Confrontations, Challenges, & Plans (Page 23)

~~~(POV: Adren Saydra)~~~

~~~(Location: Underworld Base, Sector 72, Denon)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 17 Years)~~~

~~~(Date: 568 BBY)~~~

My eyes slowly watch the star charts hologram as it creates a Hyperroute from Denon to Rakata Prime. Traya is hovering in her holographic form above the tip of the Sith Holocron. It's been almost two days since I got the star charts I needed.

Once the route I'm using to reach Rakata Prime is finished, I'm leaving Denon. The Jedi and their allies are still searching for me, but they aren't any closer than two days ago.

Revans Holocron is so close. His knowledge about The Force and all his teachings regarding the Darkside are held within. When the Star Forge fell, Revan's legacy fell with it.

The attention I previously had on the holographic star chart shifts to Traya herself. She was the one who initially taught Revan. She was his teacher as a Jedi and followed him into the Darkside. She knew more about Revan than anyone.

But the Traya in front of me is nothing but a shadow of who she was. A memory and collection of teachings locked away in a Holocron. This version of Traya taught me everything I know about the Darkside.

About The Force.

"The routes will be finished by the end of the day. You're so close now, my apprentice. Revan's teachings will soon be within your grasp. My question is what you'll do once you have them."

The same calm and controlled voice I'm used to hearing from Traya confronts me. Perhaps another test or a way to show how inferior I still am.

"What I plan to do with the knowledge is my business."

Her small holographic form turns away from the star charts and looks at me. A slight upturn on the right side of her lips shows she's slightly amused. Her hood covers her features like it always does.

"How does it feel to meet your family."

There is a feigning concern in her voice. Mocking the fact that I have no one to show me that concern.

I wondered how long it would be before she mentioned the subject. She has a talent for probing your thoughts and fears at opportune times. She's miscalculated. As time has gone on, I've gotten better at dealing with Traya.

More than she has with me.

"It changes nothing."

Knowing now why Taylor and I are connected is nothing more than information. She was a subject of curiosity to me. Now that the mystery is solved, I have no interest in her. The Force Bond we share is problematic, though.

If she were to become skilled enough with manipulating The Force Bond, it could endanger me. As of now, I'm the one in control. But it may not remain this way forever.

I learned a good deal from my encounter with Taylor. The first is she's as strong in The Force as I am. Our growth potential are almost identical. What I'm capable of doing, she is too. If she catches wind of how to manipulate The Force Bond.

I'll have to deal with her.

"My apprentice... You've found out you're not alone in this cruel galaxy. You have a Mother and Sister. Does that not interest you at all?"

Perhaps I don't have as much control regarding Traya as I initially thought. She doesn't care how I feel about this new truth. Only how she can prove there is still much I haven't learned. A way to show she's still superior to me.

All I do is fold my arms and look at her. She remains silent, staring at me with her hidden eyes. Waiting for a response.

"You're looking for something that isn't there."

Love.

Care.

Connection.

A desire to be with people who only know me through blood.

None of that exists within me.

My goals and objectives are the only things that matter to me. Learning everything I can about The Force is what's important. The little boy who cared about people died long ago. The small, weak child that would've loved is gone.

"Yes, I know. What I've turned you into has no room for anything beyond your material desires. But family has a strange hold over people, Adren."

This time, she takes on a tone I've only heard once before. It's solemn and slow. There is a brief image of care, but it's quickly snuffed out as soon as I see it in her hologram form. That's the second time I've ever seen her do that.

"Remember this, Adren. They'll stop at nothing when they find out the truth."

A few seconds after her final warning, she disappears into the Holocron. The red pyramid closes and relaxes on the table. Leaving me alone with what she said.

Traya has a chronic problem with being right.

If Taylor and Krayla find out who I am to them, they'll never stop pursuing me. Believing they can redeem me. I don't know how long it'll be before they know who I am, but it will happen eventually.

However, that's a problem I can't solve right now. I turn my attention to the security cameras in the room and make my way over.

The Force is telling me something is going on.

As I lean against the control console, I see a figure on one of the cameras. He's trying to get in through one of the access doors. It's a familiar face. The apprentice of the deceased Master Hendi.

I stand up straight and look at the other cameras. If he were here with the Jedi, all of them would be trying to get in through somewhere covered by the cameras. Instead, all I see is him. Meaning only one thing.

He's come here alone.

A foolish boy who's blinded by hatred.

But he's not without promise. He's come this far on his own and did what none of his superiors could. He found me. Instead of letting him struggle with the door, I press the button to open it.

He jumps back as the doors slowly slide apart from each other. His lightsaber is instantly in his hand and already turned on. But he sees there is no one to greet him. He looks around and after a minute. He sees the camera.

Our eyes meet through the camera.

It won't be easy to reach me, but if he survives, there is a conversation to be had.

I'm in need of someone as resourceful as him.

~~~(POV: Jedi Knight Taylor Azure)~~~

~~~(Location: Bacta Tank, Spaceport of Sector 70, Denon)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 17 Years)~~~

~~~(Date: 568 BBY)~~~

[Our meeting has finally come, Knight Azure. Ever since our Force Bond appeared, I've wanted to get a measure of you. In person.]

[Why do you let them?]

[Why do you let them control you. You're powerful. More powerful than anyone in the Jedi Order. You're like me, yet you shackle yourself to dogma and narrow-mindedness.]

[Where were you born, Knight Azure.]

[I was born on a transport ship...]

[My Mom went into labor on the way back from a mission...]

[She was having twins...]

[But rouge asteroids hit the ship we were in, and my twin was left behind to die on the ship...]

[Why do you want to know this...]

[Endurance.]

[Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.][Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.]

[Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.] [Endurance.]

The words endlessly echo within my mind... Never stopping and constantly haunting me... The feeling of powerlessness sinks inside me as I float helplessly within the bacta tank... All the company I've had is my thoughts...

The worst punishment you can receive is being alone with your thoughts. Images and moments of the conversation flash inside my head. Taking over my vision with his appearance.

How did he know...

The question has haunted me since my placement inside the bacta tank. It's all I think about. Everyone says he has an uncanny resemblance to me, and that alone is enough evidence to support what I'm feeling.

If he really is my dead twin brother... I don't know what I'm gonna do... My whole life, I've always thought what it would've been like to grow up with him. If he were alive. Now, if what I'm feeling is true, he's been alive this whole time.

It breaks my heart to think about the path that led him to where he's at now... Deep down, I know who he is to me...

He's my brother...

The reason he knew about Endurance is because he's my brother...

It's supposed to be great news when you learn a sibling you thought to be dead is actually alive. But he's not like me or Mom. He's been deeply immersed in the Darkside. Taught the ways of the Sith.

When I get out of this bacta tank, I know there will be many questions. What's weighing the heaviest on my mind is Mom. She has spent most of her life getting over the death of my brother.

Losing him right after he was born caused a deep wound in her. If Mom finds out who he is, what will she do...

Mom has shown me twice as much love and support due to my brother's death... Now that I know he's alive, should Mom know too...

If she did, I know she'll leave the next day searching for him...

I remember the story of how Mom chose our names. When she became pregnant through the efforts of The Force, it rocked her world.

Mom told me when she learned she was having twins, it changed her. Made her happy. Showed her that it was okay to love, even as a Jedi. But when the accident on Endurance happened, a hole in her heart was created.

What am I supposed to do about this...

My brother is alive, and he's out there...

He...

Needs us...

~~~(POV: Jedi Padawan Ezark Olidare)~~~

~~~(Location: Underworld Base, Sector 72, Denon)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 17 Years)~~~

~~~(Date: 568 BBY)~~~

The long and dark corridors have proven to be treacherous. Traps and puzzles to continue through have been nothing but problems. I've been at this for almost seven hours now, and I know I'm being watched by him.

That access door would've taken me at least two hours to get through, but instead, it just opened. He was watching me through the cameras. Meaning he knows I'm coming, but seeing as how I have to get through all these trials.

He never intended it to be easy.

The Darksider decided on his own to let me in, and he's gonna regret it. I've been training for months. Over and over, based on my memory of the battle we had on Zeltros. Learning and finding out ways to combat him.

Knight Darsana and Master Izok have shown me more than enough to handle someone as skilled in saber combat as the Darksider.

Master Hendi never would've lost to him if I wasn't there. I got in the way, but I've surpassed my former Master. I can spar and duel with the best fighters in the Order now.

I hold my lightsaber forward as I approach a door at the end of the long corridor I've been walking for the last five minutes.

As I reach the door, I stretch out my hand and start to force it open with The Force. The door cracks and creaks as it eventually gives way. It flies open as the hydraulics give way. Once the door is open, the room beyond lights up from hanging lights.

The second the other end of the room is bathed in light, a man sitting in a chair waits there. But this time, he's not wearing his hood. I step through the door and keep my saber ignited at my side.

As I make it to the base of the long staircase leading up to him. I point my blade toward him.

"I told you I'd find you and kill you."

The face mirroring Taylor's simply smiles, and he squints his eyes ever so slightly. The crimson glow of his irises stares at me.

His lack of reaction fuels the fire in me, but instead of losing control. I take a breath and channel my emotions into The Force. As I do this, I take a defensive stance. He slowly stands up and holds out his right hand.

The hilt resting on the handle flies from its spot and into his hand.

"You'll fall as your Master did."

If I were the same person I was over a year ago, I'd be driven mad by that comment. Instead, I let his words empower me.

He throws out his left hand, and a powerful Force Push is sent my way. As I jump up and dodge, he immediately sends another one. This time, hitting me. But I regain control and level myself in the air.

As I regain my footing, he leaps from the top of the stairs and clears the distance between us in the large room. I bring my saber up to block, and as our blades clash I can feel my body bend and creak.

I have to use all my power to remain on two feet. As our eyes meet in the blade lock, all I see are the same features as Taylor's.

He breaks the blade lock and kicks me away.

My training kicks in, and I easily adjust in the air and land on my feet. The real fight starts now.

~~~(POV: Adren Saydra)~~~

~~~(Location: Underworld Base, Sector 72, Denon)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 17 Years)~~~

~~~(Date: 568 BBY)~~~

The former Padawan of Hendi calmly lands across from me after the kick. He's been training a great deal and is more in control of his emotions. I concluded he'd never recover from his defeat and the loss of his Master.

Instead, he's come back to me stronger. Looking for revenge and using his emotions to make himself strong. I can feel them.

The anger and hate.

The pain.

He doesn't realize how close he is to falling. To losing his place in the Lightside. It's easy for those without discipline in the Jedi Order to fall to the Darkside.

I've lived in this power since I was a little boy; he doesn't know what he's getting himself into.

"You're not defeating me, Darksider. I've been training for this every day since I recovered."

He darts in my direction and prepares for a volley of attacks. Instead of instantly crushing him with our difference in power. I entertain this idea he's as strong as me.

Strong enough to stop me.

He unleashes heavy attacks and precise movements. My pretending to struggle is sold in his eyes. He's beginning to brim with confidence.

I let him push me back with many attacks and pretend to be on the ropes. He locks blades with me. A look of pride and excitement on his face. Believing he's so close to his goal.

However, that changes as he sees the smile on my lips forming and the look of struggle disappearing.

VVVVVRRRRRRAAAAAAACCCCC!!!!

"AAAAAARRRRRGGGG!!!"

He flies across the room as red Force Lightning surges through his body. He shakes and struggles to get up, and I slowly walk toward him. My purple blade hanging from my side.

"You have learned nothing."

He raises his head with a struggle and stares at me in my approach. Gritting his teeth as he does.

"But I'll provide your first lesson about battle."

I stand across from him by a little more than 10 feet, waiting for him to stand up.

"The fight never ends."

He stands up angrily and prepares his lightsaber.

Time to see if he's as worthy as he believes himself to be.