-Sadie-

The first thing that hit me when I entered Bebo's suite was the smell. It was obvious that he had tried to mask his own natural scent with something more pleasant. Unfortunately, with him being a Hutt, that was no small feat. The result was a pungent mix of some weird plant scents and Hutt odor, which made me wish Darin had his sword so I could cut my nose off.

The room was huge. One side of the wall was dominated by a large screen which showed the arena up close. The other side was dominated by the massive grey blob known as Bebo.

He waved one of his pudgy arms at us to enter and made some noises. A protocol droid poked his head out from behind the pile of filth.

"Master Bebo would like to congratulate you two on surviving."

Bebo hit his tail against the ground and made more noises. I noticed that his tail had gold rings on various parts of his tail that were meant to make it look thin. Unfortunately, all they did was create obvious breaks in the flesh that made it look like a meat skewer.

I regret thinking that. Never eating skewers again.

"He would also like to thank you for putting on a fantastic performance for his special guest."

A door opened behind us and a large besalisk stepped in. And I mean large. He looked to be about 3 meters tall and each of his four muscular arms was carrying a large case. He smiled at us, showing off his pointy chompers.

"Greetings." His gruff voice had the air of authority.

Darin didn't seem intimidated at all by the four-armed beast. "Hello there."

The besalisk ignored him and placed each of the cases next to Bebo. "The down payment as promised. My Lord does not disappoint." He opened one of the cases and I saw rows upon rows of credits inside the case.

"Woah." I couldn't help it. It was a fortune.

The besalisk seemed to hear my murmur and chuckled. "Indeed. We pay well to get what we want."

The way he said that sent a chill up my spine.

Darin coughed. "I don't know if your servant told you, but the cut has changed. I'm getting 25% and she gets 75%."

The besalisk smirked as if he found this funny.

Bebo grunted a few times. "Bebo says-"

The besalisk cut off the droid. "I know what Bebo said. It's time for me to get what I came for."

He turned to Darin. Suddenly, a bolt of electricity arced out of one of his hands and hit Darin in the chest. He dropped to the ground and cried out in pain. I jumped back and reached for my blasters. I came up empty. Of course. We left our weapons in the locker room.

As I began looking for escape, he said "Relax, Mandalorian. I'm not here for you. Just the Jedi."

Darin? A Jedi? That can't be. He doesn't have a lightsaber. "You've made a mistake. He's not a Jedi."

He chuckled. "I made no mistake. He gave himself away in the vornskr battle."

The vornskr. How did he…

The pieces clicked. That's why he was worried. That's why they preferred him. That's why the vornskr were knocked off of me. That's also why he knew about the TAC. But if they liked force-sensitives, and Jedi are force-sensitive, then why'd I even get attacked? Was it because we were back to back?

I turned my attention to the besalisk, who was clearly enjoying watching Darin suffer. "Who are you?"

"I am Darth Grellan." He stopped shooting electricity at Darin, who was lying motionless on the ground.

"Is he dead?"

"No. We need him alive. We have a little… experiment planned for him. Which will most likely kill him."

"What if it doesn't?"

"Then my master will have a powerful weapon."

Bebo grunted a few times.

"You have nothing to worry about. If by some miracle he survives, we will wipe his memory. He will not remember you. You are safe."

The Hutt smiled and waved his hand for Grellan to leave. The massive besalisk grabbed Darin's motionless body and easily hoisted it over his shoulder.

"Nice to meet you, Mandalorian. Congratulations on your victory." With that, he left.

Bebo turned his attention to me and gave off some loud grunts. The Twi'lek appeared and grabbed the top case. She handed it to me and I took it without acknowledging her. Bebo grunted. "Bebo apologizes for the display. This is the first time it has happened. He says that the entire cut is yours. Congratulations on the victory. He hopes to see you in the arena again. You are free to go." I made my way to the lift almost in a daze. I had so many questions.

After a quick ride, I got out of the lift and headed to the locker room. I saw Darin's open locker with his sword on the bench.

I expected anger to come up. The Jedi ruined my life. I've spent most of my life hating them. But to my surprise, the anger didn't come to me. Instead, I felt guilt.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. I should hate them. I should hate him.

Why do I feel guilty?

I grabbed the sword, stuffed it into his locker, and slammed it shut. I then walked over to my locker and began taking my armor off. When I put my helmet on the top shelf, I grabbed a chip. I plugged it into my gauntlet and a picture of three people came up. It was a picture of me with my parents. I had this picture ingrained in memory. Me with my little braid smiling wide to show off my missing tooth. My mom and dad sitting around me. Her blue eyes the same color as her armor. Her light brown hair was cut in the same way mine was. My dad had his arm around us both, as of he was shielding us from all danger. His orange armor was the same color as the little dress I wore. We were all sitting outside our home. I remember that home. My room, with all the dye and paper. I'd make terrible paintings that mom would put on the fridge. Dad reading me bedtime stories about candy houses, evil dragons, large plants that led to the heavens, and of people that lived in the trees.

But they were gone. This is all I had left of them. Memories and a picture.

"I miss you guys." My voice cracked a little and I could feel a burning in my eyes. "I need help." I stared at the smiling faces and wiped away a tear.

"What should I do? I'm not brave, or smart, or strong. I'm not like you."

I looked at the case of credits, then back to the picture.

"What would you do?"

This was a stupid question. I knew the answer. Grandpa told me what they would do. He told me what kind of people they were.

I took a deep breath. This was stupid

I put the picture away but kept the chip. If I die, I'm dying with it. I wiped the tears away. This is a terrible idea. I put my armor back on and put my blasters in the holsters.

I looked in Darin's locker and grabbed his blaster with all its mod pieces. If I live, I'm keeping this thing. I took the sword and closed the locker. When I had everything, I ran outside. I knew where Bebo's ship was. I ran to the private yard. The guards were asleep. Perfect. I snuck through the yard and got aboard the ship. It was this large fancy luxury craft that probably cost more credits than I would ever see in my life. I darted through the halls and into the cockpit. I mentally ran through what I could remember from school. Gas is good. Hyperdrive was actually pretty fast. After checking a few other systems, I pulled off my helmet and took out a little chip. I inserted it and after a second a map came up with a blip. That's where Darin's helmet was. Good thing I gave him that chip. I turned the ship on and took off after the blip.

-Darin-

"... the chip?"

"Don't insert it during the procedure. We're running low. Only insert the chip if he survives. We need to conserve our resources."

I moved my head. My vision was blurred. Every part of my body ached. I groaned in pain. I was lying on my back on a table. I was strapped down.

A face came into view. A male Zeltron smiled down at me.

"I trust Grellan treated you well?"

It hurt to talk. "Quite the charmer."

The man laughed. "My apprentice has a way with words." He started walking around. I followed him with my eyes. "You know, he promised me that you were strong. Yet you are one of the weakest 'Force-sensitive' organisms I've ever met."

"Thanks."

"No matter. I have sent him on his way. He is needed for some other matters."

"Why am I here? I don't know anything."

The Zeltron laughed again. "I don't need information. I need test subjects. I guess you will suffice."

My blood went cold. Test subjects meant experiments. "What kind of experiment?"

He took a seat on the table. "The culmination of my research. I have studied the dark side for more years than I can count."

"Can you just answer the question?"

He sighed. "Fine. I am experimenting with the Force. Think of it like a… a midichlorian infusion. Followed by something that you can think of as the upgrading of these midichlorians. On the off chance you survive, I will be putting a chip in you, wiping your memory."

"You're an idiot. I'll kick your pink butt into the Outer Rim."

He smiled, amused. "You've got fighting words, but you're not strong enough."

I lunged at him, but the restraints stopped me. Anger bubbled under my skin. The Zeltron raised an eyebrow, curious. "You hold so much anger in you. So much pain. Do you want to share?"

I spit at him.

He lazily flicked it to the side with the Force and sighed. "Still a child, I see. You are not the only one who has suffered, you know. Do you know how much I deal with?"

"I don't care. You're a Sith. You chose to be a monster."

He eyed me carefully for a bit before saying "You look familiar. Are you General Joren's old padawan?"

My heart stopped. We stared at each other silently.

"That business with that Senator was a real tragedy. And the way they pinned it on you was completely unfair."

I stiffened. A small smile played on his lips. "I wonder what kind of 'choice' you had in that situation. In the aftermath. See, 'choice' is a funny concept for you to bring up. It implies control. And yet. We don't choose the hands we're dealt. We don't choose the environments we are born into. We don't choose the genetics we inherit. We are products of so much more." He squatted next to me, his voice softer now. "To tell you the truth, I don't ultimately care about creating supersoldiers. All of that is fluff. Anything to fund an endeavor. I'm sure you can understand, Scholar that you are."

A door opened, and some doctors entered.

"Ah. They have arrived. Good bye, Darin. I'm afraid that we will never speak again. A pity, really. Of anyone, you might have grown to understand."

A doctor lifted up my left sleeve to expose my arm. One of the other doctors grabbed a machine and pressed it on the inside of my left forearm. I cried out from the burning pain.

They pulled it off, and I breathed in relief. "That it? That wasn't so bad."

The Zeltron chuckled. "They haven't even started."

A contraption was pulled up and placed on me. I could feel needles poking my arms, legs, and torso.

"Three, two, one."

All the needles buried themselves into me at once and injected their serums. I screamed in agonizing pain as my body was pumped full of the liquid.

-Sadie-

I came out of hyperspace to find a large cruiser just sitting in the middle of nowhere. The signal came from in there.

A transmission came in from the ship asking me to identify myself. This is so stupid. I ignored it and parked the small ship on a port and got out. There's bound to be heavy resistance. I put my helmet on and got to the door

I closed my eyes. I'm so dumb. I opened the door and jumped out into the hallway. No blaster fire. I guess they haven't assimilated their forces yet. Or this ship is not exactly military heavy.

Good. I marked the location on my map and sprinted through the hallways. Some stocky creatures I have never seen before were standing idly. When they saw me, they hurriedly pulled out blasters, but it was too late. I shot through them and kept running. I ran until I found the door where the signal led. I barged through the door to find… another hallway. I ran into the hallway.

-0000-

The male Zeltron looked at the body on the table. The procedure was complete. He waited for signs of life.

"Sir, we're under attack. We believe it's pirates again."

He cursed. Damn them all.

"Take the machinery and put it in the safe room. Hide. You are not safe. I will send forces to deal with this pirate infestation."

The doctors started moving stuff. He sensed for any signs of life. Nothing. It's been long enough. Another failure. He walked out of the operating room.

-Darin-

An alarm blared. I felt pain. Pain everywhere. I was strapped in. My shirt was in tatters and my mouth was dry.

I looked around groggily. Where am I?

The pink guy with blue hair. What'd he say? I was… I was being experimented on. Yea. He said I'd die. But… but I'm not dead. What'd he say would happen if I lived? I'd have a… a… OH! A chip! They would put a chip that would control me and wipe all my memory.

Memory.

Memory!

I still had my memory!

I was alive!

Something must have happened. Something is wrong. I need to escape.

I felt the restraints on me. I sensed that the controls were under the table.

I had to release myself. I felt… something. Suddenly, the restraints were released. But… how?

It doesn't matter. I tried to get up and fell on the floor. Hard. I struggled to my feet and then doubled over and began coughing up blood.

I willed myself to stop. I had to move.

I got to the door and got out. I realized that I could feel things. Things I shouldn't feel. I sensed something drawing me to the right. I decided to go that way. I stumbled around until I found a room. I opened it and found a trophy room. In it, I found weapons, armor, and random odds and ends. But there was no escape from here. Where did the stimuli come from…

There. On the wall. Something caught my attention. I hobbled over and grabbed it. A lightsaber. Perfect. I went to leave the room when I found my helmet on a pedestal. That bastard. I'm not a trophy. I sensed someone coming my way.

I'll fight through it. Doesn't matter that I can barely walk. I sensed the person coming closer and closer. The door opened and I was face to face with a Mandalorian.

"Sadie?" I croaked. My voice barely worked. My throat felt like it was on fire.

"Holy keck, you're alive!" she cried. "You look like hell. Come on. We need to go. Now." She made her way out the door and I hobbled after her.

"I came from this way. Come on."

"No." She glanced at me. I pointed the other way. "This way. Trust me."

-Sadie-

Fine. That way. Whatever.

I still couldn't believe that he was alive. I just don't know if alive is the right word. He looked like a dead guy. His shirt was in tatters. His eyes were really red. The skin on his body was a combination of bruised and blistered. He felt different. Not physically. But something else. Like an aura around him. I followed him until we reached the hallway where my ship was. Unfortunately, we weren't the only ones. On the other side, a horde of those weird aliens were running from the other side. Suddenly, they stopped, and a pink guy with blue hair stepped in front of them.

"My my my. Darin Kravhenn. You survived. I'm most impressed." He pulled out a metal thing and pushed a button. A crimson blade ignited. A lightsaber.

Well keck. This is where I die.

Go. I'll hold them off.

What? What the hell just happened?

Darin stepped forward. The port was close on the left.

I suddenly realized what he did. But… but how? He never moved his lips.

Pinky smiled and reached out his hand. Darin went flying across the hall towards Pinkys blade, which was poised to strike him down.

As he swung at the flying body, a black blade showed up to deflect the blade.

No way. Darin had the darksaber. Dad used to tell stories about it. But I thought it wasn't real.

Pinkys smile faded and was replaced with shock. He pushed him back and got in a fighting stance. Darin feebly held the darksaber. It was almost funny. Pinky opened with a lightning fast flurry of strikes from all angles. Each hit was blocked by the black blade in a mesmerizing dance of black and red.

What are you doing? Get in the ship.

I ran to the ship and began firing it up. As soon as the engines were ready, I heard a thunk.

Go.

I disconnected from the ship, set the coordinates, and started the hyperdrive. I set the thing to autopilot and went back to check if he made it. Darin was sitting against a wall near the door with his head in his hands, clearly exhausted.

Thanks.

"You're welcome. I need explanations. Now."

What do you need explained?

"Everything. Who the hell are you?"

He smiled.

My name is Darin Darin Kravhenn.

I stared at him. Not funny.

I'm a Jedi. Yes. But not like the others.

"And how's that?"

I was incredibly weak with the Force. That led to me being a very very low level Jedi. Don't have enough money to do what I do, so the arena was how I made extra money.

And what I am is a Scholar. Chief Scholar.

He answered three different questions as I thought of them. I don't like this.

"Have you always been able to talk with your mind?"

Nope. First time. This is as weird for me as it is for you.

Great.

Why'd you come here?

"What?"

Why save me?

"Get out of my head. Now."

I grabbed his sword and blaster and tossed it at him. "When we land, I'm dropping you off. Then I never want to see you again."

Ouch.

"I SAID OUT!"

I went to the cockpit and got us out of hyperspace. The planet of Coruscant was below.

Darin stumbled into the cockpit. He was grabbing onto the chair I was in so hard his knuckles were white. Whatever they did to him, it must have been torture.

"Can I use the comm?" he rasped. I could barely hear him.

I moved over so he could access the comm. He grabbed it and dialed a number.

"Master Joren. It's me."

A voice came from the system. "Darin? Is that you? I can barely hear you."

"It's me. I need your help."

"I'm about to head out to the Noreno system, so this better be good."

"Please. Master. I… I need your help."

A silence filled the cabin.

"I can postpone the fleet for a little while. But not long. Where are you?"

"I'll send some coordinates." He pushed a few buttons.

"Got em."

Great. Another Jedi. I checked the coordinates.

My blood turned to ice. An Order facility. It was an ambush.

I glanced at the figure sitting in the copilot seat. Disgust filled me. I saved him, and he does this?

"Go get your stuff."

He croaked out a "yes ma'am" and left the cockpit.

As the facility came into view, I ran through the plan in my head. It was dangerous, but also my best chance of escaping. After setting the ship to autoland on the pad, I put on my helmet and pulled out a blaster.

Let's do this. I walked to the back where Darin was leaning against a wall near the door. We landed, and the door opened. I took Darin in front of me and put a blaster to his head.

"You shouldn't do that."

"I don't care what you think."

We got out of the ship and a lone figure in Jedi robes approached us.

He was about my height and had a rather large and grizzled beard covering most of his face. One of his ears was cut in half. He looked pleasant enough until he noticed the blaster. His face contorted into one of rage as he pulled out his lightsaber. He stuck a hand out and I went flying into the side of the ship while my helmet went bouncing towards a stack of gas tanks. I scrambled up and sprinted into the ship. I turned the thrusters on and flew out of there as fast as possible.

I knew it. It was an ambush. He tried to kill me. The bastard. I cursed the Jedi, and I cursed myself.