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_ "What greater weapon is there than to turn an enemy to your cause? To use their own knowledge against them?" _

~Bastila Shan

Time had all but stopped for Kajex.

Some instinctive part of him wanted to cling to this moment. The last time he'd seen Locke face-to-face, the white wolf had been injured and bleeding, his eyes soft and kind. It wasn't the face of an enemy, but a face of kin, someone Kajex could feel safe around. There was a strange sensation of pain and loss welling up inside him, a sense of longing he hadn't realized he'd been holding, until it was mixed with the incredible joy of seeing Locke once again.

It took Kajex a moment to find his voice. He took a half-step forward, hand outstretched. "Locke... I--"

A snap-hiss drowned out his words and he flinched, his hackles raised. Syrra had drawn and ignited her lightsaber, and was holding it at the ready. Only a second later a second snap-hiss followed, a red blade appearing over Locke's shoulder. Only now did Kajex notice that Keris was at the white wolf's back, stepping around him to defend her master with a look that could cow a gundark. The populated corridor dispersed to either side, letting out startled cries of shock and fear as both women glared at each other, looking seconds away from breaking out into a duel. Fear ran spiked through Kajex, and desperate to prevent a fight he jumped in front of Locke with his arms outstretched.

"Wait, no! Syrra, put it away!" he shouted anxiously.

"What the fuck are they doing here?" Syrra snarled as she pointed at Locke and Keris.

"I could ask the same thing of you, cunt!" Keris spat back, holding her red blade up.

Kajex glanced behind him, noticing among them a familiar and wary-looking Miralukan standing a couple paces away. Talrik, meanwhile, seemed hesitant get between two quarreling women holding laser swords, ears flat against his head as he also backed up. All three of them were dressed in a fashion far removed from the robes and armor he'd seen them in. Locke had donned smuggler attire with a longcoat not unlike Kajex's black one, albeit in brown leather; Keris wore the trappings of a well-equipped ship technician and copilot in a green sleeveless coverall; and the Miralukan accompanying them, who Kajex now recognized as the lieutenant that had helped save Locke back on AS-303, was no longer wearing white trooper armor, but an assortment of mercenary gear.

Without warning, Keris' weapon flickered and deactivated. Before Keris could fumble around to turn it back on it flew out of her paws and landed into one of Locke's. He let out a relieved sigh. "Now, ladies, there's really no need for this." He peered sternly at Keris. "I expected better from you, my apprentice. This is hardly the time or place to let an old quarrel flare up."

Keris looked angry and dumbfounded. "Locke, what are you--"

"We are drawing attention, my apprentice," Locke said in a calm but quiet voice. All eyes in the corridor were fixed on them.

"No kidding," Kajex agreed, moving to Syrra and coaxing her to lower it. Though she looked bitter, she complied and switched her weapon off. Kajex looked around at the startled and fearful crowd around them. He smiled at the onlookers sheepishly, holding up a paw. "It's alright folks, false alarm. Just... just a little misunderstanding between mercenaries, that's all!"

"Hold it right there," a voice said. Kajex groaned as a pair of masked security officers approached them, their weapons at the ready. "What's this commotion all about?"

"It's as the captain here said," Locke said evenly. "A misunderstanding. We are addressing the situation."

The officer looked at the weapon in Syrra's paw, then the one on Locke's belt. "Jedi? Are you the ones the station commander told us about?"

"Yes," Syrra said quickly, clipping her lightsaber back into her belt. "We're with the Jedi Praxeum," she said, her eyes flicking to Locke. "It was my fault, I mistook them for someone else. I apologize."

The officer seemed to regard them carefully, turning and muttering to his partner. Kajex could only catch a part of it, involving calling someone on comms. He glanced to Locke, feeling tension in his shoulders. Of all the questions Kajex wanted to ask, none mattered more right now than why they were meeting again. The look on Locke's face suggested they were sharing the same thought. But before either could speak, one of the officers turned and approached them, addressing the crowd that had formed. He held his hand up, gesturing them to leave.

"Alright, show's over. Keep moving, everybody." The crowd seemed to ease up, dispersing slowly and returning to their business. "Except you lot," he added to both trios. He held out a com-link to the wolf. "The commander wants a word."

Kajex felt his blood run cold, shooting a wary look at Locke and Syrra, before taking the device and clearing his throat. "Uh... Captain Surnahm here. What's up?"

There was a long pause before the voice on the other end spoke. "... Your new friends are hard to miss, Captain. Is there something I should know?"

Kajex hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Just some recent friends Syrra and I made while working with the Praxeum," he explained. "Although Syrra has some, er... rivalry with one of them. Just a misunderstanding."

"That tends to happen a lot with 'Jedi' who carry red blades," Ray pointed out. "Not that it means I'll make reasonable assumptions about their allegiances... but I have a duty to this station. Do you trust them?"

"I..." He paused, looking right at Locke again. "... Yes. Absolutely."

"... Convince me."

The wolf stared at Locke for a moment more, holding back his curse with a sigh. He took a deep breath, then replied as clearly and quietly as he could.

"I swear on my pendant."

There was another pause on the com-link, broken moments later with a sigh. "I hope you know what you're doing, kid. There's a bar not thirty meters from you. Ask for a quiet table, get some free food and drinks – and stay there. I'll call you when your 'passenger' is ready."

"I will. Thank you, Ray." He let out another sigh, relieved as he handed the com-link back to the officer. "Looks like we're clear, then."

"Good," the officer grunted. "Be about your business, then. Keep your weapons stowed, and don't clog up the halls." They gave him a final look, then resumed their patrol.

"That was close," Kajex muttered, guiding them off to the side. "Let's not rouse suspicion like that again."

"It would benefit us both," Locke agreed. "We can't bank on your luck alone."

"Well, let's not be too hasty," Kajex said, feeling his smile return and holding out his paw. "It's good to see you again, Locke."

The white wolf smiled back, his tail wagging slightly as they clasped paws. "The feeling is mutual. I had worried for a while you might have succumbed to your injuries back on AS-303. I was happy to see you up and about on Abaat and Sua."

Kajex nodded, returning the smile and shaking Locke's paw. "Syrra tells me I have you to thank for saving my life. I appreciate it, Locke." He glanced to the Miarluka. "I guess that Bothan was right about you being on Abaat, so I guess I also have you and your soldier here to thank for your intervention with that dickhead cop."

"Guilty as charged," Locke chuckled. "It was the least I could do, seeing as you saved my life first," Locke said pleasantly. He turned his attention to Syrra, regarding her with a polite smile as he stepped forward. "And how are you these days, Padawan?" he asked Syrra, keeping his paw held out.

Syrra hesitated, and Kajex could feel the awkward tension around her, once again seeing her enemy act completely contrary to her expectations. "I... I'm well, Knight Locke." She glanced at Kajex, managing an uncertain smile as she shook his paw. "It's... good to see you again."

Locke bowed slightly. "Likewise. Now, as I'm sure you know, this is my apprentice, Keris." He gestured to the vixen on his right, who was staring at the trio coolly as she snatched her lightsaber from his paw. "Keris, you remember Captain Surnahm."

Keris sighed, folding her arms and giving the gray wolf a curt nod. "Yeah, I remember."

"And you've met Lieutenant Miles Lohess, though we regretfully didn't get to make those introductions," he said, gesturing to the Miraluka.

Miles nodded politely towards Kajex. "Captain."

Locke's eyes fell on the second Amaran in the room. "Your Amaran friend here, I assume, must be Talrik Lye."

Talrik frowned. "Uh, yeah. How...?"

"I heard about your defection to the Republic after you'd been apprehended by Captain Surnahm," Locke explained. "I imagine your forced conscription and... abuse in the past, may have played some part in your decision. My apprentice was most insistent on intervening to ensure your sibling and mother were spared."

Talrik glanced at her and Keris sputtered. "Wha-- that's-- Locke, why would you tell them that?!" she hissed quietly, her face going red.

"I... didn't know that," Talrik said, looking at Kajex in confusion.

"I didn't want to bother you with that little detail," Kajex said defensively. "I was more focused on getting your family out of there. Hell, in a galaxy as big as ours, I wasn't expecting to see either of them again." He folded his arms, leveling narrowed eyes at Locke. "Which begs the question as to why we're meeting suddenly again."

Locke chuckled. "Our paths have thus far crossed, or come close to crossing, a few times, so I don't fault you for being suspicious. Not least because we are each other's opposition. It's either the will of the Force, or coincidence."

"I doubt the Force would favor the dark side, so what 'coincidence' happens to have brought us together again?" Syrra asked, frowning.

"Business," Locke answered. "The same kind of business I'm certain you have on Southern Star Station." He gazed at Talrik, who shifted nervously. "Namely, the contents of the case your vulpine associate currently possesses." At this, Syrra and Talrik tensed.

"I'm sorry, Locke. It's not something I intend to hand over to the Sith. Not even one that saved my life," Kajex declared.

Locke nodded. "I expected as much. So, with all of that said..."

Syrra glared at the lupine Sith, her paw gripping her lightsaber tightly.

"... I believe the commander suggested we relax at the local bar for a spell. Perhaps you and your friends wouldn't mind sharing a drink and catching up?" He gestured to a nearby bar off to the side. "I think we have plenty to discuss."

The Trianii's grip slackened as she gaped at Locke. Even Keris looked bewildered at the suggestion. "Locke, are you insane?" she asked.

"Of course I'm not, Keris. I'm thirsty," he replied, as if it were obvious.

Kajex grinned. "Why not. We're cleared for free drinks and snacks, so let's take advantage of it." He gestured them to follow, striding through the passing crowd as Locke followed. He paused when he noticed everyone else rooted to the spot, regarding both wolves with a look that suggested they had completely lost their minds. Kajex arched an eyebrow. "It's free, you guys," he repeated. When they continued to gape at him he shrugged and strode into the pub, Locke following closely.

Syrra glanced at the other three, hooking her weapon back to her belt and treating her Amaran counterpart to a cold glare. "Guess we'll settle this later, bitch," she hissed.

Keris glared back, her fur bristling. "You can count on it, cunt." A few seconds went by with the two women wishing nothing but ill on the other, before Syrra turned away and headed for the pub. Keris paused, then growled as she trailed behind the Trianii, leaving the non-Jedi and non-Sith soldiers to stare after them.

Miles regarded the fox for a moment before sighing. "I think the two of us should keep an eye on them, kid. Figuratively speaking, of course," he added.

Talrik nodded, following him. "As you say, Lieutenant. Besides, if the drinks really are free, we might as well indulge."

The interior of the pub was abuzz with activity, patrons staring anxiously as holo-displays lining the bar and corners of the establishment, showing all manner of sports; podracing highlights from the previous week on one screen, a live feed of a chin-bret game flashing on another. Cries of exhilaration mixed with groans of defeat as the inebriated customers kept their eyes and ears on the games. The few that didn't were either staring despondently into their drinks, passed out on a chair, or seated near the back of the establishment where few eyes could notice two Amaran, one Miralukan soldier, a Trianii in a bomber jacket and a pair of lupine sentients being tended to by a stressed server.

"Here you go, folks. Six Corellian ales and a basket of loaded chips, compliments of Commander Ray. Enjoy!" the human waitress said with one of the phoniest grins Kajex had ever seen. She set the glasses and basket down a little harder than necessary, causing Kajex to make a mental note to at least give her a decent tip as she strode away. Her face fell into a grumbling glare as she mouthed profanities away from their sensitive ears; or at least as sensitive as his and Locke's. Syrra and Talrik frowned as she moved out of sight, while Keris looked positively livid.

Locke raised an eyebrow. "I didn't quite catch that. What did she say, love?"

She glared at where the waitress disappeared. "You don't want to know." Kajex started shifting drinks around, trading Locke's with his, then his with Keris', then Talrik's with his own again. The Amaran Sith frowned as he watched him push the glasses across the table. "What is he even doing right now? Some kind of bar trick?"

"Making sure that we all have an equal chance at getting poisoned," the gray wolf replied politely. "Just in case."

"Do you really believe I want to hurt you?" Locke said, looking a little hurt.

Kajex looked up, half-smiling. "I'm optimistic about you – not stupid."

Locke sighed. "I suppose I deserve some scrutiny. I assume you find me all the more difficult to trust since I don't fit your perception of a typical servant of the dark side. I never had any intention of killing you or Syrra unless in self-defense. I was happy to let the Trianii prisoners go, after we found what we were looking for. You're not my target, and I have no reason to attack you."

"I would," Keris grumbled, leaning back in her seat and continuing to glare daggers at the Syrra; a look the feline was stubbornly returning.

"Come now, you two; we don't gain anything by being at each other's throats for the moment." He returned his attention to his gray counterpart, hesitating for a moment. "I'll be completely honest with you, Kajex. In the event that you stand in my way, between me and my objective, my master has commanded that I end your life. But only if you stand in my way," he said, cutting off Syrra's angry response. "Not strictly due to allegiances." He turned to Syrra. "That said, I should warn you that you are proving to be a thorn in the side of the Circle of Syn."

"I guess we're doing our job right, then?" Syrra said with a smirk.

Locke smiled back. "I suppose you must be. I'm certain every other member of the Circle will not object to cutting your team down. I don't say it as a threat, it's simply a warning that I would advise you to heed as you work against us."

Kajex nodded. "I appreciate you being forthright, Locke. It's nice of you to be honest about how you need to kill me if it comes down to it. Just don't expect me to make it easy for you," he added with a grin, holding his glass out.

"Cheers," Locke chuckled, tapping glasses. "And I don't expect you to," he added, taking a sip. He glanced at the other four, who were staring at them again. "Come now, drink up. That bitchy waitress went to all the trouble to get these for us, after all."

Syrra looked between the two of them. "I have no idea what to make of this interaction, or whatever the hell it is, between you," she admitted.

"I'm with the cunt on this, Master," Keris agreed. "What the hell is wrong with you two?"

"Now Keris, just because we're enemies doesn't mean we can't be friends, right?"

"Wha-- you-- that's exactly what it means!" Keris sputtered.

Locke ignored her, regarding Kajex with a smile. "You recall that I wanted to have a chat with you back on AS-303, before the Republic intervened and forced us to part ways. You wouldn't mind if we had that discussion now, would you?"

Kajex shook his head. "Not at all. You have questions, same as me. Though I warn you I keep a lot of things to myself, so I probably won't answer everything."

"That's quite alright," Locke assured the captain. "It would only involve things about your origins. For example, when and where were you born, and who were your parents?"

Kajex shrugged. "I couldn't tell you anything about my folks. I was found near an orphanage on Corellia around 31 BBY."

Locke raised an eyebrow. "That... would make you a bit more aged than I expected."

The gray wolf smiled. "I spent about fifteen years in biological stasis. Long, private and tragic story, but I'm really only thirty-two. Anyway, I was adopted by a human scholar, and his ex-Trianii Ranger husband. Spent years being raised as something of a mercenary myself, before the both of them passed away. I inherited their ship and I've been flying it ever since, just doing odd mercenary jobs for low pay. That's really about it. What about you?"

Locke sat back. "Well, I was found on Coruscant, also without parents or identification, about two years after the Jedi Purge. I ran from the capital city's orphanage to avoid adoption to a rich family, decided to try making my own way in the world. I was not aware of my Force-sensitivity until I was about twelve, working as an undercity scavenger. Once I figured it out, I started traveling the universe trying to stay out of the grip of the Empire. I ended up being caught on Nar Shadaa when I was fifteen, and was brought to work under the Inquisitorious, to be trained to be one of them."

"Sounds like a brutal life," Talrik remarked as he munched on a chip.

"You're not wrong, lad," Locke replied. "I suppose it would have made things easier if I'd known I was not the only one of my kind alive in the universe, but until the two of us met I'd merely assumed that I was. No alien profile in the known universe matched my genetic profile."

"Nor mine, I checked too," Kajex responded sadly. "It'd be a lousy, cruel fate for both of us, if we were the only two of our kind left in the universe. Neither of us are female, though I don't consider that to be any kind of downside," he said with a wink.

Locke chuckled. "Are you attempting to flirt with me, Captain?"

"Strangely enough, it seems like I tend to grow attracted to handsome or cute individuals who save my life," Kajex half-joked. "Like Syrra and Talrik here." He turned to his packmates, who stared at him once again as if he'd gone insane. He cleared his throat and returned to the conversation. "Anyway, you mean to say that with all the resources of the Empire, you still weren't able to figure out anything about who we are?"

Locke shook his head. "It's not as simple as that, Kajex. You must understand that for much of that time I was being trained in the ways of the dark side, restricted from contact with much of the galaxy for years until I could prove my deadliness and acumen with the Force. And even when I was knighted and those resources became available to me, they offered no leads I could follow up on."

"Imperial records rely a lot on Core world databases," Miles intoned as he set his drink down. "A lot of knowledge ended up being lost during the Clone Wars, either wiped out when most of the Jedi Archives was destroyed along with the Jedi Temple itself; or else covered up due to being facets of cultures involving the Separatist Confederacy. Even public libraries were scoured so that any reference or trace of Jedi or Separatist ideology was removed. It's not unlikely that if there was any information on your species, it was erased along with a lot of other data during that time period."

"After a while," Locke continued, "I simply gave up hope of finding any information and accepted that I was likely the only one of my kind. I put my focus into my studies and my... 'career', for lack of better word, which involved all manner of tasks; subterfuge, assassination, tying up loose ends, putting escaped criminals to death."

"How many were innocents?" Syrra scowled.

"A few, I regret to say," Locke answered honestly. "I admit, there is blood on my hands, but that is the story of my life. As I said to Talrik, I know what it's like to be forced into servitude, doing things I'd rather not do in order to stay alive. I do try my best not to kill anyone I don't have to. It's easy to do when you can render those who stand in your way unconscious, or dominate their minds to make things easier."

Talrik regarded the knight cautiously. "Well, you haven't killed any of us or tried to control our minds. You actively went out of your way to prevent a fight. So we're probably not standing in your way, are we?" he asked.

"Indeed," Locke acknowledged. "In fact, your presence here actually makes my current job easier. I wasn't even aware you had arrived on this station to begin with, though I suspected there might be eventual Jedi involvement at some point."

"So you've been here a while?" Kajex asked.

"The better part of week, in fact," Lock informed the captain. "It became necessary for me to arrive before any of my... associates did. There's much at risk, I suspect, if the contents of that case are what I think they are."

"What do you think they are?" Syrra asked.

"Well, I suppose I had better make sure that I know what it is, before I tell you," he suggested, looking to Talrik. "If you would be so kind as to allow us a glance at the relic?"

Talrik frowned. "No deal."

"So you can steal it?" Syrra hissed.

"Show him."

If neither of them had not been looking at Kajex to see what he had to say, they would have each thought they were hearing things. He was looking at Locke intently, with no trace of animosity on his face. When they didn't move, still staring at him, he turned to them. "I mean it. Show him. He's not going to steal this artifact." They didn't move. He sighed. "I'm not crazy. He's not controlling me with the Force."

"Maybe not, but you have lost your mind!" Syrra argued.

"I haven't," Kajex responded firmly. "You remember on Abaat, when you slugged that racist prick? Now I know for sure that Locke was using the Force to manipulate his mind. If Locke really wanted what we're carrying for himself, he would have used the Force to mind-trick everyone and had it days ago, instead of waiting nearly a week for us to get here." He looked back to Locke.

"I was instructed to work with subtlety," Locke nodded. "If I'm right in guessing what it is you're carrying, then it's not something I want for myself. But I need to know."

"Locke has already stuck his neck out for us twice already," Kajex told Syrra. "Don't you think that merits at least a little trust?" Syrra opened her mouth to speak, finding she had no argument to counter his own and letting out a defeated sigh. Kajex nodded to Talrik. "Go ahead, kit. We're fine here."

Talrik hesitated, but found himself unable to dispute the gray wolf's reasoning either, letting out a similar sigh as he extricated the narrow case from his satchel. The fox worked his thumbs over the clasps, sharp hisses sounding from the case edges until he unclasped the last one, lifting the lid up as the Sith knight leaned forward with a frown. The eyes of everyone seated at the table, save Miles, fell on the black and red pauldrons nestled within the velvet interior of the case.

Locke swore softly, a troubled expression on his face. He glanced around the noisy pub as if to ensure nobody else had seen. "Alright. Put it away, that's all I needed to see."

Talrik glanced at Syrra, who shrugged and resealed the case. He looked back towards Kajex, who seemed to be concerned with the white wolf's reaction. "What is it, Locke?"

"The Yoke of Seeming," he answered with a sigh. "As my master and I feared."

Syrra frowned. "You know this relic?"

He nodded, taking another sip. "It's my job to know. Allow me to impart what I've learned."

"The Sith, as you know them now, are not how the Sith have always been. The forerunners of the faction started after the Hundred-Year Darkness, a period of war between the orthodoxy of the Jedi Council and the radicals that practiced the dark side of the Force, believing it to be the true source of power. This would have been some seven thousand years ago, a few years after what is known now as the Second Great Schism. Those who are these days considered to be among the greatest leaders of the Sith included Ajunta Pall, XoXaan, Karness Muur, Remulus Dreypa, and Sorzus Syn."

"When the war concluded with their defeat, they and a handful of others were the only ones left alive. The Republic demanded to have them executed for treason and innumerable war crimes. Instead, the Jedi sentenced them to exile, forcing them to board unarmed transports and guiding them to the edge of Republic space. It was believed that these Dark Jedi would come to see the error of their ways, to find peace on other planets where their works could do no harm."

Talrik frowned. "That's amazingly merciful and naive."

"Quite so," Locke nodded. "It took them only months to return to their ways, now free from the eyes of the Republic and Jedi. They eventually reached Korriban, the home of the Sith species; a red-skinned race of largely Force-sensitive humanoids. They are believed to be extinct these days, the result of generations of crossbreeding between them and the Dark Jedi invaders who invaded their world. But before they could be completely assimilated, they possessed a sophisticated, if violent, culture. One that appealed to the Dark Jedi and their goals."

"The Dark Jedi found this culture favorable to their goals. They adopted their clothing, their traditions, their titles, and their way of life – they became Sith. They flourished in the conquest, as they took control of Korriban and its neighboring systems, discovering the many weapons and armor created through Force-based alchemy and 'magic'. They forged armor that could weather the blows of a lightsaber, without the use of lightsaber-resistant alloys; mixed poisons that could rot flesh or cause insanity in special, pressurized vials; devised trinkets designed to focus one's mind in battle, strengthen bodies, or heal injuries over time. The Sith coveted these treasures and guarded them jealousy, just as the Sith of today do."

He gestured to Talrik's satchel. "One of the many relics the Sith Purebloods created included the Yoke of Seeming, a set of pauldrons that sears the flesh of the one who wears it. One who channels their will through the Force can use it to cast an illusion that allows them to take the form of anyone or anything they so choose, and to mask their minds so as to hide their intentions and thoughts. No record tells of who created it, but it is known that two Sith, Sorzus Syn and XoXaan quarreled bitterly over who should possess this relic. Syn wished to study and replicate its effects, but the feud was ultimately settled when XoXaan abruptly took it for herself, just as she started to establish her empire as a Sith Lord, as they all did back then. Having other projects to focus on, Syn gave up on attempting to possess it."

"What happened to the Yoke?" Keris asked, clearly interested in the story.

"The same ironic fate shared among most artifacts, locations and events of Sith or Jedi importance – it faded into the background," Locke replied with a wry smile. "The barest mention of the relic surfaced throughout history, popping up in isolated incidents, but clear mention of the Yoke would not be made until around 4,000 years ago, in the hands of a woefully inept Jedi named Haazen. Once a failed student of the venerated Jedi Master, Arca Jeth, Haazen betrayed the Jedi, though his first act of betrayal resulted in the loss of several limbs that he replaced with cybernetics. The Yoke was fused into his back as an implant, and his basic skill in the Force allowed him to mask his disfiguring visage and his own agenda from all but the wisest and most perceptive of Jedi and Sith."

"But as I said, Haazen was a fool – and the Force has a tendency to tolerate fools. Through technology and relics like the Gauntlet of Kressh the Younger, Haazen was able to cheat death repeatedly. He eventually met his end on Coruscant, when his own 'student' tricked him through simple duplicity and removed the Gauntlet, rendering Haazen vulnerable to a Republic orbital strike. The Republic and Jedi continued the deception by claiming Haazen's attack was actually a Mandalorian terrorist attack; an answer many accepted, given that the Mandalorian War was full swing by that point."

"Yet an orbital bombardment wasn't enough to vaporize the relic?" Kajex asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Not completely, no. Whatever else the Sith Purebloods might have been, they were unparalleled in Sith alchemy except perhaps by Sorzus Syn. Something imbued in the Force to that extent would be resilient enough to weather even massive explosions that would otherwise cause wounds in the Force itself. The glove of Darth Vader, for example: at its basic it was simply a Mandalorian crushgaunt, difficult to damage by itself. But with Sith alchemy it was able to survive being at the center of the second Death Star's hypermatter explosion; the warping of a wormhole created by the station's destruction; surviving reentry into a planet's atmosphere; and the immense deep-sea pressure in the oceans of Mon Cala. The Sith alchemists millennia ago delved into secrets even Emperor Palpatine never rediscovered."

"Careful, Locke. Your admiration is showing," Syrra noted with disdain.

"Not at all," Locke assured her. "It's a simple, honest fact – what they knew back then is more than what my master and our associates know today. Even your current Jedi Order knows less now than the Jedi Order of the old days. Both our organizations have struggled to relearn what has been lost, and we both run the risk that may never truly regain that knowledge ever again. But not everything we lost should necessarily be rediscovered."

He paused, taking another drink of ale and gazing out of a nearby viewport. "The Mandalorian Wars came to an end three years later, when the Jedi Revan and Meetra Surik annihilated the Mandalorian army at Malachor V. And while Revan traveling to Dromund Kaas to locate the Sith agitators who started the war, agents of the Sith Empire were already gathering captured artifacts on Korriban and Coruscant. Among the relics was the Yoke of Seeming, stolen from the Jedi Temple's Black Vault and granted to Revan as he and Malak started their campaign against the Republic."

Locke sighed. "And that's where the trail ends. All that is known is that Revan ordered the relic to be secured on one of his ships, and that the ship in question had been present during the Destruction of Taris. After that... nothing. Until now."

Kajex frowned. "So why didn't Revan use such a powerful artifact during his conquest?"

Locke shrugged. "There's no way to know without asking the man himself. But even an artifact as powerful as the yoke could still be damaged, given enough power. Revan may have cast it aside if the relic's countermeasures were corrupted and amplified."

"Countermeasures?" Syrra repeated.

"Most Sith amulets like the Yoke are rife with dark side traps. Without sufficient mental training, the unworthy are often subject to visions and sensations that cause insanity." He eyed Talrik's satchel warily. "I would strongly suggest that none of you not touch it in any way while it remains in your possession."

The trio stared at the white wolf. It was Syrra who spoke first. "Wait... so you really don't want this relic? Why not?"

Locke smiled. "I should think that would be obvious. It's far too dangerous."

Kajex folded his arms, raising an eyebrow. "I think we may have missed something."

"Then I'll be quite clear," Locke stated clearly and firmly. "This relic is too dangerous even for the Circle of Syn. And as we speak, Knight Ulfric is gathering a strike force consisting of Shadowtroopers to assault this station and take the Yoke by force. I assume you remember him. He's rather difficult to forget, particularly since you fired your ship's cannons at him and tickled the oaf on Abaat."

"Ulfric? He's on his way here?" Kajex groaned.

"Then why are we just learning about this now?" Talrik asked, frowning. "Why did you invite us for a couple of drinks instead of sounding the alarm?"

Locke rolled his eyes. "Because I'm a Sith Knight, and the commander here is a very capable Antarian Ranger veteran in control of several hundred bounty hunters and mercenaries with impressive work records. At best, I'd be imprisoned and my companions would suffer for my failure. At worst... well, we'd be very lucky if even one of the three of us managed to get off of Southern Star Station alive. I've spent the last four days trying to find a way to get the Yoke out from the watchful eyes of the Commander with absolutely no luck. As much as I hate to admit it, Ulfric would have a better chance seizing the Yoke with a strong-armed approach."

"Then what was your plan, Locke?" Syrra pressed.

"I had hoped by obtaining the Yoke and announcing it to him, I might lead him away from this station. Nobody here should have to suffer needlessly over this artifact. The only reason we're here in this pub now is because we happened to meet again. I was thirsty, and wanted to discuss things with Kajex." He regarded his drink with disappointment. "I'll have to remember to find a better bar on this station next time we're together. I think they water down their ale, and the service seems ill-tempered. At least the chips were good, though," he sighed, taking one and chewing on it.

"Why do you keep up this 'harmless, noble Sith' schtick?" Syrra asked Locke, frowning. "What's in it for you?"

"Call it difficult to believe, Syrra, but just because I belong to the Sith and draw on the dark side to fuel my abilities does not necessarily make me 'evil'."

"You work for those who are," Syrra accused him. "And even if you could justify it, you clearly have an agenda."

"You're right, I do work with evil people," Locke replied shortly. "It's what you have to do when you're on a leash and want to survive. And you're right that I have an agenda, part which includes keeping my apprentice alive." He looked between all three of them. "If there is one word I could use to describe the entirety of the Sith as they are, it would not be 'power'; it would be 'betrayal'. It encompasses their entire history. It's how the majority of them operate. The Yoke is the perfect example of a tool of betrayal, capable of masking one's appearance and motives from all others, allowing the bearer to strike indiscriminately and eliminate all who stand in opposition. A bitter, foolish Jedi possessed it for only a few years and was able to act effectively against the Jedi Council through deception. In the hands of any member of the Circle of Syn, it would be a bloodbath."

Syrra shook her head. "Why should you give a damn? Isn't seizing power part of the Sith Code?"

"Syrra, this is not the time nor setting to wax philosophical on Force viewpoints," he replied with an edge in his voice. He glanced out the viewport again. "What do you think Ulfric would do with what he considers 'power?' He kills because he enjoys killing and fights because he enjoys nothing more than to cross blades with anyone. He possesses no compassion for sentient life, no patience for mistakes. He has mastered tutaminis, the power to absorb energy-based attacks, making him difficult to dispatch. His master, Inquisitor Tesque, is hardly any better; she was one of Emperor Palpatine's favorite torturers, always devising new and 'clever' ways to inflict pain on her victims." He shook his head. "No... with their warped idea of 'power,' a relic like the Yoke is a liability."

Kajex tilted his head, curious. "You sound like you don't much like either of them much, despite being allies."

"I don't," confirmed Locke. "My master and I agree on very little, but we both have little trust for Tesque, and even less for Ulfric. If Ulfric should come to possess the Yoke on this station, his unworthy mind would be subjected to insanity and he would become a mindless, unstoppable berserker, killing all those within reach and perhaps beyond. If he should manage to deliver the Yoke to Tesque, she would not hesitate to use it to dispatch any associate of hers she finds irksome or unworthy. My master is among those who views the Yoke as unnecessary and dangerous to have around, and it's perhaps the only thing he and I share the same mind on. He didn't send me to deliver it to him; charged me with destroying it."

Kajex and Syrra traded looks. "Then why aren't you taking it?" Syrra asked.

"Because now I don't have to. Not when you can get it to a Jedi stronghold and keep it far safer than I ever could while you work out the means to destroy it."

"So... you're not trying to stall for time?" Talrik asked, confused.

Miles raised a pair of fingers, getting their attention. "My contacts in Imperial territory informed us that Ulfric isn't scheduled to leave his post on Prakith until tomorrow morning. But that doesn't mean that Remnant agents won't go out of their way to try to shoot you in the back to get their hands on it, if they know about it."

"Are there any on this station?"

Miles shrugged. "We don't know. But it'd be stupid to assume the Empire doesn't have its share of Imperial sympathizers or spies."

"That's not all, either," Locke said quietly. Kajex nearly asked to elaborate, before noticing the look of worry on his face. His eyes were cast to the side, and for once Locke's usual confident and polite demeanor had given way to a visage of vulnerability. "I don't care if you or Syrra believe me, but... ever since I met you, and learned that I wasn't the only one of my kind, I hoped that against all odds we'd meet again. Now that I know you're alive and well, I don't want you to be my enemy. I don't want you killed for being in the way," he said softly. "I'd rather know the only other wolf in this universe as my friend, not a victim or target. As you can imagine, servitude to the Sith leaves very little time or opportunity for things like this."

Kajex said nothing for a moment, considering Locke while a pang of pity and grief stirred in his chest. For a moment, he recalled the emptiness that came with loneliness, a sensation borne from years of aimless living and existing, with few friends, and no kin. He could only imagine how much worse Locke had gone through life, for at least Kajex had Bran and Kane. A brief flicker of thought lingered in his mind, imagining what life would have been like if Locke had been with them; not merely for Kajex's sake, either.

"I know I'm not standing in your way now, but... if I was," he asked slowly, "and you had the choice to spare me or kill me... which would you choose?"

Locke looked stunned for a moment, before looking away in shame. "I... I don't know." He glanced at Keris sadly. "I have others I want to protect. I've made promises I intend to keep. I would hate myself for it... but I might put their lives over yours." Keris seemed ready to speak, only to remain silent, looking troubled. Miles looked pensive, rubbing his chin.

Despite the answer, Kajex smiled. "Thank you for being honest."

Syrra stared at him. "He just as good as said he'd kill you if it came to it."

Kajex shrugged. "I've lived a large portion of my life looking over my shoulder. It's actually a little refreshing to know that someone who might have to kill me is being forward about it and would do it for a good reason, instead of stabbing me in the back."

"And what about Keris?" Syrra asked. "Would she do the same?"

"Don't bring me into this, cunt," the vixen warned, her face hardening. "You think I won't kill you just because Locke and the captain are buddy-buddy with each other?"

"You understand, though," Talrik interjected, giving her a hard look. "Don't you."

She flinched, her composure cracking. "I don't even know you! I don't- I just-- fuck!" She glared at Locke. "Dammit, Locke, why did you have to tell him about Sua!?"

"Yeah, she understands," Miles chuckled. "She's got a heart in her."

"Oh fuck you, Miles," she grumbled, turning away with a huff.

Locke took a calming breath before looking up to his gray counterpart with a sincere smile. "I would very much like to see you off. When do you leave?"

Kajex checked the time quickly. "Should be another hour, hopefully. Commander Ray wants us to transport a tranq'd passenger, so she can receive healing from the Jedi."

Locke nodded. "Fair enough. Nevertheless, I would highly suggest you not linger here any longer than tonight."

"What about the station?" Talrik asked. "If Ulfric is coming then the people here need to be warned."

"We can handle that," Kajex told them. "We have the commander's ear, we'll let him know to be on guard."

"Do it anyway, but my plan was to send a transmission to my contacts after you've left," Locke interjected. "I'll have them inform Ulfric that the relic is in my possession. Knowing him, he'll take the bait and divert."

"Are you sure he'll follow?" Kajex asked. "And you'll be alright?"

Locke smirked. "I can handle him, don't worry about that. And he's sure to follow – Ulfric positively hates me and my mas--"

He stopped short and flinched, his expression turning from focus to incredible fear. His head snapped to the side and he jumped to his feet, knocking his chair away and gazing out the viewport. Before Kajex could ask what was wrong, Syrra shivered and stood, her gaze following Locke's out into the stars. Keris' ears folded back as she, too, turned her head in the same direction. Kajex looked between all three of them in confusion, before he finally realized what was wrong, his ears pinning back anxiously.

"... Fucking kark it all, he's coming early, isn't he?"

He leapt from his seat and moved to the viewport, the other five following him over their chairs or dodging around the table to join him, the tension rising with every second the group waited, their eyes darting anxiously in all directions.

Before long, it happened.

A trio of massive, wedge-shaped vessels popped into view, easing out of hyperspace and drifting towards Southern Star Station. A pair Imperial Star Destroyers led the way, followed by a smaller Star Destroyer variant sporting four enormous domes along the top of its hull. The ships were far enough away that the station's edge seemed to be out of range, yet not so far that the station did not notice its presence. Within seconds of their appearance, a siren started to wail through the entire station. Moments later, shouts and screams could be heard from within the pub and throughout the station's halls.

Kajex's shoulders sagged. "Fuck... not good."

"They've launched fighters and landing craft," Miles told them, grimacing.

"How do you know that?"

"I'm Miralukan," the soldier answered grimly. "Even from here, I can sense them through the Force."

Sure enough, needles of red and green light began to lance through space, fired from starfighters that were only barely discernible as flecks in space. Distant explosions erupted through the vacuum. Soon, those flecks became visible spots, the explosions appearing far too close for comfort as the ships engaged and tore each other apart. A handful of TIE fighters appeared to break off, peppering the station with strafing runs; those that weren't shattered by the station's point defense system had no effect on their shields.

Kajex watched as a nearby pair of the station's patrols burst into flame, wincing. "The station's shields are holding, at least, but that won't last if those Star Destroyers get into range. R-41 Starchasers are decent ships, but they can't fight capital ships on their own, and they'll be hard pressed to stand up against TIE Interceptors."

"They've already gotten past the station's fighter screen," Miles agreed. "Their transports are closing in."

The sirens went quiet, briefly replaced by a firm, steady voice. "Imperial forces are engaging Southern Star Station. Evacuation protocols in effect. All civilians proceed to the nearest evacuation point. Star Station Security, report in and rally at your assigned posts."

A crash rocked through the station, nearly knocking everyone in the pub off their feet. Kajex swore and caught Syrra in his arms. "What the fuck was that?!"

The answer was immediate. "Star Station Security – we are being boarded. Repel all Imperial personnel. May the Force be with you."

Syrra pulled away from Kajex and turned her focus to Locke, glaring at him. "You told us he would be leaving tomorrow, Locke!" she snarled.

"That's what I was told," Locke replied softly, focusing intently on the Star Destroyer. "This is all wrong. My contacts assured me that Ulfric would be leaving tomorrow morning."

"You told us the history of the Sith is steeped in betrayal," Talrik said. "I think you've been betrayed, Locke."

"Or you're the bastard who betrayed us!" Syrra spat at the albino wolf.

Keris glared at her, her paw wrapped around her hilt. "Watch your tongue, cunt!"

"Kiss my a--"

Kajex whirled on both of them, his eyes flashing. "Enough!" he barked, sharp enough to silence them. "This isn't helping! Stow the bickering in the cargo bay, you can kill each other later! We need to move!" He gestured everyone to follow, and though the two women traded smoldering looks, they said nothing more. He turned back to Locke while Miles and Talrik jogged ahead. "We need to get off this station. If we can hail the Star Destroyers, can you get them to stand down?"

Locke shook his head. "No. They were not assigned to my command." He drew his lightsaber, keeping it in hand. "But I can at least help you get off this station. I won't be punished for cutting down Imperials; they are technically interfering in the Circle's business." He followed Kajex closely as the made for the pub's entrance, looking troubled. "Everything about this is wrong. The attack is too soon, yes, but... I couldn't sense Ulfric on that Star Destroyer. He's nearby, though. Somewhere close."

"Uh... guys? I think we have a guest," Talrik quavered.

The wolves slowed to a stop and followed the fox's gaze. Blocking the nearest exit was a massive, black-armored human, his murderous blue eyes glaring at the group.

Locke grimaced. "Ah. There he is."