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_ " _ He will stop at nothing to save me, for example, because he thinks I would do the same for him… because he knows I would do the same for him."

~Obi-Wan Kenobi, on Anakin Skywalker

"So... you've never done this before?"

Luke shook his head, a sincere smile on his face. "Nope. I haven't. When this kind of thing occurs, it's usually just through casual discussion."

"So... why now?" Kajex asked, as his eyes glanced up to the end of the Great Temple Audience Chamber. Master Skywalker seemed to have respected Kajex's request for a small gathering- only a handful of Jedi Knights and Masters, key among them Master Moarn, had formed a semi-circle around the speaking platform; and only the wolf's friends and allies had shown up to witness the event, including the former Sith trio. "Why with me? Not that I'm objecting, I'm ready to go through with it."

"You'll know, once we've started," the human assured him gently, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Wait here." Kajex nodded, watching as Skywalker strode the length of the Audience Chamber, until he reached the speaking platform and turned, facing the small audience. Syrra, Keris, Locke, Miles and Talrik stood at the front; behind them, Ranger Captain Barrn, and former Ranger Ray from Southern Star Station, Captain Lynch, Garrett and Simetra, and Talrik's younger brother and mother. They stood quietly, all eyes (save Miles', as he possessed none) locked on Luke as he spoke.

"The last words I recall from my first master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, was the gentle reassurance that I was not the last of the old Jedi, but the first of the new. I recognize now it was meant as encouragement, not merely to compel me towards training a new generation of Jedi; but to encourage me to adopt that which was lost during the Jedi Purge. Many of you who stand in this circle were never formally inducted as Jedi Knights- those ranks were bestowed through discussion, through agreement. As members of a new Jedi Order, we lacked the experience and traditions of the old ways- but through the efforts of veterans of the Old Order, like Jedi Master Moarn," he said, gesturing politely to the Trandoshan, "we have rediscovered those traditions."

He paused, raising his hand up and gesturing to Kajex. The wolf took in a breath and straightened his longcoat, trying to steady his nerves as he strode up towards the circle- Luke continued to speak the entire while.

"It has yet to be determined whether this type of ceremony will be continued. But as informal as we may be now, we should never forget those who have preceded us, even if the traditions of the old shouldn't take precedence over a growing, changing and fledgling Order. As such, this ceremony is not focused on the future; it's focused on a distant past. Today's ceremony is meant to recognize one who was both blessed and burdened to be a part of two different eras of Jedi, one who should have been recognized as a Jedi Knight long ago, within the interim period, during the dark times of Emperor Palpatine. Please approach, Kajex Surnahm."

With a sidelong glance at his feline fiancee, a blush burning in his cheeks as she smiled at him, he complied, ascending the steps until he was within the semicircle, his heart racing as he knelt. He nearly swayed as brief, unbidden images of both his fathers surfaced in his mind.

"By facing your deepest fear of isolation, you completed your Trial of Spirit. By suffering the grievous loss of those you loved and cherished without falling to the dark side, you completed your Trial of Flesh. By defeating the Sith Knight Ulfric in combat, you completed your Trials of both Skill and Courage. And by reaching out to a friend who needed you, seeing him for the good person he was within and drawing on the wisdom of your instructor to pull him away from the influence of the Sith, you completed your Trial of Insight."

Kajex managed to clear his head in time, his gaze drawn up as Master Skywalker drew his lightsaber and ignited it, the shaft of green light held in front of him and pointing directly skyward.

"We are all Jedi. The Force speaks through us. Through our actions, the Force proclaims itself and what is real. Today, we are here to acknowledge what the Force has proclaimed." He lowered the blade above each of the wolf's shoulders. "Kajex Surnahm, by the will of the Force, we Knights and Masters name you Jedi Knight and Sentinel; may your efforts continue to serve the galaxy until your final breath."

No fewer than a dozen lightsabers ignited from each of the Knights and Masters surrounding the two, each held at attention and pointed skyward, then lowered, pointing towards the gray wolf.

Kajex found himself fighting back a grin, failing as he chuckled- not out of humor, or mockery for the well-meaning and well-executed ceremony; but for the joy that seemed ready to burst out of his chest. "Thank you, Master Skywalker."

"Good afternoon, everyone- I apologize for the delay, but I was required to listen in on an update concerning the Black Fleet and the call could not be ignored." A Bothan female nodded to Master Skywalker, who nodded back. "I'll be going over that with you as per Chief of State Organa's request. For now, we are met to discuss the final details of these... Sith," she finished, eyeing Locke, Keris and Miles warily.

"Former Sith," Keris responded with a frown.

Three hours had passed since most of the crowd attending or performing the knighting ceremony had dispersed. Kajex and the crew of the Gold Rush, including its newest hires, sat at a long table on one side; on the other side sat Master Skywalker, Master Moarn, Kyle Katarn, Ranger Captain Barnn and former Ranger Ray; and now, seated at one end of the table, the Bothan officer from New Republic Intelligence. At the other end was Locke, looking calm and composed; Keris sat at his right, looking slightly nervous; to his left was Kajex, frowning at the NRI officer.

The Bothan seemed to ignore Keris. "I am Chief Field Operative Nett So'vay; I was assigned to this meeting to ascertain the loyalty, or lack thereof, of these three defectors; as well as discuss the reports they have each submitted. I have gone through all three of them. While I am inclined to accept that the information can be cross-referenced for reliability, less-certain is whether the New Republic can trust them."

"We're right here, you know," Locke said calmly, arching an eyebrow critically.

"Indeed. But it's important for me to impress on all present, besides yourselves, that the NRI will keep their eyes on you- and them- regardless of where you are." She gave him a cool stare that Locke seemed to regard with indifference. Perhaps sensing that she was failing to get a reaction from him, she turned her attention to Keris and Miles. "I might add that your presence here was not necessary- as your Master's followers, it matters very little what you have to add to his report. He alone will be required to suffer for whatever crimes he may have committed."

Keris glared at her, looking ready to speak, but her eyes glanced at Syrra, who gave her a very subtle shake of the head- the gesture was enough to coax her back down. Miles seemed to scoff at the Bothan's subtle jab, though he also said nothing.

Nett said nothing for a moment, her green eyes lingering on the white wolf before turning them to Luke. "However, it was requested by Chief of State Organa that, as a Sith, his fate should be decided by the Master of the Jedi Order, given that this falls almost neatly into Jedi affairs. As such, he will be handling the questioning." She withdrew a small holocam from a pouch on her belt, placing it on the table. "Be aware, Sith Knight- this entire interview will be recorded for later analysis and cross-referencing. Every word you utter will be thoroughly scrutinized, and every admission you make will be double-checked."

"I expect nothing less than a thoroughly invasive investigation," Locke replied casually. "If only because I'd warrant that Skywalker here won't go so far as to ask the questions you want answered. Nevertheless," he continued before she could respond, "I'm ready to begin, Master Skywalker."

Luke nodded. "I've gone over your report front to back. I think it would be best to start from when your Force abilities started to manifest, and what happened that resulted in your capture and servitude."

"I never figured out the details of who found me, or how- only that I was sent to the Lower City orphanage on Coruscant some 2 years after the Jedi Purge. What I was able to find out was that they knew early on that I possessed a high midi-chlorian count and just never bothered to let anyone know about it, not even me. Thinking back on it now, I wonder if those who ran that establishment were aware that revealing the details of my Force potential would have made it easier for the Empire to track me down and either kill me, or have me trained as a Dark Jedi assassin. But whatever the case I can't recollect any moment where my Force abilities manifested in a way that clued me into the fact that I was... well, different. At least, not while I was in the orphanage to begin with."

Locke leaned back, sighing as he stared into the table. "I lingered at the orphanage till around age ten. One unspoken truth about such establishments on humanocentric worlds- and Coruscant is humanocentric- is that human or near-human adoptees tend to be preferred over non-humans most of the time. When that isn't the case, it is generally preferred that the species being considered for adoption have at least some background- yet because nobody knew what I was, nobody knew what to expect from me, and so I became mildly bitter about the whole affair, eventually running off successfully. I was familiar enough with the streets and lower levels of Coruscant that running away and starting to support myself as a low-grade undercity scavenger was not difficult."

"How and when did you become aware of your Force abilities?" Luke asked.

"I found out about it the way most others did- during a moment of desperation, when I was twelve. I started taking to the sewers for scavenge for parts. You can find some exceptional scrap in the undercity pipelines if you have a good breathing apparatus and a strong enough stomach. I hit a veritable jackpot coming across a lost, crashed speeder that must have been from before the Clone Wars; some manner of gangster's speeder which carried all manner of vintage weaponry, including a lightsaber. Naturally, having such a large score and earning a significant stash of rations meant that I would attract unwanted attention. When I returned for a third trip to clear out the wreckage, I was followed by an armed band of rival scavvers that intended to kill me and take control of the claim; once they'd tracked me all the way, they attacked. I was then, as now, an exceptionally terrible shot with blasters, and it wasn't long before I was cornered. In a last-ditch effort to save myself I drew the lightsaber I'd taken, and I quickly I demonstrated an natural ability to intercept and reflect blaster bolts with it, as well as telekinesis shortly afterward- at the cost of the lives of a few thugs."

"So your first kills were in self-defense," Kajex stated. "Nothing wrong with that."

"I agree, although I've never been comfortable with the idea of taking people's lives. But it didn't take long for me to accept that I was exceptionally good at it. I'd unfortunately stirred up a hornet's nest by defending myself, as I'd taken out a few of the Hawkbat swoop gang's best scavvers by doing so. As a result, I spent the next three weeks avoiding the gang when I could, fighting and killing when I couldn't, and cleaning out the rest of the wreck to get as many rations and credits as possible. By the time I had enough to pay for a transport off-planet, I had at least twenty kills to my name and had learned to defuse some situations through fast-talking and Force persuasion- and a thousand-credit bounty on my head. Not bad for a twelve-year old," he added dryly.

"Where did you go?" Luke asked.

"To the Outer Rim, starting with Sulon- mainly in Baron's Hed. I'd figured out by then I was capable of using the Force, and it was common knowledge back then that Force-sensitives were targeted for recruitment or elimination by the Empire. That was another reason that compelled me to get as far away from Coruscant as possible, and the Outer Rim was a perfect region to avoid detection- for a while. To it's credit, Solun managed to last a pretty long time before it was occupied by the Empire."

"It did," Kyle agreed with a nod. "I was born and raised there. Baron's Hed used to be a nice place before Imperial occupation. How did you make a living?"

"Petty theft, mostly," Locke admitted. "Granted, I didn't do anything stupid or cruel, like mugging or taking more than I needed. I had made enough rations and credits scavenging that subsistence was scarcely an issue. And I was becoming very skilled at evading local authorities as I self-trained my own Force abilities. But after about two years I noticed a change in the populace, marked by the arrival of an Imperial recruiting station. It was only a few months later that I saw one of the first of the Imperial Inquisitorious, a tall Miraluka with a shaven head and tattoos lining the corners of his mouth."

Kyle's expression darkened. "I know that description. Jerec."

"I know the name," Kajex followed up. "Bran's own master was friends with him. He was a Jedi archaeologist, he used to be the apprentice of Jocasta Nu, the 'librarian' of the Jedi Archives. She told us he'd died in the Unknown Regions."

"He didn't. He was the one who searched for Ruusan and tried to take the power of the Valley of the Jedi for himself," Kyle explained. "I put an end to him. But if he met you, Locke, he would have taken you immediately."

"I didn't give him the chance, though I'm sure he sensed my presence all the same. Either way, once I'd caught wind that there was a hidden Rebel movement in Baron's Hed, I felt it was time to move on. Not that I didn't sympathize with the movement, but I was also fourteen at the time and wasn't quite comfortable with the prospect of dying."

"So you refused to be a part of the Rebellion based on your age?" Nett asked coldly.

Kajex frowned. "Are you going to criticize me and my dad's because we avoided it too, in favor of trying to live as a family? Better that he had his own choices and made them than being forced into it without one."

"Please calm yourself, Sentinel," Luke coaxed gently. "Continue, Locke."

The white wolf nodded, folding both his paws on the table as he struggled to recollect the events afterwards. "I managed to get off-planet by stowing away on a vessel heading for Nar Shaddaa. Though I was initially worried that my bounty might catch up with me, I later discovered I had little to worry about since no seasoned bounty hunter would ever take up that kind of low-pay job for a kid."

"That's where you were caught, correct?" Master Skywalker asked.

Locke nodded sadly. "One thing that could be said about the wisdom of the Sith compared to the Jedi was that they were willing to play by the rules of other planets and organizations when it suited their needs. My departure from Baron's Hed hadn't gone unnoticed and I later found out that I was followed, though not for long. The sheer life and activity was enough of a blinding screen in the Force to shroud me- not that I knew it at the time."

"It's how a lot of Jedi Masters avoided detection," Master Moarn noted. "Myself included."

"But ultimately, where the Force failed is where the power of credits prevailed. I said that the bounty from the Hawkbat swoop gang failed to follow me to Nar Shaddaa, which is true- this did nothing to prevent another bounty being placed on my head by the Empire, with strict orders to capture me alive. One minute, I'm digging through a scrap heap trying to fish out an abandoned energy cell; the next minute, I'm waking up in the private chamber of Inquisitor Voyde, on the ISD Grand Finale. My first lesson as a Sith apprentice was to refrain from speaking until I was spoken to, and I learned it immediately when my question, 'where am I?', was answered with Force lightning."

He shuddered. "Obedience came quickly. I learned to expect the pain of lightning for almost every task I 'failed' to complete. Inwardly, I knew Voyde merely relished any opportunity to cow me even when I succeeded, and it wasn't long before I could feel the shard of his mind stabbing into my thoughts and efforts. My lightsa--" He stopped short, swallowing and starting again. "The lightsaber I'd been using the whole time was returned to me eventually, when my Master was convinced I would make no attempt on his life- or at least, make no attempt he could not counter easily. I would need it to train for nine months in combat. It was grueling, exhausting and excruciating. As per Inquisitor Tesque's suggestion, I would be subjected to the pain of lightsaber combat and then forced into recovery and brought back into fighting shape again and again. I nearly lost every limb I possess- the only reason I still have them all is because I was healed so extensively."

"After a year of training, I was finally ready to proceed- which required fighting and killing other competitors. The nature of Sith training, when it can be applied, involves slaying the competition or cowing them into servitude or loyalty. When it could be afforded, this included pitting children against other children. At age sixteen, I was far from the youngest trainee, but my devotion was far less than the rest of them. By the time it was over, I was the only one left standing, a testament to my desire to live and plunge into the dark side to do so, rather than my own skill."

"Did you kill the children while you indulged in the dark side?" Nett asked coldly.

Kajex glared at her. "That's enough."

She ignored him. "Answer the que--"

"Yes. I did. The youngest fell by my hand." Locke fixed the Bothan with a hard, pained stare. "I stand to lose everything by admitting it, but I did. From the brief insight I had into her mind, I knew she was a tormented soul, forced into servitude and training, immersed in the pain of sexual abuse- from her own parents, from the slavers that took her, from her own Master. She had many reasons to be hateful, to lash out violently at those around her. Call me a child-killing monster if you must, but ever since Kajex and Syrra saved me, I've had time to reflect on the actions I've taken throughout my life. And while I wish I could have provided an alternative outcome, the truth is... I'm glad I killed her. I'm glad I ended that suffering so that she would never have to face it again. I'm glad she would not have potentially spent the rest of her life putting up with that abuse until she slew her instructors to take their place. I'm sorry I had to do it, I truly am- if I had the training and opportunity to do it, I would have sought something more positive, yet under the eye of Voyde our lives were forfeit anyway, if we did not fight. But I will gladly carry the burden of that crime for the rest of my life, knowing what pain she would have been spared from."

Nett said nothing, but it was clear from her expression that the answer was not satisfactory. Even so, Luke was nodding solemnly and Moarn looked sympathetic as he spoke. "You did what you could, with what little you knew."

Locke breathed in deep, centering himself before continuing. "My grief and rage at these circumstances were enough for me to draw from the dark side. Consumed by it, I ended the handful that remained- it did nothing to ease the situation, nor how I felt about it. As you are no doubt aware, it only made the pain worse. Yet it was enough to convince Voyde I was a worthy enough apprentice to keep around for the next sixteen years of my life, my education further supplemented by training material and guidance from Emperor Palpatine's resources."

He paused. "It's important that I explain the context in which we were referred to as 'Sith'. Palpatine always used to say that he vowed to be the final recipient of all the knowledge passed down by every Sith Lord since the time of Darth Bane instituting the Rule of Two. I personally found the entire 'Rule' to be incredibly ridiculous, dangerous, self-serving and short-sighted. All it needed was for two deaths to occur at the same time- that of the master and the apprentice- for the entire lineage to end. It was not a legitimate means of gauging one's skill and ability, not if the master could be 'supplanted' by a lucky moron. So while the Emperor used the word 'Sith' to describe only himself and his pupil, we used it to refer to all those under the employ of Palpatine; his agents, instructors, Inquisitors and interrogators- even if we were not directly his pupils."

"What was your function, as a Sith Knight?"

"I didn't become a Sith Knight after passing the 'initiation', mind you. But the function was more or less the same even before I was 'knighted', it meant being deployed on many missions. As a student of an Inquisitor, my task included following leads on Jedi hiding on distant worlds, tracking down traitors and leaders of various uprisings. Some of them were good men I would have trusted to help me under different circumstances, but Voyde had ensured that my compliance was out of my hands."

"How did he accomplish that?" asked Kajex.

"Through cowing me further with whatever sins I had committed, inspiring self-doubt and shame for the actions I committed out of fear- but when the allure of freedom became too strong, he would take the reins and force me to his will instead, even over vast expanses of space. His skill in mind domination is such that he was able to do this several star systems away, through the malignant 'bond' he and I shared." He looked away from Kajex. "I pride myself on my combat skills, which were unmatched by most Inquisitor students, save perhaps Knight Ulfric- though I have never liked killing, and never developed their bloodlust. On the few occasions I attempted to divert for my own gain, Voyde would control my actions to ensure I did as commanded. I would resign myself to doing his will as a result, until I felt a little stronger in the Force to attempt defying him again... only to fail again. I must have tried at least once every year under his tutelage."

He looked to Luke. "When the Rebellion was in full swing, Voyde and the other Inquisitors made their move to impress Lord Palpatine. It's no secret that much of the Inquisitorious loathed Darth Vader for having the favor of the Emperor, when the bulk of his work was that of an enforcer and commander of his own Imperial legion, the 501st. The thing is... Vader was leashed to the Emperor not just out of obedience, but pragmatism. The old ways of Sith warfare and combat had been discarded by the Emperor, replacing outstanding shows of force with the inspiring of fear instead. Alderaan was destroyed, but Palpatine learned his lesson quickly enough. An atrocity that large didn't subdue naysayers and rebels; it merely showed the Empire's true colors and disregard for sentient life, inspiring millions to take up arms against his 'New Order'. Vader's propensity for meeting the Alliance with thorough, precise action meshed well with the Emperor's ability to plan."

"But the Inquisitorious failed to learn that lesson. Though they didn't have the means to perform on such a 'grand' scale as the Death Star, it wasn't for lack of trying; and with Vader 'shamed' for his failure to prevent the battlestation from being destroyed and being it's sole survivor, many Inquisitors attempted to one-up him. Tesque's attempt was to impress the Emperor through a mass assassination on 5 separate worlds at the same time, implicating each victim as the perpetrator of another's death. Voyde offered a more violent means- me." Locke shuddered. "This would have been a year after the Battle of Yavin, at age eighteen, when I was 'deployed' on an Outer Rim planet, Rava, to aid an inept Imperial governor in taking out a Rebel base that was hidden among one of the plateaus- and by 'aid', I mean 'do his job for him'. To say I was booted out of the dropship into the middle of a Rebel camp would not be an exaggeration."

"I made an attempt to escape once more, thinking by now I was to strong enough to resist him. He made my punishment so much worse. By now he realized the extent of my reticence and to demonstrate the futility of it all he had me slaughter everyone in that base. Men, women- he had me slaughter the children last, one by one as they were trapped, keeping me just lucid enough that I experienced rage and grief beyond reckoning, which only served to augment my abilities and made their pain more excruciating."

"We have only your word on this," Nett interjected with a glare. "How are we to know you did this under the effects of mind-control?"

Locke bowed his head. "You don't. But I'm not meant to convince you. Bear in mind, I know exactly how this frames me in your eyes, Operative. From now on I expect to be in the crosshairs of your finest sniper from now til my final breath."

"He is telling the truth, or what he honestly believes is the truth," Moarn cut in. "I sense no deception here."

"Nor I," agreed Skywalker. "In any event, Locke is not the first Sith-aligned Force-user to have been deployed against the Rebel Alliance and caused so much damage. Surely the NRI is familiar with Galen Marek and his clone, Starkiller- both of whom aided in the formation and early victories of Rebellion before their deaths. For all the death they caused, they were still good people deep within who returned to the light side and fought to help put an end to the Empire."

"Marek never paid for his crimes, either!" Nett snapped.

"Didn't he?" Luke countered with an even voice. "Marek gave his life to save the founders of the Rebel Alliance. They trusted him- or have you forgotten the symbol of the Rebellion, and now the New Republic, was based on his family crest to honor him?" Nett said nothing in response, but continued to look dour while Luke returned his attention to the white wolf. "Please, continue Locke."

Locke sighed. "By the end of the assault, over two hundred people were dead. Voyde mocked me for my attempts to pull away from him and settled on a new form of torture. He made me relive the moments where I slaughtered innocents just to drive home the point that I was his slave and would always remain so until he either deemed me useless or someone managed to kill me, and spent the next 3 years training me and occasionally sending me on missions to beat down Rebel uprisings. At one point, he nearly had me sent to assassinate you, Master."

Luke smiled calmly, clearly bearing no ill-will in light of this information. "Not surprising. There was a time when much of the Empire and even Black Sun had orders to terminate me on sight. What stopped you?"

"Direct orders from Lord Vader. That initially wasn't enough to convince Voyde to stand down, but once Palpatine himself issued the order he relented and had me pulled back. I didn't understand why at the time- as a high-value target who, with all due respect, ended a million lives with a single shot at the Battle of Yavin, I thought the mission would have gone through. Again, it was at a time of war so I understand why you did it- and it's not like the Empire didn't have it coming, anyway. Now, of course, I understand the connection between you and Vader."

"But eventually the Battle of Endor would see an end to Palpatine, at least for a short while. And while the Inquisitorious had been given orders to follow in the event that this should happen, Voyde had my attentions shifted away from the fledgling Republic and devoted more towards establishing footholds and securing connections with criminal organizations and planets that lay outside Republic influence. For a while, I was actually starting to enjoy my work; not because I was interested in killing, but because when I had to, it involved scum I felt more comfortable putting an end to. It also helped that the extra time training gave me a chance to learn how to dominate the minds of others, just as Voyde did mine, and the freedom to pursue my missions as I saw fit enabled me the chance to employ that skill instead of ending lives- far less messier, far more efficient."

"And your Master didn't punish you for it?" Ranger Captain Barnn asked.

"Oh, he certainly would... when he remembered to, which was becoming less frequent. The only reason he skimped on punishment was because he devoted time and energy towards aiding the Imperial Remnant and remaining Sith projects, which culminated in Lord Palpatine returning not once, but twice. It was around this point that both Voyde and Tesque began to show an interest in cloning and kolto. After Palpatine was truly destroyed, they and several other Inquisitors started looking into the past for guidance. It was their intention to draw upon the power of old Sith Lords, to restore the Empire to its former 'glory', and the timing could not have been more perfect- with Gilad Pallaeon and Natasi Daala assassinating the Imperial warlords and consolidating their power into one region, the Empire was more stable and less fractured; with the Prophets of the Dark Side, and their false copies, finally eliminated, what remained of the Inquisitorious were forced to work together, unified now by committing their efforts towards the destruction of this Praxeum. To that end, I was forced to spend as much time learning Sith lore and history as I did training."

"Can't have been all that pleasant, all those Sith folks having to put trust in each other," Ray stated. "If there's one thing Sith know how to do perfectly, besides ruining people's lives, it's putting a dagger in each other's backs."

Locke chuckled mirthlessly. "You have no idea how right you are. But I found myself removed from those conflicts and petty squabbles, and working more for the Empire- where I learned it was actually making decent strides in its policies. There's slim hope for it to be a positive force in the universe under the command of people like Pallaeon, though it still has a ways to go- but eventually I was forced into the thick of the criminal underworld to garner support from bounty hunters, gangsters, even Hutt cartels. An especially odious Hutt garnered special attention- a disgusting slug named Zorba Desilijic Tiure."

Nett frowned. "We have unverified rumors that he is dead. Are you able to confirm it?"

"He is dead. I killed him." He allowed himself a small smile, and his eyes lingered on Keris for a few moments. "You probably know that the 'will' left behind by his son, Jabba, was little more than a forgery. Most people have heard that the ensuing disgrace meant his relatives and rivals took possession of his properties and left him with virtually nothing. He even lost a property on Bespin he'd won cheating at Sabacc. But to say he lost everything is not strictly true; Zorba possessed a handful of properties in one of the slums of Nar Shaddaa's twilight regions, which I suppose might constitute as barely anything at all by Hutt standards. Nevertheless, with his limited resources he was still managing to funnel credits from the Desilijic kadijic, enough so that the few Hutt cartels the Remnant wished to work with were reticent to follow through until the Empire could show a sign of good faith by cutting him off completely."

Nett nodded. "This is actually useful information. We'll make a note of it. Continue."

"I'd worked with the Hutts long enough to know that only one or two had any redeeming qualities, and Zorba's reputation was so foul and expansive that it was only ever preceded by his putrid stench. I was already well-aware that their single-mindedness would prevent any mind tricks of any measure to fail on them."

Luke sighed. "I wish I'd known that before dealing with his son, Jabba..."

Locke smiled blandly. "Well, I had the questionable benefit of a master who, although cruel, ensured I never went into any situation without pertinent details. I knew what to expect and I knew that my options were likely limited. Zorba was well-known for being far more stubborn than most Hutts; the slob was resilient enough to escape from a sarlacc... or more likely was foul enough that the sarlacc suffered severe, explosive indigestion; and despite being an abject failure of a Hutt, he still possessed enough loyal scum to do his bidding, and a growing, profitable whore-den funded by his ill-gotten finances." He glanced back at Keris. "That's where I met my apprentice."

She cleared her throat. "I'd been adopted on Naboo by a trader ten years prior before parting ways and being given a job as a free, non-slave dancer and... escort, at a cantina on Nar Shadda when I was sixteen- far luckier than most women with similar occupations, and I suppose more surprising was that it was completely consensual up until my enslavement. I wasn't even aware of my own Force sensitivity, or that I was unconsciously using the Force to persuade clients to back off when they were getting too aggressive. But in revenge for the shame he suffered from his relatives, he initiated an attack at the club I was working at and had the entertainers, myself included, shackled for his own amusement." She grimaced. "For the sake of those present, I won't describe the things he forced us to do, though I will say he only succeeded in making us do them by introducing powerful aphrodisiacs and narcotics into our systems to ensure the shackles we wore wouldn't come off."

Locke nodded, growling softly. "It was dishonorable even by Hutt standards, and Zorba knew it. I made the deliberate move of pointing this out to him when we met and he had every gun I his employ pointed at me in moments. The engagement lasted only a few minutes, long enough for me to dispatch his hired hands, warn him to cease his underhanded financial tricks and tell him I was freeing the slaves before turning to unshackle them. A momentary lapse in my guard and he put a blaster bolt in my back, though my armor saved me. In the midst of his insufferable gloating, Keris demonstrated her first use of the Force by tearing the holdout blaster Zorba was holding out of his slimy grasp and shooting him in the stomach. Not enough to kill him, but it gave me time to recover and end his disgusting existence."

Nett frowned. "What compelled you to spare your apprentice when you didn't offer the same kindness to the other Sith apprentices you murdered?"

"I swear, if you--"

"Easy, pup," Ray said calmly. "Don't let 'er get under your skin." Kajex glared at the Bothan and remained silent. Locke gave him an appreciative look before continuing.

"That's an easy answer- I was not under immediate threat of death, and I was far more capable of helping Keris than I was the initiates in the past, as trained as I was by then. She needed help, someone to teach her. My experiences with the Sith were harsh enough that I knew she would eventually be found, and in order to mitigate any damage she might have suffered I took it upon myself to bring her with- after asking, of course."

"I didn't want to say no," Keris said, smiling softly. "I knew what he was, what it meant, but I also kept in mind that he freed me and dozens of other slaves in the process. I took him up on it readily."

He reached over and squeezed her paw. "Initially, Voyde wanted me to either kill Keris to demonstrate my loyalty; when he drew nearer and sensed her potential, the position changed and he demanded I hand her over as an apprentice he could train. When I refused and drew my weapon, he seemed... satisfied. He relented and gave me permission to begin tutoring her. Only now do I understand that it was another way for him to control me- by giving me something to work for, a drive for someone I had fallen in love with and then shattering that love through murder, he might have turned me to the dark side fully- at the very least, fearing for her life would ensure my cooperation as he moved into the next stage of their plans; the formation of the Circle of Syn."

"We have files on this ancient Sith Lord," Nett commented. "And we've read your report, but perhaps you'd like to articulate the seriousness of the situation."

"Everyone here knows Sorzus Syn was a Sith alchemist, and one of the founding members of the Sith Empire on Korriban, many thousands of years ago. She pioneered virulent epidemics, the creation of violent constructs like howlers and leviathans, and formulated a mixture that skirted the edges of Sith necromancy. She served as the inspiration of Darth Drear's foray into immortality, though all he did was devise a bioweapon for the Empire, the 'Sickness'."

"Imperial bioweapons Project I71A, codename: Blackwing," Nett replied, nodding gravely. "We've heard of it, though we weren't aware of its connections to Sith culture."

"While the Empire Reborn faction finally met its end, the remaining Inquisitors started searching for ways to regain Syn's lost knowledge. To that end, many Dark Jedi were recruited and formed into the Children of Syn. Ulfric was among one of those inducted into the cause and immediately knighted, having been groomed by Inquisitor Tesque for over a decade. Voyde responded by making me a Sith Knight as well, and our efforts started in earnest. The main objective was to collect as much knowledge on the works of Sorzus Syn as possible, and to study Sith alchemy intensively. But much like Tavion and her Disciples of Ragnos wanted power directly from Marka Ragnos, the Inquisitors wanted a direct connection into Sorzus Syn's knowledge- to that end, the primary goal became finding a way to restore her to life."

Syrra groaned. "Just like we were afraid of..."

Locke nodded. "The Disciples of Ragnos had determined the best means of bringing Ragnos back was through the use of his infamous relics, namely the Staff of Ragnos. The Inquisitorious felt similarly, but had to take a different approach; Sorzus Syn was known to possess many relics, but none of any real original design. What she was better known for was her alchemy, and it was in this regard that it was decided she should be brought back. Studying bacta had turned out to be a dead-end at the beginning, but a year and a half ago a spark of inspiration came to Voyde and he devoted research towards kolto instead. With the Imperial Remnant having lost control of Manaan years ago, it couldn't be reliably collected- efforts were instead made to intercept shipments being made to regions outside of Republic control."

"Which is why they started targeting my uncle and mother's business," Syrra said sourly.

"Precisely, I'm afraid," Locke said apologetically. "When Voyde ordered me to hire a bunch of thugs to check Knaanan City Starport, the results of that intrusion pleased him- kolto experiments were already being done, and strides were being made in understanding how it functioned in the presence of the Force. He was ecstatic- for once, he didn't punish me, and even agreed with me executing the former base commander for slaughtering the Trianii chemists, healers and pilots- their deaths were needless and the loss of information was potentially staggering. The attack on AS-303 soured him, obviously; but now he had a lead to follow, and he started assigning me, Keris and Miles to pick up relics that might aid in the research."

"What were they able to find?" Nett pressed him.

"I've included everything in my report that I am aware of, but to go over some of them- the crystal from Mace Windu's lightsaber formed kolto into a solution that, when injected or ingested, affected biology such that it would send the recipient into a violent frenzy, formidable enough that nothing short of decapitation would stop them. Influence from one of several Sith abattars turned Kolto into a solution that, when introduced, would provide them with the ability to permanently understand any spoken or written language they studied within a timeframe of one week; that solution was mass-produced for the Circle and the Children to learn languages we previously did not know. Even I imbibed in order to speak the Trianii language, in the event that we would be set against Syrra's people once again."

"Was there any other effect? And do they possess a Healing Crystal of Fire?" Nett asked.

"It was learned, in fact, kolto doesn't just react to Force-imbued objects. It reacts to powerful demonstrations of Force abilities as well- but they must be exceptionally powerful demonstrations, and not merely simple cantrips of the Force. Tonics to increase pain tolerance, induce comas, cause insanity or even be applied as liquid explosives- all of these became research goals with various member of the Circle and Children specializing on obtaining such results." He shuddered. "When I learned of it, I dreaded the idea of him creating a mixture that would allow Voyde complete control over me, though it never came to that. But as far as whether they found a Healing Crystal, I cannot say. I would assume not, however."

"Why not?"

Locke glanced at his Jedi counterpart. "If they did possess a crystal, there would have been no point in Voyde telling me to murder Kajex and take his pendant. I assume he's aware of it's true nature, and sought it as it was one relic he lacked."

"Is there anything else you can tell us about the Circle?" Luke asked.

"About the only other thing that comes to mind is that the Imperial Remnant is getting impatient with them. Although I escaped punishment for AS-303 and satisfied the Grand Moffs by bringing it back to them, Ulfric's actions and ultimate squandering of Imperial personnel, ships and resources soured whatever fragile relations the Inquisitorious had left with the Grand Moffs and fleet admirals. If it weren't for the fact that the Remnant views you and your academy as a legitimate threat to their plans, they probably wouldn't even bother with the Inquisitors."

Luke nodded. "I guess we can count that as a potential positive. If that's everything, then...?" He glanced at the Bothan, who sighed.

"The judgment is yours. After hearing what he has said... I don't think my superiors will press charges," she admitted, though she issued him a hard glare. "Be aware, however, that if he breaks our trust, it will be you who is held accountable, Master Skywalker."

"No, it'll be me to blame," Kajex said abruptly. "Like Luke said, he's here because I brought him here- he's my responsibility."

"Ah yes, of course," Nett smiled insincerely. "I'm sure you're willing to do plenty for your brother."

Kajex cocked an eyebrow. "He's not my brother. A good friend, but not kin."

Nett stared at them incredulously.

"... What? Why are you looking at us like that?"

Her eyes narrowed. "... You must be joking." She looked between them, then at Luke. "Have you not informed them?"

"It was my intention to do so in private," Luke answered, frowning.

Kajex glanced at Locke, who merely shrugged in confusion. "Do you mind telling us what you guys talking about?"

Nett returned her attention to them. "You mean to tell me that you never knew about each other's relations, even though you share most of the same physical features?"

"What 'relations?'" Locke asked. "We're both of the same unknown non-human species and happen to look similar, how does that make us 'related', and why is that a significant issue?"

"It's significant because you also share the same genetic profile."

"Syrra? Where's Locke?"

She sighed as she stopped at the bottom of the ramp, next to Keris, Miles and Talrik. "Exactly where you think he is, love."

They had dispersed after the bomb had been dropped. Kajex had only barely heard the details of what had been discovered- that a blood sample had been taken from Locke shortly upon arrival; that running a test on the sample had alerted Chief Healer Cilghal that a similar profile had already been logged into their computers; that comparative analysis of their genetic profiles had discovered that Locke and Kajex were almost exactly alike, minus a few variables that resulted in different pelt and eye coloration. He doubted Locke was particularly interested in the details, either, as the two had done little more than stare at each other in silent shock.

Kajex wasn't even sure what had happened between that revelation and him asking where Locke was. He couldn't really remember what happened when the interview ended, though he knew Luke had said something about Locke and his companions being welcome at the Praxeum of as long as it took for them to move on, that they were free to go where they pleased although he suggested they have someone escort them for safety's sake. All he knew was that they had boarded the turbolift, he had turned around to say something to Barnn and Ray, and then turned back to see Locke gone. After that he had spent an hour in isolated silence in his own thoughts, before it dawned on him that he should be looking for Locke and seeing if he was okay. A significant pull had led him back to the Gold Rush, as a result.

The wolf sighed. "What's he doing?"

Keris winced. "Drinking. Heavily. We know it's your ale, but we couldn't find it in our hearts to stop him, he's a mess." The Amaran vixen gave him a pleading look. "You need to talk to him, Kajex. He needs you. If I could help, I would... but this is between you and him."

Miles nodded. "We gave it our best shot, but he didn't want to say a word. We think you'll have much better luck."

"But he's not the only one hit with this," Syrra noted with concern. "Are you okay?"

That stunned the wolf. Despite the revelation, more concerned about how it was affecting Locke, it occurred to him he had never once considered how this all would make him feel. He said nothing for a moment, parsing through it all logically, then emotionally- and found himself smiling. "Actually... yeah. When I think about it... I'm actually kinda... happy."

She smiled back, looking satisfied. "Even regardless of your genetic similarity, he's still your friend. Your bond to him is stronger than blood- you brought him around once, I know you can do it again." She put a paw on his shoulder. "Talk to him. Let him know he's wanted."

"I will," he assured her. "Where are you guys going, anyway?"

Keris cleared her throat. "Well, with Locke in the mood he's in right now, Syrra thought it'd be a good idea for her to show me and Miles around the Praxeum, and also to get our weapons back. I'd like to continue my training under Locke... but I think this would be the better path for us both."

"Alright. Just be safe out there, I keep getting the vibe that people aren't used to you guys yet."

She nodded, then after a look of hesitation, walked up to him, embracing him and kissing the side of his muzzle. "Thank you. For everything- for saving Locke, Miles and me, and offering us a home. I don't plan on forgetting it, ever." Kajex felt a small flutter in his chest as she smiled warmly at him.

Syrra sniffed slightly in the awkward silence. "Alright, c'mon- let's get you out of here before you try to seduce my fiancee," she said stiffly, grabbing the vixen by the arm and pulling her away- though not quickly enough that Kajex didn't see the vixen wink at him.

"Pfft, you're no fun..."

"Hey buddy," Kajex said softly from the door to the galley. "How's it goin'? Gettin' smashed?"

No fewer than three bottles of Corellian ale were at either side of Locke's bleary-eyed, tear-streaked face. His silver-blue eyes struggled to lift themselves up and detect the source of the voice, only to wince and shut tight as they briefly fell on Kajex. The white wolf let out a pained whine as he covered his face. "Go 'way," he muttered. "I'm g- (hic)- gettin' drunk- I don' wanna talk t'you."

Kajex managed a small smile as he ambled inside. "Sorry bro, but this is my ship- I go wherever I want in it. How many have you had so far?"

"One," Locke lied, ears folding back miserably. "Only one I'm gonna have," he said shakily.

"I'm sure," Kajex said, noticing the open box of booze at the end of the table, next to Locke's right leg. "But as it's my alcohol, you obviously won't mind if I partake, right?"

Locke hid his face and shrugged. "Help yerself," he whined. Kajex paused- in his slightly slurred speech, without the effect of his usual mild Coruscanti accent, it was interesting to note that Locke sounded very much like Kajex did. The new similarity brought a smile to the Sentinel's muzzle as he sat opposite from the white wolf, grabbing a bottle from the open box and snapping it open.

"So... what's on your mind? Feeling okay about how the interview went?" he asked delicately.

"Nnf... Nett's ssstupid..." Locke slurred back, his head still buried in his arms. "Dumb cunt getting on my case because... stuff I did..." There was an audible sniff. "'s not like I wanted to... kill so many people."

Kajex sighed, reaching out across the table and putting a paw behind the former Sith Knight's ears, rubbing them gently- Locke flinched at the affectionate touch, but didn't react otherwise. "You know she was only trying to get to you and me. You ought to know by now Bothans are paranoid as hell- I don't think she and her kind trust any Force-sensitive. The only thing that matters is that Luke trusts you."

"Not nobody else, though," muttered Locke. "Not for everything I did..."

"You're going to be waiting a long-ass time for universal appreciation, forgiveness and understanding, Locke," the gray wolf chided gently. "But the people who matter most think you don't pose a danger to anybody else; Moarn and Katarn think you're fine, Barnn and Ray are willing to give you a chance- and Syrra and Talrik trust you with their lives, you know that. And it's not like I wouldn't fight on your behalf if it came to it- even against other Jedi. I believe in you that much."

"Why?" Locke lifted his head and Kajex saw that fresh tears had started flowing. "Kajex... at any second, Voyde could... he could make me hurt you, kill you. I stayed in here not just 'cuz you asked," he said huskily, "but because I didn't-(hic)-don't wanna hurt anybody else... just hurtin' you and Syrra and Talrik would be bad enough, after e'rything you did for me an' Keris an' Miles..." He took a long sniff, before hiding his muzzle in his arms, shaking as he held back sobs. "I'm… fuckin', I'm sorry about this, acting like a weepy bitch because of everything..."

Kajex smiled again, getting up from his seat and circling the galley table, taking the seat next to Locke. Pushing aside two of the bottle to clear some space, he put an arm around the white wolf and pulled him in close- Locke did not pull away, instead leaning into him with a shudder. "It's not going to happen, Locke. You're talking to a Jedi Sentinel; one of our key tricks is knowing how to hide ourselves from assholes who want to find us, and putting up walls so nobody can fuck around with our heads. I'd be more than happy the teach those kind of techniques, so the next time that bastard Voyde tries to mind control you, you'll be ready to tell him to go to hell instead."

Locke raised his head up, a hopeful look on his face. "You'd be okay... teaching me that?"

The gray wolf nodded. "Absolutely. Nobody gets a free pass to fuck with my family, least of all my brother."

"Brother, huh...?" Locke looked away though he couldn't hide his smile. "Y'sure you wanna be callin' me that? 's not like I can compare to you."

"It's not about comparisons," Kajex assured him gently. "You saved my life in the past, and I saved yours. Like you said, that kind of thing doesn't happen without a bond forming. I only regret having such limited interactions with you before then, but you're great company to be around, a source of good knowledge and interesting perspectives, and one hell of a fighter. I'm glad having you around."

"Even if I'm irredeemable?" Locke asked heavily, wiping his face.

"I don't believe for a moment that you're irredeemable," the wolf Sentinel sighed, smiling. "You had a rougher run than most, but fortunately you weren't corrupted. I told you a while back, I don't believe for a moment that you're evil deep down. Tormented? Sure. Regretful? Absolutely. But not evil." He paused. "In fact... I'd like to believe that we're more alike than that, that I'd have been as strong as you were, had I been in your place. That's why I'm not judging you on some bullshit black-and-white standard, like some kind of fundamentalist Jedi zealot. I'm judging you based on how I see you. And I hope you feel that it counts for more."

Locke looked grateful, on the verge of tears. "Kajex..."

"C'mere, bro..." Cutting off any further argument or words of gratitude, Kajex pulled the white wolf in close and embraced him, running a paw down Locke's back soothingly as his genetic twin shivered and hugged back. A mix of emotions consisting mainly of love and sorrow rent through the Sentinel's heart as he smiled tremulously. "I should've told you back on AS-303, that I wish I could've met you years ago. I wish Bran and Kane could've found you and raised us as brothers, instead of you being put through the Sith grinder. I'm sorry you were hurt so badly that you've almost always doubted the good person you really are. But I'll take what I have, right here and now... and I hope you'll stay so you can start seeing for yourself how true it is when I say you're a great guy, and I'm glad we share the same blood."

Locke sighed, pulling back and giving him a shaky smile. "You don't even need to ask, Kajex... brothers need to stick together, right?"

The gray wolf smiled back. "Damn right they do. Now, let's try and celebrate this set of circumstances, alright? Gimme an ale and let's just hang out, for a change- we have at least thirty years of bonding to cover, and I'm still feeling young."