiting their arrival, clad in Mandalorian armor, his brown hair thin and graying. The left side of his face scarred, the ear that had once been there was missing.
Jas felt his anger try to rise up again, spiking in the presence of his old enemy.
Targo Sei.
The bounty hunter turned, flashing him a cruel twisted grin, the scar tissue on his face leaving his mouth in a half grimace. Cold blue eyes looked upon him with nothing but contempt.
"Hey there, Runt," he called out, his voice dripping with sweet venom.
"Been a long time."
Jas was speechless, all the months of hunting and desiring this man's end came flooding back. The memory of Vess and Val lying unconscious on tables as Targo menaced them…
It was almost too much, it was almost enough to make Jas want to forget the plan, forget it, draw his blade, and end this man's life.
It would be easy too, he realized, he doubted that the collective people would even try and stop him.
Because that is what they want, what they expect, his conscience warned, Control your anger, Jas Dar Bynn.
It is the only way to get out of here alive.
"It has been a long time," Jas agreed with a nod, then…he flashed the older man a cruel smile.
"Fortunately, this will be the last time."
Targo laughed, a cruel pitiless sound.
"It wouldn't be as easy as that, kid. Trust me."
Jas didn't answer, he didn't need too.
One way, or another, this meeting was the end.
Targo Sei would not be leaving this station.
"There is no reason for hostility, Brother Jas. We are all children under the Eternal Night."
The First Speaker emerged from the shadows, the tattoos of his people's heritage standing out sharply on his blue skin; his dark robes drinking in the shadows, all but concealing him from view.
The old Pantoran smiled, his visage and manner almost parental, surprising considering the man's true nature and the bloody work that he and his followers engaged in.
"In truth, my boy, we are all here for the same purpose."
Jas didn't agree, but he didn't dispute the point, not yet. He dared another quick glance at his wristband, the lights were still red.
Damn.
It was not yet time.
"So," he said to the old terrorist, "I'm one of yours now…just like that?"
The Speaker chuckled as he paced before them, his fingers idly stroking his long gray beard.
"You have been one of us since the day you first heard my sermons, and killed in anger, in service of the Eternal Night."
The Hand of the Faith nodded.
"It has been a long road, kid," she added, "But at last, you have reached the end of your journey."
"Indeed," The First Speaker said facing him, a proud smile on his face.
"Welcome home."
Jas only just avoided rolling his eyes.
Seriously, he thought.
Did they honestly think it was that easy?
It is easier than you think, the darkness within him whispered, its strength bolstered by the anger he felt towards his many enemies.
All you have to do, is stop fighting, and let go.
He could not deny that, but he could deny that he was already lost to the darkness. He refused to accept that he had fallen and that there was no way back.
He had something to live for now; to fight for.
Vess.
He would not betray her for something as empty as the promises of the Sunset Collective.
"Considering that many of those kills were you own followers," Jas reminded the Pantoran, "I'm not so sure that your Eternal Night would agree."
"Sacrifices made for the greater good, Brother Jas," The Speaker replied, "Those men and women were merely pawns, pawns sacrificed so that the Eternal Night could gain something greater, a knight among the rabble."
"The First Speaker saw the value in you," The Lady Hand added, "We just needed to be sure you were ready to hear us, that you could find yourself drawn here, and be ready to listen."
The old Pantoran nodded.
Jas frowned slightly.
He was starting to see exactly what was going on here.
"I trust you have enjoyed the game that our master prepared for you," The First Speaker continued, "We needed to see how far you were willing to go, if you were truly ready to accept the faith, and do what is necessary."
Jas listened, thinking about what was being said.
Master?
What master?
"So," he said, "The business on Alderaan, the kidnapping of the women, the destruction of the Righteous, and all the little clues and hoops that I needed to jump through…that was the Collective's doing?"
"Necessary tests, brother," The Speaker replied, "Test of strength and faith."
Jas chuckled, that was one way of looking at it, he supposed.
He gave Targo a cruel smirk.
"I should have guessed; the revenge game thing didn't sound much like you."
Targo shrugged.
"I've always preferred more straight forward methods," the bounty hunter said, "A warrior's methods."
"Like poisoning innocent children?" Jas said dryly, "Yes, that was a very noble thing to do…proud warrior."
Targo's eyes narrowed with anger, but he did bark out a cruel laugh.
"Ellis' kid should never have existed," he said dismissively, "He was conceived because of an arranged marriage, a means to make the clan stronger."
Targo shook his head.
"That match should have been mine, I'm the rightful heir of Clan Nuna, as Ellis will learn soon enough."
Jas said nothing, he saw no reason to.
Child killer, you will answer for that!
As for his claim to the Nuna throne, he had none.
Targo had been defeated in fair combat. Jas had challenged and beaten him, any claim he had to the clan died with that defeat, he had proved that Targo was not strong enough to hold his place. The fact that Jas had named Ellis his successor had not changed that.
Targo was dreaming, he would never lead Nuna.
"It wasn't all about you, Brother Jas," the First Speaker added, "The seizing of the young queen and her guard was demanded by the Herald of the Eternal Night."
The Lady Hand nodded.
"The collective was asked to prove our loyalty, and skill. Brother Targo was well compensated for his role in that mission."
"Bringing you back into this was just a happy little coincidence," Targo said to Jas.
"There are no coincidences, Brother Targo," The First Speaker reminded him, "Only the will of the Eternal Night."
Jas frowned.
"Herald of the Eternal Night?" he said, "Is that the master you spoke of, who is that?"
"The one who first showed me the way," The First Speaker informed him, "He who stands in the shadows, and guides us towards the glorious future."
Jas nodded.
So…the First Speaker was not the head of this particular snake, he should not have been surprised.
The Speaker was a dedicated fanatic, but some of the Collective's attacks in recent years suggested a defter hand, a cunning one, with both experience and brilliance.
Jas found himself curious to meet this person.
"And he has an interest in the succession on Bantoon?" he asked.
"Bantoon is a wealthy world, Brother Jas, in more ways than one."
"We've not been deemed worthy to know all the details, yet," the Hand of the Faith said, "Only that Bantoon has a much larger destiny."
"A destiny that you shall play an important part in, my boy," The Speaker said with a grin.
"You shall serve as the Left Hand of the Faith, our agent and commander on Bantoon. You shall deliver this jewel into the crown of the Eternal Night!"
"The matter of succession has not been settled, First Speaker," Jas reminded him, "For all that to come to pass, Vessaria will need to be queen."
The old man smiled broadly, his eyes reflecting a fanaticism boarding on madness.
"Soon, it will not matter who sits the throne on distant Bantoon, whether Adira or Vessaria, both will serve the needs of the Eternal Night, and best of all, they will not even see the strings that guide their movements, our pretty little puppets."
Jas felt the Hand's heavy grip on his shoulder, drawing his attention.
Tunroth smirked down at him.
"And that is where you come in, Brother Jas," the Hand said, "We already have deals in place with the current government, but we must be prepared for the change if it occurs. If the little blonde wins her throne back, you will make sure that things stay as they are on Bantoon, that the Herald's plans continue to move forward."
"And in return," the Speaker purred, "You will be rewarded with power beyond measure, and a place at the side of the Eternal Night. If the girl's challenge looks like it will fail, you will ensure its failure, it will make you look good in the eyes of the Republic, and the Jedi Order. If she succeeds, you shall rise with her, and take what prizes you want. You desire the young queen, her guard? Take them, one or the other, or both, they will be yours. You wish to rule Bantoon? It will be yours; you will wield great power behind the throne."
"You turned away the chance to rule once, kid," Targo said with a sneer, "Can't believe you would be so stupid a second time."
A shiver and down Jas' spine.
To rule.
He thought about what was being offered…part of him…desired it.
He could not deny it, the darkness that he released on Taris was still there, and it hungered for what the Speaker was offering, had he not been warned in advance by Miri of this possibility, he might have thought to let things play out as the collective desired, to go undercover, to join them, and pretend to serve their needs.
Vess' love would be the perfect shield, she would think he was serving her needs while he saw to his own. He would be both her lover and advisor, he would use her, and the collective both, and in the process, he would find this Herald of the Eternal Night, he would slay him, and save the galaxy from…whatever it was that was coming.
He wanted that. He NEEDED that!
He would be a hero, greater than his brother, better than Sy, or the council thought that he could be. He would prove them all wrong!
He would be the greatest Jedi EVER! He would be a hero…he…he would be…be…
…a traitor.
The word hit him like a slap in the face.
Remember what you learned at the temple, his sense of Jedi control reminded him, remember the lessons of Master Vey.
Remember the failure of Ulic Quel Droma.
Jas took a shuddering breath, Vey had met Ulic, after his defeat, after he had been blinded to the Force by his fellow Jedi, cast out to wander, a broken outcast.
Ulic had thought that he could learn the secrets of the dark side and not be tainted by them, he had believed he was stronger than the dark side, and his own ambitions.
He had been wrong.
Each dark side act, every decision to maintain his cover had changed him, soon he was no longer simply playing a role, but living it, and the story of being undercover became a lie. By learning the secrets of the enemy, he had become the enemy, and when The Dark Lord Exar Kun came calling, he willingly accepted his place as Kun's Sith apprentice.
No, Jas was not so foolish, or naïve.
He was not stronger than the dark side, and he would not play the collective's games.
He glanced down at his wrist band.
He fought the urge to smile.
Two of the lights…they had gone green…finally.
Only one red light remained, which meant he had to continue this game…he had to keep his enemies talking.
Time is what was needed now, and he could buy that.
It would not be long now.
He turned to the observer, the tall smiling creature had been silent since they had arrived, he had simply been…watching.
"This Herald of the Eternal Night, he asked him, "You serve this person?"
"I'm just a humble observer," the tall being replied, "Who I report to is none of your concern, not yet anyway."
He took a deep breath, and again something seemed to move inside his mouth.
The observer grinned.
"Vey Ilo," he said, "I can smell her stench on you, the little pest."
His eyes flashed hungrily.
"Oh, how wonderful it is to for you to be here, you have studied with her, have you not? Why else would you reek of her? For you to serve the will of these…people. It would be the ultimate failure. It would be delicious!"
The observer leaned in…closer. Jas resisted the urge to step back, to get away from this…whatever it was.
The Observe enjoyed his discomfort.
"I will enjoy drinking that failure, that sense of loss…
"It will be…a pleasure."
"I'm sure the Herald will grant you what you desire, my friend," the First Speaker said, "Once all our pieces are where they need to be."
The tall creature giggled.
Jas got the feeling that the First Speaker's words didn't matter in the least to the observer, he had his own agenda, and if Jas wasn't mistaken, he looked down on the Collective and its goals.
Whatever the Eternal Night was, Jas was starting to think that its desires were beyond what the Sunset Collective had in mind.
What did a pawn matter to a gamemaster?
Useful, but in the end, expendable, Jas suspected that is exactly what the Collective was.
Expendable.
Jas turned to the First Speaker, he still needed to stall at least for the moment.
The third light was still red.
"The Bantoon thing is not going to be easy, First Speaker," he said, "The young queen is naïve, but there are certain things that will be required to sell my loyalty to her, the return of her bodyguard first among them, that…or a body."
The body suggestion had been a last-minute thing, Jas hoped that it would sell the deception, and that it was not the Force telling him what was going to happen.
The Speaker grinned.
"You will not need to worry about Miss Valenthyne. Thanks to the blessings of the Herald, we have the means to…recondition the queen's protector. I've been assured that she will be ready and willing to serve our needs soon enough."
Jas winced, he had felt Val's pain, was…was that what they were doing to her? Torturing her, trying to reprogram her?
Again, he had to hold his anger in check.
He glanced down at his wrist, the red light was still on.
Damn.
What was taking so long?!
"And if the protector is not enough, we will be providing you with another ally, to make sure that the Jedi and Republic are appeased, kept blind to what is truly going on."
The First Speaker pressed a button on his belt.
The floor irised open, and a platform rose to their level.
Jas only just held back his desire to attack.
He had found V'Lek."
The Jedi Padawan was caught in some kind of stasis fielded, tended to by four of the Collective's masked priests. He had been stripped of his robes and weapon. The Whiphid's fur was blackened in several places. The energy cage shocked him at random intervals; he growled with every spark, his hands and feet bound behind his back.
Jas looked back at the Speaker, who was grinning proudly.
"We will raise him as one of our own," The Hand of the Faith informed him, "Once he has embraced our teachings, he will serve as your aid, and ensure the Jedi that you did what was needed to stop the collective, while we move on to more secretive projects. He will help sell your story?"
Jas looked at the Tunroth.
"Is that how you ended up here, Xarcce Tatch? Did the Collective torture you until you accepted their teachings?"
The former Jedi sneered.
"They didn't need to torture me, kid. The masters, their teachings, I only ever bought into them so far."
The Hand looked down at her now metal left hand.
"Something has been coming for a long time, I've felt it since I was a youngling, feared it. The Jedi have chosen to ignore it; they just let the Republic keep toddling on, expanding with no preparation for what is coming."
"So, you decided to do something about it?" Jas said, "To side with the darkness?"
The Tunroth shrugged.
"Better to stand at the shadow's side than in its way. If the bad stuff comes, I'd much rather be on the winning side. It's the smarter move."
"Yes," Jas said nodding.
Smart…for a coward.
He turned to Targo.
"And you are fine with this?" he asked, "you told me once that you wanted revenge. Doesn't the thought of me joining the Collective deny you that?"
Targo gave him an evil smirk.
"There are all kinds of revenge out there, Runt. I can already see Coop and Ellis' faces. They thought you some great hero, but here you are, standing beside me, and the First Speaker…"
The bounty hunter laughed.
"They will try to stop you, save you, and you will do what you must to protect what yours. I know how far you will go to do that. In the end, they will know what it is like to lose to you, to lose everything, to see their hero become their enemy, and know that I played a part in it."
He looked so pleased with himself, so…content.
"I can't think of a better revenge than that, Runt, and it is all thanks to you, and once Ellis falls, I'll be there to pick up the pieces, to take back what's mine."
Jas thought about, Targo wasn't wrong, it would hurt Coop seeing him standing with the Collective, and if he did, he would need to deal with Coop, it would be inevitable. It would hurt Ellis too, knowing what Targo had taken from the clan.
They wouldn't understand, it wasn't about loyalty, it was about power…
…power…matters, it was the only thing that did.
The thought made him shiver, it came from a dark place within him, a place where the light never touched.
Again, he heard the darkness calling, it knew what he desired, and what it would take to claim it.
"You're probably right, Targo," Jas agreed, raising his hand.
He reached out with the Force.
GOTCHA!
Targo stopped smiling, he stopped standing there, looking relax and insolent. He shuddered, caught in an invisible vice.
Jas held out his hand, palm upward, and fingers spread.
Targo struggled briefly, futilely, and then…rose up, held aloft by the Force. The killer floated before him, shock and surprise radiating off of him.
Jas smiled, it was as cold and cruel as any smile Targo had ever seen.
"There is just one problem with what you just said," he said coldly, "The fact that you actually thought I would let you survive this meeting."
The bounty hunter's eyes widened in disbelief, he tried to move, and found out that he couldn't.
"What're you doing, Runt," he snarled, "You can't just…URK!"
Jas moved his hand slightly.
"Can't do what, Targo? Can't use the Force to punish you? Can't use it to end your worthless life? After everything you put me through in the last year, you don't think that I have both the power and will to kill you?
Jas gave him a cold sneer.
"Trust me, I do."
He felt the Mandalorian traitor struggle, once he would have had a hard time containing his old enemy, but those days were long past.
Jas' understanding of the Force was greater now that it had ever been when he had been with the clan.
He would show his old enemy...he would show them all.
Targo snarled and tried to free himself tried to launch a grenade or fire his flamethrower, Jas didn't allow him to do either, Targo's will, or strength, wasn't as strong as he thought.
"You," he hissed, "You can't…"
"Can't what?" Jas asked, "Cant' do this?"
Jas shook his head.
"Do you remember all the times you told me that Mom would not be around forever to save me. Do you remember that…brother? Well, you need to realize something…Mom is no longer around to keep you safe from me. At long last I'm free to do whatever I want to you, to show you what real power looks like."
Again, Jas felt it, the hunger, the sick pleasure he took when he had tortured Temm Yimm to death.
He wanted to give into that desire again, to let Targo Sei experience all the horrors that he could dream up, and then…end him.
The bounty hunter was no fool, he realized that Jas wasn't kidding, his eyes widened, and he felt fear for the first time, for the first time in his life, he understood what it was that Jas had kept in check…
…now…he understood.
"First Speaker," he shouted, "Call him off! WE…we had a deal!"
The Pantoran sighed.
"You have served us well these last few years, Brother Targo, but a pawn's final duty is to be sacrificed, and with your blood, a powerful new piece is placed on the board. The Eternal Night gains a warrior, a knight to serve its end."
Behind Jas, the observed smirked hungrily, enjoying the show, the Yimm sisters said nothing.
"You know what to do, Brother Jas," The Hand of the Faith said nodding grimly, "Take your revenge…
…kill him."
I could do it too, Jas knew, it would be so easy, it would be…
BEEP!
He looked at his left wrist, all the lights on his wristband had gone green.
He almost sighed with relief.
Finally.
You can still finish him, the darkness whispered, kill the hunter now.
No one needs to know.
No one would blame you, not after everything that's happened.
That was true, he realized, but he would blame himself, he would know that he killed this man in anger.
It would be another step down the dark path, the slippery slope that had claimed so many.
Jas sighed.
No.
As much as he desired it, he was no murderer, he had been out of control on Taris, but he knew better now.
No.
He used the Force to fling Targo against the far bulk head. The bounty hunter hit with such force that he was rendered unconscious, his armor protected him…mostly.
Jas had known just how hard to throw him, he knew the capabilities of beskar.
Targo had hit hard, but not enough to kill.
He fell to the ground with a heavy clatter and didn't rise again.
Jas Dar Bynn reached out with the Force, he sensed that Targo Sei still lived.
Good.
Others had a claim on this man's life, it was not his to take, not in anger.
In a fight sure, he wouldn't hesitate, but now…no…
…he was no killer.
In that moment, he felt something shift within him, he felt the darkness fall away, or rather, return to the shadows from where it had come.
He gasped felt like he was falling, but…he wasn't afraid, he felt…bolstered…invigorated.
It was…wonderful!
Light flowed in, it was not overly bright or painful, it simply…was.
He sighed with contentment, he felt a sense of calm settle over him, a calm he had never felt before.
He opened his eyes and turned to his enemies.
He wasn't their pawn, he never was.
"What are you doing?" the Hand of the Faith demanded.
"Kill him."
Jas drew his lightsaber, he ignited the blade, and he threw it…
…but not at Targo.
The blade spun away, and cut through the four priests guarding V'Lek. The violet blade sliced through robed necks like a hot knife through butter, they died without pain or fear, their bodies fell, no sound escaped them. The lightsaber then destroyed the field emitter, freeing the Whiphid from his confinement, causing him to fall to the deck.
Jas was at his side in an instant, his weapon in hand, he stood in a fighting stance ready to meet the first attack.
The First Speaker glared at him, his eyes filling with disbelief and rage.
"Brother Jas! What have you done?!"
"I'm not your brother," he said defiantly.
It was at that moment that the station shook, Jas didn't need to look out to know what was going on.
The lights flickered, as main power switched over to reserves, just enough to maintain gravity and lights, but nothing else.
Right now, the main generator was offline, destroyed, detonators were exploding all over the station, disabling the station's shields, weapons, and hyperdrive.
Behind his enemies, beyond the dome, Jas could see the distant pseudo-motion of ships emerging from hyperspace, they could approach the base at their leisure now.
The station could not defend itself, not with its automated weapons anyway.
He turned his full attention the First Speaker and his allies, the scum that had taken so many lives and caused him such pain in the past.
He didn't hate them, but he would stop them.
"The night is over, First Speaker," he informed them, "The dawn is here."
He smiled.
"You can surrender and face judgment of those you hurt, or be destroyed, it is your choice, but I ask you not to underestimate my power."
The Hand of the Faith snarled angrily.
"YOU'RE A FOOL!"
"No," Jas said with conviction, "You are the fool Tatch, and I am a Jedi."
He pointed his blade at her, even as she drew her weapon, the crimson blade hissed to life.
Jas Dar Bynn was unafraid.
"You…My Lady Hand…are done."