Crimson Memories

[Darth Veles]

Korriban was a planet traditionally associated with the Sith, neither time nor Jedi would ever change that. Not that Avreet ever liked the planet; much like his Master, he found the combination of the ever-present sand and the burning sun quite unfortunate, enough to develop a significant distaste for the planet despite its significance for the Sith. The Mon Cal hardly considered himself a traditionalist, he wanted the Sith to continue evolving without constantly getting stuck in the past and carrying some outright ridiculous customs that dated back to the time when the red-skinned Sith ruled the planet. Therefore, as a Sith, Avreet hardly cared for the planet’s cultural value it held for some. The reason of his visit was mostly nostalgic; he wished to see the places he used to train, feel the powerful presence of the Dark Side, survive in the unforgiving desert, visit a tomb or two,… Nothing unusual, really. Just a test of his abilities that would confirm his strength. The last time he visited one particular place was when his old Master considered taking him as an apprentice and wished the Acolyte to pass her trial. The Mon Cal wanted to go through the same thing again, experience something new.

As he exited the shuttle that took him right to Dreshdae, memories rushed to him, that old familiar feeling making him shiver despite the fact the hot air shimmered above the ground and the planet’s characteristic red dust and sand immediately started irritating his sensitive skin. Luckily for him, a long black cloak protected him from the most of it. Pulling the cloak’s hood over his head, the Sith Lord glanced around the settlement, noting it has not changed in the slightest since his last visit. Occasional sentients of all kinds passed through the streets with a lone speeder passing through, one could hear the chatter and see the desolate atmosphere. It looked as if the settlement died with all of its inhabitants minus the few souls wandering outside. It wasn’t unusual though, really; most inhabitants stayed inside if they could to protect themselves from the sun. Aside from several vendors trying to sell their products be it food or spare parts, a small group of smugglers walking out of a bar and making their way towards a group of Sith Pureblood civilians that hid in the shadow of said bar, Avreet’s amber eyes spied nothing interesting. He frowned upon seeing the red Sith though; such a proud race once destined to carry the Sith message, now reduced to this. It proved his theory. Sith constantly evolved and they had no place for red-skinned barbarians stuck in 4000 BBY, their methods and customs. The galaxy simply worked in a different way than it used to.

Passing several houses and towers, his boots making prints in the crimson sand, the Mon Cal embarked on his journey through the desert, the first test. Sustained only by the Dark Side radiating from the very planet, he would make his way through the dunes that served as a massive graveyard for those who were too weak to be Sith. Well, the amphibian did take a bottle of water, something of a necessity given his race. It will still be a challenge, as not only he had to fight against the sun, but also the wild beasts running around unchecked given the Sith Academy went silent with the Republic’s invasion. Avreet vividly remembered the small groups of Tuk’ata searching for prey, surprising and killing many unprepared Acolytes and even Knights.

The Sith Lord did not need a compass to guide him; the Dark Side called him from the Valley of the Dark Lords, his destination. It appeared as if the Force welcomed him back, he could almost hear it talking to him…

Shaking his head, the Mon Cal pushed these thoughts away, knowing all had to be careful on this planet. Although he was the only lifeform in the vicinity as far as he could see, he wasn’t completely alone. Many of those long dead still haunted this planet and wished to claim a body.

Sand crunched under his boots as he continued at a steady pace, advancing through the desert. Soon, as he turned around, he did not even see the settlement, though it was partly due to the poor visibility. A red cloud of dust enveloped everything and with each breeze that washed over the desert, the Sith had to pull the hood further down into his face to cover his eye. Good old Korriban, how much he disliked the planet! Naturally, the desert welcomed him with its typical hospitality; a pair of Tuk’ata. When the beasts spotted the amphibious Sith and he sighted them, the Mon Cal stood still, only his right hand moving ever so slightly towards his hip and taking one of the curved hilts hanging on the belt. The wild monsters approached him, slowly and carefully, but he could feel their hunger, the beasts wished to feast on his flesh and blood!

One flick of his wrist and both beast lied dead, their smoking heaps left behind with orange lines burned through their necks. The sand would bury them, just as Avreet’s tracks. It was easy to disappear on Korriban back when it housed thousands of Sith, it was easier now. Still, Avreet remained aware of the chance of meeting some Jedi or Republic forces. In fact, he hoped for it to happen; another test for him.

[member="Kana Truden"] [member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Kana Truden]

Korriban. It was that beginning of the end in the Jaden Korr saga. That one place where Tavion Axmis had been possessed by Marka Ragnos in a desperate move to empower herself. It really went to show the futility in the arguments that the dark side was more powerful than the light.

Why was Kana here? Guard duty. Several masters and knights liked to patrol the different key locations of the planet. A highly valued and old sith academy as well as a valley of dark lords was hardly something that would be allowed to just sit unguarded. No, jedi patrolled it at all times as lights against the darkness.

They did what they must and in this case Kana Truden and [member="Corvus Raaf"] were no different.

“So how many intruders have you seen today?” Kana looked over at her friend. “Because just like yesterday I haven’t seen a soul besides Gorb and Huang at the lower levels.”

This was the second day now. In a sense it was weird that the headmaster of Ossus would be here but perhaps nobody could run from Duty in the end.

“This is kind of like those walks we had when we were still knights. Just, you know, rather than the outskirts of a rain forest we’re in a desert looking for anyone trying to exploit a dangerous force nexus.”

 

[Darth Veles]

Tirelessly pushing forward, the Sith Lord marched through the desert as if it the heat and travelled distance had no effect on him. The Dark Side swirled all around him, much like the sand that stuck to his moist skin, welcoming its son to Korriban. No matter how much he dabbled with the Light Side of the Force, despite his preference to use words over mindless violence, he was a Sith first and foremost, a Dark Side user that bent the Force to his will. The corrupting sensation was overpowering and the Sith Lord basked in the power the Dark Side offered, finally accepting the warm welcome of the planet that gave birth to the ideals that guided him in life.

As much as the amphibian disliked Korriban due to the ever-present dust that irritated his sensitive skin and the unforgiving heat that was responsible for more deaths than the planet’s wild beasts, he understood its value. While he considered himself the exact opposite of a traditionalist, the Mon Calamari knew this red planet would forever be remembered as a Sith world, no matter how many times the Republic and their Jedi puppets conquered it. In a way, this was his home. A home he did not like, but it still presented a place of vast importance for the Mon Calamari Sith as if a small part of him was trapped on the planet for all eternity.

The Sith Lord walked up a small dune, sand crunching underneath his boots as he climbed on the top, cybernetic eye gazing around and looking into the distance towards the location he knew all too well. Avreet heard the Dark Side calling him from there, where it all started, his journey on this dark path he would follow until death claimed his body and soul. Shifting his gaze up, he observed the sunset that would soon turn the light itself red to match the colour of the ground. Several grains of sand bounced off the cybernetic orb as it continued to spy the unusual structures towering over the desert on the horizon. The Valley of the Dark Lords. The final resting place of many ancient Sith.

Before continuing in his journey, Avreet reached under his robes and pulled out a bottle of water. The Dark Side gave him energy, sustained him, but he still had to be careful when it came to the dangers of dehydration. His dry lips eagerly tasted the water as he took several sips, careful not to drink too much. Once he felt refreshed enough, he placed the bottle back under his cloak and descended the small hill of sand he stood on, continuing towards his goal.

[member="Kana Truden"] [member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Korriban.

No doubt Kana would have a Jaden Korr story to tell. Not that she was predictable. But they’d chosen to pull guard duty together and so talk had turned to a part of history Kana was well versed in - possibly even more so than Corvus if truth be told.

Sometimes uneventful was good. But this was not one of those times. Even one Sith lurking amongst the ruins would alleviate the boredom. Although the phrase ‘careful what you wish for’ immediately came to mind.

“Same number of intruders as you,” Corvus replied. They had this conversation approximately every hour - although to generate variety, sometime Corvus asked the question. “And it’s good to be out and about but at least a forest is appealing to look at. I mean this?” She swept her hand to illustrate the point.

She exhaled loudly. “So, if you had to marry one Sith Lord, who would it be and why…”

[member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Kana Truden]

Kana chuckled. “What kind of question is that?”

“Darth Tyranus. Duh! I mean, come on. Makashi, fancy beard and a former jedi? He’s got two L’s and a J. Looks and lightsaber, what else could a girl need?”

She laughed, again. The horizon was still quiet. Almost too quiet but maybe the Sith had finally realized that Korriban isn’t as pleasant as they seemed to think. Or maybe, just maybe, they had run off before Corvus and Kana had taken shift again.

“Alright, what about you? What sith would you marry?”

Darth Bane. No question about it. But hey, Corvus could tell Kana that herself.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus chuckled. "Dooku? No! Really? Dooku? Anyway, you dodged the bullet, I meant current ones - but I guess my question wasn't specific enough."

"Me?" She put her hand to her chin as if deep in though on the subject. "You're expecting me to say Bane, right? But I couldn't marry him. Those orbalisks and all that." She pulled a face. "So...I was thinking Vader. Not Anakin, he was all whiney and annoying. But Vader had it all. That cool armour, the voice. And he saved GrandMaster Skywalker didn't he. Dooku died a defeated coward. Vader died a hero. No contest."

"OK, next question. If you could use one Dark-sided power for a day what would it be and why?"

[member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

As the amphibious Sith Lord got even closer to his destination, he knew he wasn’t alone. Masking his signature and presence, disappearing from the Force, Avreet prepared himself for the inevitable encounter with someone from the Republic. With their forces stretched so thin, it was understandable they could not spare enough men to patrol the larger portion of desert, meaning the only places they guarded were those somehow significant to the Sith, be it the Valley of the Dark Lords or the Sith Academy. This allowed them to effectively set up enough defences and give the patrolling soldiers shorter routes to guard. Avreet was about to meet someone new, judging by three figures clad in a Republic-shaped armor, desert camo pattern. It did not go that well with the red sands, but it did its job. The Mon Cal’s cybernetic eye watched as one man parted from the group, disappearing behind one of the dunes, while the other two continued straight towards the Mon Cal, their weapons relaxing, but the Force revealed they were more than ready to raise the barrels of their guns and open fire.

The Republic couldn’t afford to have this place guarded by weak-minded recruits. These men were veterans, having fought their share of battle against the Sith. They knew how to fight a Sith. Unfortunately, they were on Sith playground. The Dark Side, the planet, the Sith Assassin that walked the red sands; they all became one. The tactic of two men approaching the suspicious figure while another got behind him, lying in the sand with his rifle trained at the robed stranger was an effective one; while the hidden one provided cover if needed, the two approached the Sith to tell him this was a restricted area and he had to turn back. Avreet seemingly ignored them; he stopped in his tracks, looking past the two Republic soldiers, watching the monuments behind them as he judged whether or not the troopers stationed closer to the Valley could hear anything over the howling sound of wind and the rain of sand. Not like it mattered; his mastery over bending sounds would do the work.

The two men clad in Republic armor closed their distance, one staying several steps behind to have enough time to react in case of trouble, Avreet reached out through the Force, focusing on the man behind him, the hidden one. His will was strong, but there was nothing that could protect him from the Dark Side corrupting his mind at Avreet’s command. All of the sudden, the soldier saw the galaxy in an entirely different light. He slightly moved his rifle to point at the head of one of his comrades, and upon receiving a telepathic order to fire, he obeyed. Good soldiers follow orders. All Avreet had to do was to bend the sound, making the two barks of a blaster carabine inaudible. Before the two bodies hit the sand, Avreet snatched their rapidly escaping lives, feasting on those just as the man behind him dropped the rifle and retrieved his sidearm. With no word, the last soldier shot himself in the temple. Soon, all three would be buried under the sand, the planet of their hated enemies becoming their grave for all eternity.

The Sith Lord stepped over the bodies and cloaked himself, his invisibility betrayed only by the prints of his boots in the sand. Ignoring all tombs and statues around him, he headed towards one very specific location; the tomb of Marka Ragnos. The stone steps leading towards the entrance of the tomb showed signs of excessive damage as it’s been destroyed and uncovered numerous times by various people. As of right now, the entrance was a black hole, warning anyone who wished to enter that it probably wasn’t the safest place in the galaxy. Even if the Republic forces discovered there was a Sith, they wouldn’t know where to look. So many tombs to explore, so many traps, not enough men and resources to waste.

After ascending the familiar steps, Avreet entered with no hesitation, swallowed by the cold darkness of the tomb. The Dark Side was strong in this place, which would perfectly suit his needs.

[member="Corvus Raaf"] [member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Kana Truden]

“You’re lying. You totally would have said Bane if not for the fact that it’s the most obvious answer! Rule of two, the original badass and the way you keep mentioning him every now and then? It’s okay to be that predictable, you know.”

And lucky for Kana she did indeed dodge the question. Perhaps if she had known the real question she would have said [member="Darth Vornskr"] just for laughs. Then again, saying that name more than once probably had bad mojo to it. It was probably best not to.

“What dark-sided power would I use for a day?” She promptly put her hand on her chin and squinted. “Force drain.” Spoken with a hint of fascination. “It’s a bit strange, right? But imagine if you could just take the force from your opponent, drain them of…”

No, that line of thoughts should probably end before it’s too late. “Look, it’s an interesting concept and we’ll leave it to that before curiosity gets the better of either of me.”

“What about you? I mean, it's a bad question, but what dark-sided ability would you use?”

[member="Darth Veles"] | [member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus laughed. Maybe she would have picked Bane. He was unorthodox and many of his teaching methods were exemplary. But Kana was right, the choice would have been too predictable. And [member="Darth Vornskr"] was the current Sith Lord that had the right air of mystique to be alluring.

But shaking her head of these thoughts, she realised her own question had rebounded on her. She hadn't asked it because she had a clever answer to give - and was now stumped. "Drain Knowledge sounds good but the side-effects are too extreme. So I'd have to choose Midi-chlorian manipulation. That's how Anakin was conceived you know. And with my track-history with boys, that could be a sensible alternative." She chuckled, "OK, perhaps not."

"So...other than your automatic choice, which historical Jedi would you be and why?"

[member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

The Tomb of Marka Ragnos was still steeped by the Dark Side, much like the Mon Cal remembered it to be during his first visit so long ago. Those were times when many Acolytes came to ancient places such as this, seeking to plunder or uncover powerful secrets. More often than not, the fools met their untimely end. Only the fittest survived, leaving the final resting places of ancient Dark Lords stronger, sometimes changed forever by the terrifying experience that lied within the tombs. Avreet never dared to get close to the tombs. All of that changed when his new Master, a Togruta Sith Knight named Grima Volitu, ordered him to meet her in this particular tomb. There she helped him uncover its secret, something that could not be seen with eyes. A test. The exact same thing he wanted to pass today.

The amphibious Sith Lord made his way to the main chamber, large eyes of the Mon Cal observing the massive statue of Marka Ragnos sitting on a throne. Avreet removed the hood of his cloak from his large head and simply glared around, watching the dark surroundings bathed in shadows with respect, his cybernetic eye scanning all corners in search for danger, finding none. The ground was littered with bones of people and animals alike and one could only imagine how old some of the bones had to be. Two piles of what used to be skeletons undoubtedly belonged to his rivals; Avreet had killed them here at his Master’s command. One a red skinned Twi’lek girl, the other… Avreet couldn’t even remember. Just another obstacle he had to overcome on his path to greatness. With sickening crunches under his boots as he carelessly advanced towards the statue, the Mon Cal was overcome with emotions as the memories of his Master came back to him. Such a great woman! Knowing that without her guidance he would have been another set of bones adorning the floor, the Sith Lord desperately hoped to repay his debt to the Sith Lady, giving her his heart.

Standing right in front of the statue, he fell on his knees and opened himself to the Dark Side, welcoming it. The Mon Cal could literally feel the Dark Side washing over his body, caressing his skin lovingly, yet also burning him alive. Before attempting to pass the test, Avreet had to attune himself to the energies that swirled around. There was much death in the room, which made the intoxicating power even more potent. A dangerous place for a Sith, more so for a Jedi. Soon, very soon, he became one with Korriban’s secrets within the Valley of the Dark Lords. It was as if each and every Sith spirit on the planet judged him. Unsurprisingly, many found him too weak, raging someone like him had claimed the title of a Sith Lord. A true Sith should never use the Light Side! A true Sith should only care about themselves, basking in physical pleasures the galaxy offered, succumb to primal instincts and violent fits of rage and anger! Of course, many Sith praised the Mon Cal as well for his calm approach and control of his emotions. A true Sith should not be enslaved by the Dark Side – a true Sith should be the slaver who commands the vast power of the Darkness! A true Sith should not reject power just because it belongs to their enemies, the Light Side should be embraced as well and used to destroy the Jedi!

Soon, the passage leading to the trial would be open… the Chamber of Horrors awaited him.

[member="Corvus Raaf"] [member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Before Kana could answer, Corvus felt a disturbance in the Force and was sure her friend would too. She felt an aura she hadn't felt for some time - it was as if someone cloaked had suddenly revealed himself. And she was sure it was the Mon-Cal she'd met previously.

"We need to get going," she said and started to run in the direction of the tomb of Marka Ragnos. "I don't know why, but I feel time is of the essence."

[member="Darth Veles"] | [member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Kana Truden]

Master Skywalker, clearly. However Kana was cut short by her friend and followed close behind.

“Right behind you.” A curious look shot for her friend. “What’s up, Corvus?”

[member="Corvus Raaf"] [member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

Some secrets could not be discovered in the physical world; one had to use the Force to see through the veil that hid the truth from mortal eyes. This was exactly the case, something he wouldn’t have known without his Master showing him first. As the Sith Lord opened his big bulbous eyes again, he noted a hole in the stone wall on his right, something that wasn’t there when he came in. Standing up, the Sith Lord slowly approached the new entrance that led directly to his final destination, the Chamber of Horrors. Before he entered the blackness, the Mon Cal stared at it for a while, not daring to enter immediately. Not even his cybernetic eye could pierce the darkness within, the Dark Side itself that resided there. And to know his fears awaited him… he did not want to pass through the portal, but he did nevertheless. It was a test. He had already passed it once, he would do it again. Three deep breaths, encouraging himself with determination and confidence, and he took one more step into the darkness.

Avreet appeared in a long hallway. He couldn’t see much except for the endless path in front of him. There were no walls, just darkness, though he caught a glimpse of ghostly figures that stood around, away from the main path, silently watching him with hateful expression. The Sith Lord knew them to be spirits of those slain by his hands. Their anger, hatred and desperation could be felt, as they knew who had sent them into the Void. Soon, they became a crowd, though all of them stood aside, as if making him a path. The Sith paid them no heed. They were not his test, though he knew every single spirit of the thousands around him desperately wished to tear the Mon Cal into pieces, have their revenge. Numerous Jedi, Republic soldiers, spies, terrorists, random thugs, Sith rivals,… everyone who stood in his way and remained lying once the Mon Calamari Sith made his way through. The ghosts soon decreased in numbers, indicating he had arrived to the place; nothingness. There was absolutely nothing and he became trapped in it. Closing his eyes, he allowed it to take his mind deeper, read his fears, see every single dream he ever had.

And then, with no warning, he appeared back in the tomb. Something was wrong. He felt two signatures in the Force. Two familiar presences of Jedi he had met before. Corvus Raaf and Kana Truden. Before he stood up and turned around, both presences vanished, violently extinguished as another signature appeared, one much darker, yet one that made his heart burn with passion. Grima. Avreet rushed to meet his beloved Master, his legs slowing down until stopping completely at the entrance to the main chamber. His eyes briefly observed the remains of both Jedi before the Mon Cal lifted his gaze towards the Togruta Sith Lady. “That wasn’t necessary,” Avreet stated, mildly annoyed, “My queen, my heavenly goddess, you have just ruined my plans, you witch!” He scolded his beloved teacher, but only lightly and with humorous laugh. The Togruta flashed her infamous dark smile. “My darkest apologies, old friend,” she said, walking closer and pulling the Mon Cal into a tight embrace. He offered no resistance, letting the woman get as close as possible before putting a plasma blade into her black heart just as she did the same to him. Both fell to the ground, forever in their embrace.

His large amber orbs opened. He still knelt in front of the statue of Marka Ragnos. The experience seemingly brought him no harm, though, he felt sharp pain in the chest where his Master’s lightsaber pierced him. While just an illusion, even the part when he entered the Chamber of Horrors, his body found it difficult to recognize the fact. Not he simply had to think of what this meant, interpret it and…

He could feel the two. Kana and Corvus. Was this still just an illusion? He felt fairly certain it was not, but he could come up with no reasonable explanation of the two Jedi friends being on the planet. Well, at least he’d have a chance to talk to them before someone killed them. Reaching out through the Force, Avreet telepathically nudged both in a playful way, just to show he had noticed them in the Force. “Seeking shelter from the sun, ladies?” he telepathically asked, “Come to me.”

[member="Kana Truden"] [member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus was about to answer Kana when she received the telepathic message. She glanced across and raised an eyebrow. One that said, 'you too?' Corvus immediately slowed. The presence hadn't gone but there was no point in running to meet him.

In truth she didn't know what to expect - and she always liked to be prepared. Wgen she met him, she was convinced that although he was a Sith, he had left the One Sith and was not the mindless killer he referred to the others as being. Yet recently intelligence suggested her'd returned to the swron enemies of the Republic, which did not bode well.

She'd let him walk free once through choice. She was unsure her conscience would allow her to do that for a second time.

[member="Darth Veles"] | [member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Kana Truden]

She did feel it. Veles was here, but why? The area was in permanent lockdown, the man would only enter this tomb with good reason but to her there were none to be had. This place was guarded for the sake of all. It was a dangerous place this. Jaden Korr and Tavion Axmis had battled here at the cost of Tavion’s life as Marka Ragnos possessed her body. Really, if there was something a sith should do it would be to stay out of the place.

Then she truly felt his presence. Telepathic messages that that could have been taken as playful teasing or playful taunting. Her eyes set for the saber on her belt. She hoped it wouldn’t come to it but if it came to it she would do what she must.

A sigh of frustration parted her lips as they entered the tomb to see Avreet again. The moment when she’d see if this was a set up or not was approaching and she readied herself accordingly.

[member="Corvus Raaf"] | [member="Darth Veles"]

 

[Darth Veles]

Then came the waiting as the signatures of the women started moving towards his location. Rising up and turning around, the Sith Lord clasped his webbed hands behind his back and stood in silence. This wasn’t a place for Jedi. The dead still searched for weak-willed fools to possess, ancient Sith Lord wished to corrupt the living to spread their will from beyond the grave. And yet, two Jedi walked the homeworld of the Sith, entering a tomb. The Dark Side enveloped their presences and made both easily detectable, as the two were the only Light Side users on the planet. Well, except for Avreet, but his signature appeared to be greyer instead of white given his true allegiance. As two silhouettes appeared in the massive entrance, Avreet remained motionless, waiting for the two to come closer before speaking up, his voice bouncing off the cold walls.

“Ladies,” he said again, his voice showing a strange combination of joy and surprise, though he felt neither upon saying it, “It is such a surprise finding you two here.” The gaze shifted towards the bones on the floor before looking back up, focusing solely on Corvus. “Lady Raaf,” the Sith addressed her gently, “Catching tan, I see. It will surely do well to your complexion. But, as always, nothing will ever get even close to the charm within your violet eyes.” Saying that, the amphibian turned towards Kana.

“Lady Truden, forgive me for saying so, but you look stunning. The hairstyle, the figure; not even the deadly desert of Korriban can steal your beauty.” Typical Avreet, always throwing compliment towards women. He knew the lines were cheesy, but that did nothing to stop him from saying them. Still, despite this being out of the way, the amphibious assassin had more to say. Nothing joyful, unfortunately. The cheerful expression vanished as he put on a rather pained look when his gaze returned to the Jedi Master with beautiful violet eyes. The Sith Lord started walking straight towards her.

“Lady Raaf,” he said again, reaching for her hand to gently grasp it, “Please accept my sincerest condolences.”

[member="Kana Truden"] [member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus took it all in very quickly, the setting, the Sith and the one-liners. She didn't need to use the Force to know this was no social event. Clearly the Mon Cal had something up his sleeve.

As he approached her and offered his hand she took a step back. She bowed politely and looked at him quizzically. She knew she was playing into his hands but she would rather get whatever this was over with quickly than draw it out. "Why, prey tell do you need to offer your condolensces?"

[member="Darth Veles"] | [member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Darth Veles]

“I am just trying to be polite, Corvus,” Avreet shook his large head as the Jedi backed away, escaping his try to console her. She clearly did not trust him at all, making him wonder if she remembered their last meeting. It hardly mattered now. The current encounter was awkward enough already and Avreet found himself completely unprepared for this meeting. Sure, he had planned to contact the two Jedi that stood in front of him right now, but this soon…

One glance towards the blonde before his eyes focused on the purple-eyed Jedi Master again. His voice became gentle and caring. “I have joined the One Sith again,” Avreet immediately raised his hand to stop the women from jumping into it, “Please. It is alright. I am helping Lady Arcanix in her efforts to reform the One Sith.” He spoke slowly, almost as if afraid of alerting the woman and making her attack. That was the last thing he wanted. “It will take some time, but Sith like me or said Lady grow in number. As soon as your sister has enough voice within the One Sith, we will start shaping the Order into what it is meant to be. While I originally wanted to leave the Sith behind, now I see it is possible to change the Order from within, guide it with similar principles I follow. Your sister, me, and several other wish to shape the Sith into a weapon against tyranny, injustice and slavery. Lady Raaf, do you see where I am headed?” his lips curled into a smile.

“If we succeed, this horrible war between our Orders could end, once and for all. Think of all Jedi and Sith could accomplish together, working side by side! Think of all the lives spared of suffering and death!” His excitement died a bit as he calmed down. The One Sith, even if successfully reformed, couldn’t do this alone. Both sides had to cooperate.

“My dear ladies,” his eyes gave a meaningful glance to each woman, “I will need your help. Once the One Sith is completely under our control, you will need to do the same with your Order… all hostilities will have to end. We will have to build a bridge between our Orders. Teach our members respect for those who used to be their enemies. Think about it. You will get your sister. You will bring peace to the galaxy. You will save the Republic, just as we will save the One Sith.”

[member="Corvus Raaf"] [member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Kana Truden]

Kana backed off with her friend. The last time they had met they hadn’t been treading this close on the scale of distrust but perhaps it was the mention of [member="Darth Veles"]’ return to the One Sith. All focus set on [member="Corvus Raaf"] in a talk that felt like it had very little to do with Kana herself. Especially since the topic in question seemed to be about a certain someone who nearly -- or at least attempted -- to kill Kana’s only living ‘relative’ and best friend. Melori might have been her friend’s sister but that didn’t mean she had to give a damn in the grand scheme of things.

She remained hunched as her fingers drummed atop of her lightsaber hilt and the subject changed to reforming both orders. Deep down it was a noble goal but still an idea that carried a lot of controversy. Perhaps Kana was just a pessimist or pragmatist but she could never be honest with herself and claim she saw this as achievable. For the sake of respect she was willing to listen to the man.

There was however one thing that bugged her mind. The other two who had been on patrol around the ancient Valley, what had happened to them? What of Gorb and Huang?

“This is all very ideal, but it doesn’t explain why you’re here on Korriban. What happened to the other two Jedi on patrol and how does this all connect to your presence upon this planet?”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “We’ve kept this place under watch for a good reason. What is your purpose in this tomb?”

Her duty was to ensure no trespassers tried anything in this very chamber. To have an old acquaintance pop out of nowhere like this was discomforting to say the least and doubly so with the revelations that he was back amongst the ranks of her enemy.

“I am giving you the benefit of a doubt here, Veles.”

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus allowed Kana to speak first whilst she assimilated what had been said. Avreet’s initial words stung her. He clearly saw their relationship as cordial and she’d no doubt offended him. But his next words confirmed what she knew and in a small way vindicated her initial response.

She wanted to react to the mention of Taeli, but as it was a secret known only to the two of them, she kept her face as impassive as she could. Sometimes there was value in being a cold-fish – even if meeting her sister had thrown that equation entirely out of the window. Her locker on Raven had dresses that she was determined to wear – as soon as the occasion allowed.

But his next words were like a knife in the heart. She’d spent sixteen years as a Jedi, unable to be both that and a person. One day with her elder sister and it had all been torn apart. Corvus the person and the Jedi may have been compartmentalised for now, but they were both present in her personality and – given time plus the company of her sister – she knew she could integrate them. Their bond had been so special, the trust absolute. She’d allowed a Sith into her mind and memories unfettered. She’d discussed allowing her to extract knowledge. And…and…and…she’d been betrayed.

Avreet, who promised his days of the One Sith were behind him – she’d argued with other Jedi over the wisdom of her decision to not even attempt to arrest him. She’d assured them his days as a Sith assassin were behind him. Lies, all lies. And now he was admitting his duplicity. Scheming and lying to his so called allies. And Taeli too. If she was one who could lie to the Sith, she would have found Corvus easy prey. Corvus hung her head in shame, tears forming in her eyes.

She blinked them away and snapped her head up. The cold-fish was now sub-zero. “I am aware of your…affiliations. You may well succeed; your ability to deceive is certainly one I would endorse. But I do not hold my breath for you to follow up on your promises. Should they prove fruitful, we shall speak again. Until then, I take them for what they are – the words of a Sith assassin.”

“There is an old saying. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

With this she turned on her heels and strode out of the tomb. She called out as she did. “Leave now, I’ll be back in an hour and if you’re still here, you will be arrested until we can ascertain any crimes against your name. And I promise you a fair trial. I am a Jedi, I do not lie. If you remember nothing else about me, remember that. And tell your accomplice the same.”

She hoped Kana would follow but she couldn’t trust herself to speak to her one true friend. The one she used to refer to as the sister she never had. Well she was better than any sister – she was family in Corvus’ eyes. And she deserved to know the truth, even if her friend disowned her because of it.

[member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Darth Veles"]