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A chill as cold as death carried across the snow plains, shadowed by the peaks of the Clabburn Range and heralded by a tremendous howl. Though mostly wind, the guttural undertone beneath the howl caused several skittish Taun-Tauns to perk up in unease, the herd nervously scanning the area before clustering around the young. The wind picked up, blasting powder through the air, and through it another roar sounded. Startled by the sound the herd bayed and stomped, nudging their keening calves forward as they raced along the ice.

Another roar sounded out and the herd bayed in dismay, casting their eyes upward, where a massive gray shape was bearing down upon them from the sky. All panicked and broke in different directions, the calved confused and frightened by the sudden chaos and rendered unable to move. With no adults to guide them they called out in terror, trotting around in circles as the roaring grew in volume. Soon, none of their voices could be heard over the deafening sounds of the ship's high-powered engine. A trio of landing struts slid out of the base, one poised directly above a calf runt. It was only fifteen feet from crushing her when one of the adults, having regained some of her nerve, doubled back to herd the young towards the rest of the group, racing with all haste away from the vessel. By the time the craft had landed and its engines had winded down, their wails were merely another sound in the freezing wind.

A hatch at the side of the vessel slid open, a ramp ejecting from beneath it and crunching into the fresh snow. A man exited the craft, his pointed, pale features twisted into a sneer and his cold blue eyes scanning the area with disdain. He stepped down the ramp, clutching the black, fur-lined robes to his body with a shiver before fiddling with a module on his wrist.

"Damned heated inlay never works," Yuda griped. "Just my luck I'd have to be sent here."

"You speak as if this is punishment," a voice rumbled behind him.

At the top of the ramp stood a tall, heavily-muscled Chistori, the green-scaled reptilian adorned only in trousers, boots, and a utility bandolier from which hung a thick-handled lightsaber hilt. His yellow eyes peered at Knight Yuda with a look of quiet disapproval, his boots stomping down the ramp; freezing though it was, the taller being seemed to be completely unaffected by his surroundings, save for his breath condensing in the air.

"I suppose you'll have to tell me if it is, then," the young man grunted. "Seeing as Master Voyde gave you the details while leaving me out of it."

"He was wise to leave the details out of your hands," Knight Apex rumbled softly. "But all will be known soon enough. For now, know only that your talents will be utilized here." He turned to the ship and raised his clawed hand. "Fang Company, follow."

At his word, no fewer than two full squads of heavily armored stormtroopers filed out of the ship, each heavily armored in equipment adapted to the cold. Not a single one of them spoke a word of the weather as Apex led the way, guiding them towards the mountain range.

"To answer your question- no, this is not punishment. This is our duty. You have, as expected, mistaken any requirement for you to raise a finger as retribution for your ineptitude." He looked away from Yuda. "I am not Thresher. You are here because you are needed."

Yuda glared at him. "Out of all out knights within the Circle, I alone have gotten us our resources. These troops wouldn't even be here without my skill in convincing the Imperial Remnant- this mission would only involve us."

Apex raised a brow at the human. "Then why must you whinge on about being tasked to put those proud skills to service?"

"Because it's being led by you!" he spat back. "We've only just arrived and your lack of planning or foresight is forcing us to walk a kilometer to some pointless cave in the mountains of this Force-forsaken ball of ice. You couldn't have had the pilot land us closer to the base?" Yuda shivered, rubbing his hands over his arms and body.

"Geo-scans showed it being the most stable shelf of rock," Apex said without missing a beat. "We are currently walking over a precipice supported only by years of compacted snow and ice. The field is littered with trenches and equipment that could damage the ship were she to sink into the ice."

"What are you even talking about?" Yuda glowered. "This piece of planet doesn't look like it's seen intelligent habitation in its entire existence- bar a few smelly beasts of burden."

Apex drew in a breath in a subtle sigh and stopped. "This is what remains of Echo Base, you ignorant fool." He gestured to the plains around them. "Buried under over a decade of snow are the remains of the Battle of Hoth. One in harmony with the Force would still feel the echoes of the battle even now."

The irritable glare in Yuda's face did not diminish. "And why, brute, have I been brought to an old battlefield? As I recall, Reborn agents already scoured this area over a year ago."

"I'm glad you've spared some attention to the reports the Circle had," Apex remarked quietly. With another gesture, stabbing two fingers forward, the squad tailing them rushed ahead. One of the black-armored troops remained, his pauldron bearing a high-rank yellow stripe and a datapad in his hand.

"I want EMP bursts out first," the commander barked. "First squad, breach that ice on the hangar door and clear it out; second squad, flank through the postern gate. Orders are to clear the scum but take survivors- mark your targets and keep your shots clean."

The human Sith Knight scoffed as blaster shots started to ring out. "I'll take a hit to the loins if these troops actually score any kills."

"My men are the best you can find in the Remnant," the commander replied with no shortage of coolness in his tone; though he did not turn to address Yuda. "Half of them have served in the 501st, and some served in the Clone Wars. If you weren't a Sith Knight, I might even hold you to that wager."

"Just do your job!" Yuda snapped.

"You're not in charge here," the commander replied calmly, with the same cool tone."

Yuda was mid-step towards the commander, his hand halfway to the lightsaber on his belt before Apex stepped forward and blocked the human from approaching with a massive, muscled arm. "Ignore my assistant, Commander. His skills will be integral at some point, but you needn't bother with each other. You have your objectives, ensure they are carried out."

"Yes, my lord," the Commander replied with a swift bow, before jogging off to catch up with the rest of the squadron.

The sound of blaster fire from the postern entrance had at this point muffled, though as both Apex and Yuda strode towards the base shouts and death scream could be heard nearby. Halfway to the base, an enormous explosion erupted at the ice-glazed hangar doors; decades of snow shifted from the peak, culminating in a pair of avalanches rolling down both sides of the mountain and crashing to either side, the sound drowning out the firefight and shouting within the base. Eyes drawn to the shifting ice, both Sith Knights stopped to observe the barrel of Echo Base's infamous ion cannon- the only tool the Rebels needed to break the Imperial siege long enough to escape, still fully intact and likely operational.

Yuda spoke once more, but this time there was no antagonizing tone behind it. "Be frank with me, Apex. I assure you I will not let the matter drop until you inform me as to our presence here."

"All will be made clear in a few minutes, but if it puts an end to your concerns I will tell you that the Circle's interests here are centered around an artifact thought to be hidden here under a Jedi weapon master's supervision."

The human arched an eyebrow. "Surely not Skywalker? The whelp was little more than a talented pilot back then."

"Indeed," Apex acknowledged as they strode through the hangar doors. "It is not him who oversaw the artifacts."

The hangar was almost as barren as it was cold, with only a handful of heavily scarred fighters in the bays. A dozen bodies were strewn across the floor, all of different species and not a single uniform among them, in neither apparel nor equipment. At the far end of the hangar, surrounded by yet more bodies, was a medium-sized transport circled by crude barricades. On glance alone even a novice pilot would have doubted the legality of its weaponry and equipment; even now, the commander was scanning the vessel with a wrist-mounted sensor device.

Yuda sneered at one of the bodies, kicking it over to reveal a dead Twi'lek's face. "Pirates," he hissed in disgust. "What are these scum doing here? The Reborn were supposed to clear this place out."

"And they did," Apex rumbled. "Hoth was a refuge from the grip of the Empire long before the Rebels ever came here. It has served as a hiding hole for all manner of galactic filth. These vermin likely moved in once the Reborn left. Even after its sabotage, there is enough of the base still standing to be of use to desperate criminals." He peered at the bodies. "What do you think?"

Yuda kicked over another corpse, this one belonging to a three-eyed Gran. "Hardly a difficult question. Hutt cartel, I have no doubt- or they were," he amended himself, glancing back to the single-man starfighters. "The weapons and ships are expensive, but poorly maintained. They probably ran afoul of a Hutt kajidic and lost funding and support." He looked to Apex with a smirk. "Which means there's a bounty. Perhaps there's something to be gained here after all."

Apex nodded, though he frowned. "Perhaps. We shall get in touch with the Hutts once we've collected enough data here. Our main priority is the artifact."

"My lord." The commander jogged to the pair and stopped with a short bow. "My men have rounded up the remainder of the thugs and are bringing them out now. Leaders are a Chiss and a Weequay bodyguard, I can run a check with the Hutt bounty postings to see if he's got a mark on him."

"Do it," Apex commanded. "Whatever survivors are left, restrain them and have three men take them back to the ship; leave the leaders here, we intend to interrogate them." The commander nodded and turned to send orders while Apex and Yuda continued on.

"Smooth enough operation," Yuda remarked with a slight tone of condescension, "so I will accept that these troops are among the best the Remnant still has to offer. Not that it explains why they need to be here to dispatch a group of ill-equipped pirates; we could have handled this alone and brought whatever artifact back to the Circle."

"You misunderstand," Apex rumbled. "We're not here to acquire a new relic- we're here to secure and destroy it."

Yuda arched an eyebrow. "That's not something we typically do."

"Knight Locke did so with the Yoke of Unseeming; and he was wise enough to not bring it back with him, letting the Jedi do the work for us instead."

"Don't speak to me of that traitor," the human sneered.

"I'm merely correcting you," Apex sighed. "While you were busy acquiring trust and support from the Remnant Moffs and parts of the fleet, the rest of us were clearing the board of potential threats. The Yoke of Unseeming was one- bringing it back to Inquisitor Tesque would have risked a fracturing within the Circle. We're too close to our objective to start stabbing each other in the back."

The pair watched as the squad returned, three of them splitting off to lead the survivors back to the shuttle as the rest neared them, encircling two figures. "Still doesn't explain the excessive use of troops."

"All will be explained soon enough," Apex assured him. "You are well-aware that my skills do not cover negotiations nor interrogations. You are here to conduct it instead. One of the leaders was here specifically because of the relic, and we will need his information on both its location and to confirm the identity of its guardian."

"Why should its guardian matter?" Yuda frowned.

"Because it's likely that its guardian is still here," Apex replied, turning his gaze to the back of the hangar.

The remainder of the troops stopped before them and broke formation, pushing the pirates to the floor. The steel-jawed Chiss looked up to the massive Chistori, eyes going wide at the sight.

"Dammit," he groaned. "This is what I get for following you, Ak-Den."

The Weequay swallowed, but said nothing.

The Sith Knights traded looks, Apex giving the human a subtle nod before stepping back. Yuda approached them, gave each of them a considering look as he circled the pair, as if gauging them. After about a minute, he spoke.

"Personally, I don't care that you have been conducting pirate operations from a decrepit old base. Imperial policy is to execute pirates if encountered in any operation." He stopped in front of them. "But this appears to be more than a pirate operation." He crouched before them, wearing a cold smile. "Perhaps, before we begin, you'd like to guess what I am and who I work for."

The pirate pair were silent for several seconds, until the Chiss finally spoke in a wavering voice. "If it's down to guesses... probably some Dark Jedi from the Remnant."

"Hmm... close enough," Yuda smirked, drawing his Sith weapon. "If it allows you to know what kind of dire position you're in, that will suffice." A snap-hiss rang out through the hangar as he activated his lightsaber, holding it out between them; they recoiled away from it reflexively, gasping in fear as the Sith Knight cackled.

"Scum like you scare so easily. To your credit, you do so because you recognize true power. Both of you are aware of the countless terrible things to befall you should you refuse to comply. Give me the answers you want, and it will be to your benefit."

"You... will let us live?" the Chiss said hesitantly.

"You've my word no harm will come to you," Apex rumbled. "Though you are still a bounty, and will be processed."

The Chiss looked to the Weequay. "Ak-Den, c'mon. Better to take our chances with the Hutts than a Dark Jedi."

The Weequay shivered and sighed. "What... do you want to know?"

"We want to know what you're hiding here and why," Yuda pressed coldly, pointing the tip of his weapon towards the Weequay. "Do not attempt to deceive us."

"I-I've no such desire," Ak-Den said, tensing up. "We're the Mynock Drifters, we used to work for Lubboo the Hutt until a year ago. I remembered this place from a while back, convinced my boss here to set up shop until Lubboo forgot about us."

"And your name?" Yuda sneered, directing his weapon at the Chiss.

"Zor'irel'atto--" The Chiss stopped short, swallowing. "Just... Rirelat."

"Why did you listen to your cohort here?" Yuda looked around disdainfully. "One would need to be desperate to consider settling on this ice rock, moreso as it's well-known to the Empire already and has been scouted twice."

The Chiss shot a glare to the Weequay. "Ak-Den said we'd be safe here, and that there was treasure to be found that the Rebels left behind back when this was their base. I figured he was talking about supplies, weapons, and ships, but I also reckon the Empire would have cleaned this place out if there were anything valuable."

"What did you find?"

"Hidden caches the Imperials never found- and a lot of Wampas," he added with a shudder. "At least there's no shortage of food."

Yuda returned his attention to the Weequay with a cruel smile. "Is that what he told you?"

The Chiss frowned. "Whaddya mean?"

"Your crewmate here hasn't been honest with you," Yuda snickered as Ak-Den's eyes widened. "I can feel his mind, he's lying to you. Those hidden caches weren't a factor in his insistence on coming here. He brought you here, or rather, convinced you to bring him here, for another purpose"

"But... he said--" The Chiss glared at the Weequay. "You told us we'd found what we needed, that we could sell it off, pay off Lubboo and get our death marks cleared! What were we supposed to be--"

He stopped short, his eyes narrowed. The Weequay looked uneasy.

"… This is about that damned ship, isn't it?" Rirelat said.

"Another vessel, then?" Yuda mused with interest.

"No, it's not--"

"You both stand to lose your lives if you don't tell us what was hidden here," Yuda cut off the Weequay, lifting his weapon so the point was between the Chiss' eyes. "If there is something to hide, you'll tell us- or you'll scream it to us while begging for death."

"Ak-Den, tell him!" Rirelat shouted, his breathing erratic. "Whatever the hell it is it's not worth dying over!"

"Wait, stop!" Ak-Den cried out, looking unnerved. "Just spare him, I'll... I'll tell you everything!"

"Then talk now!" Yuda spat. "Spare no details!"

The Weequay pirate took in a deep breath, swallowing. "We... we both used to be part of the Ohnaka Gang. After the Empire fell things were falling apart with the gang, until we... we met a Jedi who needed our help."

Yuda frowned. "Who was this Jedi?"

"He called himself Culbra- never told us he was a Jedi, but we figured it out from seeing his lightsaber, not to mention the fact that he was some kind of master fighter. Got into two scuffles with him around and we didn't even need to help the guy. He paid us a lot of credits to take him here, and seeing as the Empire wasn't in any position to focus on Jedi anymore we agreed- the passenger wasn't hot, it was easy and good money."

"What were his instructions?" Yuda pressed. "And why?"

"He never told us why," the Weequay answered. "Only that it was important. It..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "So... the guy wanted us to carbon-freeze him and leave him on Hoth. I know, crazy-as-hell set of instructions to give a pirate gang, but that's what he wanted. We had contacts we could go to for freezing prisoners to either hold for ransom or collect bounties on, so we got him frozen and left him on his own ship."

"You didn't betray him?" Yuda asked with an arched eyebrow. "So compromised and unable to stop you, you didn't even turn him in?"

The Weequay's gaze hardened. "I may be scum, but that guy was decent enough to me. Didn't see a reason to deny his crazy-ass request, and he didn't tell me what he was going to do, stranded and pre-frozen on a giant ice-cube."

Rirelat glared at him. "You could have taken him to Lubboo and bargained to have our death marks removed!" he shouted.

"We were gonna do that with the weapons we found anyway!" Ak-Den shot back.

"The weapons might not have been enough- a frozen Jedi would have been a flawless deal! What are you hiding!?"

The Weequay trembled, turning his gaze to the floor. "He... he wanted me- us, the gang I mean- to wait ten years before coming back. He said he'd pay us more if we did. Never got around to doing it since the Ohnaka Gang started falling apart, and most of the crew that took the job were dead by then. I figured it was a long shot, but we needed someplace to hide anyway, so I pointed us to Hoth."

"He wanted us to use weapons to find more 'secret caches,'" Rirelat growled. "And we did, but he always wanted us to search the northern caves. That's where we found the ship."

"Why didn't you do anything about it? It was within your reach, you could have freed the Jedi or taken him to the Hutt and paid off your mark."

The Chiss sighed. "I... it was my orders. The northern caves are full of wampas, ice chasms, and other dangers. We lost some good pals just getting there, a broken-down ship embedded in ice wasn't that big of a deal." He glared at Ak-Den again. "If I'd known what we could have gotten, I would have blasted every last one of those beasts and secured the ship to pay off the debt."

Yuda stared between the men, his blade now centered between them and his eyes flicking to either one, as if deciding who should die first.

Then he smiled- and deactivated his blade.

"Well then, no harm done." He reached down and grabbed the Chiss by the arm, chuckling as the pirate recoiled slightly. "Relax, you did the right thing. You see, if you had sold the Jedi off to the Hutts then we would be in a worse position- we'd have to waste more time trying to find our quarry. And I expect that a thoughtful, pragmatic leader would assess a situation like rabid snow-beasts being too much trouble for an unknown payoff."

"So... you'll let me live?" Rirelat said uncertainly.

"I will," Yuda smiled. "But you still have a bounty on you. Your fate will be left in their hands. As you said, better to take your chances with the Hutts than with a Dark Jedi, right?" He turned to the Weequay.

"As for you- how were you to free this Jedi?"

Ak-Den hesitated, then looked directly at the Sith Knight. "Before we left, we rigged an access console to the ship. It's... coded. One-seven-two-five-six-one." He shook his head. "But the hatch to the ship is also covered in ice."

"That shall be no issue," Yuda said dismissively. "Then there's only one last order of business."

Without warning the Sith Knight extended his hand in a gripping motion. The Weequay's eyes went wide, hands going to his throat and gasping as the Sith Knight began to choke him through the Force.

Apex jerked into motion, alarm painted on his features. "Yuda!"

"Only a moment more," Yuda growled, a feral-like grin on his face. His wrist twisted and wrenched up, and at the same moment a sickening crunch could be heard from the Weequay's neck- his gasps were cut short, arms going slack as his head rolled to the side.

Yuda's hand gesture relaxed. Ak-Den fell forward, dead.

Apex stared at the now-lifeless Weequay, regarding him with a troubled look before turning to Yuda. No hint of remorse or regret marked his expression, though the Chiss looked horrified at what had just transpired.

"You gave your word not to harm him," Apex said quietly. To that, Yuda leveled a glare at him.

"No. You did. The alien scum begged me to spare this one's life," he smirked while nodding to the Chiss, then turning to the soldiers. "Take this scum to the shuttle while we take care of this Jedi- this won't take long."

The troopers looked to each other, then to Apex. With a quiet sigh the Chistori nodded, and the soldiers obeyed, restraining the Chiss and leading him to the hangar gate, leaving the Sith Knights and the commander alone. Once out of earshot, Apex approached Yuda.

"You should not have done that," Apex growled, grabbing his upper arm. "We needed him."

"Spare me, Apex," Yuda hissed back, pulling his arm out of the reptile's grip and striding away to the back of the hangar. "We don't need a filthy pirate's aid to take out a decrepit Jedi."

"Really." Apex folded his arms and glared at Yuda. "Explain how you will find him."

There was a tense awkward pause as Yuda stopped short, his face rendered blank from the question. His mouth moved, yet no words were issued as he struggled for an answer, looking around the abandoned Rebel base as if some hint of direction would be offered.

After a minute his face fell into one of frustration, red with annoyance.

"Fuck."

It took twenty minutes for the Remnant to forward an updated layout of the abandoned Rebel base, time during which the troopers returned and patrolled the halls for any surviving pirates and intel. Much of that time was spent with Yuda in smoldering silence, though Apex had made no further mention or admonishment of the younger Sith Knight's foolish decisions. As they and three stormtroopers (the commander included) delved deeper into the unexplored cave system, however, Yuda seemed to regain his pride and spoke.

"This was our mission then? To slay a Jedi from the Clone Wars?" He scoffed. "For what purpose?"

"As I explained before," Apex replied patiently, "our objective is the artifact thought to be in his possession. That he is present here should be enough, he likely would have brought it with him."

"Do us a favor and cease your intrigue," Yuda snapped. "Speak plainly for once!"

The Chistori gave him a frown. "The relic in the Jedi's possession is a special type of Adegan crystal, called Pontite. Like most Adegan crystals it can be used in the construction of a lightsaber, yet Pontite is among the rarest forms and confers attributes to lightsaber blades beyond their natural lethality."

Yuda looked back up to him with a skeptical look. "You're suggesting a mere crystal could change the properties of a lightsaber?"

"The Sentinel Kajex is known to carry a Healing Crystal of Fire, a stone capable of enhancing a Jedi's ability to heal through the Force," Apex told him. "Other stones throughout the galaxy have been documented with profound abilities, and Pontite provides one of the more potent attributes- for not only is its power unmatched by any other Adegan crystal, but it also possesses the ability to sever one's connection to the Dark Side of the Force."

Yuda's brow raised. "I see. A weapon like that could be devastating to the Circle were it to be used against us."

"Now you see why this operation must not fail," Apex nodded.

"I don't see how it could," Yuda scoffed, turning his gaze to the side. The caves had opened up to a giant chamber a chasm through which light poured in form above, though not so much that the bottom of the chasm could be seen, the light shafts swallowed by the darkness below. "We're speaking of an elder Jedi, after all; to send two Sith Knights against one incapacitated Jedi is overkill."

Apex strode a long step ahead and turned, blocking Yuda's path and folding his arms. The act did not fail to intimidate the smaller man for a moment, causing him to backpedal uneasily as the group came to a full stop.

"This is no mere Jedi. Culbra Krurr is listed in the Remnant archives as an exceptionally-trained Jedi Weapon Master. While it was not a rank officially conferred upon him while the Jedi Order existed, his profile and skillset perfectly match past Jedi who have held that title."

"Meaning what, precisely?" Yuda sneered with a tone that not a single person in earshot found convincing. "Yet another useless Jedi title, no doubt."

"Time did not stop after the Emperor activated Order 66!" Apex snarled, in a voice that rang across the chasm impressively. From above, rivulets of snow poured from overhead, some chunks of ice from the ceiling cracking and falling into the darkness. "Not a single surviving Jedi in the archives ceased their training simply because their Order fell! You would do well to listen, Yuda, or it may cost you your life- underestimate no one!"

His booming voice reverberated throughout the chasm, and all at once the area began to shake. All three men looked around, managing to maintain balance as the tremors subsided, though not one of them missed the thundering sound of ice cracking deeper below. Their knees buckled beneath them, the cavern seeming to lurch to one side then lean back in another direction. An echo of an almost guttural groan seemed to erupt from the darkness of the chasm, as dead and chilling as the cold air.

When the calm subsided into silence the commander acted, bringing up a readout of their surroundings. A holoprojection of the mountain they were under lined up with the facility's blueprints, pinging their location. "Thermal and seismic scans we took when we got here," he explained. "It doesn't look like we're in the mountain anymore."

"Meaning?" Yuda frowned.

"We're probably deep enough to have penetrated the neighboring glacier. Given this place's history, it might be unstable," he pointed out, looking down into the chasm. "The rebels probably didn't use the facility this deep after having found out."

"It would be a risk for them to store even a small part of their fleet," Apex nodded. "Best we make haste, then- we don't want to be here if this ice shelf decides to shift further."

"The Jedi isn't going anywhere," Yuda reasoned. "Even if he was active, I don't see that there's anything to worry about. Whatever his title, he will be cut down all the same."

The commander's voice interjected, his faceplate turned toward the pair. "Jedi Weapon Masters are high-threat targets, my lord. Imperial operation orders are that they are not to be engaged by any trooper below elite level. Typically, only members of the Inquisitorious are dispatched against them."

"We can do without an opinion, soldier," Yuda sneered.

"You'll hear it anyway," the commander replied with an edge in his voice. "I served in the Clone Wars alongside the Jedi. Picking a fight with any Jedi Guardian will only lead to casualties, even if you do kill them; double that if it's a Weapon Master."

"You and your men are elite-level troops; two Sith Knights of the Circle lead this operation; and our quarry is encased in carbonite," Yuda said firmly, looking to both of them with a smirk that could only be described as conceited. "He is no threat to us- not when a thrust through his heart with a lightsaber is all it will take to remove him."

Apex's frown deepened. "Listen to yourself. Cutting down a defenseless Jedi as if there were any reason to be proud of it. It's little wonder Thresher cannot abide your presence- every action you take shames the title we bear, sullies what honor we bring."

The two Sith Knights bore glares at each other; Yuda's searing and deadly, while Apex's was cold and disgusted. Yuda acted first, shouldering past the Chistori with an angry snort.

"Unlike you, I will do anything to achieve the power that is my destiny," Yuda growled.

Apex watched him push forward, feeling a ripple in the Force as the shadow of a large, furred abomination reflected against the glacial walls. The shout of warning was in his chest when Yuda acted.

With blinding speed the Sith Knight leaned forward and ducked, narrowly dodging the Wampa's claws by less than an inch. The beast roared, the chasm around them shaking as the deafening echo rolled through across the walls. In the middle of it all it swung again with a downward slash; a sidestep was all Yuda needed to avoid it, his face lined with a calm fury.

In one smooth motion the human Sith drew his weapon, both ends of the long hilt bursting open with crimson shafts of light. He held it over his head and spun, the blades cleaving through the beast as easily as a plasma knife through ice and removing both its arms. A diagonal flourish with his blade carved through the monster another four times in the space of a second, the Wampa going strangely silent.

Almost as quickly as it had started, it ended, with Yuda stepping back from the frozen Wampa and turning away. The moment his weapon returned to his hip the beast fell apart in no fewer than four pieces, its head toppling over and rolling across the floor, past the ledge and into the chasm.

Yuda stared back at the group, still bearing a glare before turning and continuing onward. "And if I must defy your pathetic sense of nobility, so be it. Honor be damned for standing in my way."

The remaining four watched him leave, each well-aware that he had no idea which direction to go. As Apex moved to catch up, the commander spoke.

"Permission to speak, my lord."

The Chistori looked back to him. "You may."

There was a pause as the trooper seemed to struggle for words. "I understand our mission and its purpose, sir. I will carry out my orders. I only ask that if we must kill this Jedi... give him an honorable death in battle." He looked down. "They all deserved that much."

Apex stared at him, saying nothing for nearly a minute and regarding the soldier curiously. But eventually he nodded, turning away.

"In that, commander, we agree."

The encounter with the Wampa had not slowed Yuda's steps, yet Apex was not interested in taking any chances, counting the arrogant knight's ability to dispatch the creature a lucky break for him. Even as they moved in deeper through the caves the sound of their distant roars echoed against the walls, their presence concealed even from the keen senses of a trained Force-sensitive. The commander seemed alert, scanning every cave they encountered as thoroughly as he could while keeping up with Yuda.

Though Yuda could be heard muttering obscenities and complaints to himself, Apex did not expect the commander to speak to him.

"Due respect, my lord, it's pretty strange this ship is buried so deep in the mountain," he said.

"I expect one would find it so," Apex nodded, looking back down the path. "This is quite far from Echo Base. I would like your experience and expertise on why this might be."

"If Echo Base extended this far I would have said it was to conceal part of it from our orbital scanners. But this deep into these chambers, and with a planetary shutter-shield, there'd be no scanning equipment back then powerful enough to map out this place. The Rebels would have known that."

"Why would it be down here, then?" Apex asked.

As if on cue, another roar reverberated through the cave, this one louder and closer than they'd been previously.

"Them," the commander said simply. "Recovered medical reports after the Battle of Hoth showed that Commander Skywalker was attacked by one of those beasties, and security reports also mention they were a constant threat to the base; several stormtroopers were even killed in action when they wandered into the wrong corridors. More than likely, Culbra chose this spot to use the Wampas as a form of security." He paused. "And... because he's a Jedi, as well. He would have known that larger, energetic life forms would make it more difficult to detect him through the Force."

"You are familiar with the Force, then?" Apex asked, raising an eyebrow.

"As I said, I served during the Clone Wars alongside the Jedi," the commander nodded. "You don't spend time and struggle with them without picking up some knowledge about them. The 104th Wolfpack Battalion had no shortage of Jedi aiding us."

Apex stared at the trooper for a few moments, noting the slight tone of regret in the commander's voice. He slowed his pace, gesturing the soldier to do the same and letting Yuda move ahead as they lingered behind, coming to a full stop.

The commander looked up at him. "Sir?"

"I do not doubt your abilities, but I need to know that you will continue to serve as you have been, and to carry out your orders. I invite you to speak candidly- have you any regrets or reservations?" There was a long pause as the commander did not speak, giving Apex the opportunity to continue. "I assure you, this will be kept private."

"I will kill Jedi if that's my job," the commander said firmly. "Even if it's wrong."

Apex nodded. "Then may I ask if any soldiers from the Clone Wars felt the same?"

The commander sighed, nodding. "On some level or another. We knew why it had to be done, why it was important for the Jedi to be removed. But just because we carried out our orders doesn't mean we were comfortable with it. The only consolation some of us got is that some Jedi were smart enough to side with the Empire and join the Inquisitorious, and most were at least killed quickly."

"Do you feel that if thi--"

"If this Jedi is alive and if for any reason he puts up a struggle, then yes, I will open fire on him," the commander intercepted with a hard tone in his voice. "No matter who it is. Now with all due respect, sir, we really shouldn't allow your companion to run ahead and cause more trouble."

"Agreed," Apex grunted, satisfied with the soldier's reaction and words.

The pair rounded a bend, slowing to a halt as their eyes fell on Yuda stopped in front of an active barrier field; a wall of blue light that shimmered along the edges of an aperture built into the frozen stone of the mountain. Yuda turned to them, anger etched in his features.

"He never told us there would be a field along the way!" he snapped.

"Perhaps you should not have been so quick to take his life, so that he could have given us the code to get past this," Apex scowled, nodding towards a keypad.

"We already got it," Yuda sneered as he punched the keys. "One-seven-two-five-six-one."

A buzz sounded from the keypad- the field remained active.

"That... he lied to us!" Yuda started to snarl.

"Calm down, you fool," Apex sighed with a tinge of frustration. "He told us the code to get into the ship, not the code to get past this barrier." He turned to the commander. "Can you slice past this obstacle, soldier?"

The commander was already moving, shouldering past Yuda and kneeling at the door with his datapad in hand, jacking the device into an access port beneath the keypad. For nearly a minute the soldier was silent, tapping at the screen several times as a series of buzzes and pings sounded out. He finally stood and punched one of the keys, and the field flickered out of the way.

"The way is clear," he told them. "There didn't seem to be security systems around it, but it looks like the failed attempt triggered something ahead- there's no way to tell what it was. Best we move caref--" He stopped short as Yuda strode past him, still fuming. The commander watched him enter, sparing only a moment to shake his head and sigh before following.

"They must have put this up after they drilled through the ice," Apex mused, noting the shallow puddles of freezing cold water beneath his boots. "It does not seem like it is connected to the base's power supply."

"It's probably wired to the ship," the commander suggested, pointing out a series of cables that ran from the field into the cave ahead. "The vessel would still have power. Best to approach carefully, they may have put down automated security."

"Call your men into the base," Apex ordered him. "Have them stand by at the cave entrance."

"I'll do better," the commander grunted, as a soft burst of static rang through their earpieces. "Fang Company, I need deployment throughout the northern caves; pair off and maintain patrols in every access point, I want no team farther than thirty meters from the next. And keep alert, the local fauna around here are lethal."

"Yes, sir," came the reply.

"That should give us an ample net should we hit any snags," the commander noted. "And they'll be near enough to assist if they should decide to attack."

But no attack or ambush met them, though behind them the distant roars of wampas continued to echo, now met with the dying sounds of a taun-taun; sounds that did not seem to emanate from ahead. A minute of walking through the dimly-lit corridor followed before the path ended, stopping at wide open expanse at the edge of an icy cliff. In the center of the chamber stood a medium-sized vessel, hammer-headed in appearance, frost encrusting the top and sides of the hull.

Yuda stared at it for a few moments before turning to the commander. "Check the vessel."

He said nothing as he stepped forward and held up his left wrist, from which a blue light scanned across the embedded ship. He held it in place for a few seconds, a holo-cast readout of the vessel appearing over his scanner; a corvette of moderate size, hammer-headed in shape, nearly a hundred meters long- far too big for a single occupant.

The environs trembled again, the quake more violent than the last; even Apex found it difficult to maintain his footing, bracing against the wall that both Yuda and the commander were leaning against.

"Maybe this is a bit risky," Yuda admitted, looking to Apex. "I'm for lining the place with explosives and detonating from the base proper; let the glacier swallow this hangar."

The Chistori considered it, but then shook his head. "In any other situation I might actually agree with you. But our orders were clear on securing the crystal and keeping the Jedi alive for further use."

"Keep him alive?" Yuda repeated with an arched eyebrow. "You hadn't mentioned that objective."

"I shouldn't have had to. Compromised as he is he may not be a threat, but there's no guarantee that he hasn't already been released ahead of time by the pirates here. If for any reason he is active, we are to keep him alive and stuck on this rock until he can be dealt with by others."

"So the Circle wants him?" Yuda guessed.

"Close- the Inquisitorious does," Apex clarified. "The Grand Inquisitor has a special interest in this particular Jedi. An agreement was made to conduct this operation and secure the relic in question, in exchange for allowing the Inquisitorious to deal with the Jedi as their current leader sees fit."

"Hmm." Yuda said nothing for a moment, then smirked. "Though accidents do happen."

"Don't push it, Yuda," Apex warned. "I've met the Grand Inquisitor twice in the past. It is an experience I'd rather not repeat. Even Voyde does not take him lightly." He turned to the commander, who had finished his scan. "Analysis?"

"An RVC Defender-class light corvette," he told them. "Not a ship that would stand out to the average spacer, it's a very ancient design."

"It's a Jedi-affiliated ship," Apex noted. "Dated at least from the Cold War."

"And it's still functional?" Yuda asked dubiously. "A junker like this should be in a scrap-yard."

"Rendili builds their ships to last," the commander noted, scanning the ship once more. "A ship like this would have been manufactured on Corellia, if I remember right." A ping sounded from his wrist and he looked up. "The power is on. It would have to have been a recent reactivation, or else the frost on the vessel would be receding."

"You mentioned that the failed input for the barrier triggered something," Apex muttered. "That must have been it. Can you detect which systems are active?"

The commander resumed scanning, only for a buzzing confirmation to ring out. "No way to tell," he shook his head. "But we can rule out shields and hull security systems, the ice would have either melted or triggered them already."

"If it's safe then get it open," Yuda ordered.

He complied, leading the way under the ship and brushing loose ice off a panel near its center, flipping open the trigger and keying in the code. A sharp hiss echoed down the corridor as the vessel unsealed at the seams, issuing a blast of hot air as part of the hull slid open and descended, folding outward in front of them into a ramp. All three stepped back, peering into the dimly-lit interior before Apex nodded and the commander entered, his rifle raised.

Yuda was two steps toward the ramp before Apex grabbed his arm. "Wha--"

"I'm not having you foul this one up, Yuda," the Chistori rumbled darkly. "This mission gets done right, without any complaints or loose threads. You are needed here- but you are not in charge."

The human glared up at the reptilian Sith Knight before yanking his arm away. "Fine, then- I'll follow for now." They traded a tense moment of silent discontent before Apex took the lead and strode up the ramp into the ship.

Ahead, the commander was scanning the environment with his gauntlet. "No signs of life at the bow. Readout shows nothing in the crew quarters." He glanced to the side. "But I'm also picking up slight interference on the comm channel. I'm guessing there's a low-level civilian jammer in place."

"Is there a cargo hold?" Apex asked.

"All due respect, my lord, I don't think he'd be stuffed among crates. It's not in a Jedi weaponmaster's style." He nodded to the stern of the ship, up a raised flight of stairs. "Ships like this have holoterminals up there, probably the widest space in here."

The Chistori gazed up the steps, peering into the darkness and reaching out with his senses. A gentle ripple seemed to pulse ahead, like a calm steady breath. After a few moments to consider his options he approached and ascended the steps, pulling his lightsaber from his belt cautiously. Yuda tailed behind him, with the commander flanking the pair with his weapon at the ready.

Yuda eyed the Chistori's lightsaber critically as they entered the room. "A bit overcautious, aren't you."

Apex said nothing staring into the back of the ship; there was something there. Gentle, but present within the Force.

"He's wise to be prepared," a voice said softly.

Both Yuda and the commander turned to the source of the voice, weapons held ready; the human knight's lightsaber further illuminated the ship's dim interior, revealing a figure low to the floor; but it was the trooper's rifle-mounted light that showed him clearly. At the back of the room was a gray block of solid carbon, a man-shaped pit formed within, yet no man. Ahead of it, where a holoterminal would have otherwise been present, there was instead a male Shistavanen knelt in the middle of the room, his eyes closed and his paws on his lap as he maintained a silent meditation; had he not spoken, Apex was certain they might have thought him unaware of their presence.

He raised his arm in time, just as the trooper had the Jedi in his sights and Yuda was in the middle of stepping forward. "Stand down," he hissed. "He is not yet a threat."

"He doesn't need to be," Yuda snapped back. "He's a Jedi."

"A blind one," the trooper remarked, lowering his rifle only slightly. "If he's not in his carbonite casing then he only just got released; he'll be suffering hibernation sickness."

"Then shoot him!" Yuda ordered.

"That's enough!" Apex growled. "Nobody moves an inch unless I say so."

The wolf raised his head slightly, turning to the Chistori with his eyes still closed. "I suppose you're in charge, then." A few seconds pause and he sighed. "I know you're not pirates, and as you can imagine I'm very familiar with the sound of a lightsaber. You're either Sith or Imperial Remnant, or both."

"Then you know why we're here," Apex replied calmly.

The Jedi did not speak immediately, cocking his head to the side. "Not really. But if you're not eager to immediately strike down a blind, defenseless Jedi, then you must want some information before you do."

"Then tell us where the crystal is so we can get to it!" Yuda demanded, raising his blade again.

The wolf turned his head to him, as if to stare for several seconds- and then began to laugh.

"You came here for the Pontite crystal?" he repeated. "That's it? I've nothing but contempt for Sith and Sith pretenders, but at least they don't do things halfway. For that information, you will have to attack me."

Yuda took a step forward and Apex dove between them, activating his own lightsaber. "Enough! The Circle's orders are to secure the crystal and capture Culbra!"

But it seemed Yuda was through being led, and with a snarl he lunged toward Apex with a slash. The curse the Chistori issued was drowned out by the clash of lightsabers as the shorter Sith Knight poured a barrage of strikes against his companion; and while Apex proved himself a steadfast swordsman in turn, the ferocity of Yuda's attacks was vicious enough to force Apex back several steps.

The Chistori countered suddenly with a strike towards the leg, but Yuda managed to twist into a strong block and force the blades upright into a saber lock. Before he could swing his own end up, Apex grabbed the other half of his lightsaber to prevent it.

"What are you doing, you fool!?" Apex hissed menacingly.

"Get out of my way you damned lizard!" Yuda shouted.

A dull boom broke out between them as Yuda slammed an open palm into the Chistori's chest, breaking the two apart with a blast of Force energy. With a grunt and a twist Apex rolled back up to his feet, ready to meet Yuda's next strike- but instead of continuing the scuffle, the Sith Knight was charging at the still-kneeling Jedi. The urge to shout a warning to Yuda flared in him for but a moment.

In the next moment, he held back, knowing Culbra was in no danger.

Eyes still closed, Culbra's right paw slid casually to his hip and drew his lightsaber. With an expression of serenity he lifted his weapon up and activated it, a silver blade springing from the hilt just as Yuda leapt forward to strike. A gasp sounded between them as the tip of Culbra's lightsaber jabbed against Yuda's chest, piercing through his black robes.

But it went no further.

Yuda cried out angrily, backing away and rubbing the spot where Culbra's blade had left its mark, a curious cold burn visible beneath. Still clutching the trivial injury Yuda cast his glare back at Culbra- who remained knelt. With a roar Yuda lunged in again with a thrust of his own.

A subtle shift of Culbra's blade deflected the attack and knocked it aside; a slight shift angled his blade up and struck Yuda's chin dead center, burning away the neatly-trimmed goatee with an ugly patch of singed hairs as the knight yelped and backed away. A look of bewilderment and rage was on his features, now fully aware (as Apex was) that the wolf was not regarding the Sith Knight with an ounce of gravitas; such that his blade was set to a non-lethal training intensity.

"Stand and fight, you son of a bitch!" Yuda screamed.

Culbra's reply matched his smile- calm, quiet, and perhaps a little amused.

"No."

Clearly having had enough of Culbra's demeanor, Yuda reached out with a clawed hand, seething with rage as he focused on the wolf's neck, a sneer of dark satisfaction painted on his features.

In seconds, the sneer vanished. The wolf remained knelt.

Culbra cocked his head, still smiling serenely, still keeping his eyes closed. "Go on. Try again."

Yuda's look turned into one of abject horror as he attempted to choke the wolf with the Force once more. And as Apex watched, he understood- understood it better than Yuda. The call of the Force was there, as was Yuda's presence within it; but the rage and hatred within him was like a dull noise, present but incomprehensible. The flow of the dark side had ebbed into a trickle, a mere smolder where a fire had once been.

And then, as if to deliberately make matters worse, Culbra lowered his lightsaber and deactivated it, clipping it to his belt.

The gesture drew a scream of rage and confusion from Yuda as he charged once again, aiming a wild sweep to the wolf's neck. With a mere duck the crimson blade cut through the air. There was no time for Yuda to backswing or follow through with the second blade; in the space of a barely imperceptible moment, Culbra had risen to his feet and grabbed the Sith Knight's hilt and leaned in, smashing his forehead into Yuda's face.

The human Sith Knight groaned and staggered in place, long enough for Culbra to twist the weapon out of Yuda's hands in an expert disarm; with the skill of a champion javelinier he tossed the weapon into the wall behind him, the blade sinking past the plating with enough force to embed a few inches of the hilt. Before Yuda could recover the wolf was on him, landing a series of painful-looking strikes on the unarmed human's joints and chin, before sweeping his paw to the side and sending the Sith Knight flying into the wall with a slam.

For a moment there was silence, save for Yuda groaning in pain. Apex looked to his other companion, the commander having not moved nor opened fire despite Culbra having sheathed his blade. He turned back to Culbra and did something he rarely ever did.

He favored the wolf with a smile.

"You've great skill."

Culbra's ear twitched and he moved back into a readied stance, still keeping his eyes shut while facing the Chistori. "I'm glad you think so. I was worried being in stasis would make me rusty. I'm wondering now why you didn't help your friend, though."

"I had no wish to deprive him of the consequences of his mistakes. And had you felt the compulsion to maim my fellow Knight," Apex told him, "I would not have felt any compulsion to stop you."

"A Jedi does not kill needlessly," Culbra replied calmly, eyes still shut. "But I'm not above teaching him a lesson."

"He attacked you with intent to kill."

"There's no point in reciprocating. But now you're stalling for time," the wolf pointed out with a slight furrow in his brow. "Do you mean to attack now, or are you waiting for your companion to try his luck again?"

Apex cocked his head, considering the wolf carefully before answering; his eyes were still closed, his ears twitching subtly as it scanned the other two men in the room. Perceptible only to those with a connection to the Force, Apex could feel Culbra reaching out around him, focused and ready to react. He glanced to the commander, who spared a moment to give a subtle shake of his head; Culbra's blindness was evident even to the soldier.

"You're still recovering from hibernation sickness," he finally pointed out.

A pause, the wolf considering him.

"… You want to test yourself against me- fairly, at that."

"I've no desire to cut down a foe suffering a handicap," Apex acknowledged, inclining his head. "There's no honor in it, and though you may be an enemy you deserve better. I'd rather wait until you're prepared."

A rumble emanated from around the ship and the world shook once more; less intense than the last, but a conveniently-timed reminder of the dire situation they were facing. When the tremor subsided once more, the wolf replied.

"While I appreciate that you want to be sporting about it, I don't think it's in my best interest to take that much time," Culbra pointed out, drawing his lightsaber again and activating it. This time the weapon emitted more than one blade, with a part of the hilt flicking out to either side revealing themselves to be both sides of a hilt quillon, from which two crossguard blades vented. "Now that I'm awake, I have every intention to get off this planet. I don't care what it is you need me for."

Apex frowned, holding his weapon forward and stepping into the center of the chamber. "I've my orders, Weapon Master. You will not be going anywhere."

The wolf's approach was careful, circling the right part of the ship as Apex circled to the left, each focused on the other with weapons held high. Once either had reached the sides of the room they stopped, moving into opening positions; Apex hunched with his weapon forward, Culbra taking an ox-guard positions, blade parallel to his eye-height.

If there was an answer to who moved first, the margin have been so imperceptible as to be meaningless, the duelists exploding for their position at the same moment, reaching the center of the room with a deafening crash. In the dim interior of the ship, the brief flash of silver and gold was almost blinding, the blades catching in the air as they began their deadly cadence. A sweep to the chest from Culbra, caught by an angled block; the blades twisted and the wolf dragged his blade along the guard, forcing Apex to lean back and avoid the blade; now open, Culbra had to step back and sweep blow to counter the Chistori's swing to the legs.

Their movements bespoke decades of training, their techniques revealing the years of focus spent. Apex was unyielding, his defenses tight and his attacks brutal as his blade exploded against Culbra's, each slash meant to maim and every movement causing his half-exposed body to flex and tighten. Even still, he could only respect and admire the wolf's form and expertise, a skill in blade-handling that he could only imagine had taken Culbra hours per day to cultivate; like a mix between a dejarik master and a boloball athlete, a precision and mindfulness to each action melded with intense physical power. The wide sweeping cuts and impregnable counters clashed against the honed strikes and technical defenses in a lethal dance of light and energy.

They broke apart after thirty seconds of combat that might as well have been a month, neither of them breathing hard from the exertion. The opening of the duel, Apex knew, was as much a test as it was a challenge- an observation between their respective styles, in the hopes that they would spot a potential gap that neither could yet find between them.

They approached once more to clash; and beneath the calm exterior and relative peace within the wolf, Apex could feel the stirrings of joy in battle, a subtle increase in his heart rate as their blades met, not so different from his own satisfaction in finally dueling someone who was worthy. Only the traitor knight Locke and the dead juggernaut Ulfric had given him so much trouble, had brought out his skill. Flashes burst between them with every attack and parry, burning lines scoring through the floor and walls as they vied for the advantage.

And in the brief flashes of light between them, he did not miss the subtle yet clear smile on Culba's muzzle.

He brought his strength to bear in an overhead slash, the wolf deflecting and sidestepping in a single smooth movement; Culbra sprang into the air and twisted, bringing his foot across the Chistori's snout. But where most other men and even some Sith would have flinched from the unexpected strike, Apex stood strong, swinging his arm out and catching the wolf in the chest. With a grunt Culbra staggered back into a wall, dodging away as Apex drove his fist into the plasteel wall as easily as if it had been paper.

The wolf backed away, and it was hear he finally opened his eyes, their yellow gaze peering uneasily at the towering reptilian Sith Knight. "Well, it's been fun," he said, still holding his weapon up, "but I think I've wasted enough time here."

"You're not going anywhere!" a snarl sounded from the other side of the room, as Yuda staggered forward.

A quiet howl filled the room as the human Sith Knight took in a deep breath, hatred etched into his face. In the next second he let out an inhuman, ear-shattering scream that seemed to distort the air around them, shaking the vessel around violently enough that the plasteel tiles beneath their feet buckled and bent. Apex grimaced and turned away with a groan, shielding his face with one arm; for as formidable as he was, even he could not withstand the aural assault directly.

With a wince Culbra backed away, reaching to his left; and in the middle of the nearly deafening din, a yelp could be heard as the commander was launched through the air, crashing into Yuda; but while the Sith Knight's scream was cut short with a cough, the commander turned the tumble into a roll, bringing up his rifle and opening fire just as Culbra sped through the hatch and out of the room.

Apex grunted irritably as the wolf's steps disappeared down the ramp. "Both of you, on your feet! Under no circumstances is the Jedi to leave this planet!"

"Target moving in, he's too fa---GAHH!"

"Second patrol is down, the target is heading for the main ba--"

"That's enough out of you," Culbra grunted, slamming the black-armored trooper into the far wall and knocking him out. A blaster bolt flew past his head and he turned, raising his weapon and angling the blade to deflect it, the shot ricocheting off and exploding into the trooper's left visor socket. With a sigh he pressed on, running his wrist over his eyes again. The blurriness was getting better, his sight returning the more he put focus into the Force, kick-starting his natural recovery.

He'd woken up feeling weak, knowing he would only have minutes before his guests arrived. It hadn't mattered who they were, the wolf stowing his fear away easily and concentrating on the Force, restoring what strength he could in what little time he had before they arrived. But while he initially believed himself to be at a disadvantage, the opening seconds of the fight had renewed hope in the Jedi Battlemaster. As he swept his weapon across another trooper's chest and hurried forward, he could not help but feel that the odds were not completely unfavorable.

Another trooper stepped out of cover and fired, missing the wolf's head by half an inch. A thrust of his palm and the trooper was slammed against a shelf of ice, a heavy load of frost and snow falling from the platform and burying his underneath. Culbra took only a moment to regard him with interest- they were far from the standard, often inaccurate stormtroopers he was used to, their aim far too good and tactics more advanced. It was only due to their limited numbers that the wolf could feel at ease, engaging small patrols quickly before they could reform.

"Gotta get that hangar open," he muttered, looking back over his shoulder. He had only seconds to assess the situation with his ship, trusting it was still intact; the chamber was indeed stable, though a thick sheen of ice had covered and concealed the postern hangar. It was less-fortunate that the controls that handled the postern hangar had been glazed in ice along with the rest of the barrier, too deep to waste time carving away; the only backup system was located deeper in Echo Base. Nevertheless, that there was still power to the facility was a thin ray of hope that he could still escape.

He rounded a corner, his hazy memory of the facility sharpening with every second. At the end of a long corridor were upended crates; halfway down, the dark blue walls of slick ice darkened into black.

"This it is," he muttered with a sigh. The sound of shouts mixed in with roars that reverberated both before and behind him, neither ceasing even as he reached the patch. Knowing he had little time to waste he slashed twice at the wall, the ice spiderwebbing as the lines of superheated water caused minute bursts of thermal shock.

"There he is!" a shouted sounded from down the hall, and Culbra's blood went cold as four troops knelt and took a firing position.

The wolf had only barely managed to turn and intercept the first volley of bolts when another deafening roar shook the hall, just as a massive abomination of fur and ice burst out from a thin sheet of frost to their left. Chaos overtook them as the Wampa's claw struck one soldier's head clean off his shoulders; the other three opened fire on the beast, their blaster bolts both injuring and enraging it.

Certain the distraction would buy him a few precious seconds the wolf reached out with his paw, the ice trembling slightly before he tore the massive pieces away with a violent burst of telekinesis. A shower of frosty dust glittered before him as he revealed the hatch embedded in the ice. With a single swiping gesture the hatch slid open; he ducked into the hidden room a half-second before a pair of blaster bolts sailed through the space he'd occupied, turning and sliding the hatch shut again before bringing his weapon around and cutting the door controls. Knowing he'd only have a few minutes at best he turned his attention to the control room.

"Some things don't change," he murmured to himself, scanning the wall-mounted consoles and screens. A few read errors, having gone no farther than beginning to boot up whenever the facility had regained power, but several others were active and ready for use. A screen at one corner of the room provided live footage of the hallway running adjacent to the one he'd just run through, a trio of troopers opening fire on a pair of wampas while backing away; another feed showed the postern hangar, angled directly at his ship; at the foot of the ramp stood the commander he'd knocked over, though the pair of Sith Knights he'd fought were nowhere to be seen.

The sharp whine of a lightsaber puncturing through durasteel gave their position away. Culbra grimaced, knowing there wasn't much time left. He strode forward and punched in several keys in quick succession, a ping ringing out as his security code was accepted. Through the security feed he could see a pair of diodes at each end of the hangar flashing, signaling that the doors were heating up.

A crunch behind him signaled he had only seconds left. The wolf raised a gauntlet up, tapping a pair of keys along the forearm; he watched intently, hoping his signal could reach the ship.

When at last a jet of steam issued from the base of the ship the Jedi wolf's face broke into a smile, a sigh of relief escaping him; he was almost clear.

The hatch behind him exploded and he turned, weapon raised as debris from the now-shattered door scattered across the room. Four black-armored troopers stood at the entrance, rifles lighting up only a moment later In such a narrow space there was no point in dueling, the wolf charging forward with his saber weaving a barrier before him. Two bolts bounced off the surface of his Jedi blade, exploding into the walls on either side. Another two bolts sailed above his head just as he dipped and slid across the frosty floor. Too fast for even the well-trained soldiers, Culbra swiped his blade across the two nearest attackers, dropping them to the ground. One of the remaining two readjusted his aim, his bolt slicing across Culbra's upper arm and burning his robes; yet the wolf did not spare a thought for the trivial injury, taking the remainder out with another wide sweep.

He barely had enough time to react to his next two opponents, as Apex and Yuda appeared from behind either side of the hatch and struck as one- it was only an expert block and his trained strength that stopped the pair of overhead slashes from cleaving open his head.

Despite the bad odds, he favored them with a smile.

"No, seriously- I really have to be leaving."

He broke the saberlock with a kick to Yuda's midsection, backing him up a step while wrenching Apex's blade to the side. Both were still backing up when he charged in and renewed the duel, the pair putting the Jedi Weapon Master to the test; he had spent a large part of his life dueling other Jedi in spars, and part of it crossing blades with followers of the dark side, yet he could say without a doubt that at least one of the two he was now fighting were among the deadliest he ever faced.

The other... lacked.

Apex was calm and cool, his power, size, and ferocity demonstrating the raw discipline beneath the surface; but despite the fluid and skillful double-bladed style Yuda was employing, Culbra did not need the Force to see that the human Sith Knight was becoming increasingly frustrated. His defense stood firm as he waited patiently for the slip-up, countering each blow and either blocked or dodging each attack, even as the seconds dragged on.

Then, almost without warning, Yuda snarled angrily and overlunged with a stab. An easy sidestep and Culbra was in his range, sweeping his blade at the Sith Knight's legs. A cold burn sizzled into the human's greaves and frosted over as Yuda was tripped up, his reflexes forcing him into a fall; but in the very moment his body was suspended in mid-air, Culbra brought his left fist crashing down into Yuda's face. The shock of the blow threw him to the ground with enough force to cause loose powder to blast from where he landed.

Once again forced to continue the fight alone, Apex left the unmoving Yuda behind and crossed blades with the wolf once again, catching him in a saber lock; but when Culbra attempted to break the lock and feint the Chistori reacted quicker, countering the deviation and thrusting his elbow out, catching the wolf in the jaw. Culbra grunted, briefly stunned by the sudden blow and unable to stop the followup backhand that sent him sailing several feet away.

He had enough stamina and balance to roll back up into a defensive position- only for another pause in the battle to occur. Apex had not taken another step to return to the duel, regarding the wolf curiously.

Culbra dared not lower his defenses, focused on what the next move would be. "I doubt you're done yet," he suggested, sniffing as a warm trickle flowed down his nose.

"My aim is not to kill you," Apex rumbled gently.

"That's refreshing. Is that a recent change in policy for Sith and Sith pretenders?" Culbra asked, more to buy time- the duel had put the Chistori between him and his ship, forcing him to look for a way around.

"Someone else wishes to claim your life." He lowered his weapon. "That matters little to me. I need only the Pontite crystal."

The wolf frowned, still keeping his guard up. "I don't know how you figured out I had it, and I don't care; you're not getting it as long as I draw breath."

The Chistori took a step forward, holding out his hand, and Culbra tensed up, anticipating an aggressive move- only for nothing to happen. This stunned him less than the Chistori's expression. For the first time since the wolf laid eyes on him, the Sith Knight's face had softened.

"You are a talented fighter, Master Culbra. I would very much like to cross blades with you again someday. I won't have that opportunity if you force me to cut you down, or strand you here until an Inquisitor comes to deal with you." He deactivated his weapon. "I am offering a trade. Surrender the Pontite crystal to me, and I will allow you to leave this base alive."

Culbra stared at him for what seemed like hours, processing each word the Sith Knight had spoken. It was not that the wolf was intrigued by the offer to the point of consideration. Rather, it was that he was offering it at all. A pang of uncertainty and sadness bloomed in his chest, no longer feeling the darkness in the Chistori that he had frequently felt in his now-unconscious compatriot.

He finally lowered his weapon and smiled blandly.

"You know... that's usually a Jedi way of handling things."

Apex's brow furrowed- a reaction that told Culbra everything he needed.

"You're not a Jedi," he said quietly, as the pieces clicked. "But your style of fighting, your strength and focus is reserved for only a select few. To become a Weapon Master I had to learn from the best of the best, from around the galaxy. As you might expect... I can recognize the style and prowess of a Matukai adept."

Apex frowned, hardness returning to his features- but not quite in his eyes, Culbra noticed. "What of it?"

"It means you weren't always like... this," Culbra pointed out, gesturing to the lightsaber in the Chistori's grip. "I don't know what happened that would cause a proud member of an honorable and disciplined tradition to choose the path of the dark side; to cast away your wan-shen and take up a Sith lightsaber. But it doesn't need to remain that way."

It was a moment that would leave him vulnerable, he knew. But if the years he'd spent fighting such darkness had taught him something the Jedi Order of his time could not, it was that his choice- regardless of safety- was necessary.

He deactivated his weapon.

"You're giving me a chance to survive. If you were beyond saving, you would attack and be done with it. So let me turn the offer around on you. Let me leave this place, and you can leave that darkness behind." He glanced over at the body of a dead trooper and shrugged. "It'll be easier, I imagine, now that there's only a handful of troopers to stop you."

"They wouldn't stop me," Apex sighed. "But it's foolish to offer redemption to one such as me."

"Whatever mistakes you've made, you can make up for them," Culbra insisted firmly.

"You can't fix dead."

The stoic expression Apex wore failed to match the hollow tone in his voice, nor the pain that lingered in his eyes. It was a look Culbra had seen rarely in those who followed the dark side of the Force- regret. Had he the chance, the wolf would have said something encouraging, something hopeful, to dispel that darkness- perhaps it would have been all it took.

Time had run out.

Apex jerked suddenly, alarm on his face as he turned and raised his weapon- he was a half-second too late, too distracted by his inner struggle and doubts to counter Yuda's attack, a roar echoing through the hall as a crimson energy blade pierced through his right leg. Wide-eyed and having failed to anticipate the attack Culbra reactivated his weapon and attempted to rush in, only to stop short and duck as the Chistori was flung towards him down the hall with a burst of telekinesis. He raised his eyes up to see Yuda standing at the ready, his face bloody and eyes bloodshot.

"I've heard enough, dog," the human hissed, trembling violently. "You're not leaving nor living here if I have any say in it." When Culbra did nothing but frown and raise his weapon at the ready, the human began to laugh- it was quiet, yet laced with an unsettling mania. "What... what's this? Not going to talk me out of the dark side like you did that weak, pathetic lug?"

"There would be no point," Culbra replied coldly. "A lifeline only works for those seeking to grab it. You seem to have dove deep into your delusion."

He was ready for the lunge, Culbra bracing as Yuda seemed to glide the distance between them with a cross-slash. A block, then a sidestep; but Yuda spun and darted back, keeping himself between Culbra and the only path back to the hangar. They met again, the wolf trying to force his way past the Sith Knight again only to be resisted- despite the disparity in skill Yuda was adamant on not letting Culbra pass him, and was now beginning to meld his viciousness with a sense of caution; just enough to keep Culbra at bay.

A vicious cadence erupted between them as they met again, blades crashing as they sought to breach their defenses. Culbra lashed out with a backhand, scoring a clean hit- only for Yuda to fling his own hand out and stop the wolf short with a burst of Force energy, keeping him in check. They met in a saberlock, the wolf headbutting Yuda again; the human kicked out at the same moment, intent on nullifying any advantage the wolf gained in these exchanges with a trade in hits. Culbra grimaced, knowing if it came down to it the human would now be willing to take a direct lightsaber hit, if it meant he could get the same on himself.

It would only stop, he knew, when one was dead- or disarmed.

They charged in again, but Culbra was ready for the stab this time, catching the blade with his own and wrenching it away while grabbing Yuda's hilt in his free hand, aiming to tear the weapon out of his grip. He had expected resistance, his foe unwilling to drop his weapon.

He didn't expect it to be relinquished so easily. Without warning Yuda released his hold on the weapon, causing Culbra to lean forward off balance ever so slightly as Yuda's lightsaber flew way from them. In that same moment a burst of telekinesis wrenched Culbra's lightsaber out of his paws and down the hallway, leaving both of them without a weapon. Alarmed by the sudden change in the fight the wolf spun with his fist raised, ready to bring it around to Yuda's head; the human blocked and grabbed the wolf's wrist, and before he could bring his other fist up Yuda screamed once more.

It was as if Culbra had been blinded, his senses scrambling in a mess of electric impulses as he took the brunt of Yuda's Force-empowered shriek to the face, yet enough of his sense of balance remained that he felt himself stagger backwards and fall against the frost-encrusted wall, sliding to the floor. He had only a second for his vision and hearing to return, the former blurring and the latter ringing from the aural assault; it had been enough that he could feel a warm trickle of blood running from his nose, but not long enough for him to act defensively as Yuda knelt to the floor and grabbed the lupine Jedi by the throat, squeezing hard. Culbra grabbed as his wrists on reflex, knowing it was the worst thing he could do logically as Yuda breathed in again, ready to scream- the wolf knowing full well he would not survive the next one.

In the next moment, several things happened.

A pair of black-armored arms wrapped around Yuda, one around his chest and the other around his neck, wrenching the Sith Knight up and back enough that his scream shot upward and tore a massive gouge through the ice. The attack that Culbra realized would have physically exploded his head instead slashed a deep cut through the wall and ceiling, bits of ice raining over them; Yuda's face was one of shock and confusion, his eyes bulging as the arms tightened and silenced his scream. The wolf's vision cleared just enough for him to see the Death Trooper commander wrench Yuda back and onto his feet in an expert, military-trained chokehold, giving Culbra enough space to crawl away from the pair as they struggled. Having just enough presence of mind to stagger in the right direction he spotted his lightsaber and reached it, lacking the focus to summon it to his paws.

He turned just in time to see Yuda flailing desperately, trying to break free from the soldier's interference, but the commander wasn't having it. "Get clear Master Kurr! Run!"

But before either could say another word Yuda managed a strangled snarl and clawed at the air, a glint of black metal sailing towards him. The words of warning died on Culbra's lips as Yuda caught his lightsaber and activated the lower blade, piercing the soldier clean through the midsection. The commander let out a gasp, loosening his chokehold as he stepped back just enough for Yuda to pull free; with a half-blind flail the Sith Knight tossed the commander a good fifteen meters down the hall, landing next to Culbra with a cough.

The wolf grimaced, recognizing the mortal wound and crawling to the fallen soldier; he waved him away, a hand going to his belt. "H-head down... sir...!"

"'Sir...?'" he repeated shakily.

He brought up a small, cylinder-shaped object and Culbra's eyes widened; a beep sounded from the explosive charge just as the soldier let out a pained yell, tossing it towards the Sith Knight. The detonator landed at his feet, flashing, yet Yuda was not idle, sweeping his arm out and sending it back into the air towards them.

Culbra only had an instant to react, reaching out and suspending the explosive in the air, an equal distance between Yuda and the injured pair.

It was still floating between them when it went off.

It was difficult to say how long he'd been out for, as consciousness returned to Culbra; certainly not long enough to recover from the pain. As his vision returned the wolf could only piece together flashes of what had happened seconds (or minutes?) earlier, none of it helped by what he was sure was a mild concussion from Yuda's Sith scream. At some point, however, he was sure the explosion had tossed him against a wall, if the pain in his back were any indication.

His eyes adjusted to the scene around him, the lighting having gone out from the damage. To his left, a caved-in section of the hallway with a steep slope of ice and stone; to his right, a dying Death Trooper who was barely stirring. If it weren't for the fact that they were on the right side of the hallway, with no Sith nor soldier to stop him from returning to the hangar, Culbra would have felt elated.

As he staggered to the mortally-wounded soldier, he would only feel... numb.

The trooper's breathing was ragged, his voice weak. "Get... out of here... Master Culbra."

Logic told him it was the rational thing to do.

Checking first to make sure he still had his lightsaber, he stooped low and scooped the soldier off the floor. "No... not without you, soldier."

The Force was telling him this was the right thing to do.

Sore, bleeding slightly from a few cuts, but now running on adrenaline, Culbra staggered down the halls, grunting with exertion and keeping his ears on alert. The world around them seemed to be shaking once more, a quivering not unlike the shiver under a man's skin borne from the cold. What shaky connection he still had to the Force was telling him there were no soldiers to impede his return to the hangar; but it was also telling him that other, more dangerous life forms were now in a frenzy- a signal confirmed by the cacophony of roars pouring from ahead as they reached the chasm.

"The... glacier," the soldier coughed.

"It must be making the wampas restless," the wolf nodded, gritting his teeth. Hauling the trooper would leave him dangerously vulnerable- yet the Force was not telling him to leave his burden behind. Hoping desperately the glacier would hold out long enough he doubled his pace, nerves tightened and ready for an attack at any point.

They had just reached the hatch to the hangar, the active ship in sight, when a roar sounded out far too close and too loud to be an echo. A curse left Culbra and he lunged forward, guided by a twinge in the Force; a signal to get out of the way. He hit the ground with a cry of pain, his snout buried in the snow as a burn running along his back as the beast's claws scored three shallow cuts through his robes. He rolled to his back with his weapon out and active, slashing wildly into the air- the beast reared back, avoiding the blade with a snarl.

He had just gotten to his feet when the beast charged again, shouldering the wolf and knocking him into the hangar as he yelped and rolled through the frost-covered floor, his weapon flying away. There was no time for him to summon the Force as the beast loped towards him, its demonish face caked with blood from some earlier kill, yet still salivating with a hungry look in its yellow eyes, issuing a horrible howl as it came within a meter of him.

The howl was cut short a second later, when a charged blaster bolt exploded against its throat and dropped the monster in one shot.

Culbra sat up with a shiver, looking back to where the shot had been fired; the commander had managed to get to his hands and knees, a smoking blaster pistol shaking in his grip. For a moment the wolf wondered if perhaps he would be fired upon again, that the trooper's loyalty would be too powerful.

He let out a sigh of relief as the commander dropped the pistol and slumped to the floor with a groan. Certain now they were clear, yet just as certain they had little time left, the wolf stumbled to his feet and gathered the commander again. The trooper issued a cough, his voice low and pained.

"You're clear... to take off, sir."

If there were any time for him to process the soldier's words, Culbra was certain he would have asked why- but the cavern gave another lurch and in seconds the wolf was carrying the commander again. The trembling was a constant now, an echoing thunder as a series of explosive sounds seemed to emanate from within the glacial walls, loud enough that they could be heard even from inside the ship. They had only just reached the medical table when it seemed to stop abruptly.

"No time!" the soldier gasped as he was secured to the medical table. "Get airborn!"

Culbra was already moving before he ended the sentence, his speed and balance augmented through the Force as he sprinted out of the medical bay and into the cockpit, leaping over the seat and slamming his paws on the console. His paw was halfway to the launch switch when the hangar lurched again, throwing the wolf off balance- with a gasp and a twist, the tip of his finger caught the switch and flicked it, just as he fell into the captain's chair.

The thundering crashes of the failing glacier resumed, mixing with the roar of the ship's engines as it hovered several meters into the air. Ahead, the hangar doors were only barely open, not wide enough for the ship to fly through; worse, the open snow plains ahead were two meters higher than they should have been, the hangar entrance now angled lower- the glacier was sinking, and fast.

With a grimace Culbra grabbed the flight yoke, his fingers squeezing against the handle's triggers. The rapid thud of the ships cannons sounded, red lances of lethal energy exploding against the hangar door and blasting away the ice. The hangar lurched again, it's movement now more visible as the ship hovered within it. There were only seconds left. With his eyes shut, his thumb flickedg open a cover on the yoke, revealing a bright red button.

"Please... just let me see Y'Lara again..."

He pressed in the switch.

Four streaks of smoke and light issued from below the ships cockpit, exploding against the hangar door and obscuring it in black smoke and flame; the ship buckled, the explosions from the warheads having jostled the vessel; below, the console let out a critical alert- his shields were failing. But he did not need to see the door ahead to know there was enough space, grabbing the throttle and wrenching it back, propelling the ship into the smoke and flame. A horrible noise of metal crunching against metal rang out on either side, the ship seeming to buckle again, but with a lurch it was free, speeding out into the blinding snow fields ahead.

He had only flown a kilometer when the sound roared around him. Alarmed, he swerved the ship around towards the hangar, located on the opposite side of the mountain in which Echo Base resided. Part of the exposed rock was sinking into the terrain, a massive blast of ice shooting into the air as the ground seemed to sink away. The noise was loud enough that even airborn he could hear it clearly, as Hoth devoured the glacier and swallowed it into the chasms below, leaving a deep gouge in the ice.

With a sigh of relief, he brought the ship back around. They were almost free.

The details of what followed were, at best, hazy to the wolf. It took only moments to breach the atmosphere, and in minutes they had left the planet's gravitational pull, scanners showing no pursuing craft as Culbra brought the vessel into hyperspace. But even that was a blur to him, and while he could chalk it up to sustaining a concussion that was messing with his balance and vision, the aching in his heart told him it was something deeper.

He got up from the pilot's seat and stumbled through the ship, bracing himself against the wall to maintain balance and making his way to the infirmary, somehow managing not to fall on the way there.

The commander still lay where he was, having fitted a life-support unit to himself- one that Culbra could tell was not sufficient enough for him to recover from the mortal wound he sustained. It would not do much more than delay the inevitable, something Culbra was certain the soldier already knew. He stared at him for well over a minute, trying to figure out why he'd brought a dying man with him, wondering why the Force had deemed it necessary.

With a shake of his head (more to clear the fuzziness than to reject questioning), he staggered to the resting soldier, sitting next to him.

"I... I'm sorry," Culbra said, bent over in exhaustion and pain.

The soldier let out a pained, quiet chuckle. "You... are the last person in the galaxy who should be saying that."

"I can't save you, soldier," the wolf said, feeling awful about it and not knowing why. Something was wrong, and the Force wasn't telling him what it was. "I wish I could, but... this is out of my abilities, even as a Jedi."

"This was going to happen sooner or later," the soldier told him. "And it's what I deserve, for what I did to you so long ago."

He raised his head, the words confusing him. The question he needed to ask burned in his chest, ready to be uttered; only for him to push it back down, realizing there was no need to ask. With a grunt he got back up, reaching out to the soldier's helmet and carefully pulling it off, revealing his face.

Culbra stared for what felt like a lifetime. It was an old face, much older than he anticipated, yet one perfectly familiar. He'd seen that face thousands of times, on a thousand different soldiers; narrowed brown eyes, a slightly short and wide nose, black hair, and once-tan skin gone pale from lack of light exposure. A face on a thousand different soldiers.

But like every Jedi who cared about their team, Culbra could see, even with his concussion-compromised vision, the subtle differences that set this former Clone Trooper apart from every other. The last time he'd seen the soldier, his face had been concealed behind that of a helmet, his voice lined with regret as he prepared to gun down his Jedi comrade.

"… Commander Fang." The wolf swallowed- he had never forgotten the name of the clone he'd served with.

"… I didn't know," the commander said suddenly, tears streaking down his face. "Very few of us did. I don't know how many of us went with it, but... I know I'm not the only one who hated having to do it."

Culbra swallowed, putting his paw in the soldier's hand. "It's... it's okay."

"I thought we'd killed you that day, it was reported that they'd found your corpse blasted apart by a walker. I..." The soldier's voice broke. "… I blamed myself for all of that. And the years that followed, I tried to justify everything I did in the name of peace." He paused, coughing- a trail of blood ran from his lips. "And when I couldn't delude myself anymore, I just... resigned myself to it. This is what I was... created for. To obey, and then to die."

"You don't... need to say anything more," Culbra assured him. "I know. I've never held it against you or any other clone."

"I'm sorry," the soldier whispered, looking weaker. "Please... if you can find it in your heart--"

"I forgive you."

He did not need the Force to tell him this was the right thing to do. Years of pain, of being separated from the people he cared about, had not taken from him his compassion to others. A lifetime of fighting evil on his own terms had brought him experience, perspectives that the galaxy and it's people were more than black-and-white. He'd had decades to come to terms with being betrayed; and this soldier had spent those decades tormented by it.

More than anything else, reconciliation was what the soldier needed.

"I forgive you," Culbra repeated. "I can't... there's nothing I can do to prevent you from passing from this life... but I would have you do so at peace, knowing that I forgive you, and knowing that I'll watch over you until the end."

The soldier shivered, and at once it seemed like a lifetime of pain and regret seemed to melt away. "Thank... thank you, sir."

His grip weakened. Culbra knew there were only seconds left.

"I'm sorry," the soldier repeated, his voice barely a whisper. "It's been an honor, sir."

Culbra swallowed, his voice thick. "It's been an honor. May the Force be with you."

And then he was still.

"You're almost dressed, then- good."

Saph looked up, halfway to slipping on her shirt. Thresher's ink-black eyes lingered on her a few moments before he nodded and she finished, smoothing it out and grabbing the cloak she'd been given for formal functions. Off to the side, on the still-messy sheets she'd climbed out of minutes earlier, was her suit of combat armor and weapons.

"I almost thought you were calling me for an impromptu mission," she admitted.

"I beg your pardon," the Karkarodon said with a nod. "I admit I was not clear, though you will see in a few minutes why I called on you so abruptly with little context." He gestured to the hall, bidding her to follow him.

The star destroyer they were now stationed on, the Chained Beast, had served as the training vessel for all assigned Acolytes and new hopefuls. Where one would see the familiar white armor of a stormtrooper down every hall, there were now small patrols of black-armored Dark Acolytes mixed in with the lesser soldiers. It gave Saph some measure of comfort when Thresher was around; her growing skill and strength had garnered her no shortage of enemies and glares when she was alone, yet none would dare turn an unkind gaze to her when the shark was around. Those who would have otherwise quickly gave the pair a wide berth as they made their way to the training halls, though neither of them spoke during the entire walk.

They stopped at the higher levels of a training chamber, overlooking a moderately large dueling arena. It was here Thresher broke the silence, though not without some hesitation and a clearing of his throat. "You slept well, I gather."

Her cheeks tingled at the question. She immediately saw it for what it was, a tacit acknowledgment of their... 'involvement' the previous night. That he had not simply disregarded it gave her a measure of contentment- it had meant something.

"… Yeah," she admitted with a small smile. "I didn't hate it. It was... definitely new." She stole a glance to him, analyzing his expression. "You're pretty good."

The shark continued to stare out into the arena and let out a non-committal noise, though the lapine Acolyte could almost see a slight curl along the edge of his snout. "I shall take that as a compliment, then. As I said last night, do not consider it any kind of reward for your hard work and obedience. It was... I admit... my pleasure."

"I believe it," she replied, trying to find something to say in return- only to stop when the shark turned to her, a frown on his brow.

There was hesitation, and in his voice a subtle tone of pride when he finally spoke. "You've exceeded all my expectations, Acolyte. I mean that. I understand your resentment in not being informed on what is to come, what the Circle's plans are. I am bound by my own masters to keep it secret, but if I had my way, I would tell you right now."

"Master, you don't need to explain," she assured him. "I only got this far because of you. I'm coming around to it all- I trust you."

The words brought a small, yet genuine smile to his face, one that faded slightly as he continued.

"That is good," he said quietly. "Because I'm certain that wasn't always the case."

She cocked her head, curious. "What do you mean?"

He folded his arms, waiting a moment before speaking. "I have been made aware that you have not always been completely obedient."

The rabbit tensed at that, swallowing. "Wha... I'm not sure what you're... I mean, not that..."

He held up a finned hand, not aggressively but calmly. "I know what happened on Pouma V, your first assignment as a Dark Acolyte. You took it upon yourself to fight a Jedi, which I specifically ordered you not to do."

Her nerves flared in alarm and she took half a step back. It was no use lying, she knew, but she could not be sure what he was feeling or thinking. "I... it's just... he was alone, and--"

"It was an unnecessary risk," he cut her off.

"I thought I was ready," she admitted, looking away. "I thought maybe I could get away with it. I'm... I'm sorry, Mast--"

The moment his hand fell on her shoulder, she stopped, looking up at him. There was no anger in his expression, but it alarmed her that there seemed to be a look of sadness there.

"I'm not asking you to apologize, Acoly--... Saph. You bear a pain that you have found difficult to reign in, and you have improved greatly in the time since then. I would have let this matter go without incident, as I've grown to trust your judgment and actions over time. But you were not ready to handle the burden, and stood to lose your life had you been any lesser." He looked her in the eyes. "You understand this, right?"

She nodded, breathing out a sigh of mixed relief and regret. "Yes... I know that I'm not... I'm not ready even now," she admitted.

He nodded, but the ghost of a smile returned.

"But you will be, Saph- that day is fast approaching. As long as you heed my instructions, you will live long enough to see your revenge completed. I'm only bringing it up now for two reasons. The first is I wish to assure you that it will not strain this... connection, that we have formed. I have no intention of harming you for your failures. It would be unnecessary- and I do not wish to, either way."

"Thank you, my lord," the rabbit sighed, feeling relieved- and recognizing the shark's softness. "I will trust your words and teachings. I promise."

He nodded, then turned to the viewport. Saph followed his gaze, watching as two figures entered. Her brow creased as she noticed one of them was Knight Yuda, the blonde-haired human looking bruised yet arrogant and proud. Beside him, Knight Apex hung back a few feet, a slight limp in his steps as he regarded Yuda with contempt.

"However," Thresher continued, "the Circle will demand strict obedience as we do their will. I may trust your judgment, but their will is absolute. Do not deceive them, nor betray their expectations. Failure will lead to punishment- ignorance and disobedience will lead to worse."

Saph raised an eyebrow, staring at Yuda. "I get the feeling I'm about to witness an abject lesson."

Thresher merely held up a finger for silence, leaving the two to witness the scene below. Even from their raised position, Saph's keen hearing could make out what the pair was saying.

"I've never heard of him."

Apex's frown was tinted with disgust. "You should have considered yourself lucky up until now," the Chistori replied. "The Inquisitorious does not tolerate failure of any kind, and the Grand Inquisitor exacts punishment for failure."

"Inquisitorious?" Saph whispered.

"A deeply-hidden branch of the Empire's intelligence division," Thresher explained in a low voice. "The highest ranking of the Emperor's Dark Side Adepts, answerable only to the Emperor and Darth Vader. All of the Circle's leaders were once members." He looked to Saph. "The Grand Inquisitor leads them now, in the absence of an emperor. And he is displeased today."

They both resumed watching as a third figure entered- Saph immediately recognized Thresher's own master, Voyde. The old man wore a look of equal disgust as his eyes fell on Yuda, and the rabbit shivered when he spoke in his usual, cold voice.

"I'm told the mission failed."

Apex was the first to kneel and bow his head, saying nothing at first. Yuda matched the gesture, though he did not look troubled. "The mission has failed, my master," Apex acknowledged.

"I do not believe it has," Yuda countered, though he kept his head bowed. "I was informed that we were to--"

"Silence."

It was said softly, but so dangerously that for a moment Saph through the words had turned into a dagger and stabbed Yuda in the back, making him jerk up. At once, Yuda obeyed.

"The mission was to obtain or destroy the Pontite crystal, and prevent the Jedi Weaponmaster from getting off the planet," Voyde told them both. "I read the mission reports myself, before you arrived- and it did not escape my notice that you submitted your report a full six hours before Apex did," he added, glaring at Yuda. "You failed both objectives."

"We beg mercy, my lord," Apex rumbled, bowing his head lower.

Voyde regarded him for a few moments, then raised his hand up. "You may rise, Apex. The Circle favors those who are obedient. You have shown your skill by dueling a weapon master and surviving, and you have shown your loyalty by attempting to adhere to the mission you were assigned."

Yuda raised his head as Apex got to his feet and bowed, but before Yuda could get to his Voyde made a claw-like gesture to the human Sith Knight. The younger man groaned as he was bent forward more, kept in place by the Inquisitor.

"The failure is yours, Knight Yuda. Had we anyone to replace you, the Circle would have your title stripped from you- and it would be the least of your punishments." He turned up his hand and raised it, forcing Yuda into the air as he gasped. "I have tolerated your ineptitude and failings this long only because you still have some use to us, and your title gives you the authority to fulfill that use on our behalf."

He released his grip and Yuda fell to the floor, coughing and struggling to get back up, while Voyde turned his back to the Knight.

"But your value will run out the closer we come to our goals. You would do well to offer us better, lest you become obsolete."

"The Jedi," Yuda coughed, "is dead! He and his ship buried under tons of ice, at the bottom of a glacial chasm- and the stone with it!"

"Only a fool assumes that their foe is dead without seeing the body," the elder man hissed. "The Jedi possessed a ship to get off-planet and an opportunity to return to it without being waylaid." He turned his eyes to Apex, who nodded and bowed his head.

"There's no way," Yuda groaned, looking up. "And nobody would know whether or not he escaped. Sensor scans picked up nothing."

Voyde turned back to the knelt knight, looking ready to speak. He stopped short, eyes flicking upwards into the upper level, directly at Thresher and Saph. The Lepi's heart seemed to jump to her throat at being found out, but Thresher remained impassive, only giving a subtle nod.

"Yes, he knows we're here," the shark informed her. "It was at his request that you witness what would happen. Making an example out of Yuda serves no purpose if nobody else learns from it." He turned his gaze to her, and in his eyes she could see a shade of concern. "This is not meant to be a threat- but a warning. I ask that you heed it always."

"Y-yes, my lord," she swallowed.

If there'd been another few moments she was certain her mentor would have added something else. His mouth was halfway open when a sudden chill seemed to envelop the chamber, drawing both of their eyes back into the center. Apex seemed to shift uncomfortably, turning his gaze to a hatch off to the side. Voyde, too, turned his attention to the hatch, though his words remain directed at Yuda.

"This is the extent to which I will administer punishment," he said coldly.

"Th... thank you, Master Voyde," Yuda sighed.

"You are a fool if you think that it's mercy that stays my hand," Voyde hissed. "It is not me who you must answer to for your failure to subdue and strand the Jedi."

The hatch slid open, revealing a figure robed in black. By itself it was nothing Saph hadn't already seen in the months since she'd accepted Thresher's mentorship. What set this new figure about was the mask he bore, silver in color and sheen with red eyes that seemed to glow in the dim light. Voyde approached to meet the new figure, the pair stopping only meters apart before bowing at the same moment.

Voyde nodded to the new guest. "Grand Inquisitor Zakras."

A cold yet calm voice issued from behind the facade. "Inquisitor Voyde." A fractional turn to look over Voyde's shoulder at Yuda, still knelt in place. "This is the one, then?"

"It is," the elderly man acknowledged, before turning to the other Sith Knight. "Knight Apex, you are dismissed. See to our acolytes, and ensure that nobody disturbs the Grand Inquisitor during his... lecture."

The Chistori bowed low. "Yes, my lords." Without another word (and with what Saph could swear was a subtle look of relief) he left the chamber quickly.

"I wish to inform you that you've an audience today," Voyde said, gesturing to the upper platform. "One of our promising acolytes must learn the price of disobedience."

"I've no objection to providing an example," the Grand Inquisitor replied in a pleased, venomous tone.

"Very good. Be mindful, though he is a fool he still has his uses for our work. All I ask is that, whatever Knight Yuda's transgressions, you keep the young man alive." He moved a few steps to the hatch before stopping and turning. "Interpret that how you will."

"I shall."

Voyde gave the two a considering look, then nodded and left- the hatch he exited through sealed and locked.

It was now that Saph was feeling cold fear, a sensation she'd once felt when a dead Sith Lord had possessed her body. She swallowed, taking a step back.

"I... I don't want to be here."

She was a half-second away from running when her mentor reached out and took her paw. His skin was rough, a strange feeling she'd never experienced with other beings- but it was also warm, his grip soft. The look in his eyes told her he would not stop her if she wanted to leave; and that if she remained, he would help her get through it. No words to tell her it was something she must do.

Her paw closed around his hand, her other gripping the railing. Just having him around dampened the fear. It was a luxury that Yuda could not enjoy, as fear seemed to spur him into action as Grand Inquisitor Zakras neared. He was halfway to his feet when Zakras' arm lashed out- in the next instant, Yuda had gone completely rigid.

His voice was low and dangerous, but as clear as a shining dagger. "How dare you. You stand in my presence and have the impertinence not to remain knelt before your superior?"

With a simple flick of his wrist, Yuda was bowed before him, his hands slamming into the floor as if they'd been magnetized to the wood. The Sith Knight yelped, growled as he struggled to wrench himself up.

And the figure above him laughed. There was no mirth in it, as glacial as Hoth itself, a dark joy in the scene before him. "I see Voyde was not exaggerating when he told me of your incompetence and disobedience. No doubt reaching for glory, only to have it burn your hands." He circled the Knight, hands behind his back. "You've yet to learn your place- to follow rather than lead."

"I... am no dog!" Yuda growled, straining against the grip of the Force.

"Not yet," Zakras agreed. "You are a snake. Writing on the ground, fanged and dangerous with venom. But it will take little more than a boot to your neck to keep you humbled and useless."

"I... can still strike!" the Sith Knight snarled.

A boom burst between them, Zakras leaping gracefully out of the way and landing without issue, cloak billowing out from the rush of kinetic energy. There was no change in his, hands still clasped behind his back, regarding Yuda impassively as he staggered back to his feet.

"What punishment is this meant to be?!" he shouted angrily.

"As your master told you, you have your uses. They will become useless if you do not learn your place. This is meant to humble you, to show you how truly outclassed you are." He raised a hand out- only as a gesture to the Sith Knight's hip. "Draw your weapon."

The words brought a look of shock on Yuda's features; Saph arched an eyebrow, looking to Thresher, who merely nodded.

When a full ten seconds had passed without Yuda doing a thing, the Grand Inquisitor's hand formed a claw, forcing the knight to his knee. There was a tint of anger in Zakras voice as he spoke. "I gave you an order, boy. You will become a useless serpent if you refuse to strike when you are not pinned down. Draw your weapon, that I may educate you."

With a strangled growl Yuda strained against Zakra's Force grip, pulling his weapon from his side and igniting it. The weight seemed to disappear from him, the human standing upright with a look of rage on his face.

"Glaring at me is hardly a suitable opening for a duel," Zakras noted. "Stop wasting my time."

"What about you?" Yuda spat, circling the Grand Inquisitor. "Aren't you going to draw your weapon?"

Zakras' head inclined a few degrees, his form shaking as he cackled- a genuine laugh, yet one that only unnerved Saph more. "Why would I need such a weapon for the likes of you?"

As he said it, the Lepi noticed that their guest was not carrying a weapon.

"Why...?"

"A lightsaber is merely one weapon at the disposal of a Sith," Thresher murmured, giving her paw a slight squeeze.

They said nothing else, as the words had stunned Yuda only briefly; in the next second he was a blur, weapon raised and aimed to strike down Zakras, bringing the weapon to bear with a slash. For a moment Saph thought he has succeeded, her brain processing the moment as Yuda's lightsaber cleaving through Zakras' chest- in the next half moment it registered as Zakras having not even been there, his cloak suspended in the air without him in it. Her eyes flicked the area, trying to see where he'd gone, realizing the Grand Inquisitor had moved at a speed beyond her ability to track.

She spotted him the same moment Yuda did, some twenty feet behind the bewildered Sith Knight. With a cry of frustration Yuda started his cadence again, whipping his weapon around. This time, Zakras did not move impressively, allowing Yuda to get within striking distance before shifting his body slightly and dodging the opening attack as if it were nothing. A backswing followed, Saph certain it would decapitate their guest; a simple, half-hearted duck was all it took to evade it. Saph gaped as Yuda continued to slash and stab through the air, trying to score a hit on his unarmed foe, a full minute of attacking a foe who refused to defend himself with anything more than simple movements.

In that time, Yuda could not get a single hit.

The cadence ceased, leaving Yuda winded but standing, red-faced with a hot glare and look of hatred. "You dare to toy with me?!" he snarled.

"You have decent skill, serpent," Zakras remarked quietly. "And now I hope you see your limits."

A squeeze on Saph's paw prompted her to look to Thresher. The shark nodded to Yuda.

"You asked me once if the Sith were all about hatred. I told you then that we use it to fuel our abilities, yet we don't give ourselves to it fully." He gestured to the panting Sith Knight. "Yuda has been taught this lesson before, yet still forgets it. Unrestrained anger will blind anyone. It is a lesson you must learn as a Dark Acolyte- even justified rage and anger, born out of a desire for justice, must be kept in check."

The cadence restarted as Saph spoke, her eyes watching the pair. "Is this why you..."

"Yuda is a prideful man, and too often allows any slight to his reputation unsettle him. To suggest that he is lacking in any way only bolsters his stubbornness. You are not like him, but your anger and rage can make you just as vulnerable. Should you let it out of your control..."

Yuda lunged in with a frustrated scream, the point of his weapon driving towards Zakra's masked head. It took little more than a sidestep and a turn to evade.

But then the lesson began. It started with Zakras bringing his fist up from a low position, sinking it into Yuda's stomach. The scream cut short, Yuda's face contorting from one of rage and frustration into shock and pain.

"… a foe can turn it against you," Thresher finished.

For whatever odd reason, brief memories of her life on Coachelle Prime resurfaced, moments of her entire warren gathered around several holoprojectors and display screen watching sports events; of martial arts tournaments, both legal and unsanctioned. The raw, vicious hits of the latter were foremost in those memories, fighters being hit with expert blows clearly meant to kill; yet the finesse of the former were not forgotten, the grace and elegance of professional combat memorable in its technique.

What happened before her was a mix of both. Three seconds of a frozen scene lingered before Yuda choked out a strange cough and tried to counter-attack with an upswing. Another sidestep and Zakras was in front of him, bringing up a palm strike into Yuda's chin. The human staggered back several steps, his grip on his weapon loose. In seconds he was back in a fighting stance, a guttural gasping, panting sound coming from him as he stabbed again. With inhuman speed Zakras darted into range, slipping past the jab and bringing his wrist up against Yuda's lightsaber; without a firm grip the weapon went flying into the air.

It happened with grace and brutality, expert movements delivering vicious hits. It was only now Yuda realized his situation, caught in a fight with a master who needed no lightsaber to defeat him. Saph expected him to run, or kneel in submission to someone who was clearly his superior.

Instead, he raised his fists in a fighting stance.

"What is that fool doing?!" Saph exclaimed in a harsh whisper.

"Letting his pride control him," Thresher muttered.

Zakras' quiet laughter filled the space between them. "Oho... you may think you're showing grit and tenacity, but anybody looking at you would know you're merely wearing a facade."

"I'll knock your 'facade' right off your head!" Yuda growled, charging with his right fist in a windup and bringing it around once he was within arm's reach.

The Grand Inquisitor intercepted the punch easily, catching it in his palm.

There was a horrible second where Saph wanted to shout to Yuda to pull back. Even after everything he'd done to her, how he treated her, the thought of what would come within the next second seemed too much to stand. The words died halfway in her throat when Zakras twisted and squeezed.

Even from their elevated position, the sound of five fingers breaking could be heard as clearly as if they were merely five feet away- Yuda's scream was no different, just as clear and loud. His lungs could not issue a loud enough noise to drown out the next set of bones to break, his wrist twisted in an angle it was never meant to be in. A gasp silenced Yuda for but a moment, just enough time for him to draw in enough breath to scream when yet another twist completely broke his arm. Saph whimpered at the unnatural position, knowing just from sight alone that the robes Yuda was wearing were the only thing concealing what was almost certainly exposed bone.

And Yuda's tortured scream was enough for her to know that he knew it too. As the Sith Knight writhed on the floor Saph could feel herself being tugged closer to Thresher- she did not draw away, the shark's proximity offering a meager, yet vital source of comfort.

"Does this... happen often?" Saph whispered, trembling.

"To this degree, not often," Thresher murmured. "But Yuda brought this upon himself. This is one of two lessons you must learn from sight alone. I do not wish for you to learn these lessons firsthand, when it is too late." He looked down to her. "Never forget that, whatever our goals may be, we are still only servants to the Circle. They will reward our obedience; and they will punish us if we lack it, moreso when we are arrogant."

She nodded, swallowing and keeping her eyes on Yuda as his screaming was reduced to gasping and moaning in pain.

"And the other lesson...?"

Thresher paused before speaking.

"If I'm right... we may yet see it soon."

They watched as Zakras crouched next to the Sith Knight, shaking his head in mock disapproval. "Voyde was right. You certainly require reeducation. You would have done better to retrieve your lightsaber, at least then you would have stood a chance."

"Why... why are you doing this?!" Yuda shouted, cradling his broken arm. "Over a damned crystal?!"

The mood seemed to shift, and if were possible the air seemed to grow colder as Zakras seemed to stare at Yuda in complete silence. Before long even the Sith Knight quieted down into shuddering breaths, seeming to realize that it was the wrong topic to bring up- and now understood the very reason he was being disciplined.

"I was so close," Zakras whispered in a deadly whisper. "He was on a remote planet, frozen in carbonite. I searched for three decades, elevated myself to be leader of the Inquisitorious, and just when I had found him..."

His hand lashed out and grabbed Yuda around the throat, hoisting him up into the air in one impressive move.

"… YOU COMPLETELY FOULED IT UP!!! You worthless, incompetent, pathetic excuse of a Sith Knight!"

Even as Yuda dangled in the air, grabbing Zakras wrist as he was choked, Saph did not miss the anger in his features. "No... you fool!" she said through tense, grit teeth.

"Yuda may well lose his life to stubbornness," Thresher nodded. "You may feel it now, though. Along your fur or your nerves. You are not Force sensitive, but I know you must feel it."

The rabbit swallowed, shivering. There was indeed a tingle in the air, a current of foulness in her nerves she rarely felt. In the past, Thresher had expressed it; but now it seemed to generate from the two men below. It felt dark, malicious- bearing nothing but ill.

Her possession by Marka Ragnos came to mind and she shivered.

Thresher squeezed her paw again and she jumped, but said nothing when he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"I think... we've seen enough," he said, in an uncharacteristic tone- one of alarm.

"But—"

That was as far as she got when the chamber exploded with a scream. The banners and tapestries strung along the ceilings and walls whipped up as if stirred by a hurricane, a blast of air buffeting against the acolyte and mentor. But it was the noise, the scream Yuda was issuing, the made Saph scream in turn, her sensitive hearing overloaded by the volume he was issuing.

Darkness overtook Saph for a moment as Thresher raised his arm up. In less than a second the sound seemed to dull, not unlike being thrust into a room with soundproofing, the scream still audible, yet quieter.

"Are you alright?" Thresher asked, a crease of worry in his brow.

The rabbit groaned, gripping the railing to keep herself upright. Despite the reduction in sound her ears were still ringing. "I... yeah, I think," she whimpered, leaning into the shark. "What is... what--"

The screaming ceased, and Thresher lowered his arm. Now the air seemed normal, as if she'd stepped out of soundproofed room. She looked to him for an explanation, her stomach turning as she saw a look on Thresher's face she'd never seen before; one that matched the tone of his voice.

Fear.

"… Oh shit. Yuda, you fucking fool..."

She followed his gaze back down to the men below- and nearly screamed again.

Zakras' mask had been knocked off.

What he had been early in his life, Saph could not tell- some form of near-Human, perhaps, with tendrils dangling from near the corners of his mouth. They were lipless, framing jagged teeth between them, his eyes a blood red and his head bearing long, black hair. The flesh on his face was a deathly color, almost corpse-like in tone and texture; pocked with scars and burns the rabbit could only assume he had accumulated over an entire lifetime.

The grotesque man stared in shock at Yuda, his hand going slack and dropping the Sith Knight, who staggered back in fear and disgust, looking terrified at what was to come.

Suddenly, Zakras' face contorted into rage, raising his hands up and lifting Yuda into the air as he screamed.

_ "YOU WORM!!! HOW DARE YOU!!!" _

"Saph, let's go!" Thresher shouted.

It took his voice and a wrench in her arm to bring her out of the nightmare she was witnessing, her gaze falling on the shark as he implored her to move. How long he had tried to pull her away, she could not tell- but now she wanted to be anywhere but here.

She followed, sprinting with him to the hatch just as Yuda screamed again. And when the hatch closed behind them, the scream did not cease.

They kept running until it stopped.

It was midday, at least according to the ship's operating hours. Neither of them had left Saph's room. Thresher would have told her to take the evening for light training, but neither of them had spoken as they lingered.

She was on the bed and against the wall, knees up to her head. For two hours now, she had been trying to push the memory of everything she'd seen out of her head, trying to stop the shivers. When she felt the shark's hand on her wrist she looked up at him- he was bearing his impassive face once again, holding a cup of shig out to her. With a grateful nod and a sigh she took it, sipping from the mug.

Thresher took a seat at the end of the bunk, letting out a sigh.

"I am sorry, Saph. Had I known..."

"It's alright, Master," Saph told him, scooting to the edge next to him as her nerves settled down. The shig was doing its work, loosening her throat and making it easier to breath, but it was her mentor's proximity that gave her the most comfort. "I don't think even Master Voyde would have expected it."

"Well... no, perhaps you're right," he conceded. "I think it's safe to say that Yuda signed his death warrant in the moment. The Grand Inquisitor's injuries are known, though not spoken openly about, but... not even I had seen them until then."

"Please... let's not talk about him," she asked quietly.

There was a pause between them, a tense silence where his features hardened. For a moment she wondered if she had spoken out of turn somehow, relaxing as he turned to her with a frown- not a glare, as she might have expected.

"… No, Saph. I need to talk to you about it. What you saw in that moment... that was the second lesson. And you need to understand it."

The rabbit stared at him, confused. "What do you mean? Is the lesson 'don't piss off your superiors or they'll kill you?'"

"That was the first lesson, you recall," he told her. "But no. The lesson is in what you saw in both Zakras and Yuda. Mainly Zakras." He looked her in the eyes, and in his she could see the lingering fear within them- he was still affected by what he saw.

She took another sip before setting the mug aside, nodding to him- if it was important, she would hear it.

"The reports on Zakras go back to the Clone Wars," he started. "He was a Dark Acolyte as well. The Jedi he and Voyde spoke of, a Shistavanen named Culbra, was responsible for much of his injuries. Zakras had the questionable fortune of surviving the gullet of the galaxy's largest sarlacc."

"That's... impossible," Saph said, equal part skeptical and amazed.

"The extraction itself was recorded," Thresher assured her. "But in that time he has retained those scars. Neither bacta nor kolto has restored him. Those injuries, you may have noticed, are almost like they were never treated, despite the fact that they have."

"If they've been treated, he would have been repaired somewhat, wouldn't he?" Saph pointed out. "Especially with the Empire's strongest bacta mix."

"Yes... if Zakras were any other man, and not a Force-sensitive," Thresher replied.

She did not say anything, minding those words. With a shiver, she started to understand the answer.

"… The dark side of the Force," she said simply.

Thresher nodded gravely, looking away.

"Hatred, fear, anger, violence, pain and suffering... all of these things fuel the dark side. Like any other being with parents, you've no doubt been told these are all negative things. They are. Any Sith will tell you these are negative emotions, yet are a pathway to great power when utilized correctly."

"Violence can be used for good, right?" Saph suggested.

"It can. In some situations it is the only answer to a problem. A Sith will draw upon the dark side, their deepest negative emotions, to fuel their abilities. There is a potency in it, not unlike ancient Peragian fuel- effective, yet volatile. A Sith will mind themselves, not given themselves completely to their emotions- as I told you before, we are not animals. When used properly, it is not unlike tending to a campfire for an entire week. It requires focus and rationing, but it will see you through every night if you are disciplined."

He looked back to her. "But any fire carries the risk of burning. Both Zakras and Yuda demonstrated that immersing oneself into the dark side, maintaining it with rage and pride, can destroy you. I don't think Zakras has ever considered that his constant rage, his obsession with this Jedi, is what has kept his injuries consistent for three decades. In his mind, Culbra is responsible for what he is now; in reality, it's him not being able to let go of that hatred that is slowly destroying him."

Saph frowned. "Okay... I think I get it. Being constantly angry about nearly getting killed can slowly rot you away if it's the dark side. I buy that." She cocked her head. "But I'm not a Sith. And it sounds like you're telling me I should let go of my hate for the son of a bitch who killed my brother."

"Not for a moment," he told her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "But this is a lesson you must still learn. I have found that you don't need to be a Sith or a Jedi in order for hatred and fear to kill you- a blind obsession for revenge will never serve you, and may instead take your life. It nearly did when you engaged the Jedi on Pouma V. And as you saw, Yuda paid the price for letting his anger and pride blind him."

She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. The point was too clear for her to argue.

"You have every right to be angry, Saph," he continued. "But don't let it kill you. Focus. Put that energy into yourself and channel it into growing instead."

She stared at him for a few moments, then looked away- and smiled.

"Y'know... that doesn't sound very Sith-like."

He hesitated, the replied.

"Well... it shouldn't. I wasn't always Sith."

Her gaze returned to him. There was, once again, a small but genuine smile on his face, one that told her he would explain what he meant.

But not today.

It didn't matter- she would not have asked, content in having seen past the facade he normally kept.

He stood up, tail flicking in a stretch. "You've today and tomorrow off."

She arched an eyebrow at him. "That's... uncharacteristic of you, my lord."

He shrugged. "Maybe. But I can allow you this reprieve when I wish. See that you make use of it."

He moved to exit, but Saph got to him first, paw grabbing his wrist. He stopped, gave her a quizzical look.

"Actually..." She hesitated. "I... wouldn't mind the company. Now and tonight... if you're free."

He did not smile openly- but she saw the warmth in his eyes all the same.

"… Very well. If that is how you wish to make use of it... I'd be glad to oblige."

Epilogue

Space ports on Felucia were sparse, to say the least.

There was a time during the Clone Wars when the planet was heavily populated with Republic clones and Separatist droids; during the Galactic Civil War's early years, it was home to Hutt kajidics and the Zann Consortium. It was only when the New Republic managed to liberate Felucia that it began to see some prosperity, establishing mid-sized colonies near its waterwars in the norther continent.

It's still a mistake, Kajex thought, gazing across the fungal forests with a worried look. The dark side was still thick in some places, mainly to the west; in others, the light side shimmered. But it was chaotic, untamed- wild. It would have been better to leave the planet be. Not even two miles behind him, still within sight, was the city and starport the Gold Rush had been docked at; ahead, he could see the rustling of fungi as they were brushed aside, glimpses of a recently-fed rancor visible between the stalks. The wolf did not recall seeing sufficient defenses along its border, certainly not enough to repel such a beast.

He grimaced, deciding to call it in.

"Ad'ika, you there?"

A pause, then static. "Right here, ori'vod. Found the passenger?"

"Not yet, Rook. I want you to pull Locke out of the ship and keep watch on the southern wall. I just caught sight of your favorite prey wandering through the flora- looked like a juvenile male rancor." He turned and paced across the giant mushroom head, looking back at the city- the fungal rustling seemed to be curving in that direction.

"Ooo... hey boss, if we kill it can--"

"No, you are not going to store a dead rancor head in my hold," he cut her off flatly.

"Aww c'moooon!"

"You have three kell dragon skulls in your room already. If it goes down because of you... you can take the teeth. But that's it!"

"… Fine..."

The wolf shook his head, managing a smile before leaping off from his vantage point. "I'm close to where he said he'd be- whoever he is."

"Master Skywalker didn't tell you?"

"He only said it was a Jedi I'd met long ago. That could be hundreds of them, though I doubt any of them actually remember me when I was a pup. Still... if Master Skywalker said to meet him in secret, then I guess I'll have to."

"… Alone."

"Yep. Alone."

"… You do remember your wife paid me to keep your ass safe, right?"

He grinned. "Haven't forgotten for a second. Don't worry, I've been doing solo missions since long before I met Syrra."

"Sure, but back then you didn't have to worry about a Sith cult bein' after your blood. Still... if you're sure..."

"I'll be fine," he assured her. "I'm going dark, kiddo- I'll call back in fifteen."

"Holler if you need us, Boss."

The unease he felt did not come from the dark side, nor any worry about the mission he'd been assigned; it was the raw chaotic energy around him that was jangling his nerves, the Living Force like a grand web that trembled with every step he took. Not even Yavin 4's jungle could properly compare to the fungal forests he was now traversing. To simply be on this planet was to be a part of that web, feeding that energy into the Cosmic Force through life and struggle, and even upon death.

It was, as a result, hard not to feel like a fly among spiders.

Twenty-foot tall spiders.

He moved swiftly, paws digging into the soft earth and leaving barely a sound, something he was thankful for as it allowed him to keep alert for nearby fauna. As the minutes wore on without incident, the louder of footfalls fading into the distance, he could sense a flicker of the Force ahead- a beacon to guide him to his destination. He paused only to take note of his current surroundings, spotting a moss-covered hunk of metal half-buried in the ground. It took his a few moments to recognize it as the top half of an old Republic assault tank. This had, at one time, apparently been the site of a battle. He shook off his musings and continued, vaulting over the tank piece.

When the flicker grew he slowed his pace, spotting a figure kneeling within a clearing, shadowed beneath a large, bell-shaped bloom. Around the clearing were shards of old war vehicles, discarded pieces of damaged armor; remnants of a violent battle. The figure himself was cloaked and hooded in white, huddled over a mound of earth with a black helmet at the head. He said nothing, gave no indication of noticing Kajex.

The wolf knew better; whoever the figure was almost certainly felt him through the Force. He stopped short, waiting respectfully and not saying a word. Having had to bury one of his fathers, he could recognize the scene for what it was.

This was a place of rest.

For almost ten minutes the figure remained knelt, his focus on the grave. As he stood in silence, Kajex could feel the Force around them, a cool yet pleasant tingle in the air that contrasted with the jungle's natural humidity and sweltering temperatures. The chaotic swirl of the Living Force seemed to slow in this space, a mark left by the bond this Jedi no doubt shared with the occupant of the grave. In many ways, it reminded Kajex of his own fathers' gravesite- a place of violence brought on by war; then of grief for the loss of life and family; then of comfort, the acceptance of death.

He had no sooner mused on this comparison when the figure stirred, rising to his feet. Kajex perked up and waited politely for the Jedi to speak.

It started with a chuckle.

"It's been a while, pup."

The figure turned to face him, pulling his hood off and revealing the face of a wolfish being. Kajex jerked up in surprised, recognizing the Jedi from memory. Instinctively he could tell the being was not a Kanj'Isha, swiftly identifying him as a Shistavanen instead; but it was the fact that Kajex recognized who he was looking at that had caused such shock.

He took a step forward, hardly believing his eyes.

"… Master Krurr?"

Culbra nodded and grinned. "I'd hoped you recognized me. It's good to see you again, Kajex."

The younger wolf's face split into a grin, laughing as he closed the distance with his paw out. "I'll be damned! When Master Skywalker told me to meet a Jedi I once knew, I didn't think for a moment it'd be you!" The two shook briefly before embracing, both their tails warping into blurs of energy and joy. The worries of the surrounding jungle seemed so distant now in the face of such a reunion. "Man... I was worried you had gotten yourself killed years ago- I hadn't heard from you since you left the ship."

"Not for lack of the Empire trying," the older wolf smiled, resting his paws on the younger wolf's shoulders. "By the Force, look at you- a Jedi Sentinel. I had always figured you would continue to learn the ways of the Force, and yet..." He stared at Kajex a few moments wistfully, then shook his head and laughed again. "I'm sorry- I'm just amazed at how much you've grown up. Bran and Kane must be proud."

Kajex's smile faltered at the sound of their names. "I... yeah. They... they are."

Culbra's brow furrowed at Kajex's response, concern in his eyes. After a few moments, a look of realization washed over him. "Oh... I..." His smile evaporated, replaced with sorrow. "I'm sorry, Kajex. I hadn't considered that they might... I mean, I only hoped they would still be around," he apologized quietly.

Kajex shook his head, the brief moment of regret passing into warmth. "It's alright, Culbra. They didn't die in vain- and I made it a point to continue doing what they did."

"Still, I would have done anything to keep them alive," Culbra sighed, gesturing to a long metal beam- what remained of another tank, just large enough for several people. The pair sat as he spoke. "It's good of you to honor them by picking up where they finished- though I can't imagine it has been easy being alone."

"I was, for a while," Kajex admitted. "But that's changed in the last couple of years. I have a new family now, friends I've been working with. I found one of my own species, then more- they're practically family, one is both a clone and my brother."

"Is he? I'm glad you weren't the last of your kind."

The wolf smiled. "I even got married a few months back."

Culbra laughed, thumping the younger wolf on the back. "Congratulations, then! I see it hasn't been all bad, then. That's good- your fathers did want you to have some peace, after all."

"What about you, though?" Kajex asked, hoping to learn where Culbra had been. "Bran told me you left to continue your work as a Jedi Guardian, that's why we assumed you might have died- especially after not hearing from you after."

"I did as I said I would," Culbra acknowledged. "I took the fight to the Empire in my own way, helped a few Jedi stay hidden, taught an apprentice the ways of the Force. I made myself something of a thorn in the Empire's side while the Rebel Alliance hit them in the jaw, with Cable helping me out."

Kajex looked back to the grave, ears pinned back sadly. "Oh... is that who...?"

Culbra shook his head. "That was... another clone trooper. One who saved my life recently, and paid with his own." He sighed. "He died well, though- and we reconciled for what happened in the past. For that, at least, I'm thankful."

Kajex nodded solemnly. "Having lost friends and family, it's better when they go easy, naturally." He looked back to Culbra. "But you finished your work, right? That's why you had me come here."

The older wolf seemed to hesitate, then shook his head with a subdued smile.

"Actually, I'm not supposed to be here. To make a long story short I was put in stasis, and I recently got back out- some Sith pretenders were trying to find me and take the Pontite crystal I had in my possession. Some group called 'the Circle.'"

Kajex jerked up that, alarmed. "The Circle found you?"

"You know them, then?" Culbra cocked his head. "What's their game?"

"The Circle of Syn is a collection of former members of the Inquisitorious. We don't know all their plans, but they're trying to use Sith alchemy for their goals," Kajex explained. "My pack and I have been fighting them for a while, wherever we can. If they're after you..."

"They didn't seem to be," Culbra shrugged. "Well... one of them was, at least- some arrogant little Human punk, a greasy little Sith Knight or some nonsense like that. But they didn't want to kill me. They just wanted to take the Pontite crystal. Apparently they needed to keep me alive and stranded on Hoth to be dealt with by someone else."

"Is that why you called us, then?" Kajex asked. "To escort you to safety?"

Culbra laughed, shaking his head. "Not quite. I need to be put in stasis again. I need a carbonite freeze."

If his lower jaw hadn't attached to the rest of him, Kajex was certain it would have hit the dirt. "You-- but you-- are you crazy? Why? Culbra- Master Krurr- right now is when we could really use your help! This Circle has some pretty grand ambitions, and they've been wreaking havoc in some parts of the galaxy."

"I'm sure it's bad, but I'm also sure you can handle it," Culbra told him firmly. "By the sound of it, this is your fight. And while I would like nothing more than to help you with it, I need to look to mine."

The wolf felt ready to argue, but held back, taking in a deep breath. "At least tell me why."

Culbra regarded him carefully for a moment, then nodded. "I had a vision. Years ago, mind you. Something in the Force was telling me that what I was meant to face would be further down the flow of time. My fight isn't done- in some ways, it hasn't even started." He looked to the grave. "But while I was in stasis, the moment became more clear- a shatterpoint, if you will. I know when I need to be released, but I can't let age be a limiting factor. So I need to be frozen in carbonite, put into stasis so that I can meet that fight at a better physical age."

The younger wolf shook his head, getting up. "This is actually insane, Culbra."

"I know how it sounds," Culbra said apologetically. "But I would be asking this from you if I didn't think you'd understand on some level. You're the only one I can trust to do this right now."

"And my pack?" Kajex asked with an arched eyebrow.

"If you trust them with your life, then so will I," he replied simply. "Bran and Kane listened to their hearts and the will of the Force- I've learned to do the same. This is the right decision."

Kajex stared at him for nearly a minute, weighing the options in his head. A part of him wanted to press the issue, to have the Jedi Master on his side; but an even bigger part of him, the whisper of the Force, told him Culbra was making the best choice possible. He sighed, then nodded.

"As much as I want to talk you out of it, I won't. My fathers trusted in your decision to leave, to handle things on your own. Seeing you now, still alive after all these years... there's no reason I can't trust you the same way. We can get you to Bespin to get it done. They've refined their bio-freezing practice over the last few years, they can do it the safest. It won't be cheap, though- I can't cover something like that."

"I'll handle it myself," Culbra assured him with a chuckle. "I've gained a decent account over the years. I have a couple of requests, though."

"Nothing more insane, I hope?" Kajex asked with a wry smile.

"A little unusual, but nothing too crazy," Culbra replied, getting to his feet. "I came here in my own ship, and as I'll be in stasis there won't be anyone to fly it but you and your pack. I'll need you leave me on my ship at another location I've scouted out ahead of time; it's well-hidden, beyond Imperial jurisdiction, and not too deep in the Unknown Regions."

The Sentinel cocked his head. "Sounds great, but you missed that part about being thawed out. Are you planning on an auto-thaw timer?"

"I wouldn't know the exact time, unfortunately- if I set it too far, it might be too late for me to meet this battle. But that leads me to my second request. My plan was for my apprentice to locate and thaw me out when things were ready. As far as he knows, however, I'm still on Hoth."

The lupine Jedi Master slid a paw into his robes and pulled out a transparent cube, engraved and glowing with energy. Kajex's brow raised upon seeing the holocron, curious to its contents.

"This will not open for anyone but my student," Culbra told him, offering the device. "Once it does it will give him the coordinates to my location, and the code I intend to use for the thawing sequence. I need you to track him down and deliver this to him."

"And how am I supposed to find your apprentice?" Kajex asked, taking the cube. "It's a big galaxy out there."

Culbra sighed, folding his arms and looking away with an expression of worry. "I spoke to Master Skywalker about that. I would have thought my student would have met and joined the Praxeum, but while Luke did meet him he declined to stay. You'll have to speak to him for more- I didn't think it would be safe to discuss his possible whereabouts if there was a chance our discussion was being monitored." He looked back up to the Jedi Sentinel. "Though truth be told, I thought he might have met you by now."

"Why would he?" Kajex asked, confused.

Culbra hesitated. "I explained to Luke how I found my apprentice, his history. Luke told me the tale is too similar to one you shared. You told me not too long ago that you found members of your own species."

Kajex perked up at that, his pulse quickening. "I did."

"Were they, by any chance, interred in a Sith facility?"

It was as if someone had clubbed the younger wolf over the head, Kajex swaying slightly before shaking his head clear. "Wait, how did you...?"

Culbra nodded. "My student, Cailian, told me the story of how his adoptive father found him- in a tomb containing stasis pods. He's a lupine-like species, one who lived among the Nelvaanian people. But he is distinctly not a Nelvaanian, nor a Shistavanen- I'm certain now that he's a Kanj'Isha." He gestured to Kajex. "He's one of yours."

It took Kajex taking in a deep breath and exhaling to calm down- though he still sat back on the metal beam, trying to keep his elation in check. "One more... thank the Force we found one more. And a free one, too."

"I take it it's common, then?" Culbra asked.

"More like it's the only place you can find them," Kajex sighed. "We think only the Circle of Syn knows where the rest of my species is located- me and Locke might be the only cases otherwise, and we're clones."

"Damn... a lot must have happened while I was out of it." Culbra shook his head sympathetically, putting a paw on the other wolf's shoulder. "I won't be able to help you directly, I'm sorry. But if you're really looking for help, speak to my student about it," he suggested. "I'm sure Cailian would be willing to lend a paw, especially if he knows it would help his own species."

"I might, then," Kajex nodded. "At the very least, we're going to have a long talk to figure things out." A dozen different thoughts ran through his mind, ranging from joy for the news to concern for Culbra and the Circle knowing about him. After a few moments he shook his head and stood back up.

"Well... it'll take a couple of days to get to Bespin from here. Shall we get started? I can introduce you to the family, get some dinner started- it's been a while since you were a guest on the ship," he added, heading back the direction he came.

Culbra chuckled and nodded. "That would be great, I'm eager to meet them. But there's one last thing to discuss- your payment."

Kajex stopped short, turning to the older wolf. "What?" He frowned. "Uh... not that we've shed materialism completely, but Jedi aren't meant to take personal payments when we're assigned jobs. You'll have to talk to Master Skywalker about contributing financially."

Now Culbra let out a barking laugh, shaking his head. "I've already explained it to him. It would be more fair to say that it's less of a payment and more of an... inheritance."

"I don't understand."

Culbra reached into his robes again, drawing out a slim credit chip and holding it up with a smile.

"Do you remember this?"

Kajex stared at it, a memory flickering in his mind.

"... Yeah. Kane gave that to you before you left."

Culbra nodded. "I never had to use it once, I had my own means of earning a good source of credits. That said... I did take a look at the balance on it. I have to wonder how the hell Kane was able to funnel away so much without being caught- and what he expected me to do with such an enormous sum of money." He held it out to Kajex.

The wolf stared at it, hesitantly taking it. "How much?"

Culbra smiled. "Enough for a small fleet."

"… Define 'small fleet.'"

"Give me a number and I'll offer the factor you're off by."

The younger wolf arched an eyebrow.

"… Five hundred thousand."

Now Culbra's smile was a grin.

"Off by a factor of two hundred."

The Sentinel's eyes widened.

"Are you serious?! How in the hell did he--"

"Like I said," Culbra interjected, "I wondered myself."

Panic started to set in as Kajex stared at the credit chip. Syrra was rich, but while he never had a mind or reason to ask how much, he seriously doubted it was anywhere near what he was holding in his paw. A sudden urge to vomit overtook him- he had never once in his life held so much money in something so small.

"Wait... n-no I... I can't take this, Culbra," he whined wolfishly, his paws trembling.

"It's yours, Kajex," the older wolf insisted. "It may not have come into Kane's possession legally, but the Empire put no claim on the missing funds and so it is legally yours to have. I doubt they are in a position to argue the point."

"I just... no, that's not right," Kajex started to say- stopping when Culbra gripped his shoulders.

"Kajex, hear me out. Your father did not need these credits to give you a good life with love. He offered them to me, likely because he thought I would start a rebellion of my own and lead it against the Empire. I once tried to offer it to members of the Rebellion, and they refused it either because they were wary of the risk of it being traced to them from the Empire's Coruscant account, or because they were wary I might have been one of the Inquisitors. I had no need for it- it was never how I intended to fight my own war against them. And I won't need it in the future."

He placed his paw over Kajex's, closing it over the credit chip.

"This sounds like something you need. You have your own battle to fight, and your own people to protect. I'm hoping that with this, you can put them to use as they were meant to be used- and with whatever's left, have a safe and comfortable life with a family." He pulled away. "These can't bring Bran and Kane back- but I know, more from my heart than from the Force, that you were meant to have this in the end."

For several minutes Kajex said nothing, reflecting on the Jedi Master's words. He could not imagine how he could use these funds the way they were meant for, only that Culbra had offered a good point. After everything that had happened in the last few months, the life that had been taken and the lives that would be coming soon, perhaps what he was holding was what he would eventually need.

He sighed, smiling nervously as he pocketed the chip. "Alright then. I guess Syrra wouldn't mind, after everything that's happened."

Culbra nodded, his smile fading a little. "One last thing, if you don't mind my asking."

"Anything."

"… How is Y'Lara?"

Kajex paused for a moment, recalling the white-furred Togorian with no shortage of fondness- and a pang of alarm ran through him as he recalled the secret she had kept from Culbra. He only answered once he knew what to say.

"I... haven't seen her since maybe a few months after you left," he admitted slowly, a smile growing along his muzzle. "She stayed for a bit, she was kind of like a short-term mom to me. Once she found a place to keep safe at, we parted ways. I haven't seen her since, but I'm certain she's safe."

"I see..." Culbra muttered. "And she hasn't shown up at the Jedi Praxeum?"

Kajex shook his head. "To be honest... she might have given it up- so she could wait for you."

The older wolf nodded. "I feel like if she was gone, I would feel it. I hope so, at least."

"It's how a Force bond works," Kajex agreed, hoping to encourage the older wolf. "I've felt the loss before. If you haven't felt it at any point yet, then she must be alive."

"Then I'll cling to that hope." Now it was Culbra's turn to reflect in silence, though he shook his head and smiled again. "Now then... I think we're ready to go. I'd like to meet this family of yours."

"I'll call ahead and tell them to set an extra seat for dinner," Kajex said.

The Jedi Master nodded, then stopped short, turning back to the grave. He paused, then spoke.

"Thank you again, Fang. May you be at peace- and may the Force be with you."

He turned back to Kajex and nodded, allowing the younger wolf to lead him away from the clearing.

In the centuries to come, on a planet of swirling Force, it remained a place of peace.