[Fic] Between Shadows

[Bee Hoon]

Just posting part of my very much larger work-in-progress... I'd really appreciate constructive criticism!

 

******

 

Atton yelled, “Hold on! I’ve lost control of the ship!”.

 

I strapped myself into the copilot’s seat, while the ship spiraled crazily through the storm, accelerating towards the core of Malachor V. While Atton swore viciously and grappled with the controls, I gripped the armrests of the seat. The scream of the wind was intermingled with the dying cries of the people who died there nine years ago. The ones who still haunted me.

 

The Disciple clutched at the walls as he made his way to the cockpit. He took hold of the back of my seat and squeezed my shoulder. Atton risked giving him a wild-eyed look for a few seconds, “Kid, I know you’re stupid but strap yourself in, damn it!”

 

The Ebon Hawk plunged towards a pair of cliffs with only a narrow crevasse in between.

 

“Oh sh-…”

 

My mind and my ears were filled with sound, and I clapped my hands over my ears and curled up in the seat instinctively. I can’t pinpoint the precise moment I passed out. Probably upon impact. When I came to, Atton was slumped in his seat while the Disciple sprawled on the floor. Both of them were unconscious and had assorted gashes, but they would be fine. I left without checking on the other crew members. If they were awake, they would want to follow. They would not understand that this was my fight, and mine alone. Becoming Jedi had made them stronger, but they were no match for Sion and Kreia. Even Visas would not have been able to defeat Nihilus if I had not there by her side.

 

This is it, then. What I have trained for since I was a toddler. I would have a fighting chance, at least. I hope so, anyway. I scribbled on my datapad, and placed it in Atton’s limp hand. Hopefully, they would have the sense to not follow me.

 

I pulled my grey cloak around my shoulders, and clambered out carefully. The ship was wedged between the two cliffs I had seen earlier. Its position was precarious, at best. Hopefully, T3 could fix it. I hadn’t seen Bao-Dur since he had left with HK-47 on Telos. I don’t even know whether he’s alive. Malachor overwhelms all but the strongest sensations, and Bao-Dur was very, very far away. His remote had come along for the ride though. I’d never seen it separated from Bao-Dur until now. It hummed at the entrance anxiously, and I let it out. Bao-Dur had done as I asked without hesitation.

 

You are a cipher.

Of course he would.

 

I gripped my lightsabers, their familiar weight comforting. Like Master, like Padawan. I had adopted Kavar’s style of fighting with one standard-length lightsaber and a short one in my off-hand.

 

Kavar. Kreia had drained the Force from him completely.

 

I pulled my cloak around me tighter, and concentrated on blending in with the shadows. The gravity pulled at me, every cell in my body straining towards the ground. I walked on with memories of a laughing, blonde teenaged Padawan talking to a youngling he had encountered by chance.

 

All things are connected through the Force, Lei.

 

Really? Even the flowers?

 

Yes, even the flowers. They’re connected to each other, to me and to you.

 

How?

 

Because we live. Through the Force, with the Force and in the Force.

 

Look, a dead butterfly!

 

There, there, don’t cry. The dead become one with the Force. And that means nothing ever truly dies.

 

An errant tear escaped my eye. He was truly dead, consumed by Kreia.

 

You lied, Kavar. There is true death. You are truly dead, Vrook and Zez-Kai Ell with you. I’m sorry. I would have saved you if I could. If by killing Kreia now, I can give you the death you told me about, I will. No one should have to die like that, and no one else ever will while I survive.

 

A strange beast born of the storm that raged on Malachor’s surface reared its ugly head and roared. I wiped my face and strode forward. When I was up close, I ignited my lightsabers and struck for an instant kill, the fierce silver beams burning through its flesh.

 

I promise.

[The_Catto]

Very nice start. I wonder if Lei will go to the Dark Side, after the death of her former Master.

Waiting for the next Chapter

[Diego Varen]

Wow, a first person perspective of the Exile, I'm taking it. I like the title, Between Shadows too. Welcome to the Forums and I'm looking foward to more and what was your Exile's full name? She can't be called just Lei, can she?

[The_Catto]

Wow, i was rude wasn't i!!

In all my post i never said once, welcome to the forums. *Whacks self over the head with a shovel* (This one is only a plastic shovel, i use the real shovel for other people, hehe :D:D lol)

 

So, back to the meaning of this post: Welcome to the Forums! :D

[Diego Varen]

Wow, i was rude wasn't i!!

In all my post i never said once, welcome to the forums. *Whacks self over the head with a shovel* (This one is only a plastic shovel, i use the real shovel for other people, hehe :D:D lol)

 

So, back to the meaning of this post: Welcome to the Forums! :D

 

Please don't hurt yourself Mr_BFA. I don't want to have to call the Mods to take you to the LF hospital. I even forget to welcome some members to the Forums and I never even got a welcome to the Forums by anyone, when I joined. Anyway, beehoon, when is the next Chapter coming up?

[Bee Hoon]

Mr_BFA, thanks and thanks again;) No need for shovels! Not even plastic ones!

 

Pottsie, thanks:) Say "yay" for overly dramatic titles! Yay! It won't be exclusively from the Exile's POV. Her full name is Lei Lucem. Erm, I've pretty much written it as well as a lot of back story for her (but it's far from complete since I like to to "knock myself out" as one of my teachers used to say).

 

So, here goes.

 

*****

 

My head felt like I had downed two dozen shots of juma juice the night before. Wincing, I touched my forehead carefully. A deep cut was still bleeding sluggishly. Something clattered to the floor, and I reached out to pick up Lei’s datapad.

 

“Atton. Don’t follow me. Whatever waits here, waits for me alone. You and the others should stay here, and repair the ship. When the time comes, leave. I will activate the mass shadow generator. You must leave when it is time.”

 

She really has a way with words. At least, she does when she’s yelling at me. She sounded like she was being careful with what she was telling me. So what was missing?

 

Maybe I wanted to die.

 

The Disciple moaned, and I hauled him upright. His blue eyes were unfocused, and he couldn’t stand on his own. Dumb kid, I did warn him not to play hero. The noisy trash compactor rolled in, wailing softly.

 

“Listen, you little tin can. Fix the ship up, all right? I have a feeling that we’re going to have to leave in a hurry. What do you mean, how do I know? When do we not have to leave planets in a hurry? Okay, sometimes, but that’s not the point. And get someone to have a look at the kid. He looks like he got a pretty bad bang to the head.”

 

My lightsaber had skittered across the floor all the way to the engine room. I retrieved it and listened. The ship was silent, the hyperdrive shut down. I climbed out carefully, jumping down onto the dirt path below. I fell heavily; the gravity was still messed up.

 

I subconsciously reached back to scratch my ear. Now how was I going to find her? I walked quietly, trying to be one with the shadows, as she had taught me.

 

Right, follow the trail of dead beasts. How nice of her to leave a nice, clear path.

 

* * *

 

Heavy footsteps echoed through the stone halls. From a distance, I could see sleeps-with-vibroblades’ grey skin as he followed me, seemingly unruffled. He was looking straight at me as he approached, a smile stretching the scarred flesh on his face. It was not a pleasant sight.

 

This is it.

 

I stepped out from the cover of a shadow cast by one of the many pillars in the hall. Lei would kill me for the crime of extreme stupidity, but only after a long and boring I-told-you-so and Listen-to-me-you-moron lecture. Assuming I survived this anyway.

 

Sion’s mouth stretched even more. He ignited his lightsaber. The red glow did not improve his looks at all. “And I get the fool.”

 

His gravelly voice really grates on my nerves.

 

My facial muscles rearranged themselves into a sneer. If I was going down, I damned well was not going down with a polite smile on my face. The Disciple had already exhausted my lifetime’s quota of polite smiles within the space of a few months.

 

“Funny, that’s just what I was thinking.”

 

My neck and chest was enveloped in a crushing grip and I was lifted bodily off the ground. As I blacked out, my last thought was of her.

 

Run. I can’t save you. But I tried.

 

* * *

[The_Catto]

Great work again, and a cut-content moment! W0ot!

lol, anyway ... Waiting for more!

[Diego Varen]

Yes, cut content with both Sion and Atton. I like it that it is done from mutliple character's POV (Point of view). I'm looking foward to more.

[Bee Hoon]

Thanks again for your support:) I'm including cut-content because the ending in the game was so...incomplete. And I despise stories that aren't resolved properly! So there=p

 

* * *

 

The echoes of Malachor filled my mind. I moved as if in a dream. Muscle memory, much like that of a dancer. Dancing silver beams arcing through the air. If various Sith bodily parts were in the way, too bad for them.

 

Run. I can’t save you. But I tried.

 

Atton?

 

Lightsabers clashed in the great hall adjoining the room I was in.

 

Their lightsabers glowed like beacons. The golden glow of Atton’s mingled with blood red as he desperately parried Sion’s powerful strokes. He was but a shadow of his usual self, too slow, too weak. There was no way he could defeat Sion. I sprinted down the length of the hall. Just hang on, Atton.

 

Atton fell, but he rolled sideways as Sion’s saber come scything down. He got to his feet awkwardly and counterattacked viciously. Sion deflected his blows in a manner that was almost casual. He suddenly flicked his wrist, and I heard Atton cry out as his lightsaber flew out of his grasp. Sion followed through with a kick to Atton’s throat, and he collapsed instantly.

 

You can hide in the shadows watching, like you always do. But shadows are not endless, and when you find yourself between shadows, what will you do? When you finally see yourself as you are, you will let others see you too. And I think that is what you’re afraid of.

 

I coiled my legs and used the Force to propel me through the air as I leapt. Sion brought his saber upwards, preparing to perform the cho mai. Seventy metres was a long way for a Force Jump, even for the most talented Jedi Guardians, and I was a Sentinel. A Watchman.

 

My lightsabers crossed and ready to block his, I locked my legs as they collided with his chest, the momentum of my jump behind both of these. He went down hard, ribs shattering (again, I thought), and I flicked my lightsabers off as the remainder of my momentum carried me forward. I did not fight it, but rolled as I hit the ground behind the supine Sith Lord. I immediately ran to Atton. I didn’t have much time before the Lord of Pain got up. That blow would have killed a normal man, but apparently Sion had played hooky when Nature delivered her lecture on when a man should die.

 

Atton’s neck was a single giant bruise, and it extended below the collar of his shirt. Force Crush. It’s amazing he was able to fight at all after that. Even drawing breath must have been excruciating.

 

Sion writhed as his ribs realigned, every fragment grinding into position.

 

How was I going to defeat him anyway? Well, no time for that.

 

Atton was hardly breathing. I loosened his shirt hurriedly and placed my hand on his chest. It was probably a good thing that he was out cold. He would have been in so much pain that he wouldn’t have been able to scream if he was conscious.

 

Under my hands, ribs started to knit together and hemorrhages that were causing the bruise dissipated somewhat, the healing process accelerating as I siphoned the Force into him, concentrating on what was happening at a cellular level. All that studying does help.

 

The sharp end of a broken rib had punctured his left lung, blood rushing into the pleural cavity and deflating his lung. I concentrated hard.

 

Sion’s hands clawed at the air.

 

Atton drew a deep, shuddering breath and coughed violently. Flecks of blood spread out across my cheek. I gritted my teeth and attempted to concentrate on his injuries. Just a few more minutes, that’s all I ask. Atton’s lung stubbornly refused to reinflate, blood continuing to pool within its protective membrane.

 

Sometimes, the period of time between a Force vision and what actually is about to happen is less than a tenth of a second.

 

Sion got to his feet…

Sion got to his feet and I pushed; he flew out of the hall into the adjoining corridor. Before he could regain his footing, I was upon him, slashing with incredible speed. As soon as he went down, I sealed the door, jamming its mechanism and using my lightsaber to weld it to the frame. It might buy us a few seconds.

 

We couldn’t tarry anymore. I laid my hand on Atton’s cheek.

 

“Awaken.”

 

* * *

[CSI]

......This is a nice fic. Wait, a cut content? Can anyone tell me where the cut content originated from?

 

For comment: It's a first person point of view. Mm...I think third person POV would be better...It's only my opinion.

 

[smacks head against the wall]I can't believe that I missed this fic. And my point is: WELCOME TO LUCASFORUMS, AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. THIS IS AN ORDER!

[Bee Hoon]

Thanks:) I'm using a first peron POV primarily because I try to imagine how it'd be like in the character's shoes... And I'm a rambly type, hence a lot of internal monologue:X Lol, the forum's already given me lots of reading material;) I'll PM you the site where I found cut content 'cuz I'm not really sure if I'm allowed to post the link here... Can't seem to access it at the moment though.

[Bee Hoon]

I guess that I should not have been surprised to see her. In the unlikely event that I made it into heaven, she’d be the person I wanted there with me. The ebony ceiling with the blood red symbol of the Sith disabused me of that notion though. As did the agony of drawing breath.

 

“Can you walk? We need to leave. Now.” She was worried, casting glances over her shoulder.

 

“Don’t we always have to?” It hurt to talk. A lot. I tasted blood, and my body felt like it had been trampled by a herd of banthas. I tried to sit up, but my head spun crazily. She held me up, and slung my arm around her shoulder. We stood up shakily, and she immediately headed for the exit, effectively dragging me along. My chest passed through the realm of describable pain right into blinding agony. She helped me, pushing it back, infusing me with the Force to keep me going.

 

“Come on, Atton. Just a little further. We can make it.”

 

Between her efforts and my never-say-die spirit, we just about made it to the Trayus training grounds, and she brought me to a storeroom with a workbench, passing by a few dozen slain dark Jedi and Sith assassins on the way. She laid me gently against the wall and began securing the door.

 

“Take off your shirt. And I told you to stay on the ship! Where’s everyone else? Were they as stubborn as you? You are such a moron! Even gizka have more sense than you!”

 

She came to me, and put her hands on my ribcage. I failed to suppress an instinctive sharp intake of breath, which didn’t help the pain at all.

 

“It’s worse than I thought. Where’s the Disciple when you need him? I can’t do this on my own… You’ll need to help me.”

 

* * *

 

I let my guards down, and reached for him through the Force bond. He reacted instinctively, throwing up walls. Counting cards, thinking about voluptuous Twi’Lek dancers. I could have cried with frustration.

 

Let me in.

His eyes were glazed with pain. He was afraid.

 

Atton. Trust me.

 

And I was in, swirling in the pain that he had been consciously blocking from me.

 

Center yourself.

 

Was it I who said it, or Kavar? In the ethereal chaos where Atton’s sensations, emotions and memories collided, he found me. I took him by the hand, and healed.

 

His broken ribs healed smoothly, small shards of bone broken down by his own body. His lungs had suffered deep trauma, as did his heart. I felt the Force flow through me and him, and used it. His heartbeat slowed, as did mine, until the drumbeat of our hearts merged into a single rhythm. I drew breath, and he did too, sucking in the air gratefully. He had been literally holding his breath all this time; it had been simply too painful to breathe.

 

I pulled out of his mind, acutely aware of the effort he was making to smother his past with the Sith. He opened his grey eyes and gazed at me. I was relieved to see that his eyes were no longer shadowed with pain.

 

“I won’t pry. What you wish to remain secret shall stay that way.”

 

His voice was barely a whisper. “No. No more secrets.” He sat up gracelessly, still weak from the massive healing. I didn’t feel very much better than he looked. I was drained, to put it mildly.

 

He drew me into his arms gently. “I love you.”

 

“No more secrets.” I opened my mind completely, and showed him everything. Everything had happened to me. Everything I had done. Everything I thought, everything I felt. Had I ever trusted anyone with everything the way I trusted him now? I’m not afraid anymore. I want to show you what I am.

 

He showed me what he was with sorrow and shame. Afraid that I would turn away in revulsion. But you’re not that person anymore. You aren’t the man who took pleasure in killing Jedi now.

 

What was there to say when he bared his soul to me and I opened mine to his? Every evil thought, every selfish deed is brought to light, hiding in the shadows no longer. We said nothing, but held each other close.

 

As I am.

 

As you are.

 

It’s enough.

 

* * *

 

Darth Traya sat meditating in the Trayus Core. She had been observing the faint ripples in the Force with deep interest. It was barely detectable among the echoes that reverberated through Malachor V, but she knew precisely what she was watching out for. She stood up, and smiled. It looked like a predator baring its teeth.

 

“It is time.”

 

* * *

[Bee Hoon]

I felt the change. “Atton?”

 

His hands came up around my throat, fingers tightening as I struggled for breath. His voice was harsh, as he looked at me with eyes the slate grey of a winter sky. “Jedi. Jedi lie.”

 

I could barely speak, barely breathe. “Atton.”

 

He laughed mirthlessly. “Who are you calling for, little Jedi? Your Atton is not here. Only Jaq is here.” He lifted me and pinned me against the wall, fingers closing slowly.

 

I felt for him through the Force, but he surrounded his mind with walls. “Jedi mind tricks won’t work on me, fool.”

 

Atton.

 

I closed my eyes and plunged through his walls, using sheer power to penetrate the mental blockade. Jaq’s memories flooded my consciousness, as he searched for me desperately, snarling. The images burned on the inside of my eyelids.

 

Atton!

 

The heavily bearded Jedi master jerked as the poisoned dart pierced his chest. His Padawan screamed, and screamed and screamed…

 

My mother was shaking her head in resignation as she chided little Jael, my beloved little sister…

 

Her lightsaber cut an arc through the air, but I’d already sunk the syringe into the back of her neck, and she collapsed bonelessly…

 

The baker cursed in an incredible variety of languages as I sprinted off with an armful of the honeycakes Jael loved…

 

Eres III was in flames…

 

Jael is dead. Mother is dead…

 

I put the dagger’s point to the belly of the Jedi stretched out on the cold metal table and began to cut…

 

Her blonde hair was silky soft against my face as we kissed, living as we might between battles…

 

The engines screamed as I pushed the throttle to maximum, fighting to escape the gravity well that was consuming the ships around me…

 

Kerrel’s blood spattered my face when a piece of shrapnel went straight through his head…

 

The Mandalorian died with a warcry on his lips as I gunned him down…

 

Her dark eyes were wide as I tightened my choke-hold on her throat, the white of her teeth standing out against her nut-brown skin as she gasped for breath…

 

The sonic screamer made Thenar go mad and start shooting wildly until the captain shot him in the head…

 

She lied…

 

The general’s ship was just ahead of mine, fighting to escape the graveyard that Malachor would be…

 

She showed me the universe, the heartbeat of it…

 

The Basilisk War Droid flying point crashed after the missile hit it…

 

She died because I killed her…

 

The captain covered me as I fled wildly, until I heard his dying cry…

 

She died because she let me kill her…

 

I stood before Revan as he crushed the life out of a man who had tried to defect…

 

She died to save me.

 

Revan looked at me and spoke my name. “Jaq Rand. Now you will truly belong to us.”

 

She didn’t lie.

 

I’m hungry…

 

I’m dying for a game of pazaak…

 

She’s…beautiful.

 

She’s so fragile, yet so strong…

 

I want to wipe away her tears but I’m afraid I’ll wake her…

 

He is a fool.

 

Kreia. She did this.

 

I fell to the floor, wheezing. He sank onto his knees, holding his head in his hands. “What have I done?” His eyes were full of fear. He cried out, his voice breaking, “Get away from me before I hurt you!”

[mailboris]

Fantastic piece. The series is just wonderful. I love reading it!

I LOVE YOU! a gamer chick, and a writer too! my wildest dreams come through!!! marry me! hahaha

but seriously, very very nice. I started reading the first anticipating that it was gonna be tough to read the lot (hehe honest...sorry!) but boy was i wrong. I breezed through it so quickly and i'm left longing for more!!!

quick quick, i'm anxiously awaiting the coming installments

[Bee Hoon]

Thanks:) *blushes* You're biased and you know it!

 

* * *

 

I would rather have died than hurt you, but I did. And I was so close to killing you when you invaded my mind, looking for the Atton you know. I am him, but I am also Jaq. The child who got into mischief everyday, the naïve boy who went to war, the cruel assassin, the embittered man who hides behind pazaak and lechery… I am all of those things. But you don’t see it, because when I’m alone with you, all I am is the man who loves you.

 

It hurt me, to see you retreat into yourself. You hid in the shadows of your mind again, utterly inscrutable. I wonder what were you thinking as you looked at me. You pushed yourself to the limit healing me, and this is how I repay you.

 

I don’t blame you for walking away. If I could pull myself together, I’d be the one to do so.

 

I’m sorry. I’m not going to ask you to forgive me. You’ve already forgiven me so much. I can’t ask for any more.

 

But let me atone.

 

* * *

 

Put one foot in front of the other. Repeat process.

 

I love you.

 

Kreia, Kreia. What do you want from me?

 

Don’t look back.

 

He’s hurting.

 

If you want to protect him, keep walking.

 

This is how you want to teach me not to rely on others? To use them as you used me?

 

I was a fool to trust you, yet I could have sworn I felt some truth in you.

 

I won’t let you hurt any of them.

 

I’m tired. I want to cry. I want to scream my rage and kill everyone here and then kill myself.

 

There is no emotion.

 

I sealed myself in one of the small cells and sank into the lotus position. My breathing settled automatically. Again, I was relying on my body’s memory rather than any higher cognitive processes.

 

There is peace.

 

Redemption. It’s so overrated. So is righteous revenge.

 

That which redeems consumes.

 

Where had I heard that? Well, it doesn’t matter.

 

I’m ready.

 

* * *

 

Darth Traya smiled smugly. Lei was stronger than any she had taught, with the possible exception of Revan. Once she managed to shed her unfortunate habit of actually caring for her companions, she would be a leader beyond compare.

 

An inexperienced observer would have missed the fleeting pain which passed over Traya’s features.

 

“And unlike you and I, there still is a chance that one may be saved. The one that you cast out.”

 

She dismissed her faint, hopeful thought with a sigh.

 

I am too far gone. It is too late for the betrayer. For this betrayer.

 

She adjusted her hood with trembling fingers and waited. Her moment would come soon.

 

* * *

[mailboris]

me would like more action please...and if possible a little more insight into characters...a bit more bout the past, the future....err...perhaps some "action" between atton and exile....? *hopeful look*

[Bee Hoon]

Just a quick update... The part that follows this one is my favourite part so far. Once it's edited and stuff... I'll update it. Not really happy with what I've written so far, but my workload's going to increase dramatically. Will review everything if I get the time.

 

Action? I'm really bad at that:s Will try though, especially for more insight like you said:)

 

* * *

 

“Atton, what are you doing here? Come on!” Mira nudged me with her foot. When I opened my eyes, she was looking at me curiously.

 

“What are you doing here? I should be the one asking you! I thought that Lei said you weren’t to follow her! She specifically ordered you to stay on the ship!”

 

Mira glared at me, probably wishing she hadn’t stopped carrying her Bothan stunner around. “Well, she didn’t say anything to anyone, and I was thrown out of the ship anyway, thanks to some excellent piloting…”

 

I shrugged indifferently. “No need to thank me. I know I’m great.” I wonder why Lei didn’t say anything to them. Oh…oops. I guess I was supposed to be the messenger boy.

 

Atonement. I promise.

 

The Disciple chipped in at that point, “We must hurry. We do not know where she is, and she might need our help.” Poor kid still seemed a bit subdued though he evidently retained his inability to speak like a normal person.

 

Visas was turning her head here and there, which was unnerving if you remembered the fact that her eye sockets were empty. “We are not far from the core.” She added softly, “Most of the Dark Jedi and the Sith are dead. Yet I do not know where she is. She is difficult to sense in this place, where part of her died. She is like one of the echoes of everyone that died here… So much death. And the echoes consume everything as my former master did.”

 

“Even now… I can’t really explain it. I remember…telling Bao-Dur to activate the mass shadow generator. And what happened next… You felt the death of the Jedi who saved you. That was one death…and what I felt was the deaths of everyone being sucked into the gravity well. It was overwhelming…no, it was unbearable. I can’t describe it…everything was… like… a scream and a dreadful silence, blinding light mingled with darkness, being burned with plasma and frozen with carbonite all at once…”

 

I didn’t want to make you relive that memory. That’s why I didn’t touch that part of your mind where the shadows consumed so many, and part of you died.

 

It’s not fair. We’ve come so far, and all we get is one perfect moment, which I proceed to destroy. But I know that nothing will stop you from doing what you must, and nothing will stop me, stop any of us, from trying our best to help you.

 

* * *

[The_Catto]

Wow, i've missed quite a few chapters. Bad BFA!

 

Great work with the fic, great chapters and i likeyour style of writing. I've said this many times before, i really don't like writing in first person because i find it too difficult, lol.

But your great at it. Congratulations on such a great fic so far, and i can't wait for the next chap!

[Bee Hoon]

Thanks Mr_BFA! Well, here's a third person POV since there's waaaay too many people in this scene.

 

My favourite part of the fic so far:) more cut content! It's my own spin on it, since Sion loves ranting about how Traya can't seem to keep her voice out of people's minds.

 

Edit: This is assuming there'll ever be a mod that kicks G0-T0 out of the party and enables the exile to have both the Disciple and the Handmaiden in the party. Rawr.

* * *

 

Darth Traya was meditating. The claw-like pillars of the Trayus Core soared upwards; the outer ring was hundreds of metres tall while the inner ring was a modest several dozen metres in height. She sat precisely in the centre, with her back to the motley group gathered behind one of the gigantic pillars forming the outer ring.

 

“I say we fire a rocket at her right now, and blow her screaming, burning body into the heart of this planet.” Mira unhooked a small case from her belt and began fingering its deadly contents.

 

“It wouldn't work- if there were other distractions, maybe, if she wasn't telepathic, maybe. If you want to kill her like that, you need something else to occupy her attention, otherwise you might just wound her. And then we'd all be in trouble.” Atton leaned against the pillar and shut his eyes. He seemed to consider something, but he simply shrugged.

 

Visas asserted firmly, “This battle will not be decided by weapons.”

 

“You are wrong. Manipulation is Kreia's strength, not battle.” Everyone turned to look at the Disciple with no small amount of surprise. He added, “We have a chance... we just have to figure out how to make use of it.”

 

The Handmaiden nodded in agreement. “Let us see what transpires, and plan our attack.”

 

A faint whisper brushed against their periphery of their hearing.

 

Children.

 

Mira’s knuckles blanched as she tightened her grip on her pistols, heavy with modifications. She sighed. There goes the element of surprise. Might as well get it over with. After checking that her lightsaber was clipped to her belt, she strode towards Darth Traya and stopped several metres away. “We've come a long way, Kreia... don't bother getting up.” She cocked her pistols.

 

“Ah, the huntress. To come alone... you are braver than I thought.” Kreia did not move.

 

“She is not alone.” The Disciple stepped forward to stand beside Mira, blue eyes earnest.

 

“We stand with her.” The Handmaiden followed suit.

 

Visas declared, “And with her, stand all the Jedi.”

 

“And now I come in, saying something suitably heroic.” Atton sounded light-hearted, but his voice belied the look on his face.

 

“Children with lightsabers.” Darth Traya’s voice had a deadliness to that chilled to the bone. “But not Jedi, I think... come close. Let me look upon you and see what the Exile's teaching has forged. An assassin, a slayer of her own kin, a blinded slave and a fool.”

 

Mira set her jaw belligerently while the Handmaiden flinched visibly. Visas seemed unmoved, as did Atton, but the Disciple’s face hardened. Darth Traya looked straight at him and smiled.

 

Indeed, that is what you fear. Being not even worthy of mention. And you wonder, is that how she thinks of you?

“Which of you wishes to try yourselves against me? As you can see, I am unarmed. Come, boy, face me now - do not make this one of the many battles you have run from.”

 

Let me tell you now, she does not even think of you. Her thoughts are of another. You know who he is. You know that she will never love you. Foolish boy. You knew me, but you only see what I allow you to see. And that will be her undoing.

 

His face crumpled, and he charged with an anguished yell. His lightsaber hummed as he slashed sideways, but Darth Traya simply stepped backwards. “Think. Think before you throw away your life for her. Think of everything you will lose by dying. A love, requited. A hope of another life, beyond the shadow of the Jedi. Think before you give it up so quickly.”

 

He brushed his blonde hair out of his eyes and blinked.

 

“…I look at you and see the hope for all life.”

 

He smiled ever so slightly, and rushed at Darth Traya again, his lightsaber moving so fast that it seemed to leave trails of emerald light.

 

She avoided his blows, then lifted her remaining hand and clenched her fist. The smile on her face as his bones snapped was eerie.

 

The blue lightsaber came within an inch of her heart, but Darth Traya threw the Handmaiden back, the Force boiling out of her. The Disciple fell to the ground and lay there unmoving. The others struggled back to their feet, trying to clear their heads.

 

“Come, child, where you walk, it is not far from battle, slaughter, and the blood of your sisters.”

 

How did they sound when they cried out as their life ebbed away? You felt it, did you not? The slow draining until all that was left was empty shells of flesh, cut and bloodied and wounded beyond any help. By you.

 

A sound that was somewhere between a choked sob and a moan escaped the Handmaiden.

 

“Think. Think before you throw away your life for her. Think of everything you will lose by dying. Your lusts unfulfilled. A dance, unfinished. A love, requited. Think before you give it up so quickly.”

 

The Handmaiden pressed her lips together. She would not give Darth Traya the pleasure of seeing her pain.

 

Poor child, you never stood a chance while the Exile was by his side. You never will.

 

The Handmaiden’s double-bladed saber whirled as she jumped, directing a precisely executed sequence of blows at the malevolent old woman. Yet, somehow, Darth Traya slipped inside her reach and grabbed her by her throat…

 

Her eyes widened, and then shut as she slipped to the ground when Darth Traya let her go, for the sole purpose of stepping close to Visas and landing a stinging slap across her face. Visas had been about to impale her, but Darth Traya was unexpectedly fast.

 

“And you, blind one, you have hungered to strike me down ever since you saw the bond the exile and I share.” Darth Traya sneered as Visas staggered backwards. “Can you feel the Force running through me, even past the veil, past your bloodied eyes? You know you cannot win.”

 

And what did your master show you as he wrapped you in his consuming embrace, upon the ashes of Katarr? Did he show you the power of betrayal? No, I think not. He showed you the hunger that consumed everything you had ever known, and how all of it perished. And he would not let you grieve. Instead, he dressed you as he would dress a bride. What a mockery he made of you, slave. Leaving scars that were purely physical when he could have destroyed your mind, but he left it unmarked save making you blindly obedient to him…

 

Visas licked the blood from her lips. The cut at the corner of her mouth was already healing. She held her head high and reignited her lightsaber. “The Force runs strong within you, Traya, but in the howling of a storm, it is difficult to hear the whisper of the blade. You have forever been the blind one. You were given a gift few are ever given, and yet you let your gift of sight warp you, tw-”

 

“You think your existence under your Lord was torture, Miraluka? I will make you see.”

 

The look on Traya’s face was clinical as she lifted Visas in a powerful crush. She seemed to spend a moment studying her technique, but her concentration was shattered by the kyber dart which she caught between her fingers. Visas dropped awkwardly, and the cold wind grasped at her veil and sent it flying into the core of the dead world.

 

“And you. You were stronger than I thought - to spare the beast that wished to kill you. I felt it, faintly, even here on Malachor. Come, huntress. You have tracked me so far. Cast away your past for this moment.”

 

This is what you have been searching for. The thrill of the hunt, combined with the desire to kill, and the pleasure in doing so. This is why you never knew your true father, lost to you when the shadows engulfed him here. You never knew the bloodlust that rose in his throat when he…

 

Her eyes bright with tears, she would have pulled the triggers of her dual pistols if Traya had not crushed her with the Force.

 

Darth Traya turned to Atton “And now... at last, the fool. You only delay the inevitable. You have been difficult to sense before... but not now. You can cloak your mind only for so long. It is only a matter of coaxing the right thought to the surface. Your desire to protect the Jedi... and the hope that she truly cares about you...She will fall before me, you know. And when I am done with her, she will view you with all the contempt I do for a murderer such as you.”

 

Or does she already?

 

His face twisted. You schutta…it was you!

 

…there is peace.

 

He lobbed a plasma grenade at her and ran for cover, accurately predicting that the Sith Lord would direct it back at him. He threw another, and sprinted off again. While Traya deflected it, he attempted to stun her, but she wrapped the Force around him and pulled it tight. The snapping of his ribs was even louder than the Disciple’s had been.

 

Sion entered silently and knelt. Traya turned to him with the same eerie smile. “And that is the last of them. Take them. They are strong in the Force... and they will have their uses. I will remain here and await the one who comes.”

 

* * *

[The_Catto]

Another great addition to the story. You have a gift in writing first persone and third person. I can not find anything that would need even a little bit of critcising on. Great job!

[Bee Hoon]

Thanks:) Just a quick update. Got an idea for a new fic, but I think I'd better finish this one off first...

 

* * *

 

My breathing slowed as I reconstructed my mental walls. I had dropped everything to heal Atton, and now I built it up again, encasing myself within its safety. With the bonds stretching between my friends and I like so many fine threads, it was the only thing I could do to maintain my sanity.

 

Slowly, I emptied my thoughts, focusing on my breathing and the drumming of my heart.

 

You schutta…it was you!

 

I leapt to my feet and ran towards the core. It was Atton, unmistakably. Snarling in despair and anger. The strength of his raw, visceral emotions pierced my guards and made me gasp involuntarily. I reached for him without hesitation.

 

There is no emotion…

 

…there is peace.

 

And then there was crushing pain.

 

* * *

[JediAthos]

I must say I am very very impressed. I personally, have not seen the cut content from the game, only read about it so get such a visual to where I can almost see the scenes as they take place if pretty nice. Keep it up!

[mailboris]

Magic...im not really one with words myself but today its not required. i have just one word. ART.

you've got me hanging on the edge for more

[Vaelastraz]

Very good story. So far I wasn't too impressed with all that "cut content" of Kotor II. Wasn't in the game, didn't interest me. But you make me really wish that content were in the game...

 

Great story, looking forward to more!

[Bee Hoon]

Thanks for the comments:) I really do appreciate them! Any suggestions on improvements?

 

* * *

 

No one saw the shadow that slipped into the Trayus prison, until silver lightsabers began their deadly dance. When the last Sith had fallen, the cloaked figure shut down the force cages by hacking into the console. Sith were so predictable sometimes; their passwords were almost invariably “passion” or “power”. Having done that, the cloaked figure locked down the door. After all, another thing about Sith was their dreadful timing.

 

The Disciple was sprawled awkwardly in the nearest force cage. Lei pulled her hood off and sat on the cold stone floor beside him then gently lifted his head to rest on her lap. Placing her hand on his cheek, she closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Between her fingers, a white glow grew in intensity until the entire room was illuminated by its preternatural light. The Disciple inhaled sharply and his pale blue eyes snapped open. The expression in his eyes softened at the sight of her, and he placed his hand over hers. She drew it away after a moment, and helped him up.

 

“Are you all right?” She swayed slightly on her feet when they stood up. He nodded his assent. “Heal the Handmaid- Brianna, if you’re up to it. I’ll start with Mira, then see how you’re doing. Don’t push yourself.” The last sentence was delivered with a hint of the Force.

 

Mira was pretty much in the same shape he had been: shattered ribs, collapsed lung, various complications. Delicately, Lei slid her hands onto Mira’s ribs and sent the Force curling into her injuries.

 

Mira revived with a sharp expletive on her lips. “That schutta! Hey, it doesn’t hurt anymore…Oh.” She poked her ribs gingerly, and shook her head in amazement.

 

He hadn’t realized that he had been staring until Lei rebuked him, not unkindly, “It would really help if you could help heal Brianna.” She added with a half-smile, “I bet I can heal Visas faster than you can heal Brianna!”

 

When Visas awoke minutes later, she knelt before Lei. “Forgive me, master. I have failed you. And I have bared my face. That is unforgivable.”

 

Lei shrugged off her heavy grey cloak and draped it over Visas’ shoulders, then gently pulled the hood down so that her eye sockets were once again concealed. “Sinners like me would rather believe that everything is forgivable.” Lei’s face was inscrutable as she got to her feet.

 

The Handmaiden, as Lei had assessed with a single glance, had relatively minor injuries. Her windpipe was badly bruised and she had almost been asphyxiated. It definitely was much easier to cure than the effects of Force Crush. The look Brianna gave the Disciple when she regained consciousness made him distinctly uncomfortable.

 

He looked away, only to see Lei cradling Atton, his shirt open and her hand on his chest. Before he tore his eyes away, he noticed that the glow of her power had dimmed considerably.

 

All of them congregated around her when she had finished the healing. Atton had given his robe to her since Visas now wore her cloak, but she looked so fragile in the oversized garment. They were leaning on each other, but it was hard to tell who was holding the other up.

 

“I would come with you before Darth Traya.”

 

“Let us be your strength.”

 

“I’ve got a score to settle with the old woman.”

 

“You swore to let me fight with you.”

 

“Silence!” She leaned further into Atton’s shoulder, and he pulled her closer. “You must get back to the ship, and don’t go traipsing around like a herd of lost banthas. Go in pairs, or alone. The ship is badly damaged, but you’ll have to find a way to fix it, and fast. We should have enough spare parts though. Then wait for my signal. Atton, you know what it looks like when the mass shadow generator is activated. The rest of you…” She glared at them, one by one. “It gets dark. How shocking. Even light is sucked in by the gravity. When you see that, you should be off this rock and making the jump to hyperspace or it’s bye-bye.”

 

“I’ll signal you through the comlink. If I send two short bursts, pick me up, we’ll get out of here, and then we’ll destroy Malachor. If I send one long burst, get out. Immediately.”

 

Atton’s face contorted, and the Disciple looked like he was going to cry. The others stared at her in shock.

 

“Shoo. Go on.”

 

Visas pulled Mira’s arm, and they left first, activating their stealth field generators. Brianna guided the Disciple out the door, both stealing glances at her.

 

As soon they were out of the door, Atton enfolded her in a fierce embrace. “I won’t leave without you. I can’t. Don’t ask me to.” His hand cupped her chin, and drops of warm liquid pooled in it. It didn’t have the viscosity of tears.

 

It was blood.

 

Blood streamed freely from her nose. She smiled wryly while tipping her head back and pinching her nose shut. “Hmm. I’ve never had a nosebleed before this, you know.”

 

He tried to heal her, but he was completely drained. She pushed him out of the door. “Go on now, or you’ll get left behind.” When he hesitated, she gave him a quick kiss, then said roughly. “Go!”

 

He stumbled away, the taste of her blood on his lips and tears running down his face. She watched him go, and when he vanished into the shadows, she slowly uncovered the deep gash on her thigh that had reopened. As she struggled to heal herself, she found herself pleading silently to the Force.

 

Watch over them.

 

* * *