"Eight remotes," Baras said. "Most impressive, Apprentice. That's as much as a full Sith Lord."

"I've had an excellent instructor, master," Mau'te replied.

"Now, move on to the rings. You don't do nearly enough-"

A noise outside the chamber stopped him. A moment later, the door slammed open, and Darth Angral stormed in with his apprentices.

"You!" he shouted at Mau'te. He sent a wave of power at Mau'te that should have thrown him to the floor, but the Twi'lek leaned into it and blocked it. "How do you know Agenord Onoka?!"

"Darth Angral," Baras said. "You're interrupting a training session with my apprentice."

"I will have an answer to this, Baras!" Angral said. He turned back to Mau'te. "Who is he to you?"

Mau'te held back a smile. "Did he upset you, my Lord?"

"He killed my son!"

"He does things like that," Mau'te replied.

"I wonder how he'd feel if I killed you."

"Disappointed," Mau'te said. "He wants to do it himself."

"Does he care about anything?" Angral demanded.

"Saving the Republic," Mau'te said. "He is a Jedi after all."

"Then the Republic will die with him," Angral said and turned to leave.

"A moment, master," Lord Sadic said. He looked at Mau'te. "The Jedi said we should challenge you."

"I always welcome a good challenge, my Lord."

"Very good," Sadic said, taking a training saber. "Begin."

The fight was short but intense, with Sadic claiming victory, but he was certain the Twi'lek held back. He had also stopped Angral's Force wave as if he barely felt it. And eight remotes for one so young. He wasn't even sweating.

"Well done, Apprentice," Baras said. "You nearly had him."

Mau'te nodded graciously.

"Are you done, Sadic?" Angral asked.

"Of course, master." Once they left, he said to Angral, "Master, I've taken an interest in the Power Guard project. With your permission."

Praven and Nefarid looked at Sadic.

"Did the boy scare you?" Angral said.

"He might have been holding back a bit," Sadic replied.

"He's just some Twi'lek," Angral said.

"Master," Praven said. "Tarnis wasn't weak."

Angral stopped. "You're right. My son was not weak. Build your army, Sadic. Put it to good use. Let's go."

"Is this the infamous brother?" Baras asked, after Angral and the others were gone.

"It is," Mau'te replied.

"Impressive," Baras said. "Tarnis had his father's power and his mother's intellect. He would not have been easy to defeat. But, no matter. I fear Angral will rob you of your vengeance."

"Perhaps, master."

Baras chuckled. "Return to your training, Apprentice."

A few hours later, Baras stopped the training.

"More than enough," he said. "You've done well, Apprentice. You've told me the girl is healed. You're ready for the Temple."

"Is it wise to take her, master?" Mau'te asked.

"Of course," Baras said. "She will be your measure of the corruption. The Sith Lords slain by the Emperor will be some of the strongest in the Temple. I can't have you fall under their control. The girl will certainly succumb before you."

"And Vette?"

Baras shrugged. "Save her if you can; leave her if you must, but get me the Ravager."

Vette turned up the audio on the holorecording. It sounded like that Mirialan woman was talking about killing Ter'viro. She played it back twice more and shook her head. She typed a quick message to Mako.

No. It's not flirting. She wanted to kill him.

"Watching it again?" Mau'te asked, walking in.

"Mako wanted me to check something."

"How are they doing?" he asked.

"Good so far," Vette said. "She's not allowed to say much, Great Hunt rules and everything. But it's mostly leg work right now." She switched off the recording. "I wish I knew if he liked her."

"Of course he likes her," Mau'te said. "I've never seen him so talkative. He's a chatterbox around her."

Vette blinked. "Okay. The hospital called about your Rattataki. She's fine."

"Very good," Mau'te said. "She nearly overdosed on stims. Some people live a little too close to the edge." He stared at her for a moment. "Speaking of, how's your shoulder?"

"Better," she replied. "Good enough to train, but my instructor got a mission off world."

"Excellent timing," he said. "I want you to start training with me. We need to learn to coordinate our attacks." He stared at her again. "For now, get your things. Baras said I'm ready for the Temple."

"Oh," Vette said and switched off the holoemitter.

"We'll be stopping on the way to get you new weapons and armor," he told her.

"I can't afford much," she said.

"I will be affording it. I got a bonus after the Grathan mission. You can't help me if you can't survive."

He didn't say anything else until they were in the speeder. He didn't drive as much like a maniac, but he still reacted to things before they appeared. That always frayed Vette's nerves a bit.

"How did you meet?" he asked.

You're asking that now? she thought. Seriously?

"Right after I got to Nar Shaddaa, I wanted to learn slicing," she said. "Everyone told me Mako was the best. They were right."

"She doesn't seem the bounty hunter type," Mau'te said.

"That's probably because of Braden," Vette replied. "He was good to her, and Mako wanted to make him proud. And Mako tends to go all in."

"I've noticed."

"She didn't want to go with him at first." Vette's eyes drifted off, and she smiled. "She wanted to stay with my friends and me. She wanted to be one of us forever. We threatened to tie her up and carry her to him, because you're always happy when someone gets out."

"Yes," Mau'te said. "I understand what that's like."

"Right."

"I'm serious," he said. "I lived on the street for three months."

She looked at him.

"My break from the Jedi Order was not exactly clean," he continued. "Then I was cast out from my family."

"You didn't join the Sith right away?"

"No," he said. "I needed to come to terms with... events." He took a breath. "We are told, repeatedly, that the Dark Side is not a corrupting influence. It is you. Always. It is a different way to access the Force, but it does not absolve you of your crimes."

Crimes? But she didn't say it.

"I thought this was about your brother."

He smiled in a strange way. "There are many paths to rage. A Sith Lord learns to harness all of them."

"We don't have any slave gear," the salesman said, looking Vette up and down.

"She's not a slave," Mau'te replied in a low growl.

"Oh," the salesman said. "She'd look good in the outfit anyway."

Vette scowled at the salesman. "Are you going to let him talk to me like that?" she said to Mau'te.

"He might be right," Mau'te said. "I need to see for myself."

Vette sneered at him. "Keep your lightsaber in your pants."

"How am I to help you today, my Lord?" the salesman asked.

"She needs armor and pistols," Mau'te said. "Something good and heavy."

"No," Vette said. "I need stealth armor. It's my best skill."

"You nearly lost your arm," Mau'te said.

"Because you were holding back," Vette said. "Stealth has saved me more times than armor or pistols."

"Considering the state of your armor and pistols, I must concede that," Mau'te replied. "But with better armor, you wouldn't need the stealth."

"It's why you hired me," Vette said.

"Fine," Mau'te said. "Get her the heaviest stealth armor you have."

"No," Vette said. "The one with the best stealth generator."

The salesman glanced at his manager for help, but she pretended not to notice.

"Might I suggest a compromise, my Lord?" he asked. "We have decommissioned operative gear. It's not normally available to independent contractors, but I believe you warrant an exception."

Mau'te looked at Vette. "Well?"

"Fine," she said.

The salesman scanned Vette and fitted her for the armor. She walked out of the changing room, and Mau'te froze for a moment.

"Yes. Well. It fits, anyway," he said.

Oh, shit, she thought. She looked good in it.

"You also wanted pistols?" the salesman said.

"Something that can punch through droid armor," Mau'te said.

"We have this," the salesman said, laying a heavy blaster on the counter.

"That's a rifle," Vette said.

"Technically a pistol," the salesman replied.

"Not for me," she said. "How about that?"

"It wouldn't go through droid armor," the salesman said.

"Compromise?" Mau'te asked.

"Yes," the salesman said. He laid three medium sized pistols on the counter. "These have an overcharge feature. Good for short fights especially against troops with droid backup."

"That fits our mission parameters," Mau'te said. He pointed to the largest pistol. "Try that one."

Vette picked it up. "It's kind of heavy."

"You can get used to the weight," Mau'te said.

Vette looked at him sideways.

"Could I get a trade-in on these?" she asked, handing over her pistols.

The salesman looked them over then dropped them in a trash bin. "We have a firing range if you'd like to try the pistols."

At the firing range, Vette hit an armor plate several times, impressed with the damage.

"Look," Mau'te said. "No sparking."

"I noticed," she said.

The salesman said, "The overcharge feature is here. It takes a few seconds to build up."

The pistol hummed then beeped when it was ready. Vette fired, punching a hole in the armor plate. She looked down at the pistol.

"I could get used to the weight."

"Excellent," the salesman said.

"She'll take two," Mau'te said.

Back at the sales counter, the salesman said, "Both the pistols and armor have multiple upgrades available, but we recommend using them for a few months before you know which ones you want. Did you also want to upgrade the vibroknife?"

"My instructor made it," Vette told him. "It's actually pretty good."

"May I see it?" he asked. She handed it over, and he held it up and examined it.

"Is that phrik?" Mau'te asked.

"It is indeed," the salesman said.

"It reminds me of my cousin's work," Mau'te said. "Clean lines, no excess detail, and very reliable."

The salesman activated the knife and raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Something wrong?" Vette said.

"Not at all," the salesman replied. "The shield generator is about three times as strong as needed. This knife was made to stop a lightsaber."

"She's got a thing about Force sensitives," Vette told them.

The salesman deactivated the knife and returned it to Vette. "I have a few knives in the shop better than that, but you'd have to be a Darth to afford them."

"Very good," Mau'te said. "Time to break in your new gear."

"So," Vette said. "More Sith creepy, huh?"

He'd been weird after the store, more distant and brooding than usual. He wasn't even driving like a maniac.

"Yes," Mau'te said. "Focus on everything I taught you. I don't want the apparitions possessing you."

"Is that what happens to all Sith Lords?"

"No," he replied. "This is the fate of forgotten Sith Lords. I am going to be remembered."

"Do we really need to hurt them?" Vette asked.

"They will try to kill us."

"But not really them, right?" she said.

"This is not the best time to tie our hands."

"I thought you were good."

He glanced at her. "But not gullible," he replied.

"Fine," she said. "Do you mind if I set the blasters to stun?"

"I don't mind," he said. "But someone possessed might have a higher pain tolerance."

"Right. Double-tap. Got it."

He turned toward a tunnel that let out at the camp near the Temple.

"I'll be getting a ship after this," he told her. "We'll see the galaxy."

"That's good," she said. "See the galaxy. Earn some money. Pay off my debt."

"Yes," he said.

He drove through the tunnel carefully. She was grateful but confused. They reached the camp, and he parked the speeder. Vette moved to climb out, but he held her back.

"A Jedi just killed the son of Darth Angral," he told her.

"Is this about the Temple?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Angral always hated the Treaty. He would love to restart the War, and this is more than enough reason."

"Oh," she said, not sure how to respond.

"You won't just be back up anymore. You'll be a soldier. You might save some people in the Temple today, but you're going to become a killer." He looked up at the Temple. "If you travel with me, you'll see a lot of death." He turned to her. "I could send you back to Korriban. I doubt it would be invaded. It would be unpleasant but safe."

She shrugged. "I could be killed by a Sith Lord. Or worse."

He nodded. "That's true. Many of the acolytes frequently 'or worse' the slaves."

"You're good about keeping your promise," she said. "And standing behind you is a pretty safe place to be. If you're not holding back. And I bet the combat pay is pretty good."

"It is," he said. "Especially if you're working with a Sith Lord. They assume your work is more important. And more dangerous."

"Right. Pay off my debt sooner. Earn some money."

"And do stuff," he said.

"Exactly."

They climbed out of the speeder.

"This time," he said. "I will try to subdue and not kill."

She patted him on the shoulder. "Try not to hurt yourself."

He groaned and said, "Let's go."

"Well done, Apprentice," Baras said, examining the device in his hand. "When I sent you into the Dark Temple for the Ravager, I thought it might be the last time I saw you. It seems you are never in over your head." He sounded slightly displeased.

"I do what must be done," Mau'te said. "Always."

"And the girl?" Baras said, his mask turning toward Vette.

"She did well," Mau'te replied. "She had a couple of difficult moments, but she pulled through."

"I did?" Vette asked.

"I was able to purge the possessions before they took hold. You might have felt dizzy for a moment."

"Oh," she said. "Oh. Yeah."

The Republic spy groaned from the torture table.

"The prisoner grows weaker by the minute," Baras said. "There's no time to spare. Stand back and bear witness."

Vette gasped and looked away.

"You may leave, Vette," Mau'te said, and Vette hurried from the room.

Baras shook his head. "You indulge her too much, Apprentice."

"It keeps her loyal."

Baras thought for a moment and said, "You're right. A slow indoctrination would work best with her." He returned to the prisoner and the Ravager.

"Your starship has been moved to my personal hangar at the spaceport," Baras said as they exited the torture room.

Vette could hear a whimpering in the distance before the door closed.

"Excellent, master," Mau'te said. "Dromund Kaas provides me with fewer challenges every day."

"Do not be complacent, Apprentice," Baras said. "Remember, Nomen Karr once infiltrated the Sith. He knows our ways. He is both tenacious and a powerful Jedi. He will not be as easy to stop as the long dead Vacuus. For now, I must ponder our next move. Waste no time. Get your starship in my hangar and wait for further instructions." Baras returned to the chamber and its whimpering echoes.

"Infiltrated?" Vette asked. "Jedi can do that? I thought you, like, sensed them or something."

"It requires a very disciplined mind," Mau'te said. "Use enough of the Dark Side to blend in but not enough to be corrupted. Very few people from either side could succeed at it."

"Oh," she said. "Do you think you could do it?"

He shrugged. "It requires someone with a more subtle hand."

"Oh. Yeah. That's not really... you."

He rolled his eyes. "Let's have a look at this ship."

They reached the hangar, and Vette got her first glimpse of the ship. Not a garbage scow or an overcrowded shuttle. Or a cargo hold with a urine recyc. This ship was new and clean and top of the line. Vette knew he could sense her happiness, but, fuck it, she was happy.

"We're going in style now," she said.

Mau'te nodded. "Welcome to the Juggernaut."

"Did you pick that name?"

"Of course not," he said. "It's a military ship."

"It's a fine looking ship," someone said.

They turned to find a human Sith Lord entering the hangar. Mau'te smiled at the human. It seemed polite, but Vette knew Mau'te was expecting a fight.

"Who are you?" Mau'te asked.

"I'm a friend... bearing gifts," the human said, walking closer. "Cellvanta Grathan sent me to deliver a token of her appreciation. For all you've done for her."

"Tell her I said 'thank you.'" Mau'te's voice was relaxed, but his eyes remained focused.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to do that," he said. "You see, Cellvanta's husband, Lord Grathan, has a different present he wants me to deliver. Apparently, he says you know too much."

"Lady Grathan is slipping," Mau'te said.

The human laughed. "Lady Grathan doesn't control the household. I answer only to Lord Grathan. He sends me to kill those he deems worthy of an honorable death. So- aahhh!"

In a single swift move, Mau'te drew his saber with his off hand, stabbed at his opponent's heart and ignited the weapon. The human gasped as the blade formed inside him, twitched once, and collapsed.

Vette blinked. "What was that?"

"Daraay's maneuver," Mau'te said.

"Why don't you use that more often?"

He shrugged. "It only works on a distracted opponent. Fortunately, he was far too involved in his little speech." He called for maintenance.

A worker arrived and said, "Sir? Oh." He tapped his communicator. "Sith clean up, hangar twenty-six aurek." He looked up. "We've got it, sir."

Mau'te and Vette climbed aboard the Juggernaut and found it more spacious than its size and type suggested.

"Cool," Vette said. "Which cabin is mine?"

"That is the captain's cabin," he said. "You may choose any of the others."

They reached the cockpit, and Mau'te took the pilot's seat.

"Do you know how to fly?" Vette asked.

"Standard training for a Sith Lord," he said. "I'll teach you, if you like."

He ran the ship through its pre-flight check. Satisfied, he lifted off. He paused for a moment and looked around then eased the ship out of the hangar and up the access tunnel. Once free of the spaceport, he pushed the ship into a rapid ascent.

"You're digging this," Vette said.

He looked at her. "I like to think I earned the recognition."

"You'd earn more if you didn't hold back."

"I have my reasons," he said. He turned toward the hyperspace lanes and switched to autopilot. "Now, we must contact Darth Baras."

"Apprentice," Baras said from the holoemitter. "I trust you find your starship satisfactory."

"I do, master."

"I hope that it serves you well. There is much to be done, and you will need a good ship for it. Nomen Karr's efforts to expose my spies and prove his Padawan's power to the Jedi Council must meet with failure. The information we siphoned from that Republic agent will be our map. We know where this Padawan was discovered, where she trained, and that the Jedi have sent someone to investigate my spy on Balmorra. You will begin there. You must secure my network by silencing my spy on Balmorra."

"Why not simply recall your spies?" Mau'te asked.

"Their disappearance would look suspicious and serve to confirm the Padawan's accusations," Baras replied.

"So would their deaths," Mau'te said.

"Eventually," Baras said. "But, if the deaths appear to be a part of the ongoing conflict, the Jedi Council would be unsure and late to act. Not growing squeamish, are you."

"Never, master," Mau'te said.

"Yes," Baras said. "The spaceport authorities informed of the incident. I reviewed the security recording. Was that Daraay's maneuver?"

"Yes, master."

"I never taught you that," Baras said.

"I study on my own when I can, master," Mau'te replied.

Baras paused. "Yes," he said. "Yes, indeed. Expertly done without a moment's hesitation. I am beginning to understand why Overseer Tremel thought so highly of you. I shall watch you much more closely from now on. But, you have your mission. My contact on Balmorra will detail what must be done. Your task is paramount, apprentice. Bring cruelty. Bring rage. Bring death."

The emitter switched off.

Vette looked at Mau'te and said, "Oh. Okay. That explains that. Balmorra. I don't know about you, but I'm inspired."

"Well, I'm happy if you're happy."

"Hey," she said. "That's my line."

"So it is," he said. "Let's go."