《SWTOR: The Alpha Legacy - Mrysti 'Sick Games'》 1 - You Are No Longer A Person -- 30 Years Prior to the Attack on the Jedi Temple.... -- Corellia, Jedi Orphanage; Secure Alpha Wing¡­ -- <>TS-1347>> < > Transfer Report: Babies transferred from infant to toddler. Specimen 002 and 003 placed in Alpha Pod assignment. Alpha Project 28-92. Report specific: ¡®Mrysti¡¯; Specimen 003. A Five year old, Mirialan Female. Physical: Unremarkable ¨C IAW Mirialan toddler of similar age. Second of two, DNA chronological mapping places child as six minutes younger than Specimen 002. Psychological: Unremarkable. Does appear more withdrawn than a child subject to orphanage environment than Specimen 002. Shuns physical contact, except for the company of Specimen 002 Force Sensitivity: Yes, Verified. Jedi Matron notified. Special Project parameters initiated for Force sensitive specimens. Recommendation: Due to psychology of Specimen 003 and the fact she is part of a matched set; identical twin; project lead recommends special parameters extend to include physical DNA manipulation of specimen 003. Republic Sciences Division. Specimen: GREEN status for Czerka physical manipulation protocol within Project Alpha. Isolation: Unnecessary. RSD is interested in comparing and contrasting specimen 003 against 002 as a control element. <>: DNA Manipulation ¨C Infusion: Oral, Intravenous, Mechanized Ray. Extended Protocol Specifics: Strength Enhancement. Muscular-skeletal reinforcement. Brain Centers Stimulation: Intelligence ¨C Minor. Force manipulation: Minor ¨C symbiotic nominal level. Technical and tactical areas: Above Average: Vitamin infusion expected enhance by scale. Enhance: Extended DNA manipulation to healing centers based on muscular- skeletal infusion. <<¡±¡­this is Dr. Vizu Hardiman¡­second week of infusion required testing by protocol scale. Drone observation required due to the shyness of the specimen. Anytime I or one of my assistants are in Specimen 003 vicinity, she seems to clam up. Shut down to a large degree. When presented with a standard target or the workout area punching bags and training equipment, Specimen 003 seems to dissolve into her own little world. Her latest PSI on the bag scale puts her at 550 on the PSI scale. More than adequate and well above project expectations. Punching target registered a PSI of 1100 on the adult scale; equivalent to a moving speeder hitting a durasteel wall going about 40 kilometers per hours. For her age and weight, Specimen 003 is performing well above expected norms. Psychologically, we have a long way to go. She seems only to relate in any way to her sister, shunning physical and presence contact with any other humanoids. Including Jedi matrons. We have yet to tap her Force Sensitivity, instead choosing to focus on her physical enhancements. Tonight, we will be gassing both Specimen 003 and 002 in order to move them back to operations for the second phase of muscular-skeletal infusion. We will also take the opportunity to once again look inside the physical brain of 002 and apply genetic infusion protocols. Hardiman, Specimen 003 Lead Scientist¡­¡±>> -- "You have no rights....you are no longer even a person.... - Korriban, Undisclosed Location....Second Month of Captivity.... Squatting down in the darkened room, Mrysti adjusted the wrap around her waist as she scrapped at the bowl of food left for her. Her Taskmaster always waited till she was sleeping to leave the food, so happily every time she woke, she was fed. As she scrapped, Mrysti looked up at the heavy door barring her exit. A slight beam of sunlight was just cresting the corner of the tiny window on the top center of the door. Mrysti followed the beam with her eyes. Watching the beam hit the far wall behind her. Mrysti glanced to the marks she made on the wall to measure the time by the sunlight. Not days or weeks; not even months. But time of day. It was really the only measure of time that mattered. When she would be fed, when she would have to bow while her cell was cleaned. When her ¡®Taskmaster¡¯ was coming to pay her visits. Having recovered in captivity, Mrysti knew she was the possession of the Taskmaster for some time. Not exactly how long. But some time. With no memory of how she got there or who she was, measuring the time of day was all she could do. That act in itself was unexplainable. Mrysti knew how to do all manner of things. Mark a wall for time. Figure out Magnetic North. Stitch clothing and as it turned out when the need would arise, herself as well. Common memories. Utilitarian. But nothing that gave any clue as to where those useful memories came from or where she would have gotten them. And no memory of who or WHAT she was. The beam was approaching the second to last mark on the wall, it was almost time. Mrysti stood and looked herself over. Licking her hand to wipe some of the grime off. She wondered what sickness the Taskmaster had in mind for her this time. With no way to look at her reflection, she had no way of knowing if she was presentable. At least her face. He called her ''ugly'' or ''nasty'' often. Yet, he continued to show her so much ''attention''. The beam slowly moved closer to the mark. Mrysti bent down and quickly scrapped at the durasteel bowl discarding it in the corner of the room and standing; adjusting her waist and breast wrap to wait. Arms hung to her side. Her head bowed all the way down, eyes locked to the floor. During those times, Mrysti looked herself over. Yes, she was ugly. The color of olive green. Tracts of scarring marred the surfaces, running criss-cross patterns all over her. And she was not soft. Why was she not soft? She wanted to be, for her Taskmaster. Hard tense muscle ran under the scarred skin. An ample bossom, something the ''Master'' commented on regularly. Yes, she was ugly. Far too tall, far too chiseled and scarred for anyone to think her beautiful. Not worthy of her Master''s time. The lock on the door nosily started to rattle and she instinctively looked behind her at the beam of sunlight. Right on time. The slight Taskmaster was nothing if not prompt like clockwork. Doing her due diligence, she did as always. Bowing her head low and closing her eyes. She was never allowed to look at her Taskmaster. Although she didn¡¯t need to in order to know a little about him, he had beaten and tortured her enough. And in those moments she always caught glimpses of her Master. A slight man, he was much shorter than Mrysti who towered over most males anyway. Not that she had seen any other people; she was never allowed any contact with anyone but her torturous Master. Short, balding¡­a terrifying squeaky voice that always seemed to penetrate her soul as he screamed at her. His skin was red. Like the fantasy stories of demons and devils she read about...somewhere? She couldn''t remember, but the stories were there. Tendrils hung from his face. Ridges and piercings dotted his chin and forehead. It was a cultural thing for his red people. Mrysti couldn''t remember the name. ''SEATH''. ''SLOTH''. It started with an ''S''. As she stood silently the door made a loud squeal and creak as it opened. She heard the sound of the Master¡¯s shuffling feet. His heavy breathing as he drew near and could sense the excitement of anticipation in him. Sense. Mrysti could actually ''feel'' it. Something inside. It spoke to her, gave her presence to reach out and feel the environment around her. It was very sensitive when he approached. Almost as if her sense were drawn to him. Feeling his heartbeat increase as he looked at her. And she could ''feel'' the look. The Master paced a circle around her, she felt his arousal looking her over, something he did so very often. ¡°Open your eyes¡­keep them to the floor, but look at what I am handing to you!!!¡± Mrysti opened her eyes, seeing a gloved hand holding something embroidered in gold and metal. It was slight and she kept just her gaze on it. Not venturing to move. ¡°Take it!¡± Mrysti took it in her hands, but did not look at it only letting it fall in her hand to her side. ¡°You will remove your clothing and put that on! NOW!¡± Raising her hand, this time to actually look at the slight thing she held; Mrysti turned the two pieces over in her hand. It was finely crafted. But only a metallic frame of a top, with a slight cloth covering the parts that he usually reserved for himself. The bottoms, no better. A slight frame for her waist. A simple cloth covering her loins. An image came to mind. Some one dancing. A woman, she had seen it before somewhere. A Dancer¡¯s Outfit. Keeping her head low she stood a moment too long, unmoving as she tried to place the image. Reaching out the Taskmaster slapped her hard across her face. Mrysti barely moved. She expected it after keeping him waiting. ¡°Put it on!¡± With her head low she took a slight step back, using her hands to shimmy the waist wrap down off her hips and onto the floor. Again, Mrysti felt his arousal through the Force as his breathing slightly increased. She heard the Taskmaster lean back against the doorframe, just to take her all in. Smiling wickedly, Mrysti took her time putting the finely crafted Dancer¡¯s Bottoms on, slowly moving them up and over the myriad of scars on her legs and twisting her hips slightly as she brought them up and over, tying the side at last. The Taskmaster almost seemed to stop breathing as he watched her, finally speaking after she had finished tying. ¡°N-now¡­the top.¡± Still smiling wickedly, Mrysti kept her eyes closed as she reached behind her back releasing the clasp for her chest wrap, but allowing an answer to part her ample crimson lips. ¡°As you wish¡­.[i]Master.¡± Being a little too quick for his taste in putting on the Dancer¡¯s top, he reached over slapping her again, but saying nothing. The way she said ''Master. That got to him. Or the smile. Was she always supposed to look sad or disappointed? He was here. She needed him, needed the attention. The contact. Mrysti slowed down allowing him a full view of her front before slowly pulling it down and tying it in the back, the whole time keeping her eyes tightly shut. She placed her head back in a low bow, finally opening her eyes to cast them at the floor.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Now. Take this¡­put this on over it.¡± Again, his gloved hand came into view. This time he held a set of heavy robes. It confused Mrysti, it was not unusual for her Master to make her wear slight clothing or nothing at all. To hand her robes, she was taken aback; slightly confused. Slowly grabbing them as the Taskmaster released the robes, moving to the door. Then out and then closing it. For him, the real show was over. As he locked the door he stood on his tiptoes to look at her through the porthole. ¡°Be dressed when I return¡­¡± Mrysti held the robes. Rough, brown. They held significance for some reason. Another memory flashed. She uttered the word. Elusive. In the wind. ''Jetti''. ''JEDAHI'' It started with a ''J''. Quickly she started donning the robes having a little trouble. She had never worn robes before. Or had she? Not as far as she could remember..... When he returned. Mrysti locked up again. Strightening the robe as best she could for him. Grabbing her neck, he jerked the large Mirialan downward. Latching a collar around her neck. Mrysti heard the chin attached to it hit the floor and then the jerk of movement. She was pulled, jerked toward the door. She had to move on her own. He didn''t have the strength to move her. Excitement filled her. Out of the cell!! She was getting out again. Moving on her own to please him. Moving through the darkened corridor Mrysti only watched her Master¡¯s feet. Following him close as he led her down the all too familiar path, the collar and chain around her neck their only link to one another. Many times, she had traversed this path in chains or rope of some kind. To be walking freely with only the collar was a new experience for her. It was the direction to his Inner Sanctum or as he liked to refer to it, his ¡®Play Room¡¯. An open courtyard, covered around all sides on the edge of the circular area. Upon entering, Mrysti did not immediately recognize the furnishings. It was different that last time. The rack he typically kept in the center of the yard for tying her and beating her on had been moved to the side. As had his shelving system that was always near-by, which contained his endless assortment of torture devices. All of it had been moved to the corner of the raised platform it sat on. In its place on the upper level another pedestal had been placed on the already elevated area. The Taskmaster turned, putting a hand on the top of her head. Stopping her. ¡°Watch my finger¡­¡± He sharply jutted a finger below her downcast eyes pointing a direction. ¡°Get on the platform and then on the upper pedestal.¡± Mrysti bowed slightly, lifting her long brown robes to step over the edge and up the slight surrounding stairs to stand on it. Lifting her robes higher she got on the pedestal. Allowing her hands to rest against her sides she bowed her head lower, careful to make it appear she was not looking around. Although she had already surveyed the room in an instant and now knew where everything in it was. Something about her ability to do that, holographic almost in some way. Mrysti sensed anger in the Taskmaster as he looked her over, a long silence ensuing after she climbed the pedestal. He stood in silence, watching her. If Mrysti didn¡¯t have the ''sense'' as her ally she almost would have thought he left the room. Mrysti heard the sound of flimsy, several sheaves of it. Jutting it forcefully under her downcast eyes he shook it several times. ¡°Take it¡­.and when I tell you, you will put it up to your face. Keep your face behind it, do not look at me!¡± Listening she heard his feet shuffle across the floor and a chair get scraped across it. Soon she heard his slight frame make the chair squeak slightly as he sat. ¡°Now¡­look at the flimsy. Careful, you are not to look at me!¡± Mrysti brought her head up slowly, raising the flimsy at the same time to look at them and cover her face. Around the edges of the flimsy pages she saw the outside of the room and something else new. In the corner near the new resting place of her Master¡¯s torture rack, a pit surrounded by rocks. A fire burned. Large rods of metal were inserted into the flames, the ends burning brightly. ¡°The words¡­.you will sing them. You will sing them to me.¡± Mrysti looked at the words on the paper, her face contorting in confusion. She had never attempted to sing in her life. Or had she? Images of a Temple, warm and ornate. A soft green glow. Many stood in attendance. They sang praises to...''The Unity''. That was clear. ''Unity''. What was it. A familiar presence was near her in the memory. The Taskmaster cleared his throat and Mrysti came back to where she was. Why he wanted her to do this now was beyond her, but she knew better than to voice her concern. Clearing her throat, Mrysti hummed at first. Beginning the first lines on the paper. ¡°Flying away¡­in my harmony¡­.flying away¡­in my harmony soooon to be set free¡­¡± -- 2 Years prior ¨C Coruscant ¨C The Jedi Temple... Hamner chased Mrysti around the statue eventually catching her and tossing her playfully to the ground. Mrysti fought back only half-heartedly as her brother grabbed her legs wrestling her down. It was always a challenge for Hamner to get his Sister down, she was the second largest of the bunch. Of all the Alpha¡¯s only Marstel was larger. For a woman, Mrysti was unusually tall and quite muscular. She shared most of her traits with her Sister Karolin, her good looks, her red eyes¡­her passion for things. But there was also the seriousness of both her and her Sister. The seriousness they both carried could melt a glacier, but so could their passions. For all of Mrysti¡¯s tall, muscular presence she was a gentle giant. They quit the wrestling around, both her and Hamner sat on the front garden area in front of the Temple, their hands behind them propping them up in the grass. Mrysti smiled moving some of her red hair out of her eyes as she looked at Hamner lovingly through the locks. ¡°You wanted to talk¡­so talk!¡± Mrysti playfully elbowed her Brother. His demeanor turning serious as he remembered why he had called his Sister out of their daily meditations in the first place. Hamner looked away swallowing hard before turning his head to give her a weak smile. She instantly lost her beautiful smile, ¡°What?¡± ¡°I have to leave.¡± Hamner took her hand sitting up and crossing his legs facing her, ¡°But¡­I want you and Karolin to come with me. We don¡¯t belong here Mrysti¡­we don¡¯t!!!¡± Mrysti pulled her hand out of her brother¡¯s slowly. She remembered his conversations with her about leaving the Temple and joining the Empire. There was something calling him to the Dark Side and his powers as well as his lessons were showing it. The Empire had returned. Already assualting the Republic, reclaiming Korriban and starting to spread to worlds they originally reclaimed. It was what everyone on Coruscant and more importantly, the Jedi Temple, were talking about. When Hamner approached Karolin about leaving, she flatly refused to talk to him about it; telling him, ¡°The Force has a plan for us¡­you have to meditate on it and hope you get led the right direction.¡± That was the Jedi answer. The ¡®Karolin¡¯ answer was, ¡°You¡¯re an idiot Hamner¡­we were placed here for a reason. Besides RT will kick your ass if you leave. No Alpha has ever left the Republic and no Alpha ever will.¡± ¡°How do you know? Hamner¡­I-I¡­I can¡¯t leave. My life is here¡­.our lives are here.¡± Hamner got up roughly, looking down at his Sister. ¡°I just know¡­in fact I have proof. We are supposed to leave. We are destined to do it.¡± Mrysti looked down allowing her hands to flop in her lap. Finally, as she sighed Mrysti gave a resolved look. ¡°Ok¡­how? How do you know?¡± Hamner squatted down getting uncomfortably close. ¡°Karolin, you¡­even me. We have been engineered to be predisposed to use the Dark Side.¡± He looked up at the sky, still speaking to her closing his eyes to his surroundings. ¡°Can¡¯t you feel it? The pull¡­.the call of it. We were meant for something more than this! Not to be sitting around here ¡®meditating¡¯ all day¡­¡± Hamner huffed getting up to pace away. Getting up to follow him, Mrysti had to admit what she had been hiding for so long. There was a call, perhaps not from the Force, but always a desire for something more. They were, superbeings engineered to be galactic heroes. Placing a hand on his shoulder Mrysti spoke softly. ¡°Yes¡­.I HAVE felt it¡­.I have felt it too¡­.¡± -- Years Later...Undisclosed Location, Korriban As Mrysti sang, she could feel her Master¡¯s anger rising through and behind the flimsy in front of her. She clutched the sides tightly continuing. Her voice cracking slightly. Partly from not ever having sang before, but mostly from the rising fury to her front. ¡°Flying gently¡­.the Force will guide me¡­.flying gently¡­the Force is my hope and my salvation.¡± Noisily the chair scrapped across the duracrete floor as her Master flung it backward, ¡°Jedi Bitch! You¡¯re not going anywhere¡­.you will never get free!...¡± Leaping up to the platform beside her, the Taskmaster grabbed Mrysti by her neck bending her down and pulling her off the higher pedestal. ¡°Time to give you the lesson again¡­¡± Mrysti grinned wickedly, feinting her shock at having been ripped from the platform and drug by her neck down the circular surrounding stairs. Hours of solitude, locked in her room it was attention she craved. Any kind of interaction. This was the part she most enjoyed, the attention her Master showed her. Not having any memory of it having ever been any other way, she was used to his tirades. Angrily he led her next to the fire, tossing her by her neck up and over the side of the torture rack. Her legs still touched the floor, her upper body bent over the top of it. Still grinning wickedly, she always hid her pleasure at having him shower her like that. Forcefully he ripped the robes off her upper body allowing them to hang by her firmly planted legs. Hazarding a glance behind her she heard the uncoiling of the whip, the tip scraping across the ground as she purred to herself softly, ¡°Mmmmm¡­¡±. Before he said another word, the Taskmaster cracked the whip twice bringing it up and across her back finally. She arched her back, her head going up in joyous, shocking pain. ¡°You Jedi will never learn¡­but, you especially¡­you need to be reminded every day. Don¡¯t you?!?!?¡± He brought the whip down again across her back, screaming this time, ¡°DON¡¯T YOU?!?!¡± She let out a small pleasurable whimper of pain, being careful not to let on how much she truly enjoyed it. Putting a little fright behind her voice she responded. ¡°Oh yes Master¡­e-everyday. I have to be shown everyday¡­¡± Secretly, she smiled once again. The feeling of rippling power starting to course through her again. Sticky and wet, like the liquid down her back. It infused her, whispering in its way. -- Space ¨C 25 Parsecs outside of Imperial Space, A Year and some Months earlier... <<¡°I am only going to say this once¡­Hamner! Throttle back your engines and lower your shields¡­it¡¯s over!¡±>> Hamner moved his hands deftly over the controls glancing over at his Sister who also deftly worked the co-pilot''s station. RT¡¯s voice echoed over the internal speaker. <<¡°Hamner! Stop now!¡±>> Laying his hands on the control yoke, Hamner juked the control upward putting his ship into a spin and steep climb. Behind them, RT kept close in his own ship. <<¡°You have no idea what you''re doing do you?¡±>> It was true, Hamner had no idea what he was doing. The flight from Coruscant, the escape from the Temple and the subsequent pursuit by their Brother RT was all unexpected. Looking at his scanner he saw RT break off pursuit moving his ship sharply to the right and away from them. Hamner looked over at Mrysti smiling. ¡°I guess he got the message. I knew he wouldn¡¯t follow us into Imperial Territo¡ª¡° All at once the large asteroid collided with the ship. RT saw it coming and had no time to warn them, maybe he did and they just didn¡¯t hear. The tiny ship crumpled under the asteroid as Mrysti¡¯s side took the brunt of the impact. Both Hamner and his Sister were ripped from their seats and thrown violently into the rear bulkhead. Time seemed to slow for Mrysti as she sailed through the Bridge, her head violently striking the support beam above the separation hatch. Hamner looked up from the floor, his consciousness slowly coming and going. The last vision, was one of only his Sister¡¯s legs lying on the floor. She struck the wall and fell between the Bridge and the Cargo Hold, lying halfway between both. Her life half-way between the present and the afterlife. -- Years Later....Undisclosed Location, Korriban Breathing heavy, the Taskmaster dropped the whip speaking between labored breaths. He had given her a good fifty lashes with his whip and physically he was tiring out. ¡°You¡­still¡­haven¡¯t¡­learned¡­have¡­you?¡± Mrysti shook her head, her face still turned away. Laying a hand on her rear the Taskmaster propped himself up, looking at her back now stripped once again of the callused skin that grew back after each beating. Incredible healing capability in that one. He attributed to her Force ability. Something she obviously knew nothing about. Blood dripped off her sides and down onto the floor under her as he continued to breath heavy. ¡°This¡­time. I will burn it into you. You will remember this time¡­¡± Pushing off of Mrysti forcefully, the Taskmaster stumbled from exhaustion toward the fire picking one of the metal rods out of it. He held it up to his face allowing its glow to light his face smiling through slightly rotten teeth. On the end of the rod a metal rune glowed brightly with the heat from the fire. The rune, Sith in origin had significant meaning to the Taskmaster as he brought the rod close to Mrysti¡¯s face showing her. Terrifying her. She feinted terror again, but in her mind burned curiosity. This was an odd play for her Master. He had never resorted to fire or burning her before. ¡°See this¡­this makes you my Jedi Bitch forever¡­¡± Moving back down the length of her long muscular body he stopped to look at her back, still holding the rod slightly at arm¡¯s length to admire his handiwork with the whip. With a deliberate and precise motion he pressed the end with the glowing hot rune into the small of her back. The smell of burning skin and blood mixing with the air around them as Mrysti pushed up from the torture rack almost standing up. Holding herself up with her arms as she screamed in pain. It was a white hot, lightning sensation to her body. She had never been burned before let alone branded. Holding it in place the Taskmaster pressed it harder into her skin one last time before pulling it off with a jerk. Mrysti almost cried. Not at the pain of having been branded, but that he stopped burning her. The lack of pain was like an old friend that left her. Mrysti whimpered as the Taskmaster tossed the rod angrily back into the fire, quite pleased that he had made her cry. The smell of flesh and fire wafted around them as slowly, she ventured a whisper¡­for the first time she talked back to her Taskmaster. A whisper at first, that grew into a hiss. ¡°More¡­Master. I need¡­more¡­.¡± 2 - Growing Storm -- 27 Years prior to the Attack on the Jedi Temple¡­.Corellia, Undisclosed Training Location¡­Project Alpha¡­. -- <>TS-27>> > <<¡­Its amazing really, how very fast they grow. Only yesterday it seems we were starting our protocols, now we truly have the makings of a very powerful weapon. Problems: As ¡®Mrysti¡¯s¡¯ physical prowess increases due to the protocol implementation, so does her ability to use the Force. In contrast, and as the control subject; Specimen 002 ¡®Karolin¡¯ is showing an unusual amount of symbiosis. Her ability to use the Force has increased tenfold, all scientifically explained of course. Specimen 003 is still very much withdrawn; she only seems compelled to interact during training and even then it¡¯s with targets or drones. We have caught her several times talking to the instructional aides as if they were actually able to respond. It was almost as if she is talking to herself in some cases. Discussing different scenarios, even things as mundane as the weather outside. All of this to control her mind and the forces which wage a constant war inside of her. And this war has two opposing factions; One is her psyche. The other is her physical body. Implementing pain inhibitors was a requirement at this stage. Not only because of the massive growth; which coincidentally causes the subject intense pain, but also because it was necessary to keep her mind; which is already unstable, from simply crumbling. I have instituted a weekly sit down with our psychological department as well as encouraging the Jedi Matrons to interact with her more closely. We are starting to see her bond extend beyond her sister as she attaches herself to the other subjects in the pod. Specimen 001 is now almost as close to her as her sister. And we have seen significant improvement in the relationships between herself and 004 and 005. ¡­On a personal note: I am not sure if having 002 as a control subject for ¡®Mrysti¡¯ is going to be feasible much longer. At age eight, she is already almost as tall as a typical human female, much larger than her sister and most of her pod mates. Her appearance has also changed dramatically when compared to that of her sister. She is much more ¡®rugged¡¯ looking, more ¡®adult¡¯, even at her age¡­if that is an appropriate term at this point. I have ordered a decrease in the male hormone which is part of the growth cocktail. Perhaps we are pushing too fast. Monitoring will increase to 28 hour surveillance for the next month as we assess her continued development¡­ The last note I would like to make. I¡¯m not one to believe in mysticism or the Force. We have proven as scientists that it is nothing more than a psychological/physical manipulation of any one of the three states of environment in an individual. Aided by an individual¡¯s level of the symbiosis of Midichlorians. BUT¡­I am getting a strange ¡®feeling¡¯ around Mrysti. Not just Mrysti, but her sister as well. Were they not orphans and already part of the program, I would have terminated their involuntary participation. We have no knowledge of their backgrounds or where they came from other than where they were found. There is something elusively, ¡®evil¡¯¡­.no that may be the wrong word. Off¡­.just off, about the two of them. I will continue to add my supplements at the end.>> -- Korriban Station ¨C Imperial Space; shortly after the collision with the asteroid... Waking to a grey, white ceiling Hamner looked up at the overhead lights that slowly came into focus. As he began to regain consciousness, he heard the clatter of armor from the side of the room and turned his head slowly to see a Sith Warrior rise from a seat flanked by two Imperial Soldiers. ¡°That was quite an accident, Jedi. Never, during my time on this Station have I seen anything quite like it. Were you deliberately trying to kill yourself and your lady friend?¡± The Sith smiled wickedly as he looked Hamner over. Getting up off the seat he was perched on, the Sith walked over to the monitor and looked at it. ¡°Were we not so perplexed by the mere fact of your attempted suicide, we would have simply left you to die¡­.as well as the young woman you were with. But¡­¡± The Sith looked back and smiled. Stark pointed white teeth stood in contrast to the deep red of his skin. ¡°¡­perhaps you were trying to run. There was a ship following. It broke off once you entered our area.¡± The Sith adjusted a monitor and turned around fully. ¡°There are those of us assigned to this station who¡¯ve started a pool. I say you were carrying vital information. And were attempting to reach us in order to betray the Republic. There are others not so imaginative¡­.¡± He laughed, looking back to the chart and turning around again. Attempting to sit up, the Sith turned back quickly placing a hand over Hamner forcing back to the bed. ¡°No¡­you¡¯re not going anywhere. You¡¯re in no condition¡­besides we need some answers. There¡¯s also the betting pool. I absolutely must know why you tried to kill yourself. But rest¡­we will talk later. Neither you or I are going anywhere.¡± Hamner began to recollect the Sith¡¯s words as his mind began to gain clarity. Time, how long was he out? And Mrysti, where was she? ¡°How long¡­¡± Hamner uttered. Noticing his mouth and throat were so dry it had to be a significant amount of time. The words came out raspy and garbled. ¡°Oh, quite a while. We had not even fully finished our conquest of this sector when we tracked your ship entering. The station had only been captured a week or so prior.¡± The Sith smiled another toothy grin. ¡°At least you knew where we were. Another reason we didn''t destroy you. No doubt the blackout imposed on the station is no longer of any use. The Republic knows about us now.¡± Hamner tried to sit up again and failed. ¡°Whoa. Take it easy Jedi. Push yourself and you rob us of the opportunity to ¡®extract¡¯ a little information later.¡± M-my Sister? Where is she¡­is she alright?¡± The Sith¡¯s eyes went up slightly at the revelation. A Zabrak and a Mirialan claiming to be Brother and Sister? His face twisted in confusion, then sadness. ¡°She¡¯s suffered a severe head trauma. We tried everything at our disposal¡­unfortunately, she¡¯s brain dead. As superior as the Republic facilities are here. Not even they could restore her to full function. She''s not likely to survive.¡± Hamner laid back down forcefully, his hand slapping down on the bed angrily. He had come all the way only to kill his Sister in the attempt. ¡°You were both Jedi¡ª¡± Beginning to ask the question the holo-comm attached to the wall chimed interrupting the Sith. Moving off to answer, the conversation was muffled. With the black armored Sith nodding and answering the person on the other end. Taking a moment to look back at Hamner, he turned back slowly after murmuring a few more words to the person on the other end. ¡°That was the trauma ward. I¡¯m afraid she has expired. Sorry, friend¡­¡± Another toothy grin before the Sith approached again, ¡°...now about those questions¡­¡± Sitting down, the Sith activated a stylus connected to the wrist mounted unit he wore on his black armored gauntlets. ¡°¡­I have been instructed by my superiors to ask about the Jedi Temple. We have detailed information, but it never hurts to get a fresh perspective¡­.¡± -- Work continued on the surface of Korriban. The Sith having reclaimed their ancient burial and training grounds; personnel moved from their fleet to the station and back to the surface of the planet in a never ending cycle. More plans were afoot. Something big involving the fleet, captured Republic equipment and armaments. Everyone in the Sith fleet was fully tasked with something, but not all were involved in the upcoming action. Some of the Sith didn¡¯t even know about it. Secrecy, on the eve of such a significant operation, was paramount. The large group of instructors, Dark Lords and minor Taskmasters disembarked from the shuttle returning from the Sith Academy. Most were part of the archeological expeditions sent to locate artifacts deemed vital by the Emperor. Others were getting the Academy back into operation and reconstructing things in accordance with assigned tasks. The Taskmasters being given the ugly duty of cleaning out the academy and ridding it of the last vestiges of Republic control. There would be students. Soon. Either transferred from Ziost or Dromand Kaas. Students who would get the privilege of learning the Dark Arts close to the power of the Valley of the Dark Lords. A valley that was already taking a toll on some of the expeditions. Grumbling, the Taskmaster assigned to structure and logistics; moved with a slow gait. His duty having taken him out past the back of the Academy into the underground passages and back into the wilds of Korriban. He spent a great deal of time out there by himself. Content NOT to follow his directives. Already promoted as high as he was going to make it within the Sith Empire, Korriban was his last stop before retirement. After seeing Korriban and having to endure the oppressive lash of the Darths and other Dark Lords assigned over him; he was content to do only as much as was required. Spending the rest of his time constructing a hide-away to escape the rigors of the Academy. There were many such culverts and caves in the wilds. Carved out by the dust and winds of Korriban, which over centuries carved the landscape as it saw fit. Rock and mountainous desert not enough to stop the planet from carving out a path for itself.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. After getting a bite in the mess facility; blood and blaster burns still marred the walls, the Taskmaster took a leisurely stroll around the outer ring of the station. Taking a moment to stop by the infirmary. Hands chaffed and dry from the constant building and use of tools in the reconstruction on the planet¡¯s surface caused the Taskmaster to cut them open. Passing by, he thought to get a scan. Perhaps some of the last of the Republic¡¯s Kolto stores. The Empire¡¯s reserve was being kept within the fleet. All of the resources the Empire had, being kept in space in anticipation of something else happening. He knew it was an operation, all of them did. But no one was allowed to speak of it. There was a bit of unruly activity in the infirmary. Several of the medics were busy handing out Imperial Credits to several Dark Lords who stood over them. The medics had a look of defeat. The Dark Lords smiling broadly as the Taskmaster stepped inside. ¡°¡­eighty-five, ninety¡­you still owe me ten, Medic. And I will expect those last few AFTER we return.¡± ¡°IF we return¡­¡± Another Dark Lord elbowed his compatriot who was getting paid by the Medics for something. A bet. The Taskmaster sat down at one of the booths and rolled up his sleeves, continuing to listen. ¡°My Lord¡­you will have it. Just as soon as I have it.¡± The Medic looked back into the room behind them all. A circular trauma ward. Cordoned off by walls and glass. Inside, a single individual lay under a sheet. Another medic was just pulling the sheet over the individual in the ward. ¡°It was a stupid bet anyway. No way was she going to survive. We basically put her back together like a puzzle¡­¡± The Medic made a face, sticking his tongue out in disgust. ¡°..head all cracked open. Brains spilling out. It¡¯s a wonder she survived to get to us.¡± ¡°Jedi¡­¡± The Dark Lord was just pocketing his credits, looking into the ward beyond. ¡°Yes, should tell you something about what we will have to face next we¡ª¡± As the other Dark Lord began to speak, he received a harsh rebuke in the form of another elbow from the first Dark Lord. He quickly fell silent. ¡°At any rate¡­we will expect our credits when we return.¡± They both nodded curtly, marching from the room. Their eyes glaring at the Taskmaster before they made it through the door. One stopping slightly to give a condescending look to the aging Taskmaster. Both medics were in the trauma ward. One joining the other; unplugging machines and preparing the body for disposal. The first medic who paid the Dark Lords emerged, noticing the Taskmaster was sitting there. ¡°Ah¡­My Lord, I suppose you¡¯re here for some Kolto?¡± The Medic looked down at the hands, sleeves rolled up. He sat down in the booth opposite of the Taskmaster and turned on a suppressor field between them. The sterilization ray beaming down; the medic took the Taskmaster''s arms and rotated them back and forth under the light. ¡°Looks pretty bad. But I¡¯m afraid the last of the Republic Kolto was used up. I can give you some antibiotic ointment. Won¡¯t do any thing for the pain, but it will stop any of the open wounds from getting infected.¡± Grumbling, the Taskmaster stood and started rolling down his sleeves. ¡°Forget it, I can get that same ointment at the infirmary in the Acad¡ª¡± <<¡±Casualty¡­.Casualty¡­All medical personnel to docking bay seven. Incoming casualties from Korriban¡­say again, Casualty¡­docking bay seven¡­¡±>> ¡°Again!!¡± The other medic in the trauma ward rushed out, snatching up a bag on his way to the door. The stations klaxon alarm a normal sound during the first few weeks of the takeover. Regular injuries and casualties were constantly rolling in. Moving away from the booth, the other Medic looked up the direction of the internal speaker and rushed from the room following his partner. ¡°Must be more recovery teams. Don¡¯t they realize, we don¡¯t have treatments for demonic possession¡­.¡± Leaving the Taskmaster alone in the infirmary, the old man looked around. His eyes going to the trauma room curiously. On the inside, the body lay under a sheet. Getting closer he noticed curves making the sheet bulge, caressing the corpse underneath. Peeling back the sheet, the Taskmaster smiled wickedly. A woman, once a beautiful woman. He could see it despite all of the patchwork and stitching which the medics had done to put her back together. Dark ruby red hair framed the stitched and tattooed green face. ¡®A Mirialan¡¯, the Taskmaster thought, pulling the sheet up further to look at her naked form. Lines of medical stitching and surgical glue marred the once flawless skin. She was strong, even relaxed in death the Taskmaster could see the hard lines of muscle. The lean and physical prowess of the once able Jedi. Slowly, the Taskmaster ran his finger up the naked leg of the green woman. Images of things he could do. Pictures of the two of them together played in his mind. The Mirialan¡¯s beauty was intoxicating, even after the medical droids put her head and face back together. Though the Taskmaster attributed much of his imagining to the mundane work he was made to do. He could only imagine what she must have looked like before the accident. Scars ran the length of her face and over her scalp from the repair droid''s work, metal showed in places where prosthesis were used to replace shattered bone and cartledge. It was a pity that she was dead. His mind continued to race at the many pleasures and deplorable acts he could commit on her. Laying his hand on her forehead, he spoke softly. ¡°It was not meant to be my love¡­perhaps in the next life¡­¡± The Force reached out to him like a snake biting a hand that had been forced down its hole. All at once the Taskmaster felt her power, he felt her fighting to survive. It was intriguing, the woman¡­a powerful Force user. The power that bit him was pure light; a Jedi, all but dead. Still fighting. Looking around, the Taskmaster turned his head sharply toward the door surveying the rest of the room. The medics were still gone. The infirmary still deserted. Making a quick decision, the Taskmaster covered her face with the sheet and began pushing her from the room. A wicked smile coming back to his face again. He knew, he had to have her. Get another taste of her power, her beauty. All of it could be his. A great distraction to an otherwise mundane set of circumstances. Korriban wouldn¡¯t be as dull. Thinking on the greatness of the plan, even as he pushed and continued to hatch it. The Mirialan would never be missed. They were preparing her body for the incinerator. Stopping at the door, the Taskmaster pulled the gurney to a stop and quickly typed something into the spinning holo-status which spun in the ions at the head of the door. Erasing the entry. <> Grabbing the gurney, he pushed it out of the infirmary and quickly started toward the docking bay he arrived in. Turning with the bed toward the Cargo Bay, no one gave the Taskmaster a second glance. Just another Sith pushing cargo of some sort. As he made the Bay area, he started formulating plans. Where he would hide her. How he would be able to control her. To him it didn¡¯t matter, just that he now had his very own Jedi slave. Getting the bed up on the ramp and pushing it into the Cargo Hold, he locked it in place. Hopefully she wouldn¡¯t come to before he had constructed everything. There would have to be a new torture chamber constructed and a ¡®quarters¡¯ for his prize. Shrugging, he moved to the bridge of the ship. Looking out at the chaos which was ensuing in the bay below. Medics were scrambling. Injured and insane men were stumbling from a shuttle into the open arms of the medical teams and waiting guards. Starting up the ship, he sent a clearance to move out of the bay and back toward Korriban. In the chaos, it was granted immediately. The station too occupied to really care if another shuttle was leaving as so many were coming in. The Taskmaster didn¡¯t know what catastrophe had befallen the excavation teams in the surface. And he didn¡¯t care. Looking over his shoulder at his prize once the shuttle softly lifted from the bay and made open space. These were all small matters. The questions, all small matters. He had the place, the materials and everything he needed. Now he had someone to ¡®share¡¯ it all with --. Years Later...Undisclosed Location, Korriban... With eyes as round as saucers, the Taskmaster bent around the rack to look at Mrysti. ¡°You dare speak to me? You dare to utter a word, in my presence?¡± Gesturing, he motioned for her to stand. ¡°Keep your back to me and remove what¡¯s left of that¡­.robe.¡± His words were disdainful as he referred to the Jedi garment. Mrysti did as she was instructed, slowly untying the front of the robe and allowing it to drop the rest of the way down her legs. Blood began running down her back and over the new burn she prominently displayed in the small of it. Taking a moment to just look at her, the Taskmaster smiled. Reaching out to touch the mark he so proudly burned into her. Blood caking his fingers as he did so. Bringing the finger back to his lips, he licked the gore from it releasing a pleasurable sound. ¡°Oh¡­you are so sweet. As always, you taste delicious to me.¡± Pushing on her slightly, he gestured with his other hand. Once again, Mrysti knew what she was supposed to do. Another wicked smile crossing her lips as she climbed onto the rack. Laying her legs in the proper position already worn where she had so many times been spread onto the wood. Reaching up and placing her hands in the other position. With her face pointed down, Mrysti looked at the pool under her. A dangerous smile forming from all the attention she was getting. Feeling her Master latch her ankles, Mrysti sensed his movement toward her face. Instinctively she turned her head away from him as he very violently latched her hands to the wood. Moving off to the side the Taskmaster kicked the lever control, pulling her appendages further apart. Leaving her in a position resembling an ¡®X¡¯¡­she started her own heavy breathing. This was the part she always looked forward to. It was unfortunate that she never got enough of what her Master tried to give her. Far too often he tired or simply couldn¡¯t finish. On several occasions, he tired himself to the point of just simply falling asleep on her. It was those times that Mrysti wished she had a free hand to kill her Master for failing to please her. Her hunger was endless, the man had no idea how much she craved or needed to be satisfied. In their many excursions together¡­Mrysti had never reached her limit. Mrysti bit into her bottom lip as the room went silent. Try as she might, even with the Force she could never tell what he was doing. Only sensing his heartbeat. His anger, rage or lust rising. Violently, the dancer bottoms were ripped from her body. She stopped breathing a moment, allowing for her own anticipation to build. The Master had gotten her worked up. Beating, torturing; making her wait. Burning her, that was new. The feeling so intense and tingly. Mrysti sucked in a breath and held it. The rack creaked under her weight as she pushed off slightly. The latches to her wrists and ankles groaning against the strain. The Taskmaster stopped and looked down. Checking the bindings. She was much stronger than she realized. A pang of fear shooting through him. At nearly seven feet tall and pure iron muscle, the Taskmaster knew if she ever got a sense of herself it would be trouble for him. All he had was psychological control. Control over her environment. It was enough. For now. Mrysti relaxed. The Taskmaster stepping back up and behind her. Removing his robe. A soft sound emanated from the Mirialan in anticipation. The Taskmaster was going to have to work for it. Her power was growing, her hunger growing¡­there was never enough pleasure or pain for her. Little did the Taskmaster know, he was creating a storm in her he could not control and sooner rather than later the dam would burst, consuming him. For the moment, Mrysti waited in anticipation as she heard the ¡®clap-clap¡¯ of metal on metal. The Master was playing with toys again. The metallic sound got closer. Mrysti hung her head low through the opening on the rack looking down. An evil grin growing on her face. It was going to be a long night. One she absolutely looked forward to. Hopefully, he wouldn¡¯t disappoint this time. 3 - Monster - 25 Years before the Attack on the Jedi Temple.... <>TS-127>> < > <<¡­this will most likely be my last log as project lead of Specimen 003. I have made a critical error and will most likely be replaced as lead once all is revealed. Specimen 003 has grown beyond our control as an individual test subject. ¡®Mrysti¡¯ has adjusted to her environment. As part of the Alpha Pod, her behavior is night as it is to day. She is cooperative, controlled and well-situated. But alone and during training, her capability for destruction is quite surprising. Yesterday, we ran a moving droid simulation against her. It was a cognitive test as well, testing her Force ability. Which has regained some of its viability; in cooperation with her immense physical prowess. To say it was successful would be an understatement. These targets were shooting back. At one point, 003 was struck by an errand blaster bolt from one of the targets she failed to eliminate entirely. The droid looked up from the ground and shot 003 in the back. The result¡­well, the result was much more than any of us anticipated. Her aggression levels were off the chart, the equipment we commonly use to monitor her vital systems shorted out. The holo-vid speaks for itself. In the future, it is recommended that we use a durasteel enclosure as opposed to duracrete. Not that it would stop her. In our estimation we would only be delaying the inevitable by increasing the man-hours needed to break through. Even with steel, she would eventually destroy it. But the man-hour increase would allow researchers time to not only evaluate, but also decide how best to deal with an ¡®off the rails¡¯ unit. 003 reduced all four of the walls to absolute rubble. It was also the first time any of us took the cover off the ¡®button¡¯. My finger was a hair away from activating the ¡®killswitch¡¯. Effectively terminating the project specimen. The only thing that stayed my hand was my attachment to ¡®Mrysti¡¯. I have grown fond of her. To terminate the project; meaning her, would not only destroy the project and all of the data we¡¯ve collected. It would kill her. That was something I could not do. Even with the threat of her destroying everything, including us. It was revealed that the reason behind her sudden destructive behavior was due to a chemical imbalance. Completely my fault. And I assume full responsibility for adjusting her levels of infusion on my own. We are so close to balancing her physical genetics and the Force power within her, I was seeking an easy and quick way to increase all of those levels. In my haste, I nearly killed us all. But this has not all been in vain. And though I may have to sacrifice my position due to her chemical imbalance, it has brought up some interesting questions for future production. How do we¡­as researchers or even future control for these weapons, deal with them should they decide to go against their imbedded genetic programming. Project ¡®Killswitch¡¯ right now is the only viable option. But we seek alternatives. Something other than terminating a specimen outright. And I will most likely be heading that up once my tenure here is terminated. It has been my greatest life¡¯s accomplishment to oversee 003. I feel almost like a father to her in some way. I have watched her grow, nurtured her¡­she is now the ultimate weapon in a new arsenal for the Republic. Personal Note: The sudden arrival of ¡®Mrysti¡¯ and ¡®Karolin¡¯ biological mother; a woman we thought dead; has initiated a move for the entire project. A much needed one in my opinion. We will be moving to the main labs on Coruscant to continue our research and development. The scientific part of me can¡¯t help but be curious. Alexandra De¡¯nabre, former Jedi Knight and both specimen¡¯s mother would be a fascinating case study to compare and contrast both Karolin and Mrysti against. And would do much to explain some of the quirks we have seen in both girls. Are they project endowed quirks? Or merely genetic ¡®hand-me-downs¡¯ from the biological parent. Hardiman, Project Lead, 003¡­.>> -- - Undisclosed Location: Korriban¡­.many years later.... What should have been just another day was turning into a nightmare for the Taskmaster. He was behind on his personal project. Taking time on his own to finish it. For Mrysti, the lack of attention and missing his designated arrivals with her; it was turning into a day of days. Mrysti had long since ceased marking her wall. As she looked around the room there were dark streaks all around her, countless days she had spent in the cell. Some days she was free to roam around it, other days the Taskmaster kept her chained like a dog to the wall. Even with her superior strength she could not break free. Most days she didn¡¯t have the will even if she wanted too. But her will, like her power, was increasing. And not in a good way. Mrysti was finding the cravings almost irresistible. Looking for the times she was let out or that the Master paid her complete attention. Voices in her head increased and as she struggled to control them, she realized that they were getting the better of her during rest. When she slept, the voices and her power were free to roam. Her mind reaching out into the Force. Images of a life she knew nothing about. Names, faces, places she had been, but could not remember. It was driving her insane to have little bits and pieces of a complete picture, but not the entire portrait. Aggravating and inciting her to fits of rage. Though she was doing her very best to control it in the presence of her Master. He was the only attention she got and Mrysti did not want to jeopardize that. Coming to the realization during one of those fits how insignificant her Master was and that the power she possessed was more than enough to consume to little man. Several things had changed, the Taskmaster now liked to hear her speak on occasion and he even ventured so far as to train her in the use of a vibrosword. On rare occasions he would take her from the cell to his ¡®play room¡¯. Clearing the decks to spar with her. Almost every time she overcame him, it was like a goal for her. If she overcame him, she got to be tied to the rack and then he would pleasure her. In his selfishness he always thought he was pleasuring himself, but that was never the case. On one occasion it got particularly violent. Mrysti had fallen asleep, simply bored by his attempts to get any response from her; she inadvertently drifted off. The result was more than she could possibly have asked for. The pain exquisite, but all for naught as the Taskmaster eventually tired out and simply left her there. She slept in the rack overnight waking the next morning to the sounds of machinery nearby. The Master was busy building something, but she had no idea what it was. He would never tell her. And she never asked. As she sat in the cell watching the tiny beam of sunlight near the mark on the wall that would signal his arrival, she stood, straightening herself as usual. The beam passed the mark and then went to a further point down the wall. It was the first time in memory that the Taskmaster had missed an appointment to come and release her from the cell. She looked around curiously, finally going to the window in the door and looking out. Mrysti pressed her face against the iron bars to catch a glimpse of anything, seeing nothing but the corridor. Backing up, curiosity ate at her. In the background, the sound of machinery and tools. She reached out, could feel the Master hard at work building something. But not in the ¡®play area¡¯. After a moment, Mrysti pressed her face against the bars again. This time calling out. ¡°Master!....Master, where are you?¡± There was no sound, then she heard a shuffling and the closing of an adjacent door she knew nothing about. Machinery died down and eventually cut off. Dusty and grimy, the Master walked up to the thick door holding his prize. Smacking the bars angrily with the wood he was carrying. ¡°Who told you to speak?!?! And why are you pressed against that door? Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m busy?!?!¡± After giving a wry smile Mrysti backed up straightening, she was ready to come out. But the Master did not jingle the keys. He did not unlock the door. She stood for a long moment wondering what was going on. An evil smile coming to her lips she realized it must be a game. Pressing herself against the door again, she called out to him in the most seductive sultry voice she could muster. Purring his title, she licked her lips. ¡°Maaaaasssster. You¡¯re not growing tired of me are you? I¡¯m waiting for yooooooou.¡± The shuffling sound began again as the Taskmaster scooted around the corner peering at her. He was fully aware of the Monster he created. Mrysti was insatiable, it was the reason he had to get his ¡®project¡¯ finished as soon as he could. Pouring water over his head from the container he held, he squinted through it to look at her. Water washed down over his face and the gold piercings denoting his position within the Sith Pureblood hierarchy. There weren¡¯t many pieces of jewelry. ¡°Yes¡­yes. I hear you!!! We are not going to play today! I¡¯m busy¡­.now quiet down or I will not feed you!¡± Mrysti stepped back in a huff folding her arms across her chest. She poked her lips out sadly. Mrysti didn¡¯t want food, she wanted to play. Slowly her anger began to build deciding on one more subtle attempt to try and lure her Master in. Pressing against the door again, she cooed at him softly. ¡°It¡¯s been lonely without you¡­I have been thinking about you all night¡­can¡¯t you please unlock the door so we can play?¡± The Taskmaster threw the container on the ground spilling its contents. Angrily he went to the door, standing up on tip toes to peer at her through the porthole. ¡°NO!!! I¡¯m working on something!!! I don¡¯t have time for you today!!! Why I ever allowed you to begin speech¡­is BEYOND ME!!!¡± The Taskmaster stepped back from the door as Mrysti did the same. The rage welling up inside her, she clenched her fist. Sucking in a breath, the power in her starting to rise to a pitch, Mrysti began screaming at the top of her lungs. The Force inadvertently added emphasis to her scream as the door began to rattle on its hinges. ¡°YOU MAKE TIME, YOU MISERABLE KRIFFER!!! YOU MAKE TIME FOR ME!!!!¡± Hurling her body against the door it rattled harshly threatening to come off the frame. The Taskmaster stepped back into the corridor. Fear seizing him seeing the solid door nearly come apart so violently. Shaking his head, The Taskmaster knew he had to get control of her quickly or all was lost for him. Mrysti hurled herself against the door again and again, until he finally raised his voice over the noise. ¡°Alright!!! You Miserable Bitch!!! You want to play? I¡¯ll play¡­.step back from the door!¡± Mrysti bit her bottom lip as she smiled brightly, almost giddy with excitement. Hearing the jingle of the keys she nearly wet herself, but took a deep breath and gained control. Half tempted to hurl herself at him, but that was not his way. Never had she willingly given herself to him. The door flung open with more of a creak than usual as the Taskmaster''s shadow loomed down over her. Mrysti kneeled submissively as an apology for making such a ruckus. Reaching down he snatched her by her hair turning her face up toward him. ¡°You wanna play??? Huh? Do you?!?!¡± She smiled wickedly; eyes softly closed. The Master never pulled her head back without having something to put in her mouth and she could only surmise what was coming next. Opening her mouth willingly. As she suspected he tipped the container of vinegar up and over her face to pour down her throat as she gasped for air. ¡°Drink it!!! Drink it, you Bitch¡­.¡± The sensation of almost drowning from such a vile liquid set her heart aflame as she primed herself for the rest of the entertainment. Still holding her hair, he pulled her from the tiny cell dragging her down the corridor. Pretending to struggle, Mrysti touched his hand on her head and felt something. It was like a dark spot on her soul. For years, The Taskmaster forbid her from touching him without permission. The feeling she received, it made her pull her hands away. Regret. ¡®Was that¡­regret?¡¯ ¡®Did he actually feel regret for what he was about to do?¡¯ And fatigue? Mrysti¡¯s face twisted angrily. The Master was forcing himself to do all of it. Pulling her up to the rack, he flipped her around. With her help. The rack was standing prominently in the center of the room. Mrysti looked back at him strangely before mounting the rack. The feeling she received in the Force after touching his hand still eating away at her. The Taskmaster half-heartedly positioned her, reaching down to unfasten the straps and position her legs. Mrysti faced away from him as she always did, but she could still feel it. After tasting the feeling, she no longer needed to touch him. It oozed off of him. Regret, pain, fatigue. And something else¡­.Mrysti shook her head. She didn¡¯t know what it felt like. Though the last part of the feeling was familiar. A flash of light in her mind made her grimace. Memories came flooding back making her utter a whimper. A face. Young, male. Smiling at her. It was connected to the last part of the feeling emanating from her Master. The Taskmaster continued his work. Reaching up, he unfastened the straps near her wrists and looked over. He wasn¡¯t into any of what he was doing. Faking all of it to simply placate her. Moving away, he pulled the whip down from his torture rack of different implements. When he turned back, he froze in place. For the first time ever, Mrysti turned in the rack. Facing him. ¡°What are you doing Master? Do I not please you anymore¡­why are you acting this way?!?!¡± He was stunned. She was facing him. Speaking out loud. A feeling of dread starting to overtake him, he swallowed hard. Quickly, snapping the whip at Mrysti to get control of the situation and waylay his fear. The question she asked, her face, Mrysti sensed the fear. What was once an oblivious and genuine question turned sour. A wicked smile etching its way across her features. She sensed it. The fear. And it began to fuel her.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! The Taskmaster whipped toward her again. This time directly toward her back. The end of the whip and the gimble on the end wrapped up and around her arm. Mrysti jerked the implement from his grasp. Letting go of the whip; the look of shock on his face was more than she could stand. Fear. The sweet and luring taste of it. It felt like a tingly syrup pouring itself over her. And she reveled in it. Taking a step forward, Mrysti moved toward him stepping down off the rack. The fear blinding her, feeding her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong Master? Don¡¯t you want me anymore¡­?¡± The sweet demure voice gave way to something more sinister. Almost sarcastic as she moved slowly toward him, coiling the whip in her hand as she seen her Master do so many times before after he was done using it. The leatheris of it groaned in her grasp. Mrysti tightening the whip around her hand. Gritting her teeth as she spoke Mrysti uncoiled it suddenly with a flash of her wrist. Releasing it from her hand, holding the handle tight. It snapped loudly. More loudly than she ever heard it snap across her skin. Exciting her, Mrysti¡¯s eyes flashed. Snapping it again, closer to him, Mrysti watched the Taskmaster back up toward the ¡®tool rack¡¯. His eyes wide with fear. He raised his hands up defensively. ¡°Don¡¯t!!! Stay Back!! I¡¯m warning you¡­¡± Mrysti snapped the whip harshly on the stone once again. ¡°Warning me of what¡­.Master? You¡¯ll do what?!?!¡± Power coursed through her. She could feel it, infusing her. The Taskmaster¡¯s fear, all of his emotions exciting her. She needed more. Continuing to approach him, the Taskmaster looked around quickly for something, anything. His arms and hands scrambling loudly across the tool rack behind him. Mrysti continued to stalk, stepping down off the raised area of the play area. The Taskmaster stumbled and fell, moving around to the side of the rack. Drunk on power, the power that he gave her, Mrysti stopped and watched him. Her eyes boring into him. All thoughts of the last emotion she felt in him, gone. The feelings were turning sour. Narrowing her eyes, Mrysti began to see how very small and insignificant he was. The Taskmaster snatched a club off the tool rack, holding it out toward her. His hands shaking uncontrollably as he tried to ward her off. ¡°S-stay back¡­¡± Mrysti gestured at the club with her free hand. The weapon snatching itself away from his hand. Mrysti closed the distance quickly. In a flash, moving through the Force. His eyes were still on the club as it sailed to the far corner of the room. Grabbing the front of his dusty tunic, Mrysti lifted him with pure strength. Looking down to see his feet dangle in air. She smiled to herself. Power she denied, power she hid from him. All of it suddenly raw and at her command. Slowly she moved him toward her, bending her powerful arm. The muscles under the skin tensing and flexing as she controlled him. Bringing his face close to hers, she smiled puckering her lips to kiss his nose gently. A wicked smile coming back to her face after she kissed him. A voice, harsh and low. Her voice. It surprised her as she spoke to him. ¡°So many times¡­.you failed to please me. So many times¡­I wanted nothing more than to be close to you and you fail¡­time and time again.¡± Lifting him up, Mrysti slung and tossed the Taskmaster over her shoulder. He landed squarely on the rack she formerly occupied. Mrysti moving in a blur once again in the Force. She was on top of him in an instant. Pushing him down, she forced the Taskmaster on the rack. Looking left, then right. The bindings he once used to keep her in place moving on their own in the Force. Latching closed around the Taskmaster¡¯s arms and legs. ¡°Now¡­.you miserable wretch, it¡¯s my turn. You WILL pleasure me now¡­until you die. And then you will pleasure me some more.¡± With the Force of a Thousand Angry Wills that echoed and spoke in her mind, Mrysti stepped back smiling. Bringing the whip down across his body as she let out a pleasurable scream. It felt good. Better than it ever felt when he did it against her. The Taskmaster screamed in pain. Pausing, Mrysti realized the clothing he wore was blocking too much. Gesturing again with her free hand, the garments on his body ripped and shred away. Flying to the far corner of the room. He was naked as he always had her. Naked and free to receive everything she was willing to give. Though there was no ¡®will¡¯ involved. Time seemed to stop for her as she whipped and beat her Master ferociously. Again, and again, with each strike she felt a shock of pleasure streak through her. Crying out with each blow in time with his own scream of utter pain and terror. Mrysti grew faster and impatient with her strikes. The initial excitement wearing thin as his cries of pain started to give way to unconsciousness. Finally, the Taskmaster stopped responding all together. Shaking her head to break the trance, Mrysti¡¯s vision cleared of the red tint that clouded it. Moving up, Mrysti placed her hand to his throat feeling his pulse, it was faint. The Taskmaster passed out. Smiling wickedly, Mrysti dropped the whip moving to the torture rack that held his various devices. Rummaging, taking her time to pick her favorites. The Taskmaster used all of them on her at some point. He finally turned his head slightly. ¡°P-p-p..uuuulleeasssse.¡± Mrysti removed a particularly nasty cylindrical device off the wall. Activating its mechanism with her hand as she held it in the other. Her eyes wide with glee; spikes jutted from hidden ports on the surface. The smooth surface of the device marred by the sudden ejection of the spikes. Mrysti turned the base. Its smooth surface hiding another neat trick as it lit up. Lighting caressed her arm up and down the device. Mrysti moved it as a sword, looking over at him. Laying the tip of the device against her lips finally, to look at her prey. ¡°I was always particularly fond of this one¡­not the spikes, but the electricity¡­¡± She pushed the hidden button on it as lightning arched up its length once again. The spikes jutting in and out on their own. Jumping toward him in a flash of movement. A blur once again that was on him, all over him. Mrysti grabbed his face with the other hand, ¡°NO!!! You don¡¯t get to pass out on me!!! You don¡¯t get to go to SLEEP!!!¡± Placing a hand on his chest she sent a surprising shockwave through his body that made him jump. Mrysti pulled the hand off and looked at it. No idea where that power came from. Lightning. It came from her body. She looked at the device in her other hand. There was no need for the electricity setting it possessed. But she was going to use it anyway. ¡°That was a neat trick¡­.I will save that for later.¡± The lights seemed to go out for the Taskmaster as he slowly went in and out of consciousness. Mrysti busied herself with the torture device finding new ways to use it on her helpless Master. He gurgled again, barely able to speak, as she set to work. -- As the Sun began to rise once again, the helpless man lay limp on the rack. Mrysti pulled the chair from the corner sitting herself down harshly to look at him. Every device on the holding rack lay scattered around him. Mrysti used literally everything at her disposal, including her own power to keep him alive and awake. In the end¡­it wasn¡¯t enough. The hunger was beginning to get painful. And it annoyed her. The Taskmaster was not a very good plaything. Not like she was for him. Years and years of giving the man pleasure. Of bowing to his every whim. And that was the end of it. The man, she once thought him all powerful, all controlling. Reduced to a sniveling nothing. Barely able to hold her attention. Clinging to a thread of life. The taskmaster was weak. Fragile. Still she hungered. Mrysti needed more. More than he was able to give. ¡°Pathetic!!! Weak!!! Useless!!!¡± Mrysti stood from the chair flinging it backwards into the wall. ¡°You are the absolute worst plaything I have ever had!!!¡± A moment of clarity hit her. Mrysti froze, looking up. ¡®Did she ever have another plaything?¡¯ The image flashed again. The same young man from her dreams. But he was no plaything. The familiar feeling, she sensed in her Master at the last before she overtook him, came back again. It made her sick, Mrysti grit her teeth. Her voice lowered to a whisper as she rocked back and forth looking toward him. Lost in her own insanity, ¡°No fun at all.¡± Slowly the smile grew to her lips, the crimson from her Master¡¯s blood on her full lips cresting her teeth. ¡°There is nothing left to do then¡­¡± In another flash, Mrysti was on him again. This time sitting on top. Legs folded under her. All of her strength, she brought the large blade from the tool rack. A blade he used to carve into her again and again. She bore the marks of his pleasure. Mrysti brought it above her head and down into the limp form. Bringing it home again, again and again. The blood from the carcass cascaded around her, on her, through her. Former excitement she felt initially, when she cracked her Taskmaster with the whip that first time shot through her again. Death, pain¡­.the ultimate sensation. Mrysti thought she heard herself screaming, but she couldn¡¯t be sure as she ripped him apart. Fiercely peering down at him. Watching the last of her captor die by her hand. Something she wished and dreamed about in those moments he failed to please her. Worthless excuse for a humanoid. Worthless excuse for life. He no longer deserved it. Mrysti took from him the last thing he possessed. The last thing he would ever possess. And the last thing he had that was of any value to her. It seemed to last forever. Mrysti¡¯s blood lust satiated for the moment, she stepped down off of his body. Reaching up with the back of her hand, still holding the blade to wipe the gore from her face and her eyes. It smeared, warm and telling. Already starting to grow cold on her. The distant pang of hunger reminding her that she would need to see to it again. Mrysti looked over, there wasn¡¯t much left. The Taskmaster looked like ¡®nothing¡¯ to her anymore. Fitting, in her deepest darkest dreams she saw him in that state many times before. It scared her. A time that seemed so far away from that moment. Fear once gripped her that she could be capable. Now, a fear that she commanded. Dropping the knife, Mrysti reached over and touched his skin. Running her finger along what was once his arm. Taking the finger to put it in her mouth. The mouth was already full of her Taskmaster¡¯s blood. But that taste, it was different. One she made herself take in order to make sure all of it was real in her mind. To ensure it was not just another dark dream in the depths of the cell she once occupied. Mrysti needed the taste, in her own way. ¡°Just like always¡­you taste so sweet to me, Baby¡­¡± Moving her hand over his eyes, Mrysti closed them for the last time. ¡°You rest now. You did well¡­I have never been more satisfied than I am now.¡± In that final act, Mrysti knew there was no going back. She started laughing as she thought about the many times she had brought him back from the brink of death in the last¡­how long had it been? How long had she been there? Raising her hand, she shielded her eyes from the sun. It had risen again. For what she believed was the third time since it all began. A different kind of hunger hit her. She hadn¡¯t eaten in three days. After looking up at the sky and realizing she had no idea how long she had been there; Mrysti looked around curiously. Fatigue along with hunger setting in. Mrysti suddenly didn¡¯t know where she was. Having already left the ¡®play¡¯ area to wander toward the corridor set into the open cliff side and past her cell. Realizing she had never consciously been outside that area. Only having extended her presence from inside the cell outside of the tiny alcove from time to time. Still covered in her Master¡¯s blood, Mrysti began to look around. Looking for a door; an exit, anything to get her outside of the space she knew in her mind¡¯s eye for years. Opening one door, Mrysti walked in and stopped. The presence of the room hitting her hard. Her Master¡¯s private living quarters. Moving to a bureau, Mrysti began rummaging through his things. She flipped a trunk over after emptying the drawers of the bureau. Clothes and personal items. Nothing of substance. She froze, a sliver object on a pedestal caught her eye. Mrysti stared at it, standing to her full height before it. The power of the object or what it contained resonated with her. She stood mesmerized. Almost drunkenly she picked up the shaft holding it in her hand. ¡®Was it a torture device?¡¯ Something he had planned to use, but never did? It had buttons. She began pushing them as the blade suddenly came to life. The awesome Orange-burnt color of the blade hypnotized her as she moved it back and forth. The plasma of the blade bending the air around it. The sound low, vibrating with power as she moved it back and forth. The flash was painful¡­.. Mrysti fell to the floor, still holding the blade. Her eyes wide from the sudden flash of pain. ¡®What the hell had just happened?¡¯ Her mind flashed an image at her. She forced whatever it was back; turning her attention back to the blade. Standing back up and moving it sideways and overhead listening to the sound of it. Again the flash, put her down¡­. This time she closed her eyes. Dropping the still activated hilt; her hands falling to her knees. Closing her eyes tightly, Mrysti struggled against whatever pain it was. The tiny voices returned, as did the images. Images of another blade. Unlike the orange plasma of the one she found in her Master¡¯s bedroom, this one was an emerald green. She saw herself, swinging it at some kind of practice target. The voices whispered; all of them talking at once. Mrysti screamed. Placing her hands over her ears. ¡°Stop, stop it!!! I don¡¯t care I don¡¯t care I don¡¯t care I don¡¯t care¡­whatever it is you want to show me, I don¡¯t care¡­¡± Mrysti stood back up. Picking the hilt back up, she activated it once again. The orange glow of it close to her face. She only gazed at the nova. Hesitantly, she started to swing it again. Sending it through the bureau she ravaged a moment before. The light-blade sliced cleanly through the wood of the clothes chest. Edges of the wood continuing to burn where the orange plasma of the blade passed through. Raising it once again, she stared at it. They started again. The voices. Looking for the switch to turn off the ¡®light-blade¡¯, she crumbled under the full weight of the Force coming down upon her. It was called¡­.a Lightsaber. The sledgehammer came down¡­. Lying on her back, Mrysti looked up at the ceiling of the spacecraft. Her own sword from a former life rolling away after the impact. Was it a memory? There was no spacecraft. There was no sword. It faded. She started shaking her head as the ceiling of the bedroom came back into focus. ¡°No No No No No¡­Im not here Im not here Im not here Im not here Im not here¡­.¡± Mrysti cupped her hands over her head and ears tightly. Softly, she began chanting to herself. Having no idea where any of it was coming from but knowing she didn¡¯t like it. More, the silence of it and hated even worse not being in control of it. All of the power she possessed. Just coming to realize that there were things she could do and sense. An unseen power that she could manipulate and use however she saw fit. These were all things she could do all along. The voices told her so. Slowly she opened her eyes, the rough ceiling of the Master¡¯s personal chambers greeted her as well as the hum of the Lightsaber she had allowed to fall out of her hand. It rolled toward a tapestry in the corner of the room. Mrysti regained her senses. Sitting up, the smoke was already flooding the room and pouring into the hallway. The ¡®Lightsaber¡¯ caught the room on fire. And the fire was spreading rapidly. Reaching out to it, Mrysti summoned the blade. The saber sailed out of the flames into her hand. It seared the flesh as it landed squarely in her palm. Mrysti grimaced, only squeezing her hand around it tighter. The pain, a reminder that she was there. And alive. And now needed to escape the fire. With a fluid motion she flipped the lightsaber in her hand, twisting it and turning it off simultaneously as she tucked it into her waist wrap. Smiling wickedly Mrysti arched an eyebrow. Glancing at the gleaming silver hilt that protruded from the slave¡¯s waist wrap she wore. ¡°Now some memories I can live with¡­.I guess I may have held one of those a time or two.¡± Smoke followed the flow of air. Mrysti followed it. The cloud moving toward the path of least resistance and the way out. Being sucked under another door, Mrysti stopped, but quickly pressed the activation pad to open the portal. She ran from one passage to another, following the smoke as it finally emptied into a much larger area. Stopping, a wry smile coming to her face. All of the noise from the past few weeks finally made sense. What her Master had been working on revealed. Tools and buckets of duracrete lay bare, some of it still needing to be poured. The frame of a structure being filled in. Electronics being wired into the frame and the semblance of a very tidy and neat cottage was beginning to take shape at the mouth entrance to the underground lair her Master called home. Smoke poured over her from the inside of the complex. Mrysti took a moment to gain a bit of clarity. Moving into the still being constructed house to take a closer look. She saw the kitchen area, a fresher¡­finally the bedroom. It was built for two. All of the feelings she got from her Master at the end made sense. The feelings she could not describe and that were so elusive suddenly became so very clear. Love. All of it was love. Love, was building the house. And the house, was being built for her. Mrysti laughed out loud. ¡°You poor, stupid, bastard¡­¡± The tiny house was almost finished. Mrysti had no idea what he planned to do. Move her in. Keep her as a slave inside of the structure. None of it mattered. It was never going to happen. Love. Such a strong and powerful emotion. One that all of the other emotions could potential emerge from. Mrysti felt it, when she touched him as he drug her toward the torture rack. She felt it the first time she laid the whip across him in the flash of pain and the memory of a love she lost at some point. And she felt it the moment the last of his life¡¯s blood cascaded onto her half-naked body with the stroke of her knife. Remembering the night he branded her, Mrysti reached around her body running her hand over the raised skin of the rune burned into her skin. Remembering what her Master said. The rune, it held a significance for him. The ancient Sith rune for Love. He burned it into her. Making her his for all time. As the fire plumbed around behind her, Mrysti walked up to the shaky structure kicking the side of it lightly. It wasn¡¯t well built, but it was the thought that counted. Shaking her head she laughed out loud again, looking up toward the smoke-filled sky. ¡°YOU POOR STUPID BASTARD!!!! YOU FELL IN LOVE!!!!.....¡± 4 - Gladiator - 10 Years before the destruction of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant....and years before the Flight from Korriban.... <> <> -- -- Hutta...A Few Months after the Escape from Korriban. An Excerpt from the ¡®Mirialan Gladiator Chronicles¡¯.... Those first few days were a mix of satiating various hungers. The shuttle deposited me on Hutta. I knew of Hutts. How I knew is still a mystery. As time passes, I regain so many bits of meaningless information. But nothing concrete or of substance. Scrounging with the other vagabonds who lurked dark corners and hid in shadows became tiresome quickly. One such encounter resulted in my killing several of the derelicts outright; stealing their food and what little possessions they had. I stayed out of sight for fear of being recaptured. Surely, someone must have missed my former Master by now. No doubt those he once answered to would come looking for him and by virtue of that fact come looking for me. But no one came. No one was looking. I used my power to reach out, search. There was nothing. A great void of emptiness concerning me. On some level, that angered me slightly. That I was that insignificant. After feeling and experiencing the immense power at my disposal and unleashing that power on my unsuspecting Master; how could that be so? In my continued killing and domination of the dregs that lurked the shadows of Hutta, I did gain notice. Someone, a buyer of some sort, noticed me killing a few of them out behind some sort of gathering establishment. I knew from my fractured memory it was called a ¡®Cantina¡¯. Though I cannot exactly remember if I had ever been in one. The man came. He took me inside. I allowed him to accompany me. Though that was not how he saw it. Before long I had drink and food. An array of things spread out before me. Someone commented on the smell. Bumped me and insulted the man who befriended me. The man who not only befriended, but who saw fit to feed me. Suspicion is part of my character now. No one does anything for anyone unless they want something. And though the man did not ask, I could sense it. Opportunity. That¡¯s what he saw. Food would not be denied. And I would tolerate no interruption. The one who insulted quickly found himself in my grasp. But I was hungry. Always hungry. After he insulted us, I grabbed him up. My fingers wrapped around his throat; I quickly dispatched him with a slight twist. Neck bones, easy to pop and disintegrate. Dropping the body to return to my meal. There was silence around me. All eyes turned toward me. I could feel them. Curious glances. Feeling of surprise, dread. Who the man brought in. Who was I, no one needed to know. Then the Fear. It was almost as satisfying as the food. I actually paused to savor it. Striking me to my core. So many weeks since I tasted the sweet essence of it. Reminding myself of the last time. Killing my worthless Master. Killing those that stood in my way as I stole away aboard the ship and made my way to this place. Their deaths were not as satisfying. Far too many of them to take a chance of being recaptured. This ''Empire''...I have no need or desire for it. Far too many of them to take the time to savor and kill. All were watching as I ate; wondering how I had managed to kill a much larger being so quickly and without missing a step to return to my meal. I was hungry. All that matters is satisfying that hunger. As well as all of the others which rage constantly. Though I do know at some point I must once again get control over it as I once did. My Master was that control and now that I lack direction, it seems a wild prospect that I will gain a sense of self without being beholden to another. At least in this place. But I will never wear chains again. Death will come first, if those who whish to bind me; can stop me. We found ourselves at the arena. Something came over me. Even after another approached and killed the one who befriended me as we sat together in the stands. The ones who came left me alone. Only interested in some slight the one who befriended me had done to them. I will not mourn him. I did not know him. And my sense of it all was eventually he would ask. Either to kill or give of myself in some way. Those hungers abound. Satisfying them...that, I do not consider a trade. And one I would gladly do in order to quell the fires within. They asked. I answered. Entering the arena, I found peace. Solace at last in the blood-stained grounds of the sand. My wraps grow darker now. Stained with the blood of an ever-increasing number of victims. Others have come. More than before. They want something. They want me, to possess and bind me once again. But I am no contractor. This I do for myself. To quench the hungers that grow inside. Through the arena I have no wants. Not for food, blood or sex. Through the arena, I receive all that I need and all that I will ever need. Perhaps this was the call all along. How I know this, I have no clue. Memory does not serve an adequate servant reveling why destiny allowed that shuttle to land here. Or how I found this place. But the Arena. This¡­this feels like home. My ¡®Temple¡¯ to worship the powers which control me. -- - Hutta.... Noise from the arena above drown out the Agent who was talking to his Gladiator in the pit below. Light peeked through the bars covering the Arena floor from above casting strange shadows in the pit, most of the ghastly shadows adding to the already evil visage that sat only a few meters away from the Gladiator. Only half listening, he was busy trying to peer through the veil of darkness at his opponent. The first round was over in less than a minute, the earlier opponent never saw¡­HER or IT¡­whatever it was coming. Still looking intently, the Gladiator could almost make out an outline, the IT was a SHE and SHE was larger than a normal woman. Not that it mattered. No Woman could best him, not many Men either for that matter. A slap to the face brought him back to the voice who was still prattling on. ¡°Rutgher? Are you listenin ta me!!!??? Think about what ya doin lad¡­ya can¡¯t lose this fight, if ya do you go down in rank and we got no leg ta stand on!!!¡± Rutgher, an overly large Human male waved off the series of Pit droids that busied themselves stitching up the nasty gash to his face and wiping the blood from his harness. Finally, he looked at the Chagarin who was his Agent, inclining his head in the direction of his mysterious opponent. ¡°Who is she? Waddaya know?¡± The Chagarin frowned at the question. Taking a moment to hazard a glance into the darkness. ¡°Not much. She¡¯s new. Unsponsored¡­independent. Ya kno these types, they don¡¯t last long without a sponsor¡­.or an Agent. If the Arena doesn¡¯t get her, the Cartel will¡­.¡± The Chagarin grabbed Rutgher by the jaw pulling his face toward himself; looking into his eyes. ¡°Hugh jus focus!!! Don let her get tha betta of ya¡­we got too much at stake here. Don''t think about wha'' she jus'' did up there!!! Focus!!!¡± As Rutgher struggled to look at his Agent; the visage across from him, who until that moment merely sat back in their chair; hands on the armrests staring in Rutgher¡¯s direction, sat up slowly. White teeth were the first thing he noticed, a predators smile and dark crimson lips that surrounded the white jaws. Crimson that ran from her mouth up the side of her face and getting darker as it dried on her skin. If the smile weren¡¯t so evil, Rutgher may have winked in her direction. He turned his eyes in her direction, his jaw still being held tightly. The accent was Imperial, slightly mottled, but clearly Imperial in origin. The light from above flashed quickly across her green scarred face as Rutgher realized she was a Mirialan. A flash of the brightest ruby red hair framed her features. Wild, untamed. ¡°You want to know about me?¡± The rough sand of her Imperial voice started speaking. ¡°You¡¯re about to learn the lesson I consider important enough to teach anyone who steps on those sands¡­.¡± Mrysti got up to go stand on the lift next to her. The lift that would raise her back to the Arena floor. Rutgher watched as she glanced back down at the Gladiator and Agent impassively, ¡°¡­you''re about to learn what it feels like to lose¡­.at life.¡± The lift began to ascend, Mrysti never let her eyes leave Rutgher until her head was above the floor and she was forced to break her deathly stare. Rutgher visibly shivered. Like someone at some point had walked over his grave. All his life Rutgher¡¯s size had intimidated, he used that. When he could no longer rely on just his size, he trained what became natural. Using his attributes to enhance his ability to break bone and inflict pain. Those became his weapons. Never before had he looked back, never before had he doubted. As he slowly got on the ramp to ascend to the floor for the first time¡­Rutgher was scared. And not just of losing, everyone lost at one time or another. And perhaps his time had come. As the lift crested enough to look at the green monster standing impassively across from him, Rutgher realized where the fear came from. Rutgher was scared of more than losing. Rutgher was scared for his life. It wasn¡¯t boredom that struck Mrysti and made her stand so non-chalantly in front of her opponent. It was how easily she was able to break his will with just a look and few words. The Arena was a very good teacher. They wanted it as much as she did. Fear and for that fear to be drawn out. Words, taunting; Mrysti found it meaningless. But it had a place. And it was more than just the fact of her being a woman and him being a man. That never factored into it. It was something that should have played in her male opponent¡¯s favor. Men are genetically larger than women and instinctively have an ingrained program that instills them with a sense of protection toward members of the opposite sex. Most Men are hesitant to hit a Woman. Any Woman. The fact that Mrysti was overly tall and muscular, much larger than the average petite female and most normal males was irrelevant. She raised an eyebrow curiously as she eyed her opponent. No, it wasn¡¯t genetics that was making him hesitant. The familiar sense of it hit her and Mrysti smiled. All at once the sweet taste of fear tapped at her in the Force. It flowed over her like a warm blanket. The man¡¯s fear smothering her, fueling her. Again, she smiled wickedly as she reveled in it. The fear heightening her awareness. She wanted more, the emotion drawing her in. Closer and closer. Glancing around at the thousands gathered in the seats all cheering, jeering, cursing at the both of them Mrysti could sense curious desire in some of the crowd as they looked at her. Other emotions fueling the sudden desire that rose up and took hold of her. Nothing was as powerful as the fear. But the others, they served more as motivation. Mrysti felt distain and hatred from the other parts of the crowd. She smirked to herself. Those last thoughts and emotions obviously coming from the women in the crowd. Licking her lips at the deliciousness in front of her, she drew the Durasteel blade off of her back crouching into a ready position to await the horn. The sun light reflected off the scars and cuts of her well-worn armor, the darkly stained wrap on her waist getting caught in the breeze; flowing sideways with the almost crimson, ruby red glow of her hair. Wild and unkempt as she was.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. As it sounded Rutgher charged toward Mrysti only to be slowed by the fact that she did not attack with blinding speed in return. Mrysti did not charge or rush toward him as he did her. Instead choosing to walk to the center. It confused the Barbarian just enough that as he got within striking distance, he over-estimated the distance to land the first and hopefully only blow slashing wildly at her mid-section. The axe he held in two hands swinging wildly and with all of his might. Fear led him. Fear that he needed to quash by ending her quickly. In order to convince himself that all of it, all of her was completely misplaced. She moved like slow swamp water. Stepping backward slightly. Mrysti poked her lip out at the huge man looking down at him as the wicked smile grew. ¡°Awwww¡­.did the big bad man get frustrated by the ¡®wittle-bitty¡¯ girl?¡± Fear can make a creature do strange things, in Rutgher¡¯s case it made him go into ¡®fight or flight¡¯ mode. Locked into a circular Arena with no clear escape, for Rutgher it was ¡®fight¡¯. Mrysti made the fight look silly. After the deliberate swing, Rutgher stepped back. Screaming in rage at having what was a sure and fatal blow miss entirely. It no longer mattered that the match was ¡®first blood¡¯. Rutgher would have his agent answer to the Hutts later. Mrysti was unsponsored, the punishment would be slight. Swinging again, Rutgher switched hands. His strength enough that he could swing the axe almost as fast in one as he did with two. Mrysti dodged again. This time she moved a bit faster. Ducking under and moving to the side as she came up. A combination. Slash, dodge; Slash again; weave. Rutgher¡¯s fist came around in the spin, following his axe. Having thrown no blows at the flailing Gladiator, Mrysti was merely parring his weapon or slowly; deliberately moving past each one of his swings. And all of it at the last second before the blade would land home. Until the fist. Tactile contact. Mrysti wanted to get close, she wanted him to feel it. The fist landed. A brief flash of satisfaction passed through Rutgher. The slapping wet sound of flesh on flesh. The pop of meat slapping its target. That satisfaction was short lived. Rutgher¡¯s eyes met hers. Mrysti held his fist in her own. Fingers outstretched over the massive fist of the other Gladiator. He pushed instantly meeting an iron wall of resistance and Mrysti squeezed. Rutgher falling to his knees under the vice like grip that heard bones pop and made the big man crumble. On one prior occasion, Mrysti let her opponent think he struck her. The need to get close ever present. It made the fear thick. Increased it. Something she savored and sucked up in every match. Seeing him crumble, feeling the level increase in her opponent was worth the risk. Mrysti let him go, taking a step back. Rutgher stood and shook his head, flexing the fingers of the hand she once held to shake off what ¡®had¡¯ to be a mistake. Was he getting slow? Had he somehow transmitted what the combination would be so she would be ready to grab him at the end? Raising the axe overhead, he slashed down vertically in an attempt to split her in half the same way. Mrysti was sensing each one of his attacks in the Force and moved just enough to the side to allow the sharpened axe to pass her. Buried in the ground where she once stood, Rutgher looked up breathing heavily. A broad smile on his face as the axe buried itself in the dirt. An attack that was sure to have cleaved her. Mrysti stood off to the side. Several strands of the cloth from her blood-stained rags floated harmlessly in front of her. Snapping her head in the direction of the man still looking down at the axe; Mrysti moved in. The wicked smile giving way to a disdainful look. Spinning, she backhanded him in the mouth. Placing her other hand on his shoulder as he let go of the axe, falling backward. The crowd roared and came to their feet. Mrysti flipped end over end in the air, using Rutgher as a vault. Using his shoulder to stabilized her acrobatic like grace to land behind him. Once feet hit the ground, Mrysti sank her blade deeply into the Gladiator¡¯s back. His chest burst. The point of her sword gleaming in the sun. Rutgher looked down in shock and surprise. His hands moving toward the sword which sliced through him. Blood sprayed in a fountain as the organ that fueled his body burst. There were only moments left. And he knew it. Rutgher started to fall to his knees. The look of utter disbelief on his face. Mrysti had seen it before. They always had that look. At end, all beings got it. Shock at not only their loss, but disbelief that all was coming to an end. Beings fought, even at the end; fighter or not, all fought for that last bit of life. And Mrysti reveled most in the last seconds of it. Standing behind him she kept her gaze on the dying man, studying in a way. Every life was different, every ending just as varied. The cat and mouse game was over. The predator; tired of playing with her food and simply wanting to eat. Rutgher¡¯s dying was too slow as she leaned forward into his ear, sharply removing her own blade from the man¡¯s body. ¡°Don¡¯t think for one second this was business¡­..this was personal. And I take great pleasure in watching you die¡­.¡± The words weren¡¯t necessary. But it added to the flavor of the moment. Those last moments when they always clung to the last threads. Words always severed them. Made it real. Yes, it was over. And yes, you lost. As Mrysti said when she met Rutgher in the catacombs, the lesson. Life. Its purpose was to end. Mrysti¡¯s hand was on the man¡¯s shoulder as she removed the blade with the other. The grand finale. The hand glowed slightly. No one in the crowd close enough to see. Mrysti sent a burst of painful energy through her victim. The remainder of his organs exploding on the inside as he quickly let out a last gasp of air falling in a heap face down. Turning around she did not acknowledge the jubilant cheers of the crowd stalking back to the holding area, but not before spitting on the ground. A final, ¡®Kriff You¡¯ to not only her opponent, but to the crowd, the promoters¡­even the Hutts. -- In his private booth, Gardurrga the Hutt smiled cheerfully. Why wouldn¡¯t he? The crowd represented profits and they always packed it in to see HER. Gardurrga didn¡¯t like her, even if the crowd seemed to. It was control, he lacked it concerning her. Smacking his translator droid sharply, Gardurrga turned his head slightly to his guest pointing to Mrysti¡¯s death blow which struck through the other warrior¡¯s chest. ¡°ROW GAH!!! DO GAH-DAH RENGGEN DEH SOLLDA!!¡± The ¡®guest¡¯ a Dark Lord from the Sith Empire, watched the match disdainfully. Giving a distasteful gaze to the Hutt who was pointing at the Arena. Darth Malvox, a former leading Scholar at the Sith Academy had since been put on ¡®administrative¡¯ leave following a dispute with another Instructor. The other Instructor had better political connections and within days Malvox found herself assigned to the Diplomatic Corps. It was only a matter of time before the Sith made an attempt to eliminate her. The teachings she was advocating; going against the current administration¡¯s agenda. The trip to Hutta was her final act for a Government that didn¡¯t want her. It was fortuitous that the trip called for her going to Hutta. As much as she despised dealing with the Hutts and any other filthy nefarious underworld types it had become necessary to do so if for no other reason than to seek out allies. Gardurrga, as well as some of her other less than reputable contacts, were going to help her drop out of sight for a while. Keeping the disdainful look on her face she glanced at the dying man in the arena, as he fell to his knees. ¡°Gardurrga¡­use common speech, please. We are alone up here and I know you can speak the common tongue.¡± Gardurrga frowned as much as a Hutt could, looking back to the Arena. ¡°As well as I know you can speak Huttese, Darth Malvox.¡± Gardurrga turned his attention back to the arena. ¡°As I was saying, can you believe the audacity of this Woman!?!?! Killing her opponent in a first blood match! I don¡¯t know who she is¡­but I want her!!!¡± Malvox moved to the edge of the pavilion to look down, the roar of the crowd coursing through her. Even as much as she disliked the needless death of an Arena, the angry, lustful cries of the crowd fueled her Dark Spirit. She closed her eyes slightly allowing the anger and lust to pour through her. Malvox almost let out a pleasurable sigh, but held her composure turning back to Gardurrga. ¡°Technically, the Mirialan did not violate the rules¡­it was First Blood. Her death blow being the first and only strike landed. And it did indeed draw blood¡­.ALL of her opponents, but first blood nonetheless.¡± Malvox had to smile at her logic. Gardurrga watched as Mrysti leaned in to jab her sword inward. Placing her hand on the man¡¯s shoulder; leaning in to whisper in her opponents¡¯ ear as she did so. The sword went in with a sickening ¡®pop¡¯. Blood launching out with the gleam of her blade in the sunlight. But not as much blood as was expected. Heat and lightning exited Mrysti¡¯s palm. Inserting itself into her opponents¡¯ body at the same time she inserted the sword through his back. The lightning cooking her opponent¡¯s insides. Caressing the blade, both from inside and out. Tendrils of the lightning exiting the wound in the chest along with the blade. As Mrysti started to walk off, the Hutt pointed frustratingly at the Arena. ¡°She always does this!!! What is she saying to them?!?! After she strikes the final blow she always speaks in their ear!!! I want to know¡­I want to know what she says!!!¡± Malvox smiled and was just about to say that the Mirialan most likely said some kind of prayer in the ¡®Dying Warrior¡¯ mantra, or something else equally honorable, but also equally meaningless. Malvox looked up suddenly as Mrysti got closer on her way to the arena exit. The call form Dark Side hit the Dark Lord like a truck; she physically stumbled. Grabbing a table as she turned around slowly to look back at the Arena. A wicked smile crossing her face unconsciously. The Mirialan was a Force user. And not just any user. A Dark Sider. Malvox moved quickly back to the edge of the pavilion to lean over it. After Rutgher¡¯s organs burst, his carcass falling in a heap on his face; Malvox watched Mrysti stalk off. The Dark Side of the Force rolling off of her like a tidal wave. Whispering as if to Mrysti, Malvox continued her bright wicked smile. ¡°So raw¡­.so unfocused. My, my, my¡­.where have you been all my life?¡± Gardurrga growled at his servants as Mrysti disappeared under them. The Mirialan¡¯s gaze never leaving her destination or looking up toward the box holding the Hutt and the Dark Lord. ¡°She acknowledges no one!!! Disrespectful!!!¡± Grabbing his translator, Gardurrga pulled the droid close to his slimy face, ¡°I want her!!! Tonight!!!....The Palace should have some entertainment, it will be amusing for others to watch as I explain our rules to her!!! Go!!! Get her!!¡± Malvox moved slowly next to Gardurrga, her next suggestion not so much a show of support for her current benefactor as it was to herself. ¡°Perhaps you would allow me to accompany them. She is dangerous, yes? She has won how many matches so far?¡± Gardurrga waved a slimy arm as he slithered toward the exit of his private booth. ¡°Only six¡­she is new!! But she kills like a Nexu playing with a Ratling. Whatever strikes her fancy!! No matter the match, she makes up her own rules!!! And the Fans are starting to like it. They like anyone who would spit in the face of authority these days!!! She must learn or it is a slap to the face of the Hutts!!!¡± Malvox allowed Gardurrga to slither a little further away. Before he realized the Dark Lord was no longer beside him, he turned looking down at her. ¡°If it pleases you Darth Malvox, I would be honored if you would secure this¡­upstart!!!¡± Malvox bowed slightly turning to walk the opposite way. She had no intention of confronting the larger woman personally. At least not yet. But, it would be interesting to observe her. -- Sitting again in her dark corner, Mrysti¡¯s wooden chair creaked under her weight. She made no move to clean her weapon or her person of the blood that covered her. The splattering adding to the dark stained color of the slave¡¯s wrapping she still wore. Once a light brown, the slave wrappings were now a darker brown, dyed in the blood of her Master and since that day getting darker. The sword leaned on the arm of the chair, her eyes closed she focused on the kill. Reliving every moment of it. Only to hold on to the feeling a moment longer. But, as always, the pleasure was fleeting. Mrysti moved her hands to run them over her dirty, powerful legs. Rutgher¡¯s blood smearing into her skin as she slowly massaged the muscles. It had been several months since escaping Korriban. In that time, she only found pleasure in killing. And had yet to find available prey to satisfy any of her ¡®other¡¯ desires. A dull pain began to emanate in her abdomen. It coursed its way down to her loins, throbbing and demanding attention. She quickly closed her legs. Hands slapping on her knees as they started to vibrate and move involuntarily. Mrysti cursed to herself, speaking to the dark voices that plagued her always. ¡°Alright!!! I will find someone!!! I will DO something!!!¡± Her head jerked upwards sensing the individuals approaching with intent directed toward her. Mrysti slowly allowed one of her hands to drift back to the hilt of the sword. Fingers slowly curling around the hilt. The group spread out in a semi-circle in front of her and at first were unsure how to approach the strange woman. From a distance, Darth Malvox peered around a corner. Allowing just her face to crest the next room. Watching from the darkness and peering at the ¡®other¡¯ darkness that surrounded the Mirialan, both literally and figuratively. The lead Hutt Thug stepped out from the group centering himself on the woman. ¡°You there! Gardurrga wants to see you¡­let¡¯s go. NOW!!!¡± Mrysti was no longer used to being ordered around, she killed the last person who dared. With the dull pain from her loins still buzzing in her mind, Mrysti¡¯s tolerance level was lower than normal. The fear she sensed from the men provided a distraction. Narrowing her eyes, she decided to draw out the confrontation just a bit longer. It would give the buzzing and voices a respite. The pain became a dull sensation. Mrysti unclenched her legs and sat up slowly. Jerking the sword from the side of the chair she very noisily jabbed it on the stone floor in front of her, holding it in both hands. It made a metallic ¡®ching¡¯ as it embedded itself in the stone. The thugs all visibly jumped back from the quick movement. The reaction made Mrysti smile wryly. That such fear could exist in those who even thought to approach her. The thugs were being made to do it, none of them wanted to. Putting on her best seductive voice, she spoke to them in sultry tones allowing each word to roll off her tongue. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, boys¡­don¡¯t know how to ask a woman nicely?¡± Mrysti bared her teeth at the last words, putting a bit of venom behind them. ¡°I don¡¯t like to be ordered about.¡± The lead thug drew his blaster almost as fast as Mrysti had moved her sword, pointing it at her. But it shook. Nervousness. The thug cleared his throat, trying to narrow his eyes to be more intimidating. She smiled wickedly sitting back in her darkness. Their nervousness and fear growing and she could feel the heat of it radiate through her body. All of the pain and the dull roar from her groin suddenly disappeared as a new emotion radiated through her. ¡°I-I¡¯m not going to ask again¡­your comin with us. Either under your own power or with us¡­.draggin you outta here.¡± Only one thing stopped her from leaping out of the seat and slaying them all. The lead thug being her primary target, Mrysti kept an eye on him and the blaster he held. Ready to snatch it from his grasp once she felt the slight of a trigger squeeze. Narrowing her eyes in the darkness, Mrysti looked past him. The mysterious figure that radiated the strange power; so similar to her former Master¡¯s, was hidden behind one of the wooden columns. The power wasn¡¯t just any type of energy, it was darkness. A sense of her own reaching out, crawling across the floor toward it imaged in her mind. Cold, lonely; it searched for something else always. But the power that radiated on the far side of the room was much more focused. It rolled toward Mrysti in waves and satisfied any longing she had at the moment. Waves and more waves of the dark energy. Mrysti knew the figure was watching her, studying her. And she was studying it. Standing up suddenly, Mrysti stepped down off the raised platform and out of her wooden seat. All of the thugs jumping at her movement. Compared to what was watching her from afar, that little bit of fear from the Hutt Cartel¡¯s finest did little to amuse her. ¡°Fine. Take me to your Master¡­I will speak with him.¡± 5 - Enslaved Again -- Nine Years before the Fall of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant¡­. <> <> <<¡±Dearest RT, How have you been? I realize that by the time you get this it will be a week old. I won¡¯t bother asking where they deployed you, I know you can¡¯t say. All those secret Republic schools. Marstel is even more secretive. Some facility that even those who sent him didn¡¯t know anything about; according to him. You know he never says much, even if he wanted to. Before you freak out, no¡­nothings wrong. Coming from me, any letter is usually associated with ¡®bad things Karolin¡¯s done¡¯. We are fine, she finally got picked up by a Jedi Master. Master Varaad seems like a fair-minded Jedi. A little quieter than I would have thought someone who would dare pick up Karolin should be. She is already complaining. Apparently, her ¡®exuberant¡¯ nature has already landed her in hot water. And this time, she can¡¯t come hide under my robe or have me try to keep her out of trouble. No, this is something else. Karolin met someone. And in turn¡­so have I. This is too much, I know I really shouldn¡¯t be telling my ¡®brother¡¯ this, but this guy¡­he¡¯s really different. When he¡¯s around, I feel like I¡¯m going to faint, everything gets hot and my head swims. Actually, I thought I was sick the first time, then Karolin explained that its just a normal reaction. This is so forbidden, please¡­destroy this letter as soon as you get it. I feel embarrassed telling anyone. But I can¡¯t really ¡®talk¡¯ to her. If you had any idea of what she¡¯s gotten into here with this guy¡­I think you would probably go AWOL and come get her. And, it¡¯s not his fault. You KNOW it¡¯s hers. Anyways, still waiting to get a Master. I think I may sit in integration forever. Hope your first unit is everything the Republic hoped it would be. I know you¡¯re running circles around them, literally. If they haven¡¯t picked you up for Officer yet, it¡¯s coming. Trust us, we¡¯ve seen it. Hamner says hi, not that you care. You two really need to kiss and make-up. Friends are one thing, but family¡­that¡¯s forever. All my love, Myst¡­>> -- -- Hutta¡­weeks after the Exodus from Korriban¡­. Mrysti noted that architecture was not a Hutt strong suit as she made her way up the entrance ramp which led to the Cantina foyer. All Hutt palaces were designed the same, only the individual tastes of the Hutt who occupied the palace changed the interior decor. Mrysti frowned glancing left and right at the Hutt thugs who were flanking her. Only the mysterious Force User who lurked several yards back kept Mrysti from simply grabbing up the thugs, cracking all their skulls into one another and walking out. It was becoming imperative now, Mrysti had to find out who the being this that lurked behind. Who it was that held such sway over the Dark Side. It was pure power, but not raw like her own. Hunger, in her ached. Almost drawn to the mysterious force. The power simmered like oil in a pan with a veneer of control over it. Control, Mrysti very much longed for, if only for the ability to control the pain it held over her. In the months since her flight from Korriban, Mrysti wandered aimlessly. What she thought she sought was combat, using her genetically enhanced abilities to best any conflict she stumbled upon. But years of captivity caused all of her forgotten Force abilities to re-emerge, this time with a pure taint of evil within them. Her long-term memories, however had not recovered. She had no idea why she was held for so long in captivity. Although she surmised that it had something to do with being a Jedi, her old Master had such a hatred for them and called her ''Jedi Bitch'' often. Faces and names often popped into her head...Hamner, RT, Karolin, Marstel; all various races all connected to her somehow. But, what she sought was control as the Force began to take over her natural attributes, forcing her further and further down the Dark Path. Years of torture and abuse changed her into a predator, always hungry, always looking for chaos. The Force was driving that hunger, Mrysti had yet to realize that; until she felt the pull from the Dark Mysterious stranger. It held her at bay, kept her from merely slaying those around her to escape. More importantly, it quelled her hunger, replacing it with curiosity. As they passed the Cantina heading for the main palace chamber, Mrysti glanced at the slave girls. Their chains rattled as they danced on raised platforms. She felt no regret for them. In her mind she freed herself and these slave girls could do the same. All it took was a Durasteel will. If she had the time she would have stopped and beaten that will into all of them as she continued to move to the rear of the palace toward the Hutt throne room. Her entourage slowed at approach dropping back to allow her solo entrance into the darkened chamber. She glanced around slightly. The huge room that would encompass and host hundreds was empty. Looking back, she found even the stranger had dropped off. Mrysti was alone. Raising her chin slightly, she peered into the darkness placing her hands on her hips. A voice speaking Huttese broke through the darkness, the intonation was that of a Hutt. "Ola'' golodo mera Champion des Galla toe." What followed was the mechanical speech of the translator droid as Mrysti moved to the center folding her arms over her chest. A large spotlight snapped on overhead further obscuring her view in the darkness, but highlighting her tall muscular green physique. Mrysti almost heard the large pleasurable gasp from the Hutt as the light went on. < "My Master Gardurrga the Hutt welcomes the newest Champion of the arena and requests you hear his proposal for future business relationships..."> Mrysti stood still, staring into the darkness from under the bright light, unmoving. A sneer of defiance forming on her lips. She felt the mysterious stranger and her Force Aura move to her front near the Hutt. Finally, Mrysti pointed into the darkness. "I fight for no one! I seek challenge, the arena offers that. You stay out of my way, I will refrain from destroying you!" The laughter from the Hutt filled the massive space as well as a lengthy speech in Huttese. The droid soon chimed in as the speech stopped. < "My Master wishes to inform you that the Arena you speak of belongs to him, therefore you fight at his pleasure and not your own. Furthermore, should you not accept his terms¡­ it is you who will be destroyed. We have seen your kind before and we shall see them again, only you will not be here to realize that."> Mrysti resisted the urge to simply leap forward. Almost as if Gardurrga anticipated the move a ray shield cascaded instantly from the overhead light surrounding her. She stepped back, smirking.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "You can''t keep me in here forever. And once I''m free, you''re dead." Mrysti stated, almost non-chalantly. The Hutt began a rant in Huttese which the droid immediately began translating as the Hutt continued to speak. < "You would choose destruction to a life of pleasure and opulence? This makes my Master sad. Our arrangement could be one that makes you both rich and happy...you need only submit to the will of my Master and all will be well."> Gardurrga had no idea that the word ''submit'' would get the response he witnessed. Furiously, Mrysti began slamming her body against the ray shield, each time a high voltage shock arching through Mrysti''s body. He did not want his prize damaged as he began another quick series of phrases in Huttese meant to calm her down. < "Please cease that activity. You will not breach the shield....please stop¡­. you are only going to injure yourself..."> As Mrysti began to lose consciousness she smiled wickedly into the darkness. Still, she slammed her body against the shield. "I....submit....to....no one!....you....will not...have me. Not like that....not ever again!" Soon after Mrysti collapsed, her hands still crackling from contact with the shield, the room fell silent. Darth Malvox peeked out from the darkness to look at the collapsed woman, turning her head toward Gardurrga slowly. "Tis a dangerous game you play with this one Gardurrga. She is clearly deranged. Deranged to the point where her very presence is lethal..." Gardurrga slithered off the raised platform and toward the fallen woman. As he gazed down gesturing for the shield to be deactivated, he looked at his Sith guest, doing what was the equivalent of a shrug. He spoke in basic as he knew his guest preferred it. "It''s her presence I am most concerned with. Her defiance inspires others...if I am to break her, I must hazard her presence..." The Hutt began to slither from the room, looking behind him slightly. "....besides, I am not used to being told ''no''. She will make an excellent slave, even if she doesn''t realize that she is one. Excess and greed is what makes Hutt culture. I want her...therefore, I shall have her." As Gardurrga exited the room Malvox bent down laying a hand to Mrysti''s forehead. Even unconscious Mrysti''s thoughts were all rage and it boiled off of her like a torrential river flow. Malvox stood, watching several Hutt mercenaries drag Mrysti''s limp form away. ''Yes, she is worthy. What she lacks I can give her....and in return she will give me the ''Hammer'' I require'', Malvox thought, as she withdrew from the room. -- Awakening groggy, Mrysti instinctively pulled on the wrist restraints. For a moment she thought that her new-found freedom and life was a dream and that she was back in her old master¡¯s grasp once again. Looking down at the floor, suspended in a ray shield she realized her folly. Her arms and legs were splayed out from her torso and she looked like a floating letter ''X'' once again. At least her head wasn''t bound which was the common practice of her former Master, but this would have been too advanced a device for him to use. She remembered being in the Hutt main audience chamber and then darkness. It was dark in the room, except for the light that emanated from the pads containing the ray shield which sat above and below her. Closing her eyes, she called on the Force to help free her, but it didn''t answer. The binders to her wrists and ankles deadening her connection to the Force. As she briefly fought against her restraints, the sound of laughter permeated the darkness. Mrysti lowered her head with a sneer, Hutt laughter was unmistakable. "Laugh all you want you miserable slug..." Mrysti spoke in a low gravelly tone, "...when I get free, you will wish you would''ve killed me!" The laughter continued for a moment followed by a barrage of Huttese. Mrysti had picked up a few words, but still couldn''t make out what was being said. The cheery voice of an adjacent protocol droid soon filled in the gaps. <¡±My Master says, you will do no such thing, lest he tell the other Hutts of your secret...¡±> Mrysti looked at her clothing as she kept her head low. The Hutt had stripped her of her armor, she was wearing the skimpy clothing of a Hutt slave. She jerked her head upright at the droid''s words, the smirking sneer still blanketing her face. "What secret!?!?! I have no secrets...release me at once! You have no idea the amount of pain I will bring to¡ª¡° The droid interrupted her rant as it simultaneously translated the Hutt''s speech ranting back toward her. < ¡±My Master says you will be....Silent! You have no status in the Sith Order. You have illegally participated in the games, perpetrating yourself as a legitimate competitor. The use of the Force in the Arena is prohibited, unless authorized by the Hutts and then only with the consent of the Gladiator''s owners. Because you have no owner or a sponsor, you have no standing to lay claim or make a grievance against my Master in punishing you for violating the rules of the Arena.¡±> Laying her head back slightly, Mrysti closed her eyes and released a bout of mad laughter. This was definitely a different tone in the conversation from earlier, her memory starting to recall her rage from the throne room earlier. "What''s the matter? Was I winning too much? Defeating some of your prized stock?...." Her eyes opened sharply as she fixed her gaze into the darkness, in the direction of the two voices, "I assure you. I did not cheat, nor did I use the Force in ANY of my matches! All of my victories I claim on my own, with my own power! Release me! And I will show you firsthand what I am truly capable of!" There was a moment of silence before the droid chimed up again. This time the Hutt spoke in a low tone for only the droid to hear. Mrysti peered hard into the dark finally making out a third figure standing close-by. It was apparent that the Hutt was speaking to both the droid and the mysterious stranger. < ¡±My Master doubts your words are true. However, in the spirit of good sportsmanship, he will allow you to prove it. For a price.¡±> Mrysti returned to her wicked smirk as she yelled in their direction. "Of course. There is always a price!" Losing the wicked smile, Mrysti''s face matched her tone, deadly serious, "What do you want?" Translating again for her Master, the droid responded immediately. Mrysti hated being predictable, the Hutt''s response obviously already having been given to the droid due to the speed at which it answered. < ¡±My Master requires two things...First, if you survive his challenge and prove that you did not use the Force in your prior victories, my Master insists that you fight for him, in his name, representing his interests in the Arena...¡±> Mrysti snorted as the droid continued, <¡±...Second, once the challenge is complete you will serve my Master in the Arena as well in any capacity he sees fit. Before your next match you will dine with my Master to discuss terms of your subjugation.¡±> Mrysti wanted to cry out in Rage, ''Subjugation?'' The Hutt couldn''t be serious. Mrysti was sure the first thing she was going to do was kill the Hutt at her earliest opportunity. She grimaced visibly, but subdued her anger to merely question the terms in an even, flat tone. "Both of those terms are virtually identical. And all in favor of the Hutt. I gain nothing...." Mrysti paused and narrowed her eyes into the darkness. "And if I refuse? What then?" The Droid again answered immediately, her response again being completely anticipated. < ¡±My Master will order your immediate termination. As you have no status with the Sith Empire this move will not be retaliated against. Your termination will cause no ripples in Sith/Hutt relations¡±> It was a well thought out plan, this Hutt had obviously done his homework. Had Mrysti been a member of the Sith Empire then the Hutt would never have dared to threaten or even attempt those moves without someone in the Empire''s approval. Pursing her lips, Mrysti merely nodded her head once, she did not want to grace the Hutt with the privilege of hearing her acquiesce. Immediately the Ray Shield deactivated and Mrysti dropped unceremoniously to the floor. The shadows of the Hutt and his protocol droid slimed away, a doorway sliding closed behind them. That left only the mysterious stranger and Mrysti in the room. As the obvious feminine form entered the light still left by the Ray Shield''s pads, Mrysti raised an eyebrow. She recognized the being. The form was a Sith Pureblood. All red skin and jewels. Lots of jewels denoting her station. She was no ordinary Pureblood, a very powerful Sith. The same one present when the Hutt sent its guards to come collect her and she was present shortly before Mrysti lost consciousness in the audience chamber. As the form approached she waved a hand slightly. The wrist and ankle restraints falling away from Mrysti''s limbs. "You won''t be needing those any longer. I am Darth Malvox and I have been watching you....it''s time we actually spoke. There is much to do if we are to help you escape...." An eyebrow perked up. The Sith was not ''with'' the Hutt as far as his designs. Mrysti slowly stood to her full height looking down at the smaller woman. Her chest heaved in anger, but she held her rage in check in the presence of the Dark Lord. That the Sith wished to help was enough, for the moment. "As you wish...how shall we proceed?" 6 - Reforged -- Two Years before the Fall of the Jedi Temple in Coruscant¡­. -- <> MARKUS: <> CALEB: <> MARKUS: <> CALEB: <> MARKUS: <> CALEB: <> -- -- Hutta, Gardurrga the Hutt''s Palace¡­six months after the Exodus from Korriban¡­. -- Fire shot from the jet adjacent to the large elevated wooden pole burning the top of it. Mrysti had only a moment before planting a hand on the same spot, somersaulting off into a flip and landing on the next pole squarely on her feet. She glanced behind; the fire was following as Mrysti quickly jumped three more times finally turning back to face the flame jet. With a sneer on her face she leapt toward the jet pushing off with her legs to leap high over the top landing back on the scorched pole. The test of agility was well underway by the time both Gardurrga and Darth Malvox took their positions in the darkness high above the test Arena. Gardurrga watched impassively as he signaled for both the flame jets to increase speed and something else, something Malvox could already sense, but did not bother to turn around for. Malvox closed her eyes, a sneer crossing her face as she let out a resigned sigh. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had invited an additional guest, Gardurrga?¡± Malvox turned her head slightly over her shoulder as Gardurrga watched the door open behind him. Master Caleb Goss walked in rubbing his wrist. The silhouette of two Cartel guards shoving him into the private overlook before the door slid shut in front of them. No longer in his smuggler¡¯s outfit, Master Goss looked around curiously, now dressed in his formal Jedi Robes at Gardurrga¡¯s behest. His own Force sense feeling Darth Malvox¡¯s presence, Caleb looked up. His face looked disappointed as he took a position opposite Malvox at the edge of the viewing box. He glanced over slightly, but said nothing. Gardurrga laughed slightly, speaking in basic for them both. ¡°It was time you two met. Your pupil, Darth Malvox is about to best the second challenge and I thought Master Goss would like a view of what he¡¯s up against.¡± Malvox also nonchalantly looked over, her interest suddenly piqued. Goss continued to rub his wrist. ¡°Luring me here under false pretense gains you nothing Gardurrga. I will participate in nothing especially if it involves the Sith.¡± Goss spoke softly as he voiced his protest. That did make Darth Malvox look at the Jedi fully, smiling wickedly; all of the parts starting to fall into place for her. Mrysti continued to jump and leap in the foreground as both Force users in the box turned to look at Gardurrga curiously. Gardurrga gestured at Master Goss. ¡°No one told you to come to Hutta, Master Goss. You came of your own accord. The fact that it was not genuine ¡®Republic¡¯ business is not my concern, you should have your intelligence agencies verify the veracity of its information¡­¡± Goss raised an eyebrow at Gardurrga. ¡°Then why am I a prisoner?¡± Goss continued to flex his wrist as he questioned, he once again eyeing the individual he knew only as a Sith standing to his side. Gardurrga gestured to Darth Malvox. ¡°You are not a prisoner. In fact, I accord you the same privilege as I do my Sith guest. Master Caleb Goss¡­this is Darth Malvox. No doubt you surmised that as you walked in.¡± Goss¡¯ face twisted in disdain as he nodded slightly. ¡°I know of Darth Malvox by reputation alone. I have never met her¡­why am I here then, Gardurrga?¡± Darth Malvox turned back to watching Mrysti, still saying nothing. Though she had no idea of Gardurrga¡¯s plan, she had begun to put what the Hutt had in mind together. Gardurrga laughed heartily as he pointed to the jumping and spinning Mrysti out in the quad. ¡°Look at her. Magnificent, isn¡¯t she? You are here for a¡­test, Master Goss. Consider it a respite from the War. Jedi facing Sith, what better way to represent your Republic.¡± Goss turned slowly finally taking a full look at the jumping and spinning Mrysti. At first it was an impassive glance. Mrysti propelled herself off the wall flying almost vertically through the air as the fire hit her previous position. Landing on the center pole of the Arena, she took a second to look at the three individuals above her. The glance was a hungry predatory gaze and for the briefest of moments Mrysti locked eyes with Caleb. His face grew slack as the memories flooded back. He seemed to pale slightly as he leaned forward gazing at the wicked smile. He could sense the change in her immediately, the scars that now decorated her entire body changed her appearance, but it was her. Caleb¡¯s mouth fell open as he let the words rollout. ¡°No¡­it..can¡¯t be. She¡¯s¡­Mrysti?!?!?¡± -- Jedi Temple, Coruscant. One Month prior to Hamner and Mrysti¡¯s escape¡­. -- Trying her best to look like she was in a meditative pose, Mrysti folded her hands inside her robe, her head bowed slightly. As she walked behind Karolin, Mrysti could sense her sister¡¯s excitement. Though she had no idea where they were going. Karolin sped up slightly as Mrysti continued her pace walking behind her. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just run to him, Karolin? If you are still trying to keep it a secret, you are doing a poor job of it.¡± Karolin cast a disdainful glance at Mrysti. For the most part Karolin often used her smaller charge, Porchia, as a cover when she went to meet Markus. Since Porchia was indisposed with her studies, she had no choice but to ask her Sister to come along. She waved dismissively at Mrysti. ¡°Oh stop. Markus brought a friend too. It wouldn¡¯t be prudent to bring our Niece along on this particular day.¡± They rounded the hall exiting the Meditation chamber, Markus coming into view standing next to another, both seeming to be in a deep discussion. As they entered the garden, Markus and the other Jedi turned around. The smile on Markus¡¯ face infectious as Karolin nearly leapt into his arms. Mrysti stood off to the side smiling with her head down. Markus pushed Karolin away playfully gesturing to his companion, laughing. ¡°Mrysti¡­this is Caleb. One of my many prot¨¦g¨¦s. Caleb¡­Mrysti Alpha, Karolin¡¯s sister.¡± Caleb Goss smiled warmly at the rather shy larger woman dipping his head down to look up into her hood. ¡°Hi¡± Caleb extended his hand as Mrysti raised her head brushing a stray lock of red hair out of an eye. She seemed to turn greener in embarrassment. Mrysti took the hand and seemed to instantly get an electrical charge with the touch. Caleb felt it too. She said nothing just shaking the hand as Karolin and Markus wandered away to be alone in another part of the garden. The two stood together for an awkward few moments before Caleb stated the obvious. ¡°You are tall, Mrysti¡­¡± She looked up instantly, the shy smile melting away from her face as she looked at Caleb. He continued to smile warmly at her as he finished. Words she never expected to hear from another. ¡°¡­but even more beautiful than your Sister.¡± -- Gardurrga¡¯s Test Arena. -- Mrysti did not react to the instantaneous exchange of looks between herself and Caleb. Jumping up and into the air with a flip, her foot coming down on the top of the flame jet mechanism. Angling her foot perfectly the boot met the exit port crimping the point where the flame exited. Hands landed on the adjacent wall as she pushed herself off spinning backwards to land back at the center pole, just as the flame jet mechanism exploded, safely out of distance from her. Breathing heavily, she gazed up at the viewing box and angrily thumped her chest before seemingly falling off the elevated poles to land on solid ground. As she walked away, Caleb¡¯s gaze never left her, his mind lost in thought and disbelief. He turned angrily to Gardurrga. ¡°What treachery is this?!?! You have a reportedly dead Jedi in captivity for your personal amusement?!?!¡± Before Master Goss could continue, Darth Malvox spoke up for the first time. The look on her face was pure amusement as she looked between Gardurrga and Master Goss. ¡°So. You know her then, Jedi¡­how very interesting.¡± Master Goss¡¯ head snapped toward the Sith. Malvox could see a fire light behind the eyes, unlike a normal Jedi. Emotion, something the Jedi worked very hard to suppress. Malvox reveled in it. More since the sudden rush of emotion was coming from a Jedi. Malvox would have to thank Gardurrga for that little bit of fun later on. ¡°Not that it is any business of yours, Sith. But yes¡­I do know her.¡± Malvox continued the wicked smile as she bowed deeply toward Gardurrga before withdrawing from the box. ¡°Well played Gardurrga. You have my admiration; I did not foresee this coming¡­¡± -- The Force binders clanked noisily as Mrysti rubbed the Kolto salve on her skin. Not being completely unscathed by the fire, the large burn marks on her legs were being covered by the Kolto solution as Malvox walked silently into the foyer. It was everything Malvox could do to contain her excitement at the newest revelation. Not wanting to broach the subject with Mrysti too quickly she bent down to look at the burns, she clasped her hands firmly behind her back.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°You did well Mrysti. Only one challenge remains and I foresee no difficulty in completing it just as easily.¡± Mrysti looked up. A curious expression on her face, behind the gaze her rage smoldered. Still breathing slightly heavy, Mrysti stood, walking to the cabinet to put the Kolto away while speaking over her shoulder. It seemed that Malvox would not have to broach the topic with her at all. ¡°Who was the man in the box next to you?¡± Malvox nearly laughed out loud, but held her composure from the question. ¡°Why? Did you recognize him?¡± Malvox questioned in return, circling in an almost predatory nature. Mrysti turned, her face still a mask of rage. The bloodlust not entirely drained from her. ¡°No. Should I have?¡± Malvox again was surprised into curiousness. Though she had been working with Mrysti to regain some of her memories, Malvox knew it could take years to regain what was lost. Still it was a unique play by Gardurrga to find someone that Mrysti was acquainted with to face her in the final challenge. How the Hutt discovered the connection was a mystery. The Hutt¡¯s had a very robust intelligence apparatus. In some ways, it rivaled the Empire and the Republic. Calling on resources both great superpowers did not have access to. At some point Malvox had resolved to find out just how vast and extensive the Hutt intelligence base was, if they both didn¡¯t kill Gardurrga first. She gave Mrysti a wicked smile. ¡°The ¡®man¡¯ was a Jedi master. And no¡­I don¡¯t suppose you would know him. Your contact with Jedi has been limited up to this point, has it not?¡± The question was not meant as a point to be made to Mrysti as much as it was to try and spur some memory in her. Malvox had resources of her own. DNA matching and identification put Mrysti at the Jedi Temple at some point. Malvox knew a lot more about Mrysti than she let on. Knowing she was there and that she was a ¡®syudent¡¯ at some point, but very little else. Mrysti was not the ¡®usual¡¯ Jedi. There were portions of her history missing, much like her memory. Hidden on purpose within the highest levels of the Republic. It created an even deeper mystery. Something that Malvox could get to the bottom of if she was still a fully within the Empire¡¯s infrastructure. But, being on the ¡®outs¡¯ with them, limited her ability. Mrysti was her way back in. And once she was back in, Malvox had already resolved to find out why a lowly Jedi would have their backgrounds so well hidden by the Republic. She was special, in more ways than one. Mrysti didn¡¯t bite at the follow-on question, merely twisting her face in anger. It appeared she too had already begun trying to put the pieces together. ¡°Gardurrga means to have me face him in the final challenge?¡± Malvox nodded, saying nothing. It was another tactic to try and get Mrysti thinking and speaking about long lost memory. Again, Mrysti didn¡¯t bite moving to an adjacent wardrobe to begin moving her clothing. Malvox watched her curiously as Mrysti began to disrobe. Malvox had seen most of the scars, looking at her completely naked was a new experience. The tracks of scars left the small of her back and began traversing themselves down the back of her legs ending just above the back of her knee. Massive repair work had been done at some point. Her body crushed in some kind of terrible accident, Malvox surmised. Reaching out, Malvox could feel the artificial portions within the Mirialan. There were far too many to take note of. Bits and pieces of the synthetic woven into the biological portions of Mrysti¡¯s person. Malvox eyed the raised skin of the Sith rune warily that marked the small of Mrysti¡¯s back, its meaning was not lost on her, but why someone would burn the symbol for ''LOVE'' into Mrysti was beyond her. Mrysti was anything but love, full of hate and bile. Malvox sucked in a breath of air quickly. Not out of sympathy, but out of astonishment. Such pain, such torment inflicted on one so powerful both physically and in the Force. From the accident to the scars which clearly came after. The rune, the marks from severe beatings and torture. Burn marks, cuts which were never stitched and left open to fester. Closing on their own. The pain the woman had been through would have driven others mad. Mrysti weathered it. More, she trived on it. Mrysti wasn¡¯t born, she was created to be what she was. All of it was sweet to reach out and taste, Malvox sucking in the aura around her. The muscles rippled down her entire body, sweat still staining the skin as Mrysti turned to look at Malvox over her shoulder. Mrysti was anything but modest, even catching Malvox staring and admiring her in her nakedness. Malvox¡¯s eyes came back up almost instantly, but it was too late; Mrysti smiled reading the Dark Lord¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Patience Darth Malvox, I will be yours in time¡­but first we¡¯ve a Jedi to kill¡­¡± -- Caleb walked the small latticework bridge which stretched over the Hutt garden. Now free to walk the grounds he leaned over the side looking out among the various exotic plants and waterways. He, like those stolen plants were a prisoner to the Hutt. It was quite expensive to maintain. Caleb surmised, as he lowered his head clasping his hands together over the side. All of his attempts to meditate had gone for naught, Caleb was troubled by what he¡¯d seen. Not a prisoner, he could have very easily escaped, but things had changed. Something the Hutt counted on. Mrysti Alpha, alive and in captivity; although she didn¡¯t seem to be in any duress. The brief moment he gazed at her, Caleb¡¯s attempt to reach out to her met with a darkness he could not fathom. It was like putting his hand in a fire and quickly he retreated from that darkness as soon as he touched it. What had happened to her? Why was she there? At any rate he had to decide what he was going to do. His mind was a pool of confusion about it. As he stood looking down in the water Caleb felt her presence come around the corner of the hall and stop in the doorway looking over at him. He looked up almost immediately, directly at her as Mrysti quickly turned with a glare at him to walk the opposite direction. He quickly pushed himself off the bridge extending a hand out to her. ¡°No! Wait!¡± Caleb moved quickly toward her as she stopped, turning slowly toward him. Her face a mess of anger and confusion. Mrysti placed her hands on her hips and continued to glare. What Caleb felt as he approached was raw Dark Power and a confidence, he had never felt from her. Caleb slowed his approach stopping several paces away from her. It was Mrysti who raised a hand to stop his approach. ¡°Stop there Jedi! I have no wish to consort with you before our final confrontation in the Arena.¡± Caleb stopped and looked down. Deciding to play it cool, smiling as he looked up. ¡°No wish to know your prey before you destroy it? Is that it?¡± It was his attempt to try and bring some levity to the situation. Mrysti saw it as yet another challenge. After all it was Darth Malvox who had summoned her to the garden for what was most likely another lesson. Perhaps that WAS the lesson. To be ambushed by her opponent instead of meeting her Master. Mrysti took a step forward, looking at Caleb. Mrysti didn¡¯t fail. Not at anything. ¡°Fine, Jedi. Have it your way. Know this, no matter what you say, it will not alter my plans to annihilate you.¡± She walked past him to the bridge, her hands on her hips looking out over the garden. Her chest heaved as she breathed heavily. Always, Mrysti seemed to be on fire and that fire burned her to the point of near exhaustion in almost every waking moment. That was not lost on Caleb as he turned to join her on the bridge. He looked the large woman up and down. Not entirely sure what to say, he decided to probe around the question he really wanted to ask. Finally, Caleb gestured toward the plants. ¡°Exotic. Beautiful in their simplicity¡­I have always found a garden as an excellent place to reflect on things.¡± Mrysti scoffed, not bothering to look at Caleb. ¡°Flowers are useless. An organism that serves no purpose¡­air can be manufactured. They now have no reason for existence at all.¡± Caleb leaned on the bridge railing folding his arms, smiling as he looked at Mrysti. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know. There is something to be said for an organism that instills calm in those around them.¡± He reached down plucking one of the non-invasive flowers from a bush nearby holding it up and looking at it, ¡°Take this one for example. I once knew someone who had a penchant for Alderannian wildflowers. This one in particular.¡± Mrysti hazarded a glance over, but kept her hands on her hips. She looked at the violet and red petals as Caleb twisted the stem in his hand, ¡°This one was her favorite. And there are many similar plants in the gardens at the Jedi Temple. I often go there to reflect and¡­to think of her.¡± Mrysti took a second look, this time staring at the flower. -- Alderaan, One week prior to Hamner and Mrysti¡¯s escape -- It had been a whirlwind since their first meeting, the shy girl was no longer shy in his presence and he reveled in her change at their every meeting. Lying on her back in the field, Mrysti looked up at the clear sky as Caleb¡¯s face came into view to overlay her own. She squinted in the sun as his head began to block out some of the sunlight, raising a hand to shield her eyes from the rest. Caleb smiled broadly at Mrysti, his arms propped beside her to hold himself over the top of her view. She smiled. ¡°I was looking at the sky, what makes you think your face is better?¡± Caleb gave a fake, hurt expression as he allowed himself to fall down next to her. Turning his head, he looked over at her. ¡°Fine. You want to wound me, you¡¯ve done it. And here I thought that my face was just as pleasing as this field and that clear blue sky¡­¡± Mrysti elbowed him harshly as she rolled over to her side to look at him. ¡°I didn¡¯t say it ¡®wasn¡¯t¡¯ better, I just asked what makes YOU think it¡¯s better?¡± Caleb rolled onto his side as well reaching up to touch her face. ¡°This does¡­every time I see you and you get that look on your face when our eyes meet. That says everything.¡± He leaned in to kiss her, but Mrysti turned away quickly, sitting up. Something was bothering her and it wasn¡¯t their diplomatic mission they had both been sent on. Caleb sat up next to Mrysti watching her intently. Carefully, Mrysti plucked a violet and red wildflower from the field putting it to her nose. She seemed to hold it there for an eternity before Caleb asked. ¡°Ok, what''s going on? You have been distant since we left the Temple. I thought maybe it was the mission. Dealing with Nobles is always stressful.¡± Caleb paused and looked down at his lap. Embarrassed to ask. ¡°Is it what happened the other night? I mean¡­.I have thought about that and nothing else. I know it¡¯s wrong, you know it¡¯s wrong, but if it¡¯s so wrong I have no idea why this feels so right! Mrysti, I want nothing more than¡ª¡° She cut him off by putting a finger to his lips with a sad smile. ¡°It wasn¡¯t the other night. I have been thinking about that a lot and I have no regrets. It wasn¡¯t just you, I wanted it to happen as much as you did, if not more. This is¡­.something else.¡± Mrysti lowered her head slightly as Caleb closed his mouth. There was so much he wanted to say, but the moment was truly important. Something big was about to happen and Caleb could feel the tension that surrounded Mrysti. He waited patiently for her to continue, ¡°Caleb¡­I don¡¯t know how to say this, so I am just going to and please just let me finish. I¡­have to go, I am leaving the Temple¡­¡± Caleb let his jaw fall open as she spoke in disbelief. Speaking quickly as panic set in, he wanted to know more. Caleb wanted to talk her out of it. His greed taking over, he wanted nothing more than to keep what had just begun between them. ¡°Go?!?! Go where?!?! You can¡¯t go¡­you can¡¯t leave, what about us? You can¡¯t just up and charge off, what will you do? Where? Where are you going?¡± Caleb¡¯s questions were fast and furious as every thought he had seemed to come spilling out of his mouth. Mrysti dipped her head lower between her legs, she spoke softly not knowing what question to answer first. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you that. I can¡¯t tell you anything¡­just know it has nothing to do with us. This has been the greatest month¡­it¡¯s just something I have to do. In fact, the only reason I would even consider staying¡­¡± She reached up to touch his confused face, ¡°¡­is because of you.¡± Caleb jerked from her touch standing up to pace around. He was not prone to rash decision. Caleb Goss was a calculated tactician, nothing the man ever did was rash or not well thought out. Finally coming to a stop he glared down at Mrysti as she slowly met his gaze. For the first time in his life, Caleb was about to make the rashest decision he had ever made. ¡°Then I¡¯m coming with you! You are not leaving me! Not here, not ever! You have no idea where this will go and neither do I, but I am not about to let this just slip away between us.¡± Mrysti stood up slowly, her towering form overshadowing the smaller man. She gave him a sweet smile again touching his face. ¡°And that¡­is what makes this so hard. The fact that you would give everything up for me, but I can¡¯t let you. I must walk my own path and Caleb¡­you are not in it.¡± Releasing the flower in her hand. It drifted down to the field, laying among it¡¯s still planted brethren. Mrysti slowly turned to walk back up the hill, Caleb watching her. She was already gone in some way. He knew he couldn¡¯t change her mind, just in the way she spoke. Reaching down he picked up the flower she dropped putting it to his nose briefly before watching her crest the hill. Caleb methodically began to crush the wildflower in his hand, his eyes never leaving her. -- Gardurrga¡¯s Garden -- Taking the flower from Master Goss¡¯ hand Mrysti gazed at it for a long moment and Caleb almost thought he saw a pang of recognition in her as she looked at it. All at once she crushed it in her hand discarding the parts on the bridge at her feet with a flick of her hand. She turned her head back forward looking back over the garden and away from Caleb, the evil placative look still on her face. Caleb pushed himself off the railing to stand up next to her. She seemed taller than he remembered. Mrysti was definitely broader than he remembered. Images of a hammer and anvil came to mind. It was almost as if Mrysti had almost been reforged into something that made Caleb think of a Republic main battle tank. Hard, broad and almost indestructible. He let his head fall slightly as Mrysti turned abruptly to walk away, her time in the presence of the Jedi at an end. Whatever lesson Darth Malvox had in mind, Mrysti believed she had given enough of her time to it. As she walked away, Caleb watched her. Finally calling out to her as she reached the opposite archway from wince she came. ¡°Mrysti! What happened to you?!?!¡± Caleb wanted to say more, wanted to ask every question that had been rolling around his head for the past twenty-four hours, but those were the only words that came out. Her response left him even more confused as she answered. He was unsure if she remembered him or was merely answering in a way to throw him off for their final confrontation. Mrysti turned, looking at him with a half-annoyed expression and one of bemusement. ¡°Strength and Power happened to me¡­it is only through pain and sacrifice that we truly know who we are. And through that pain we discover our true potential. Soon¡­you will see it too, at the edge of my sword.¡± She turned leaving abruptly as Malvox watched the entire confrontation from a hidden corner. Mrysti¡¯s ominous answer also left her wondering if she did indeed remember this Jedi. What made those particular words come out? It was something Malvox would have to find out before Caleb and Mrysti were to meet. 7 - Thoughts -- Two Years before the Fall of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant¡­. <> <> -- -- Gardurrga The Hutt¡¯s Palace¡­six months after the Exodus from Korriban¡­ With only 24 hours left Master Caleb Goss was starting to feel like a rat trapped in a maze, with no clear way out. At every turn he saw his destruction and as he held his head in his hands rubbing back the brownish-red locks of his hair, he glanced at the Holo-screen once again. Gardurrga the Hutt had granted him information access to all of the Hutt archives, just no outside communications array. A medically diagramed picture of a large Mirialan woman spun in the ions in front of him. Even without the detailed picture, he knew every inch of her, every curve, every crevice of her skin. At least he thought he did, that one night both Mrysti and Caleb gave into emotion taught him much about her physically. The picture in the mists in front of him painted another story entirely. As he once again went over the number of scars and implants that now covered and were embedded in her once flawless body, he averted his eyes sighing heavily. There was simply no way for him to win. Caleb heard the rumors, even while Mrysti and Karolin were still at the Temple. Government programs, experiments, innuendo about the two sisters being ¡®different¡¯. The voice that caused him to sit up also caused him to unconsciously sneer. The sound of Darth Malvox''s feet sliding across the floor accompanying it. "That''s a sight I could never get tired of¡­A Jedi worried and dare I say¡­''perplexed''¡­", The Imperial accent in Malvox'' voice only added additional distain to the words as Caleb sat up, immediately deactivating the Holoterminal to stare defiantly at her. She purred her response to him. "Oh, don''t mind me ''Master''¡­I was just passing through, but you don''t have to possess the Force to hear your mind screaming from the next room¡­.and yes, your right. You can''t win." Her evil smile, infectious as Malvox watched him get up attempting to flee the room. Caleb finally turned to face her. A look of frustration, pointing a finger in Malvox direction. "You Sith make me sick¡­you take something as beautiful and pure as Mrysti and you destroy it¡­whatever part you¡¯re playing in this you will-" Malvox face twisted into an evil visage as she laughed waving her hands to interrupt the Jedi Master. "Whoa¡­let''s clear the air here. Whatever happened to her, happened long before her and I met¡­." Malvox eyes flashed wickedly as she winked at Caleb, "¡­.one could almost say that a tendency toward the dark side was always there, right Master?" Caleb started to speak as Malvox continued stopping him, "No need to explain, Master¡­you have a past with her. I wouldn''t count on that saving you. See those facial and cranial implants? Those are holding her head together! She has no memory of you, Caleb Goss! You were brought here to die¡­" ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Caleb tried to ignore the Sith, turning back to the terminal. But not reactivating it. Malvox crossed the floor to the door on the other side, turning and stretching at Caleb. Caleb remained silent casting his eyes to the floor once again, "Think what you wish. There is power in knowing. As for my part¡­.what good is having the use of all the Force in the galaxy if you can only control ten percent of it? And make no mistake¡­even with only ten percent, she will destroy you and your passing will push her over the threshold¡­." As she started to leave, Malvox gave a slight giggle. Her voice carrying down the far hallway. "¡­.I am curious however, I guarantee she is not the girl you remember. I wonder¡­what was she like before all this happened?!?!" -- - Strategic Operations, Jedi Temple, Coruscant; Shortly after Hamner and Mrysti''s escape¡­. Caleb Goss paced around outside the large vaulted door waiting for the meeting inside to break up. He watched the Captain and Mrysti''s sister go in as well as, his friend and mentor, Markus Chase. Glancing at his chrono he realized he had been pacing close to three hours. It was a high-level meeting and Caleb wasn''t invited. It annoyed him slightly. In a way he felt he should have been invited. In some ways he was closer to Mrysti than anyone else. Those ways would have likely ended up getting him ousted from the Jedi Order should they have become public knowledge, but Caleb was beginning to feel as if he didn''t care. He wanted to know, he wanted to find her. Caleb glanced at his Chrono again and physically shook his head to try and get rid of irrational thought. His impatience and worry was getting the better of him. Sitting down on an adjacent bench, he closed his eyes to try and quiet his mind. Thoughts of her began invading almost immediately. ¡®Why? You told me you were leaving¡­but not even a last goodbye? No warning? Didn''t I deserve that? Did you think I would try and stop you? You owed me more than that.¡¯ The questions rummaging around in his head caused him to push himself up off the bench in frustration, half tempted to use the Force to open the door to the Command Center. All at once it opened, Captain Trea¡¯vor Alpha, Karolin and Markus the first ones out. And Trea¡¯vor, also known as RT-946, was not happy. Caleb wanted to approach, but it was clear RT had an agenda as the three of them immediately headed for a near-by corner. Caleb turned away, but stood just within earshot as RT placed his hands on his hips to look at his sister and Markus.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. "You can tell the Grandmaster whatever you want Karolin, you had some idea that Hamner and Mrysti were leaving! They must have said something." Both Markus and Karolin looked at each other, Karolin continuing to give her normal sweet ''innocent'' look. Markus started to speak, but a glare from RT silenced him quickly. "And you. Don''t think I don''t know what''s going on between you and my sister." He switched his glare to both of the Jedi. "You both must think the Grandmaster is a fool, you think she doesn''t know?!?! Do you have any idea the line you both are walking??? And, I bet my last paycheck this whole ''thing'' with you two had something to do with the both of them leaving!" Karolin had enough as she stepped forward poking her brother''s armored chest. "That''s none of your business RT!!! What I do in my personal life has nothing to with---" RT started an almost sinister laugh as the conversation started to get a little louder. "Personal life???!! Seriously?!?! You think you have a life??? You are both Jedi and that IS your life¡­both of you need to grow the Kriff up!!! This isn''t a game! You swore an oath and with the threat looming---" Caleb moved quickly toward the group laying a hand on each man''s shoulder, giving the three of them a cautious smile. "Greetings friends¡­perhaps this is a conversation best held elsewhere¡­" Caleb glanced over his shoulder back toward the entrance to the Command Center, where the Grandmaster and several Council Members were emerging. The Grandmaster shot them all a very concerned look. RT swiped his hand off his hip, cursing under his breath. "I''m done here anyway¡­" As RT started to stalk off Caleb smiled at his friend and Karolin, who still looked embarrassed and guilty as charged, before breaking to follow RT. "Captain. Captain???¡­.A moment of your time, if I may???" Annoyed as he was, RT still knew his place and the area in which he stood. Though the Jedi were considered ''guests'' by some in the Republic establishment, it was their Temple. And RT had more than just a passing connection to the Order. It was RT''s burden to be the Republic liaison for all things Project Alpha related. Reporting to the Grandmaster herself. The main reason he was summoned when one of the project ¡®assets¡¯ suddenly decided to go rogue with Mrysti and Hamner¡¯s escape. RT doubted that even Karolin knew that bit of information. As he turned to face the Jedi following him, he noticed the man''s disheveled appearance and the red rings under the eyes. Dealing with people, RT was an excellent judge of a person¡¯s demeanor by appearance and he put on the fake smile both out of annoyance at being stopped and to hide that fact. "Yes Master Jedi¡­..how may I further serve the Order today¡­.?" There was an endless amount of sarcasm attached to the statement as Caleb looked at his feet suddenly embarrassed. RT studied the Jedi intently, "Thank you for intervening back there¡­my sister and I tend to get heated when matters are ''family'' related¡­" RT continued to watch him, he could tell the Jedi was troubled. "Is there something I can assist you with¡­do you know my sister?" RT was obviously referring to the embarrassed one he was just talking to, but Caleb jumped at the chance; his head coming up sharply. "Yes. Yes!!! I knew her¡­I knew her well, please¡­is there any word on her whereabouts? Any news at all?" RT frowned, shifting out of his more formal, rigid military demeanor. "You too?!?! I saw it the moment you stopped me. You were waiting in the hall when I went in the meeting¡­." RT stepped forward grasping the man''s shoulder tightly, walking him toward the outside window. He stood for a moment not speaking, his head down slightly. The red rimmed eyes, the appearance of the Jedi¡­worry flowed off of the man in waves. It wasn''t the kind of worry one has for a colleague or a comrade in arms. RT had seen it, though he had NEVER experienced it personally; he just wasn''t programmed for it. This was the kind of worry one shared for someone they loved. "I don''t know you¡­but I know Jedi and I want you to listen to me and listen hard. Whatever you think you feel, you don''t¡­.you can''t and be ready for what''s coming. Bury it deep Son and keep pressing onward." Caleb slapped RT''s hand off his shoulder to glare at him. "No!!! I can''t!!¡­.I won''t!!!" RT let the aggressive move pass without a word, he knew emotions were especially tough on the Jedi. After a moment, he straightened himself staring out the window as he spoke, no emotion in his own voice. "She''s gone, Son. Accept it. I pursued them¡­they crashed into an asteroid that nearly got me as well. Intelligence reports they both survived and are in Imperial custody, though Mrysti is not expected to recover¡­." The look of utter shock blanketed Caleb''s face as RT finally hazarded a glance half expecting to see the man''s spirit dying. RT snatched Caleb''s arm up pulling him toward the window. What he saw was resolve beginning to form in the young Jedi. "Don''t even think about it!" Though Caleb refrained from using the Force, he still snatched his arm out of RT''s grasp with significant strength to send him back a few steps. "You don''t tell me what to do ''Captain''!! If she''s alive, I''m going after her! You should be ashamed that you''re not!" ¡°Let me tell you something¡­¡± RT¡¯s voice was lowered, grave in tone as he narrowed his eyes. ¡°¡­I consider Mrysti, my sister. We grew up together, all five of us. And I think she means more to me, than she does to you. You think I don¡¯t want to just jump out this window and go chasing after her?? Rescue her from a sure and certain fate?!? Dying somewhere in Imperial hands?!?!¡± A short distance away, the Grandmaster stood watching. It was no accident. She was hoping to catch RT before he left the Temple, but watching the interaction between him and one of her Jedi she realized there were other serious issues at stake at the moment. Biding her time, she waited until the right moment to interject. And though her words were meant for RT, after witnessing the two men''s conversation, her gaze was fixed on Caleb. "I''m afraid that will no longer be an option for you, Jedi Goss¡­" Both men tensed up as the Grandmaster stepped between them, Caleb bowed deeply at the waist. "Jedi Knight Mrysti Alpha has joined with the Force. Our latest intelligence confirms her death this morning¡­." The Grandmaster took her gaze off of Caleb to look at RT, her expression becoming more compassionate, "¡­Your brother is being moved to Dromand Kaas¡­.I''m sorry, Captain." Caleb slumped against the wall as RT moved the Grandmaster to the side to speak quietly. Only pain echoed in Caleb''s mind and he wondered how he did not feel Mrysti''s passing within the Force. -- - Gardurrga the Hutt''s Palace, Hutta Making it back to his room, Caleb dropped on the bed. Lazily, he rubbed his eyes and head, releasing a bitter sigh. As Caleb pondered his fate holding his forehead in both his hands and thinking of the past; he murmured to himself. "How could I have known¡­how could I have known that you weren''t--" The voice that finished his out loud thought brought a chill of excitement and cold fear as he sat up immediately. Caleb¡¯s eyes transfixed on the massive form that was filling his doorway. It seemed to burn, even without the vision afforded to Consulars, who could actually see a person¡¯s Force Aura once they were trained to do so. Caleb could almost see¡­.and definitely feel her fury. "--dead? You didn''t know I was dead?!?!" Mrysti pulled a chair from a nearby desk without invitation. It screeched loudly against the floor as she flipped it around to sit on it backwards. Massive legs spread, straddling the backrest. She folded her arms on the top of the backrest as she glared at the Jedi. Caleb smiled nervously, ¡°You startled me, I wasn¡¯t expecting¡ª¡± Peering deeply into him, she paused a moment reaching out to try and feel within him. Not a skill she mastered, Mrysti withdrew and scoffed at the attempt. Narrowing her eyes angrily. Never apologizing for just entering his room without invitation. Caleb was thinking of her. That much she was sure about. It was curious, the Jedi. His thoughts always roamed around her. And with her lack of memory it stoked the fires of Mrysti¡¯s curiosity to the point she could no longer simply wish it away. "You were thinking of me. You are always¡­thinking of me. You knew me before. So, tell me something I don''t know¡­.give me a reason to let you live¡­" Her smile was genuine as if she did indeed recognize her lover. Genuine and deadly. 8 - Love - Twenty Parsecs Outside of Korriban Station¡­.Six Months after the Fall of the Jedi Temple.... It was a small mining facility singularly repurposed as a depot for smugglers and pirates. It was also as close as anyone could get to the New Sith Empire without drawing unwanted attention. Those who ventured there had various interest. Most having something to do with the Empire. War was big business and it didn¡¯t matter what side you were on if you were conducting the business of funding or supplying a war effort. As Caleb rounded the corner, the lift bringing him down from the zero-gravity landing platform, pressurized air shot from the side walls normalizing the atmosphere. The majority of the facility existed underground. Mostly due to the mining facility existing on a small planet sized asteroid, the rest to hide prying eyes from what was going on inside. Caleb wrinkled his nose slightly at the stale air, the fumes of hydro fluid, smoke from various substances; some not entirely legal and the stench of sweat caused him to pull up his hood on the darkened cloak he wore. Out of habit he touched the lightsaber on his belt. It was well hidden as was the Jedi battle armor he wore. He still looked out of place among the Mandalorians, smugglers, pirates and more nefarious types lurking the halls. Entering the market place, he looked around. Not large for a ¡®market¡¯, but closed quarters enough that not everyone looked at everyone else. There was no space or time for any of that. People knew where they were going and who they were dealing with. Or they had no business being there. It was war, everyone was nervous; Caleb was still a bit shocked he hadn¡¯t been challenged as he landed. That close to the border, the Sith were undoubtedly looking for probes into their new territory. Or perhaps, concerning this facility, they simply didn¡¯t care. Moving through the passageway, it opened up into a large storage area that now teemed with beings going about making various deals and conversing, some violently. He dodged a humanoid who had been struck by another, the man falling flat on his back as his attacker leapt over the table to continue his attack. His natural Jedi instincts to help though suppressed; he moved past them toward the makeshift cantina. An open air establishment set in an alcove of the storage bay. The voice that beckoned him causing him to turn back slowly. ¡°Dangerous move coming here¡­.Jedi.¡± Caleb did not allow his face to be seen as he looked on a similarly cloaked figure. Seated, the figure fumbled with a vibroknife; a distinct grin emanating from the bottom of the hood. Caleb moved toward the seat across from the figure, it could only be addressing him as Caleb could sense no other force users in his vicinity. ¡°You don¡¯t sense them because they are not here, well not by you¡­the Sith are uncanny in their ability to hide themselves.¡± Caleb kept his hand on his lightsaber as he sat, the being¡¯s ability to almost sense his thoughts causing him to feel uneasy. The figure continued to fiddle with the Vibroblade as it looked up at him slightly. He tried to get a feeling from the figure, but all he could sense was like looking into a deep, dark well and it was bottomless. ¡°You can try, but you won¡¯t feel anything¡­¡¯I¡¯ sense though.¡± The figure looked up slightly. Caleb could see darkened lips and a crooked smile. ¡°You are looking for something, perhaps I can help.¡± That caused Caleb to laugh slightly, ¡°Why would you help me? You don¡¯t even know me or why I¡¯m here.¡± The figure put the knife down gently sitting back in its seat, the smile from the huge grin never wavering. ¡°No, you¡¯re right about that. I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re here. However, I do know that no one comes here without reason. I also know that in order to find this place, one must seek it out. Most who venture out this close to Sith space want something from them and nine out of ten times it has to do with Korriban.¡± The accent from the figure was pure imperial in origin, with a slight tinge on the exotic. There was a highbrow way the figure talked, like it was above the denizens of the place. Even though it was dressed to blend with them and carried itself in a way that spoke otherwise. Caleb relaxed his grip on the lightsaber bringing both hands to the table and folding them into each other. Letting out a deep breath, he smiled back at the figure slightly. ¡°I guess it was that obvious¡­yes, I am seeking something on Korriban. Something that I caught a ¡®feeling¡¯ about several weeks ago.¡± Caleb spoke softly in an attempt to waylay any suspicions on his part. The figure looked up even more, dark red eyes joined the everlasting grin; it caused Caleb to shutter slightly, though he tried to hide it. ¡°Then, perhaps it was fated that we meet. For I am seeking something on that planet as well, something that was taken from me. And was waiting here for just the right person to go and retrieve it.¡± -- - Gardurrga The Hutts Palace¡­ For a brief moment Caleb thought he saw a pang of recognition in Mrysti as she turned the chair around and sat down. Though her actions were very unlike the woman he knew, she did have that same look of brilliant curiosity, of wondering, that he was once accustomed to. As she glared at him, he realized it was more like a predator eyeing their prey before dinner. Something had happened to her, something thick and evil. But the time for finding out had passed. ¡°You want me to tell you something that will allow you to consider letting me live? Mrysti, you have already made your mind up¡­why come here now?¡± Caleb started to get up from the edge of the bed to move away from her. The frustration he felt was unbearable, how could he convince her that they knew each other? Mrysti¡¯s face contorted in anger at having him turn his back on her and at having used her name. ¡°Sit down! I haven¡¯t finished with you yet!¡± Turning slightly, Caleb glanced back down at her. Her eyes lit with a fury at having been slighted by someone she already judged as beneath her. Slapping his hands on his thighs, Caleb very gently and deliberately took his seat again on the edge of the bed, a sarcastic placative look on his face. ¡°Fine. Please let me know when you¡¯ve finished. I don¡¯t think there is anything I can say. As I stated, you have already made up your mind up about me.¡± Mrysti shifted slightly, she didn¡¯t expect him to sit back down so quickly. They were enemies after all. Caleb could see her caught off guard and swallow a little as she tried to regain her footing. In that moment, he saw a look of the lover he once knew. She actually looked away moving a bit of her red hair out of an eye. The stroke of her hand, the slight curl of her fingers. All so familiar and something Mrysti did often in her way. Caleb smiled to himself, seeing her brush her hair from her eye like she had done in his presence so many times before. It was an opportunity, one he couldn¡¯t afford to lose and pressed his attack. ¡°I did go¡­I went to Korriban in an attempt to find you or at least what was left of you.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. -- - Korriban Sector Space, Korriban Station¡­six months after the Fall of the Jedi Temple¡­ This was a bold move and a dangerous one. Caleb sat next to his generous benefactor looking at the space station through the forward viewport in the cockpit still trying to contemplate why they were going to the station instead of just straight to Korriban. His benefactor now had her hood down, he could see her slight features as he ventured a look over at her. She was pale as one could get, almost sickly looking. From all accounts she was human, but the eyes kept throwing him off. From what he knew of Sith, only the Dark Side of the Force could change one¡¯s eye color, but he still couldn¡¯t get a good read on her. On the trip from the mining facility, they had spoken on all manner of things, nothing that pertained to what she actually wanted by going to Korriban. Caleb really didn¡¯t want to know. Though Caleb was always a cautious Jedi, for some reason he just didn¡¯t want to look this particular benefactor¡¯s gift of help, in the mouth. Caleb was that desperate to find what he was looking for on Korriban. ¡°Tell me again why exactly we are going to the space station instead of just going to the planet¡¯s surface?¡± Caleb raised an eyebrow at the woman, who by now he knew only as Muriel. She glanced over at him quickly before turning her attention back to the controls. ¡°As I told you before, Jedi¡­we have to pass inspection in order to be given permission to land. And, there are also those¡­¡± Muriel pointed out the forward viewport. It appeared the Sith had made some changes to the Korriban Station since their untimely conquest of it. Riveted, bolted and laser welded to the stations surface were a series of very serious and very deadly looking long-range anti-ship cannons. Very likely of capital ship class and capable of defending the station against an assault by a large force of much larger ships than the little cruiser they flew in at the moment. Looking around the cabin, Caleb was suddenly glad they had left his own ship back in the mining facility and took hers on the little adventure. They were almost in range, Caleb continued to look at the station looming ever closer. Muriel looked over at Caleb smiling slightly. He sat up in a rigid almost formal way in the seat as she giggled to herself. ¡°See, that will get us both killed. You really need to lose some of that Jedi formality or we are never going to get permission to land. Sith, do not carry themselves that way¡­you need to act like one or we will never survive this.¡± The statement brought up a series of questions. Questions that Caleb in his haste to get to Korriban had neglected to; or rather, just didn¡¯t want to ask. ¡°What do you know of the Sith? For that matter, I have no idea why I agreed to this¡­the Empire undoubtedly had agents on that mining facility. No doubt to catch Jedi infiltrators and capture them. What the hell am I doing?!?!¡± He put his head in his hand, if it was a trap he was already caught so what did it matter. Muriel backed off the forward thrust putting the ship in station keeping mode, turning in her seat. They were not yet at the outer marker, the Station had not deemed them as a threat. ¡°Four hours¡­it took you four hours to actually come clean and ask the questions you have been dying to know. And now, I have to stop us to school you on the finer points of being a Sith¡­.¡± She laughed slightly, sudden realization coming to her face, ¡°¡­it¡¯s a woman, it has to be. I don¡¯t have to be Force Sensitive to see it rolling off of you in waves. Why else would you throw yourself in the Gundark¡¯s den if not for a woman¡­¡± Caleb had slumped slightly in his seat, but sat straight up looking at Muriel angrily. ¡°I beg your pardon! My reasons for wanting to go to this Sith forsaken place are none of your concern!¡± Muriel lost the smile getting up from the piloting station to lean on the rear bulkhead. She glared at Caleb, the loss of composure in her allowing him to sense her for the first time. Caleb got up quickly moving toward the viewport away from her. The look of disgust clearly blanketing his features. She pushed off the bulkhead taking a step forward at the new realization Caleb had come to. ¡°Yes, your weak insight has finally given you the answer you seek. I am a Sith¡­why does that frighten you so?¡±, Caleb was speechless, but in his heart he knew from the moment their eyes met; the unnatural redness of them a large clue. He knew and he chose to ignore it. Muriel took another step forward. ¡°Caleb, just because we are diametrically opposed as to the use and philosophy of the Force doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t work together.¡± Her wicked smile returned as she looked him up and down. ¡°I am a fool. I saw it and I chose not to truly see. Sith¡­.you, your kind¡­all you care for is yourselves. You care nothing for the greater good. You do nothing without serving some greater self-interest.¡± The words brought a round of uncontrollable laughter from Muriel as she stepped back leaning on the bulkhead again. ¡°And you don¡¯t?!?! Caleb, you crossed over into my world the second you got on that ship to come find the mining facility, the second you sat down at my table, the second you got on my ship¡­and right now in this very moment, the only thing that¡¯s stopping you from trying to destroy me is YOUR OWN SELF-INTEREST¡­¡± She gestured at the seat he vacated, ¡°Sit down Caleb, you are obviously as committed to doing this as I am¡­¡± Muriel sat back down moving the ship a little further away from the Station, he raised an eyebrow. ¡°And just for the record, I knew approaching the station would illicit those Jedi feelings about all of this, it was my plan all along. And no, I am not an Imperial Agent, nor do I plan on turning you over to them. I need you as much as you need me at the moment.¡± Muriel ventured a look over at him, Caleb¡¯s curiosity still eating at him, ¡°No¡­I don¡¯t want to know why you¡¯ve come to find this woman, don¡¯t bother denying it¡­we both know that¡¯s why you¡¯re out here. It has nothing to do with the Jedi or the Sith. Men, in general, are fools when it comes to love¡­¡± ¡°What would a Sith know about love?¡± Murriel turned in the seat. Wide eyes and an almost surprised expression. ¡°You really are daft when it comes to emotion. They steel in you so many ways to hamper and subdue the thought and feelings within you that when faced with one; Jedi have no idea what to do.¡± Murriel turned the yoke and positioned the ship toward Korriban, reaching down to flip on an Imperial transponder. Identifying the ship as an Imperial asset. Looking over at him again, she smiled wickedly. ¡°Love¡­Jedi, is the source of almost every powerful emotion a Sith can use to channel our power. From Love, all things flow¡­hate, rage, jealousy. Love¡­is the most powerful emotion there is¡­¡± -- Gardurrga the Hutts Palace.... Mrysti knew exactly what he was doing and she didn¡¯t like it, flinging the chair out from under her and standing. Caleb arched both eyes at her as she raised to her full six-foot eleven-inch height. He made no aggressive moves as she raged, glaring at him, almost willing him to do something to further anger her. It was interesting, even though Caleb could feel how badly she wanted to kill him his thoughts went elsewhere. All he could think of was how much she changed. Those thoughts gave way to others as Caleb looked her up and down. Mrysti¡¯s choice of clothing left little to the imagination and was a far cry from the robes she once wore as a Jedi. Though he tried not to, Caleb couldn¡¯t help it. His thoughts went back to the fateful day they decided to share one another. In thinking it, he looked up at her. A vision of how terribly vicious she must be in bed. How most likely making love was no longer an act for her, but a sport. She was not the same girl. Curious as to how she changed in other regards. Mrysti¡¯s face contorted in confusion as she stopped raging to look down at him, she felt his change in demeanor. A twisted look creased her scarred features as she cocked a hip to one side, putting one of her hands on it. Caleb smiled. It was a typical Mrysti move. The Mirialan arched an eyebrow at him reading his feelings. ¡°Seriously??¡± It dripped with sarcasm, speaking while she looked down on him sitting placidly on the bed. ¡°You know I want to kill you and your sitting there thinking of bedding me?¡± Caleb grew red in the face, looking down shyly. ¡°It¡¯s that obvious?¡± Though she was not truly Sith and not completely still a Jedi, Mrysti was a creature that had functioned for years on her emotions. It was all she had. Locked in her cell, void of memory; all she had were feelings. The feelings that her former Master worked hard to cultivate and nourish. Her times on the torture rack, the blissful pain of being forced to do things; terrible things to herself and to her Master for his pleasure. Nights on end of longing and looking forward to the next time she would get another dose of emotional response. Something new to ponder, think on and savor until the next time and then the next. It was passion, it was hate, it was every feeling she could imagine that she had lost memory to associate with. It was that moment. Mrysti knew it was inevitable. But, Caleb was not going to find the ¡®girl¡¯ he made love to years ago on Coruscant, when it was forbidden. When it was something they both were ashamed of. What Caleb was about to learn was there was no shame in her, there was only lust. She wanted something, she took it. It was just that simple. With a quickness that could only be enhanced by the Force, she leapt at him. Simultaneously ripping the tunic from this torso as she forced his back down on the bed; straddling him between her thighs. Balling the reminder of the cloth in her hand she flung it over her shoulder as she looked down at him, eyes flashing a brilliant red. Caleb was taken aback slightly, but he didn¡¯t resist. Though he gave her a worried look. ¡°This¡­changes nothing Jedi Master Caleb Goss¡­In the morning, I WILL kill you¡­.¡± Mrysti bent forward at the waist nibbling his upper lip before moving her cheek across his face to place her lips at his earlobe, ¡°¡­.unless of course you die during¡­.¡± 9 - Hate < > <<¡­May the Force forgive me for what I had to do. But I love Caleb, not in the way I loved Markus, but as a friend to the man I fell in love with; I had a duty to ease his pain. How could she?!?! How could she possibly¡­the things he seen, the things she did??? Knowing my sister was alive should have brought me joy, but looking into his mind¡­.seeing what he saw. By the Force¡­I had no choice. I had to erase it. Caleb may hate me later in life, but it was for his own good. No man or woman should have to endure those images. And should I ever encounter my sister again after seeing what she did¡­I WILL kill her.>> -- -- Gardurrga the Hutt¡¯s Palace¡­. Caleb stretched his arm across the bed slowly, it hurt to move yet he still let the smile slowly come to his face. The side of the bed he felt with his hand was cold and barren, much like his companion who had undoubtedly gotten up to leave before he woke. Getting what she needed to satiate herself Mrysti had no further use for him. Bringing his arm back under himself Caleb slowly opened his eyes, propping himself up on his elbows to look around. The room could be declared a disaster zone, as Mrysti literally used everything at her disposal including the room itself to attempt ''Kriffing'' Caleb to death. Caleb stretched his arms out to his side using a little of the Force to ease the soreness that plagued his entire body. His former lover had tried more than Caleb expected to break him the previous night. He felt he gave as good as he got from her, including at several points during the evening pinning the large woman and letting his own passions take over; getting from her exactly what he wanted. It seemed to fuel her more when he took control. It was a fact-finding mission as well as a night of uncontrollable lust. Mrysti had indeed changed, she was as wild in bed as she looked and a far cry from the ''girl'' he once knew. Caleb looked down at the empty bed. There was no way she would have allowed herself to wake snuggled in his arms, not like before. But, there was something else. As Caleb looked down at the bed he knew that once they looked in each other''s eyes Mrysti was also looking for something in him. Even behind her passion, her rage to just consume him; she was looking for a little recognition during their night together. Caleb knew she found none. -- Korriban¡­six months after the Fall of the Jedi Temple¡­. This was something that needed to be reported. Had Caleb been on a sanctioned mission from the Republic he would indeed be taking note of the large amount of activity in the Valley of the Dark Lords. The forces arrayed before him told him the Empire was preparing for another invasion. Hundreds of troop transports, thousands of Soldiers moving around them. Supplies stacked in bundles at various locations. Caleb sighed to himself stepping off the shuttle behind Muriel. She handed the flight officer a datapad as he glanced past her to look at Caleb who was still watching all of the activity. They had managed to pass security on the station. Muriel giving the flight officer the same excuse she gave security earlier. "Disregard my ''Apprentice'' it''s his first visit to Korriban¡­." She leaned down to the officer to whisper harshly, gesturing at Caleb, "¡­he was trained in the Academy on Ziost." The flight officer made a face at Caleb nodding at Muriel in affirmation. It was disgraceful to not have at least visited the Academy on Korriban for recertification after its capture. She moved past the officer looking back at Caleb, "Come Apprentice, the Academy awaits." When they were out of earshot Caleb moved up next to Muriel instead of following behind as a dutiful Apprentice should. "So, is this the part where you tell me what you need my help with? We are not actually going INTO the Academy are we?" Muriel smiled under her hood. "Just remember what we talked about. You''re doing good, Jedi." Caleb stopped walking to look at Muriel. "No. It won''t hold going in there. The Academy is a nexus of the Dark Side. The Dark Council is in there. Any light that enters will immediately be detected¡­" Muriel stopped, looking behind and over her shoulder. "We are not going to the Dark Council chambers, so¡­relax." Caleb didn''t move, glaring at Muriel. "No! Not until I know what it is, I¡¯m doing." She was so close to her goal, Muriel bit her lip moving swiftly back toward Caleb. Grabbing his arm like a disrespected Master would do to a wayward Apprentice. On Korriban, you never knew who was watching. "My Master was killed during the recapture of Korriban from the Republic. In fact, I think it was my Master''s OTHER Apprentice that killed him." Muriel started moving them both back toward the Academy as she spoke, "My Master''s Holocron was placed in the archive by that other Apprentice, who happened to actually be a Darth as well. But¡­there was a lock placed on the Holocron that the other ''Apprentice'' didn''t know about." Caleb stopped moving as Muriel stopped at the base of the Academy steps to explain. "Darth Malgus couldn''t access our Master''s Holocron because it can only be unlocked by a Sith AND a Jedi working together to unlock it at the same time. My Master knew Malgus couldn''t be trusted. He told me about the lock, but did not inform Malgus. That¡­.is why I need you and why we are here." Caleb swallowed hard, every Jedi knew about Malgus. Who didn''t know about the Dark Lord who led the attack on the Jedi Temple personally. Caleb looked down at the red dusty ground of Korriban. He really didn''t want to do this. No one should be helping someone so close to the ¡®Sacker¡¯ of Coruscant, but he was desperate to find Mrysti. Muriel didn''t speak as Caleb considered, she already knew she had him even after revealing everything. Still, she knew his Jedi sensibilities would inevitably ask the question, the question she was already prepared for. "What''s on the Holocron that you looking for?" "Proof that my Master didn''t trust Malgus. Proof that he could have killed my Master and had me ostracized from the Sith. Look, I only want what¡¯s rightfully mine. My place in ¡®things¡¯ has been stripped away¡­." Muriel watched Caleb as he considered her words. It wasn''t totally false, she did want proof against Malgus, but she conveniently left out the parts about the knowledge not only her Master placed within the Holocron, but the knowledge of her Master''s Master and his Master before him. The knowledge of one thousand years of the Dark Arts, power infinite if she could get it. She smiled sweetly, it was time to push Caleb over the edge. "You help me with this¡­.and I swear to you Caleb, I will not only help you find this woman you''re looking for, but if we find her, we WILL get her out of here!" -- Gardurrga the Hutts Palace¡­. The flooring was cold as Caleb finally set his feet down upon it, standing up off the bed. He still hurt in places, especially the places where there were wounds; bites from Mrysti or scratches. The Force had gotten rid of much of the bruises and fatiguing pain, but he would have to take time to do a healing meditation before he--Caleb stopped his thoughts not wanting to think of it; of fighting Mrysti later that day. Moving shards of something broken out of the way, Caleb stepped over some more rubble as he moved closer to the entryway. The doorway opened up into a grand foyer and beyond, the training yards. Sounds of grunting and slashing were just getting into earshot as he approached. Caleb grabbed his robe from off the floor next to the broken chair that it formerly rested on, tightening it around his waist as he stepped over the threshold. Rustic brown cloth around her waist moved in unison with Mrysti''s red hair as she slashed across the target at its midsection with lightning speed. The target slowly coming apart at the cut from the precise slash and falling apart horizontally. Mrysti was already in the air having jumped into a smashing power move toward the next target; the sword held in both hands between her legs as she came down upon it. The metal split the wooden target cleanly, vertically. The precision of the smashing cut causing not only the target to shake almost out of the ground with the force of her landing, but quickly parting it in half to fall to the floor on both sides of her.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Mrysti stopped for a moment, breathing heavily and turning her head slightly to the left toward Caleb, but didn¡¯t make eye contact. The sword she held in her hand was made of a metal Caleb couldn''t identify, but it was the length of the broadsword that caught his attention. Mrysti had to be using her strength in the Force to even wield it. It was nearly as long as a man; tall and broad enough to cook a bantha steak on if held over a fire. She wasted no time flinging her sword wielding hand and the empty hand away from her sending the two halves of the wooden target into adjacent walls, shattering them into sharp fragments. Seeming to know what Caleb was thinking, Mrysti turned with her arms still raised to show she had no problem wielding the heavy blade. And that she was doing it with her own physical power. It wasn''t the fact that Mrysti was ONLY wearing the strange rustic colored waist wrap and that her fully ample chest was bare that made Caleb raise an eyebrow. It was seeing her sweat at holding the impossibly heavy sword out to her side and that she was doing it with her own genetically enhanced strength. Caleb knew all about Mrysti''s association with Project Alpha, all of her generically enhanced ''siblings''; all of which served the Republic in some form or fashion. Well, not all of them¡­not anymore. Though Caleb knew about the Project and that each member of Mrysti''s family were ''special'' he did not know the specific gifts each one had. Looking at the massive, half-naked Mirialan; he could only surmise that one of Mrysti''s gifts was incredible strength. He watched as a crooked, scarred smile started to crease her face. She glared at him, holding the sword out to her side. Caleb started his own sly smile right back, leaning on the door frame to look at his lost love. It was opportunity knocking. Mrysti had indeed changed. So much, Caleb might have realized a way to survive. Stealthfully, he reached out to Mrysti in the Force as she stood there looking at him. Straining against the weight of the sword. What Caleb discovered confirmed his suspicions. When Mrysti left the Jedi and before her accident she was a Consular. A Sage. One who shaped and walked strong in the Force. One who could listen to the flow and understand the hidden meanings within the Living tendrils of the Force in everything. Eventually being able to manipulate that energy in nearly any object. As they all were taught, the Force¡­.was in everything. What Caleb sensed in that brief touch of the Force within Mrysti was contrary. Mrysti had lost almost all of her ability with the use of the Living Force. She was using it now to only augment her own genetically enhanced strength. Caleb had discovered an advantage and as he turned his back on her to walk away, much to her confusion; she finally lowered the sword watching him. Caleb smiled at his discovery, but quickly lost it. Asking himself, ''Would he use it?'' Would he use the knowledge to hurt or possibly kill the only woman he ever loved? -- - Korriban¡­.six months after the Fall of the Jedi Temple¡­. Muriel had begun to realize; Jedi Knight Caleb Goss was much more keenly aware of his surroundings and what was going on than she''d first surmised. Whether intentionally or not, Caleb had foiled the remainder of her plan. The part of the plan that included his death or capture once they had secured the Holocron. It was twice actually. Once, as Muriel was nearly trapped in a ray shield security device; Caleb used the Force to pull the Holocron from the pedestal into his palm and Muriel avoided the activation pads on the floor. And only seconds before that moment, as Muriel plotted to jab a spike into the back of his skull and toss him from the cliff they now traversed. Caleb turned back on her, sensing the intent. Two things stopped her. First, that she had to weaken herself in the Force to use her power in cloaking her intent. And second, as Caleb was busy reminding her while they walked; the Holocron was in HIS possession. Even if she did manage to get it from him, she still had to have a Jedi to help her defeat the Dark side/Light side Force Lock. It was with much grumbling that Muriel now followed behind him as Caleb allowed the Force guide him. The former ¡®Master and Apprentice¡¯ both changing their roles. Caleb knew exactly what he was doing and smiled to himself at the grimace and obvious change in demeanor of his companion once they climbed the series of rocks. Crossing the Valley quickly. Forever grumbling was what accompanied the climb. Caleb was sure Muriel did not like the fact the Holocron was holding her at bay. Also, Muriel wasn''t sure she could ''take'' him in single combat. Or she would have tried. Though Caleb had more of a sense of Muriel since he took possession of the Holocron. Muriel was building up the nerve to try. All of her pretenses were gone. And he was keenly aware she would very likely kill him the first chance she got in order to get the Holocron. "I sense nothing!!! How can you be sure we are even going the right direction???!!!" The change in Muriel''s tone made Caleb smile again, no more of the sweetly veiled voice that had beseeched him to go to Korriban with her. At last there was deadly truth between them, her voice had a mean, deadly edge to it at last. Caleb stood straight up closing his eyes to open his sense to the Force. Feeling Muriel looking at him, but also feeling the pull again pointing ahead and over the next ridge. He quickly started moving, letting the Force enhance his speed. "There! I can sense her over that ridge!!!" Muriel followed close behind, using her own Force enhanced speed to follow. Over the ridge it opened up into a rounded recess followed down by a depressed rounded out valley. Caleb could make out a structure built into the mountainside, with open air rooms in different spots. The one who constructed the place; utilizing all of the mountain¡¯s natural architecture to build an impressive stronghold both inside and outside the cutout. The depressed area seemed to be the centerpiece of the builder''s home having been built into a sort of stage with a raised dais in the center. Caleb glanced over his shoulder as Muriel knelt down next to him looking down into the recess. Caleb took a small pair of macrobinoculars from his belt to get a closer look. His senses were stretched between ''watching'' Muriel and now the inside of the recess. Panning around he saw various racks of tools set against the mountain¡¯s natural walls. A rack of some kind displayed prominently at the center of the dais. Movement from one side of the recess caused him to jerk the binos toward it. And he nearly dropped them seeing the image. There she was. Muriel sensed the change in Caleb immediately, standing up slowly behind him. "What! What do you see?" Muriel squinted, trying to use the Force to enhance her sight and see what he was looking at. A red and purple robed figure led a much larger green figure into the recess by a chain around its neck. Straining further, Muriel could see the green figure was a woman due to her nakedness; she was hunched down, eyes cast to the floor as she was led into the open area. The robed figure led Mrysti up to the rack, dropped the chain and was obviously instructing her in some way. They both watched as Mrysti climbed slowly onto the rack and pronated herself across it, planting her legs and arms in the holds located at each ankle and at each wrist. Caleb slumped down as the robed figure pulled the restraints around Mrysti''s appendages and began methodically beating her across her back with a whip produced from a nearby storage rack. Caleb started moving down the recess, but slid to a stop. What he heard from below stopped him. "¡­And you will scream!!! You will tell me how badly you want this!!! How badly you need to be punished!!!!" "Y-yes!!! Oh yes, Master!!!" It was pure bliss. The kind of bliss that was once directed toward him. Not only could Caleb hear it, he could feel it from his distance to them. Caleb shook his head. It couldn¡¯t be Mrysti, yet even as he denied it the waves of pleasure rolled up and out of the recess toward him once again. Caleb felt weak, sick as he stumbled and then fell in disbelief. Falling down into a lazy squat on the ground. His arms, limp to his side with the binos rolling out of his hand. Muriel smiled wickedly, taking her lightsaber from her belt as she stepped over the rocky surface toward him. With Caleb compromised emotionally, the time to reclaim her Holocron had arrived. "Not quite the woman you remember, Jedi?" Muriel ignited her saber, the crimson blade held down at a guard to her side. "I will be merciful, Caleb. I like you. That''s why this death will be swift and painless." Caleb kept his eyes focused on the violence going on down in the recess. He could feel her, every bit of pleasure she felt at each vicious hit with the whip. And flinched each time it struck home. In his head he could hear Mrysti''s pleasurable screams echo off and up the recess walls, they mixed with his own pleasurable memories of her. The sounds of her that night, the feel of her so close to him. Muriel''s threat overlapped the voices in his head. He heard Muriel, but didn''t really comprehend. Turning his head slowly to look up at her, tears streaming out of his eyes. Muriel brought the lightsaber up to her other hand, holding it in a slashing guard. "Goodbye, Jedi. Thank you for helping me reclaim my power." The Jedi wall shattered. Caleb leapt up with speed steeped within the Force; grabbing Muriel''s wrist as she began her slash toward his head. They struggled. Spinning around and toward the opposite cliff side. Red crimson of the saber only a fraction of an inch from each other. Caleb clenched down on the Sith''s wrist, twisting. Muriel looked in his eyes, her spittle sizzling off the plasma of the blade. "Give me my Holocron, Jedi!!!" Caleb''s eyes were not on Muriel''s, but on the saber hilt they both struggled to get control of. All of his love, his hate, his worry, his doubt and his fear penetrated the hilt as Caleb saw through the mechanics of the saber like it was transparent. Though they struggled, Caleb found the synthetic red color Crystal that focused the plasma energy cell of Muriel''s lightsaber. Closing his eyes tightly only when he knew he had it focused. Synthetic crystals were easy to manufacture and manipulate. The bond between crystal and user was not strong enough to prevent what Caleb was doing. In his mind, he heard the snap. Shattering the crystal, the blade abruptly cut off. In surprise, Muriel loosened her grip on her deactivated saber. Caleb was consumed, his grief over what he seen did not allow Muriel to finish speaking as she looked up at him. "Wha---how did yo--" They spun around toward the cliffside. Caleb wrenching the hilt from her grip as he thrust the other hand out to his front. A reverberating distortion of the air gathered up in the Force; hitting Muriel in the midsection and sending her tumbling toward the edge to fly over the side of the cliff. She didn''t make a sound as she fell to her death, the power of the blast in the Force from Caleb either killing her or rendering her unconscious before the fall. For a long moment, Caleb looked out over the cliff he had used to send Muriel to her doom. Finally, turning back to take one last look down into the recess where he witnessed the end of all that he loved. He watched the robed figure drop his own clothing to position himself behind Mrysti to further torment her. Caleb closed his eyes at the sound, knowing that it was over. All of it, too much to bare. Mrysti had found a new Master, she had crossed over. No one as powerful as his love would ever allow themselves to be unwillingly put through what was occurring down below. Caleb walked away toward the direction of the Academy, he had to find a way off Korriban. But he was Jedi, nothing was impossible in the Force. Echoes of the consensual pleasure being wrought in the recess seemed to follow him for much longer than it should have. 10 - Making it Go Away <> <> <> -- Senate Building, Galactic City - Coruscant¡­.seven months after the Fall of the Jedi Temple¡­. "Your service and dedication are a credit to the Republic¡­.and the Jedi Order, Jedi Goss¡­." The overinflated Republic officer droned on; Caleb wasn''t really listening. In fact, Caleb wasn''t really there, he was still on Korriban looking down into the recess. After stealing a shuttle and avoiding half of the Korriban planetary defense force, Caleb managed to coast into Coruscant airspace with literally hydrospace sealant holding what was left of his ship together. And he wasn''t really present for any of that either. Operating on reflex, just Jedi intuition of what needed to be done to complete a certain action. Caleb wasn''t even using any foresight. He had gone deaf in the Force. The moment he left the recess and the sound of his former love behind, he was hoping he would be killed. It was the only way he could see ending how he felt. Ending any feeling; he just wanted it all to stop. Had it not been for the condition of his ship and the fact that the Jedi were trying to locate him, Caleb most likely would have been killed in the dilapidated Imperial shuttle he coasted in on. Not that he cared. This was supposed to be a ''heroes'' welcome. Numb, he didn¡¯t care about that either. "¡­Its simply astounding! Do the Sith really think we wouldn''t find out? That we wouldn''t also prepare for them¡­." Caleb nodded pleasantly as the officer continued to jabber on. He still wasn''t paying attention. His mind was elsewhere, his thoughts occupied. People watched, the eyes on him from the other Jedi in the room. One particular set of eyes intrigued him. The reception was honoring him for the ''very daring'' mission he undertook. By everyone else¡¯s account and of his own accord he went to find out what was going on in Sith space. The truth, was different. Caleb didn''t lie when asked. Those asking were simply not asking the right questions as to why he went to Korriban. So far. Maybe no one really wanted to know the truth. Or it was so far out of the realm of possibility the question never came up. A Jedi going off on a quest to find and rescue his long-lost love? What Jedi, what love? Questions that no one close to him at the Temple could possibly understand to ask. His recovery of a very valuable Holocron, the death of a very dangerous Sith and the intelligence gathered far outweighed any reason he could have REALLY been on Korriban, at least as far as everyone else was concerned. Everyone but the set of familiar red eyes that had been gazing at him the entire time. They were so similar, yet so newly distant. A distance that he was busy creating in his mind. She moved toward him as Caleb turned back toward the politician to continue to listen. Karolin slithered her way through the crowd, blending in nicely with the other overblown Republic officers. She was supposed to be making ready for a new assignment. As her tunic prominently displayed the newness of the rank given to her, ''General''; she made her way finally close to Caleb. He nearly jumped out of his boots as her sultry voice enveloped him. It was so much like ''hers'', besides the size difference the two sisters; Karolin and Mrysti were virtually identical. Or at least they once were before being subjugated into the project, that was their namesakes. "My, my Caleb¡­.¡± Karolin¡¯s voice had an amused tone. ¡°¡­.recovering a Holocron and not just any, but a Holocron from one of the architects of the ''Sacking of Coruscant''¡­..." Caleb initially looked up as he turned around, half expecting Mrysti to be standing behind; looming over him. Karolin''s voice was so similar to her¡¯s. He had to quickly adjust his gaze just below eye level; Karolin was shorter than even an average woman. And much shorter than he was. "¡­.Did I surprise you? Were you expecting someone else?" The coy smile Karolin gave suggested she already knew the answer to the question. Swaying back and forth; the fluted glass playing gently on her lower lip Karolin eyed him lovingly. Caleb was always in defense mode even with those who knew him outside of his normal role in the Order. He quickly deflected the question. "Expecting? No one, not at all¡­should I have been?" Karolin scooted closer, looping an arm through one of Caleb''s to draw him closer. She smiled sweetly up at him, letting his reflection play in her dark red eyes. The closeness, her scent, so much like Mrysti¡¯s. It was intoxicating and made him dizzy. Once again, Caleb seemed to stammer as he gazed down at her. Quickly clearing his throat to break the spell she was casting on him. Karolin knew she had him, she just needed to close the box. "For someone who''s being honored for all their good deeds, you certainly pay little attention to your OWN reception." Caleb broke his arm away from Karolin quickly, stumbling away. "Y-yes¡­.I mean, No¡­I mean, pardon me, Master. I must¡­I need a moment." Caleb sat his glass down on the window ledge quickly moving away from the crowd in the Senate Corridor. Karolin sat her own glass next to his; just as quick on his heels catching him a moment later. She waited till he turned the corner, entering a mostly deserted observation corridor. Caleb slowed and stopped to look out over Coruscant. The synthetic sun setting over some of the tallest buildings casting its light directly on him. Karolin laid a hand on Caleb''s shoulder, spinning him around. "Caleb! Caleb! Wait¡­.talk to me!"The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. As Karolin spun him around, she saw the pain in his eyes and the water already welling up inside them. He put a clenched fist in his mouth biting one of the fingers once their gazes met. Karolin put a hand gently to the side of his head. She already had her suspicions about the reasons for Caleb''s sudden departure and return, his reason for leaving Tython was more than just ¡®meditation¡¯ leave. Now she was convinced all was not what it seemed. Caleb continued to bite his hand not wanting to speak, until she laid her all too familiar hand on his head, only it was Mrysti¡¯s hand he longed for. He was ready to confess before she even asked. "I saw her Karolin, I know where she is and what¡­." Caleb¡¯s voice cracked and he faded, putting the hand back in his mouth unable to continue. Karolin frowned sympathetically, rubbing his face. Blood ran down the side of his hand. Caleb having drew it from the force of the bite; desperate to stop the pain and to keep quiet. But to Karolin, these were things he couldn¡¯t keep from her. Not her, one who was so close to the situation. "Shhhh¡­.Caleb, you don''t have to tell me. Just relax, let me see¡­." Moving the other hand to the side of Caleb''s face she continued to ''shush'' him. Applying her power in the Force. The power of sight as a Consular to see Caleb''s thoughts, his memories. At first her expression was placid as she searched his mind. Like a holo-vid playing out, the images suddenly came to life vividly in her mind. Softly she closed her eyes to see only one vision. Karolin learned about his initial plan to leave Tython; of finding the out of the way Mining Facility. Karolin saw Muriel, learned of their chance encounter. Learned of what Muriel needed Caleb for. Her sight allowed Karolin to see Caleb recover the Holocron before Muriel could, that he planned it all along to force Muriel to help him find and rescue Mrysti. It was a mixture of Caleb''s memory and a narrative of Caleb''s feelings on the events as they happened. And Caleb was so very full of emotion. Sadness overcame her at the last realization. Emotion, things Jedi had difficultly dealing with due to their training. Sucking in a breath, Karolin shuddered. Her face growing pale as they reached the recess. Seeing what Mrysti did, what she was allowing to be done to her. Karolin felt every crushing moment of that event with Caleb. Tears rolled down his face as he began to breath heavily. Roughly, Karolin snatched her hands from Caleb''s face severing the connection, she was drenched in sweat and very, very angry. With so many thoughts racing through her head of what she perceived as Mrysti''s conscious betrayal, Karolin could not voice her thoughts properly. All of it came home to Karolin. Hamner and Mrysti left the Jedi to join the Empire and all of what Caleb was going through was the end result. "How could she!!! That she would not only turn¡­that she would allow¡­willingly?!?!--" Karolin¡¯s words were cut short as she turned away. Snatching up the drink she brought with her and set aside, draining the glass. From his knees Caleb was holding his face in his hands, nodding softly murmuring something incoherent. It didn''t take long for Karolin to decide what to do as she looked at him, her anger subsiding slightly. She ran her fingers through his hair pulling him into her waist. Caleb was still on his knees; hugged her around the waist, not bothering to get up. They were friends, Karolin''s ¡®Markus¡¯ loved Caleb, loved him like a brother. Therefore, Karolin loved Caleb the same way. It was Caleb that led her out the day the Sith destroyed their home. Caleb who rescued them in the face of overwhelming Sith aggression. Even if that was the only reason; Karolin would have loved him enough to do what she was about to do. But, there was more. Caleb loved Mrysti, loved her more than his own life and had risked his life and his future for her. And it had destroyed him. What she was doing on Korriban, what she was willingly becoming was more than Caleb would be able to bare. It would eventually drive him mad. In Karolin''s mind there was only one option. The decision was made in an instant. Not because of Mrysti, but for Caleb. Karolin believed her sister was lost and that she was willingly turning to evil. She was not completely wrong. Mrysti was turning, just not willingly. Gently, Karolin pried Caleb away from her waist. She looked down in his red-rimmed eyes, holding his face again in both her hands. They began to glow under her palms, the light spilling out in between her fingers. It was so much power, Caleb could only hear her voice in his mind, even though she spoke out loud. The light starting to blind him physically and mentally. This was dangerous territory. Karolin knew the risks, but she also caught a glimpse of Caleb¡¯s future in all of her sight. It was either do what she was about to do; or watch Caleb slowly fade until he took his own life. That was the future she saw for him. What Karolin was attempting was not usually done by a single Jedi, but a collection of them. A Circle of Sages, trained in the art of memory and foresight. But she had to try. For his protection. "Caleb, listen to me. You will not remember me seeing you tonight, you will not remember showing me anything¡­." Caleb''s body started to shake slightly as Karolin bore into his mind even harder, her grip on his face tightening as she moved the fingers around to the front of his face. In his mind he heard her. Strong, loud at first and then soothing. Memories began to fade. Erased as she spoke, taking them onto herself. Moving them to a place where they would never be found. In his mind the events which led him to Korriban began to rewrite themselves. Karolin could not erase an entire block of time, that was too dangerous. And could potentially drive him as mad as leaving the offending memories in there to eventually eat him away. Leaving something residual could trigger a lapse, initiate a memory purge that would cause him to seek answers until the end of time. But she could rewrite the story. Make it more palpable and explainable to a Jedi like Caleb. Rational, believable. "Caleb, you never found Mrysti on Korriban. The Sith you destroyed showed you evidence of her demise¡­.Mrysti is DEAD." -- Gardurrga the Hutts Palace¡­.One hour till final confrontation¡­. The final test was to take place before the Hutta Sun hit afternoon. Mrysti had one leg propped up on the dressing stool. She slapped the closures on her leg armor hard locking them into place. Darth Malvox stood off in the corner, brooding for several reasons. The Darth was always a small to big problem conversationalist. Bringing up what was bothering her the least first and building up to the rest of it. Mrysti was becoming used to her new Master''s way of communicating. It was slightly annoying, almost as if Malvox constantly wanted one to drag the information out of her. Perhaps she did it for dramatic effect. Mrysti didn''t know as she sighed heavily putting the leg down and placing the other one on the stool to apply the other lower armor plate. Resolving, if she ever became a Sith or Darth or whatever they were, she would always be plain and get straight to the point. "This is dangerous, just because Gardurrga says this armor has Cortosis properties, it may delay the burn or slice of a lightsaber, but it will not fully protect you¡­" Malvox moved into Mrysti''s sight, looking down at her, "¡­you are Sith now! You should wear the armor of one!!!" Mrysti curled her lip in a smirk looking up at her Master, slapping the latches on the sides of the armor loudly and on purpose to lock it in place. "If you have a suit of whatever you¡¯re talking about hiding under that cloak, I''d love to have it. This armor has served me well in the Arena, it will suffice." The smirk faded as Mrysti moved on to more pressing matters. "That''s not what you''re brooding over Master. You have something else bothering you." Malvox leaned on a weapons rack, folding her arms over her tiny frame. Mrysti was indeed powerful. Her abilities to sense and use her foresight were far beyond the scope of what a normal Sith conjurer were capable of. There was a hint of ¡®light¡¯ in there. Almost as if Mrysti were a Jedi. The Dark Lord shook off the thought. How anything as evil and twisted as Mrysti could be a Jedi was so far beyond the realm of possibility, she didn¡¯t even want to consider it. "Yes, actually¡­.and I think you already know what that is." She fixed a steely gaze on her new apprentice as Mrysti brought her foot down hard off the stool, standing to her full height. She was silent, returning the gaze her Master was giving. It annoyed Malvox to no end, "Was it on purpose? Help me understand what you were thinking? There is no way you did it to curry favor with him and hope for mercy in the Arena. You hardly require that." Nor was it surprising that Malvox knew Mrysti had slept with Caleb. Or most likely watched the whole thing standing right next to Gardurrga. The room was no doubt wired with all manner of hidden cameras and sound devices. That made Mrysti give the entire room a quick glance before returning to adjusting her armor. As if the thought had been spoken aloud, Malvox as usual addressed Mrysti''s suspicions. "¡­and NO, I did not watch you. Though I am fairly certain that Gardurrga did." Sneering, Mrysti reached the point of not caring a week prior. Speaking to Malvox loudly so the hidden recording devices would hear her. "Good. I hope his high exalted ''snailness'' enjoyed it. It will be the last enjoyment of that type he gets the pleasure of watching! After I''m finished with this Jedi, I am going to end him!" As Mrysti turned to walk toward the Arena grounds, Malvox stopped her with a light touch to her arm, a wicked smile across her features. "End the Jedi? So¡­your night with him did not change your feelings on this matter?" Mrysti''s eyes seemed to look up and to the right for a split second before she stabbed her Master with the expressionlessness of the look. Shrugging in unison to her words, she laid her hand on the hilt of her sword again turning to walk back toward the Arena. "No. Should it have?" 11- The Death of Love <> <> -- -- Gardurrga the Hutt''s Palace Arena - The Final Day... Painstakingly, Gardurrga the Hutt had crafted this moment. Either way, he came out the winner. Odds that the Hutts, as a species, always liked to be in their favor. Rarely did a Hutt wager or enter a deal where the odds were NOT in their favor. Sheer arrogance more times than not were the smasher of many a Hutt dream. Especially when either a Jedi or a Sith was involved in the deal. The Force by its very nature added a chaotic variable that the Hutts just couldn''t account for in assessing risk. It would have made sense that after so many a deal had been soured by users of the Force that the Hutts would cease dealing and wagering where Jedi or Sith were concerned. Arrogance led to vanity in the Hutt''s case. Vanity was the downfall of many a Hutt who could not humble themselves to see the bigger picture. As Gardurrga slithered into the viewing box, none of this crossed his mind. Why should it? In his estimation there was simply no way to lose. The Jedi elimination of Mrysti meant one less adversary in the galaxy and the elimination of a competitor in the Arena that threatened to sour the Hutt¡¯s monopoly of the sport. If Mrysti prevailed, then Gardurrga gained another champion. A champion he looked forward to breaking in order to do his bidding. It didn''t hurt that Mrysti was attractive to him, but that was simply a bonus. -- Mrysti stood behind the bars of the portcullis, the light from the arena floor parting the bars in odd angles. It looked as if only parts of her were there, Caleb saw parts of green flesh and rustic looking cloth as he looked across. He pressed his body close to his own set of bars, a stern look on his face staring directly at her. Almost reaching across the arena floor to her; his blue eyes met the one red he could see of Mrysti''s. She looked away gritting her teeth, murmuring under her breath. "Hold it together Bitch¡­he''s just a Jedi, just another Jedi¡­.nothing there¡­." Caleb closed his eyes keeping his forehead pressed to the bars sending Mrysti his thoughts, hoping she would hear, ''¡­.I will not fight you. I love you¡­and that love is unconditional¡­'' Mrysti shook her head to try and sling those thoughts out as Gardurrga began speaking through his translator droid. <"¡­Gentlebeings, welcome to the last and final test of one of the Arena''s newest Champions! She calls herself Mrysti¡­her opponents have known her for the briefest of moments before their untimely demises as Death Incarnate!!!¡­."> Mrysti bristled slightly as the Hutt''s translator spoke, finally getting her intensity. She focused on the rage, the desire to feel suffering; Caleb''s suffering. Across from her, Caleb could feel that Mrysti had severed the connection. He could feel her anger at him for invading her thoughts and detracting her from her personal mission. The translator droned on as the bars blocking the huge entrance started moving upward slowly. <"¡­what the few personally invited will witness is a battle waged for millennia across the galaxy, Jedi vs. Sith. It will truly be of epic proportions, even I do not know how this will turn out¡­"> Mrysti chose steel against her Master''s better judgment, the loud ''sheng'' the blade made as it came out of the scabbard on her hip clearly audible to everyone in the Arena. Caleb stepped out past the bars still rising to look directly across at Mrysti. Brown robes flowing in the soft breeze, Caleb only turned briefly to look toward the darkened review box set high above. The shadowy image of the Hutt outlined in the low light emanating from behind. It was a little surprising to Caleb that Mrysti was holding a blade instead of a saber and the blade was a normal broadsword length only slightly larger than a standard lightsaber. As Mrysti walked slowly toward him, closing the distance he could see her tightening her grip on the hilt, one handedly testing its weight as she moved it in time with her steps. It wasn''t an expression of anger he felt from her, it was conflict despite her facial sneer. Before the bars rose, Caleb made a decision. He knew he could get to her. Had confidence the little bit of information he gained by watching her in the morning would not be needed. Caleb was going to try and ¡®turn¡¯ her with her own emotions. The conflict he felt as she approached increased, Mrysti even looking away from him once their eyes met. And Caleb felt his heart jump. Getting closer the Hutt''s translated words stopped Caleb cold, he didn''t see Mrysti stop as well nearly dropping her sword in similar shock. <"¡­.but not just any battle between mortal enemies. A battle of star-crossed lovers. This Jedi, who left everything behind to rescue his lost love from the clutches of the Sith, only to find that she had willingly joined forces with them¡­"> Her head snapped toward Caleb, who''s mouth was still agape looking up toward the darkened review stand. "What''s the meaning of this Jedi?!?! Are you working with Gardurrga to try and distract me!!!" All thoughts of ¡®turning¡¯ her suddenly vanished. The rage and anger in Mrysti was real and instantaneous. Betrayal bled out of her. She screamed in rage swinging toward Caleb, a blow that would have cut him in half had he not quickly leapt backwards. "Whoa. Wait a minute! This is just as much a shock to you as it is--" He activated his saber in time to block the next downward slash toward him, half expecting the sword to melt in half on his silver-blue plasma blade. The sparks showered as Mrysti pressed into the plasma. "Stop lying!!! Die with some dignity, Jedi!" Caleb slid his foot back putting two hands on the saber and angled Mrysti into a kickback, hitting her with his shoulder to push her off before kicking out with a foot. She immediately rolled with the push and kick; spinning the rest of the way around. The sword leading the charge. It caught the front of Caleb''s tunic slicing cleanly through and grazing the skin. Blood started to ebb onto Caleb''s light brown undertunic. "It¡¯s all been one big lie!!! All you''ve done is try to play on my sympathy, make me think we were in love!"If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. -- As the battle commenced, Darth Malvox moved in next to Gardurrga. Anger rolled off of her as the Hutt glanced down, "Pouting? That''s not very Sith-like¡­." Malvox typically returned such a comment with a false smile and snarky comment, but not this time. She never took eyes off the two fighting for their lives down below as she spoke in a gravely tone. "I had this completely under control. That is¡­until you decided to give her yet another reason to question our motives here. There is no reason to cloud her judgment any further¡­" The stare matched her words as the look cast Gardurrga into stone, "¡­and I''m fully aware you wish her to lose, for profits sake; you''re not sure you can tame her should she win. Prudent." Gardurrga gave a jiggly belly laugh as he stuffed one of the creatures from his nearby food tank into his mouth, licking his lips. "As I said before Darth Malvox, I always win. I''m not a gambling Hutt otherwise¡­" -- Mrysti could hear the laughter echo from above instantly setting her further ablaze. The Hutt had been manipulating events from the start and Mrysti knew it. The way Caleb reacted. Elusive. He was as shocked as she was, but on a different level. As they continued to fight, Mrysti could feel the confusion in him from what the Hutt¡¯s translator spoke. But the love¡­that was real. Perhaps not from a distant past that the droid spoke of, but from somewhere. Caleb was still fighting defensively as Mrysti landed several slight glancing blows. Only one other strike other than the first one to Caleb''s chest drawing blood. Purposefully, she drew back stepping on her rear leg and spinning to give Caleb some breathing room. Predicting correctly, Caleb threw out his offhand to push Mrysti back with the Force. For his part, Mrysti knew he didn''t want to fight her. The need to create more space between them paramount. Caleb overplayed the power of the shove from the Force. And Mrysti was counting on it. Sliding back on her feet as she was pushed, she grunted; angling herself toward the private reviewing box. Hurling her sword into the wave of invisible energy with all of her enhanced strength and power. Hand outstretched as she landed, sending the wave and her sword toward the darkness of the box Gardurrga occupied. Sickening, the slicing of Hutt flesh echoed in the upper deck. The blast sending the sword straight to the heart of the darkness and straight into the upper chest area of the enormous slug. There was no time for Gardurrga to even scream out as the sword struck any vocal cords and breathing tubes located in that area. Only the spasmodic grabbing of the sword existed as Gardurrga''s last moment was spent glaring at Malvox, who ran to the edge of the box to peer at her apprentice who was turning to face her opponent slowly, palms up and now completely unarmed. "Wha-Mrysti¡­what are you doing?" Caleb still stood in a guard stance, his lightsaber held rigidly in two hands to his side. A strange wicked smile ebbed its way onto Mrysti''s face as she stopped turning to stare at him. "I simply hated him more in that moment than I hated you¡­" Mrysti didn''t move and neither did Caleb, "¡­go ahead Jedi, strike me down. It¡¯s the only way you will leave this Arena alive." Busily Caleb''s mind worked, considering all the factors at the surprising development. In the end it was the Jedi in him that prevailed. Not just the Jedi, Caleb could not and would not kill the only thing that had actually allowed him to experience ¡®Love¡¯. Emotions were alien to the Jedi, Caleb had been given a taste and now when faced with its end, desperately wanted to taste that again. Caleb dropped the guard stance slightly; deactivating the lightsaber and tossed it away. "No¡­.I won''t do it. You may be evil, but you were once a Jedi, Mrysti. It is not my destiny or yours to end in this place. Who you once were should know this." Caleb slowly turned, he said most of what he wanted to say. He said what a Jedi would say; leaving out the part that a man desperately in Love, rediscovering that Love, should have said. As Caleb turned to walk away confident he had said most of his peace, Malvox screamed from the sky box. "No!!! Do not let him live apprentice!! Kill him, kill him now!!!" Mrysti was well past those words, her mind not even registering the order from her Master. She had already started to charge at Caleb, her right hand outstretched to call his lightsaber to her hand. "You!!! Don''t you turn your back on me!!!" A part of her said ¡®no¡¯. Even as the saber landed in her palm and she felt the vibrating hilt sing to life with the snap-hiss of plasma. It was a distant cry. Deep inside. More simply, a statement. A simple ¡®no¡¯. This was Love. Not just hers, not just Caleb¡¯s. But Love itself. Mrysti felt that cry and ignored it. The Force screamed out to Caleb. And he turned in time to meet the lightsaber as it plunged into him. Reaching out to grasp Mrysti on both shoulders as she slid blade and herself toward him. They embraced. All at once she felt it leave. Caleb and the Force, a part of it hidden within her either due to not being able to remember or having forgotten due to her mistreatment over the years. Mrysti felt the cold chill of not only death, but the darkness creep in. They locked eyes. Frozen in the moment. But Caleb¡¯s were not sad. He actually smiled as they stood paused in that moment. All was sudenly revealed to him. Like a doorway had opened up due to his impending death. Seeing the letter she wrote, the message Karolin left; her hands on his face as she took the pain away. The real events of Korriban. All of it became real once again. And Caleb knew what had to be done. Mrysti quickly withdrew the blade and caught him, tossing the lightsaber aside. Lowering him to the ground gently as she cradled him. He was still holding on to her. The last moments of life, clutching to say and look on that which he loved more than himself. A noble sacrifice. He could not kill her; giving himself over to the Force in order to spare her the pain of having to do it for him. But she did it anyway. Caleb finally understood. This was what had to happen. To make her see and have her remember what it felt like. What he and she, felt like. ¡°I may have been wr-wrong¡­ab-about tha-that destiny¡ª¡± Caleb sputtered, blood ebbing from both sides of his mouth as he coughed and clutched at her hard. Mrysti laid her hand on his chest, pulling him up to place her head on his. In her mind, she saw it. Fragments, bits of memory and information. He wasn¡¯t lying. It was just as he said and felt. They had been together at some point. At the last and as Caleb breathed his last breath, he smiled and hissed. ¡°There is n-no death¡­¡± His eyes darted to hers. ¡°¡­there is only¡­.Lo-love¡­.¡± As Mrysti killed love and as that love died in her arms it subconsciously struck her to the very core of her soul. Though she couldn''t feel the loss, not like the passing of someone she knew and had fond memories of, her Force Aura would not let it be. As if seeing something so frightening, so terrifying in that instant; Mrysti''s hair began to bleed itself of its lustrous red color, turning slowly to a bright shade of white as Love bled out of it and out of her soul. The grip on his neck loosened as she allowed him to begin to fall in her grasp, cradling him like a Mother would cradle her child. His head fell forward slightly and Mrysti had to shift her weight to continue to hold him. The flash of memory Caleb passed to her as he left the world they were in and passed into the Force hit her like a runaway speeder¡­. ¡­..Karolin grasped Caleb''s face gently entering his mind, the view of the recess could be seen from someone''s point of view, as the image spun to show Caleb looking over the recess, Mrysti could tell she was watching it through Karolin''s eyes. Karolin? She looks like me¡­.but, smaller. Who? Mrysti saw herself, it was early into her capture, before she knew enough to resist¡­.or that she needed to. For years she was so dependent on that contact, any contact that she didn''t know any better¡­. The scream of ecstasy that made Caleb flinch made her tighten her grip on him. She left her head on his for a moment before lowering him to the ground, he was gone; one with the Force¡­ ¡­.the image swelled into light. It was the last moment, Caleb knew what he had to do, but he didn''t want to. He glanced over his shoulder, the brightest smile. The pull was more addictive than even his love for her, he had to obey it. Mrysti looked on bewildered. She lost so much, so many memories. And now she wanted more. To remember everything. Caleb didn''t lie. He did come for her and he thought--She sobered instantly, looking up fighting back pain even worse than anything physical that could be inflicted. "You thought I betrayed you¡­you though I gave myself freely to¡­", Mrysti¡¯s words trailed off at the image burning itself into her mind. The image of Caleb, standing on that recess, looking down at her being taken. The image of Caleb¡¯s world ending in that moment. A pain worse than any for a man who was so very much in Love. Caleb walked toward the light, still looking back. "It¡¯s ok, I Will see you again¡­" Caleb walked toward the Light in Mrysti¡¯s mind, she saw him and standing in the Arena, lifted her hand slightly. She wanted to tell him not to go, but had no reason not to. ¡°No¡­¡± Mrysti murmured. Pieces of her former life with him, memory of what and who she was circled and coalesced in her mind. ¡®YOU¡­are a Jedi.¡¯ It was a voice. A very familiar voice, much like her own. ¡°K-Karolin¡­¡± She murmured once again. Not truly knowing who that name was attached to. ¡®That will never die¡­they can take it away, they can mold reshape and reforge you into something else. But you will always possess that power.¡¯ Why was it familiar? Mrysti''s hand hovered over the wound which she inflicted on Caleb. Without warning, the last of the color in her hair bled out as the light in her hand increased. A power she never knew she had and had long forgotten. Stolen from her, just like she had stolen Caleb from herself. The letter she wrote, words in the deepest recesses of her mind all came flooding back as she murmured once again. ¡°I will love you¡­for the rest of my days¡­¡± In her mind, she saw him leave. It was too late. Even as her dormant power to heal saturated them both, sucking the last of her light from the shell of what remained of her former powers, Mrysti believed it was too late. Caleb was gone. And despite all of the power at her command, there was nothing she could do about it. What had been taken, could not be given back. And she crumbled. There were so many pieces missing. Mrysti stood to her full height. There was no confusion, just a piece of something; a fragment to a larger puzzle that made no sense. She turned her back to Caleb''s body walking toward the exit. At last, her bonds were gone. Reaching up, she took the shackle off her neck and tossed it aside. ¡®¡­through victory, My Chains are Broken¡­.and the Force shall set me free¡­¡¯ In Caleb, she had met and paid the ultimate price. Learning the most important lesson of all¡­.Freedom was never free. There was always¡­a cost. 12 - Epilogue <