Chapter 2
The abyss of betrayal
Coruscant - 25 years to the battle
A prophecy… Very interesting…
The Nightsister smiled and turned her back to the Jedi Temple: she already had a spy in there. Her youngest pupil offered herself to join the order undercover as a Padawan. Mother Talzin had felt something in the Force, a shift and a danger lurking for those who wielded the Force, but weren’t Jedi. Worried, she had sent her best witch to keep an eye on the Jedi. That was why Neris was in enemy’s territory, spying on unaware Jedi, focused on their general assembly, thanks to her powers. In the meantime, Neris had decided not to stay idle and had asked to her Initiates if one of them had wanted to sneak into the Jedi Temple as a Padawan and her best pupil had showed up. She was a really adorable kid, with her long red hair, grey eyes shining with a quick and sharp intelligence and a particular affinity with the Force.
I'll leave everything in your hands, Robin!
Neris looked back at the Jedi Temple one more time, before leaving the area and going back to her ship. Waiting for her was her beloved partner, Darth Zarrus. She had told him to stay alert and be ready to depart at any given moment. The main Jedi Temple was on Coruscant, the Galactic Republic’s beating heart. Neris and Zarrus had to find civilian clothes: a Sister of the Night and a Sith would have drawn way too much attention and the planet swarmed with Jedi. It would have been an impossible mission to reach the Jedi Temple wearing her witch’s clothes. Luckily, controls weren’t still so harsh and their ship was able to land without problems. They had landed at a safe distance from the Jedi Temple, which had allowed Neris to walk among the local population and begin to gather some information. The market, at that hour of the day, was already swarming with Padawan of any age, looking for supplies or interesting books to study on, and, of course, the latest and most exciting news was the general assembly, to which all Jedi Masters were called to attend, even those who were busy with a mission.
As predicted, not one of them knew the reason behind that assembly, but that was why Neris was there. Now that she had the information she wanted, she could freely go back to her planet and refer everything to Mother Talzin, even the fact that they had a mole among the Jedi. She stopped to buy some sweets for her Initiates, then hurried to her ship.
Darth Zarrus must have felt her, since the ship’s engines were already going. Neris entered the ship and closed the tailgate, joining Zarrus in the cockpit. Their ship was owned by a young Jedi Padawan, who lost his way many years ago. Neris sat down in her seat and helped Zarrus finishing the power-up procedure.
«Everything’s alright?»
Neris clicked her tongue, a bit irritated. «Who do you think you’re talking to? Of course everything’s alright. Seems like our Jedi friends have received a very interesting prophecy.»
Zarrus seemed startled by the news. «A prophecy? It must have been millennia since the last prophecy of the Force!»
He wasn’t wrong on this: from what Neris knew, the last to have receive a prophecy was the original Jedi. She also knew that, according to the legend, the Jedi had tried everything in his power to change the future, ultimately going against what the Force wanted, causing a series of catastrophes, one worse than the other. Seeing all of that, the Force had chosen with much better care the creatures capable of foreseeing the history’s course. If she remembered correctly, a few years ago there had been a kid, among the Nightsisters, who was convinced that he could see the nearer future. Who knew what happened to him? One day he’d simply left and the Nightsisters no longer cared about him. It was actually blasphemy that a man had been born Force sensitive. Neris herself had to leave Dathomir because of Zarrus. Sensitive Force men weren’t welcomed on the Nightsisters’ birth planet.
They both heaved a long sigh of relief the moment they left Coruscant’s atmosphere. Now that the Jedi had decided to hunt down the creatures, which they called Sith, she and her Sisters had to be extra careful. Surely, one of the first cult’s target would have been Dathomir. She had to hurry and warn Mother Talzin.
History is repeating itself… Jedi will try to change history’s course. If we don’t act, the consequences will be devastating for the entire Galaxy.
Neris heaved a frustrated sigh, thinking about how Jedi liked to identify themselves as the Galaxy’s defenders, when their actions were usually dictated by a profound selfishness, masquerading as the greater good. They would have forced the Nightsisters and their Brothers into hiding themselves in the shadows again. Not just them! Anyone who wielded the Force, but didn’t want to have anything to do with the Jedi Order, would have been hunted down and held captive, if not killed. There was no way to evade that future. Jedi didn’t go back on their decision, never! It had been a good idea to have one of her Initiates sneaking into their Temple as a mole, Neris was sure of it.
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DATHOMIR - 25 years to the battle
They landed softly on Dathomir’s soil. Zarrus was a good pilot, but sometimes it was difficult for him to feel the Force’s whisper. It had always been like that, even when Neris had met him, when he was just a young Padawan, busy with a mission with his Master, as well as mother. It had happened tens of years earlier, on Dathomir. Their meeting had been written in the Force, Neris was sure of it.
«Don’t turn off the engines.» Neris told Zarrus. «I won’t be long. I’ll report to Mother Talzin and then we’re off.» She pointed her finger at him. «Do not let yourself be seen!»
Zarrus rolled his eyes. «I would be mad to enter that fortress swarming with psychopathic witches.»
He didn’t even had the chance to finish the sentence, because his head was forcefully pushed on the cockpit. «Do not insult us, Zarrus. Let me be very clear: I saved you, but I could easily kill you as well. Nightsisters are loyal only to each other.»
Neris turned her back to him and left the ship. The lifeless scenario on Dathomir welcomed her with its coldness. Neris’ red robe perfectly blended in with the ground under her feet. They still had landed at a safe distance from the fortress. Darth Zarrus wasn’t welcomed on that planet. Neris could come and go as she saw fit, but it was entirely different for her partner. The Nightsisters Clan would have never accepted a Force sensitive man among them.
Neris reached the Nightsisters fortress and heaved a sigh of relief: it was good to be home. She and Zarrus had met right on Dathomir tens of years earlier, after all.
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Dathomir -33 Years to the battle
The Jedi ship landed on Dathomir’s red soil. It was the first exploration mission for the young Padawan, Herran Lonestar, and it was also some kind of test for him. At his side were Masters Nima Tol’var and Kyrelia Sundara, his mother. It wouldn’t have been an easy mission: that planet was homeland to a cult, the Nightsisters Clan. They were extremely powerful witches, who devoted to black magic and skilled in wielding the dark side of the Force… And they didn’t like people like him, namely Force sensitive men. According their cult, only women were worthy of receiving the honor of wielding such power.
Herran looked at his mother. «Master, are you sure my presence here is a good idea?»
Kyrelia smiled gently at him. «Don’t worry, young Padawan, the Force is with us. And anyway it’s just a simple explorative mission. We won’t even get near the Night Sisters’ fortress, but…»
His mother encouraged him to finish the sentence with a nod. «But, instead, we’ll focus on the ruins of an ancient fortress, where, according to a legend passed down by Jedi, a Nightsisters’ powerful and old relic can be found.»
Nima nodded in agreement. «Very well, Herran.»
Another question rose in his mind. «But, if I’m not mistaken, the legend clearly says that the relic boosts exclusively a Nightsisters, or another witch, powers… What can Jedi use it for?»
His mother hang her lightsabers to her waist, then checked the HoloMap. «What do you think? How could Jedi use it for?»
Herran was silent for a while, trying to figure out the best answer to that question. If that relic actually was found in the ruins of that ancient fortress, it could mean that the Nightsisters Clan had forgotten about it or didn’t believe it to be so useful and powerful, as the legend told. Jedi hardly welcomed Nightsisters among them, as well as other witches. They didn’t trust their powers so much… There were Jedi who called witches Sith, even though they weren’t part of the Sith Order. The fact that they weren’t part of the Jedi Order was enough to make them Sith. That was why it was improbable that the Jedi wanted the relic in order to give it to a Padawan, who was originally from Dathomir, or any other planet, where a witchcraft was used.
The only other reason, which could have pushed the Jedi to find that relic, was to keep such a powerful object away from wrong hands… Namely those of any other creature different from a Jedi. Herran feared this latest answer was the right one. It didn’t sound as something the Jedi Order should do, especially since the relic didn’t belong to them. He thought all that plan was a preventive and cowardly action.
He didn’t dare to voice that theory and simply dropped the topic. The three Jedi started their journey, following the certain lead of Master Nima. There wasn’t a planet too treacherous for that Jedi. She would have always survived, no matter what harsh conditions she found. She would always find a way. That was why, despite her young age, she was already a member of the Jedi Council.
The path they were following was as lifeless as the scenario around them. They were clearly leaving any trace of human life behind them. Nima stopped for a second before a cliff wall. Without even looking back, Nima informed them that they would need to climb up the cliff, in order to reach their destination. Herran pulled his backpack off his shoulders and gave the climbing equipment to the two Jedi. Nima always had it with her, ready for situations like this one. The three Jedi sling themselves and started the climb. The rock wasn’t steady and often gave up under their hands and feet.
More under Herran’s weight, than that of the two Masters. «Padawan, stay focused! Listen to what the Force has to say.»
Herran, after yet another crumbled support, forced himself to stay still and catch his breath. He didn’t like to climb… He took long deep breath, calming his racing heart and focusing, as his mother told him, on the Force’s whisper. Slowly the whisper started to increase in intensity and Herran, following its guide, was able to climb without failing anymore. He knew which handholds to grab and which to avoid. It was sometimes difficult for Herran to meditate and his connection with the Force was irregular. His mother, Kyrelia, unlike him, was particularly sensitive to the Force. She always used to joke on her son’s instability, blaming it on his father, a not so orthodox smuggler. How did they end up together was still a mystery to him.
«Herran, take my hand.»
Nima helped him to reach the top of the cliffside. The moment he looked up, he couldn’t stop a surprised gasp from leaving his lips: a few kilometers away from them stood what it seemed an abandoned fortress, with high and sharp peaks, which tried to reach the sky. The fortress had a slightly darker color than the rest of the scenario, which made the entire structure way more creepy.
Herran had to run in order to keep up with Nima and Kyrelia, who, in the meantime, already set out for the fortress. The more they got near, the more Herran realized how impressive the structure actually was. For the entirety of the climb, a forceful wind had threatened to throw them down the cliff with every step they took, but, in that moment, the air was so still that it creeped him out.
I can sense something… There’s an interference in the Force.
Herran didn’t have time to speak, anyway, since Nima, jumping happily, started to run to the fortress’ entrance. Herran looked at his mother and found her focused on studying their surroundings: she must have felt something too.
«Master Nima.» Kyrelia called for the other Jedi, before she could fall in a way too obvious trap. «We should proceed with caution. I can sense a strong interference in the Force. Something’s not right.»
«It could be the relic.» Nima’s excited voice answered her. «If it’s as powerful as the legend says, it’s sure to cause fluctuations in the Force.»
Herran, timidly, spoke up. «It seems something more… Human.»
Nima arched an eyebrow. «And, pray tell, who should live in this fortress? It has been abandoned for centuries.»
He looked at Kyrelia, who encouraged him to carry on with the speech he was giving. «Well, it could be a Nightsister. Who knows? Maybe she also heard about the relic and came here looking for it.»
Nima started to answer, but Kyrelia was faster. «What my Padawan means is that, maybe, we should carry on more carefully.»
The Jedi groaned, but raised her hands into the air, giving up. Nima stood to the side, letting Kyrelia get in first. Herran followed behind, while Nima closed the line. Clearly there was few to none light in there. To light the path, the three Jedi turned on their lightsaber. While they get closer to the main hall, where, according to the legend, two guardians protected the relic could be found, the interference in the Force started to get even stronger. The word guardians worried him, but Herran was sure that they were not the human presence he detected way before entering the structure.
It was then that another interference in the Force made itself felt and this time it was clearly an object: the relic actually existed and they were getting near. Herran wasn’t the only one who felt it: Nima and Kyrelia too hastened their pace. The hallway, which they were following, started to become even more tight, as the structure itself wanted to dissuade the curious one to keep going. Despite this, the Jedi continued on their way, even going so far as to crawl, with the ceiling which was grazing at their backs. The air was becoming even more heavy, but exactly when he was ready to give up and to ask the Masters to go back, they finally found the exit of that tunnel. The hall, which opened before their eyes, had something magical to it. The green rays of Dathomir’s moon could barely lit the gigantic room, which stood before them. What caught their eyes, anyway, was a shining dot on the neck of a skeleton, which was sitting on a huge red throne. At both sides of the creepy mummy stood two massive stone soldiers, which were clearly guarding the relic.
They must be the guardians the legend spoke about.
Their footsteps, which brought the Jedi closer to the Nightsisters’ relic, echoed in the silence of that huge hall. Master Nima literally started jumping toward the throne. Kyrelia, on the contrary, slowed down her pace and Herran with her. They both felt something way more close and dangerous than the two guardians.
Nima was a hundred meters away from the relic, when, from behind one of the statue, a girl, clearly a Nightsister, made herself be seen. «You cannot be here. This is a sacred place to us.»
Master Nima stopped on her tracks, taken aback by the Nightsister appearance. «We do not intend to desecrate it.»
No, just to steal your relic…
Herran was clever enough not to say it out loud. «We thought this place was abandoned, surely not sacred.»
«Abandoned and sacred are not opposites.» Explained the girl. «One does not exclude the other.»
Kyrelia reached Nima and spoke up. «You are right. You’re most wise for being this young.» Then she raised a hand to her heart. «My name is Kyrelia Sundara, I’m a Jedi Master.»
Nima too introduced herself with a gentle smile. «I am Master Nima Tol’var.»
Herran cleared his throat. «I am Kyrelia’s Padawan, my name is Herran Lonestar.»
The girl squinted her eyes. «You’re more than Jedi and Padawan… You’re her son. The Jedi Order allows that?»
Herran looked at his mother, who did not loose her temper. «Can we know who we’re talking to? We did introduce ourselves, after all.»
«An introduction is not due to you.» Answered the girl. «Nothing is due to you, especially not here on Dathomir.»
Kyrelia’s smile drastically changed. To an outsider, it could seem like a friendly and kind smile, but Herran knew her way too well to fall for it: she was getting frustrated and his mother was not someone who anyone would describe as a white Jedi. Kyrelia’s hand reached for her lightsaber and Herran panicked: that was just a explorative mission, a fight with a Nightsister was not in the plan and certainly was not wise. Nightsisters had peculiar powers and their knowledge of the dark side of the Force made them particularly dangerous adversaries. If the girl would have warned her Sisters, it would have been their end.
He had to avoid a fight at any cost. «T-the relic!» Herran shouted, the two Masters looking badly at him and making his mother to look away from the Nightsister. «This fortress was built to protect that relic, isn’t that so?»
The girl raised an eyebrow, then turned around and opened her palm: the little crystal detached itself from the skeleton’s chest and flew in her hand. «The Night’s Idol… It’s the most ancient and powerful relic of the Nightsisters Clan.» She turned back to the Jedi. «Were you looking for this?»
Herran slowly nodded. «Yes. We had to make sure of its existence.»
«You did, now you can leave.» The Nightsister opened her palm and the relic went slowly back to its original place. «Don’t get any ideas: only a Nightsister can extract the relic without waking up the guardians. If they did wake up, not even the Force could save you. And now…» The next moment she was right before him, just inches away from his face. «Get lost!»
The second Masters Nima and Kyrelia turned on their lightsaber, a horrible sneer distorted the girl’s face. The Jedi Masters attacked her, but the Nightsister blocked their lightsabers with the Force, her body raising meters over the ground, before crushing into the floor with a scream, which generated a Force explosion. The three of them were sent flying tens meters away. Herran stood up and turned on his lightsaber, launching himself at her. Nima and Kyrelia did the same. The Nightsister let them get near, her eyes lighting up with a creepy red light, then, as the trio lowered their lightsabers on her, her body moved accordingly, avoiding all the hits.
Her connection to the Force makes her almost untouchable…
It was almost exasperating the way in which the Nightsister was dodging the three Jedi’s blows. Sometimes she used the Force, pushing away her aggressors. Slowly but surely the Nightsister was reaching the two statues. It was too late when Herran realized her intentions. He had no time to speak up, a new sneer was already appearing on her face as she hit the ground with her hand. The floor beneath their feet shattered, forcing the Jedi to retreat slightly. The Nightsister turned to the two guardians, raised her hands and started to sing. The chanting was low and vibrant.
Kyrelia realized immediately the danger they were into. «She’s waking up the guardians!»
They would have never reached her in time. The Force, with which she had soaked the ground, was still changing the floor beneath their feet: huge cracks were opening between them and the Nightsister and proper mountains were forming right before their eyes. Herran never saw a power like this. Perhaps, however, there was a way to use her own weapons. He couldn’t detect any usage of the dark side, it was simply the Force… In its purest form.
Herran knelt down, laid his hands on the ground and focused, instilling the soil with the Force. The room started to shake beneath his hands. He heard his mother’s voice calling his name, but when he opened his eyes again, from under his hands, a huge crack broke the ground, rapidly reaching the Nightsister, who was taken aback. The two statues, which had started to slowly move, stopped again, while the girl backed away from the earthquake.
Herran was so focused on what he was doing that he didn’t notice his mother’s hands, which gripped his wrists, forcefully raising his palms from the ground. The Force, which since moments ago had been directed to the floor, exploded around them, throwing the three Jedi away from one another. Herran went straight against a wall. The backlash was so strong to cut his air out of his lungs. The ground didn’t shake anymore, but it was difficult for him to stand up. He must have taken a good blow to the head. Then he realized that it was something totally different. It seemed like his thoughts weren’t his anymore. He was feeling weaker by the moment and his head was hurting really badly. Herran fell to his knees, taking his head between his hands, while hundreds of thousands of thoughts invaded his mind.
He felt a presence before him and forced himself to open his eyes: the Nightsister was two steps away from him, one hand raised at his head level and her red eyes blazing with power. She was literally reading his mind! The pain was near to being unbearable, forcing him to close his eyes again. Herran heard the two Masters’ voice calling him, their footsteps nearer and nearer, but the Nightsister didn’t even turn around. She let them get as near as possible, then abruptly moved her hand and the Force sent the two flying again.
Herran had to do something! He felt that if he didn’t stop her in time, he would have gone completely mad. He struggled to open his eyes again and looked around. He had lost his lightsaber, but it couldn’t be that far away from him, could it? Cold drops of sweat dripped onto his eyes, blurring his vision. He searched carefully the ground around them, until, finally, the green light of the moon was reflected by something made of metal. Herran moved slowly, trying not to draw the Nightsister’s attention to him, he opened his hand and clung on the Force. The lightsaber timidly turned in his direction, but he needed more energy in order to call it to him. Fighting against the pain, while focusing on the Force, was not at all easy. He wasn’t the best Padawan in wielding the Force, but in that moment he was really struggling to hear its whisper.
Please… Please… Please…!
The Force suddenly whirled around him, answering the Jedi need, and the lightsaber flew in his hands. He turned it on and he swung it over his head. The Nightsister, taken aback, backed away just in time: a second more and she would be missing a hand. She took a defensive stance, while Herran shook his head clear and stood up, spinning his lightsaber and readying himself for battle. He didn’t know why she wanted to read his mind specifically, but he was starting to understand why Jedi wanted that relic so badly. The Nightsisters were powerful enough already. Their connection with the Force was way more powerful than that of any Jedi. Having embraced both sides of the Force granted them extraordinary powers… Terrible, but still extraordinary.
«Neris.» Whispered suddenly the Nightsister. «My name is Neris.»
Why is she telling me this?
She slowly walked toward him, who lowered his lightsaber. «You’re one interesting Jedi, Herran Lonestar. Son of a Jedi Master and a smuggler, you have a strong connection with the Force, but, as I can see, you’re sure the opposite is true. Maybe, being a Jedi is not the right path for you. I could teach you a lot of things, Herran.»
At those words he raised his lightsaber at her. «I will never join you! I’m a Jedi.»
Neris smiled and, without showing any fear for the lightsaber, moved closer to him, gently caressing his cheek. «So you say, but your mind is confused, doubtful. Your curiosity for me, for my powers, betrays you. Think about it, Jedi.» She turned toward Nima and Kyrelia and raised the three of them in the air. «Anyway, now, it’s time for you to go.»
When the Nightsister hit the ground with her hand, the three Jedi suddenly found themselves thrown before their ship. Herran was really dumbfounded: that girl had such extraordinary powers. But what she said about his connection with the Force had no sense at all. He was probably one of the worst Force wielder. He could hear its whisper, but that was it, it never got any stronger. Herran had to meditate three times more than the others in order to connect with the Force. He had to focus twice as hard than the other Padawan to use the Force in a fight. What happened against the Nightsister was a perfect example of that! He hadn’t been able to shield his mind in time, allowing her to break through his barriers and to easily have access to his thoughts.
A hand appeared before him and he looked up, meeting the smiling and playful face of Master Nima. «Well done in there, Padawan.»
Kyrelia clicked her tongue. «Do not be lenient, Nima.»
«And you should not be that severe, Master Kyrelia.» Nima gently reproached her. «If it weren’t for him, we should have fought the two guardians.»
His mother looked at him, her eyes worried. «The way you used the Force… It wasn’t part of the Jedi teachings.»
Herran shrugged. «It was the only way to stop her.»
«We are Jedi!» Kyrelia reminded him of that, shaking his shoulders. «We have to be better than those creatures.»
He angrily shoved away her hands. «You talk about them as they were monsters! Do you ever stop for a second to think that perhaps if we tried to communicate with them, instead of fighting them, we could actually learn something more about the Force and how to wield it?»
It was as fast as a lighting, he didn’t see her hand moving, but a second later she had slapped him right across the face. Herran stepped back shocked. For the first time in his life, he was really frightened by his mother. He was used to see disappointment in her eyes, but, in that moment, the light which was lighting them was more like disgust and hatred.
«Those are Sith!» Snarled Kyrelia, moving so close to him that their breaths mingled. «I never want to hear you say that we should communicate with our enemies ever again. The only thing Jedi can do with such creatures is to exterminate them.»
«Careful, Master Kyrelia.» Nima’s voice was strangely low. «Only a Sith deals in absolutes.»
Kyrelia shoot daggers at Nima, then turned around without uttering another word and boarded the ship. Master Nima shook her head with a sigh. As it seemed, she was used to his mother’s rage. She gently smiled at him again, then followed Kyrelia on the ship. Herran shot a look behind him, toward the abandoned fortress. His eyes fell on a far away figure. His heart hastened its pace: it was the Nightsister, he could feel her power from that distance. He had no intention of wasting such an opportunity to learn more about the Force, just because his mother was as strict as a metallic pole. He would have found a way back to Dathomir in order to learn the ways of the Nightsisters. He wanted to improve as a Force wielder. He wanted to become a good Jedi… No, better now, the best of his generation! He wanted to protect the Galaxy and the Republic and the only way to achieve that goal was to meet up and have a good chat with his new friend Neris.
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Coruscant - 30 years to the battle
Herran never run as much as he did in the last years. He found the perfect crime partner in Master Kai-Dar Vantos, who was a particularly powerful Jedi, very curious and clever. When he had heard about the failed mission on Dathomir, he had asked about it to the two Masters, who had given him evasive answers. Herran, on the other hand, had stepped up to him and had told him everything, as well as his intention of going back to Dathomir, in order to learn something more from that Nightsister. So, every spare moment Kai had, the two of them met on his ship and left for Dathomir. His mother was convinced by Kai’s gentle and kind manners… And, of course, he didn’t even go near the word Nightsister. Herran had told him his mother would never agree to let him go back to Dathomir, whereas Kai was very much interested in learning more about this particular Force wielders.
He was more late than usual that day. His mother had kept him focused on the meditation. He had improved a lot during those two years and he had also Neris to thank for that. She had explained to him that, some times, it was easier to connect to the dark side to the Force, exactly as he did on Dathomir, while trying to stop her. The planet’s core was dark as were the creatures that lived on it. Any Force wielder, being it a Jedi or a Sith, could easily connect to the dark side on Dathomir. Of course, the atmosphere gave a certain advantage to the Nightsisters and other witches, but anyone who had even the smallest orientation to the dark side could benefit from it.
Herran still could not believe he had a tendency to the dark side. He was a Jedi. Yes, he’s father was no war hero as his mother, but still he wasn’t a Sith. His father wasn’t even a Force wielder. Despite all of this, his lessons with Neris were paying off and he was improving as a Force wielder. For that same reason Kyrelia was keeping a close eye on his missions. Herran just reached the rank of Master, gaining more action freedom, but his mother’s eyes could easily see everything and everywhere and she had quite the influence on the Jedi Council. Kyrelia did not take long to find his son’s improvements suspicious. She had literally interrogated him, but Herran had simply answered that Master Kai’s training was paying off.
Kai-Dar Vantos was known as a pretty strict Master, but he was also capable and skilled. He way preferred diplomacy to battle, but underestimating him would lead any enemy to certain death. Kai distinguished himself from other Jedi for his omnipresent calm aura, Herran himself never saw him angry and there were Jedi who doubted the origins of such calmness.
Finally, he was able to reach the hangars and Master Kai-Dar Vantos’ ship. The Jedi was waiting for him in meditation, his body lifted midair. «I was just asking myself when you would show up, Master Herran.»
Herran bended over himself, trying to catch his own breath. «I’m very sorry, Master Kai-Dar, my mother held me back.»
«Kai will do.» The Jedi corrected him, getting his feet on the ground again and smiling at him. «Shall we go?»
Herran boarded the ship and sat in the co-pilot chair. The gate closed behind their back and Kai started the ignition procedures. Herran surreptitiously observed him: despite his tardiness, the Jedi was smiling and calm, while he turned on his ship. Herran knew Kai had been his mother’s Padawan. They were few years apart from one another. He vaguely remembered him when he was a Padawan and, if the memory didn’t fail him, Kai didn’t change a bit. He had always been like that.
«Does your mother suspect something, Herran?» Kai asked suddenly, making him jolt on his seat, focused as he was on studying him. «It’s the third time she holds you back with absurds excuses.»
Herran’s eyes flew to the floor, embarrassed. «Well, I cannot simply tell her the truth, can I?»
«Stubbornness is a fatal flaw, Master Herran.» The ship detached itself from the ground and Herran felt the usual void in the stomach. «Master Kyrelia has always been stubborn and I fear that, sooner or later, her way of doing will kill her. Being a grey Jedi doesn’t mean having Sith’s convictions and Jedi’s morals.»
He’s not just calm, he’s also quite wise.
Herran didn’t say it out loud, but his admiration for that man grew stronger. The ship left Coruscant’s atmosphere and Kai turned on the hyperspace jump, direction Dathomir.
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Dathomir - 30 years to the battle
The ship landed on its usual spot, at a safe distance from the Nightsisters’ fortress. Herran left Kai to finish off the engine shutdown procedures and got off the ship. Neris was already waiting for him. A smile naturally appeared on his lips and Herran broke into a run, reaching her. The Nightsister greeted him in a friendly manner, but her face clouded over the moment she saw Kai. The two of them still didn’t get along well. Neris was frustrated by Kai’s exasperating calmness, while Kai was always way too happy to see her. Kai usually used to follow them around during their training, but that day he had decided to stay behind. Kai explained to Herran, wearing his usual gentle smile, that the ship had some problems jumping in the hyperspace. Maybe the shields weren’t a hundred percent functional and he wanted to give them a check-up.
Herran shrugged, waved him good buy and followed Neris. He right away knew where she was taking him. Right where everything had started, to the old abandoned fortress. Between them and their target stood a cliff, which they had to climb to reach their destination. Neris showed off her strong connection with Dathomir itself, climbing up the hill as easily as she would draw a breath. The mountain modified itself, offering her hand and foot holds. She didn’t even slip once. Neris arrived on the top, then leaned out and signaled to him to reach her. Herran took two steps back, kneeled down, closed his eyes and laid his hands on the ground. He focused on the pulsing core of the planet, on the energy which flowed around him, on the power of the dark side of the Force, allowing it to flood his body. The light side of the Force felt like a cool breeze on a day of scorching heat, while the dark side… It was more like as if the blood in the veins caught fire. It was a burning power, intense and untamed. It was the best feeling he had ever experienced. A Jedi knew well that they were human and vulnerable, but when the dark side took over the light side the perception changed and it made you feel like you became unstoppable. Herran opened his eyes again, which were blazing with the power of the dark side of the Force, and launched himself at the cliff. He ordered the mountain to bow at his will, as Neris did before, and it answered. He easily found holds to cling to and in less then half a minute he climbed to the top. The first time he had done it, Herran had struggled a lot to reach the top, risking more than once to slip and fall to his death. Thanks to the dark side of the Force, this time, he had it easy. Herran shot Neris a glance, proud of his work and the Nightsister nodded clearly pleased. She signaled him to follow her: the training had just begun.
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Kai watched the two set off for their training, smiled and went back on the ship, looking for the right tools. The malfunction was not as serious as to be a threat to their life, but loosing the hyperspace jump would cause him more than a headache, since he wouldn’t have found any spare parts in the nearest planets and, clearly, Dathomir was completely devoid of it.
It was very hot on that planet, despite the sun being almost always covered by heavy red clouds. Working closely to the still burning engines did not make the situation any easier. Luckily he quickly found the problem: a fuse had shorted out. Kai heaved a sigh of relief: it was not a fuse strictly necessary to activate the hyperspace jump, but it had to be replaced anyway. If the fuse had caught fire, damaging other more important components, the ship could have suddenly broken apart.
Kai quickly replaced the destroyed fuse, then he stepped away from the ship, looking in the direction where Herran and the Nightsister had taken off. That boy really did fall for that witch. Kai chuckled softly and shook his head, knowing Kyrelia would have gone mad, if she just knew about their escapades. He had been her Padawan, he knew her well enough and he did not lie to Herran, when he had told him that his mother’s stubbornness would have killed her, sooner or later. It wasn’t wrong studying other Force wielder species. The Nightsisters Clan was well known in the Galaxy for their knowledge on the dark side of the Force. Deepening their knowledge on the functioning and potential of other Force wielder could actually lead the Jedi to gain an additional advantage in battle… If the two sides ever found themselves moving war to one another.
Kai closed his eyes and probed the planet using the Force. The so-called Force Echo was a very particular ability, which allowed the Force wielders to pick on the presence of other people, even on wide distances. The more powerful the Force wielder, the wider the range of research would expand. There was another, more advanced, version of this same ability, but it was more rare and exclusive of some witches. Perhaps Neris could have taught some interesting tricks to Herran.
It was right at that moment that Kai noticed something moving toward him. He focused on that moving red point and he was startled at seeing it was a kid, who couldn’t be older than eight or nine years old. It wasn’t just the direction which caught Kai’s attention, anyway, but also the fluctuation of the Force around him. That kid was very powerful.
Kai opened his eyes, boarded the ship again, took something to eat and drink and sat down on a rock, waiting for the kid’s arrival. He drank up an entire liter of water and sank his teeth in the peace of dried meat, which he had brought as a snack. He began to see a tiny black dot approaching from quite a distance.
Well, look at him… He’s quite fast.
The kid never stopped running. He was clearly coming from the Nightsisters’ fortress. That little kid really did have an incredible endurance. Or perhaps, more probably, he was using the Force to sustain himself. He was clever and had a good connection with the Force. At that age was quite impressive. Finally, his figure became gradually clearer. He wasn’t very tall… Actually, he was probably lower compared to his peers, but, despite this, he had an imposing presence to himself. His eyes were far to be docile and calm. The kid was continuously looking behind his back, as he feared someone had followed him. He was worried, but also certain of the decision he had taken.
He stopped about ten meters away from Kai. «Are you a Jedi?»
The kid had straight run for many kilometers, but despite this his voice was steady and his breathing perfectly normal. «It depends… Who are you?»
«My name is Eriaar.» The kid introduced himself, getting near. «I’m a Nightbrother.»
Kai raised an eyebrow. «Nightbrothers are not born Force sensitive.»
«I’m different.»
That was quite obvious, my boy.
«A smile was instantly born on his lips. «Fine, let’s say I am a Jedi… What would you want from me?»
Eriaar, at that point, threw himself at his feet, clinging to his robe. «Get me out of here! They want to kill me! I can feel it! The Force showed me your arrival…»
Force Vision! Master Shael Corin’s ability!
The kid was holding onto his robe so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. «I’m begging you… I don’t want to die. I want to learn how to wield the Force, how to fight and to study in order to become a Jedi.»
The Force had brought Eriaar to him, Kai was sure of this, leaving the kid on Dathomir would have been a true betrayal. «Grab a wrench and help me. I need to finish with the ship’s reparation, if we want to reach Coruscant alive and well.»
Eriaar’s face lit up with relief. «Yes, sir!»
«Master.» Kai corrected the kid, standing up and brushing his robes. «Eriaar… You do need a surname… Let me think…» He knew how to use Force Vision, as Master Shael, so… «Eriaar Shehol! Yes, it sounds perfect for you! You’ll be my first Padawan!»
«Yes, Master!»
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By the time Herran came back to the ship, the sun had already set and had already been replaced by Dathomir’s green moon. Neris was walking beside him and she was praising him for the great work he had done that day. He really improved since their last training session. Herran himself could feel the power growing inside of him day by day. He would go to bed at night and wake up more powerful than when he had closed his eyes the evening before. Additionally he was learning a lot about the Nightsisters Clan and their culture. The woman leading their entire society was called Mother Talzin. She was the one to take every decision and to guide the Nightsisters’ every move. Moreover, their warriors were the Nightbrothers, their role was mainly protecting the Nightsisters and their fortress. The Force wielding, however, and the abilities connected to it were exclusive to women. Neris told him about a Nightbrother, a twelve years old kid, who was born Force sensitive. Mother Talzin was thinking whether to kill him or just exile him… In both cases, the kid would have died anyway.
Neris didn’t seem to agree with such a decision. She was training Herran, after all, and he was not just a Jedi, natural enemies to the Nightsisters, but also a Force sensitive man. She was different. Neris saw allies where everybody else saw enemies… Kinda like him! He would have never gave up her friendship and her guidance. Herran had been pondering this feelings for months now. The Jedi Order forbade any sort of attachment, which could intact the lucidity and the coldness typical of a Jedi. There was no absolute ban regarding relationships, but they were highly discouraged.
I don’t care… I do like Neris.
The pair reached the ship, before he could gather up enough courage to confess her his feelings. Additionally, his attention was drawn to Master Kai, who was again floating midair, while a kid was working on the ship.
«Kai? Who’s that?»
The kid, feeling all the attention on himself, stopped his work and turned toward Herran to answer him, but the instant he saw Neris, all the blood drained from his face. Beside him, the Nightsister hold her breath: she had recognized the kid. Kai, meanwhile, was back on his feet and the kid rushed to him, covering behind his robes. The Jedi never stopped smiling, but the light in eyes slightly changed. Kai was studying Neris’ reaction, waiting for her response. Herran knew Kai well enough to know that, as powerful as she was, the Jedi would have been able to contain her powers, perhaps even nullify them. There was a precise reason behind Kai’s decision to follow him on Dathomir. He had studied the Nightsister from afar. Herran knew this because he had seen his notebook. Somehow he was able to obtain information on the Nightsisters Clan, without approaching their fortress at all. Yes, he usually used to follow them in their training sessions, but he was never near enough to hear what they were talking about, since Neris never trusted him. The how, however, wasn’t important right now. What actually worried Herran was the fact that Kai, almost certainly, had already found a way to counteract the Nightsisters’ powers.
The air between them turned electric, but, one more time, Kai amazed him, relaxing his shoulders and smiling at the pair. «You trained a lot today.»
«What is Eriaar doing here?»
«Eriaar is coming with me.» Kai answered simply, extending his arm as to protect the kid behind him. «He wishes to train to become a Jedi. He’s my first Padawan ever, you know? You won’t mind parting with him, since Mother Talzin intends to kill him.»
Neris grew stone still at those words. «How do you know about Mother Talzin?»
«I know a lot of things, Nightsister.» Kai certainly had no intention of revealing his abilities to his adversary and, instead, he flashed another kind smile at her. «You keep training Herran and I’ll take care of little Eriaar here.»
Neris, contrary on Herran’s worries, closed the discussion with a nonchalant gesture of her hand. «Do as you want, Jedi, I don’t care and the same goes for the other Nightsisters.» She then smiled to Herran. «We’ll se each other next time, Herran.»
That said she simply disappeared before their eyes. Kai clapped his hands and laughed, turning to the kid and asking him if he had finished with the reparations. Eriaar confirmed with a nod of his head and Kai took him by the hand, also calling for Herran. It was time to go back to Coruscant. The Force swirled strongly around Eriaar, but a weird heavy feeling rose in Herran’s chest.
I’ve got a bad feeling…
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Coruscant - 30 Years
Herran turned to look at the new entry once more. Eriaar Shehol was so small, that his feet didn’t even reach the ground, when he was sitting on his seat. Yet, he told them he was twelve years old. He surely was an unusual Nightbrother. He wasn’t only born Force sensitive, but he was also of smaller constitution compared to others warrior. Herran knew that the kid was the one Neris mentioned to him and he was relieved that the Nightsister had not attacked Kai, but how could explain that kid to the council? They would have had to talk about Dathomir.
My mother’s in the council…
Kai, obviously, was calmness itself. He had tried to calm Herran during their journey back home, promising him that he would have thought about something, but Eriaar had pleaded with his Master not to lie. It was true that Eriaar wasn’t particularly proud of being a Nightbrother, but to reject his origins wouldn’t make him a better Jedi. Kai had actually agreed with him and now Herran was beside himself with worry.
Eriaar’s presence, obviously, draw the attention of various Jedi. The trio had no chance to even reach the dining hall, that Master Nima appeared before them, scaring the soul out of Herran and Eriaar, who was fast at hide himself behind Kai.
He’s not very brave…
He shook his head immediately, changing idea. It was wrong of him to judge him so harshly, without actually getting to know him better. The kid was able to run away from the Nightsisters’ fortress. Neris had told him that the fortress was a proper labyrinth, built that way in order to make intruders lose, while giving an advantage to the Nightbrothers. Eriaar had admitted himself to never being able to join the Nightbrothers’ training. They had always despised him for being born Force sensitive. He was dangerously undernourished, since he could only ate the family’s leftovers… And more often than not there weren’t any. Days could pass before Eriaar could eat something again, even weeks if he was unlucky. Eriaar had learned how to survive and keep himself stable using the Force, but the nutrients’ lack had slowed down his growth. That was the reason behind him seeming so small and childish.
It had been Herran the one who convinced Kai to visit the dining hall to make Eriaar eat something. The kid could not even remember the last time he had eaten. He wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer, even if his connection with the Force was the one thing keeping him alive and active. That also explained the feeling that the Force was literally wrapping around Eriaar, because that was exactly what was happening! The kid had learned to use the Force as a nutrient in order to survive. Yes, it hadn’t made him grow, but at least he hadn’t starved to death.
When they had asked him how he had been able to navigate through the labyrinth, which was the Nightsisters’ fortress, Eriaar had answered that the Force had showed him the way. The Nightsisters’ blood was flowing strongly through his veins. He did not only have the Vision of the Force, but also the Guide of the Force! Those abilities could easily save a Jedi’s life. Master Nima was a portent in finding ways out, all thanks to the Guide of the Force ability. Master Shael Corin, on the other hand, was skilled in the Vision of the Force ability, thanks to which he could foresee the nearest future. Those who possessed this ability could also receive a prophecy from the Force, but it had not happened for thousands of years now.
Nima looked the two Jedi from head to toe, before casting her eyes on Eriaar, who tried to make himself invisible behind Master Kai. She didn’t ask questions and simply warned them that the council had urgently called for them to talk about their way too frequent secret missions. Nima went to call a Padawan, who would have taken care of Eriaar, but Kai gently asked to let them escort the kid in the dining hall. After that, they would have gone directly to the council hall. Herran was pretty sure Nima would deny her consent, but, instead, the woman surprised him, shrugging and telling them to make haste. Nima said her greetings and walked away, smiling at Eriaar, still hidden behind Kai.
Herran completely panicked at that point. His mother would have locked him up in the Jedi Temple and they would have also took the rank of Master away from him… He would never see Neris again! He could not let that happen. A hand was placed on his head and Herran turned to look at Kai, who was calmly smiling at him. A sense of peace and quiet wrapped around him as a warm blanket. It was one of Master Kai’s abilities. Psychic Resonance allowed him not only to control and modify ones emotions, but also to see someone’s memories, no matter how blurred they were. Kai knew well enough to use that ability carefully. The receiver’s mind could be sealed by powerful mental barriers, breaking through them could cause grave damage to the psyche. On the other hand, being able to calm down an agitated person was very useful and didn't have any serious side effects.
They left Eriaar eating in the dining room. The kid launched himself at the food the moment it was brought to him. Kai had stopped another Master and had asked him to lead the kid to his room, when he would have finished eating. After all he had done to survive and run away from the Nightsisters, he had to be exhausted as well as famished. Eriaar also had worried himself over the fact his presence could have caused problems to the two Jedi Masters, but Kai, with his usual and well known calmness, had reassured him. Sooner or later, it still would have happened, Master Kyrelia, after all, was not stupid enough not to ask questions. Herran just hoped that, seeing Kai’s absolute calmness, he actually had a very convincing speech ready up his sleeves. His mother would not have overseen over their fling without receiving a good reason for their actions.
The doors to the Jedi Council swung wide open and the two Masters marched into the room. Kai was calm, his head held high, the bearing proud, Herran was two steps behind, his head drooping and his eyes flying everywhere but on his mother. He was guilt incarnated. A Jedi should have never found himself in such a situation. Lying and making use of the dark side of the Force were crimes punishable by expulsion from the Order. He felt Kyrelia’s eyes burning his skin.
The feeling of calmness became stronger, sign that Kai had amplified his technique’s power to keep him calm. At that point, Herran asked himself if he, perhaps, used his own technique on himself. It was impossible to find such a calm character as his in nature. Saying he never got angry was an understatement! It wasn’t just that, anyway. Kai seemed to be completely emotionless, if not for that absolute calmness of his. He never cried; He was never scared; he was never envious or jealous of other Jedi. If he wasn’t using Psychic Resonance on himself, there must have been another trick behind all of it.
«Masters, thanks for coming here on such a short notice.» Started Master Valen Korr, the Jedi at the head of the council. «Someone reported to us that you came back with a child, is that so?»
Kai stepped up and smiled: now that he knew him better, that smile was starting to become creepier by the day. «His name is Eriaar Shehol. He’s a good and skilled kid. His connection with the Force is really extraordinary.»
Master Elera clapped her hands once, drawing the attention on herself. «And do tell me where did you find this child prodigy?»
Herran tensed up under Kyrelia’s inquiring gaze, she seemed pretty taken by the conversation. «Is it really of any importance? The kid is Force sensitive and he has asked to…»
«He’s a Nightbrother.» Kai interrupted him, raising a hand. «He ran away from the Nightsisters’ fortress, where Mother Talzin was thinking about killing him.»
Two seconds of pure silence passed, then Kyrelia leapt from her seat, slamming her hands on the table. «You went back on Dathomir? Without letting the council know? Master Kai-Dar Vantos, I expected much more from you.»
The light in Kai’s eyes radically changed and his smile grew cold. «Master Kyrelia, studying other Force wielder, who, as you well know, do exist in our Galaxy, it’s vital for the Jedi Order. Hating them and fighting against them just pushes them to join the Sith Order.»
Master Serenn slowly nodded her agreement. «I cannot but agree with you, Master Kai.»
«This said, nothing still explains Master Herran’s presence on Dathomir.» Murmured Master Thal. «Master Herran, do tell me, is there a reason for you to go to Dathomir? Master Kyrelia told us about your huge improvements in your training. Your connection with the Force suddenly became so much stronger. Do your journeys on Dathomir have something to with that, perhaps?»
Herran tried to shrank himself.
How do I answer this? What do I say? If they find out a Nightsister is training me, they’ll freak out!
This time, instead of getting him in even more trouble, Kai decided to help him. «Master Herran is vital for this mission. He was able to gain a Nightsister’s trust and it’s thank to him that we could gather important informations about the Nightsisters Clan. I ask you the chance to let us finish what we started.»
Kyrelia shook her head. «It’s out of the question! The Nightsister you’re referring to tried to kill us.»
«Just because we were trying to steal her relic!» Herran felt immediately the need to defend her. «Jedi do that too! We protect our relics, even if that means killing the intruders.»
«That may be true, but as Jedi we do not make use of the dark side of the Force.» Herran took a step back, seeing Master Thal’s look become darker. «You should never forget our rules, Master Herran. The fact that you’re young won’t save you from being expelled from the Jedi Order, if we were to know that you do make use of the dark side of the Force.»
Herran wanted to stand up for himself, but Kai rested a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. «That’s fine.» He then turned to the Jedi Council. «I’ll guarantee for Master Herran’s good intentions and I ask to take Eriaar Shehol as my Padawan.»
Master Valen slowly sighed. «And so be it, but from now on you’ll need to report after every mission and Master Thal will submit Master Herran to a series of tests, to ascertain his loyalty.»
Herran saw Kai bow his head in compliance, but he was not ready to do the same. Master Thal knew practically everything about the dark side of the Force and not knowing which test he was talking about made him anxious. He saw his mother glaring at him, clearly waiting for his positive response. Accepting those conditions was already a test by itself. Herran closed his eyes and took several deep breaths, then bowed his head. The air in the room suddenly became less heavy and Herran was dismissed. Kai asked him to find Eriaar and tell him about the council’s decisions. Herran nodded. After everything Kai had done for him in the last few years, he owned him that much. Yes, he did put him in a difficult position with the council, but he also defended his improvements and his presence on Dathomir. Kai had also used the Psychic Resonance ability to keep him calm and give him confidence.
I need to know more about this tests… Someone must know something, right?
He wanted to directly go to the Ancient Masters’ Archives, where all the knowledge the Jedi have gathered over the millennia could be found, but he had promised Kai to take care of Eriaar. He needed to stay calm. The more he strayed from Kai and the less power his Psych Resonance ability had on him. He stopped abruptly. Kai didn’t use his power to help him, but just because he knew that if Herran had panicked, the Jedi Council would have never accepted Eriaar…
White Jedi where? He’s not calm, he’s… Cold.
His heart started beating forcefully, while Kai’s mask shattered piece after piece, revealing the true nature of that Jedi. There were no tricks, he was like that. He was not simply calm, he was literally emotionless! He felt nothing, but sometimes he was forced to mask it, in order to get along with society. Kai knew Neris was teaching Herran to connect to the dark side of the Force and how to use that power. He had a fast and sharp cleverness, so, maybe, he already knew that Eriaar’s arrival would have drawn the Jedi Council’s attention. The look Kai had sent over to his mother, when she had dared to scold him… It gave him the chills right now.
Now that he thought back to other situations, that Jedi really frightened him. He had never noticed before, but Kai-Dar Vantos was always present in the background, silent and invisible, hidden in plain sight. Whatever happened, he was there and he wrote notes on his notepad. He was the Jedi who perfectly knew every council member. He could easily tell anecdotes from their lives as he was the one to live them. The Jedi usually admired this skill of his, but they were completely blind to the danger that it hid. Kai had learned all their weaknesses. His coldness and lack of emotions made him capable of everything.
How is it possible that no one is noticing this? No one is thinking about it? They all really just stop at admiring him?
The Force swirled around him and its whisper flooded his mind. Kai’s main ability was the Psych Resonance, he could modify what others were feeling at his own will… Herran shook his head: no, it couldn’t be it. Using any type of power on such a wide range and continuously would have drained any Jedi. No, there must have been another explanation, Kai must have found another way to hide his true nature. Maybe, it was enough for him to change the Jedi’s perception of him the first time they had met. Now that he thought about that, he had heard his mother, Kyrelia, talking about Kai, when he was still just a Padawan, and even she had felt something was off with him. Ten minutes later, anyway, she had already and totally changed her mind.
Yes! Now I've got it!
The moment Kai sensed that someone was suspicious of him, he used the Psych Resonance to modify the person’s sentiments toward himself. This way, he didn’t need to continuously use his power or amplify it to the point to drain himself to death. Kai was way more clever than what he showed. At this point, Herran wasn’t even sure if Kai was actually a Jedi.
He closed his eyes and fortified his connection with the dark side of the Force, letting its power flood him. His heart slowed its pace and his mind cleared slightly. Kai was not a Sith, that much was obvious. He had never broken any rule and he did not make use of the dark side of the Force, even if he had studied its wielder. Moreover, if he really had meant to destroy the Jedi Order, taking a Padawan and saving him from joining the Sith Order wouldn’t have any sense. Master Kai-Dar Vantos was not evil, but he certainly was not a white Jedi, as everyone depicted him. Now that Herran’s connection with the Force had improved, he could feel the feeble trails left behind by Kai’s mental powers in his mind. He had tried to manipulate him too.
The dark side of the Force invaded him and his eyes lit up with its power: fine, if that was Kai’s true nature, he could make good use of it, to keep on training and to protect Neris. Yes, they made a very good team! Kai’s powers would have kept the Jedi Council at bay and Herran wouldn’t have needed to worry over being exposed. He smiled, the low but powerful whisper of the dark side of the Force bringing relief to him, and resumed his path.
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«Master Kai, what exactly is on your mind?»
The question didn't surprise him at all. He knew they would have asked him that, sooner or later. Thanks to his visits to Dathomir and his powers, Kai gathered a lot of informations, not just on Nightsisters, but also on the relic they were protecting. Jedi like Kyrelia were always more. A war against the Sith Order, or any other Force wielder who was not a Jedi, could start at any given moment. The fear for diversity, the profound ignorance of the Jedi on the dark side of the Force, were all dangers not to be underestimated.
That was why Kai hadn’t said anything about his intentions. They would have never agreed on that field research. Kyrelia had returned miraculously alive from Dathomir and even Nima had been worried, although she was more reasonable than her colleague. The battle against Neris had amplified the fear and the sense of powerlessness of Kyrelia, pushing her to forbid her Padawan to even go near Dathomir.
Kai knew, thanks to his Psych Resonance ability, that Kyrelia had tried to convince the Jedi Council to action. She had been so terrified, that she had proposed to raze to the ground the Nightsisters’ fortress and to terraform Dathomir, in order to make the planet unsuitable for human life. A plan worthy of a psychotic Master as she was. Kai had never fully trusted her. He was used to take decisions on a clear and cold mind, but Kyrelia was a ticking time bomb ready to explode and when that happened, nothing good ever came out of it.
Kai smiled to her, trying to make it seem warm, but he wasn’t sure he was able to do that. Kyrelia had another thing she feared: the immediate connection between Herran and Neris. She couldn’t fight it, she knew it better than anyone. When they had come back from the first mission, Kai had overheard a chat between Nima and Kyrelia, where the last one had talked about her worries about her son. Neris had attacked all three of them, but she had opened up a little with Herran. Kai, instead of fearing the situation, had decided to use it to his advantage to gather new informations on the Nightsisters Clan. He had found out that their fortress was a labyrinth and that all the Nightsisters had to obey this Mother Talzin. He had been actually disappointed at how easy it was to break through Neris’ mental barriers, without her noticing anything at all or having any side effects. Usually, the Force wielders had some kind of mental defense, however weak it could be. However, Neris had been found guilty of arrogance, thinking to have a certain advantage on the Jedi, as long as she had remained on Dathomir.
Kai’s powers were not influenced by the planet’s atmosphere, he could use them whenever and wherever he was, at the preferred intensity. Neris had underestimated him, probably reassured by his calm and quiet character. As everyone else, she had let herself be easily fooled. He would have expected so much more from a Nightsister. He would have taught Eriaar how to recognize the danger people like him represented. Having control over the emotions was an ability overpowered only by mental control, the so called Psychic Link. From what he knew, it was one of the forbidden abilities from the Jedi Order. Using the Force to bow someone else’s will wasn’t so distant from the Sith’s methods.
Kyrelia was waiting for an answer and he knew her well enough to know which keys to press. «The relic worries me. If you had just talked about it to me, I would have gladly helped you. Its power is huge and if it’d end in the hands of an enemy Force wielder, we’d find ourself in quite a danger.»
Master Elera clapped her hands to draw the attention to her. «So you’re using the connection between Herran and the Nightsister to get to the relic?»
Kai made a face. «You make it sound like an evil plan… Let's just say their friendship is taking us a little more near to the Night Idol day bay day.»
Master Kelan’s voice surprised him: he wasn’t one who used to talk a lot and Kai knew he didn’t like him that much. «May I guess that the information you gathered had taught you to counter the Nightsisters’ powers.»
Kai smiled: he was probably the most clever Jedi in the council. «You guessed right.»
Master Valen turned to Kyrelia. «The original mission was yours, Master Kyrelia. Master Kai will teach you how to counter the Nightsisters’ powers and you’ll take us the relic.» That said, he stood up and leveled her with a cold gaze. «Your failure will not be accepted this time, Master Kyrelia. You’re part of the Jedi Council, you must be able to complete a mission.»
Kyrelia bowed her head. Kai was feeling a little sorry for his old Master. Valen walked beside him and Kai nodded in greetings. The other Masters followed him, only Kyrelia stood right were she was, her face dark. She didn’t like having her abilities questioned. Master Kyrelia was skilled in combat and had a good connection with the Force, but her position in the council had wavered since her relationship with a smuggler. After Herran had been born, Kyrelia had left her partner, taking the kid with her and letting him grow in the Jedi Temple of Coruscant.
She had never noticed that her son had a strong connection with the dark side of the Force… Or maybe she was worrying so much over him, because she did know about it. Kai perfectly knew that Herran was improving thanks to him using the dark side of the Force, but he could also feel the strong and unwavering loyalty of the kid. He was destined to become a grey Jedi, but his mother’s stubbornness could have easily pushed him completely to the dark side of the Force. Kai needed to keep a close eye on him.
He bowed slightly and turned to leave the hall, but Kyrelia’s voice stopped him. «I order you to keep my son away from Dathomir.»
«You’re not my Master anymore.» Kai reminded her, without looking back. «And the same goes for Herran. And, if I may remind you, Herran needs to go to Dathomir, if we want our plan to work.» At that point, he stood before her: Kyrelia used to tower over him, but right now Kai was ten centimeters higher than her and it was him who could look at her from upside down. «You always underestimated your son, Kyrelia. You were pushing him straight to the dark side of the Force, but I was able to take him back on the rightful path. You may keep doing the things your way, but just know that Herran would become a thorn in our side, if he were to turn, and I hate thorns.»
He shot her a cold smile, then turned and left the room. Herran had to become even more powerful! He had to terrify his mother, that was the only way to force her to reason. Kyrelia needed to crash with reality, the sooner the better.
-------
DATHOMIR - 28 years to the battle
Herran looked over at his mother: he had a very bad feeling. He was haunted by nightmares all night, but every time he woke up, memories would fade away with sleep. The Force was trying to warn him, but he wasn’t able to grasp its clues. He had walked to the ship with a heavy feeling pushing on his chest, which had become unbearable the moment he had seen his mother waiting for him and not Master Kai.
In the last three years he had made a good name out of himself as a Master. His connection to the Force had strengthen itself day by day. The Jedi Council had started to send him on more dangerous and complex missions than before, letting him work alongside living legends of the Jedi Temple: he had learned to survive in the most extreme conditions you could find on planets, following Master Nima; he had worked undercover for the Republic alongside Master Kelan; he had helped Master Kol to rewrite ancient Jedi texts; he had trained for combat with Masters Valen and Talira, improving his forms and his abilities as a warrior. At the end of the day, he had grown up a lot and he was now well-liked by everyone.
He had become good friends with Kai, despite all of his suspects on the man. Kai had never given him reason to believe him to be a Sith’s spy. The two had grown closer to each other during their visits on Dathomir. Little Eriaar always followed his Master around, but he always stood safely in the ship, every time they landed on the planet where he was born. Kai had been right with him. In less than a few months, the kid had honed his abilities of Guide of the Force and Force Vision, becoming the first Padawan to have access to the Jedi archives under the close supervision of Master Kol and the youngest to follow Master Nima in her exploration of one of the most dangerous planets of the Galaxy, believed by everyone to be totally unsuitable for human life. He had also grown in height, but the effects of his bad malnourishment, to which he was forced during his life on Dathomir, were permanent. It would have been no less than a miracle if he had reached and passed the 1.60 meters of height. Eriaar didn’t actually care about it so much and, instead, had asked Master Kelan to teach him the useful ability of Metamorphosis of the Force and he had immediately become one of the best in using it. Kai was rightfully proud of his young Padawan and Herran too had grown close to him, so much so that Eriaar had started to look at him as a big brother.
Being on Dathomir without Kai and Eriaar felt so weird to him, almost wrong. He could feel a strong interference in the Force. His mother had no good intentions, that much was obvious. Before he could ask her any questions, Kyrelia turned off the engines and stood up. Herran took a deep breath and followed her. The hatch opened on Dathomir’s usual lifeless scenario, but not on the landing spot they usually landed on. They were on top of a hill and when Herran reached the cliff, a cold shiver ran up his spine. He turned around sharply and he felt the blood draining from his face: they had landed before the ancient and abandoned fortress of the Nightsisters.
«Master Kyrelia…» Herran called her, but she was nowhere to be found. «Mother!»
The dark side whispered a single word to his mind: treason. He could feel in the distance Neris’ energy making her way to where they were, but she would have never reached them in time! They had let allowed him to continue his training on Dathomir, just to make it easier for them to take a hold of the relic. They had allowed their relationship to grow stronger, so that Neris’ trust in him would be that deep to lower her guard and not check who was on the ship with him.
Kai knew about it…
He didn’t just know about it, he was probably the one to come up with this plan. He had played the good friend all this time, just to follow him on Dathomir and keep on gathering informations to refer to the Jedi Council and Herran had been so stupid not to notice it!
The ground under his feet started shaking and he had to surround himself in a Force barrier, to avoid that some boulders, which had detached from the ceiling, could crash onto him. Her mother had woken up the Guardians. If she had done that, it meant that she had took a hold on the Night Idol. He used the Force to boost his muscles and run faster. He didn’t know whether to fear for his mother’s life or to hope that the Guardians would do their duty.
He reached the relic’s hall right on time to see Kyrelia rising from the ground, the two Guardians blocked in the Force. His mother had always been a powerful Force wielder, no wonder she was in the Jedi Council, but right now Herran was amazed by her power. It wasn’t just the intensity of the Force, which was crushing the two Guardians, but also the way she was behaving, as she already exactly knew what to do.
Again that word was burned in his mind from the dark side: treason.
Kai had trained her! He had taught her how to counter the Nightsisters’ powers, thanks to the information he had gathered on Dathomir, and how to fight the two Guardians. Herran watched powerless as his mother let out a powerful scream, letting herself fall and hitting the ground with her open palm. The Force exploded in powerful sound waves, which shook the entire structure and shattered the Guardians. Herran protected himself with the Force, but also his barrier cracked under Kyrelia’s powerful attack.
He didn't trust lowering his shield until the fortress stopped shaking and his mother stood up again. She raised a hand and Herran saw the pendant dandling from her hand. He would never permit it! The Night Idol belonged to the Nightsisters, not to the Jedi!
«Give it to me.»
Kyrelia turned to look at him. «You did good, Master Herran, thanks to you the Jedi had taken hold of a most important relic.»
Herran took his lightsaber and turned it on. «I told you to give that pendant to me.»
«Traitor!» Neris’ voice draw the attention of the two Jedi. «You used me to arrive to the pendant!»
He could not bear the light he saw in her eyes: she was furious, but more than that she was devastated at the idea that she had been betrayed. Herran squeezed convulsively his grip on the lightsaber’s handle. The Force swirled around him, who closed his eyes and reached for the dark side. He strengthened his connection with the Force, he imagined his heart pumping it to his whole body and his blood burning with its power.
He turned to his mother and, for the first time ever, he felt pure hatred for her. «Apparently, I’ll be forced to collect the relic from your dead body… Mother.»
He surrounded himself with the Force and then jumped. Kyrelia blocked the hit with her own lightsaber and it was at that moment that he saw, reflected in his mother’s eyes, his lightsaber’s color slowly changing from yellow to red. He also saw the fear and the disappointment painting Kyrelia’s face. The pain of betrayal, the anger at being made fun of, the secrets and the unorthodox methods of the Jedi, all this emotions flowed to his Kyber Crystal, corrupting his lightsaber and his soul. Herran let out a scream and used the Force to shove his mother away. The dark side raised his mother from the ground, following his hand’s movement. He looked up, his eyes lit by the Sith’s power.
«Herran…» Pleaded with chocked voice his mother. «Come… Back… Son…»
Those words just angered him even more. «Oh, now you remember that I’m your son? Not when I have asked for your sympathy? Not when I have pleaded you to help me? Not when I have asked you to put the relic back? Now I’m your son?!» He just needed a flick of his finger, to pull his mother on his lightsaber’s blade, piercing through her heart. «I am nothing to you now. Today Herran dies with his mother.»
He turned off his lightsaber and Kyrelia’s lifeless body crumbled at his feet. The Force swirled around him, pushing him toward his mother. He moved his eyes over her whole body, then noticed his own hand raising, the palm wide open and turned to the ground. His vision changed, he focused solely on his mother and, at that precise moment, he found out what his main ability was: he could see Kyrelia’s midichlorian follow her blood vessels, find a way out and raising toward his open hand. He was absorbing his mother’s midichlorian! It was a rare ability, usually used by dark Force wielders. The moment his mother’s midichlorian entered his bloodstream, his power had a spike: he had just become way more powerful than he was mere seconds before. His face distorted in a snarl: it was quite a useful ability.
He took the pendant from his mother’s hand and put it back. The boulders, which once had formed the two Guardians, started shaking. He turned to their rubbles, he kneeled down and rested his hands on the ground, infusing them with the dark side of the Force. The boulders raised from the ground, going back to their original spots, rebuilding the two Guardians like a puzzle. When he opened his eyes again, Neris stood before him.
The Nightsister rested a hand over his head. «You are born again today, you need a new name. From today on you will be known around the Galaxy as Darth Zarrus, the Guardian of the power.»
-------
Kai watched Herran’s ship leaving Dathomir. With him, there was no trace of Master Kyrelia’s energy, but there was the Nightsister Neris’ energy. He could also feel the change in Herran. He was no longer a Jedi. As he had predicted, Kyrelia’s stubbornness had pushed the boy to turn at the dark side of the Force. There was something else, though, that worried him: Herran had become suddenly way more powerful. He had to find out what happened.
He took Eriaar’s hand and the two entered the abandoned fortress. The child leaded him through the maze of corridors, avoiding dangerous zone or the ones who were blocked by rubbles, caused by the earthquakes which had shaken the entire Dathomir. They emerged in a huge empty hall, lit with difficulty by the rays of Dathomir’s sun. The kid pulled on his sleeve and Kai followed his gaze: at the feet of a throne, on which sat a creepy skeleton with a pendant dandling from its neck, laid Kyrelia’s body.
Kai ran to her and kneeled beside her, pulling her on his lap. «Master…»
A part of him felt sad about her death, but he had been expecting this end for quite some time. It had been a lightsaber to kill her. Kai sighed and rested Kyrelia’s body on the ground, before focusing on the battlefield. He closed his eyes and used the ability of Reenactment of the Force to watch the battle which had taken place right there. It had been Herran the one to kill his mother. He could feel the sense of betrayal, which had pushed Herran to attack: he had felt used, not only from Kyrelia, but from the entire Jedi Order. He could also perceive Herran’s hatred for him.
He slowly sighed and shook his head. «So this is the path you chose for yourself, Darth Zarrus…»
«Master?» Eriaar’s voice brought back his attention to the Jedi’s corpse. «What’s this?»
The kid was pointing at the Ring of the Eternal Force, the relic which was given to Kyrelia the day she became a member of the Jedi Council. The Kyber Crystal embedded in the ring was very powerful and could amplify the powers of whoever wore it. It had but one condition: it accepted one owner at a time. Kyrelia was dead and the ring needed a new owner.
Kai carefully slid the ring off Kyrelia’s neck, before wearing it himself: its power flooded him, boosting his senses and his connection with the Force. He observed his Master’s body more carefully and he noticed the total lack of something really important for a Force wielder.
Her midichlorian… Herran absorbed them? He developed the ability of Quantum Absorption?
This could explain the spike he felt in Darth Zarrus’ power. Quantum Absorption was an ability forbidden by the Jedi Council. To steal a Force wielder from their midichlorian was no less than blasphemy and not only for Jedi. There were some Sith that forbade the use of such an ability to their Adepts. Darth Zarrus had just become a thorn in his side.
He stood up and took Eriaar’s hand again. «We must go back to Coruscant and warn the Jedi Council about Master Kyrelia's death and failure.»
His Padawan followed him, docile. «Master, shouldn't we take the Night Idol with us?»
«No, Jedi were wrong to wish for it.» The most clever thing to do was leaving it to the Nightsisters, the true owners of that relic. «It just brought death and tragedy on our Order. Forget about the Night Idol, Eriaar.»
Eriaar kept his eyes on the relic way too long for his liking, before raising them on Kai and smile at him. «Yes, Master.»
«Eriaar, you will become a great Jedi.» He promised him, tightening his grip on his hand. «And you will do with your own strength, without needing to rely on a relic, is that clear?
«Of course, Master.»
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