Knights of shadow nights of passion Chapter 1-2 (of 38)

[Lunafox]

Great stuff!

 

 

I loved how you detailed everything and built up to the big moment and then ebbed away again. I can certainly understand what Akita must be feeling...and he...is pretty super human to back away after that he hee.

Keep it coming!

[Tyrusstorm]

Great stuff!

 

 

I loved how you detailed everything and built up to the big moment and then ebbed away again. I can certainly understand what Akita must be feeling...and he...is pretty super human to back away after that he hee.

Keep it coming!

 

Thank you so much for the kind and encouraging words!

[Tyrusstorm]

Speaking in game terms the outfit I see Akita wearing is as follows. A relaxed uniform shirt, stylish dancer bottoms and outlaw boots, covert energy belt, bracer and gloves. and of course a robe. strictly speaking you can't get that outfit to work with a robe but it works fine in my head hehe. frankly the clothing I mention in the story cover more than the items I just listed. If you don't believe me go to the GTN and check

 

Chapter 18 Up in the sky

 

Ty'karus returned to the bedroom, Akita followed behind him, both were still naked. She sat on the bed and watched him. Ty'karus opened the large bedroom wardrobe, the clothing he had requested had been delivered. He piled the clothing on the bed and turned to look at her. It was clear to Akita that being naked here with him in the bedroom was having an effect on him, it put a smile on her face.

 

Akita picked up the clothing he had put nearest to her. "This is interesting, did you choose this?" He did not respond, it was her turn to chuckle. The outfit was a glossy black armored mesh material. It was pleasantly soft and covered considerably more than her previous outfits. The top was similar in form to a swim garment. It covered her breasts while leaving little to the imagination. There were also some small thin straps that connected in a few places. Akita imagined they must be a fashion consideration as she could not find any practical application for them. A pair of thigh high glossy black armored boots and a new robe accompanied the outfit.

 

The design of the bottoms was similar to the top, a thin belt and numerous straps were added. In form all of her bottom and front were covered yet at the same time modesty was only being given the barest of attention.

 

She finished dressing and checked her appearance in the bedroom mirror. She was surprised by the smile she saw on her face, even more so when she admitted to herself that she enjoyed looking like this. 'He loves to see me like this, it feeds his passion.' She thought

 

Ty'karus had kept his back to her as he dressed. He was now in tall boots and a dark set of garments that looked surprisingly similar to Jedi clothing. The gloves he wore had communication components on the wrist. The belt was wide and bore a number of pouches. He clipped his saber in place and turned to see Akita laid out on the bed in her new outfit.

 

"Your outfit pleases me apprentice." His exaggerated Sith response made her smile. He pulled her close, slid his hand behind her robe and down over her cheek. He kissed her long and hard all the while fondling her. When he finally let her go she looked up at him with a crooked smile on her face. "I thought you were concerned about taking advantage of me?" she said coyly.

 

He reached back with both hands and squeezed hard "It was a kiss and a bit of grabbing, I am prepared to live with myself." He smiled. Akita decided that she had never been happier.

 

"Akita, please, I need to remind you. Once we leave this room we will once again be subject to Imperial scrutiny. We must be Master and Apprentice. You understand?" She nodded her understanding, she reach up and kissed him one last time.

 

"What next Master?" Akita was making an effort to calm her emotions. No matter how happy she was she understood the dangers facing them.

 

"Before I joined you in the shower I received word from my Master. My ship has been returned. We are almost ready to leave. I just need to clear out the other room and we can go." He let go of her and beckoned her to follow. He stopped in the main room to remove the slicer tech he had installed when he moved Akita.

 

A few moments later they were down the hall at their first room. Akita laughed. "What's funny apprentice?" Ty'karus asked. "I must be getting dim; I was trying to figure out how the room was put back together so fast. I did not realize it was a different room, it was amusing that's all."

 

He stepped into the room. "Well be mindful of your surroundings apprentice." Akita's hands dropped to her sabers as she saw Adith walking around the room. Ty'karus reached out and gently put his hand on her wrist. "She is harmless." He snapped his fingers and pointed to a spot on the floor near his feet. Adith darted forward and knelt without a sound.

 

Akita noted that Adith's clothes had changed, when they had first met her outfit of straps were black in color, she now wore gold. Around her neck hung the collar of a slave, it was ornate and made of a dark material inscribed with golden symbols.

 

Adith knelt at Ty'karus feet, the serene look on her face said she was happy. Akita touched her with the force, Adith had been a font of dark energy when they battled, now Akita sensed nothing more than she did in the uninitiated. Her eyes widened as she realized that somehow her master had severed Adith's connection to the force.

 

"You did this Master?" Akita questioned. Ty'karus had insisted that she watch recordings of his work, Akita had reviewed the material, but seeing the results in person was so different. 'Have I deluded myself?' She worried. 'Don't care anymore. Need him, need to feel, to be free.' It was true but the truth of her thoughts bothered her. 'Is it possible that my feelings are being influenced? If so do I really care?' she wondered

 

Akita reached out and touched Adith with the force. She could sense her true personality was still there behind her eyes but at the same time it was not her.

 

"How? I would have thought it impossible in such a short..." He cut her off. "Apprentice I will teach you all in time for now we must go." He shot her a concerned look and she let it go. "Adith fetch your leash." He spoke softly and Adith darted out of the room and returned with a long golden leash. Ty'karus attached it to her collar and gave the end to Akita.

 

"Hold it firmly but don't worry she will make no attempt to escape." He turned and left the suite, Akita and Adith followed behind him.

 

A few minutes later they were down on the rotunda. One of the lights on his armored wrist blinked followed by a beep. Ty'karus hit the button "Ty'karus here." He said.

 

"My lord your ship is on pad KC1178 fueled and ready. I have men waiting to take your slave. She will be sent to your home as ordered. Your staff have been notified." Akita did not like the sound of that.

 

"Understood. Make sure your men have the correct authorization codes, I will hold you personally responsible If I have to kill them because of a laps in security, Ty'karus out." He let go the comm button and headed for the security checkpoint.

 

No challenges this time both of them were cleared without incident. Ty'karus was also happy to find that Adith's status had also been updated in the systems database. The security officer confirmed that she was now listed as property of Inquisitor Ty'karus. He smiled at the officer and thanked him for his service.

 

Outside the facility they were approached by a group of four, two men two women, all were dressed as Sith acolytes. They stopped without a word, one of the acolytes handed Ty'karus a data pad and bowed before him. Ty'karus keyed in a code on the pad and it came back with a series of symbols and sounds. Satisfied with the security he turned to Akita

 

"Apprentice you may give the leash to Torva. She will oversee Adith until I return" Akita handed the leash to Acolyte Torva. The Acolyte pulled at the leash, but Adith hesitated "Master?" she spoke quietly. Ty'karus turned back to her. "Ah yes of course." he lifted her chin so that her eyes met his. "You have been very good. Now you remember what we talked about? This acolyte, Torva, will take you to my home. You will await my return." He pulled off a glove and gave her his hand. Adith took it and kissed his knuckles then turned over his hand and kissed his palm and wrist, she then pulled his hand to her face resting it on her cheek. She smiled at him Ty'karus used the force to fill her with energy, it rushed through her. "Thank you master." Akita could clearly see the pleasure it brought Adith. Ty'karus pulled his hand free and nodded at Acolyte Torva. "You may go." The four turned and left, with Adith in tow.

 

Akita and Ty'karus walked in silence all the way back to landing pad KC1178, Ty'karus could sense concern growing in his apprentice.

 

"Apprentice something is bothering you?" His voice was even, gone were the warm tones Akita had grown to enjoy.

 

"Master it's just; I am trying to come to terms with the day to day reality of the Empire. I'm not questioning you and I do not regret leaving the republic but there is so much I don't understand." Akita was not trying to be difficult and she was not trying to cause a rift but very little of what she had seen so far seemed real. 'How can so many people live like this?' She wondered.

 

"I am surprised you waited this long to bring this up. Truthfully what you are feeling is understandable. I would have much the same response if I was suddenly living in the republic. May I suggest that the two are not as different as you suppose." He said in a matter of fact tone.

 

"Master are you being serious?" her voice was incredulous. They entered the port authority facility. Once inside they headed directly for security. Ty'karus passed through first Akita was working on how to respond to his statement. "Lord Ty?" Akita looked up and was surprised to see the security officer talking to her. "Lord Ty, please step forward" He smiled at her. It took Akita a moment to remember that she was now lord Ty part of the Sith machine. She tried to focus on the fact that it was only a disguise. It did not seem to help much.

 

She stepped forward and he tapped away at his security screen and a moment later he saluted her and waved her on. Akita caught up to her master who had walked on ahead.

 

"Master?" She reached out and took his wrist. He turned to look at her there was a look of concern layered over his face. He paused a moment then smiled. "I am gratified apprentice. I was concerned that your response to your new title would be less than accepting. We will talk more once on-board." They continued on and a moment later they arrived at the lift to landing pad KC1178. Ty'karus hit the lift button and the doors snapped open. Two minutes later they were walking to the ship.

 

Ty'karus did not speak until the ramp closed behind them. He signaled her to remain quiet he took her hand. Finding the center of the ship he knelt down, Akita followed suit. "Apprentice I want you to reach out with the force, feel the ship, search and tell me what you find. I will do the same and we will see how much you have learned."

 

It took them the better part of an hour but in the end they had either pulled out or deactivated every monitoring device on the ship. Akita was a bit concerned how this action would be received by Ty'karus master.

 

"Now my apprentice, I think we can take a break and then prepare for lift off." He smiled and sat down on one of the lounge chairs. Akita sat across from him.

 

"Won't you get in trouble with Lord Mott for pulling the devices?" she asked. Ty'karus chuckled. "Apprentice, Lord Mott did not plant the devices. He ordered his other apprentices to do it. He constantly tests them, sets tasks that put all of us at odds with each other. He would have been disappointed if we had not found them. He will now chastise the others for their failure." He smiled and waved at 2V-R8 who immediately sprang to action rushing forward.

 

"Good day lord Ty'karus, lord Ty. How may I serve you?" he asked in typical genial fashion. Ty'karus asked for a drink and Akita said she would have the same. He happily ran off.

 

"This is what I mean master. How can you live like this? In the Republic." She began. Ty'karus interrupted her. "In the republic, I would be dead, killed by the Jedi. In the Republic the weak die off, the strong rise and the corrupt flourish just like in the Empire. Politicians are just as corrupt and influence peddling is just as rampant. The difference is we acknowledge it." He looked for understanding in her face.

 

"But the Jedi, they are guardians, they protect the weak while the Sith they pray on the weak and are practically worshiped. They have freedom to do almost anything." Her voice told him that her concerns were genuine and needed to be addressed, they could not be allowed to take root.

 

"Come, you start the preflight and we will keep talking." They got up and made their way to the bridge. Akita took the command chair and began the preflight.

 

"Everything you said is true. The life of a Sith is completely different than any other citizen of the Empire. We live life to extremes, many are brutal. We give in to our base desires and are proud of it. Look at the outfits I keep giving you." He smiled at her, Akita's face warmed for a moment.

 

"Do you know why?" he paused waiting for Akita. She considered telling him what she really thought but instead she nodded that she did not know.

 

"Life is not fair. The universe is not fair. We do not hide this fact. We scream it out loud with everything that we are. Every citizen of the Empire knows that life is what you make it. The lowest among us can rise to affluence and power if they have the will and the strength." Akita was surprised at his response and glad that he did not appear to be overly enthusiastic about his revelation.

 

"Do you think that makes the Empire better than the Republic?" she cringed as she asked the question, He laughed out loud.

 

"No not at all, it simply makes it honest. I prefer honest. The Republic, and feel free to voice your opposition, the Republic tells its citizens to work for the common good, to follow the laws and to hope for a better day. The Jedi are supposed to be protectors but they are not infallible and they are not infinite in numbers or resources. There are countless planets with suffering populations that the Jedi will never help. They have no choice but to allocate resources where they will do the most good and balance it against best use of resources. In the end only those worlds and causes that serve their agenda are helped." He gave her a thin smile.

 

Akita mulled his words over in her head and was forced to agree. It was not quite as hard as he made it sound but it was close enough to the mark to bother her.

 

"But in the end how are the citizens of the empire better served by the Sith who appear to serve only themselves. I mean no disrespect master." She cared deeply for him but she was not sure if she would ever understand him.

 

Preflight was complete, Ty'karus looked over the course calculations then gave her the thumbs up. She signaled ground control that they were leaving. Authorization was given and they began their assent.

 

"As I said, it is more honest." He paused a moment stopping to stroke at his chin. "Consider the following. An Imperial planet is facing famine, its people and government understand that they will need to resolve the issue independently. If aide does come, it's a bonus, but it's never expected. As a result they make choices based on harsh facts and move forward. The choices they make may include culling the population of the weak but in the end the planet will survive and will be stronger. Is it tragic, perhaps but in the end survival was assured because they knew they were on their own and began taking steps to ensure their survival instead of holding out hope of being rescued by the Jedi or Republic government." Ty'karus stopped long enough to enjoy the jump to light speed. He never tired of seeing the stars fall away as they entered hyperspace.

 

"Ok for now let's say I concede your argument. I am not saying it's time to celebrate the culling of innocents but I do understand in principal what you're saying. I still don't see how you justify the Sith." Ty'karus had left the co-pilot chair and was headed off the bridge, Akita followed him.

 

Back in the ships lounge they both found seats again. "Apprentice I think I may be able to answer your question, but let me ask you a question first. Why were you a Jedi?" he sat back and enjoyed the view that was Akita.

 

"I don't understand? If you are discovered to be force sensitive you are sent to the Jedi for evaluation and training. It's not a matter of choice." As soon as she finished she felt the trap close. She frowned.

 

"Exactly, there is no choice. If you are force sensitive and meet the evaluation you are trained as a Sith. We are both of us parts of the machine. Your's the Jedi mine the Sith. The Jedi quell freedom and the Sith embrace it. We are after all two sides to the same coin."

 

"Master the Jedi do not quell freedom they support freedom the Republic worlds all vote and have representation in the senate, our citizens have many freedoms." She rebutted.

 

"My apologies Akita I meant they quell freedom within the Jedi ranks. You yourself are an example. No emotion, no love , no happiness, you are forced to give up all personal belongings, thoughts of self are frowned upon and love, outside the Jedi order love is considered one of the most powerful forces in the Republic but the Jedi are not allowed to love." His voice trailed off as he spoke. There was an odd look in his eyes, Akita noticed it, she reached out and put her hand on his.

 

"The Sith embrace all emotions except love. Embrace all life has to offer, there is a saying, 'If life were a woman she would never forget even the lowest Sith as they left her.' We sacrifice just as much as the Jedi our sacrifice is just different. For each Sith that walks free in the Empire there are dozens of failed acolytes lying dead in the sands of Korriban." He pulled her from her seat and had her straddle him. He let his face rest for a moment between her breasts. As he pulled away he let his lips linger between her breasts kissing them gently. Akita shuddered and squirmed, clearly surprised at his action.

 

"You enjoyed that." He smiled at her. She nodded and put her hands around his neck and kissed his forehead.

 

Ty'karus sighed. "Tell me honestly Akita; can you picture a Jedi Master enjoying time with an apprentice like this?" Akita lowered her eyes and shook her head. Ty'karus squeezed her tight.

 

"The force is in everything; it surrounds us, penetrates us and binds us together. Does that sound like something that wants us to be apart, to die without ever having truly experienced life?" He ran his hands behind her; she was not surprised when his hand grabbed her 'He really does like this outfit and my behind.' She thought. Akita wiggled in his lap. She used the force to open herself to the feelings and emotions. A wicked smile appeared on her face as she felt him beneath her. They both began to laugh.

 

Edited April 1, 2015 by Tyrusstorm

[Tyrusstorm]

Chapter 19 Search your feelings

 

Eleven days to Ryloth. True to his word Ty'karus had kept his hands relatively to himself. On the second day he awoke to find Akita kneeling on the bed beside him. She smiled at him as he brushed hair out of his face. Without a word she pulled back the covers and admired his form. Ty'karus arched an eyebrow in response. Akita leaned forward and kissed him forcefully, he responded by reaching up and running his fingers over her lekku, her body shuddered.

 

Akita pulled back. "If you are going to send me away or refuse me, do it now." There was an edge in her voice, it was not lost on Ty'karus. He gently grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her to him. A moment later she looked into his eyes as she straddled him. "I want this, do you Casius?" It was the first time he had heard her use his first name, it felt good.

 

"I have wanted this, wanted you for as long as I can remember." He replied, Akita pulled the covers over them, for a moment she lay there on top of him letting herself feel the warmth of their two bodies. She moved forward and kissed him again. Ty'karus wrapped his arms around her. Akita looked into his eyes, they were not the cold eyes she had been afraid of when they first met, these eyes were filled with passion and it was for her and her alone. She slid back and joined him for the first time.

 

****

Ty'karus awoke with a start there was a sense of fear and anger flooding through the ship. He reached out for Akita she was not in the bed beside him. He opened his eyes. Akita stood beside the bed, her lightsaber in hand. Ty'karus pulled himself upright. She was angry, fear coursed through her, she had not been this filled with fear since the first days in the village.

 

"Master. We need to talk." Her voice was subdued. He looked into her eyes, they were cold and dark. He moved to get out of bed, Akita motioned him back to the bed with her lightsaber. Ty'karus did not argue.

 

"When we joined, I felt you all of you. We shared something. I imagine is force related and probably one of the reasons the Jedi Council forbids coupling within the order." Akita sat down on the bed, Ty'karus relaxed a little as she did.

 

"Both of us are connected to the force, when we joined physically, the force enhanced the bond. Did you feel it?" Ty'karus was confused by her body language, her demeanor suggested she was ashamed. He reached out with the force to confirm what he saw. Fear, anger, sorrow, shame coursed through Akita.

 

"Yes". He paused searching for words. "I have been a man walking in the desert for twenty years, my body just sinew and bone. Every step torture. My thirst drove me forward and your face sustained me. You are my oasis, joined with you my thirst is finally satisfied. I simply don't have any other words, Sith make dreadful poets, it's all death and destruction." He gave her a thin smile.

 

"All your life you have seen me, felt my pain, watched me. Through the force you have been beside me all along." She paused to gather herself, Ty'karus could feel the emotion building in her. "When we joined the force gave me an understanding of what your life has been like." Her body was shaking as if she were naked in a cold wind. He reached for her, she withdrew, moving off the bed. Akita put her back to the wall.

 

"Much of it is a blur, but there were a few moments of clarity. Your conversation with Lord Mott for example." Her voice dripped with the dark side. Ty'karus considered a response but held his tongue.

 

"I don't care if you meant every word. You don't need to explain that you were manipulating your master it won't make a difference. I love you." Ty'karus' ears buzzed at her words.

 

"I know you love me, even if you don't understand the feeling. I also know that right now I want to kill all of the people who've hurt you. I want to make them suffer." Akita's eyes practically glowed with hate, the scent of vengeance on her was acrid.

 

"Akita you need to let go of the hate. Please!" he pleaded with her. Slowly he slid out of bed, his hands wide open he moved toward her. "I don't want to lose you." He took another step.

 

"I'm sorry master, sorry that I fought with you, doubted you. My life has been so easy compared to yours. All the Jedi trials and training are nothing compared to what you endured. In spite of all you have been through you still found your way out of the dark for me, you shame me Casius." Akita was so filled with anger, rage and shame that the tears rolling down her face were black with the dark side. Ty'karus took another step, he reached out slowly and pulled her into his arms. Her lightsaber dropped to the deck, she put her arms around his neck and sobbed. He picked her up in his arms laid her back on the bed and wrapped himself around her. She lay there in his arms for hours before her connection to the dark side finally abated.

 

Ty'karus sighed in relief but did not let go of her.

 

Ty'karus eyes opened and he checked the clock on the table, they had slept for three hours. This time however, he had awoken first, Akita was still asleep in his arms. Ty'karus reached out and touched her mind, he was relieved to feel only a splinter of the dark side. She had let go of the hate and pain while she slept. He rolled her toward him and kissed her. She responded to his kiss and opened her eyes.

 

"I love you master." She beamed a smile at him. He returned the smile. "I love you Akita." He replied.

 

"You must be mindful master, don't call me by my name unless you are absolutely sure it's safe, better if you just call me apprentice. The things I saw in your mind. I understand what it is to love an apprentice. In the eyes of the Sith it is the ultimate weakness, one that will be exploited once discovered." She kissed him again "They will kill me to hurt you, I know what that would do to you, and I don't want to be responsible for your return to the dark." She kissed him deeply, pulling at his bottom lip, her arms wrapped around him as if she was trying to crush him. When she released her grip on him Ty'karus noticed a crooked smile on her face. He gave her a questioning look.

 

"Fortunately I have given it some consideration and I have an idea." She climbed out of bed pulling him along with her. Akita headed for the sonic shower, Ty'karus followed her. She activated it and stepped in. Ty'karus joined her.

 

"We are just going to have to be better at playing Master and slave, I mean apprentice or course. I will work to appear more like a broken Jedi. I recall what you told your master. I am to be a weapon but not a true Sith, in that way I will not become a threat." Ty'karus recalled the conversation with his master, he had mixed feelings about Akita's awareness of the discussion.

 

"What you did with Adith when we were in the room, you gave her a command to kneel at your feet Well I think that from time to time you should do that same with me. If it bothers you, just do it when you want me to know you love me. I will also kneel without command when I want to let you know I am thinking of you." There was an odd lilt in her voice as she described her covert plan for appearing more Sith like.

 

"I am not sure how this helps apprentice. A skilled Sith would still detect our emotional response." He said. Akita smiled a wicked smile.

 

"I gave that some thought master, if someone searches my feelings when I kneel at your feet they will only detect my surrender and love for you. I will always be seen by the Sith as a Jedi. My emotional surrender will be seen as weakness on my part and as a credit to your skill. When they look at you they will sense enjoyment. I have no doubt they will assume its joy in knowing how completely you have broken a Jedi. Given the outfits you keep buying me we can easily throw lust into the mix of emotions to add credibility. Over time I am sure we can come up with some other kinky Sith behavior to add to the mix. What do you think?" she turned to him putting her hands on his chest.

 

"I think it should work, I'm a bit surprised at your sudden burst of deviousness." He was not joking. Akita had shown no indication of having the aptitude for Sith thinking. It was a bit disturbing, something he would have to watch. 'Perhaps she is just embracing our path, moving from the light gently into the shadow.' He thought hopefully.

 

"I don't suppose there is any chance we could just leave, run away?" Akita asked. Ty'karus sighed. "I have asked myself that question more than once. If we turn our backs and run it's possible that we could live out our lives on some remote planet. It's more than likely that the path we have chosen will end up killing us. If we do not make the attempt then we are just part of the problem. If we fail, perhaps one day thousands of years from now someone else will try again. It's like I asked you, if not us then who, if not now when?"

 

They spent the rest of the trip planning and discussing how to be more Sith like. Ty'karus felt that Akita was embracing the idea a little more than he liked. She spent too much time calling him Master, sitting at his feet while he reviewed Sith documents that he had put aside for too long.

 

He tried to reign her in but she could be very persuasive. They spent many hours exploring her persuasive talents. When he tried to discuss it with Akita she would simply ask him what else there was to do on a ship. In the end she won and he did not mind.

 

Seven days later, just after noon ship time, the destination alert kicked in. They had reached Ryloth. Akita practically bounced onto the bridge, Ty'karus immediately noticed the collar she wore. It was black with silver and gold symbols and had a single chain link that hung down in the center. He met her gaze as she flicked the golden link with her finger. Akita smiled at him then pointed to her belt. There hanging next to her Jedi lightsaber was a thin length of black cord rolled in a loop, a matching gold collar link at one end.

 

Seeing his expression she let out a giggle. "2V-R8 helped me make this, do you like it?" Ty'karus did not respond.

 

"Oh don't look so shocked, playing the bad girl is kind of fun. When I think about how people will see me, dressed like this, how they will fear you because of me, it gives me a bit of a thrill. It's all harmless fun master." She laughed out loud at his expression.

 

The ship shuddered as it came out of hyperspace, filling the ships forward window was Ryloth. Akita was home. Ty'karus smiled as she bounced up and down.

 

[Tyrusstorm]

Chapter 20 A Warm Welcome Home

 

Akita put the ship into an approach vector and contacted the subterranean spaceport that was part of Kala'uun city. Fifteen minutes later the ship touched down in the assigned bay. Ty'karus entered the bridge, he leaned forward and kissed her lekku gently.

 

"Are you ready apprentice?" He asked. Akita left the pilots chair and turned to see her master. She was taken aback by his clothing. He wore the same black Jedi styled clothing except for a wide blood red sash, it ran around his waist and down in the front, stopping just below his knees. On top of the sash he wore a brown belt that held his lightsaber and three pouches.

 

Akita was appreciating his new look when she noticed he had cut his hair. It struck her that it would be easy to mistake him for a Jedi.

 

"Master, you've cut your hair!" she stepped close and ran her fingers through his short hair. "I like it." She beamed. "Are we ready?" he asked. Akita keyed the security console and nodded. They left the bridge and headed for the exit ramp. On the way out Ty'karus grabbed his robe from the lounge. It was a black robe with red trim. 'Nope I was wrong. With that robe, the red sash and those eyes, nobody is going to think he is a Jedi.' She thought to herself. The ramp lowered and Ty'karus walked slowly down the ramp. Akita could feel the change in him, his body was shrouded in energy.

 

Akita followed her master down the ramp and stopped at the bottom. 'One more step' she thought 'and I am home after more than fourteen years'. She took a deep breath centered herself with the force and stepped off the ramp. It whirred to life and hissed shut behind her.

 

With the ship powered down the hangar staff moved in and began their work checking the ship and preparing to refuel it. Port authority staff also entered the area. Their presence was purely a matter of appearance as port authority staff were not permitted to enter a Sith vessel without permission.

 

Her master flicked his hand signaling her to attend him, she did so immediately bowing her head slightly as she came up beside him. Akita had been practicing her behavior, 'time to put on a show for the locals' she thought. Akita wondered if her master noticed. He touched her mind with his, she felt his pride. They headed toward the customs gate without interruption or conversation.

 

They approached the customs check point and were greeted by a Twi'lek and a human, both appeared locked in a debate over some recent gambling wager. The Twi'lek nudged the human and they stopped talking. Ty'karus was gratified and amused to see that both men had so far, ignored him, their eyes locked on Akita and her hip slinging walk. They both paled when they spotted the lightsaber's on her belt.

 

The human straightened his clothing and cleared his throat. "Good day my lord, do you have anything to declare?" Ty'karus arched an eyebrow at the question. The Twi'lek put an elbow in his partner's ribs and quickly clamped a hand over his mouth. The human's eyes went wide. He pulled in vain against the hand over his mouth.

 

The Twi'lek bowed pulling his hapless partner along with him. "My apologies my lords, please enjoy your stay." He waved the pair through the check point. Akita waited until they were clear of the checkpoint then turned back and blew a kiss at the two men who were still gawking at them. She let her hips swing as they moved toward the lift.

 

It took them fifteen minutes to find a usable data terminal outside of prying eyes, with an active connection. Akita scanned through the information then stopped. "There it is." She backed away from the terminal as she pointed to the screen. Ty'karus looked at the screen and captured the information. "Are we really going to see them, it's been so long I won't know what to say, will they recognize me?" her heart was beating wildly.

 

"Apprentice calm yourself. Use the force to find your center. It would not do for you to faint from excitement." He chuckled.

 

The spaceport was below ground to protect it from the harsh environment of Ryloth. On the light side the temperature hit 300 degrees Celsius and on the dark side the winds surpassed 500 kilometers per hour. Even here in the safe zone the heat waves and windstorms could do considerable damage.

 

The spaceport had elements of both Republic and Hutt architecture. No surprise as it sat on the edge of Hutt space and had been annexed by the Hutts a few centuries ago. Previous to that it had been considered Republic space for thousands of years.

 

The port was busy, sentient beings from all over the galaxy were represented here. Akita was working to keep her bad girl fallen Jedi image in place but her excitement was showing. Ty'karus kept an eye open, thanks to his force talents he had more than a few eyes open. He reached out feeling as far as the force would let him. It was like being the spider in the middle of a giant web, certain movements would catch his attention. In all his years as a Sith this ability to sense his surroundings, had served him second only to one.

 

Something changed, a thread of his force web vibrated. Ty'karus pulled up his favorite force ability, the shield slid into place around him and his apprentice. It was visible only when struck. As the red blaster bolts hit it the surface glistened in bright magenta. Some people screamed others flapped appendages but everyone ran. A path opened between them, Ty'karus took stock of his attackers. Two were human dressed in mix and match armor, 'local talent, mercenaries.' he thought, not the primary threat. The third was a woman by her stature, armored head to toe, rocket boots dual blasters, a bounty hunter.

 

Akita pulled close to him her lightsaber's out and active. He touched her telepathically giving her the command to stay behind him and be ready. Ty'karus moved forward his shield held but it would only last a few more seconds. The human closest to him held a larger two handed blaster he needed to be dealt with first, a lucky shot from that would be an issue.

 

Ty'karus raised a hand and the humans feet lifted off the ground, his body began to twist and turn, slow at first then faster and faster. The blaster flew out of his hands followed by his last meal. He was not going anywhere. The bounty hunter rolled two grenades and launched herself into the air at the same time. Ty'karus told Akita to duck and be ready. She crouched low, both lightsaber's held in front of her in a defensive posture. The two grenades detonated, stun grenades they posed no serious threat but the impact served to overload his shield, its glistening surface sparked and collapsed. Akita reached out and moved into a force leap, she flipped over her master and arched through the air.

 

As if anticipating the attack the bounty hunter fired two wrist rockets they detonated in midair where Akita had been just a second earlier. Ty'karus had pulled her back to him. The second human had moved into a flanking position and was holding a woman like a shield. Ty'karus waved a hand in his direction, the mercenary let go the woman and dropped to his knees. His face turned a shade of purple and he began regurgitating his lungs as the Sith hit him with a blast of force created venom and disease. Ty'karus ignored him confident that he would expire horribly in a matter of moments.

 

Akita had raced forward and was now squared off against the armored bounty hunter. Akita parried wildly as the hunter fired shot after shot while dancing through the people fleeing for their lives. Something vibrated in Ty'karus web, he looked up and to the right just in time to see a rifle barrel on one of the upper decks. The weapon fired, Akita screamed, Ty'karus saw red. One hand shot out to reinforce and heal Akita, the other fired lightning upward. There was a deep scream and something exploded Ty'karus was pleased to feel the vibration subside.

 

Moving forward he stepped quickly to the right to flank the hunter, she was slashing at Akita with wrist blades that had some resistance to light sabers. The force guided him as he strengthened his apprentice while healing the wound in her shoulder, luckily the blast had left a clean exit wound. He gave it one last surge and the wound sealed. Akita pushed forward with renewed vigor.

 

The hunter began to pull back. Ty'karus kept a silent count in his head knowing the mercenary suspended in the spinning force bubble would fall free any moment. With a thought he let go the whirlwind, the man dropped to the floor unable to stand. Ty'karus hit him with a full blast of lightning, the body jerked and convulsed then lay still.

 

Akita had the hunter in full retreat, she had managed to get past the hunters defenses and had sliced one of her wrist weapons clear. The rocket mechanism was also smoldering. Something was off, Ty'karus sensed that the hunter was trying to retreat but not fully committed to killing Akita, the sniper had a clear shot yet only wounded Akita. 'This is a capture, not kill, mission, they are here for Akita.' He thought. He leapt into the air and came down behind the hunter. She turned sideways a weapon pointing in each direction. Ty'karus signaled Akita to stop. She hesitated for a moment then came to a halt.

 

The spaceports security guards had begun to enter the area but did not look keen to get involved. "Clear the area but don't interfere." Ty'karus said loudly. The guards appeared to be cooperating as they assisted those who had fallen or gotten hurt in the crush to escape the battle.

 

"Well you have my attention. What do you want?" He asked. His voice, force enhanced, echoed and held a cold edge, the hunter shifted on her feet slightly.

 

"I came for the Jedi. If you let me take her we can end this Sith." Her helmet masked her voice and provided her anonymity but Ty'karus could feel that she was waiting on something. She had backup but it was not here yet or needed more time to get into place. 'Ok time to take control, let's get all the players out in the open' He thought.

 

"Fine she is free to go with you." He turned and walked away. Akita lowered her light sabers and stood in place. The hunter paused a moment uncertain of what had just happened. Ty'karus blended into the crowd placing himself behind those larger in stature than he. He did not need the force to hide in plain sight with all these people around. He took up a position and waited, he reached out to Akita and let her know his location.

 

The hunter lowered her weapons slightly and held them out wide showing Akita that she was not going to attack. She moved forward slowly. "Easy there princess, easy now. I don't want to fight you. I am here to help, to bring you home. Understand? Home." Her voice was calm and steady as she stepped forward now just an arms distance from Akita. Akita deactivated her blades and put them back on her belt.

 

"Who are you?" She asked. The hunter holstered one of her pistols but let the other hang low in her hand. Ty'karus admired her professionalism. "Paloris Yuri. I'm a friend, how do you feel princess?" her open hand reached out and gently touched Akita. Akita did not respond she just stood their silently.

 

Paloris let go of Akita and activated a communicator. Ty'karus could not make out the words but he knew it had to be a call from or to her backup. He reached out with the force, there it was a beacon a bright light. A Jedi and it was heading this way.

 

Akita and Paloris stood in the spaceport a wide area around them free of passersby but as in any spaceport life gets back to normal quickly. Ty'karus kept himself hidden from sight and avoided port security.

 

Seeing that the battle was over, security had pulled back and sent in the service droids to clean up the mess. Had this been an Imperial or Republic port, security would have been a lot more involved but this was Hutt space and that meant the port was about tourism and profit. Neither of which were served by blocking off areas or leaving dead bodies out in the open.

 

It was only a few minutes before a young Jedi appeared on the upper deck. She stopped to check on the sniper then dropped from the third deck to the floor. A moment later she approached Akita and Paloris. Ty'karus could feel the Jedi searching for him but in his current state he was grey, he held little of the dark side. The port had thousands of sentient lifeforms, all held some measure of the force even if it was a splinter. In this ocean of the force he was a neutral weight neither rising nor sinking, it was unlikely he would draw her attention.

 

"Iwelith is that you?" The Jedi quickened her pace until she was next to Akita. She reached up and touched the gold collar link then let her hand rest a moment on the leash coiled up on Akita's belt. "Don't worry Iwelith we will get you home safely." She cooed. Ty'karus moved from his position and made his way to a more favorable vantage. He signaled Akita telepathically letting her feel his movements. She remained motionless.

 

"Well Jedi I have completed my end of the deal, you have your princess and I need to get moving." She held up a credit transfer unit. The blue skinned Chiss Jedi looked at her with contempt. "What happened to the Sith?" She asked. Ty'karus was now close enough for his force enhanced senses to over hear the conversation.

 

"He had enough, I gave him the choice to leave or die, he left. A job well done." Paloris smiled, Ty'karus could not see her face but he knew the type, she was smiling.

 

"Odd I am surprised you managed it." The Jedi's voice was calm, straightforward and of course honest. Paloris balked at the response. "Surprised? What did you think was going to happen? When you hired me I told you I was not afraid of a Sith!" Ty'karus frowned. 'A professional but a newly minted hunter, I would wager.' He thought.

 

"I believed that you would slow him down long enough for me to get here. I had hoped that you would serve as a distraction so that I could kill him. I obviously underestimated you." The Jedi bowed slightly and completed the transaction with her security code and a thumbprint on the transfer pad.

 

"Do you want me to escort you and the princess to your ship? No charge, all part of the service." She offered. The Jedi declined with a wave of her hand. Paloris turned to Akita.

 

"Well nice meeting you princess, glad to have helped. Stay out of trouble." Paloris gave her a wave and vanished into the crowd.

 

Akita turned to the Jedi and gave her a thin smile. "Hello Kelis, it's nice to see you." She said quietly. Kelis smiled and put a reassuring hand on Akita's shoulder. "It's all going to be fine now. Come, my ship is nearby we can get that slave collar off of you and get you home. Master Benz will be so happy to see you." She turned to go but Akita did not move.

 

"Will he Kelis? Will he be happy for more than a moment before he suppresses the emotion?" her voice was quiet and sad, he could hear the sadness in it.

 

"Why are you talking like that Iwelith? Come on you have been through a lot let's get you home." Ty'karus signaled her to go with Kelis. She looked to his position and he nodded at her. He slipped back into the crowd and followed as they walked back to the hanger area.

 

Akita's heart raced. She had told her master that she loved him and that she wanted to travel on his path. Right now she knew that travelling on his path meant capturing this Jedi, her friend and fellow apprentice for the last three years before he captured her. 'Can I do this?' she asked herself.

 

They entered the hangar, the Jedi ship brought back memories, stirred feelings in Akita. She suppressed her fear but let herself feel everything else. There was a sudden warmth behind her. She reached for it and felt the presence of her master up one deck above them. She relaxed and took a breath. They reached the ship, Kelis keyed the remote entry and the ramp dropped and the door opened, Akita stopped. Kelis turned facing Akita, putting her back to her ship.

 

"What's wrong Iwelith, there is nothing to fear, nothing in the ship will harm you." She was doing her best to allay Akita's fears, oblivious to the danger that Akita posed to her. 'How far am I willing to go? After this there is no turning back' She struggled with the knowledge that her friend would not understand, she would resist just like she had but in the end she would surrender she would find her way.

 

Ty'karus had moved around the hangar along the fuel and environmental pipes. When Kelis turned to talk to Akita he dropped down onto her ship. He pulled gently on the force and raced along the hull. Ty'karus had considered training as a Sith assassin, he appreciated their stealth skills but he had chosen a different path in order to ensure a more liberal autonomy. Being grey mimicked in many ways the Sith assassins cloaking ability. He was for the most part invisible to the Jedi, a shadow. 'Very handy indeed.' He thought. Akita grabbed Kelis in a hug and held her. Kelis returned the hug although stiffly. Ty'karus used the time to speed up the ramp into the ship.

 

Akita let go of Kelis, she let her misgivings and doubt flow through her, and she embraced them as feelings not to be suppressed but to be accepted, only by examining her feelings would she grow to understand them the way all non-force users did. Her flood of feelings were not lost on Kelis.

 

"Iwelith you must calm yourself, I can feel your emotions, do not let them govern you. Reach out with the force and suppress them. Find your center." She encouraged Akita as they walked up the ramp and into the ship.

 

The ramp retracted and the door hissed shut behind them. Kelis lightsaber was in her hand and ignited. Ty'karus stepped out of the shadows. He could feel her fear.

 

"How?" She asked. She placed herself between Ty'karus and Akita one arm outstretched as a shield protecting Akita. Ty'karus frowned.

 

"It does not matter Kelis. What matters is that it doesn't have to be this way. There is another path. Lower your weapon and let's talk, please." He pleaded with her genuinely.

 

"We have nothing to talk about Sith, you will not take Iwelith and you will not leave here alive!" she was working desperately to cover her fear but it was there. He had no desire to hurt her and did not want to push her. He dropped his saber on the deck, he could see confusion take hold of her. Ty'karus knelt before her.

 

"I will not fight you Jedi, you are not my enemy. Fear and hate are my enemy." He waited. Kelis confusion built, uncertainty pushed to the front. "What do you want Sith?" Kelis grabbed Akita by the arm, she moved around Ty'karus while keeping herself between him and Akita. She was now facing his back and closer to the bridge.

 

"I want an end to the conflict, I want to live without the Jedi and Sith hunting me telling me how to live how to feel how to love. I want to be free." 'A convenient truth over a lie any day' he thought. Kelis reached out with the force and touched him. Her eyes went wide.

 

"How can this be, you're not holding the dark side. What are you? What trick is this?" She barked at him. He stood, turned toward her and took a step. "I am not your enemy, you must choose. Kill an unarmed man or deactivate your weapon and talk, which is it Jedi?" he took another step, Kelis backed up. "You can leave, I will let you go." Her voice was stressed.

 

"What about her?" he asked. He took another step forcing Kelis to raise her saber or risk it touching him. "Iwelith is where she belongs." Kelis replied. She took another step back and backed into Akita. "Have you asked her where she belongs? Or are you just deciding for her like the Jedi do when they take children from their parents?" He kept his voice low and even no threat in it.

 

Akita reached out and took Kelis by the shoulders and gently turned her around. Kelis deactivated her saber to avoid hurting Akita. Ty'karus moved next to Akita.

 

"My name is Akita and he is my master, my place, is beside him. Of my own free will." She smiled at Kelis as she said it. Kelis pulled herself free of Akita's grip.

 

"I don't know what trick this is. I won't kill an unarmed man but I will not discuss philosophy and ethics with a Sith. Take your lies and go! Akita please reconsider stay here with me. I will take you home, the Jedi Council will fix you, repair what he has done." Akita shot forward grabbing Kelis by the throat, she slammed her against the bulk head.

 

"Fix me? You think I'm broken because I can feel, laugh, love. You are broken and I will never go back, you will never take me away from him." She shouted at the Chiss. Akita had taken Kelis by surprise, slammed into the wall and rendered unconscious. Ty'karus rushed forward and pulled her from Akita's grip. He set her gently on the deck then turned to Akita. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her repeatedly.

 

"I am never letting them take you. You are here with me. Let go of your anger let go of your fear." Ty'karus waited until he felt her let go of the anger. He slowly let go of her. "Are you ok?" he asked. She nodded and knelt down to check on Kelis.

 

"Well that could have gone better. What now?" she asked him. Ty'karus frowned for a moment. "I still have the stasis tubes on the ship. We can put her in one of those and wait for a more suitable location before we try to reason with her." She was right, things could have gone a lot better but they could have gone worse. He also needed to question Kelis at some point, how did she know where they would be, were there any other bounty hunters looking for them.

 

"This ship is a bonus though. Once we are done here we can take it to Nar Shadar and get the ident replaced or just sell it. Either way it's a bonus. For now we need to check it for any information on her plans, see if there are other bounty hunters looking for us. And we don't have a lot of time, the Jedi will be aware that she completed her mission and will expect to hear from her soon." Ty'karus reached into one of his pouches and pulled out a metal cylinder.

 

"How do you know that the Jedi will be expecting to hear from her?" she asked.

 

"She paid the bounty hunter. The Jedi systems will show that a bounty was paid in full. If the Jedi know her mission and it's a safe bet they do, they will assume she is on her way back to Coruscant with you. We have time but I don't want to be here more than a week." Akita watched as he used the force to unscrew the metal cylinders top. He let the tiny vial float in the air while he manipulated it with the force. He withdrew from the cylinder a small glass vial with a tiny needle on the end. He guided it to Kelis throat and pushed, it penetrated the skin and delivered its liquid cargo.

 

"There, harmless now for at least a week." He put the empty cylinder away with the same care and turned to Akita. "I will take her to our ship. You search this one."

 

[Lunafox]

Nice action!

I really enjoyed how they dealt with the Jedi. Isn't it funny how Jedi always think people are broken, when they no longer think like them.

Looking forward to the next bit.

[FluffYajmw]

Loving this!! Just read all 20 chapters (so far) over the course of the afternoon/evening.

 

Looking forward to more!

[Tyrusstorm]

Chapter 21 Hi Mom I'm Home

 

Ty'karus had wrapped Kelis in a blanket and used the force to levitate her off the deck. He made his way through the spaceport back to his ship. He gave a sigh of relief upon entering the cargo area. The stasis tubes were still in place. He put Kelis in place and set the controls. The effects of the drug we already in her system and would be for days after she was removed from stasis. He locked her lightsaber in his wall safe. He was about to leave the ship when a thought occurred to him. 'I need to report this capture to my master, given recent events I need to be mindful of my position.' He went to the bridge activated the security console and encoded the message.

 

"Greetings my master, I have collected a second and will begin work shortly. I will be going dark until I have completed this phase of my research." Short and to the point. His master would understand the message. Ty'karus also encoded the Jedi's identity. Hopefully this would be enough to solidify his position in his master's house. He could not afford to have visits from other would be Sith seeking promotion.

 

He locked the ship and returned to the Kelis' ship. The ramp and door locked behind him and he took a look around. There at the top of the ramp sat a neat pile of ship components and electronics. "Apprentice?" He called out. Akita appeared from one of the doorways. She held a computer data crystal in her hand.

 

"I take it you have had some success with your investigation?" He smiled. She chuckled in response. Something about that chuckle bothered Ty'karus. "Yes master I certainly have. Those items are similar to the ones we pulled from your ship. I think I got them all but you're welcome to check my work." She handed him the crystal. "Kelis orders." Akita's face had an odd look of concern. "Master she is here against the wishes of the council. There was also a data packet on you master. Including your alias Casarius. Names of associates and potential locations where you may be hiding." She gave him a wicked look as she handed it to him.

 

"I am surprised that the Jedi would have such files on someone as far down the ranks as I. Relatively speaking I am just a cog in the Sith war machine." He turned the crystal over in his hand.

 

"I think it was purchased master. The Jedi would have some of the information but not the specifics that are included, personal information including those of a sexual nature, names of companions you have frequented. Master you have been a bad man." She chuckled, it caused the hair on his neck to stand up.

 

He put the crystal in a pouch and took her by the hands. "Akita let me look at you. He reached out with the force and sent his mind into hers. He found nothing out of the ordinary, only a slight shift in her that suggested she had moved fully into the shadow. 'Is it possible that I miss her naïve spirit?' he wondered.

 

"Master are you ok? You have been acting different since, since we were together." Akita placed a hand on his chest. "I think we need to be mindful of each other." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, Ty'karus could tell she was searching him as he had just done to her.

 

"What did you mean Apprentice?" Ty'karus wanted to hear her thoughts wanted her to know that he respected her opinion.

 

"I meant that this path is not going to be easy, I suggest that whenever we are alone we take a few moments to check each other, we hide nothing from each other." She opened her eyes and took her hand off of his chest.

 

"I agree, now let's get going before something else comes up." They locked the ship and left the hangar.

 

It took them two hours to get to the living district, they took a local taxi out of the space port then walked the last thirty minutes. Akita was silent as the housing area came into view. The buildings were simple in design, even primitive. They were built into the sides of the cave wall. To call it a cave was an injustice. At some points the distance between the two sides was eighteen miles across. Down below a vast underground ocean. Joining it all were hundreds of manmade walk ways. Small flying vehicles ferried people through the area.

 

The building before them was not overly large but it was not small either, it was clearly well kept and the light emanating from inside was artificial. Ty'karus extended his senses into the house. It was larger than he expected with a number of rooms, it went deep into the cave wall. There were people in a number of the rooms as well as a larger group in the central area.

 

"Well go ahead." He urged her forward. "I can't. Master will you please?" she pleaded. Ty'karus stepped forward without hesitation and pushed the door chime. He could feel the tension from Akita. A moment passed and the door opened. An older Twi'lek male stood before them. He had been wearing a smile but it faded almost instantly. He bowed his head. "My lord how may I be of service?" Ty'karus was concerned by the emotion rolling off the man and wanted to defuse the situation before it escalated.

 

"I am looking for the Sharat clan I am here to pay my respects and ask for their hospitality, nothing more." He bowed his head slightly to the Twi'lek.

 

"This is the Sharat family home, my master and his family are taking the afternoon meal please come in I will tell them you are here my lord." He pulled the door open all the way and beckoned them inside. He bowed again and ran off down a short hall and darted into a side room. Ty'karus looked back and found Akita standing in the doorway. He reached out his hand and pulled her in, closing the door behind her. There was a crash of plates from the other room followed by shouting voices that pitched and stopped just as suddenly.

 

Ty'karus smiled. He knew it was wrong to inspire fear but he never got tired of it. A moment later a middle aged male and female Twi'lek came into view. Both were straightening their garments and whispering to each other.

 

Upon reaching Ty'karus they dropped to one knee with heads bowed. "Welcome to our humble home my lord. My name is Akita'Sharat this is my mate Goran'Sharat. We offer you the hospitality of our home." She said quickly her voice was stressed and fear pulsed from her.

 

"My name is Ty'karus, Inquisitor of the Sith, I accept your offer of hospitality, now please rise." They both got up but kept their eyes lowered. Down the hall Ty'karus could see other eyes watching them. He turned and held out his hand to Akita. She took his hand and stepped forward.

 

"This is my apprentice, in whom I am greatly pleased. Akita Ty. Your daughter." It took significant effort to hold in a smile. There was a brief moment of silence and then the room exploded with voices all talking at once. People came from the other rooms slowly at first then in a flood. Ty'karus counted sixteen people in the room. He stepped quietly to one side and put his back against a wall and watched.

 

Akita was initially dumbstruck she could only smile and hug, hug and smile. Ty'karus experienced it through her emotions, it was almost overwhelming. It took them just a few minutes to ignore the lightsaber's and the fact that she was apparently a Sith in training. 'So this is family, interesting.' He was genuinely amused and amazed all at the same time. An hour passed by all too quickly. Ty'karus finally found a place to his liking, he knelt and entered a light meditation. By the second hour he realized that the sounds of celebration were getting louder. It would not take long for the sounds to draw some attention, even if it was minor. Ty'karus wanted to let her have this time but he also knew that fun, celebration and Sith were not usually synonymous. He needed to quiet things down a bit to avoid suspicion from neighbors.

 

He rose from his meditation and loudly cleared his throat. At the same time he telepathically touched Akita. She immediately hurried to his side and knelt at his feet, her head lowered. The room went silent. Ty'karus leaned in and whispered in her ear. "Apprentice I am happy for you. But please make your family aware that Sith do not celebrate like this. It may be a good idea to suggest that your reputation as a Sith could suffer should a report of your behavior surface later in your career." He smiled and waved her back to her family. Akita returned to her mother and father and a moment later family members were nodding understandingly. The festivities continued but were sufficiently muted.

 

Ty'karus was enjoying the family reunion, He had allowed himself to sink back into a restful but light meditation, he kept his senses alert but let the sounds fade into the background. All the while he kept part of his mind watching Akita's emotions. He felt her smile so hard her face hurt, then he felt the pain in her chest as various family members talked of their lives. She had missed so much it hurt. Others told her how much they missed her and her eyes filled with tears.

 

Her grandmother had passed on a few years ago, Akita's mother was now the clan Matriarch. They had tried to find her but the galaxy is huge and there is little hope with the passage of so many years. There was some guilt and sorrow but it was tempered with pragmatism, slavery was a way of life it was the way that the Twi'lek people spread out across the stars. Akita spoke of her life as a Jedi, in truth her life had been filled with learning, adventure and privilege. She had wanted for nothing. When she began speaking of the Jedi a number of younger family members came out of the woodwork and sat at her feet.

 

They stopped her frequently with questions about the force and lightsaber's, there were endless requests to see her sabers. The older family members pulled ears or gave small smacks to the heads of those who asked. Many of the adults kept a watchful eye on Ty'karus and grew nervous when the children asked about Jedi.

 

Akita reached the turning point in her story, she was on a ship headed to take the Jedi trials when a Sith captured her and brought her to Ty'karus, her master. She did a very good job of telling the story embellishing some places and skipping over other elements. Ty'karus was quite impressed with her ability to hold her audience. He also noted that she managed to intimate her feelings for her master without ever saying it directly.

 

The hours rolled on as family members took turns reconnecting with this long lost relative. It was not often that a slave returned home in such fashion. Akita woke her master from his meditation to let him know that dinner was ready and that it would honor her family if he sat with them for the meal. Ty'karus agreed. His presence was a distraction and certainly put an air over the meal but he was accustomed to making people uncomfortable. He ate quietly nodded at questions and generally maintained an aloof mood.

 

Dessert was a large tray of baked foods, one of Akita's sisters was trying to handle the tray while talking to Akita, it was not going well. At one point it appeared that she was going to drop the tray. A nearby family member reached for the tray without thinking, she screamed as the tray burned her hand and the tray flew into the air as both of them lost control of it.

 

The tray stopped in midair, righted itself and floated over to the table. Everyone looked at Akita, her hand guiding the tray to an empty spot on the stove. The children squealed and cheered with delight. Akita's youngest sister Travene was clutching at her hand, tears rolled down her face. Akita gave Ty'karus a look and he nodded. "How bad is it Travene?" Akita asked. Her mother was wrapping a cold cloth around Travene's hand. "It's going to need attention or it will scar." She was trying to comfort her daughter.

 

"Travene, let my master take a look." The room quieted, it was clear that none of the adults thought it was a good idea, the children were all quiet waiting to see what happened. To them it was a story book come to life, playing out in their house. Ty'karus waved the girl to him. She approached as if he were a wild animal that may at any moment snap her hand clean off.

 

Slowly she stretched out her arm, her face was knotted in pain. Ty'karus gently removed the wet cloth and surveyed the damage, it was a second degree burn and it would normally require medical attention to prevent scaring. It was all together possible that even with treatment there would be a reduction in functionality. In spite of modern technology, medical care was not readily available to all.

 

Ty'karus pulled on the force, reached into the girls hand and felt the damaged tissue, he rebuilt it from the inside out. He completed the work and double checked it before letting go of her hand. Travene flexed her fingers and immediately held her hand up for everyone to see. They crowded around her and congratulated her as if she had repaired the burn herself. Ty'karus chuckled to himself.

 

His minor miracle elevated him in the eyes of his hosts but no so much that they were comfortable talking with him. There were a few more words sent in his direction an occasional smile or a nod but all in all he was left alone, which suited him fine.

 

Evening time and the lights in the house were changed to a deep orange from the bright yellow of the day. It had to do with the fact that the city was underground and did not see the sun. Akita's mother came to him and insisted that they spend the night unless they had to leave, He accepted and she showed him to the guest room.

 

Ty'karus sat on the bed and continued his meditation while he waited. A few hours later Akita opened the door and slipped into the room. She was a glow with emotion. She knelt down beside him on the bed, she curled up and lay her head in his lap. "Thank you master. You have no idea how much this has meant to me." She sighed clearly exhausted. They settled in for the night.

 

They spent the next four days with Akita's family. Ty'karus would slip out each morning and travel through the city and check on the ships. On the second day he received a brief response from his master. "Message received, continue research." Ty'karus had also arranged for both ships to be fueled and supplied.

 

On day four Ty'karus had completed a memory dump of Kelis C2-N2 droid and then did a full reset. He was reviewing the contents of Kelis quarters when a coded transmission was received. He transferred the file to his ship and set one of the computers to decode it. He returned to the Sharat home early in the evening.

 

Akita was sitting in the main room talking quietly with her mother and father when Ty'karus entered the room. He greeted them and took a seat nearby. Akita moved beside him and knelt at his feet 'When I kneel at your feet without being asked master you will know that I love you.' he recalled.

 

"Apprentice we need to be going soon." He said quietly. Akita nodded and moved back to sit with her parents. They spent the next hour making their good byes. There were tears and lots of hugs. Ty'karus could not help but feel awkward standing off to one side watching as he was.

 

Akita came to him she nodded letting him know she was ready. He stepped away from the wall and moved to the doorway. Akita's parents were waiting at the door to offer their respects to him and say a final goodbye. Ty'karus held out a small document pouch. "This is for you. For your family." Akita's mother took the pouch and opened it. A Hutt credit stick fell out into her hand. She looked back at Akita then Ty'karus.

 

"This payment acts as a contract between us." He started. Akita'Sharat checked the amount marked on the stick and her eyes widened. "My lord this is ten thousand credits, for what?" She asked in a whisper.

 

"I am Sith, it is considered weakness to help people as I would help you." Akita looked at her parents her Lekku twitched and moved, without saying a word she silently told them. "for Sith weakness is death." They signaled their understanding. Ty'karus, seeing the silent conversation concluded, continued. "So if your family is ever in need of assistance you will send word to me through my house staff, the contact info is in the package. You will tell them that you are willing to sell either or both of Akita's sisters to me. I will send you credit under the guise of purchase." He was careful about his tone and the words he used.

 

"My lord this is more than enough to buy..." He cut her off. Ty'karus leaned forward and lowered his voice. "Among my order I am known for my appreciation of Twi'lek women." Akita's mother blushed, her father gave him a stern but understanding look. "That I turned your daughter, a Jedi to my service is also known. If you ever have a need you will reach out to me. The Sith will understand my desire to purchase your daughters, it will be seen as nothing more than proof of my appetite. Do you understand?" Ty'karus was wondering if he had ever had a more uncomfortable conversation. 'Being nice should not be this embarrassing, its no wonder Sith frown upon it.' he thought.

 

Akita's parents shook their heads. They thanked him repeatedly for his patronage. Akita kissed her parents goodbye and they stepped back out into the street.

 

"Master I don't know what to say. What you have done will secure my family for years. Thank you." Her voice was strained, she was near tears.

 

"I can't take all the credit." He gave her a wide smile, with his hood up the smile was practically evil. "I found a set of Republic credit sticks on Kelis, part of her funds for her work with the bounty hunter, I would imagine. What I gave your parents was only part of it." He smiled at her. Akita was silent for a moment then burst out laughing.

 

"What's next master?" Akita asked as they walked away from her parent's home. "We are headed for Nar Shadda. I want to sell the Jedi corvette and perhaps buy another less noticeable one. If we can do that I will put mine in storage or return it to my home. We can then travel without drawing attention to ourselves.

 

Ty'karus used his comm unit to summon a taxi and they headed back to the spaceport.

 

[Lunafox]

Good stuff! Really enjoyed the reunion. Her family seem like such lovely people. Loved the healing scene too.

[Tyrusstorm]

Short chapter. I will post the next one as well.

 

Chapter 22 The Price is Right

 

Five days alone, Ty'karus in his fury interceptor and Akita on-board Kelis Jedi corvette. Ty'karus meditated and caught up on documentation as well as the recording for his master. Akita took advantage of the time alone to gain clarity and perspective. She meditated and explored her feelings as well as the events of the last month. Akita wanted to be able to tell her master that she was truly free of doubt but to do that she needed to be sure it was true.

 

Five days later both ships came out of hyperspace near the fifth moon of Nal Hutta, Nar Shaddaa or the Smuglers Moon sat before them. Ty'karus immediately opened a channel to Akita and was gratified to hear her voice. "It's good to hear your voice apprentice. Please stay in orbit as we discussed. I will notify you once I have made landing arrangements. Ty'karus out." There communications were strictly business. Their communications were encrypted but Nar Shaddaa was a haven for all manner of criminal activity it was always safer to assume that your security was being monitored, better safe than sorry.

 

Nar Shaddaa was in Hutt space meaning it was neutral territory, the Hutts played both sides in the conflict between Empire and Republic. They separated the two factions by limiting them to specific areas of the city, as a result, Ty'karus would have to make special arrangements to land the stolen Republic vessel in the Imperial hangars.

 

Two hours later, three credit transfers and a promise of a favor sometime in the future and all clearances were in place and a Hutt representative would be on hand to discuss disposition of the ship. Ty'karus provided Akita with the landing protocols and headed to meet her as she landed.

 

Ty'karus entered the empty hangar bay and was greeted by a male Deveronian named Bilist Quron. Although skilled in negotiations, Ty'karus never liked haggling, he felt it was beneath him. Bilist introduced himself as an independent purchaser who was looking to acquire a Republic ship. He did not say who he was working for but Ty'karus had only spoken to Hutt representatives so the odds were good the Hutts wanted the ship. He didn't care why he just wanted a decent price for the ship.

 

"You are here to negotiate with me, have you ever negotiated with a Sith Inquisitor before Bilist?" Ty'karus asked, he wore his coldest look. His cloak wrapped around him, its hood up and his face barely visible. The Deveronian smiled ear to ear and scratched at one of his horns.

 

"My lord I assure you I will be fair I have a reputation to consider." Ty'karus was surprised that the Deveronian was able to talk without visibly changing the smile on his face.

 

"I don't care about fair Bilist, the Universe is not fair, what I care about is respect. You will present me with an offer that shows you respect me or I will kill you, and apologize to your Hutt employer. I may offer him a gift to show my respect and desire to continue dealing with him. Your employer is in the business of making profit and will accept my gift and send someone else to negotiate with me." His voice was icy cold and quiet.

 

Bilist pulled out a data pad keyed in an offer and attached it to a standard contract, then presented it to Ty'karus, the offer was contingent on condition of the ship but Ty'karus was not concerned as the vessel was only a few years old. He stood silently Ty'karus could sense his fear, he smiled under the hood of his robe. It was a fair price and in the range he was hoping for.

 

"I am glad we can do business Bilist." Ty'karus keyed his comm unit. "Apprentice you are cleared to land at pad 85 tango 47 alpha." Akita acknowledged with a coded signal. Twenty minutes later she walked down the ships ramp. When she stepped off the ramp Ty'karus noticed the change in her walk, it was slow, deliberate. Her robe was pulled up tight, her hood was up obscuring her face. Ty'karus was surprised to find his hand reflexively drop to his saber, he quickly moved it away, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

 

Akita closed the distance between then and knelt before him. "Master what is thy bidding?" she asked. Her voice was low there was a dusky sound to it. Bilist stepped back, he was fiddling with the transaction pad. Fear radiated from him.

 

Ty'karus waved her to his side, she stood and stepped next to him. "Bilist this is my apprentice Akita'Ty." Ty'karus turned to Akita. "Give Mr Quron the ships access remote apprentice." Bilist quickly keyed the transaction pad and handed it to Ty'karus. Akita handed him the remote.

 

"Well that concludes our business my lord. If you are ever in the need for a ship please do not hesitate to let me know, good bye." He sounded eager to be done with the Sith. Ty'karus smiled at him. "Well now that you mention it Mr Quron, I am in the market for a ship. Something durable, inconspicuous and of course, fitting of my station." The Deveronians face sank. They spent the next hour going over options until they settled on a small freighter that had been used by a local gambler turned smuggler, turned suddenly deceased ship owner. The ship was sturdy, had decent armaments and was nicely appointed. In the end Ty'karus came out ahead, with the ship and extra credits.

 

Bilist Quron left them standing in a nearby hangar with their new purchase. He bowed curtly and ran off as quickly as he could. Ty'karus chuckled to himself. Akita lowered the ramp and they both entered the ship. Akita reached out with the force and started her search for any devices that may have been left in place by the previous owner or the Hutt representative, Mr Quron.

 

There were a few hidden cameras but they tied into a console in the captain's cabin. Ty'karus left them in place. 'All in all not a bad day' Ty'karus thought to himself. Five hours in system, four of those on the ground and they had a new ship.

 

"Apprentice come here." Ty'karus beckoned her to him, he had not had a chance to hold her or speak with her much since they arrived. Akita stood before him, her head still bowed, Ty'karus reached for her hood when he suddenly felt a rush of excitement and nervousness from her. He slowly pulled the hood back and was shocked to see that the left side of her face bore a slave tattoo.

 

"Akita what have you done!?" His shock evident in both his face and voice. Akita smiled at him. "I wanted a way to show my commitment. Do you like it?" She beamed at him.

 

"My beautiful apprentice, I find the marking exceptional but you did not need to do this to prove anything to me." He pulled her close reaching under her robe to wrap his arms around her waist.

 

"If you don't like them master we can change them." He looked confused. She smiled at him. "I pulled the designs from the Jedi database I was not certain they were accurate so I used temporary pigments." She smiled at him again clearly happy with herself for having caused him such alarm. He beamed a smile at her and she reached up and kissed him. "I am not sure but given the clothing and accessories she had, including these temporary pigments, I think Kelis may have been planning a longer stay inside Imperial space." Akita said.

 

When Akita left his embrace Ty'karus pulled her to the lounge seats and sat her down. "Apprentice I was serious, you have nothing to prove to me. You don't need to wear a slaves markings.

 

"Master will this mark not strengthen the facade we both wear, you the cold angry Sith and me the broken Jedi enslaved to her Sith master. Will this not work to our benefit and safety?" She raised an eyebrow as she awaited his response.

 

Ty'karus hesitated, he frowned and pulled at his chin. "Perhaps but we do not need to put the marks on your beautiful face." He said thoughtfully. He motioned for her to stand. He put his hands on her hips and slowly turned her. "I would prefer your shoulder and or perhaps your lekku, don't worry though. I know how sensitive they are, if and that's a big if, we decide to mark your lekku, I will ensure you feel no pain." His face still wore a frown. Akita sat in his hap and pulled his arms around her waist.

 

"Master I know there are other things we should be doing right now but I have not seen you in five days, I would also like to see your new bedroom. Are you able to indulge in some quality time with this humble slave." Her voice changed as she spoke, she looked up at him with feigned innocence that surprised him. "You are full of surprises today apprentice." He smiled, picked her up and headed for the bedroom.

 

[Tyrusstorm]

Chapter 23 Big Lights Big City

 

Ty'karus watched as Akita dressed. 'I will never grow tired of watching her' he thought. "Master may I ask how you plan on reasoning with Kelis?" Ty'karus was surprised that she would bring this up and further intrigued by her use of the word reason. He knew full well that bringing the Chiss Jedi over to their way of thinking was going to require more than just talk.

 

"Apprentice, I fear that Kelis will require more than just philosophical debate to walk our path. To be open, I am concerned that the work will require harsher methods. You may not want to be part of what comes next." He slid his legs out of the bed and brushed a hand through his hair.

 

"Master just tell me what needs to be done, and please don't leave anything out. I need to understand so that I can help." Her request sounded genuine to Ty'karus. He was concerned about how she would be affected by such work.

 

"It will be difficult work apprentice. There are a number of methods used with conversion and make no mistake apprentice this will be a conversion not a debate. Sith typically use methods that inspire fear and hate. A continual barrage of those emotions can break a Jedi and draw them into using the dark side. We will have to use different methods. I will need some time to formulate a plan." Ty'karus paused long enough to put his clothes on. 'How much do I tell her?' he thought to himself.

 

They left the bedroom and headed to the lounge. The ships protocol droid was cleaning when they walked in. Ty'karus raised a hand before the droid could start in on its inevitable diatribe. "We will take a meal in here please, C3-QR." The droid turned and waddled out of the room.

 

They sat down on the long couch, Akita sat beside him. "You were saying master." She urged him to continue. "Very well apprentice, but remember you asked. There are a number of less Sith methods, none of which will work while she holds the force. Her connection should be blocked for a little more than twelve days, so I will assume ten to be safe. I believe that pain and pleasure conditioning may work, it's similar to what I did to Adith just less intense." Ty'karus was not comfortable with the idea that Akita wanted to know the full nature of his work but he would keep his promise and tell her the truth. Letting her help, that was a different matter.

 

"How much pain master?" Akita asked quietly. "As little as is needed. I promise you." A thought occurred to him. 'If I can enhance her pleasure centers I may be able to reduce the time required.' He smiled. "It may be fortuitous that we are here on Nar Shaddaa apprentice. While I can induce pleasure as easily as pain, there are devices that allow for a more controlled application. If I can purchase a pleasure inducer I should be able to decrease the time and pain required. This is one of the few places that I know has such items and it should be relatively easy to purchase. More or less" Akita had a questioning look on her face.

 

"Why pleasure master?" she asked. Ty'karus noted the hesitation in her voice. "I have encountered many who have natural or trained tolerances to pain. I have yet to meet anyone who thought to develop tolerance to pleasure. It is an effective tool in my arsenal. The only down side is that in order for it to be useful it has to be at exact levels under specific conditions, hence my desire to purchase an inducer. Too much or in the wrong manner and you end up with a mindless pleasure addict that will do anything for its next fix. Kelis would be of no use to us like that. I would release her before I did that to her." Akita relaxed, yet Ty'karus could sense something in her that was still unsettled.

 

"Master what you did with Adith..." She saw the look on his face and knew he understood what she was going to say. "Why is Kelis so different?" She asked instead. 'Ah there it is, she thinks I am holding something back' He smiled at Akita.

 

"I broke Adith, figuratively and literally. I left her personality intact, barely, and she will recover eventually, but for the foreseeable future she is suited for little more than a domestic work." He looked away from Akita. "I was angry, I wanted to hurt her for what she did to you. In the end I did not let my anger control my actions, however, I must admit that my methodology was more hammer than scalpel. I am not proud of my results." He offered honestly.

 

"I understand, and to be honest I won't lose any sleep over what happened to her, she tried to kill us after all." Akita stood up stretched, seeing C3-QR returning with a tray she took a seat at the table.

 

The food was surprisingly good, according to C3-QR, this was due to the quality of his construction and the exceptional cooking routines installed by his previous owner.

 

"Master, while we are out looking for the device you need, can we find a good tattoo shop, I would like to get those markings." She smiled at him over the rim of the mug she was drinking from.

 

"Akita I am not sure I..." her face twisted into a pout. He stopped mid-sentence. "...Apprentice if you are absolutely set on it." She beamed a smile at him. "I am just trying to do my part master and besides it's not like we are using actual Sith pincer bug acid. I can always get the tattoos removed if necessary." Ty'karus was starting to think that reintroducing a Jedi to feelings and emotions was very much like turning one into an adolescent human. 'It does make sense, after all, the last fourteen years of her life has been all about training, rules and suppressed emotions.' He thought. 'How is it that I did not take this into account' Ty'karus was concerned with that question and that his genuine enjoyment of and feelings for Akita may be clouding his judgment.

 

They finished eating and prepared to head into the city. Ty'karus was seeing to security while he waited for Akita, who had insisted on changing again before they went out. Akita met him at the ships ramp, she gave him a long passionate kiss and then fell in behind him. As they walked down the ramp Akita put on her slave facade. She had come to think of it as a test of her abilities. Akita watched the passersby as they looked at her, she used her senses and the force to gauge their reactions and adjusted her demeanor accordingly. She did this while maintaining situational awareness as her combat training had taught her.

 

Nar Shaddaa was huge, even though the Hutts enforced a separation of Imperial and Republic forces there was no shortage of places to go and things to see. It was on the surface a lot like Coruscant. Masses of buildings that rose into the sky, bright lights everywhere and people, throngs of people. Many had the appearance of tourists they were in groups and were either taking pictures or pointing at something then taking pictures.

 

Akita also took note of the security forces. The Hutts are about profit and controlling profit means secure profit. As a result safety on the tourist levels was tight. The tourist attractions all had discrete security teams nearby. The walkways, shops, even the vehicles had surveillance equipment. There were food centers, casinos, pleasure houses everywhere and shops, the shops were endless. It was said that if it existed it could be purchased in Nar Shaddaa. There was very little that was illegal, as Hutts consider trade regulations little more than a missed opportunity.

 

The under city was an entirely different world. Akita had heard about the lower levels of Nar Shaddaa, there were much like Corucsants under city. A dangerous place where only those who have to be there, dare go. Security patrols were limited to military or near military grade droids. The place was home to refugees in the millions, criminal organizations and those who wanted or had to disappear. The under city was also contested territory plagued by constant territorial disputes and open armed conflict. Drug cartels, pirate organization to name just a few, vying for control of the lucrative business opportunities.

 

It took them almost an hour to find a shop that had the device that Ty'karus wanted. The shop specialized in slave management and training. Ty'karus described what he was looking for and the owner disappeared into the back of the shop and returned with what appeared to be a more ornate looking slave collar. "My lord will be pleased with this. It is of the highest quality." He handed it to Ty'karus and waited as he examined it. "My lord I should also like to point out that the device is hardened against shock and EMP." He smiled. "Interesting that you should mention that isn't it?" Ty'karus asked, there was a sudden coldness in his voice. "My lord? Ah no you mistake me for an educated man where I am not, I am just repeating what was on the documentation that comes with the device. Nothing more I assure you." Akita watched as he bowed and scraped before her master. Ty'karus purchased the device and left the shop.

 

Ty'karus checked his data pad and then summoned a taxi a few minutes later they were headed to one of the premier tattoo establishments. The ride was uneventful and short. They exited the taxi in front of the establishment. They entered and were met by a male Zeltronian. He was tall muscular and wore a warm and casual smile. They were taken to a consultation booth, provided beverages and assigned a consultant who would walk them through the process. All in all Akita was impressed with the experience. It took three hours to select the artist and the markings. Ty'karus had made special arrangements to be present during the actual work.

 

Akita had chosen her left shoulder for the tattoo, Akita settled on a stylized version of the Imperial slave symbol accompanied by a marking that identified Ty'karus as her owner. The standard was done in all black, Akita's would have gold and white added to the black. The holo preview looked good against her red skin.

 

Akita was settled into a comfortable chair and the artist positioned his equipment and inks. Ty'karus reached out with the force and augmented the artists mind and reflexes. The augmentation was not large but would allow him to stay focused and alert through the entire process. Ty'karus took a chair next to Akita, he placed his hand on her and let the force flow from him and into her. She smiled at him and the artist began.

 

His work completed the artist sat back, moved his equipment and let Akita see his work. She practically bubbled. She looked up at Ty'karus with an ear to ear grin. Ty'karus was reluctant to admit it but the work was exceptional. He had initially balked at the thought of a hand sized tattoo on her perfect skin but it did add a special something.

 

Ty'karus completed the transaction and offered the artist some small praise. It would not do for a Sith to appear to grateful after all. Once outside Ty'karus checked the skin around the tattoo and gave it a quick boost so that it would heal faster. The swelling subsided almost immediately and within moments Akita was able to touch it without discomfort.

 

"Thank you master." Akita said quietly. Ty'karus could sense something stirring in her, it smelled like satisfaction as well as the color of belonging, sometimes the way the force let one sense emotion was less than ideal. He would ask her about it later when they had privacy.

 

They visited a few shops on the way back to the hangar. Ty'karus purchased a few more outfits for Akita at her request. She also asked him to purchase a few for Kelis, Akita had pulled her measurements from the medical equipment attached to the stasis pod. Ty'karus suggested that it may be premature to do so. In the end Akita won out by saying that it was just as important that he believe he would succeed. "There is no try, just do!" she told him. He gave in and bought the items.

 

They did not return to the freighter, instead they traveled to Ty'karus interceptor. They were careful to take alternate routes and double back more than a few times. All the while they used the force to enhance their senses and detect any threats.

 

Once safely onboard Akita checked on Kelis while Ty'karus checked the computers progress on decoding the Jedi message. He was pleased to find that the message had been decoded successfully. He was not happy with the contents of the message. The Jedi's contact had received information that suggested that Lord Mott had hired a bounty hunter to bring Ty'karus in. Additionally it suggested that one of Lord Motts other apprentices had been dispatched with similar orders. The Jedi seemed to think that Ty'karus had fallen out of favor with his master. The message went on to suggest that this loss of favor may have something to do with a battle between Ty'karus and an apprentice named Adith.

 

'He's found evidence of the drug. That has to be it.' Ty'karus thought to himself. Ty'karus knew that this was a possible outcome of recent events and he had planned for it, his plans would need to be accelerated. He needed to turn Kelis now not later and he needed to destroy all evidence of his work. All that and more he would need to do while avoiding bounty hunters and rival apprentices. 'That which is tested grows stronger.' He smiled.

 

He entered the cargo bay and found Akita checking the medical panels monitoring Kelis pod. "How is she?" he asked. Akita turned to him. "All signs are stable master" Ty'karus stepped forward and set the system for a slow revive cycle. He handed Akita the printout of the Jedi's message. She reviewed it then looked at him with a worried look. "Calm yourself my apprentice, all will be well as long as we can stay on schedule. We need to get this canister to the freighter and get started today. We will give it two days and then if I don't see evidence of progress we will let her go. We need another ally not dead weight or another knife at our back." Akita nodded her understanding.

 

They took the next hour to prep the canister, cover it and then transport it to the freighter. Ty'karus went back to the Interceptor and setup a number of false leads as well as wiping all personal data from the computer. He pulled a data storage device from the wall safe and transferred all the data to the ships computer. He kept an active second log running on a stand-alone terminal. It had accurate time stamps for all entries. The entries all had a ring of truth to them 'A convenient truth is better than a lie in most cases' he recalled telling Akita, words he lived by.

 

The logs also showed that he had discovered the illegal unsanctioned activities of the scientist that worked on the force dampening drug. The documents linked him to the information provided to Sith and Imperial Intelligence, it was, after all, true he had been the one that informed on the scientists. His journal went into great detail as to the potential threat that the drug represented. His notes also suggested that Sith Alchemy may be able to provide an antidote or vaccine to prevent the drug from being used against Sith force users.

 

Time was now against him more than ever before. It put a smile on his face. He was still Sith enough to recognize the challenge, to know that this would either be a triumph or his end. It was exciting and it made him feel alive.

 

[Tyrusstorm]

The story takes a turn in this chapter and I personally feel that it becomes richer. I welcome your feedback of course.

 

Chapter 24 Propaganda lies and more lies (be advised this chapter contains depictions of torture, mild by modern terms but you are warned non the less)

 

 

Ty'karus took the next four hours to prep one of the rooms into a holding cell, he sealed all the access plates, removed all objects from the room then put the items back only after each had been examined for potential tools, weapons or any other useful materials.

 

He went to the engineering room and manually disconnected all the power to the room, except that supporting the surveillance gear and room lights. He ensured that no vital systems were behind the walls in the room. Ty'karus did not believe in luck but he was none the less happy to find that the room was suitable and met his needs.

 

A basic bed was moved into the room along with a cage that they had purchased. Transporting animals was a common practice, Ty'karus was reasonably sure that no eyebrows were raised by the purchase.

 

He gave the room one last review, with access to the force escape would be as simple as peeling the door off its frame and walking out. Without the force it was as secure as any prison cell. He took the time to clear his thoughts and center himself. This kind of work was once his favorite, it had exhilarated him, it was his art form and it was his offering to the dark side of the force. Now it was a careful exercise that required absolute attention to detail. He could not let himself enjoy or feel too much during the process. He took a deep breath and left the room.

 

Kelis woke from a fog, she opened her eyes slowly, she was pleasantly surprised to be alive, she had been betrayed by the Jedi she had come to rescue. 'It's not her fault, the Sith corrupted her.' She thought. Kelis was not herself, she took a moment to clear her mind with the force. Nothing happened. Fear set in, she reached out again, and then she clawed at the force with her mind. Desperation filled her. 'Gone! It's gone.' Her mind screamed. 'There is no emotion, there is peace.' She repeated it over and over until she felt her heart slow its desperate attempt to jump out of her chest.

 

She focused herself and was happy to find her fear subside into the background. She was naked, sitting in the dark and there was something around her neck, cold hard. Her fingers felt it, a slave collar 'no doubt explosive' she thought. Her fear crept out of the darkness and sat down beside her. It whispered in her ear and caressed her naked body.

 

Kelis was well trained. It did not take her long to come to the conclusion that her condition was not just the result of fear but also from her separation from the force. All her life she had felt the force moving through her. It was part of her in every way and now it was gone. She was suffering from a form of withdrawal, the uncontrollable shakes were evidence of this as was her inability to think properly.

 

The door slid open with a hiss and Kelis covered her eyes from the sudden burst of light. Akita moved to the middle of the room and sat down on the floor outside Kelis's cage. The door slid shut and she was back in the dark. A moment later there was a soft glow from a small chemical lantern. Akita placed it on the floor beside her.

 

"Iwelith, please you have to help me. I don't know what he has done to you but I want to help." Kelis was careful to avoid statements that may anger Iwelith. It was clear that she was under the spell of the Sith.

 

"My name is Akita, Akita Ty." She turned, held the lantern up to her shoulder and proudly displayed her slave tattoo. Kelis blanched 'Oh my dear friend I am so sorry I was not able to rescue you in time' she thought.

 

"Very well Akita, tell me what happened to you." If she could reason with Akita, if she could show her that she still had more in common with her than the Sith perhaps she could help them both. Ty'karus watched from the captain's cabin, the surveillance panel allowed him to see and hear all that happened in Kelis cell. Kelis was intelligent, she was trying to build a connection with her captor.

 

Over the next hour Ty'karus watched and listened as Kelis followed interrogation techniques in order to illicit feedback and responses from Akita. He made notes in his mind, checking off tools in his mental arsenal, moving others to the fore and some to the back. He was bit by bit building a toolbox and a plan of attack.

 

Two hours later he knocked twice on the cell door, a signal to Akita that it was time to come out. She picked up the lantern and left the room. Leaving Kelis alone in the dark. Chiss eyes provided excellent low light vision but this room was pitch black, all she could make out were rough shapes.

 

Ty'karus hugged Akita, he pulled her close and kissed her. He took her face in his hands. "How are you apprentice?" he asked. She smiled a weak smile. "I am fine master but she is scared, just like I was when I woke up. She desperately wants to believe that you are somehow controlling me." She frowned, Ty'karus could feel the conflict in her.

 

"I will free her right now if you wish. We will continue on our own and find another way. It will be hard but I am willing." He kept his voice soft, calm. He did not want to influence her, this needed to be her choice.

 

"No master, I know what she is going through, I feel for her but I know that if we succeed she will know true freedom and we will have another ally. I am concerned though, she seems to be suffering more than I did." Akita's concern was greater than she let on, Ty'karus could feel it.

 

"You were asleep for the first few days due to your injuries, you were spared the withdrawal that she is going through. I am sorry there is little we can do for her." He told her truthfully. "Come you should rest." He smiled at Akita and sent her to rest.

 

Once Akita had rested Ty'karus asked her to take Kelis from her cage, get her washed and fed. She was not to be given clothing. Ty'karus remained out of sight.

 

Once Kelis had been allowed to shower and eat, Akita returned her to the cage. "My master will be here shortly to talk with you. Kelis, if you are open and honest with him, you will have nothing to fear. He is not what you think." Akita left the room without waiting for a reply. Ty'karus let her sit for an hour before entering the room. He took a seat in the chair in front of the cage.

 

"Before we begin we will discuss the rules. I will answer your questions, you will answer mine. Both of us will be truthful. Where we cannot or will not answer we will do our best provide understanding as to why. Yes?" His head tilted slightly to one side, his eyes searching her face.

 

"In this way we will have peace, knowledge and harmony. I trust this meets with your approval?" his words were warm, soothing. Kelis searched his face, her body still ached, she could barely think straight. She knew that to survive she needed to keep her captors talking, the longer she remained alive the better her chances of rescue.

 

"I agree." She replied. Ty'karus smiled.

 

The next two days consisted of conversation and review of the Sith and Jedi practices and philosophies. The sessions were not intended to be argumentative but rather simple review and open dialog. The purpose of which was to create understanding as well as a baseline. Ty'karus was sufficiently encouraged by the results to continue with the next phase.

 

On the third day Ty'karus spent time with Akita, he needed to make sure she understood what came next. Her agreement and participation were key. Akita was surprisingly understanding and supportive.

 

Akita spent some time early in the morning with Kelis, they talked about the last two days and also about the time they spent together as apprentices. The conversation was somewhat strained but Akita felt that Kelis attitude had shifted a bit. Akita could sense doubt in her old friend as well as anger. 'It's probably for the best that she does not have access to the force right now.' Akita thought. Ty'karus knocked on the door. As Akita left her friend she reminded her that honesty was the only thing Ty'karus wanted from her.

 

Ten minutes later Ty'karus hit the door button, the door opened letting light spill into the room. He let the droid push the cart into the room and followed behind it. He stood silently as the droid left the room. He keyed the lights to twenty five percent and took a seat in front of the cage that held Kelis.

 

He keyed the holo projector. Ty'karus had pulled archived data and news feeds from all over the galaxy and put together a series of recordings from before the treaty of Coruscant, that showed the results of Sith and Jedi conflicts. The recordings and the accompanying narration were all accurate and truthful. He had made no attempt to color the information in favor of one side or the other.

 

"We are going to review a series of recordings. At the end of each you will be provided with a question or a statement. Depending on your response you will be rewarded or punished. Failure to respond in a preset amount of time will result in punishment." He picked up a blanket from the cart and handed it to her through the bars of the cage. Kelis looked at it for a moment. Ty'karus could see her mind working, asking herself if taking the blanket was in any way a sign of surrender. Finally she took the blanket and wrapped it around herself.

 

"Why are you doing this? I will never turn to the dark side." He could hear the conviction in her voice. 'Good keep focused on that, it will be your undoing.' He thought to himself.

 

"You may wish to rephrase your first question as you are clearly unaware of what I am doing." He sat quietly and waited. No Sith was chosen for training as an inquisitor unless he or she possessed patients.

 

Kelis was still shaking, sweat ran down her face. "Very well Sith." She practically spat the words at him. "What are you going to do with me?" she asked.

 

"I am going to do something for you that the Jedi never would. I am going to show you the truth. Then when you are feeling better, I will return your connection to the force and let you decide your future and for the first time you will choose where you stand of your own free will." He keyed the holo projector and with a wave of his hand killed the lights in the room.

 

Kelis felt a wave of desperate hope rush through her, had the Sith just said he was going to return her connection to the force? This meant it was not permanently severed. Or he was just playing with her. Kelis worked to bring her emotions in check, she failed.

 

The first recording began it was a short five minute news highlight from some distant area of the galaxy, it outlined the impact of Sith activities and the associated cost in Republic lives. A statement scrolled along the bottom of the holo recording. 'The loss of life caused by the Sith is unacceptable to a civilized society'. Ty'karus paused the recording.

 

"Agree or disagree?" he kept his tone even. "Agree, the Empire has no regard for life." Tired, sick and suffering from withdrawal and yet still so defiant. Ty'karus admired her resolve. He activated the collar. It sent a rush to her pleasure centers. Kelis gasped, she grabbed the bars and held on as the wave of pleasure fell on her. Her eyes were wide and her body shook. Ty'karus moderated the flow, it would not do to over load her.

 

Kelis gathered herself she pulled the blanket back over herself, it had fallen to the ground when she grabbed the bars to steady herself. She felt exposed in front of this Sith. Shame also found its way into her mind as she realized that it was this Sith who had just caused her ecstasy.

 

Before she could fully recover the next recording started. Republic relief efforts were expected to arrive on Belthas IV but the news recording showed that the support ships had been redirect at the urging of the Jedi. Something to do with ongoing conflict that needed the resources more. Loss of life on Belthas IV was estimated in reach tens of thousands. The statement scrolled in front of the recording. 'The loss of life attributed to Jedi actions is unacceptable to a civilized society'.

 

"Agree or disagree?" Ty'karus had chosen the first set of recordings carefully, he needed to illicit specific reactions to challenge her. He also knew that she was measuring his response to her answers. It was, as far as Ty'karus was concerned, the purest form of one on one combat.

 

"Agree or disagree?" he raised his voice slightly. Kelis fidgeted, she was struggling with how to respond. "We are at war. It is a fact of life that sometimes people suffer for the greater good. I am not happy about…" She screamed as he punished her with the force. She writhed on the floor, her back arched. He let her go and she lay still for a moment. When he saw that she was trying to get up he used the force to pull her to her feet and put the blanket back in place. Her face was defiant but she would not meet his gaze.

 

Ty'karus stood, he walked over to the cage, his hands were clasped behind his back. Kelis held the bars to steady herself, again the blanket fell from her, she did not have the strength to pick it up. "I am not looking for the Jedi response Kelis, I am asking you to provide a personal opinion. You do have those don't you?" He leaned in close. "Agree or disagree?" it was almost a whisper.

 

Kelis stood before him naked, her hands wrapped around the bars holding herself up, she made no move to cover herself, and she was not going to give him the satisfaction of knowing it bothered her to have him see her like this. A million thoughts raced through her mind. Defiance turned to anger. She wanted to hurt him to make him suffer. A warning scratched at the back of her mind, she worked with all her strength to focus, but it was so hard. Sweat poured down her body. "Agree." She pushed the words through gritted teeth.

 

Ty'karus stood ready, once again he let a wave of pleasure wash over Kelis, her grip on the bars failed. Ty'karus shot his arm through the bars and steadied her. Kelis grabbed on to his arm as her body twitched at the pleasure she felt. For a moment all her pain was insignificant, a smile rushed over her face and her knees were weak.

 

Ty'karus continued with the recordings for another five hours. When he left the room Kelis was passed out in the cage. Akita had been watching from the monitor in their room and met him as he left the makeshift prison.

 

"Master you need to rest. I will take over." That surprised Ty'karus, it showed on his face. "Let her rest for an hour then please take her out let her wash and feed her. Do not talk to her, it is important that she be alone in her mind with the events so far."

 

Ty'karus continued this process for the next three days. The sessions rotated but were always eight hours followed by four hours of rest. By the end of the day he rewarded Kelis by removing her from the cage and letting her sleep in the bed.

 

Day seven was the same, by the end of the day Ty'karus directed Akita to provide Kelis with clothing. Akita chose one of the more modest outfits. By day eight Ty'karus had moved to the next phase, Kelis was no longer required to spend time in the cage it was left open in the cell.

 

Kelis answers almost always resulted in positive reinforcement and allowed him to move to the next phase. On a correct answer Kelis was congratulated for her choice but pleasure was only provided if she asked for it. Asking her captor for pleasure worked to erode her resistances and form a dependency on him. Ty'karus was pleased with her progress and equally surprised at her resiliency. Despite the level of her conditioning, she addressed him as master only occasionally. Given her overall progress he did not think it a serious issue and decided to move to the next phase.

 

This next phase included longer discussions in personal decision making. They reviewed new recordings that showed past and present activities of both the Sith and Jedi. Kelis was required to provide feedback on how she would have handled the related situations if she had the power and authority. None of her answers were treated as wrong or right so there was no use of pain. She was still allowed to request pleasure at various points in the conversation. Ty'karus monitored her emotions and thoughts with the force and cautioned her only when he felt she was telling him what he wanted to hear. "I don't want you to tell me what you think I want to hear, I value your opinion, tell me what you would have done." He would tell her.

 

By the end of the ninth day Ty'karus left the door open and asked Kelis to join them for dinner. At first she was quiet almost sullen, but as she watched Ty'karus and Akita talk over dinner she opened up a bit and attempted to join the conversation. After dinner Ty'karus took her back to her room and spent some time talking with her.

 

"I have a question master." She paused waiting for permission to continue. Ty'karus nodded. "I know you are Sith but these last days, your questioning, the discussions. You show no interest in supporting the Sith. I can sense that you are loyal to the Empire but you don't show, that is to say, it seems clear you have no more love for the Sith than I do." Although she had not directly asked a question Ty'karus could knew what she was getting at. He smiled.

 

"So why am I trying to convert you to the dark side, is that your question?" he chuckled. Kelis frowned, she had learned to dislike his chuckle. It was aggravating. "Yes, your actions speak to a different purpose. I don't have my force senses but I no longer believe you are what I initially thought you were. Why not let go of your hate and join the Jedi." There was fear in her voice, it was accompanied with doubt and shame. Ty'karus reached into her thoughts and took a deep breath.

 

"Do you still believe I am trying to pull you to the dark side? Or is that your Jedi voice talking, I am a Sith therefore I can have no other agenda, is that it?" his voice had a sad sound to it.

 

Kelis searched his face, there was an ache in her chest. She did not want to answer, she knew it would be her undoing. "No, yes, I mean." her voice caught in her throat. Ty'karus knew it was time. He took another deep breath and lifted her chin upward so her eyes met his.

 

"I have no desire to pull you into the dark nor do I want to leave you alone in the light. I am a shadow, I live in the land between. I am free to feel, to think for myself. I believe that the Jedi and Sith will never stop fighting. Maybe thousands of years from now, they will finally annihilate one another. Maybe then there will be peace, but until that happens the toll on innocent lives will continue to grow. Caught in the middle millions, billions maybe more, will perish." He paused. Kelis had tears welling in her eyes. He took her face in his hand and wiped at her tears.

 

"The force is all around us, it penetrates us, binds us. The force is balance. Only the Jedi and the Sith seek extremes. Only they fight against the will of the force." He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead, she made no move to stop him. He smiled at her as he left the room. Kelis sat on her bed. Something inside her tipped, her doubt and anger were fading.

 

"Good night apprentice." He turned and left the room. Kelis noted that the door did not slide shut. She made no move to leave her bed.

 

The tenth day was filled with frustration. Ty'karus directed the questions, how would Shadow's be different than Jedi or Sith? Kelis wanted to believe that if the galaxy had rid itself of the conflict between Jedi and Sith it would be a fantastic place free of pain and suffering. True to form Ty'karus told her the truth. If all force users vanished overnight, the galaxy would still have suffering and pain. The differences would be subtle. This angered Kelis visibly, Ty'karus knew that she was trying to find a larger meaning. Something that would justify her turning her back on the Jedi order. Ty'karus gave her only one word. Hope. The possibility that without the constant threat of Jedi vs. Sith, the galaxy would be safer, less conflicted.

 

"Master perhaps we could talk to the Jedi Council explain to them how the past is constantly repeating itself, conflict after conflict, centuries of suffering all in the name of Sith or Jedi agenda and dogma. Maybe they will see." He raised his hand and she fell silent.

 

"Maybe they will see reason? More likely they will brand us rebels or abominations. They will either kill us or banish us to the edges of known space." He chuckled and Kelis growled in frustration. "Then what's the point?" she howled.

 

"Just because the task is difficult does not mean it should not be attempted. It is my hope that if we gather enough who believe as we do, perhaps we can work behind the scenes to guide a gentler response from both sides. If I can embrace the light enough to understand compassion and you can brave the dark enough to understand the passion that drives the Sith we can, together, push little by little, maybe then we can make a difference." Kelis paced back and forth across the floor.

 

"Maybe we won't change the galaxy but we may save lives. It will be like a tug trying to turn a dreadnaught. Given enough time and enough of us, we may avert conflict. Not all at once but eventually." Her voice was hopeful.

 

"Apprentice, you must also face the fact that it may not happen in our lifetimes. We may be nothing more than seeds. It may be others that come after us, that have learned from us, that actually see change." Ty'karus wore a thoughtful smile as he spoke. Kelis stopped pacing and took a seat on the floor at his feet.

 

They spent the rest of the day and the next, reviewing her life and discussing things she would like to experience. Kelis had been taken from her home as a child. She had no recollection of her family. When she was an apprentice she had investigated their whereabouts during a moment of weakness. Akita had told her of her family reunion and it had intrigued Kelis. It was clear to Ty'karus that she was not completely comfortable talking with him about certain things, he left it alone and did not push.

 

The morning of day eleven and Ty'karus waited for Kelis to wake. Finding her door still open she wandered out into the lounge. Ty'karus and Akita were having breakfast she hesitantly joined them. Once they were done Ty'karus asked her to kneel at his feet. She immediately took a step toward him then froze as she saw the smile on Akita's face. Ty'karus waved her forward and she slowly stepped forward and knelt at his feet. He lifted her chin so that he could access the collar. A moment later the collar was off. He pulled Kelis to her feet and took her by the hand.

 

Akita pulled something from between the couch cushions and followed them out of the lounge and through the hallway. Ty'karus walked through the ship holding Kelis hand, she flinched when she realized how nice it felt to hold onto someone like this. Ty'karus stopped at the top of the ships ramp. Akita stood next to him with her hands behind her back.

 

"Before this day is over your connection to the force will return." Ty'karus smiled at her. Kelis felt her heart jump. He reached out and the ramp activated. He looked to Akita and she pulled her hands out from behind her back. She held out a hand to Kelis. There in her hand was Kelis's lightsaber, Kelis took it, there was a stunned look on her face. Akita hugged Kelis then stepped back. Ty'karus smiled at Kelis.

 

"It is your time to choose. If you stay I can promise you nothing." He kissed her on the cheek. "May the force be with you." He took Akita by the hand and they walked back down the hall leaving Kelis standing alone at the top of the ramp.

 

[Tyrusstorm]

Chapter 25 Dirty Old Man

 

Kelis stood at the top of the ramp and looked down. Beyond lay the hangar and a path back to the Jedi. When she had set out to rescue Iwelith, now Akita, she had been confident in her mission and committed to the Jedi cause. Now she was a different person. She loved the Republic and the Jedi, but she now saw a larger truth. Balance was the only way to truly serve the force, to be true to the force. Neither the Jedi nor the Sith wanted anything to do with this idea. Both wanted to see the end of the other through any means regardless of the cost in innocent lives.

 

Kelis stood at the top of the ramp for what seemed an eternity, her feet felt glued to the floor. Anger flowed through her, she reached deep trying to let it go. A familiar tingle formed behind her eyes. Slight at first then like pins and needles it spread through her body. When it subsided she knew the force had returned to her. As happy as she was at that moment it made no difference to her current plight. If she stayed she would be turning her back on her former life, if she left, could she return to the Jedi but what would happen the next time she was given a directive that she knew in her heart was wrong. Her anger flared, she could not recall being angry like this in the past. It hurt when she realized the reason. 'I have never cared as much as I do now' she thought. A Sith had taught her that the Jedi suppress emotions not only to avoid the dark side but to ensure unquestioning loyalty. Detachment is a double edged sword. Her anger built, there was a vibration in the ship, nearby something fell off of a shelf. A moment later Ty'karus and Akita were beside her.

 

"Kelis calm yourself." Akita begged her. She reached out and put her arms around her in a gentle hug. Kelis looked past Akita at Ty'karus. "Master please tell me what to do." She pleaded. He sighed and gave her a thin smile. "I can't, I won't. Freedom has a price, for you, this is it. You must choose." He stepped back and leaned against the bulkhead wall.

 

Kelis pulled away from Akita. "Was it like this for you Akita? Did he twist you with pleasure and pain? Then leave you, abandon you to flounder lost, angry!" Her voice was stressed and Akita could feel the dark side growing in her.

 

"No, it was not like that. He did not hurt me, as a matter of fact I almost killed him, but he would not fight back, even to save his own life." Her eyes were locked with Kelis. She looked at Akita with shock in her eyes. "Why don't you let me tell you how it was for me, if you're willing to hear me out?" Akita asked. Kelis shook her head in agreement, Ty'karus could see the anger drain away. 'I know how to pick them, who would have thought that a consular could be such a hot head. Nobody to blame but yourself, you knew this was not going to be easy' he thought to himself. Ty'karus sat at the far end of the lounge and watched quietly as the two talked.

 

The conversation took the better part of two hours. Kelis frequently exploded with a loud 'What!' there were a number of 'He didn't' and more than a few 'you're not serious'. Once again it struck Ty'karus that unlocking a Jedi from their dogma of repression and emotional suppression seemed to regress them into an almost adolescent state. Ty'karus made a mental note to try and find a more mature Jedi should they decide to do this again.

 

Ty'karus was mulling things over when Kelis stood before him. He smiled and arched an eyebrow.

 

"Akita speaks highly of you. If I am going to stay I would like to know more about you. All I currently know is based on our conversations and we both know that you controlled those." She had her hands on her hips and her emotions were charged.

 

"I will answer any questions you have but I need you to center yourself. Please" he said quietly. He watched as Kelis folded her hands together and took a few deep breaths. A smile crossed her face as she took hold of the force. A moment later her emotions calmed.

 

"Very good, now what would you like to know" 'this should be interesting' he thought.

 

Kelis took a seat across from him, she folded her arms across her chest. "What kind of man do you consider yourself?" she asked. "I am a monster." He responded without hesitation. Kelis looked shocked. Akita had heard the answer and she came over and sat down beside him "You are not a monster." She came to his defense.

 

"I am a monster, the things I have done, cannot be washed away with a few years of contrition." He said in a quiet tone. Ty'karus made sure he maintained eye contact with Kelis, he wanted to give her every opportunity to see his honesty. He knew she was testing him with the force, it did not bother him though.

 

"If it were within my power to kill every single Jedi and Sith, I would do so without reservation." He smiled, "present company excluded of course." Kelis paused, her face had an unsure look to it. Ty'karus smiled at her. "What? You were expecting me to lie, to make excuses for my life?" he arched an eyebrow at her. "Yes, actually, I was." She said. Ty'karus chuckled.

 

"You are asking the wrong question Kelis. I once told Akita the same thing. You Jedi seem so unwilling to ask what you really want to know. That small question the one causing an itch in there." He pointed to her forehead. Kelis starred at him for a while, he could feel the doubt and confusion building in her then it changed. She was on the edge things could go either way. Ty'karus needed to be careful. Kelis stood and pushed her chair towards the table and leaned on the back of the chair.

 

"What happens next if I stay?" she held his eyes unflinchingly. Ty'karus frowned. "We hide, listen, learn and try to find others who feel as we do or convince them if the opportunity arises. But you should also know that the next few weeks will be quite possibly the most challenging and potentially dangerous of your life. If we live beyond that, we three will be alone, living under a façade in a galaxy where the powers that be want to chew us up and spit out the bones. Just so you don't have any illusion going into this." A smile crawled up the right side of his face. It gave Kelis a shiver.

 

"Was that the Sith version of a motivational speech?" she laughed. Ty'karus relaxed, let out a small sigh. "Do you have any other questions now that the big one is out of the way?" he leaned forward ensuring his body language showed he was still engaged and paying attention to her. Kelis pulled at the straps of her clothing. "Can I get out of this, thing?" she asked with a laugh. "No." Ty'karus response surprised Kelis "What? Why not and what makes you think you can dictate what I wear?" her anger began a slow burn.

 

"You are free to go Kelis I am not dictating anything I am simply telling you that we are quite literally living covert lives. If you want to return to the Republic you are free to do so, I cannot and you know it." He took Akita's hand in his. "We want to be together and that means staying here in the Empire, at least for the foreseeable future. To do that we need to live at least in appearance, by their rules." Kelis cut him off, her hands were once again firmly planted on her hips. Ty'karus noted the warning sign for future reference.

 

"And that mean dressing like we are part of your harem of broken Jedi slaves? Perhaps you enjoy seeing us like this, is that it?" Akita was on her feet she reached out to calm Kelis. Kelis shook her hand off and stepped back. Ty'karus stood "Kelis calm yourself. I think you need to rest. It would appear that what I put you through has taken its toll on you. I am sorry." He offered. Kelis did not seem interested in taking a rest. She took a few deep breaths and her anger slid into the background.

 

"There better?" her words were still acidic but not as angry.

 

Ty'karus and Akita returned to their seats. "Kelis I have promised to be honest where ever I can, are you sure you want my honest answer?" Kelis cocked her head to one side and gave him an exasperated look. "Very well as long as you do your best to stay calm I will do my best to answer your question." Kelis

 

"The clothing that you and Akita wear makes you look like slaves, I imagine that coming from the Republic it's seen as demeaning, as a Jedi it's shameful. But those outfits are like armor. Most people including imperial officials and some Sith will ignore you, some will look down on you as well. In the end they will underestimate you. Ultimately that gives you power, it serves our purposes" He emphasized 'our purposes'.

 

"Having two former Jedi as apprentices or slaves for that matter only serves to raise my profile, a blessing and a curse. I am envied more but at the same time less scrutinized as I am seen as an example of what a Sith can accomplish." Kelis did not like the answer but it was clear that she understood what he was getting at.

 

Kelis crossed her arms over her chest. "So you're saying that these outfits protect us and secure your position at the same time, am I supposed to believe that this has nothing to do with the fact that you enjoy looking at us like this?" her voice was accusatory

 

"Both of you are exceptionally beautiful women, I have often wondered why so many female force users are so beautiful, in any case the answer to your question is yes. I find watching you, being around you to be most intoxicating." Akita giggled, Kelis blushed. Her emotions changed again.

 

"Please calm yourself and let me continue." He waited once again while Kelis calmed herself. Ty'karus reached out and augmented her connection to the force. It hit Kelis like a blast of cold air, she shuddered. As a Consular she had similar training and ability and immediately understood what he had done. "Thank you." She said with a thin smile. Ty'karus noticed something change in her, he would have to investigate later.

 

"If you decide to stay you should know that from time to time, while in public, I will touch you, put my arm around you, I may kiss you or grab you." His voice was matter of fact, there was no humor or sarcasm present. Kelis was about to offer an objection but Ty'karus continued. "If you are to look like slaves or apprentices to a Sith, We must act the part. Akita will help you understand what is required. Rest assured though Kelis I will never push you. It is not in my nature to take, not in this area, you have my word on that." He could feel Kelis poking around in his mind, testing his responses. He did little to stop her.

 

Kelis face was still flushed.

 

"Lastly there is benefit to you as former Jedi." He smiled. "Let me explain. You Jedi spend your entire lives suppressing your emotions, you do so in the name of serving the greater good. Yet by separating yourself from the people you serve you no longer understand them, you are no longer part of them." Kelis let out a long sigh of frustration. Ty'karus frowned. "You have something to say Kelis?" he asked.

 

"Master we covered this line of thought during our talks. I understand the disguise angle, I can even appreciate the fact that misdirection will give us an advantage. I fail to see how dressing like this and acting like slaves or your apprentices will help us be better people or reintegrate into society" In spite of his augmentation and her own attempts to calm herself, Kelis was looking near exhaustion. Ty'karus was concerned. 'She needs to sleep even if I have to force her to' he thought.

 

"You have lived your life as part of the Republic elite. Isolated but revered, here in the Empire you are feared as Sith apprentices and looked down on as slaves. Your understanding of the people around you will change as will your perceptions of what it is to be part of the whole."

 

Kelis looked exhausted. "Master would you mind if I slept for a while then gave you my decision?" she asked "Of course. Take your time." Kelis left the lounge and headed to the room that had been her prison.

 

With the morning came clarity and peace. Kelis found herself centered and relaxed. The anger of the previous day washed away. She rose and ran through her Jedi Consular meditations. As she did this she noticed something laying on the chair in the room. A set of Jedi garments. She picked them up, felt the material, smelled the leather belt and rubbed the tunic against her face. She stood there with the garment pressed against her naked body until she found her answer.

 

Kelis folded the garment and laid it across the chair where she found it. She took the time to brush out the wrinkles and arrange it to perfection. She turned and picked up the garment that Akita had picked out for her days earlier. It was leather, straps and thigh high armored boots. It was a disguise nothing more. She put it on and walked to the door. The door slid open with a hiss. She stepped into the doorway and left Kelis in the room. She walked slowly through the ship her steps had purpose, she placed each foot down on the deck as if part of some ancient ritual. Ty'karus and Akita were in the lounge, they rose to meet her.

 

She gave Akita a brief thin smile then turned to face Ty'karus. "Akita told me that this path is a rebirth and that I will need a new name." Akita reached out and grabbed Kelis hand and bounced excitedly. "If you walk this path you are reborn a Shadow yes." Ty'karus said. Kelis gave Akita a smile. "Master I would like to stay and walk this path with the both of you. My name is Valenya." she bowed her head.

 

Akita beamed, she hugged Valenya and pulled her into a seat. "I am so happy Valenya. We have so much to talk about." Ty'karus let them be, he had other things to attend to.

 

Later that morning Valenya found him on the bridge. "Master may I ask you something?" her voice was calm. Ty'karus sensed her anger issues from yesterday were gone, there was a calmness over her. "Of course Valenya."

 

"Akita is so, happy." She paused, her face gave no hint of emotion but her thoughts told a different story. Ty'karus could tell she wanted to know how but was afraid it would change her, that she would lose herself.

 

"You want to know if this will happen to you?" he asked. Valenya nodded. "Only if you want it to." He waited for her to ask more, he knew she would.

 

"How do I start?" Ty'karus sensed no fear, no confusion. Valenya was using the force to control and suppress her emotions.

 

"You start slow. First you need to let go of your emotional control. Use the force to suppress anger, fear, and hate any emotion directly tied to the dark side. Everything else you embrace. If you are embarrassed, happy, sad, you embrace it and examine the feelings. Our goal is to understand how these feelings affect us how we can use them without fearing them." He gave her his most reassuring look.

 

Valenya closed her eyes for just a moment. Ty'karus could feel her emotional barriers drop. Her fear spiked, he remained silent. A moment later he smiled as he felt her use the force to stifle the fear.

 

"You have taken your first steps into a greater world." He smiled at her. "Now I would recommend you speak with Akita, she can give you a more Jedi perspective on what to expect." Valenya nodded and left the bridge.

 

[FluffYajmw]

Another great chapter. Really enjoying this!

 

Hope to see more soon!

[FluffYajmw]

The story takes a turn in this chapter and I personally feel that it becomes richer. I welcome your feedback of course.

 

Really enjoyed this. Only point is that I would like to have heard some more detail about the moments with Ty'karus and Kelis when they discussed the Jedi vs the Sith point of view. But over all another great read.

[Lunafox]

Good stuff! I'm intrigued to see how things will go, now that they are numbering three Looking forward to seeing more soon.

[Tyrusstorm]

Chapter 26 Bounty Hunters And Bad Guys

 

Ty'karus eyes snapped open a few seconds before the ships alarm sounded. The alert indicated someone was seeking permission to come aboard. Ty'karus swung his legs out of bed, he grabbed his lightsaber and headed for the hatch.

 

Valenya was already at the door and Akita was only a few steps behind him. Valenya keyed the viewer and cursed. There on the screen was a tall male dressed in full Mandalorian armor.

 

"A bounty hunter, oh that's great." Valenya was shaking her head. Ty'karus smiled and hit the ramp button. There was a loud hiss and the door opened and the ramp slid down into place. Ty'karus took a few steps back and signaled for Valenya and Akita to move away from the doorway.

 

The bounty hunter walked up the ramp slowly, his left hand rested on his blaster, his right hand was hidden behind his back. "Hello anyone home?" he shouted up the ramp. A moment later Ty'karus could see his helmet come into view up the ramp. "Casius you mind putting that thing away!" The bounty hunter yelled. Ty'karus paused for a moment then laughed as he realized that he was naked.

 

"Come on up Gil it won't bite, besides you're armed what are you worried about?" Ty'karus laughed. Gil took another step forward then stopped. "Any chance the two of you watching the door could move to where I can see you?" he paused waiting for an answer. Ty'karus waved the women away from the door. Akita stepped forward and took up a position to her masters right. Valenya sighed and copied Akita taking up a position on Ty'karus left.

 

The bounty hunter let out a long whistle. "Damn no wonder you're not dressed. Good evening ladies." He said. Finally at the top of the ramp Gil looked around briefly then hit the ramp button. The ramp and door hissed shut. Gil removed his helmet. He was human in appearance and tall, Valenya would have put him at six foot six. There were a number of scars on the right side of his face and a cybernetic implant device where his right eye had once been. His red hair was bristle short.

 

"You here on business Gil?" Ty'karus asked quietly. Gil smiled, Akita noted that it was an infectious smile and smiled back at him. "Yeah, but no worries, I am not stupid enough to take a bounty on you, well ok I am but I certainly wouldn't walk up the ramp and knock if I was here for you." He chuckled. Ty'karus relaxed and returned the bounty hunters smile.

 

"No I suppose you're not. So to what do we owe the pleasure?" Ty'karus asked. "Well as eager as I am to swap stories you mind if we put that off until your Sith is covered?" Akita laughed out loud. Valenya's eyes widened in surprise. Ty'karus nodded, "Lounge is that way. Make yourself at home." Ty'karus headed for his cabin leaving the two Jedi with Gil. Valenya pointed him to the lounge, he nodded and strolled through the ship.

 

Ty'karus joined them a short while later, Gil was happy to see him clothed. "Drink before or after business Cas?" Gil asked. He held out a bottle of Prathian ale, he had been hiding it in behind his back as he came on board.

 

"After, if you don't mind Gil." Ty'karus waved the women to sit. Valenya took a chair and sat between the Gil and Ty'karus. Akita sat in her master's lap, her arm wrapped around his neck. Gil winked at her, she smiled back at him. Valenya was sure she was going to be sick.

 

"Okay boss well it isn't pretty. First ones free, we both know I owe you. Second is going to cost, standard rate assuming you find it worthwhile." Ty'karus nodded agreement.

 

"Well I am not sure what you did to piss off the Republic but they have had agents and yes that's plural, looking into your activities. I got wind when I was on a hunt, sometimes information comes from the strangest places. Anyhow, as far as I can gather one is assigned to your current activities and the other is back tracking your travels. Any of that mean anything to you?" Gil tried to look casual but his emotions were being read by three force users, the look on his face suggested he knew that but was playing the game anyway.

 

"I am a minor cog in the vast imperial machine, they are more than likely after something that my master is involved with or that he has involved me in." Ty'karus said with an even voice.

 

Gil smiled at him. "Couldn't have anything to do with the fact that you have corrupted these two fine upstanding Jedi beauties, could it?" he smiled out of one side of his face. Valenya felt her face flush. She used the force to calm her anger, she was about to do the same with the other emotions but remembered what she had been told. She was surprised at how hard it was to leave the emotions to run their course.

 

"No. Republic Intelligence does not get involved in such things. Jedi deal with Jedi matters, that includes my pets." He said confidently. Ty'karus fondled Akita, she in turn kissed him hard on the mouth. Gil raised an eyebrow. "I would almost like to have a problem like that, almost." Gil turned his eyes to Valenya, he looked her up and down, making no attempt to hide his enjoyment of her body. Ty'karus cleared his throat and leaned forward. "Are you going to tell me or are you going to make me ask, Gil?" Ty'karus gave him a curious look.

 

"I was trying to decide if I charge you for this part or just throw it in as a good will gesture." Ty'karus shook his head. "No more debts between us Gil, if it's good I will pay for it as well. Fair is fair." Ty'karus leaned forward. Gil nodded and put a data chip on the table.

 

"Two files on that, Mako did the heavy lifting getting those, you can thank her next time you see her. First one is info on the agents on your trail, it aint much but it's better than nothing, unless of course they let me get it." He scratched at his chin for a moment. "Sneaky lot those agents. Second file is a recording and pics of the person who sold me your location. Once he figures out I didn't bag you, my money says he will sell the info to someone else, double his profits." Ty'karus thanked him and asked Valenya to get some glasses. He then left the lounge and went back to his cabin for Gil's payment.

 

Ty'karus paid Gil and they enjoyed a drink together. They spent an hour exchanged pleasantries, talking about old times and previous meetings. As the conversation came to its obvious conclusion they moved through the ship to the exit hatch. Gil was making his good-byes when Ty'karus pulled out a small package and handed it to Gil.

 

"What's this? Vids of you and the ladies? Perhaps?" He chuckled, Valenya worked at keeping her anger under control. Akita laughed and Gil gave her another wink.

 

"No Gil, I found Bam'ordin." Ty'karus said quietly. Gil's face went blank. "He's put down roots, started a legitimate business, no doubt to cover his other activities, although I found no evidence of them. You should have no problem finding him with this." Gil stood there looking at the package. "Eight years Cas, eight long years. I still have a picture of the camp, all those bodies." Gil took a step towards Ty'karus. "He has to pay, those people weren't part of the hunt. He has to pay Cas!" Gil stood quietly turning the package over in his hand. "Can I bring him to you?" Gil asked, his eyes were dead. Valenya touched his mind, all she got was rage and vengeance. So strong where his emotions that she had to block him out. Before she did, she saw what Gil wanted Ty'karus to do to this man.

 

Valenya's eyes shot wide. "Master you can't" She pleaded. Ty'karus shot her a look and she fell silent and stormed out of the room. Akita was holding Ty'karus, she put her head against his and whispered in his ear. "I love you, no matter what, I will always understand." She followed Valenya out of the room.

 

"Gil, you may have to hold onto him for a while." Ty'karus nodded his head toward his apprentices as they left the area. "I have this trouble to clear up. If I am alive when it's done, you can bring him to me." Ty'karus briefly put his hand on Gil's shoulder then watched as the man turned and walked down the ramp.

 

Ty'karus secured the ramp and door then headed back to speak with Valenya. She was sitting with Akita. From the volume he knew they were arguing.

 

"Akita you saw what was in his mind, you know what he wants Ty'karus to do! How can you condone it?" Valenya was not yelling but she was clearly angry. Ty'karus walked up to Valenya's spot on the lounge couch and dropped to his knees in front of her. Surprised by his action she stopped talking and looked to him.

 

Ty'karus reached out and gently took Valenya's hands in his. "I beg you to take hold of your anger and frustration. These first few days are critical, you are vulnerable and I don't want to lose you to the darkness." Valenya could feel the genuine emotion in his voice, it surprised her. She did as he asked, she reached out and let the force completely remove the anger she was feeling. When she opened her eyes Ty'karus could see she was calm.

 

"There is so much you do not yet understand, I will do my best to explain when I can, when you are ready. But this fact you must take to heart. If you contradict me like that in public, if such an outburst is seen by the wrong people it will cost us everything. Do you understand?" Valenya nodded. Ty'karus got to his feet and sat down next to her.

 

"Good now kiss me." He smiled at her. She smiled back then looked at Akita then back at Ty'karus. "Are you serious? Why would I kiss you?" she asked.

 

"Because you have been feeling and that's good but so far, and I take responsibility for this, so far you have felt more anger and frustration than anything else. You need to experience something positive and you need to understand that emotions are not all bad."

 

Valenya looked back at Akita, seeing no indication of a response she tried to pull away from Ty'karus. He smiled at her "Valenya, relax, It's just a kiss, I am not going to rip your clothes off and take you on the floor." She blushed but made no further move away from him. Her eyes were wide and he could see concern in her face.

 

Ty'karus took her face in his hands and brushed aside a stray lock of hair. He smiled at her and moved closer. He searched her eyes then reached into her mind with his, letting her know it was going to be okay. He moved closer, his lips touched her cheek gently, little kisses along her face moving toward her lips. When he finally touched her lips with his he paused for a moment. He waited just a moment then moved again, this time his lips brushed fully across hers. Valenya pursed her lips trying to find his. Her face warmed and she could hear a rush in her ears. She felt his mind whispering to hers. Then his lips were pressed against hers, there was a warm sensation as he sucked her bottom lip in between his, she giggled and found herself trying to pull on his lip. He pulled back a bit then kissed her again, this time he pushed gently against her lips with his tongue. She opened them slightly and their mouths joined fully. They remained locked for a few minutes as Valenya fully experienced the kiss.

 

Ty'karus pulled away slowly and looked into her eyes. Valenya's heart was racing. He sat back and remained silent. Akita was smiling at her. "Embrace your emotions, enjoy the sensations." Ty'karus encouraged her. Valenya sat quietly for a while before speaking. "That was nice, thank you master. I will try to focus more on positive emotions." She brushed at her hair then shifted her clothes. A moment later she rose and left the room as if she had just remembered an urgent errand.

 

"Did you enjoy that master?" Akita asked with a wicked grin on her face. Ty'karus smiled and Akita pinched him.

 

Valenya sat in her room in silence, she was trying to work through her feelings, and she was not doing a very good job. All her training had focused on identifying emotions and the pitfalls associated with them and then suppressing them. Acceptance of emotion was not high on the Jedi training list. The kiss had been nice, warm, she shivered as she remembered. She ran her fingers over her lips, she could still feel his lips against hers. 'My first kiss and it was with a Sith, Just my luck.' She thought. Valenya spent the next hour replaying the event in her mind and examining her feelings. In the end she was still a little angry that he had been so gentle, so kind and perhaps a bit upset that she was still smiling.

 

Valenya left her room and located Ty'karus and Akita, they were preparing to leave the ship. "Where are we going?" Valenya asked. "We are going nowhere, Akita and I are going to pay a visit to the person who sold Gil our location. We will be back as soon as possible." Ty'karus pulled on his robe.

 

"Why can't I come? I know how I look in this outfit but I hope you have not forgotten I was a Jedi Knight, I am quite capable." Her hands were on her hips. Ty'karus took a deep breath and did his best to avoid a sigh.

 

"Valenya, it is my understanding that as a Consular you are versed in diplomacy yes?" He paused. Valenya nodded, the look on her face said he had peeked her curiosity. "Ok I assume that part of that training required you to look at situations from different points of view yes" Again she nodded.

 

Ty'karus snapped his fingers and pointed to a spot next to him. Without hesitating Akita hurried to the spot and dropped to her knees. Valenya's face was contorted, Akita's actions had clearly shocked her. "Valenya what do your senses and Jedi skills tell you?" Valenya's face was flushed she took a moment to calm herself.

 

She refused to look at Akita. "I see a Sith who has broken my friend, reduced her to a sex slave." Akita looked hurt but said nothing. "Fine that's what you see, now reach out with the force and tell me what you feel." His voice was steady and he worked to ensure there was no emotion. Ty'karus knew that this was a valuable training opportunity and he was going to make the most of it.

 

Valenya closed her eyes for a moment, as she did her expression changed, the anger on her face changed to confusion. "Akita does not think of herself as a slave, she loves you. Somehow she is happy that you treat her so." Her voice was quiet and she wore a pained look on her face. "Ok and what do you get from me Val?" Ty'karus asked.

 

"You guard your emotions tightly, it's difficult but I feel pride and contentment or happiness. I am sorry for what I said Akita." Valenya lowered her head. "Now I need you to put yourself in the mind of a Sith and tell me what she would feel, what would she learn from this interaction?" Ty'karus gave Akita his hand, she took it and he pulled her to her feet. He kissed her on the cheek before letting go of her.

 

Valenya replayed the event, it was a mere moment in time but it had disturbed her. None the less she reviewed it over and over in her mind and let herself see it with her Jedi senses. Minutes later and Ty'karus noticed she now looked aggravated.

 

"I am a Sith walking through a spaceport and I spy a fellow Sith exercise total control over a former Jedi, I would be impressed. More so when I touch her emotions and feel her happiness her contentment at being summoned to sit at his feet. I touch him and feel his emotions, they would seem nothing more than his enjoyment of his power over his slave. As a Sith, I imagine, I would be envious." Valenya sighed and raised her eyes to meet his. "I get it, you have manipulated your feelings into a disguise, even being able to feel your thoughts would not give you away." Ty'karus smiled "Very good and now you know why you need to stay here yes?" if Ty'karus had believed in luck, he would have crossed his fingers.

 

"My emotions will give me away, I will make you look bad. Is that it?" she snipped at him with the last. Ty'karus frowned slightly. "No. You must stay here because I worry for you. You are angry at me, angry at Akita and angry at yourself. Out there you will have to behave like a slave, and that will anger you even more. You need more time to adjust. Akita and I were in a remote location, circumstances were different." He lowered his voice. "In truth if you can't adapt, it may be best if you returned to the Jedi. This path may not be for you." There was silence. Akita gave him a look of shock, Valenya blinked. "Master you can't be serious, you would send me away?" She was clearly shocked at the prospect.

 

"If I have given you any reason to believe that I want to send you away please forgive me. I want you to be here with us, more than you know. But I care too much for you to see you give in to your anger." He took a step toward her and she stepped back, bumping into the bulkhead.

 

"I want to stay, I can't go back. Please." Her voice was sincere, Ty'karus could feel her emotions settle. Her thoughts clear. "That's the first time you have said that even to yourself isn't it?" Valenya nodded. "Val our relationship is going to be different than mine and Akita's. It does not mean you are less important. I value your opinions and your input. We just need to work on understanding each other." He paused. 'Trust is a two way street, you need to show her you trust her as well.' He thought to himself. 'No time like the present.' "Do you still want to come?" he asked with a smile.

 

Valenya nodded. "Ok we will wait while you get your robe." Valenya headed down the hall to her cabin. Ty'karus shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. "What's wrong? Your thoughts betray you master you are worried." Akita had her arms folded across her chest. "It's nothing major we just need to get passed the next few weeks and find a place to use as a base. Being this close all the time is fine for us but she needs more space." He rubbed his hands over his face and used the force to push away his stress. Akita chuckled.

 

"Apprentice what amuses you?" He asked. "You do know why she is so worked up? Oh please tell me you know?" Akita was laughing, Ty'karus gave her a stern look, and it had no effect. "Don't give me that look. We share a bed remember, I am you're willing slave." she reached out and caressed his face. "I understand what you're capable of, but that does not mean you scare me anymore. Master." She batted her eyes at him.

 

"Well why don't you enlighten me?" he dropped his scowl. "She is afraid of you, who can blame her. You inflict pleasure on her for days at a time, then you tell her you are going to grab her, hold her, without warning. Let's not even talk about that kiss." Her laughter grew, she put a hand over her mouth in an attempt to quiet herself.

 

"And?" he raised an eyebrow. Akita calmed herself. "She is afraid you are going to seduce her and that she won't try to stop you." Ty'karus coughed. Valenya was standing in the doorway. Akita grimaced. "Master can you give us a few minutes?" she pushed him towards the ramp exit. Ty'karus did not resist, he hit the ramp button and left them to talk.

 

Valenya was mortified. Akita rushed forward and hugged her, she was pleased that Valenya did not try to stop her. "Are you ok Val?" Akita asked. Valenya did not respond. "Val look it's going to be ok. You just have to remember what it was like the first month as a padawan. Do you remember how scared and confused we were? All the learning all the changes, pulled from our families. I can't remember how many nights it took for the Padawan learners in my dorm to stop crying. This is just the same. All the emotions all the feelings. It will get better I promise!" she hugged Valenya again.

 

"Did you have Master zik'ty as your meditation and exercise instructor?" she asked. Valenya nodded. "Yes he was quite literally a pain. His classes were more painful than some of the combat lessons." She smiled and looked Akita in the eyes.

 

"Exactly! He used to tell us 'To be a Jedi your entire body must be a Jedi, no muscle must be unattended!' and now, I can't imagine a day going by without all that stretching and meditation." Valenya brightened. "Your suggesting that since our emotions have been buried most of our lives, I am just suffering from exercise pain?" Akita beamed at her as she nodded her head.

 

"It's annoying, I know that if I use the force I can be calm, without fear or anger, I can be fully in control of my life and yet that infuriating man says I need to grow to embrace life and feelings. And suddenly I feel like I am a child" Valenya followed Akita to the ramp. Akita smiled at her "Oh come on don't tell me that on some level you're not enjoying this. Life is much more exiting now." Akita said as she headed down the ramp.

 

"It's also a lot more embarrassing. How did he manage this by himself anyhow?" Valenya asked absently. "I will tell you later" Akita whispered. Ty'karus hit the remote key on his wrist computer and the ramp retracted. He waited until Akita and Val were beside him.

 

"Please keep in mind that the person we are going to find sold our location to a bounty hunter, I can't say I am happy about it and I know he will not be happy to see us." He said as he pulled his hood up over his head.

 

[Tyrusstorm]

Apologies for the delay between posts but life has been getting in the way.

 

Chapter 27 Underworld

 

After they left the hangar they navigated through the maze of corridors and walk ways, passing a number of shops. Valenya had been to Nar Shaddaa as an apprentice, she noticed how different things felt this time. She was trying to recall if the sounds and smells were so crisp. Everything about this place seemed more alive more intense.

 

They exited the covered walk way and came out into the open. The colorful lights of the city blazed before them, towers that stretched high into the sky stood before them. Flying vehicles hummed along in neat formations coming from all directions. In many respects the city was like the immense planet city of Coruscant extending out across the horizon. Ty'karus hired a taxi and they joined the swarm of vehicles buzzing through the sky.

 

Moments later the taxi descended at a steep angle, it banked hard left and dove into the darkness. Valenya looked at Akita, she wore a smile ear to ear, Valenya recalled that as a pilot Akita loved this sort of thing. Valenya closed her eyes and let herself feel the ride, enjoy the thrill. The taxi pulled out of its descent, making her stomach lurch, Valenya laughed.

 

The taxi set down on one of the lower level platforms, Valenya noticed that the mood here had shifted, the people here came and went in the same numbers but they were quieter, they moved with a more careful manner. They left the landing platform and proceeded thru the covered access tunnel.

 

Ty'karus walked with confidence, his body was upright as if it hung from a cord in the middle of his head. The working residents of the area engaged travelers as they passed by, each trying to sell their wares or in some cases themselves. Some approached Ty'karus but all withdrew without saying a word. Valenya tried to recall how people reacted to her when she passed them as a Jedi. She could see it in her mind but she could not recall how it made her feel. Realization set in, she had ignored the people and she had felt nothing.

 

Valenya made a conscious decision to see and hear the people, to take it all in. She noticed that people looked at her and Akita but they averted their eyes from Ty'karus. As she walked the air flowing through the tunnels caught her robe and it billowed, making her slaves outfit apparent to any nearby. It was clear from the reactions that slaves were not an unusual sight, reactions changed when they saw her lightsaber.

 

They walked for some time until they came to a large open market. It looked different out of place. There were shops all around and yet here in the open there were dozens of stalls, they looked like they would be more at home in the desert markets of Tatooine than here. Her senses took in the sounds and smells as they made their way through the crowds.

 

She reached out with the force. As a consular she was trained to understand others. She was painfully aware of how she had failed in that aspect over the last few days. She pushed that aside and concentrated. She could feel the people, their eyes on her. Many of the thoughts were primal, lust, desire. She let them flow over her but did not ignore them. Others looked at her with pity thinking her a slave. Others still noticed her saber and assumed she was Sith, she bathed in their fear and then let the force wash it from her. She had never been feared before, not like this.

 

Valenya followed Akita and her master onto an elevator platform, it dropped a number of levels and let them out into another series of shops, markets and walkways. These were no less crowded but were definitely more dangerous. She noted escorts of all types dancing in open air stalls. Some were servicing clients unabashedly while others watched.

 

Ty'karus touched her mind, her eyes snapped forward and focused on a crowd near a neon lit establishment, they were going inside and he wanted her to be alert. She pushed fear out of her mind, entered a quick force meditation and pulled a battle augmentation first into herself then she let it flow outward into Akita and her master.

 

It was at that point that she realized that Ty'karus had been sharing an augmentation as well. The realization that he had been flowing energy into her body since they left the hangar gave her pause. She reached out gently and tried to feel him, it took a moment but she found him. She blushed as she felt his touch on her, around her, flowing through her. As a Jedi, other Consulars had supported her like this but none had done so with emotion, she reached deeper and felt him. He was balanced, he gave off a sense of intense purpose and peace.

 

As a Consular balance and diplomacy were essential parts of her training. How odd it felt to realize that the Jedi version of balance was purging emotion to lose one self and yet here was a Sith who had found balance by accepting emotion and finding truth in the shadow between light and dark.

 

Ty'karus signaled them to stay close and be ready. He purposely passed the line up at the entrance and ignored the bouncers order to stop. The bouncers yelled and one reached out for Ty'karus who force pushed him out through the closest window. There was a crash and a scream. Four more armed bouncers in various types of armor rushed forward knocking patrons out of the way. The first got within a meter of him and suddenly found himself floating in the air. Valenya reached out grabbing debris from the area, utensils, and plates, cups anything nearby. The material then shot forth in a steady stream pelting the bouncers. The patrons were quick and smart enough to clear the area. Akita let the last bouncer get close enough to touch her before her hand shot out and he was catapulted upward and landed with a crash against a table bolted to the floor.

 

Ty'karus turned slowly it was clear to the patrons and staff that he was inviting anyone else to take action. When nothing happened he pulled out a data pad with the image of a man on it. He walked past patrons and thrust it in their faces, in turn they all shook their heads and looked away. Valenya was not sure what they saw under his hood but the fear ran off them in waves.

 

He made his way to one of the round refreshment bars in the center of the establishment. One of the servers tried to back away but Ty'karus caught him with a force grip, the creature struggled as he closed its airways. Fear rolled through the room. The server squeaked something and Ty'karus let him go.

 

Ty'karus turned and headed for a different exit the crowd opened silently before them. Somewhere in the crowd someone reached for a hidden weapon, Valenya could feel it, desperation and fear overwhelmed by hate. Someone in the room was about to let hate overcome fear. Valenya looked quickly through the crowd and her force sense settled on a large humanoid with green skin and three horns. Ty'karus stopped and slowly turned toward the humanoid. Akita did not move from his side she stayed in position as he wheeled left. Valenya followed suit on his other side.

 

Ty'karus chuckled as he approached the green skinned humanoid. Patrons around the man slid away into the dark. "Brave I like brave, hate stronger than fear, also good. Pull your weapon let's see it." His voice was augmented, the room could hear him even though his voice was low. The humanoid let his hand slip out of his jacket, in his hand he held a small blaster pistol a hold out. Low power short range, designed to be used against unarmored opponents up close.

 

Ty'karus began the Sith code taking a few steps towards the man between each line he recited. "Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me." He stood in front of the humanoid and held out his hand. "What is your name?" he asked. "Yakash" he replied. "Yakash your hate is good but you need to feed it if your passion is to set you free." He motioned for Yakash to hand over the weapon. Yakash hesitated then dropped the weapon into Ty'karus hand. A blast of energy hit Yakash, his body jerked, held in place by the force he convulsed as tendrils of force danced over him.

 

There were muffled screams in the crowd but none made a move to leave. Ty'karus held him there. Valenya reached out and felt the creature's life slipping away. He would not last much longer. She desperately wanted to move, wanted to touch Ty'karus make him stop but she held her ground. Yakash fell to the ground, released from Ty'karus grip. Valenya reached out again and felt his vitality return, he was unconscious but he would live, she could sense the force wash over him, someone was healing him. She was stunned when she realized the healing energy was coming from her master.

 

Ty'karus turned and walked out of second set of doors. Akita and Valenya followed him. Once outside he quickened his pace and turned sharply down a side alley. Valenya followed. He pointed upward and leapt. The force assisted jump put him on the roof three stories above. He quickly moved to the edge of the building and began scanning the crowd.

 

"Reach out, someone down there will have recognized our target and will be looking to warn him or sell him a warning. We need to find that person. Akita sprinted to the right side of the roof and sat in meditation near the edge. Valenya reluctantly took the left side. 'How can she trust him so completely what hold does he have over her' she wondered to herself. He had not killed Yakash and he had apparently worked to assure his survival but he had tortured him. As he had tortured her. The memory of her torture made her flush. She recalled the pain and the pleasure. It was wrong but part of her longed to feel it again. She buried her fear and shame and set about concentrating on the people below.

 

It was not long before Akita touched their minds, she had found someone, they gathered and Akita pointed out a small Rodian making his way through the crowd, his mind was open and his thoughts easy to read. He had something worth selling, he had managed to get pictures of the Sith who was looking for Qlish, he was counting on a big payday.

 

They traveled across roof tops keeping sight of the Rodian. They were forced to drop to the ground only a few times and almost lost him once as he passed through a larger market area. With three of them searching for him it was not long before they found him again. He doubled back a few times and paused for a long stretch before finally entering an unlit nondescript door.

 

They dropped to the ground a safe distance from the location. Valenya and Akita looked at their master, he remained silent then headed toward the door. Valenya wanted to suggest a diplomatic approach, wait for the Rodian to exit and see if they could question him. She was looking at the building for other options when Ty'karus cut the door clear of its hinges with his lightsaber. He pulled and the door shot past them and clanked to a halt in the street behind them.

 

He stepped through the doorway, they followed. There was shouting and shooting, lightsaber's flashed, men and creatures screamed. Valenya and Akita had their lightsaber's out more for show, they pushed attackers into walls or slammed objects into them. Valenya was surprised to see Akita wield a red saber but there was no time to ask about it now.

 

Ty'karus did not make a sound as he plowed through the attackers. In the end he had killed two, and injured more, the survivors would struggle to move for the next few days but would recover. When they found the Rodian he was behind an armored glass panel along with a richly clothed man and two slaves. Ty'karus located a comm panel and keyed it.

 

"If you make me come to you, I will torture you and then kill you. If you come out on your own I will torture you but I will not kill you." He stepped back and waited. The armored panel was sound proofed, they could not hear the conversation on the other side but their force enhanced senses let them read lips under the right conditions. A simple task given the range and lighting in the room. Qlish was telling the rodian Mahklaj what was going to happen to him for leading the Sith and his witches to him. 'Sith witch or Jedi witch, Jedi witch sounds better' Valenya thought to herself.

 

There was a hiss and a clank and the armored panel slid open from the middle, half sliding left and the other right. Qlish was a large humanoid over six feet in height and pushing three hundred pounds, most of that muscle.

 

Ty'karus stepped into the room and sat down in the closest chair. Qlisht slowly sat down behind his desk. "You sold information about me, to a bounty hunter" Ty'karus held out his hand, tendrils of energy flitted from finger to finger arcing and sputtering as they went.

 

"Yes, Gil was his name." He responded coldly. Valenya was impressed by how controlled his man was, he was afraid but not overly so. "You are employed by the Hutts?" Ty'karus asked. The man nodded. "Have you sold the information to anyone else?" the man grabbed at his chest, pain wracked his face. "No, I swear" he screamed. A moment later he gasped for air as the grip Ty'karus had on his heart faded

 

Ty'karus stood and looked around the room up along the ceiling, he found the monitoring equipment and stood facing it. "Information on my activities and location were sold by your man here to a bounty hunter. The only way this man could have obtained this information was through Hutt sources, I have great respect for the Hutts and their business acumen. I have always appreciated, as have my Sith brothers and Sisters, the confidentiality provided by the Hutts in all business transactions. So I am going to assume that this man stole the information and sold it for a profit, unauthorized profit."

 

Ty'karus looked at the two females slaves. He waved them out and they ran without question. Ty'karus turned back to face the hidden monitoring device. "I leave this man's fate in your capable hands." Ty'karus waited. A moment later the terminal on Qlish desk beeped. Ty'karus waved his hand and the terminal turned to face him. On the screen was a Hutt and beside him a droid. The large Hutt spoke, the droid waited for its master to stop. "My master bids me welcome you and he assures you that your understanding of the situation is correct, Qlish stole the information. My master was aware and had already arranged for Qlish to be punished, we will provide compensation for any inconvenience you may have suffered." The droid fell silent.

 

Ty'karus bowed signaling agreement and the screen went black. Ty'karus gave Qlish one last look then turned to leave. They were not far from the room when they heard a single blaster bolt followed by a loud thud as Qlish's body hit the ground, dead by his own hand. 'Master of his own fate. Better to die on his terms than at the hands of the hutts.' Ty'karus thought to himself

 

As they left the area Akita pulled closer to Ty'karus. "Master may I ask a question?" she smiled at him. He nodded, they continued to move through the crowd that had gathered. "Your behavior in the club. You barely spoke to those people and then you just turned and walked out, is that a Sith thing or?" He laughed at the question.

 

"As an inquisitor I have learned that to understand a thing is to have power over it. Communication is key to understanding. At the same time, people fear what they do not understand. Therefore the less I say the less I am understood the more I am feared. Fear is power." Akita pondered his response as they traveled.

 

"Valenya nothing from you?" he asked. Valenya had been considering asking about the cost in lives today but she held her tongue.

 

It took two hours to get back to the ship. They took caution to ensure they were not monitored or followed. Once the ramp was secure and the door locked Ty'karus turned to Valenya.

 

"Valenya I want you to know that I meant what I said. Your opinion is important to me. If you think we could have handled that differently, then map it out for me and we can discuss it. I am not above changing tactics if you can suggest a better way." He waited for her to respond.

 

"We talked about innocents caught in the crossfire. The three who died today were not innocent and I am sure if you were not the man you are now, none of the men in that building would be alive. Master." Her voice had no fight in it.

 

Akita smiled at him as she pulled him close. He wrapped his arms around her and held her in silence until he felt the muscles in his back relax. She let him go. "I am going to take a shower and go to bed, see you soon." She winked at him and walked down the hallway, her hips swinging.

 

Ty'karus entered the bridge, checked the ships computer and entered a course in the navicomp. Pre-flight completed he received clearance for takeoff and watched as Nar Shaddaa faded into the stars. Twenty minutes later the ship entered hyperspace. The journey would take a few days. Giving him time to relax and think. If all went according to plan, today's actions would draw the right attention. His interceptor would be located and its data extracted. He was reasonably certain that the Republic agents were in fact Imperial agents working at the direction of his master. He would have to review the information provided by Gil later, it felt too convenient. 'What are the odds that a trusted associate would turn up with valuable information, even Gil was suspicious of the information' Ty'karus hummed as he reviewed the bits and pieces in his head.

 

[Tyrusstorm]

Chapter 28 Convince Me

 

Ty'karus made a final check of the nav computer, satisfied with the readings he left the bridge and headed to his cabin. Valenya and Akita were standing in the hallway talking, he smiled and passed them without interrupting. He entered his cabin stripped off his clothes and stepped into the sonic shower. He let his mind drift, he reached out with the force and applied a healing touch to the muscles in his shoulders. Once he was relaxed he let himself enter a mild meditative state. He reviewed the next steps and gave some thought to how enjoyable it would be to survive the next few weeks.

 

His shower completed he dried off and wrapped the towel over his shoulders and stepped out of the fresher into his room. There was a sharp intake of air from Valenya. Ty'karus turned to see Akita and Valenya now talking in the open doorway to his room. 'Don't care, I'm tired.' He thought. Without a word he laid down on the bed. "If you don't want to look, feel free to close the door. Good night my dear apprentice's" he turned on his side and closed his eyes.

 

Akita pulled Valenya back out into the hall and closed the cabin door. "Sorry about that, I swear he does that on purpose." She smiled at Valenya. "Akita how do you put up with him?" Valenya asked her. "I love him. I know what you're going to say, how do I know I love him? Well you're right I have nothing to compare it to but I know how I would feel if I lost him." Valenya took Akita's hands and tried to look supportive. "I have to ask, you know I do. Are you sure are you really sure that he has not done something to you to make you feel this way? Please don't hate me for asking." Valenya bit her bottom lip as she waited for Akita to respond.

 

Akita squeezed Val's hands. "I don't hate you Val, I am happy that you care enough to ask, even though you are obviously concerned about how I might react." Valenya exhaled in relief.

 

Akita pulled Valenya into the lounge and sat her down on the curved couch. "The first time we joined." Akita smiled and Valenya blushed. "The first time, something happened." Akita said quietly. "I'll bet something happened." Valenya said sarcastically. "Besides that, hush. It was mutual whatever you may believe it was not forced." Akita retorted.

 

"We shared something. I saw bits of his life, felt his pain. I think this can happen between any force users, I suspect it's one of the reasons the Jedi council forbids it." Valenya stared at Akita. "Val you have no idea what it's like being trained as a Sith. While most Jedi are still Padawan learners, he was killing. They are like animals, forced to fight or die. Without feeling it, you can't appreciate what it means for him to have turned away." Her eyes welled up with tears. Valenya hugged her.

 

"Akita that's the hard question, how could a Sith truly turn away on his own. You said you had an idea. Can you share it with me? I need to understand. Don't get me wrong, I believe this path is the right one. I just need to understand him better, I need to get rid of this doubt." Valenya sighed. Akita looked uncomfortable. "I know this is going to sound conceited so forgive me. Valenya he did it for me?" Valenya's face told Akita that she did not believe it was true. "Akita he had just met you, I'm sorry but..." Akita cut her off. "Valenya when we talked about what it was like for me to choose to stay with him, to walk this path. I did not tell you everything." Valenya furled her brow. "Are you saying you lied Akita?" there was a hurt look on Valenya's face. "No! I promise no. reach out search my feelings my thoughts. I swear I didn't lie. I just didn't tell you everything some of it was just too personal, some of it shames me." Valenya could feel the truth in Akita's mind and voice. Seeing Valenya relax Akita continued.

 

Akita told Valenya everything, she left nothing out. The whole truth about the force visions, the pain it caused him. She told Valenya all she saw in his life when they made love the first time. All she had seen since. Akita painted a graphic picture of Ty'karus master Lord Mott, admitted to killing two of his acolytes. The incident in the hall of logistics and Ty'karus torture of the Sith Adith.

 

Then with tears rolling down her face she told Valenya about Edza and her mother, Jitta. She told Valenya how she felt seeing the little girl's body lying in her mother's arms. Of sorrow so intense it felt like her heart would actually break. Valenya hugged her and cried with her. Akita pulled away enough to see Valenya's face, she told her how it felt when she held up her lightsaber and let out her sorrow in one primal scream. How it lifted her heart when the clone Edza awoke in her mother's arms.

 

Akita could feel her master touch her mind, he had felt the emotion build in her and Valenya. She reached out and let him know all was ok. She felt his presence leave her mind.

 

"Akita I don't know what to say. But I do understand why you didn't tell me, I am sorry I pushed you, forgive me?" Valenya gave Akita a pained smile.

 

"There is nothing to forgive, I just wish I had something more than words to share with you." They sat together a while longer, just talking about their time as Jedi and the future. Valenya noted that Akita tended to think about the now and what would come next but only in a limited sense. As a Consular Valenya had to think long term, it was part of her diplomatic training, whereas Akita was a warrior and tended to think more immediate or tactically.

 

It occurred to Valenya that if they were to continue recruitment they would need to address conversion and doubt with more than Ty'karus current methods. Her face flushed and a tingle ran through her as she gave thought to his 'methods'.

 

Valenya discussed her concerns at length with Akita, they both agreed that something had to be devised that would expanded on the current methods. Valenya was reluctant to bring this to their master but Akita convinced her that it was important. They agreed to bring it up in the morning as right now both of them were tired and needed sleep.

 

Valenya paced back and forth in the lounge. The ships protocol droid had made her breakfast and stood quietly by the main entrance to the lounge. Valenya looked at the time and took a deep breath. 'They should be up by now how much sleep can they need?' she thought to herself. It was almost an hour later that Akita and her master made there way into the lounge. Valenya sensed contentment rolling off of them both, realization set in and she felt a warm flush through her body. It was becoming quite an annoyance. She was tempted to suppress her feelings but she knew that a sudden change might not go unnoticed.

 

"Good morning." She practically pounced on them. Akita gave her a smile. "Master why don't you sit and talk with Valenya I will get our food. She pushed him toward the table. He gave her an odd sideways look but did not resist. He sat and Valenya took a seat next to him.

 

"Master, Akita and I were talking last night and I, that is we, have a concern we would like to discuss." She paused only for a second and when he did not offer objection she continued.

 

"I am assuming that you desire to enlist additional support for our cause. If that is correct then we would like to suggest that alternate methods for recruitment be considered." She was talking at breakneck pace getting the entire string out in one breath. Ty'karus held up a hand and she reluctantly stopped.

 

"I agree but you must keep in mind that all the standard inquisitor methods involve liberal use of torture. Akita was a unique situation, as she told you, I had been preparing for our meeting for years." He paused and motioned Valenya to move closer, she did so hesitantly. Ty'karus motioned for her to take his hand, which she did.

 

"Val. I was not prepared for you. I feel that I should have taken longer, been more careful. Each time I hurt you it caused me great pain. I know there is no way to make it right but I do want to apologize." With his hand holding hers she could feel his emotions, she could sense his thoughts. She was surprised by the genuine sense of regret flowing from him.

 

"Thank you master. I don't think I have forgiven you quite yet but if it helps I am glad it happened." She offered. He nodded his understanding.

 

"So since you brought this up do you have a suggestion, an alternative to offer?" has asked while looking from one to the other. Akita looked at Valenya.

 

"Perhaps we could use the Jedi approach? I have read a few case studies where the Jedi worked together to break down the barriers of a Sith or a Jedi that had gone over to the dark side. They used their abilities in concert. It was less like torture and more like reconditioning, using the force." Valenya watched his face as he considered her idea.

 

"I am not opposed to trying this method but it would require that you both be involved and it would open you to considerable stress and keep in mind that the power transfer we are talking about if far beyond battle augmentation. It's the difference between a straw and a starship fueling hose, mistakes can be damaging or fatal." He paused letting that sink in, Ty'karus wanted to make sure that both of his apprentices were aware of all of the risks. Secrets had no place in this discussion. When he was sure they both understood he continued.

 

"Additionally I am concerned that someone turned in this manner could so to speak, snap out of it, reverting without warning. My methods with you Val were focused on providing you the facts and letting you see for yourself what this conflict was costing the galaxy, so that you would come to the truth on your own. While you could choose to go back to the Republic, you are less likely to do so as I truly believe you have changed." His words surprised Valenya. She searched his mind and saw that there was no reservation in him. He trusted her and it shamed her because she knew that she was still unsure of him or rather his motives.

 

"Master do you know how this joined effort process works?" Akita asked. Ty'karus nodded. "I have a detailed account as well as a few books on the subject from the Jedi archives. Valenya let out a small gasp. "How did you manage to get books out of the archive?" she did not hide the shock on her face.

 

Ty'karus cringed. "I bought them from one of my Sith brothers who obtained them from a Jedi." He said quietly. "The books are in my cabin, but I don't think you are ready yet Valenya." His words were plain there was no recrimination in them but Valenya was visibly hurt by his response.

 

"May I ask why you believe I am unfit for the ceremony?" her words carried her pain at his rebuff. He gave her a thin smile. "It's my fault, actually, you see the ceremony requires that the Jedi performing it, in this case us three, trust each other completely. I have, thus far, failed to earn your trust. For that I am sorry." He leaned against the back of his chair and sighed.

 

"Akita could you bring the books here? They are in the hard case under the bed. Please." Akita smiled and excused herself from the table and headed down the ships hallway. Valenya and Ty'karus sat in silence. Valenya tried to analyze her master's recent comments. She wanted to trust him but the nagging questions in the back of her mind would not let go. This man is a Sith Inquisitor, his life is manipulation and intrigue. There was part of her that still believed it was possible that she and Akita had been manipulated and that even though they believed in the cause, they were being led by someone who was doing so for his own ends.

 

Akita returned with two books and a data pad. Valenya looked up at Akita and was surprised to see an odd smile on her face. Their eyes met and Akita raised an eyebrow then looked downward, Valenya followed her gaze and was shocked to realize that she had not pulled her hand back. All this time she had been sitting beside him holding his hand. A wave of shock ran through her. Ty'karus smiled and gently let go of her hand, Valenya was further surprised that she had genuinely enjoyed the contact. Akita winked at her and Valenya felt anger and other emotions rise.

 

"There is a Sith version similar to the Jedi. It differs in that it requires the use of Sith Alchemy. The Sith don't have the ability to trust like the Jedi so the ritual requires the use of acolytes and apprentices to provide power and a single master or possibly a few. There is a single large crystal and one or more control crystals. We can talk about that later though."

 

Ty'karus stood and moved away from the table. "I will leave you to review the Jedi material. I still need to do my morning exercises and meditate. Good morning my apprentices." He gave them a small bow and left them.

 

Akita and Valenya spent the remainder of the trip locked in study of the ceremony. Valenya was forced to come to the same conclusion that her master had. The ceremony required trust, each of the participants provided power and one drove it. If at any point one of the participants doubted the one in control it could cause the ceremony to fail or worse it could injure the subject they were trying to convert.

 

She would have to address this later as the ships destination alarm sounded. They had arrived in the Tatooine system.

 

[Lunafox]

Nice to see more updates! Good stuff. I like the way you show the evolving relationship between the three, and the trust issues, especially with Valenya. I'm looking forward to the ritual.

 

If I can offer a suggestion, I think it would be easier to read, if you broke up the dialogue and gave each person's lines, their own paragraph. For example:

 

"Akita that's the hard question, how could a Sith truly turn away on his own. You said you had an idea. Can you share it with me? I need to understand. Don't get me wrong, I believe this path is the right one. I just need to understand him better, I need to get rid of this doubt." Valenya sighed.

 

Akita looked uncomfortable. "I know this is going to sound conceited so forgive me. Valenya he did it for me?"

 

Valenya's face told Akita that she did not believe it was true. "Akita he had just met you, I'm sorry but..."

 

Akita cut her off. "Valenya when we talked about what it was like for me to choose to stay with him, to walk this path. I did not tell you everything."

 

Valenya furled her brow. "Are you saying you lied Akita?"

 

There was a hurt look on Valenya's face. "No! I promise no. Reach out search my feelings my thoughts. I swear I didn't lie. I just didn't tell you everything some of it was just too personal, some of it shames me."

[Tyrusstorm]

Thanks for the feedback. I agree on the formatting and it is posted that way. Sadly I am having some issues due to where I am posting from and the secure browser I am using. Formatting seems to go to heck.

 

Will add some additional hard stops to try and separate the text more clearly.

 

Very happy you are enjoying the story. I will be posting another chapter tonight to try and make up for lost time.

 

Cheers.

[Tyrusstorm]

Ok here is chapter 29. @Lunafox, let me know if this reads better. Thanks again for your feedback

 

Chapter 29 Sand And More Sand

 

Before setting down Ty'karus reminded both of his apprentices that Tatooine was disputed territory with a Republic presence.

 

"We need to be mindful at all times, this place is a hot spot for criminal activity as well as being a bounty hunter haven. We will pick up supplies in the market and then head out. My goal is in and out as quick as possible." The ship locked on to the spaceport beacon and began an automated decent.

 

"Master can you tell us why we are here?" Akita asked. He nodded. "I am looking for a Sith who I am on sociable terms with. He has something I need and I have something he needs. Hopefully this will be a quick and painless transaction and we can be on our way."

 

The shipped touched down moments later. They passed through customs and Ty'karus checked the imperial news feeds before leaving the spaceport. As they left the spaceport terminal they encountered a number of small market stalls. They sold a number of items including sun goggles, bottled water and surprisingly, tourist items. Ty'karus purchased three sets of sun goggles and handed a set to Akita and Valenya.

 

To say that Tatooine is hot is to say that the space is cold. It's an understatement. Ty'karus took a deep breath and realized why he hated Tatooine. It was so dry that people actually made a living off of farming water out of the atmosphere. It took complex machinery that ran almost twenty four by seven.

 

Sun goggles in place they made their way down the main thoroughfare. Ty'karus checked his chrono then hit his wrist comm unit. There was a momentary crackle followed by a series of beeps. He pulled a small device from one of his belt pouches, he held it up against his comm unit and activated the device. Valenya and Akita looked on curiously. There was a momentary pause and another set of beeps came through his comm unit. Satisfied with the results he deactivated the device and his comm unit.

 

Tatooine's notoriety came from three key factors. It was a haven for criminal activity, it was hot and at the *** end of space. As they made their way Akita and Valenya both noticed the imperial presence, there were numerous armor clad troopers moving in squads. Next to many of the buildings there were imperial droids and armored transports.

 

They both noticed what was missing, the standard imperial swagger. Troopers almost always walked with a self-assured swagger, they were considered high up in the order of things, well as far as the empire was concerned. Valenya did a quick scan of the nearby troopers and was surprised to find them all on alert. Their stress levels were much higher than she had expected. It was as if each of them was waiting for the hammer to drop. They were equally surprised to note that the troopers seemed to relax upon seeing a Sith pass by with two apprentices in tow.

 

"Do you feel that Valenya?" Akita whispered. Valenya nodded. "It's like they are actually happy to see us. What would make anyone happy to see a Sith?" Ty'karus paused at the comment. Valenya grimaced and offered a silent apology. Akita laughed quietly.

 

They turned right, traveled down and to the right and headed to what looked like a cantina or eating establishment. "Of course it's a bar, why would we be meeting a Sith in a civilized location." Valenya sighed.

 

"For your information apprentice we are not meeting anyone here. We are simply making ourselves available to be seen. My contact will have someone inside who will validate my appearance and then provide us with the meeting location. Basic security." He said. Ty'karus did a quick scan of the surrounding buildings roof-line then entered the cantina.

 

It was not overly loud but there was certainly a din coming from the patrons. Some moved as they saw Ty'karus enter others sneered and stood their ground. Ty'karus managed to glide by them without incident. The place was large there were two bar areas and eight raised platforms, half had a single dancer and the others had two dancers. All were in various stages of undress and dancing to music that pulsed through the air.

 

Ty'karus moved to the bar and took a seat. Akita and Valenya took the seats on either side. The bar tender was a large Duros. Ty'karus placed an order and three drinks were placed on the bar in front of him. He passed one to each of his apprentices.

 

"Be mindful." He gave them a casual smile but they could both tell he was on edge. Ty'karus sipped on his drink and turned in his seat to watch the crowd.

 

Most of the people were broken into groups some sitting in the darkened booths and others gathered around the dancers on raised platforms. Some could be seen coming and going in pairs through the doors along the back wall. Prostitutes stood against the walls waiting for customers. There was the occasional raised voice but nothing seemed to be getting out of hand. This was probably due to the quality and ready access to intoxicants rather than the bouncers. The bouncers seemed to limit themselves to the exits and doors to the back rooms.

 

Ty'karus checked his wrist chrono and finished his drink. He signaled to Akita and Valenya and stepped away from the bar. They made their way toward one of the rear exits without incident. As they approached the bouncer located at the exit nodded and opened the door for them. Ty'karus froze, there beyond the door were four people, the first was a large humanoid the look of surprise on his face was clear. Beside him was a muscular green female with long black hair and dark eyes, behind her stood a tall armored droid with six appendages. Valenya did not have time see anything else as Ty'karus had pulled his saber.

 

The droid in the back reacted with machine efficiency and tossed something into the room between Akita and Valenya. Ty'karus recognized the magnetic claymore, the explosive device was designed to seal to the floor and detonate. The controlled blast would only affect those in front of the device.

 

Ty'karus force enhanced reflexes allowed him a fraction of a second to react; he chose to protect his apprentices as well as the innocent bystanders by encasing himself in a static field with the explosive. The fields snapped up just as the shaped charge device detonated. Ty'karus force shield absorbed much of the blast before it fell. As he had been inside the shield with the device he took the brunt of its force. Even depleted the shock wave picked Ty'karus up and punched him into the crowd.

 

The large humanoid in front wasted no time getting over his surprise, he pulled a wicked looking double barrel blaster and began firing at Ty'karus. He missed cleanly as Ty'karus tumbled through the air thanks to the force of the explosive blast. The green skinned woman pushed past him into the room a pair of blasters flashed as she opened fire at the clubs security. Pandemonium erupted. People pushed and screamed as they ran for cover, others pulled weapons and joined the fray.

 

To their shock and surprise neither Akita nor Valenya had been targeted in the initial volley. Akita pushed at a group of people nearby sending them sprawling along the floor, it gave her room to move while minimizing damage to the bystanders. Valenya rolled to the right and came up with her saber blazing blue. The droid moved into the room and immediately deployed a set of thin spider like arms that grabbed onto the wall and allowed him to pull himself off the floor. He took up a position on the wall above the door. From this vantage point he began spraying blaster fire at Valenya and a number of other patrons who had likewise pulled weapons and were returning fire.

 

Moments later the room was full of blaster fire and people dying. Akita bounced around the room turning twisting and flipping. Her saber flashed feverishly trying to block blaster fire while she pushed bystanders out of harm's way with the force. Valenya concentrated on the droid as the others in his group appeared occupied by the clubs security and the other combatants.

 

She reached out and grabbed at debris in the area including chairs and anything solid. She then redirected the mass in a single stream at the droid moving along the wall like a big black spider. The droid was unable to continue firing as all its attention turned to self-preservation. It placed its free appendages over the sensor array on its head. Valenya reached out and picked up the largest object she could lift. She pulled with all her strength and the table broke loose from its moorings. It sailed through the air and landed flush against the droid, it slid from the wall impacting on the floor in a heap.

 

Having cleared the area of bystanders Akita turned her attention to the green skinned woman, she and her group had taken cover behind fallen tables made of metal and stone. There was now a steady stream of fire between two ends of the club as security and armed patrons at one end fired at the group behind the tables near the rear exit. Akita approached the barricaded group deflecting blaster shots as she went. Valenya aided her from cover, tossing tables and chairs towards the group with the force.

 

Akita was only a few meters away from them when another explosive device dropped at her feet. She instinctively leapt away from the device, her flight dropped her next to Ty'karus. Akita looked down to check on his condition and was shocked to see bone protruding from his chest. The blast had caught him full and at close range it tore into him with little resistance, his face was burnt and she could see bone and teeth through his torn face. It was clear that one of his arms was broken or worse. Dark blood poured from his mouth and nose. She listened to his breathing it was shallow and quick coming in short bursts. He was dying.

 

Akita snapped. Valenya saw it but was not close enough to do anything. He had saved them rather than himself. He had told Valenya how much she and Akita meant to him. For the first time she realized just how much he was willing to sacrifice to keep them safe, now he was going to die. Valenya was yelling at Akita but she could not hear. The rage built faster than she imagined possible, Akita did nothing to stop it. She turned and screamed. The tables that they had been using for cover a moment ago slammed them into the wall. Metal bars from the raised dance platforms pulled away like paper and flew through the air, deadly projectiles. The first one skewered the green skinned woman and she died pinned to the wall.

 

Akita shot her hand outward and lightning ran down the length of her red saber and flashed through the air, the blue skinned man who had come in last, exploded as the heat from the lightning engulfed his body. Akita let go of the lightning for a moment, took a deep breath and strode forward. By this time the armed patrons and security had retreated and were exiting through the front doors. Valenya lept forward and grabbed at Akita's wrist. Akita turned on her, as she did Valenya reflexively raised her saber, it deflected a glancing blow from Akita's blue saber.

 

"I'm going to make them pay!" She screamed at Valenya.

 

"He wouldn't want this you know that." Valenya screamed back. The large man moved under one of the tables he was reaching in vain for his blaster. Akita picked him up with the force and pulled him to her. He was clutching at his throat with one hand, the other arm hung limp at his side. She screamed at him and lighting ran through him causing him to jerk in her grip. Valenya slapped her hard, it had no visible affect. Not willing to take her attempt to the next level she leapt back to her fallen master to see if he was truly dead. 'Please don't be dead, you can't leave us alone like this, we need you, I need you.' She prayed silently.

 

His condition was critical but she could feel that there was still life in him. If her skills were greater perhaps she could heal him fully but as he was she could only hope to keep him from dying. She clipped her saber back on her belt and put both hands on his chest. She pulled on the force and reached into him looking for his wounds.

 

There were so many, broken bones, lacerated organs, he was a mess. Desperately she pulled harder and harder at the force pushing it into him. Fear crept into her mind and she fought it back. True to her new path she let her need drive her, a sense of growing loss filled her as she thought of going on without him. She let that mix into her strength and pulled harder on the force. A moment before she feared her body would explode with the force she felt it, his heart beat stabilized and he took a deep ragged breath.

 

"He's alive Akita, I need your help!" she screamed. Akita heard her, she slammed the man into the wall and he hit the ground alive but unconscious. Akita was at Valenya's side in an instant. Valenya looked at her while she continued to work. There were tiny purple veins running in all directions from Akita's eyes. She was still burning with the dark side.

 

Akita's breathing was almost as ragged as their master's, her lungs burned with power and she was shaking from the force that coursed through her. Ty'karus eyes flickered open, he smiled at Valenya, deep red blood trickled from his mouth. He turned to look at Akita, he attempted to reach out and touch her face but he did not have the strength. Akita took his hand and held it to her face.

 

"Shssh my love let go your hate, please." He passed back into unconsciousness'. Akita shot a look at Valenya.

 

"He's going to live, I promise, I just needed him to sleep." Desperate to give Akita time to calm down she told her to stay with their master.

 

"I am going to see if I can get anything out of the one you left alive." Akita made a move to stand and Valenya put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm serious, stay with him!" she barked at Akita. Satisfied that Akita was going to do as she asked, Valenya walked over to the broken man lying on the floor.

 

Valenya knelt next to the man and checked on his wounds. She felt confident that he would live but without additional treatment, it would be weeks before he was in any shape to do much of anything. She looked at the blaster lying beside him and sent it skittering across the floor all the same.

 

She rolled him over and searched him. She took three credit sticks his identity card and an access keycard. She also found another chip tucked into a hidden pocket next to his heart. 'Makes sense, if someone puts a blaster or knife through the chip into your heart, you won't need to worry about it anymore.' She thought. She needed to heal him enough for Akita to question him then trade places with her so that she could continue working on their master. Valenya had asked Akita to watch Ty'karus to prevent her from killing the only person who could provide answers.

 

Valenya centered herself as best she could, her anger faded as did her fear, something else lingered. It was a new feeling one she was not familiar with it kept her looking back at Ty'karus. 'You doubted him and yet look he what risked for you.' The feeling was shame.

 

She tried one more time to clear her mind and then let the force flow through her into this man lying at her feet. Valenya knitted his wounds but prevented him from regaining consciousness. She picked him up and carried him closer to Akita and Ty'karus.

 

With the exception of some moaning and crying the club was quiet. Valenya knew it would not last.

 

"Akita I'll wager we will have imperials in here any moment, you need to deal with them. I will watch him now." She pointed to the unconscious man Akita had attacked. "He won't be waking up any time soon so don't worry about him." As if on cue the doors opened and a squad of troopers entered in combat formation.

 

Akita took a deep breath wrapped herself in her robe and pulled up the hood, she activated her red saber and stepped out from behind cover. The trooper in charge straightened and approached her. He stopped before her and gave a curt bow. "Sargent Yanar, my lord." He saluted; Akita pulled back the hood of her robe. The trooper took in her appearance, seeing the dark side markings on her face he stiffened slightly.

 

"I am Akita'Ty slave and apprentice to the Inquisitor Ty'karus, she put on her best Sith smile as she identified herself as a slave, her yellow eyes threatened to burn a hole through the sergeant. "My master requires a medical droid, you will summon one and then ensure we are undisturbed. We have his attacker in custody and I need time to question him." She imitated her master's chuckle.

 

"I will have a med droid sent right away my lord. My men and I will secure the perimeter, nobody will enter without your permission." He saluted again turned and beat a hasty retreat. Akita stepped out into the light so that the rest of the squad could see her, she threw back her cloak and let them see her slaves clothing as well as her curves. She put her hand on her hip.

 

"Sergeant Yanar. If anyone learns my master's name from you or your men, I will find you and make you wish for death. She let a smile crawl across her face slowly. The sergeant and his men exited the building and slammed the doors shut behind them.

 

Akita let out a breath and turned quickly back to Valenya and her master. Valenya was looking at her with a look of shock on her face. Akita fell down beside the man she loved, Valenya could feel the rage and fear build in her. It did not require her force sense to see it, it was clear on her face.

 

"Akita focus, you need to be Sith until we are out of here." Valenya grabbed Akita's hand and squeezed. "I will not let our master die, I can keep him alive until the droid gets here I know I can." Valenya assured Akita.

 

Akita's body was shaking, her eyes glowed with the dark side and pain. She began rocking back and forth while wrapping her arms around her chest. Valenya touched Akita's mind and recoiled, her emotions were more than she could bare.

 

"Akita sing for me." Valenya begged her. Akita shot her a look of disgust.

 

"What? He is dying and you want me to sing?" Akita's voice did not even sound like her. Valenya was crying on the inside, everything was falling apart. They had all suffered and yet they wanted to hope that there was another way and now it looked like their dream would die here. Their master was dying and Akita was slipping away out of the shadow into the darkness.

 

"Please Akita, you told me you sang for him, it may help. Please sing for him." Valenya clung to hope, it was all she had.

 

Akita turned her back on Valenya and stood silently in the dark. Minutes ticked away and then Valenya heard it, barely audible at first, then it grew. Akita was signing, Valenya recognized it, she had heard it many times on Coruscant. It was a popular song among the youth, she recalled that a number of the apprentices had been cautioned against singing it due to its emotional impact. It was a painful love song, unrequited love and it ended with a young lover letting the woman he loved go so that she would be happy with another.

 

Valenya had always thought such songs were childish and simple. As she listened to Akita sing, an ache formed in her stomach that she could not contain. The pain moved to her throat, she had no idea that Akita could sing like that.

 

Akita's emotions fought a war in her soul. The pain was unbearable, rage fought with love, vengeance battled sacrifice, as she sang. The main door opened and light poured in, the droid slid along on tracks, it rolled in and passed Akita ignoring her. Its scanners looking side to side, it came to a halt next to Valenya.

 

"Hello mistress, please move back I need room to assess the patient please." Valenya moved to the other side of her master. The droid began immediately probing Ty'karus, it pulled a box of tools from the platform between its tracks. Valenya looked back to Akita, she was still singing only there were objects floating in the air near her, it looked as if the gravity in the area had failed, except that they were planet side and there was no artificial gravity.

 

Sergeant Yanar stepped inside and stood watching Akita, his fear at her reaction overwhelmed by his need to listen. Valenya could see at least one other armored body near the door. Akita repeated the song and her voice turned ragged, when she reached the part where the young man watched as the woman he loved walked out of his life forever, there was a sudden burst of laughter from Akita and lightning lit the room. Her hands outstretched as blasts of white hot energy crawled along the walls, stone cracked, fixtures and mirrors shattered. The sergeant pulled back and slammed the door shut again.

 

Akita fell to her knees and changed the song, Valenya had not heard this song before, it was a song celebrating new life and the harvest. It had the sound of a song from Akita's home Ryloth. As she sang this song from her home something changed in her, Valenya could feel the anger break like a wave on the rocks. A moment later her consular's training let her feel as Akita sat there drained, her anger finally spent. Valenya smiled a small joyful smile.

 

"I am sorry mistress he needs to be moved to a medical facility, there is little I can do for him here." The droid moved back from his patient. Valenya looked at him in disbelief, Akita walked over and dropped down beside Valenya.

 

"You must fix him." Her voice was empty. The droid repeated its warning dispassionately. "Is there a facility here?" Valenya asked the droid.

 

"No mistress this planet's field hospital does not have the required facilities." It delivered its verdict and sat in silence.

 

Valenya clutched at ideas, she wanted to scream and then a small voice begged her for attention. It was moving forward and she listened. Her eyes grew wide. Akita had cried herself empty.

 

"Akita, I know what to do!" She grabbed at Akita and shook her. Akita turned to face her with blank eyes.

 

"Akita the ceremony, we can use it to work together to heal him" Akita blinked.

 

"I'm not a healer." She whispered. Valenya smiled at her.

 

"But I am, and you can channel your power through me, you just have to trust me, don't fight me. Akita I trust you, trust me and we can do this." She pleaded. Akita wiped at her face, she slid herself next to Valenya and took her hand. Valenya helped her stand.

 

"Remember, all your energy and trust, above everything else trust me." Akita blinked and nodded understanding. Valenya reached into Akita and looked searched for her power, it was the first time they had tried this and they were nowhere near the skill level that was suggested in the book that described the ritual. She let her mind float around for a moment then she gently called out searching for Akita's power. She found it, she could sense the pain in Akita as she touched her power. It made her heart ache. A moment later she wrapped herself around Akita's power, it sent a shiver through her body.

 

The power flowed into her threatening to overwhelm her. She opened her eyes and looked at Ty'karus. Her eyes lingered on him for only a moment, she let herself sink into his body, changing the ritual to fit her healing needs was not mentioned in the book and there was a part of her that knew there was a real chance this would kill them all.

 

"It's ok, I trust you." Akita's mind told her. There was a flow of warmth and Valenya took hold of the power between them. She took a moment to calm herself then swam through his body. She paused at his arm, she wanted to start with the least of his injuries. Their joined power flowed through her knowledge of healing and his bones healed as she watched. The muscles and bones popped back into place. Her confidence building Valenya plotted a course through his wounds leaving his face to the last. She smiled as each wound closed, she could feel something else in his body.

 

"Akita I need you to pull on the force take in as much as you can without hurting yourself. I need to concentrate on the binding of his tissues." Valenya did not wait for an answer she forged ahead. Something swam past her mind as she moved towards his heart. A moment later she moved through his shoulders and it was there again nearby something watching her floating past her in his body, she could feel its energy growing but could not see it.

 

Moments passed, Valenya summoned her courage and moved, at last, to his face and head.

 

"Hurry Valenya I won't be able to hold this power long" Akita warned her. Valenya began in silence, she concentrated and moved power into his face and head. Something floated past her, it was powerful and watching her. Valenya could not let herself be distracted no matter the cost. She ignored it. A warm shadow swam up behind her mind. She could feel Akita's mind and power next to her inside Ty'karus body. She could also feel as the warm shadow reached out toward her. 'I won't move, will not stop no matter what. So close almost done just another moment' she thought. It fell on her wrapping itself around her, the warm shadow kissed her mind for just an instant. Valenya let go of the force and she and Akita fell to the floor.

 

[Lunafox]

Oooh, a cliffhanger. Poor Ty'karus. I'm eager to see if the girls' efforts with the ritual pay off. Certainly if Valenya can't trust him after this, I doubt she ever will.

 

And yes, this read much better. It was easy to see who was speaking and doing what, with the added spaces. Formatting can be a sticky business, but it's worth making sure that it works out. Good stuff, looking forward to more as always.

[Tyrusstorm]

Chapter 30 Visions

 

Valenya felt the warm shadow embrace her, it had touched her only for an instant, it flooded her with images. They were a jumble in her mind, some of them were fading into blotches of color and sound. Some, however, were clear, she could see a boy fighting in the sand, he stood over a little girl who was no older than six her broken body lay in a pool of her own blood. A red skinned man congratulated him and reminded him that peace was a lie. The little boy looked out of the vision directly at Valenya and smiled.

 

Valenya blinked her eyes a few times adjusting to the overhead lights, her body ached all over. She pulled gently on the force tried to push away the stiffness in her bones. It took some time but she did start to feel the pain fall into a dull roar. Valenya looked around and was surprised to see that she was in her cabin. She got up slowly and headed for the door, it slid open and she stepped out into the hall.

 

A Twi'lek girl stood before her, she knew it was a younger Akita. Standing next to Valenya was her master, he was also younger. His face was wracked and he was screaming as he watched Akita. There was emotion on his face as he watched her, he fell to his knees screaming. The image vanished. Valenya took a deep breath.

 

Valenya leaned against the wall for a moment as she tried to center herself. He appeared in the hall again, leaning against the wall, he was older now. She could tell he was thinking about the girl in his visions, tears rolled down his face. The vision vanished. Valenya stepped away from the wall tentatively. Finding her strength she allowed one hand to hug the wall as she walked through the ship.

 

She turned into the lounge to find it empty. Sound this time no vision, a man talking to himself arguing about philosophy the virtue of the dark side vs. the light. The sound faded. Valenya turned down the hall and headed for the door before her.

 

Valenya grabbed the wall, the wraith of her master grabbed her pulled her close, he kissed her deeply their mouths tangled, she was inundated with passion and heat. She could feel as their two bodies moved as one, she could taste his mouth on hers. She fell to the deck.

 

The arms around here were strong and held her with desperate need, she could not speak so intense was the feeling. She could feel as he held the woman in the vision, Valenya knew it was not her that he held but her senses told her otherwise, he was part of her and she part of him, she could feel it all. The vision vanished. Valenya sat on the deck alone her knees too unsteady to hold her.

 

When she could stand she quickly covered the remaining distance to the door and keyed the entry button. The door slid open with a hiss and there on the masters bed was Akita, she looked asleep but peaceful.

 

Valenya moved to the bed and sat down beside Akita. She watched her sleep for a while then gently touched her shoulder. Akita's eyes opened and she smiled at Valenya. There was a sudden look of confusion on Akita's face "What happened, is he alright?" she tried to move and her face grimaced, Valenya put a hand on her shoulder and pushed her back.

 

"Don't try to move just yet. If you feel anything like I did it's going to take a moment for you to recover. Here let me help." Valenya washed energy over Akita letting her healing settle over here then gently sink into her body. Akita relaxed.

 

"Why did you bring me back here, we need to..." Valenya gave Akita a confused look. "I didn't bring you here I thought you brought me here. Ok well let's get you up and find out what's going on." She helped Akita up.

 

Valenya headed for the door and another vision hit her. He had displeased his instructor and was being punished, his body writhed with pain as lightning coursed through him, it hit Valenya as if it were her body being tortured, she fell to the ground unable to speak. She looked around her and in the sand beside the instructor were two more bodies these students had done more than disappoint their instructor, they had failed him.

 

Akita was shaking Valenya's shoulders when the vision faded.

 

"Val what's wrong, talk to me!" she pleaded. Valenya blinked.

 

"Visions, ever since the ritual I have been having short intense visions. They seem so real. They seem to be fading but there is no warning and they are so intense." She was back on her feet. The pair made their way through the ship and ended up at the exit ramp.

 

"Val you ok to keep going?" Akita asked. Valenya could hear the concern in her voice.

 

"I will be okay, like I said they are fading." She did not want to talk about the visions not right now." Valenya keyed the security pad, the door opened the ramp was already deployed.

 

They froze in place as they felt and heard the presence of people outside the ship. Akita reached out and felt three people, her heart raced as she felt her master. She smiled and looked at Valenya, the look on her face showed that she had felt it as well. They headed down the ramp together.

 

Ty'karus stood in front of a Sith dressed in ornate looking robes, his face was covered by a plain featureless silver mask. Beside him stood a creature out of legend a Dashade it towered over the others, its muscular body was covered in strange markings and odd looking implants. To the right of the Sith stood a lanky man wearing a long coat, beneath the coat was a well-kept set of blasters. The man stood with his arms crossed over his chest. A look of mild disinterest was visible on his face.

 

Valenya and Akita moved to the bottom of the ramp and took up positions behind Ty'karus. Valenya was surprised at how happy she was to see him. She was concerned, however, that the emotion she was feeling may have been influenced by the visions she was having. Her doubt was beginning to become an annoyance. 'All I have seen, all he has done, why do I still doubt him?' she wondered.

 

"Well I must confess dealing with you is always Interesting Casius. Ah I see your apprentices have come to join us." Akita did not have to see the smile behind the mask to know he was wearing one. Akita moved to the right of Ty'karus and knelt at his feet facing the visitors. She uncoiled the rope on her belt, connected it to her slave collar and handed the end to her master. Ty'karus looked down at her and smiled as he took the end of the rope.

 

The sense of surprise coming from the Sith was palpable as was the lust and lechery coming from the man in the long coat. He now wore a skewed smile. Valenya did her best to act the part but it was still difficult. She moved to Ty'karus left and remained standing, try as she may she could not bring herself to preen and fawn over Ty'karus as Akita did, she knew it was in their best interests to look the part but it was beyond her. She felt her anger bubble to the surface, she was mad at her doubt, mad at her inability to put on a silly act to keep them safe and mad at the desire to hold him and tell him she was so glad he was alive.

 

The Sith took a step forward. "Casius I have to tell you I am envious! This one is a work of art." He looked at Akita and she smiled back at him. Ty'karus remained silent. The robed Sith pointed to Valenya

 

"But this one, Ty'karus her anger is delicious, she will make a formidable Sith." He pointed at Valenya and looked to Ty'karus. "May I?" Ty'karus nodded. The robed Sith took a few steps stopping directly in front of Valenya. He raised his hand toward her face, Valenya's anger spiked. He withdrew his hand as he looked her up and down, he walked around her. She stood still as he surveyed her like a piece of meat.

 

"Well that settles it then. I was not going to pursue this matter but your work here has convinced me. I must have one of my own" The Sith returned to his place next to the Dashade. He pointed at Akita.

 

"This one will serve your flesh but that one." He pointed at Valenya. "She will learn from you and when she kills you, your legacy of hate will be assured. Congratulations." Valenya felt a wave of ice flow through her. His words cut her to the bone.

 

"I must be going Cas. It has been a pleasure and I wish you success in your next endeavor" he chuckled as he turned and left the hangar. Ty'karus turned and walked back up the ramp without saying a word.

 

The ramp retracted and the door closed behind them. He left out a deep sigh. Akita practically leapt into his embrace, she clung to him. Ty'karus wrapped his arms around her and put his face into her neck.

 

Valenya was still in shock. 'When she kills you, your legacy of hate will be assured' the words echoed in her mind over and over. How had it come to this? Akita was the one who had embraced the dark side in the cantina not her.

 

Ty'karus let go of Akita and stepped toward Valenya. He looked into her eyes and saw her pain. He slowly pulled her close and put his arms around her. Valenya closed her eyes. The memories of her visions flooded over her. But they were not her memories they were Akita's the passion she felt was not hers. This man had been prepared to die to protect her and somehow she still doubted him. She had seen glimpses of what Akita had seen and she had been right, his life was a nightmare compared to hers. Her fear and hate were mixed with guilt and shame. It was infuriating.

 

"Let it go Val, please." He pulled her closer, held her tight. She was supposed to hate men like this but she couldn't. He held her a moment longer then let her go.

 

"Val you need to work through your anger, I want to help but we both know that I am at least partly to blame. Sit with Akita meditate talk, find a path to peace. And please ignore what he said, I know you, I trust you. You are not and could not be the person he saw, you will not become a legacy of hate." He stepped back from her.

 

"What you both did to heal me was incredibly brave and stupid. You could have been killed in the attempt. Thank you for saving me but don't do that again." He smiled at them.

 

"Valenya you should assume that part of the anger your feeling is residual from the ritual, it's not anyone's fault I just thought you should know that you both shared emotions. Valenya you took on some of Akita's rage and Akita took on some of your calm. Valenya without it I am sure that the harm done to Akita by the darkness she embraced would have been much worse. You saved us both " Akita looked shocked and Valenya felt a little better knowing that part of the anger she was feeling may not be her own.

 

"When I woke up on the floor of the club you were both unconscious, I pulled the security recordings and secured Kwiee. Sergeant Yannar and his team were very helpful and spoke highly of both of you." He chuckled.

 

"I have Kwiee in the cargo hold we will question him later for now I need to make a visit to a shop in town and you need to rest." Ty'karus opened the hatch lowered the ramp and left the ship. The door closed behind him. And they were alone.

 

[Lunafox]

Interesting stuff. I'm wondering if a rivalry will develop between Akita and Val. Even though what Val felt was perhaps a residual of the ritual, and remnants of the passion she gleaned between Akita and Ty, I have to wonder if it didn't rub off on Val and awaken feelings for Ty. I think if I was Akita I'd be more watchful. I personally don't trust Val myself. Maybe it's my inner Sith, but I'd probably be trying to get rid of Val if I were Akita lol. Edited May 16, 2015 by Lunafox