Star Wars: The Sith Resurrection Part VII: A Glimmer of Hope

[JediMaster12]

Jun-la looked at the intruder with a coldness to her eyes even though they were the warm color of fire. Something about this 'Jedi' rubbed her the wrong way. Logically she had nothing to be concerned with but her instincts were screaming otherwise. She listened to her instincts. "I am privy to any information regarding scout missions," she said with quiet firmness, "And if this master wished to speak to me, he would have sent someone else. Therefore I suspect that you are not what you claim and suggest that you leave the temple."

 

Tonatius was high up near the ceiling and in perfect position to drop an attack. He sent, I think he is a fake Kalla. He evades too perfectly.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"Very well. Would you be willing to help ferry the survivors out then? Barring self-destruct, we can't allow the quarantine to be broken long enough for the infected crew to get to any ship in either hangar."

 

Atora nodded slowly, another idea rising to the top of his head.

 

"You know...the Ebon Blade is close enough to the engine deck that if I were to engage the self-destruct, the explosion would most likely take out the Cygnus with it. It would eliminate the threat posed by the infected permanetly."

 

"But if I do activate the self-destruct I want to get off this ship. And I want to get in contact with Admiral Belina the moment we're clear."

 

 

Now!

 

Alriana ran directly at him and brought her lightsaber down so that it was level with the enemy solder's stomach. She was hoping for a clean kill that wouldn't be too messy.

[Shana]

Lenatha listened intently as both Jedi exchanged words, something about an infection rang in her mind as Reyvan spoke about it.

 

"Well if you need someone to help deal with infectious diseases then I'm right here in case the council needs a Doctor, I'm sure the hospital can send over my resume and credentials", Lenatha said and turned to Andorra. "I wanted to ask you, you don't have a place to stay in Coruscant right? Maybe you'd like... and you're not in any obligation or anything... but maybe... you could like... stay with me, my apartment isn't too far away from the hospital and it's close to the transit module in case you need to get somewhere quickly like the Jedi Temple. It's not a huge place or anything but you might like it".

 

She kinda felt embarrased to have said it that way, she was nervous as hell knowing there was a chance she might finally get some alone time with Andorra, and more over it would be in her home.

 

I hope I did clean up good enough..., she thought to herself.

[Tysyacha]

Andorra nodded. "Doctor, you're too kind," she beamed, almost calling her Lenatha in her haste but remembering the rules of etiquette just in time. "I accept your offer, and perhaps tonight a little bit later on, we can...discuss the ramifications of what I just saw in my sublustrum state. When I was in a coma, this ability was completely lost to me, but it's coming back. It's scary to know that visions may come upon me at any moment, but at least I'm reassured that in no way, shape or form have I died while I was having them."

 

Again, she tried to laugh, but the joke fell flat. Her laughter died on her lips.

 

"I certainly hope some survive aboard the Cygnus," she said at last.

[JediMaster12]

Tavaryn moved simultaneously as Alriana and completely surprised the enemy. In the end, it allowed Alriana to deliver a killing blow. It also allowed Tavaryn to remove his hat and throw it at an enemy with deadly accuracy, slitting the throat and forcing the dying body to fall over the edge. The hat returned to Tavryn in which he put it back on his head with a cleaning swipe with his hand. He looked at Alriana and said, "Nice move."

 

Haruka had watched the spectacle and he had to admit that he never thought he would ever meet a Shinigami. He held his blaster pointed at Tavaryn and Alriana and said, "Alright you two. What gives?"

 

Tavaryn knew that he had to say something that would allow them to escape without a blaster shot to the head. He said in a side whisper to Alriana, "Follow my lead." He then slowly took a step forward and replied, "Just helping you out. Saw them folks coming at you."

 

"Tark," Haruka replied, "You came for a reason Shinigami and with a Jedi no less. I ask again, what do you want?" He looked at the Jedi as if trying to will her to answer.

 

Tavryn looked at Alriana and gave a slight nod, indicating she was to answer.

[Alkonium]

Komad pulled out his communicator and asked, "Iyav, would that work?"

 

"It's not likely. The Cygnus ended up here because the hyperdrive was completely drained, and the fuel has been leaking out into space since this nightmare started. At the very least, there should be enough to punch a massive hole in the stern of the ship, sucking a good number of zombies into the vacuum. The actual autodestruct sequence is offline, but I think I can manipulate the ship-to-ship weaponry in conjuction with an explosion close enough to the engines to make up for that, and give us all enough time to get out. Just give me the signal."

 

******************************

 

"Komad is one of the best swordsmen in the Jedi Order, and Iyav is a very clever man. If there are survivors, they'll get them out of there. Farewell for now, Andorra, Doctor Pradhes." Reyvan explained, taking off in a speeder back to the Jedi Temple.

 

******************************

 

Clearly. He dodges any mention of flaws in his disguise, and he's certainly done his homework. Whoever he is, whatever he wants, he's not going to give up that easily. Kalla sent back. I've seen that face before, Tonatius, and it's not Carnojec. Is it, no, it can't be.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"It's not likely. The Cygnus ended up here because the hyperdrive was completely drained, and the fuel has been leaking out into space since this nightmare started. At the very least, there should be enough to punch a massive hole in the stern of the ship, sucking a good number of zombies into the vacuum. The actual autodestruct sequence is offline, but I think I can manipulate the ship-to-ship weaponry in conjuction with an explosion close enough to the engines to make up for that, and give us all enough time to get out. Just give me the signal."

 

Perhaps I won't have to sacrifice my ship after all. But I would still need to get in contact with Admiral Belina as soon as possible. She needs to be made aware of this threat.

 

"So tell me...Do I need to blow up my ship or not? If so, then I have to download precious data I gathered about the infected from my ship before its blown up."

 

 

 

"You came for a reason Shinigami and with a Jedi no less. I ask again, what do you want?"

 

Alriana turned toward Tavaryn and saw him nod at her.

 

The truth it is then.

 

"To be honest...We were looking for you."

[JediMaster12]

Haruka raised his brow. "Huh. I don't believe this. First that slimy Hutt Slugg and now you two."

 

Tavaryn looked at Alriana and then said, "We were sent to find you but for what reason, the council knows."

 

"And I suppose the Jedi are in on this?" Haruka asked accusingly at Alriana. He had lowered his blaster slightly but it was still fixed on them.

 

**********

 

Jun-la beckoned Kalla to come to her. This intruder bugged her and her protective instincts were on the alert. Kalla what do you sense from him? She sent teh question through the Force.

[Alkonium]

"In all likelihood, I'm guessing you will. There's no guarantee all the cannons are still working, so we need a surefire way to blow part of this ship up." Iyav explained. "But keep in mind, rescuing the survivors and investigating what happened are the primary objectives. Destroying the Cygnus can't take priority. I've managed to download all of the ship's data along with a crew manifest, so that's taken care of. And Komad, when you meet up with the surviving crew, tell them Merin didn't die in vain."

 

"Understood. I'll see you back at the Eagle" Komad replied.

 

******************************

 

We've met before, I know that much. I think he's the hermit Tonatius and I dealt with on Jatalra. Kalla explained. He's too focused, I doubt we'd be able to get him to slip up, and interrogating will be useless. I suggest we let him go, and track him as covertly as possible.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"And I suppose the Jedi are in on this?"

 

"If you must know, the last time I was officially associated with the Jedi order was over one hundred years ago. Right now, I don't like to think of myself as a member of the jedi. As of now I work with him." She said pointing at Tavaryn.

 

 

 

 

"In all likelihood, I'm guessing you will. There's no guarantee all the cannons are still working, so we need a surefire way to blow part of this ship up, but keep in mind, rescuing the survivors and investigating what happened are the primary objectives. Destroying the Cygnus can't take priority. I've managed to download all of the ship's data along with a crew manifest, so that's taken care of. And Komad, when you meet up with the surviving crew, tell them Merin didn't die in vain."

 

Atora nodded and began downloading the information from his ship into his helmet. The helmet's storage capacity was limited but it would hold all of the information that he had collected on the infected. After a moment the data was all downloaded and then he nodded again.

 

"All of the data on the infected has been downloaded. It's a shame I couldn't save my ship but the republic will always pay for a new one as part of my contract with them."

[JediMaster12]

Perhaps. Best be wary should we sense him again. Jun-la sent the thought before saying to the intruder, "You may leave but I wouldn't bother reporting to any of the masters. They know exactly what I am up to."

 

**********

 

"Satisfied?" Tavaryn asked.

 

"For now regarding your identities. Heck the last time I heard of a Jedi not being a Jedi was the story of old Jolee Bindo," Haruka replied. "And that was over four thousand years ago."

 

Familiar with those tales, Tavaryn replied, "You're right on that point. My people think highly of him."

 

Haruka nodded aware that this Shinigami was most likely an Avalonian since they were rumoured to make up the majority. "Alright so now you found me. What do you plan to do?"

 

Tavaryn looked at Alriana and then back at Haruka. "For some reasonthe council wishes that you be brought before them. I suspect that it has to do with some of your talents."

 

Haruka hid his surprise well. "And I supposed your Jedi friend knows this as well?"

[Alkonium]

"Can you trigger the autodestruct remotely?" Komad asked Atora, still making his way to the cargo hold. He finally spotted the door, with an infected crewmember bashing away at it until it saw them and drew its attention away from the door.

 

"Careful, he might not be alone." Komad whispered to Atora, activating his lightsabers.

 

*********************************

 

On his way back to the Jedi Temple, Reyvan opened a commlink with the Council. "I've finished my evaluation of Miss Evenstar. For the most part, she appears to have fully recovered, both mentally and physically. However, she seems to be exhibiting an overeagerness to please others, which is more likely a result of her therapy, rather than from Virul's influence, along with a fear of seeing her adoptive mother, likely a result of the guilt relating to the original incident on Bastion. There is been no sign of Virul remaining, or any affinity to the Force beyond her sublustrum state, which seems to have returned fully." He explained.

 

"Thank you Master Skyrider. We knew she would feel more comfortable speaking to you rather than a Jedi she's never met. You understand that this way is better for her than a formal evaluation. She's been through enough of that." Kol Skywalker's voice replied.

 

"Yes, Master. I should be back at the Temple in a few minutes."

[Chevron 7 locke]

"And I supposed your Jedi friend knows this as well?"

 

"As a matter of fact I did know it. I don't know why the council wishes to speak with you however. Like Tavaryn said, it may have something to do with your talents."

 

 

 

 

"Can you trigger the autodestruct remotely?"

 

"As a matter of fact I can. But the remote auto-destruct takes twenty seconds to engage. It's a failsafe that was built in after an encounter I had with a bounty hunter on the outer rim."

 

He followed Komad down to the cargo hold only to see one of the infected trying to get into the cargo hold.

 

"Careful, he might not be alone."

 

Atora brought up his assault rifle and blasted the thing right through the head with a single shot. His HUD began to flash, showing that there were multiple hostiles incoming.

 

"Looks like he did have friends. They won't be around for much longer though." Atora commented as he grabbed a thermal detonater from his belt and prepared to toss it down the corridor toward the incoming infected.

[JediMaster12]

"I know it is not the Jedi council that calls me otherwise they wouldn't have sent a Shinigami with you," Haruka replied.

 

"Two for two," Tavaryn replied. "Except it is not the Jedi council of the Republic."

 

"Oh so it is the other one. The one responsible for the largest contingent of Force users and sensitives," Haruka replied in a mocking tone. "No way."

 

"I have orders to bring you in," Tavryn replied in solemn tone.

 

"Sure you do." Haruka then directed his attention to the Jedi, "You know exactly what he is Jedi? Or hasn't he told you?"

 

**********

 

Jun-la felt the tremors in the Force. She said out loud, "Master Reyvan is returnig. Perhaps you should see Master Skywalker if he needs you to do anything." It was best to let this one go and perhaps Master Skywalker could better sense out what was going on.

[Shana]

Lenatha simply smiled at Andorra, she was feeling happy that she had taken her up on her offer and nodded as she listened to her talk about her sublustrum state.

 

"Yeah we can definitely discuss it if you want to, and you will be able to talk to me, because I won't pass any kind of judgement on you like those... bastards", she said once again revealing her hatred towards psychiatrists. "But anyways since Reyvan is already gone, there isn't much point in staying here. I have my own speeder so, if you want we can get you settled in, I can also have your personal belongings brought to my apartment from the hospital if you like".

 

Lenatha moved towards the speeder park lot. Hers was a small two seat speeder, not very flashy, fairly modest but enough to get around.

 

"Hop in", Lenatha said with a smile as she got inside herself.

[Tysyacha]

Andorra leapt into the speeder with a quick spring, and it wasn't long before she and Doctor Pradhes were sailing through the space-lanes with expert ease.

 

"Wow," the Avalonian muttered, most certainly impressed. "Whenever I pilot a speeder, I maneuver like a drunken Trandoshan! It's my nervousness, bad depth perception, and lightning-quick but mistimed reactions to the piloting of others. Where did you learn to fly like that? It probably wasn't in medical school."

 

She giggled. The lights of Coruscant shimmered and blurred before their eyes.

[Shana]

Lenatha glanced a bit at Andorra and smiled at her.

 

"When I was still living on Nar Shadda, I was often sent out to buy things for the hutts. Since I was a slave girl, I had to do it so they made me learn how. And you know how hutts are, if they don't get what they want and if they don't get it when they want it, it's hell on earth for the slaves", Lenatha said but did not lose her smile. "I think one would actually think that doing this would bring back traumatizing experiences from that time, but for me, actually flying one of these things at full speed felt like I was free, even if it was for a moment".

 

Shortly after they arrived at the apartment complex's landing pads and she landed gently in the space marked for her apartment. Lenatha jumped off and smiled at Andorra.

 

"We're here, it's on the 58th floor", Lenatha said as she motioned Andorra to the elevator with her. At the door to her appartment which was number 58394 she opened it to reveal the inside. It wasn't a huge place but it did have a large living room, the kitchen was on the left side and on the right side there were two rooms and the bathroom right between them.

 

"My room is the far one on the right, you can have the first room, an old friend from medical school sometimes used it to stay when she was on planet but since she's been in the outer rim with the republic, she hasn't been back. You'd like her, she's pretty funny, she's not really pretty but what she lacks in beauty she makes up in personality", Lenatha said giggling a little in rememberance.

[Tysyacha]

Andorra found herself returning Lenatha's grin. "She sounds like someone you'd like to have watching your back against any Sith--or roaming psychiatrists," she said with a wink. "Speaking of which--or, of the medical facility itself, and your position in it--how did you rise from your bondage as a slave girl for the Hutts to become one of the most respected physicians on Coruscant?"

 

She motioned for Lenatha to sit in one of the two steelplush lounge chairs.

[Shana]

Lenatha walked over to the steelplush chair and sat down beside Andorra.

 

"I... it is kind of a long story", Lenatha said, she didn't want to say anything that might make Andorra disgusted at her as had happened before with others. But she knew she owed it to her since she had shared even if unwillingly, the truth about what happened to her.

 

"I haven't talked about it in a while because it's not something I'm proud of having done. Back then I was really young, I was just a teenager and I fell in love with a young woman who took care of me, she was one of the slaves there too but she had been there since she was a baby, she was born into Jamiro the Hutt's palace unlike me who was simply bought at a very young age. She helped me a lot and Jamiro found out about us, being the sadist that he was, he simply choose to murder her infront of me", Lenatha's eyes were tearing up and she looked away. "I couldn't do anything, I just stood there helpless and useless. I couldn't take it, I made it my priority to hurt him bad, to cause him the pain he had caused me but amplifying it beyond belief. And so I sought the help of mercenaries and I learned the arts of torture, I studied everyday about the physical composition of the Hutts, finding the weakest spots, the presure points, everything about their disgusting anatomy".

 

She then stood up facing the window so as to hide the tears flowing from her eyes.

 

"The time came soon after, Trandoshan mercenaries broke into the palace to claim a debt that Jamiro owed them. They let me have my way with him, I implored them to let me do it and they watched in disgust as I ripped him apart, little by little, the screams coming from his mouth and the agony of him has chased my conscience for so long... After that the Trandoshans took me to Coruscant and put a word for me with an official at the medical school. They hid my past and treated me like just another student. I had finally found a place were I thought I felt safe..."

 

She sighed and wiped off her tears but she was still crying.

 

"I don't like psychiatrists for that very reason, when I opened up about this they tried to put a halt to my career. But thanks to the Hospital Director I was able to stay", Lenatha said.

[Tysyacha]

Andorra listened to the good doctor's story, and her face was by turns saddened, frightened, revolted, and finally peaceful. She nodded at Lenatha.

 

"And I thought being the Dark Lady of the Sith was abhorrent," she muttered. "I can't even imagine what you went through. In order to desensitize yourself to the torture techniques you learned day by day..." She trailed off. "If I were you, I would have kept the image of my murdered love in my mind as a focal point, and nothing more. How did you ignore the screams?" She shook her head and shuddered. "When a Hutt howls in your ear--not that it's happened to me--I suspect it would chill your blood."

 

She reached for Lenatha's hand. "I'm sorry. In fact, I'm more than sorry. I've been redeemed, and I want to try and make amends for what I've done. This world is full of darkness, and I want to shine a little light within it again. I have no right to judge you or what you did, and as for me...I can't excuse myself from all the blame, because when I struck down Lord Virul, I did it out of a craven desire for revenge, not for justice. Perhaps that's what allowed him to possess me so easily. He sensed my anger and fed upon it, knowing that I'd let my guard down, forgetting the ways of the Jedi and my people."

 

Andorra looked at her chronometer and stifled a yawn. "Perhaps I should get some real sleep," she said, "and not the sleep of the comatose. Agreed?"

[Shana]

Lenatha turned to face Andorra, her expression sad.

 

"I did make Ariel my focal point. I had times that I was revolted just when I practiced, times I'd stop because I would toss my stomach out listening to the animals I practiced on shriek and wail. But when it came to the final moment, everything around me froze, all went silent, it was my hand, my instruments of pain and his body", Lenatha said and her expression changed to disgust. "The Trandoshan mercenaries even said I smiled at some point and even laugh. But I don't remember that, I get scared just thinking about it".

 

She felt Andorra reach for her hand and she felt her face blush a bit by her touch and listened to what she said.

 

"I guess we all have darkness inside us, we can only hope to keep it contained and do our best to keep to the light", Lenatha said and nodded as she said her words about going to sleep. "Yup, you definitely should get some real rest. If you want to take a bath you can go ahead".

 

Lenatha went into her room and several moments later she came back with a towel and a change of clothes for Andorra.

 

"I called the hospital so they'll bring your things over in a bit. Here's a towel and a fresh change of clothes you can sleep with", Lenatha said with a smile.

[Tysyacha]

Andorra found her face growing a tad bit warm as she bade Lenatha good night and took the fresh clothes from her. Such compassion, and in chaotic times! She herself had originally thought that no one would trust her after she'd recovered from being a Sith. The truth was, you never really recovered. The memories were still there of what you'd done, no matter if a parasitic Dark Lord had inhabited your body or not. Part of you--the part that was you--kept a record even then of the atrocities committed by the leech within.

 

That was what usually troubled Andorra during sleep, but not this time...

 

******************

 

A ship's interior. The smell of cold metal. Near-complete darkness. Shadows could be seen floating about, but who could tell which were harmless and which were hostile? Soft moans, sounding both human and monstrous. The sound of shuffling feet. Blaster-bolts being fired. Grunts of pain. What was this? The ship was surely lost, for no one heard the distress calls of the men in front of the shadows. The void was such...

 

Clammy flesh. That was the worst part. It seemed as if decomposition were already settling in upon the faces of the lumbering crew, and it was making their skin wet and wrinkled. Their hands grasped, fumbling, clawing, but with a mad purpose that none of their saner comrades could deny. Their tongues lolled out of their mouths, although some of them were at least rational enough to try and hold them in so as to hide their hunger.

 

Suddenly the ship itself spun round and round, rotating in a mad whirl, as if one of the creatures had hit the piloting controls and set them permanently to the turning position. Was this to be the final fate of this vessel, to rotate in an endless dance that no one would see, with the fleshy ones trapped?

 

Andorra, paralyzed with fright, almost did not feel the warm sun upon her face. A gentle breeze outside woke her up. Trembling, relieved, she washed in the refresher near her bedroom and changed clothes. Then she sat down at one of the terminals in the living room, not seeing Lenatha just yet. Turning the console on, she located a holonet search engine and typed.

 

A word had come to her during the dream, which still haunted her mind:

 

VIVINECROSIS.

 

Literally, "living death". Had this disease been seen or studied before?

[Alkonium]

As Atora dealt with the zombies, Komad tried to access the cargo hold door's control panel. "This is Jedi Master Komad Kaltas, we've come to rescue you." He said into the comm.

 

"Is it safe?" He heard back. "Yes, I've cleared a path back to the starboard hangar, and we can get you all back to Coruscant." He explained. Once he heard the last of the zombies go down, he opened the door, and said to the group, "This nightmare is over."

 

************************************

 

"This seems serious. An intruder, posing as Jedi Turz, finds his way in here and comes after you?" Kol Skywalker asked as Kalla explained the incident in the training halls. "It's also possible he was after Lady Jun-la, or Tonatius." Kalla suggested.

 

"Regardless, he somehow managed to bypass the Temple's security system, and avoid the attention of anyone else. The implications are unsettling. Do you have any idea as to who he was?" Kol then asked.

 

"I believe he was Vector S'borr, a hermit I met once on Jatalra. I don't anything else about him past the name." Kalla explained.

 

"Odd. We will deal with him. I need you to aid the Republic in investigating the now-abandoned New Imperial base on Geonosis. What we know so far about what happened to the Cygnus suggests we will find answers there. However, we will have to wait until your father and Operative Dourden have returned before we can finalise the details." Kol told her.

[Cyborg Ninja]

Kurt couldn't help but the notice that Atora seemed distrustful of Komad. He could hear it in his voice when talking to the jedi. Kurt just dismissed this as typical merc behavior. He was glad to see the survivors were still okay when they finally reached them. At least he was able to keep some survivors alive. Now that the survivors were closed to being rescued, Kurt would probably be reassigned to another ship. Personally he preferred fighting alongside Komad as he respected him very much.

 

"Is there anything I can help you with Master Komad?"

 

Wrath made sure to keep a reasonable distance between himself, Andorra, and Lenatha. He could see Andorra was enjoying herself and he was glad she was. He parked his speeder in front of the apartment complex. Once inside he followed the two girls to Lenatha's apartment so he would know where it was. He would remain outside in the hallway for the time being. If he sensed any type of danger he would make his move.

[Chevron 7 locke]

"You know exactly what he is Jedi? Or hasn't he told you?"

 

Alriana shook her head and then looked at Tavaryn before looking back at Haruka again.

 

"He has not told me what he is but I feel that if I had to know what he was then he would tell me. As of right now it's none of my buisness."

 

 

Cygnus

 

"Yes, I've cleared a path back to the starboard hangar, and we can get you all back to Coruscant."

 

Just like a Jedi to claim all the glory. He makes it sound like he was the only one fighting the infected. And I highly doubt that he could have made it down here without my help.

 

His HUD began to flash again as more of the infected began to move in toward their position, most likely drawn by the explosion of the thermal detonator.

 

"This nightmare is over."

 

"Sorry Jedi, it looks like your wrong. We have more infected moving in on us from further down the corridor. I suggest that we leave immediatly."