Interlude: The Student
Kneeling in a dark room with her eyes closed, a young woman tried to meditate and calm the roaring emotions within her that were currently like a tempest threatening to drown her in anger and grief.
After a few minutes and only partially managing to get her emotions back under control, she opened her eyes and stood up, knowing that more meditation would be pointless. 'Master Karr says that being able to control one's emotions is the mark of a true Jedi. So why is it so difficult for me to find peace?'
When her master had first found her on Alderaan years ago, Jaesa Willsaam had been honored to be chosen to join the legendary Jedi Order and become the padawan of Jedi Master Nomen Karr. Her master had explained early on that her gift of being able to sense a person's true nature was unique, as no one else in all of recorded history had ever possessed such a skill.
Jaesa knew now that this wasn't entirely true. During her studies at the Jedi Temple, she learned that almost all who felt the force could see into a person's heart and, with focus, grasp their true intentions. However, none seemed to be able to do it with such accuracy and effortlessness that she was capable of. Something that pleased her and her master greatly. 'Gesselle always did say I had a knack for reading people.' She thought with a small smile as she remembered her old friend.
That smile quickly fell as dark thoughts about the past couple months entered her mind once more.
It had just been another day at the temple when her master came to her and told her that she needed to pack her things and that they were leaving immediately. Despite her confusion, her master had refused to explain until they were off Tython. So she'd done as he asked and only when they'd entered hyperspace and left Tython behind had her master given her the explanation she wanted.
And what a chilling explanation it was.
Her master had spoken of Darth Baras a few times before, usual when giving an example of the Sith's cruelties and manipulations, but he'd never spoken of him having spies and infiltrators before. She had been shocked to learn that the ones with darkness in their hearts that she'd been identifying for her master had secretly been Darth Baras' minions.
When asked why he hadn't shared this with her before now, her master stated that before there hadn't been any need since, even if they hadn't been connected to Baras, the darkness in the hearts of those she identified proved they were dangerous and couldn't be trusted. While Jaesa wasn't fully pleased with her master's explanation, she accepted it nonetheless.
But then her master had gone on to explain that the situation had changed. Master Karr told her that Darth Baras had also recently taken a powerful apprentice of his own and that, when he'd learned of this, her master had instructed a Republic orbital monitoring station to track the apprentice's ship.
Apparently, the apprentice had visited both Balmorra and Nar Shaddaa and that the ones she'd identified as possible agents on both worlds had been killed during the time Baras' apprentice was on the planet. While Jaesa knew it was suspicious and even likely that the agents had been killed so that their secrets couldn't be revealed, she was surprised by how strongly her master believed it. He'd been adamant almost to the point of aggression that Baras had sent his apprentice to silence his agents before they could be exposed.
However, he'd calmed himself quickly and continued by explaining that somehow, Baras learned of the monitoring station and had sent his apprentice to destroy it. Master Karr mentioned that he'd learned this when Hirosho, the agent in charge of the station, had contacted him to alert him that the ship was there and the apprentice had interrupted the call. Master Karr's eyes had turned downcast as he explained that, despite asking for mercy, the apprentice had killed Hirosho, his men, and the soldiers that had been sent to apprehend him.
Her master then looked at her very seriously and told her that the apprentice had spoken of her and that it quickly became clear to him that Darth Baras and his apprentice were after her specifically. Something the apprentice himself had confirmed. The thought was not a comforting one, especially after all Master Karr had told her of Baras.
But, she'd argued, if Darth Baras and his apprentice were after her, wouldn't she have been safer if they'd remained on Tython? It was the heart of the Jedi Order. Surely they would have been safe there.
Her master had just shaken his head and explained that Baras had eyes and ears everywhere, even among the Jedi, and if no one knew where she was then Baras and his spies would never find her. That was the reason why her master and her had journeyed to a planet outside of Republic space, so she could continue her training and he could work on finding a way to keep her safe from Darth Baras and his agents. She didn't fully agree with her master's plan but she trusted his judgment, which led her to where she was now.
Leaving her chambers, Jaesa walked through the corridors of the abandoned temple that she and her master had been staying at for some time now. It wasn't a Jedi temple, but her master had assured her that it was safe and that the world they were on was one that the Sith would never even think to look at. 'Which makes sense. After all, I'd never heard of this planet before Master Karr told me about it.'
Coming to a balcony, Jaesa leaned over the stone railing and looked down towards the dense jungle below. At times, she found this more relaxing than meditating. But now it only served to distract her from the sadness in her heart.
Her master had warned her that Darth Baras and his apprentice would go to great lengths to find her and draw her out, but neither Jaesa nor her master had known just what they would do or how far they'd go.
They received their answer when, during a normal practice duel, Jaesa had felt a searing pain cover her entire body. It had been so intense that she'd blacked out. When she'd regained consciousness later, her master asked her what had happened and, the moment he had, she'd been unable to hold back her tears because she realized the truth when she was no longer able to sense a familiar bond.
Master Yonloch was dead.
Even now, Jaesa had to squeeze her eyes shut as she remembered the kindly old Jedi Master who'd helped her so much during her training on Tatooine. She knew Jedi weren't supposed to form attachments, but she couldn't help but view Master Yonlach as a sort of grandfather figure and she knew he cared about her deeply as well.
And now he was gone. Killed by those who were after her.
Master Karr had told her that she mustn't blame herself. That Master Yonlach's death was Baras' doing, not her's. She knew that of course, but she couldn't shake the thought that if it wasn't for her, Master Yonloch would still be alive. 'He would never blame me. I know that. So why does the knowledge only make me feel more guilty?'
Right now, what she wanted more than anything was to talk to someone about her troubles. Her master was always willing to listen, she knew, but she'd noticed her master also seemed to be affected by Master Yonlach's death and she didn't want to disturb him.
Unfortunately, this left her with no one to talk to as they were the only two present and she didn't have anyone she could even contact since, while she wasn't distant from the other trainees and padawans back on Tython, she wasn't really friends with anyone there either.
As if in response to her thoughts, her holo started to beep. Jaesa looked at it in surprise. Who would be contacting her? Her master had his own holo so it couldn't be someone wanting to talk to him and she couldn't think of anyone else who had her personal frequency.
Answering the holo, Jaesa was met by a face she didn't recognize. He appeared to be about her age, maybe a little older with short hair and a calm expression on his face. He was wearing what appeared to be a worn traveler's cloak and simple robes that weren't like those worn by members of the Jedi Order.
"Who is this?" She asked.
"Greetings." The stranger said with a slight tilt of his head. "You must be Jaesa Willsaam, Nomen Karr's padawan. I must admit I've been hoping to meet you for some time now."
Jaesa was growing more confused and a little irritated by how this person just shrugged off her previous question, but tried to stay calm so she could get answers. "I am. And who am I speaking to?"
The stranger's expression didn't change as he answered. "I am Sith."
It took a moment for his words to reach her and, when they did, Jaesa considered ending the call right then. Instead she asked, "You're Darth Baras' apprentice, aren't you?"
The Sith shook his head. "No, I am not Baras' apprentice. Nor do I serve Baras in any way."
This surprised Jaesa more than a little. Her master had made it clear that Darth Baras was the Sith who was after her. So why would a Sith supposedly unconnected to him seek her out?
When she didn't speak for several moments, the Sith continued. "Baras' apprentice is a Sith Pureblood, not a human. I'm surprised your master decided not to share that with you. I'd think he'd want you to know exactly who it is that's hunting you."
Jaesa felt more than a little insulted on her master's behalf. "If my master decided not to inform me of something, then he would have had his reasons for doing so." She stated, even as a small part of her wondered why her master had kept that from her.
"Yes, I'm sure Nomen Karr had his reasons." The Sith said mockingly before turning serious as he spoke his next words. "And I'm certain every single one of them involved his personal vendetta against Baras."
"Jedi don't have vendettas." Jaesa replied almost automatically.
"Most Jedi don't, no." The Sith acknowledged, before adding, "But Nomen Karr is not most Jedi. And his history with Darth Baras is long and bloody."
"History?" Jaesa questioned. Her master had rarely talked about his own history and while he had mentioned that he'd fought Darth Baras in the past, this Sith was making it sound like far more had happened between her master and the Sith Lord.
The Sith just stared at her for a few moments before a hint of realization entered his eyes. "You really don't know anything about it." The words were a statement, not a question. "Nomen Karr's hatred for Darth Baras runs even deeper than I thought."
Jaesa opened her mouth, planning on saying that Jedi don't feel hatred, but the words died on her tongue as she thought back to just how much her master had talked about and blamed Darth Baras for everything that had been going wrong recently. When she did find her voice, it was her curiosity speaking. "What history does my master have with Darth Baras?"
"As I said, the history between your master and Darth Baras is long and bloody." The Sith told her. "I admit that I don't know everything that occurred between the two, but I think it's fair to say I know more than most."
The answer, or lack of one, only served to make Jaesa more curious and somewhat frustrated. "What happened between them?" She asked somewhat more forcefully.
The Sith stayed silent, seemingly searching her face for something. Jaesa was about ready to demand answers from the Sith when he finally spoke. "Back during the war, your master Nomen Karr, under the name "Retrost", infiltrated the Empire as a Sith to spy and gather information on the order. Eventually, when he was about to be exposed, Karr revealed himself and killed Baras' sister, Darth Ekkage, before attempting to kill Baras himself. But he failed and fled back to Republic space, where he and Baras have continued to wage their private war against one another to this day."
To say Jaesa was shocked would have been an understatement. Her master had never mentioned any of this! Going undercover, posing as a Sith, killing Darth Baras' sister. 'Why did he never tell me any of this?' She thought before another thought struck her. 'Wait, if he killed Baras' sister, then that explains why Darth Baras hates him so much, but then why would my master also hate Darth Baras?'
"A good question." The Sith said, and Jaesa was still so surprised by what she'd just learned that it took her a moment to realize that she'd voiced the question out loud. "Your master would have to tell you himself because I truly do not know. I do know that Darth Ekkage was a member of the Dark Council when your master killed her and, when Baras later confronted Karr on Nal Hutta, their duel ended in a draw. As I said though, if you want the details you'll have to ask your master. But don't be surprised if he stays silent or refuses to give you the answers you seek." The Sith cautioned her. "I may not know why your master hates Baras, but I do know his hate for him is real and it blazes like an inferno within him."
"Why are you telling me all this?!" Jaesa blurted out, suddenly finding her voice as the Sith continued to tell her more and more things she found herself believing despite the fact that they came from someone she knew she shouldn't trust and seemed to go against so much she thought she knew.
"Everything and everyone who's gotten involved in Baras and Karr's war in the past has been completely destroyed. Some were used by one against the other while others simply got caught in the middle, the result was always the same. And at this moment you, Jaesa Willsaam, are right in the middle of their current conflict. With your master using you and your gift to unmask Baras' agents and Baras using his deadly new apprentice to hunt you down." The Sith explained, increasing Jaesa's unease.
"And why would you, a Sith, care what happens to me?" She asked in what she hoped sounded like a strong voice, trying to hide just how much his words were unsettling her. Her master wasn't using her. He wouldn't do that. 'Would he?'
"Because I believe you have a greater destiny than simply being a pawn for either of those fools." The Sith said, giving her a slight nod as he ended the transmission and his image abruptly vanished before she could say another word. The unexpected ending to the call surprised Jaesa almost as much as the call itself.
However, as she looked back on everything she learned, Jaesa felt that she had received as many questions as she had answers if not more and they left her more confused than ever. 'I really need to talk to my master. If that Sith was telling the truth, then I think there's a few things I need to know.'
Only sometime later would Jaesa realize that the Sith she'd spoken to had never given her his name.
A.N.
The first Interlude for this story is done! And while it may be the first, trust me when I say it won't be the last. In fact, you can probably expect to see a few more coming up soon after this one. Anyway, as always please REVIEW and tell me what you think. What you like, what you didn't, any ideas you came up with, tell me everything! Alright, that's all for now and I'll see about getting you guys another chapter as soon as I can. Thank you all for reading, have a great day, and see you all next time!