darth bane - path of destruction (drew karpyshyn)

7/21/2019 Darth Bane - Path of Destruction (Drew Karpyshyn)

1/202

Star Wars

Darth Bane

book 1

Path of Destruction

by Drew Karpyshyn

###############################################################################

PROLOGU

!n the "ast ays of the O" Repub"ic$ the Sith%fo""owers of the &orce's ark sie an ancient ene(iesof the )ei orer%nu(bere on"y two* one +aster an one apprentice, -et it was not a"ways so, .thousan years before the Repub"ic's co""apse an (peror Pa"patine's rise to power$ the Sith were"e/ion , , ,

Lor Kaan$ Sith +aster an founer of the Brotherhoo of Darkness$ stroe throu/h the /ore of thebatt"efie"$ a ta"" shaow in the ni/ht's /"oo(, 0housans of Repub"ic troops an near"y a hunre)ei ha /ien their "ies tryin/ to efen this wor" a/ainst his ar(y%an they ha "ost, 2e re"ishe


2/202

their sufferin/ an espair3 een now he cou" sense it risin/ up "ike the stench fro( the brokencorpses scattere about the a""ey,

!n the istance a stor( was brewin/, .s each f"ash of "i/htnin/ i""u(inate the sky$ Korriban's /reatSith te(p"e was (o(entari"y isib"e in the istance$ a stark si"houette towerin/ oer the barrenhori4on,

. pair of fi/ures waite in the center of the s"au/hter$ one hu(an an the other 0wi'"ek, 2ereco/ni4e the( espite the arkness* 5oris an Kopec4$ two of the (ore powerfu" Sith Lors,Once they ha been bitter ria"s$ but now they sere to/ether in Kaan's Brotherhoo, 2eapproache the( 6uick"y$ s(i"in/,

5oris$ ta"" an so "ean as to appear a"(ost ske"eta"$ s(i"e back, 70his is a /reat ictory$ LorKaan, !t has been far too "on/ since the Sith hae ha an acae(y on Korriban,7

7! sense you are ea/er to be/in trainin/ the new apprentices here$7 Kaan rep"ie, 7! e8pect you wi""proie (e with (any (ore powerfu"%an "oya"%Sith aepts an +asters in the co(in/ years,7

7Proie you97 Kopec4 aske pointe"y, 7Don't you (ean proie us9 .re we not a"" part of theBrotherhoo of Darkness97

2is 6uestion was (et with an easy "au/h, 7Of course$ Kopec4, . (ere s"ip of the ton/ue9'

7Kopec4 refuses to ce"ebrate in our triu(ph$7 5oris note, 72e has been "ike this a"" ni/ht,7

Kaan c"aspe a han on the hefty 0wi'"ek's shou"er, 70his is a /reat ictory for us$7 he sai,7Korriban is (ore than :ust another wor"* it is a sy(bo", 0he birthp"ace of the Sith, 0his ictorysens a (essa/e to the Repub"ic an the )ei, ;ow they wi"" tru"y know an fear the Brotherhoo,7

Kopec4 shru//e free of Kaan's han an turne away with a f"ick of the tips of the "on/ "ekkuwoun aroun his neck, 7


3/202

pounin/ re"ent"ess"y away at a ein$ chippin/ the cortosis free bit by bit,


4/202

0heir harass(ents ha ene short"y after Des's father ie of a (assie heart attack, !t wasn'tbecause the (iners fe"t sorry for the orphane youn/ (an$ thou/h, By the ti(e 2urst ie$ the ta""$skinny teena/er they "oe to bu""y ha beco(e a (ountain of (usc"e with heay hans an afierce te(per, +inin/ was a tou/h :ob3 it was the c"osest thin/ to har "abor outsie a Repub"ic

prison co"ony, Whoeer worke the (ines on .patros /ot bi/%an Des :ust happene to beco(e the

bi//est of the( a"", 2a"f a o4en b"ack eyes$ count"ess b"ooy noses$ an one broken :aw in thespace of a (onth was a"" it took for 2urst's o" friens to ecie they' be happier if they "eft Desa"one,

-et it was a"(ost as if they b"a(e hi( for 2urst's eath$ an eery few (onths one of the( triea/ain, Ger ha a"ways been s(art enou/h to keep his istance%unti" now,

7! on't see any of your friens here with you$ o" (an$7 Des sai, 7So back off (y c"ai($ annoboy /ets hurt,7

Ger spat on the /roun at Des's feet, 7-ou on't een know what ay it is$ o you$ boy9 Kriffin/

is/race is what you are=7

0hey were stanin/ c"ose enou/h to each other that Des cou" s(e"" the sour


5/202

7! on't hae ti(e for this$7 he (uttere, 7!'e /ot work to o,7

With one han he /rabbe the hyrau"ic :ack fro( Ger's /rasp, 2e put the other han on Ger'sshou"er an shoe hi( away, Stu(b"in/ back$ the inebriate (an cau/ht his hee" on a rock anfe"" rou/h"y to the /roun,

2e stoo up with a snar"$ his hans ba""in/ into fists, 7Guess your ay's been /one too "on/$ boy,-ou nee so(eone to beat the sense back into you=7

Ger was runk$ but he was no foo"$ Des rea"i4e, Des was bi//er$ stron/er$ youn/er ,,, but he'spent the "ast si8 hours workin/ a hyrau"ic :ack, 2e was coere in /ri(e an the sweat wasrippin/ off his face, 2is shirt was renche, Ger's unifor($ on the other han$ was sti"" re"atie"yc"ean* no ust$ no sweat stains, 2e (ust hae been p"annin/ this a"" ay$ takin/ it easy an sittin/

back whi"e Des wore hi(se"f out,

But Des wasn't about to back own fro( a fi/ht, 0hrowin/ Ger's :ack to the /roun$ he roppeinto a crouch$ feet wie an ar(s he" out in front of hi(,

Ger char/e forwar$ swin/in/ his ri/ht fist in a icious uppercut, Des reache out an cau/ht thepunch with the open pa"( of his "eft han$ absorbin/ the force of the b"ow, 2is ri/ht han snappeforwar an /rabbe the unersie of Ger's ri/ht wrist3 as he pu""e the o"er (an forwar$ Desucke own an turne$ riin/ his shou"er into Ger's chest, Usin/ his opponent's own(o(entu( a/ainst hi($ Des strai/htene up an yanke har on Ger's wrist$ f"ippin/ hi( up anoer so that he crashe to the /roun on his back,

0he fi/ht shou" hae ene ri/ht then3 Des ha a sp"it secon where he cou" hae roppe hisknee onto his opponent$ riin/ the breath fro( his "un/s an pinnin/ hi( to the /roun whi"e he

poune Ger with his fists, But it in't happen, 2is back$ e8hauste fro( hours of heftin/ thethirty%ki"o :ack$ spas(e,

0he pain was a/oni4in/3 instinctie"y Des strai/htene up$ c"utchin/ at the knotte "u(bar (usc"es,!t /ae Ger a chance to ro"" out of the way an /et back to his feet,

So(ehow Des (ana/e to rop into his fi/htin/ crouch a/ain, 2is back how"e in protest$ an he/ri(ace as re%hot a//ers of pain shot throu/h his boy, Ger saw the /ri(ace an "au/he,

7


6/202

oer onto his back$ but his weary boy betraye hi(, 2is "i(bs were heay an soft3 he cou"n't /etthe "eera/e he neee, !nstea it was Ger who was ab"e to twist an turn$ wrenchin/ one of hishans free whi"e sti"" keepin/ his face presse ti/ht a/ainst Des's chest so it wou"n't be e8pose,

Des wasn't so "ucky ,,, his face was open an u"nerab"e, Ger struck a b"ow with his free han$ buthe in't hit with a c"ose fist, !nstea "ie roe his thu(b har into Des's cheek$ on"y a few

centi(eters fro( his rea" tar/et, 2e struck a/ain with the thu(b$ "ookin/ to /ou/e out one of hisopponent's eyes an "eae hi( b"in an writhin/ in pain,

!t took Des a secon to rea"i4e what was happenin/3 his tire (in ha beco(e as s"ow an c"u(syas his boy, 2e turne his face away :ust as the secon b"ow "ane$ the thu(b :a((in/ painfu""yinto the carti"a/e of his upper ear,

Dark ra/e e8p"oe insie Des* a burst of fiery passion that burne away the e8haustion anfati/ue, Suen"y his (in was c"ear$ an his boy fe"t stron/ an re:uenate, 2e knew what hewas /oin/ to o ne8t, +ore i(portant"y$ he knew with abso"ute certainty what Ger wou" o ne8t$too,

2e cou"n't e8p"ain how he knew3 so(eti(es he cou" :ust anticipate an opponent's ne8t (oe,!nstinct$ so(e (i/ht hae sai, Des fe"t it was so(ethin/ (ore, !t was too etai"e%too specific%to

be si(p"e instinct, !t was (ore "ike a ision$ a brief /"i(pse into the future, .n wheneer ithappene$ Des a"ways knew what to o$ as if so(ethin/ was /uiin/ an irectin/ his actions,

When the ne8t b"ow ca(e$ Des was (ore than reay for it, 2e cou" picture it perfect"y in his (in,2e knew e8act"y when it was co(in/ an precise"y where it wou" strike, 0his ti(e he turne hishea in the opposite irection$ e8posin/ his face to the inco(in/ b"ow%an openin/ his (outh, 2e

bit own har$ his ti(in/ perfect$ an his teeth sank eep into the irty f"esh of Ger's probin/thu(b,

Ger screa(e as Des c"a(pe his :aw shut$ seerin/ the tenons an strikin/ bone, 2e wonereif he cou" bite c"ean throu/h an then%as if the ery thou/ht (ae it happen%he seere Ger'sthu(b,

0he screa(s beca(e shrieks as Ger re"ease his /rasp an ro""e away$ c"aspin/ his (ai(e hanwith his who"e one,


7/202

what ha happene so so(eone cou" co(e ten to Ger's in:ury,

2e wasn't worrie about the conse6uences, 0he (eics cou" reattach Ger's thu(b$ so at worstDes wou" be fine a ay or two's wa/es, 0he corporation in't rea""y care what its e(p"oyees i$as "on/ as they kept co(in/ back to (ine the cortosis, &i/hts were co((on a(on/ the (iners$ anORO a"(ost a"ways turne a b"in eye$ thou/h this particu"ar fi/ht ha been (ore icious than

(ost%saa/e an short$ with a bruta" en,

)ust "ike "ife on .patros,

Sittin/ in the back of the "an cruiser use to transport (iners between .patros's on"y co"ony anthe (ines$ Des fe"t e8hauste, ."" he wante was to /et back to his bunk in the barracks an s"eep,0he arena"ine ha raine out of hi($ "eain/ hi( hyperaware of the stiffness an soreness of his

boy, 2e s"u(pe own in his seat an /a4e aroun the interior of the cruiser,

;or(a""y$ there wou" hae been twenty other (iners cra((e into the speeer with hi($ but thisone was e(pty e8cept for hi( an the pi"ot, .fter the fi/ht with Ger$ the fore(an ha suspeneDes without pay$ effectie i((eiate"y$ an ha orere the transport to take hi( back to theco"ony,

70his kin of thin/ is /ettin/ o"$ Des$7 the fore(an ha sai with a frown, 7We'e /ot to (ake ane8a(p"e of you this ti(e, -ou can't work the (ines unti" Ger is hea"e up an back on the :ob,7

What he rea""y (eant was$ -ou can't earn any creits unti" Ger co(es back, 2e' sti"" be char/eroo( an boar$ of course, ery ay that he sat aroun oin/ nothin/ wou" /o onto his tab$ain/ to the ebt he was workin/ so esperate"y to pay off,

Des fi/ure it wou" be four or fie ays unti" Ger was ab"e to han"e a hyrau"ic :ack a/ain, 0heon%site (eic ha reattache the seere thu(b usin/ a ibrosca"pe" an synthf"esh, . few ays ofko"to in:ections an so(e cheap (es to u"" the pain$ an Ger wou" be back at it, Bacta therapycou" hae hi( back in a ay3 but bacta was e8pensie$ an ORO wou"n't sprin/ for it un"ess Gerha (iner's insurance ,,, which Des hi/h"y oubte,

+ost (iners neer bothere with the co(pany%sponsore insurance pro/ra(, !t was e8pensie$ forone thin/, What with roo($ boar$ an the fees coerin/ the cost of transport to an fro( the (ines$(ost thou/ht they /ae ORO (ore than enou/h of their har%earne pay without ain/ insurance

pre(iu(s onto the stack,

!t wasn't :ust the cost$ thou/h, !t was a"(ost as if the (en an wo(en who worke the cortosis(ines were in enia"$ refusin/ to a(it the potentia" an/ers an ha4ars they encountere eeryay, Gettin/ insurance wou" force the( to take a "ook at the co"$ har facts,

&ew (iners eer reache their /o"en years, 0he tunne"s c"ai(e (any$ buryin/ boies in cae%insor incineratin/ the( when so(eboy tappe into a pocket of e8p"osie /ases trappe in the rock,en those who (ae it out of the (ines tene not to surie "on/ into their retire(ent, 0he (inestook their to"", Si8ty%year%o" (en were "eft with boies that "ooke an fe"t "ike they were ninety$

broken she""s worn own by ecaes of har physica" "abor an e8posure to airborne conta(inants

that s"ippe throu/h the substanar ORO fi"ters,

When Des's father ie%with no insurance$ of course%a"" Des /ot out of it was the prii"e/e of takin/


8/202

on his father's accu(u"ate ebt, 2urst ha spent (ore ti(e rinkin/ an /a(b"in/ than (inin/, 0opay for his (onth"y roo( an boar he' often ha to borrow creits fro( ORO at an interest ratethat wou" be cri(ina" anywhere but in the Outer Ri(, 0he ebt kept pi"in/ up$ (onth to (onth anyear to year$ but 2urst in't see( to care, 2e was a sin/"e parent with a son he resente$ trappe ina bruta" :ob he espise3 he ha /ien up any hope of escapin/ .patros "on/ before the heart attackc"ai(e hi(,

0he 2utt spawn probab"y wou" hae been /"a to know his son ha /otten stuck with his bi"",

0he transport spe aboe the barren rocks of the s(a"" p"anet's f"at"ans with no soun but theen"ess rone of the en/ines, 0he feature"ess wastes f"ew by in a b"ur$ unti" the iew out the winowwas nothin/ but a curtain of shape"ess /ray, 0he effect was hypnotic* Des cou" fee" his tire (inan boy ea/er to rift into eep an rea("ess s"eep,

0his was how they /ot you, Work you to e8haustion$ u"" your senses$ nu(b your wi"" intosub(ission , , , unti" you accepte your "ot an waste your entire "ife in the /rit an /ri(e of thecortosis (ines, ."" in the re"ent"ess serice of the Outer Ri( Oreworks


9/202

crew%officers an en"iste so"iers a"ike%wou" hae nothin/ to o but wait, &ro( past e8perience$Des knew that wheneer Repub"ic so"iers ha a few hours to ki"" they "ike to p"ay cars, .nwhereer peop"e p"aye cars$ there was (oney to be (ae,

Lowerin/ hi(se"f back onto his seat at the rear of the speeer$ Des ecie that (aybe he wasn't6uite reay to hit his bunk after a"",

By the ti(e the transport stoppe on the e/es of the co"ony$ Des's boy was tin/"in/ withanticipation, 2e hoppe out an sauntere towar his barracks at a "eisure"y pace$ fi/htin/ his ownea/erness an the ur/e to run, en now$ he i(a/ine$ the Repub"ic so"iers an their creits wou"

be sittin/ at the /a(in/ tab"es in the co"ony's on"y cantina,

Sti""$ there was no point in rushin/ oer there, !t was "ate afternoon$ the sun :ust be/innin/ itsescent beyon the hori4on to the north, By now (ost of the (iners fro( the ni/ht shift wou" beawake, +any of the( wou" a"reay be at the cantina$ whi"in/ away the ti(e unti" they ha to (akethe :ourney out to the (ines to start their shift, &or the ne8t two hours Des knew he' be "ucky tofin a p"ace to sit own in the cantina$ neer (in finin/ an e(pty seat at a pa4aak or sabacc tab"e,

+eanwhi"e$ it wou" be another few hours before the (en workin/ the ay shift c"i(be onto thewaitin/ transports to hea back to their ho(es3 he' /et to the cantina "on/ before any of the(,

Back at his barracks$ he strippe off his /ri(e%staine coera""s an c"i(be into the eserteco((una" showers$ scourin/ the sweat an fine rock ust fro( his boy, 0hen he chan/e intoso(e c"ean c"othes an sauntere out into the street$ (akin/ his way s"ow"y towar the cantina onthe far sie of town,

0he cantina in't hae a na(e3 it in't nee one, ;oboy eer ha any troub"e finin/ it, .patroswas a s(a"" wor"$ bare"y (ore than a (oon with an at(osphere an so(e ini/enous p"ant "ife,0here were precious few p"aces to /o* the (ines$ the co"ony$ or the barren wastes in between, 0he(ines were a (assie co(p"e8 enco(passin/ the caes an tunne"s u/ by ORO$ as we"" as therefinin/ an processin/ branches of ORO's operations,

0he spaceports were "ocate there$ too, &rei/hters "eft ai"y with ship(ents of cortosis boun forso(e wea"thier wor" c"oser to


10/202

0he entire co"ony was "ess than a ki"o(eter on each s6uare sie$ (akin/ it possib"e to wa"k fro(any /ien bui"in/ to any of the other ientica" structures in "ess than twenty stanar (inutes,Despite the unre"entin/ si(i"arity of the architecture$ nai/atin/ the co"ony was easy, 0he barracksha been p"ace in strai/ht rows an co"u(ns$ for(in/ a /ri of uti"itarian streets between theunifor("y space o(ici"es, 0he streets cou"n't e8act"y be ca""e c"ean$ thou/h they were har"y

festerin/ with /arba/e, ORO c"eare trash an refuse :ust often enou/h to keep conitions sanitary$since an outbreak of iseases bre by fi"th wou" aerse"y affect the (ine's prouction, 2oweer$the co(pany in't see( to (in the c"uttere :unk that ineitab"y accu(u"ate throu/hout thetown, Broken%own /enerators$ ruste%out (achinery$ corroe scraps of (eta"$ an iscare$worn%out too"s crowe the narrow streets between the barracks,

0here were on"y two structures in the co"ony that were in any way istin/uishe fro( the rest, Onewas the ORO (arket$ the on"y store on%wor", !t ha once been a barracks$ but the bunks ha beenrep"ace with she"es$ an the co((una" shower area was now a secure stora/e roo(, . s(a""

b"ack%an%white si/n ha been fastene to the wa"" outsie$ "istin/ the hours of operation, 0herewere no isp"ays to "ure shoppers in$ an no aertisin/, 0he (arket stocke on"y the (ost basic

ite(s$ a"" at scane"ous (arkups,


11/202

surprise to notice a Roian$ too, .pparent"y the ni/ht crew were (ore to"erant of other speciesthan the ay shift, 0here were no waitresses$ serers$ or ancers3 the on"y e(p"oyee in the cantinawas Groshik hi(se"f, .nyone who wante a rink ha to co(e up to the "ar/e bar bui"t into the

back wa"" an orer it,

Des pushe his way throu/h the crow, Groshik saw hi( co(in/ an (o(entari"y ippe out of

si/ht behin the bar$ reappearin/ with a (u/ of Gi4er a"e :ust as Des reache the counter,

7-ou're here ear"y toay$7 Groshik sai as he set the rink own with a heay thu, 2is "ow$/rae""y oice was ifficu"t to hear aboe the in of the crow, 2is wors a"ways ha a /uttura"6ua"ity$ as if he were speakin/ fro( the ery back of his throat,

0he ;ei(oiian "ike hi($ thou/h Des wasn't sure why, +aybe it was because he' watche Des/row up fro( a youn/ ki to a (an3 (aybe he :ust fe"t sorry Des ha been stuck with such arankwee for a father, Whateer the reason$ there was a stanin/ arran/e(ent between the two* Desneer ha to pay for a rink if it was poure without bein/ aske for, Des /ratefu""y accepte the/ift an owne it in one "on/ raft$ then s"a((e the e(pty (u/ back own onto the tab"e,

7Ran into a bit of troub"e with Ger$7 he rep"ie$ wipin/ his (outh, 7! bit his thu(b off$ so they "et(e /o ho(e ear"y,7

Groshik ti"te his hea to one sie an fi8e his enor(ous re eyes on Des, 0he sour e8pression onhis a(phibian%"ike face in't chan/e$ but his boy shook eer so s"i/ht"y, Des knew hi( we""enou/h to rea"i4e the ;ei(oiian was "au/hin/,

7See(s "ike a fair trae$7 Groshik croake$ refi""in/ the (u/,

Des in't /u44"e the secon rink as he ha the first, Groshik rare"y /ae hi( (ore than one on thehouse$ an he in't want to abuse the bartener's /enerosity,

2e turne his attention to the crow, 0he Repub"ic isitors were easy to spot, &our hu(ans%two(en$ two wo(en%an a (a"e !thorian in crisp nay unifor(s, !t wasn't :ust their c"othes that (aethe( stan out$ thou/h, 0hey a"" stoo strai/ht an ta""$ whereas (ost of the (iners tene to hunchforwar$ as if carryin/ a /reat wei/ht on their backs,

On one sie of the (ain roo($ a s(a""er section was rope off fro( the rest of the cantina, !t wasthe on"y part of the p"ace Groshik ha nothin/ to o with, 0he ORO


12/202

0he war a/ainst the Sith%officia""y nothin/ (ore than a series of protracte (i"itary en/a/e(ents$een thou/h the who"e /a"a8y knew it was a war%re6uire a steay strea( of youn/ an ea/ercaets for the front "ines, .n for so(e reason the Repub"ic a"ways e8pecte the citi4ens on theOuter Ri( wor"s to :u(p at the chance to :oin the(, Wheneer a Repub"ic (i"itary crew passethrou/h .patros$ the officers trie to roun up new recruits, 0hey' buy a roun of rinks$ then useit as an e8cuse to start up a conersation$ usua""y about the /"orious an heroic "ife of bein/ a

so"ier, So(eti(es they' p"ay up the bruta"ity of the Sith, Other ti(es they' spin pro(ises of abetter "ife in the Repub"ic (i"itary%a"" the whi"e pretenin/ to be frien"y an sy(pathetic to the"oca"s$ hopin/ a few wou" :oin their cause,

Des suspecte they receie so(e kin of bonus for any new recruit they conne into si/nin/ up,Unfortunate"y for the($ they weren't /oin/ to fin too (any takers on .patros, 0he Repub"ic wasn'ttoo popu"ar on the Ri(3 peop"e here$ inc"uin/ Des$ knew the


13/202

0he /a(e on .patros fo""owe a (oifie ersion of the Bespin Stanar ru"es, 0he basics of the/a(e were si(p"e* (ake a han as c"ose to twenty%three as possib"e without /oin/ oer, achroun$ a p"ayer ha to either bet to stay in the han$ or fo", .ny p"ayer who chose to stay in cou"raw a new car$ iscar a car$ or p"ace a car into the interference fie" to "ock in its a"ue, .t theen of any roun a p"ayer cou" co(e up$ reea"in/ his or her han an forcin/ a"" other p"ayers to

show their cars$ as we"", Best han at the tab"e won the han pot, .ny score oer twenty%three$ orbe"ow ne/atie twenty%three$ was a bo(b%out that re6uire the p"ayer to pay a pena"ty, .n if ap"ayer ha a han that tota"e e8act"y twenty%three%a pure sabacc%he or she won the sabacc pot as abonus, But what with rano( shifts that cou" une8pecte"y chan/e the a"ue of cars fro( rounto roun$ an other p"ayers co(in/ up ear"y$ a pure sabacc was a "ot harer to achiee than itsoune,

Sabacc was (ore than a /a(e of "uck, !t was about strate/y an sty"e$ knowin/ when to b"uff anwhen to back own$ knowin/ how to aapt to the eer%chan/in/ cars, So(e p"ayers were toocautious$ neer bettin/ (ore than the (ini(u( raise een when they ha a /oo han, Others weretoo a//ressie$ tryin/ to bu""y the rest of the tab"e with outra/eous bets een when they ha

nothin/, . p"ayer's natura" tenencies showe throu/h if you knew what to "ook for,

0he ensi/n$ for e8a(p"e$ was c"ear"y new to the /a(e, 2e kept stayin/ in with weak hans insteaof fo"in/ his cars, 2e was a chaser$ not satisfie with cars /oo enou/h to co""ect the han pot,2e was a"ways "ookin/ for the perfect han$ hopin/ to win bi/ an co""ect the sabacc pot that kepton /rowin/ unti" it was won, .s a resu"t$ he kept /ettin/ cau/ht with bo(b%out hans an hain/ to

pay a pena"ty, !t in't see( to s"ow his bettin/$ thou/h, 2e was one of those p"ayers with (orecreits than sense$ which suite Des :ust fine,

0o be an e8pert sabacc p"ayer$ you ha to know how to contro" the tab"e, !t in't take Des (anyhans to rea"i4e the Repub"ic co((aner was oin/ :ust that, 2e knew how to bet bi/ an (akeother p"ayers fo" winnin/ hans, 2e knew when to bet s(a"" to "ure others into p"ayin/ hans theyshou" hae fo"e, 2e in't worry (uch about his own cars3 he knew that the secret to sabaccwas fi/urin/ out what eeryone e"se was ho"in/ ,,, an then "ettin/ the( think they knew whatcars he was ho"in/, !t was on"y when a"" the hans were reea"e an he was rakin/ in the chipsthat his opponents wou" rea"i4e how wron/ they' been,

2e was /oo$ Des ha to a(it, Better than (ost of the Repub"ic p"ayers who passe throu/h,Despite his p"easant appearance$ he was ruth"ess in scoopin/ up pot after pot, But Des ha a /oofee"in/3 so(eti(es he :ust knew he cou"n't "ose, 2e was /oin/ to win toni/ht , , , an win bi/,

0here was a /roan fro( one of the (iners at the tab"e, 7.nother roun an that sabacc pot was(ine=7 he sai$ shakin/ his hea, 7-ou're "ucky you ca(e up when you i$7 he ae$ speakin/ tothe co((aner,

Des knew it wasn't "uck, 0he (iner ha been so e8cite$ he was twitchin/ in his seat, .nyone withha"f a brain cou" see he was workin/ towar a powerfu" han, 0he co((aner ha seen it an(ae his (oe$ cuttin/ the han short an choppin/ the other /a(b"er's hopes off at the knees,

70hat's it$7 the (iner sai$ pushin/ away fro( the tab"e, 7!'( tappe out,7

7Looks "ike now's your chance$7 Groshik whispere uner his breath as he swept past to pour

another rink, 7Goo "uck,7

! on't nee "uck toni/ht$ Des thou/ht, 2e crosse the f"oor of the cantina an steppe oer the


14/202

nanosi"k rope into the ORO%contro""e /a(in/ roo(,


15/202

(ines,7

7Workin/ the (ines9 ! on't /et it,7

70he fi"ters on't re(oe a"" the i(purities fro( the air, -ou work ten%hour shifts ay in an ayout$ an the conta(inants bui" up in your syste($7 2e spoke in a f"at$ neutra" oice, 0here was no

bitterness3 for hi( an the rest of the (iners it was :ust a fact of "ife, 7!t has sie effects, We /et sicka "ot3 our hair fa""s out, We're suppose to take a few ays off now an a/ain$ but eer since OROsi/ne those Repub"ic (i"itary contracts the (ines neer shut own, Basica""y$ we're bein/ s"ow"y

poisone to (ake sure your car/o ho"'s fu"" when you "eae,7

0hat was enou/h to ki"" any other atte(pts at conersation$ an they continue the hans in re"atiesi"ence, .fter ha"f an hour Des was about een for the ni/ht$ but he was :ust /ettin/ war(e up, 2e

pushe in his ante an the ORO cut$ as i the other seen p"ayers at the tab"e, 0he ea"er f"ippetwo cars out to each of the($ an another han be/an, 0he first two p"ayers peeke at their carsan fo"e, 0he Repub"ic ensi/n /"ance at his cars an threw in enou/h chips to stay in the han,Des wasn't surprise%he har"y eer fo"e his cars$ een when he ha nothin/,

0he ensi/n 6uick"y pushe one of his cars into the interference fie", ach turn$ a p"ayer cou"(oe one of the e"ectronic chip%cars into the interference fie"$ "ockin/ in its a"ue to protect itfro( chan/in/ if there was a shift at the en of the roun,

Des shook his hea, Lockin/ in cars was a foo"'s p"ay, -ou cou"n't iscar a "ocke%in car3 Desusua""y preferre to keep a"" his options open, 0he ensi/n$ howeer$ was thinkin/ in the short ter($not p"annin/ ahea, 0hat probab"y e8p"aine why he was own seera" hunre creits on the ni/ht,

G"ancin/ at his own han$ Des chose to stay in, ."" the rest of the p"ayers roppe$ "eain/ :ust thetwo of the(,

0he


16/202

rep"ace by a seen, 2e was sittin/ at twenty%one, ;ot a sabacc$ but a so"i han, Before the ne8troun cou" be/in$ Des f"ippe his cars oer$ e8posin/ his han to the tab"e, 7


17/202

wasn't the first ti(e he' been ca""e a cheat, 2e was aware that his preco/nition /ae hi( anaanta/e oer the other p"ayers, +aybe it was an unfair aanta/e$ but he in't consier itcheatin/, !t wasn't as if he knew what was /oin/ to happen on eery han3 he cou"n't contro" it, 2ewas :ust s(art enou/h to (ake the (ost of it when it happene,

0he


18/202

such a powerfu" weapon$ why was this war takin/ so "on/9

70he iea of answerin/ to a )ei +aster oesn't rea""y appea" to (et' he sai, 7!'e hear so(estran/e thin/s about what they be"iee in* no passion$ no e(otion, Souns "ike they want to turn usa"" into rois,7

.nother roun of cars was ea"t out to the re(ainin/ p"ayers,

70he )ei are /uie by wiso($7 the co((aner e8p"aine, 70hey on't "et thin/s "ike esire oran/er c"ou their :u/(ent,7

7.n/er has its uses$7 Des pointe out, 7!t's /otten (e out of so(e nasty spots,7

7! think the trick is not to /et into those spots in the first p"ace$7 the "ieutenant countere in her/ent"e oice,

0he han ene a few turns "ater, 0he youn/ wo(an who ha bou/ht the ensi/n his rink ca(e up

on twenty%not a /reat han$ but not a ba one$ either, She "ooke oer at the co((aner as hef"ippe up his cars$ an s(i"e when he ha on"y nineteen, 2er s(i"e fae when the runkenensi/n showe his twenty%one, When he scoope up the pot$ she cut his "au/h short with a frien"ye"bow to his ribs,

eryone ante an the ea"er f"icke out another pair of cars to each p"ayer,

70he )ei are the efeners of the Repub"ic$7 the "ieutenant went on earnest"y, 70heir ways cansee( stran/e to orinary citi4ens$ but they're on our sie, ."" they want is peace,7

7Rea""y97 Des sai$ /"ancin/ at his cars an pushin/ in his chips, 7! thou/ht they wante to wipeout the Sith,7

70he Sith are an i""e/a" or/ani4ation$7 the "ieutenant e8p"aine, She fo"e her cars after a (o(entof carefu" e"iberation, 70he Senate passe a bi"" out"awin/ the( near"y three thousan years a/o$short"y after Rean an +a"ak brou/ht estruction to the entire /a"a8y,7

7! a"ways hear Rean sae the Repub"ic$7 he sai,

0he co((aner :u(pe back into the conersation, 7Rean's story is co(p"icate$7 he sai, 7Butthe fact re(ains$ the Sith an their teachin/s were banne by the Senate, 0heir ery e8istence is a

io"ation of Repub"ic "aw%an with /oo reason, 0he )ei unerstan the threat the Sith represent,0hat's why they'e :oine the f"eet, &or the /oo of the /a"a8y$ the Sith (ust be wipe out once anfor a"",7

0he runken ensi/n won the han a/ain$ his secon in a row, So(eti(es it was better to be "uckythan /oo,

7So the Repub"ic says the Sith (ust be wipe out$7 Des sai as he ante up for the ne8t han, 7!f theSith were the ones in char/e$ ! bet they' say the sa(e thin/ about the )ei,7

7-ou wou"n't say that if you knew what the Sith were rea""y "ike$7 one of the other so"iers sai,

7!'e fou/ht a/ainst the(* they're b"oothirsty ki""ers=7

Des "au/he, 7-eah$ how are they try to ki"" you in the (i"e of a war9 Don't they know you're


19/202

busy tryin/ to ki"" the(9 2ow rue=7

7-ou b"ooy Kath%(utt=7 the so"ier snappe$ risin/ up fro( his seat,

7Sit own$ eck(an=7 the co((aner barke, 0he so"ier i as he was to"$ but Des cou" fee" thetension in the air, eryone e"se at the tab"e%with the possib"e e8ception of the two officers%was

/"arin/ at hi(,

Goo, 0he "ast thin/ on their (ins now was cars, .n/ry peop"e in't (ake /oo sabacc p"ayers,

0he co((aner sense thin/s were ba$ too, 2e i his best to efuse the situation,

70he Sith fo""ow the teachin/s of the ark sie$ son$7 he sai to Des, 7!f you saw the kins of thin/sthey'e one urin/ this war , , , an not :ust to other so"iers, 0hey on't care if innocent cii"ianssuffer,7

On"y ha"f "istenin/$ Des /"ance at his cars an p"ace a wa/er,

7!'( not stupi$


20/202

natura" orer of the /a"a8y is for the weak to sere the stron/,7

7Souns pretty /oo if you're one of the stron/,7 Des f"ippe his cars up$ then scoope up the pot$re"ishin/ the /ru(b"in/ an curses (uttere uner the breath of the "osers,

Des f"ashe a nasty /rin aroun the tab"e, 7&or the sake of the Repub"ic$ ! hope you /uys are better

so"iers than you are sabacc p"ayers,7

7-ou (ucrutch$ rankwee cowar=7 the ensi/n shoute$ :u(pin/ up an spi""in/ his rink onto thef"oor, 7!f it wasn't for us$ the Sith wou" be a"" oer this pit of a wor"=7

.nother (iner wou" hae taken a swin/ at Des$ but the ensi/n%een (ore than s"i/ht"y runk%haenou/h (i"itary iscip"ine to keep his fists at his sies, . stern /"are fro( the co((aner (ae hi(sit own an (u(b"e an apo"o/y, Des was i(presse, .n a "itt"e isappointe,

7We a"" know why the Repub"ic cares about .patros$7 he sai$ stackin/ his chips an tryin/ toappear noncha"ant, !n fact$ he was scannin/ the tab"e to see if anyone e"se was /ettin/ reay to

(ake a (oe on hi(,

7-ou use cortosis in the hu""s of your ships$ you use it in your weapons casin/s$ you een use it inyour boy ar(or, Without us$ you wou"n't stan a chance in this war, So on't preten you're oin/any faors here* you nee us as (uch as we nee you,7

;oboy ha ante yet3 a"" eyes were rawn to the ra(a unfo"in/ a(on/ the p"ayers, 0he


21/202

70hat works for (e$7 Des sai, 7;o har fee"in/s97

7;o har fee"in/s$7 the co((aner sai$ forcin/ a s(i"e,

. few of the other so"iers (ur(ure assent$ but Des knew the har fee"in/s were sti"" there, 2e'

one eerythin/ he cou" to (ake sure they ran eep,


22/202

ahea, But the "ast few hours ha raine his chips, Workin/ to protect the sabacc pot was cripp"in/hi(* he' /one throu/h a"" his profits an ha to re%buy%in twice, 2e' fa""en into the c"assic/a(b"er's trap$ beco(in/ so obsesse with winnin/ the bi/ pot that he' "ost si/ht of how (uch hewas "osin/, 2e' "et the /a(e /et persona",

2is shirt was hot an sticky with sweat, 2is "e/s were nu(b fro( sittin/ so "on/$ an his back was

achin/ fro( hunchin/ forwar e8pectant"y to stuy his cars,

2e was own a"(ost a thousan creits on the ni/ht$ but none of the other p"ayers ha been ab"e tocash in on his (isfortune, With the Sabacc pot cappe a"" the antes an pena"ties went strai/ht toORO, 2e' hae to work a (onth of /rue"in/ shifts in the (ines if he eer wante to see any ofthose creits a/ain, But it was too "ate to turn back now, 2is on"y conso"ation was that the Repub"icensi/n was own at "east twice as (uch as he was, -et each ti(e the (an ran out of chips$ he' :ustreach into his pocket an pu"" out another stack of creits$ as if he ha un"i(ite funs, Or as if he

:ust in't care,

0he


23/202

Des opene with the .ce an two of sabers, 2e was at seenteen$ a an/erous han, Lots ofpotentia" to /o too hi/h on his ne8t car an bo(b out, 2e hesitate$ knowin/ that the s(art (oewas to fo",

72ain/ secon thou/hts97 the ensi/n chie,

.ctin/ on an i(pu"se he cou"n't een e8p"ain$ Des (oe his two into the interference fie"$ thenpushe his chips into the pot, 2e was "ettin/ his e(otions /uie hi($ but he no "on/er care, .nwhen the ne8t car ca(e up as a three$ he knew what he ha to o, 2e shoe his three into theinterference fie" besie the two that was a"reay there, 0hen he bet the (a8i(u( wa/er anwaite for the switch,

0here were actua""y two ways to win the sabacc pot, One was to /et a han that tota"e twenty%threee8act"y$ a pure sabacc, But there was an een better han* the iiot's array, !n (oifie Bespin ru"es$if you ha a han of two an three in the sa(e suit an rew the face car known as the !iot$ whichha no a"ue at a""$ you ha an iiot's array ,,, >A in the "itera" sense, !t was the rarest han possib"e$

an it was worth (ore than een a pure sabacc,

Des was two%thirs of the way there, ."" he neee now was a switch to take his ten an rep"ace itwith the !iot, Of course$ that (eant there ha to be a switch, .n een then he' hae to raw the!iot off it ,,, an there were on"y two !iots in the entire seenty%si8%car eck, !t was ariicu"ous"y "on/ shot,

0he (arker ca(e up re3 the cars shifte, Des in't een hae to "ook at his han* he knew,

2e stare ri/ht into the ensi/n's eyes, 7


24/202

hans of e6ua" a"ue, 0he han wi"" be eter(ine by a suen e(ise,7

0he ensi/n in't react with the sa(e kin of ca"(, 7-ou stupi (u%crutch=7 he spat out$ his oicestran/"e with ra/e, 7;ow noboy's /oin/ to /et that sabacc pot=7 2is eyes bu"/e out wi""y3 aein was pu"sin/ on his forehea, One of his fe""ow so"iers ha p"ace a han on his shou"er$ as ifafrai his frien (i/ht "eap across the tab"e to try to choke the "ife out of the (iner on the other

sie,

0he ensi/n was ri/ht* neither of the( wou" be co""ectin/ the sabacc pot on this han, !n a suene(ise each p"ayer was ea"t one (ore car$ an the a"ue of the hans was reca"cu"ate, !f you hathe better han$ you' win ,,, but you wou"n't /et the sabacc pot un"ess you score twenty%threee8act"y, 0hat$ howeer$ see(e i(possib"e* there were no (ore !iots to ea" out to presere aniiot's array$ an no sin/"e car ha a a"ue hi/her than the .ce's fifteen,

;ot that Des care, !t was enou/h to hae estroye his opponent's wi""3 to hae crushe his hopesan robbe hi( of his ictory, 2e cou" fee" the ensi/n's hate$ an he respone to it, !t was "ike a"iin/ bein/ , an entity he cou" raw stren/th fro($ fue"in/ his own ra/in/ inferno, But Des in't

put his e(otions out on isp"ay for the rest of the crow to see, 0he hate burnin/ in hi( was hisown priate store$ a power ra/in/ insie hi( so fierce he fe"t it cou" crack the wor" if he "et itescape,

0he ea"er f"icke out two cars faceup for eeryone to see, 0hey were both nines, Before anyoneeen ha ti(e to react the roi ha reca"cu"ate the han$ eter(ine that the two p"ayers were sti""tie$ an fire out another car to each of the(, 0he ensi/n took an ei/ht$ but Des /ot another nine,!iot$ two$ three$ nine$ nine ,,, twenty%three=

2e reache out s"ow"y an tappe his cars$ whisperin/ a sin/"e wor to his opponent* 7Sabacc,7

0he so"ier went ba""istic, 2e "eapt up$ /rabbe the unersie of the tab"e with both hans$ an /aea (i/hty heae, On"y the wei/ht of the tab"e an the bui"t%in stabi"i4ers kept it fro( f"ippin/ oer$thou/h it rocke an s"a((e back into the /roun with a eafenin/ crash, ."" the rinks on itspi""e oer3 a"e an "u( washe across the e"ectronic cars$ causin/ the( to spark an short out,

7Sir$ p"ease on't touch the tab"e$7 the


25/202

were a "ot of ba fee"in/s towar the Repub"ic on .patros, .n if he in't watch his (outh$so(eboy was /oin/ to show hi( :ust how stron/ those fee"in/s were,

7We /ie our "ies to protect you$ but you on't /ie a wobber= .ny chance to hu(i"iate us$ youtake it=7

2is friens ha /rabbe hi( a/ain$ tryin/ to wrest"e hi( out the oor, But there was no way theycou" /et throu/h the crow now, &ro( the "ooks on their faces$ the so"iers were terrifie, With/oo reason$ Des thou/ht, ;one of the( was ar(e3 their b"asters were back on their ship, ;owthey were trappe in the center of a hosti"e crush of heai"y (usc"e (iners who' been rinkin/ a""ni/ht, .n their frien wou"n't shut up,

7-ou shou" /et own on your knees an thank us each an eery ti(e we "an on this ba"" ofbantha sweat you ca"" a p"anet= But you're too stupi to know how "ucky you are to hae us on yoursie= -ou're nothin/ but a bunch of fi"thy$ i""iterate%7

. "u( bott"e hur"e anony(ous"y fro( the crow struck hi( har in the sie of his hea$ cuttin/ his

wors short, 2e roppe to the f"oor$ ra//in/ his friens own with hi(, Des stoo (otion"ess asa (ass of an/ry (iners sur/e,

0he soun of a b"aster cause eeryone to free4e, Groshik ha c"i(be up onto the top of the bar$his stunner a"reay char/in/ up to fire a/ain, But eeryboy knew the ne8t shot wou"n't be ai(eat the cei"in/,

7We're c"ose$7 he croake as "ou as his raspy oice cou" (ana/e, 7eryboy /et out of (ycantina=7

0he (iners be/an to back off$ an the so"iers stoo up wari"y, 0he ensi/n swaye$ the cut on hisforehea b"eein/ into his eye,

7-ou three first$7 the ;ei(oiian sai to the ensi/n an the so"iers who supporte hi(, 2e waethe barre" of his weapon (enacin/"y aroun the roo(, 7


26/202

(a, 0hey (i/ht be waitin/ for you on the wa"k ho(e,7

Des s(i"e, 7! in't fi/ure you were (a at (e$7 he sai,

Groshik snorte, 7Oh$ !'( (a at you, 0hat's why you're /oin/ to he"p (e c"ean up this (ess,7

Des si/he an shook his hea in (ock e8asperation, 7-ou saw what happene$ Groshik, ! was :ustan innocent bystaner,7

Groshik wasn't in any (oo to hear it, 7)ust start pickin/ up the chairs$7 he (uttere,

With the he"p of the


27/202

ea"t97

7!t was (ore than the cars$ Des$7 Groshik sai$ his /rae""y oice roppin/ so "ow that Des ha to"ean in c"ose to hear, 7-ou were an/ry$ Des, +ore an/ry than !'e eer seen you before, ! cou" fee"it fro( a"" the way across the roo($ "ike so(ethin/ in the air, We cou" a"" fee" it,

70he crow turne u/"y in a hurry$ Des, !t was "ike they were feein/ off your ra/e an your hate,-ou were pro:ectin/ waes of e(otion$ a stor( of an/er an fury, eryone e"se :ust kin of /otswept up in it* the crow$ that so"ier , , , eeryboy, en (e, !t was a"" ! cou" o to ai( that firstshot fro( (y b"aster at the cei"in/, ery instinct in (y boy was te""in/ (e to fire it into thecrow, ! wante to take the( a"" own an "eae the( writhin/ in pain,7

Des cou"n't be"iee his ears, 7Listen to what you're sayin/$ Groshik, !t's cra4y, -ou know !wou"n't o that, ! cou"n't o that, ;oboy cou",7

Groshik reache up a "on/ $ thin han an patte Des on the shou"er, 7! know you' neer o it onpurpose$ Des, .n ! know how cra4y it souns, But there was so(ethin/ ifferent about you

toni/ht, -ou /ae in to your e(otions$ an it un"eashe so(ethin/ , , , stran/e, So(ethin/an/erous,7

Groshik tosse his hea back an raine the "ast of his corty/$ shuerin/ as it went own, 7)ustwatch yourse"f$ Des, P"ease, !'e /ot a ba fee"in/,7

7Be carefu"$ Groshik$7 Des rep"ie with another "au/h, 7;ei(oiians aren't known for re"yin/ ontheir fee"in/s, !t's not /oo for business,7 Groshik stuie hi( carefu""y for a (o(ent$ then noeweari"y, 70rue, +aybe !'( :ust tire, ! shou" /et so(e s"eep, .n so shou" you,7

0hey shook hans$ an Des "eft the cantina,


28/202

was s"ow"y stanin/ up3 the other two stoo wary an reay, 2e in't hae to see their faces toknow who they were* the ensi/n an the two so"iers who' ha"f carrie the (an fro( the cantina,Des cou" s(e"" the reek of


29/202

on foot before aybreak$ an there was nowhere on the open wastes he cou" hie once the sunca(e up, 0here was on"y one option$ one hope, entua""y they' /o "ookin/ for hi( there$ too, Buthe ha nowhere e"se to /o,

Groshik (ust hae sti"" been awake$ because he answere the oor on"y secons after Des be/anpounin/ on it, 0he ;ei(oiian took one "ook at the b"oo on the youn/ (an's hans an shirt an

/rabbe hi( by the s"eee,

7Get in here=7 he croake$ yankin/ Des throu/h the oor an s"a((in/ it shut behin hi(, 7.reyou hurt97

Des shook his hea, 7! on't think so, 0he b"oo isn't (ine,7

0akin/ a step back$ the ;ei(oiian "ooke hi( up an own, 70here's a "ot of it, 0oo (uch, S(e""shu(an,7

When Des in't rep"y$ Groshik enture a /uess, 7Ger's97

.nother shake of the hea, 70he ensi/n$7 Des sai,

Groshik roppe his hea an swore uner his breath, 7Who knows9 .re the authorities after you97

7;ot yet, Soon,7 0hen$ as if tryin/ to :ustify his actions$ he ae$ 70here were three of the($Groshik, On"y one's ea,7

2is o" frien noe sy(pathetica""y, 7!'( sure he ha it co(in/, )ust "ike Ger, But that oesn'tchan/e the facts, . Repub"ic so"ier is ea ,,, an you're the one who's /oin/ to take the b"a(e,7

0he cantina owner "e Des oer to the bar an brou/ht own the bott"e of corty/ brany, Withoutsayin/ a wor$ he poure the( each a rink, 0his ti(e he in't stop at ha"f /"asses,

7!'( sorry ! ca(e here$7 Des sai$ esperate to break the unco(fortab"e si"ence, 7! in't (ean to/et you (i8e up in this,7

7Gettin/ (i8e up in thin/s oesn't bother (e$7 Groshik reassure hi( with a co(fortin/ pat on hisar(, 7!'( :ust tryin/ to fi/ure a way to /et us out of this now, Let (e think,7

0hey owne their /"asses, !t was a"" Des cou" o to keep fro( panickin/3 with each passin/

secon he e8pecte a o4en (en in ORO boy ar(or to crash own the cantina's oor, .fter whatsee(e "ike hours$ but was probab"y on"y a (inute or two$ Groshik be/an to ta"k, 2e spoke soft"y$an Des wasn't sure if the ;ei(oiian was aressin/ hi( or (ere"y ta"kin/ out "ou to he"phi(se"f think,

7-ou can't stay here, ORO can't affor to "ose their Repub"ic contracts, 0hey'"" turn the who"eco"ony upsie own to fin you, We hae to /et you offwor",7 2e pause, 7But by (ornin/$ your

picture wi"" be on eery iscreen in Repub"ic space,


30/202

it9 Di you rea""y (ean it97

7! on't know, ! /uess so,7

0here was another "on/ pause$ as if the bartener was /atherin/ hi(se"f, 72ow wou" you fee"about :oinin/ the Sith97 he suen"y b"urte out,

Des was cau/ht co(p"ete"y off /uar, 7What97

7! know , , , peop"e, ! can /et you offwor", 0oni/ht, But these peop"e aren't "ookin/ for passen/ers*the Sith nee so"iers, 0hey're a"ways recruitin/$ :ust "ike those Repub"ic officers toni/ht,7

Des shook his hea, 7! on't be"iee this, -ou work for the Sith9 -ou a"ways sai neer to takesies=7

7! on't work for the Sith$7 Groshik snappe, 7! :ust know peop"e who o, ! know peop"e who workfor the Repub"ic$ too, But they're not /oin/ to be (uch he"p in this situation, So ! nee to know$

Des, !s this so(ethin/ you want97

7! on't hae a "ot of other options$7 Des (u(b"e in rep"y,

7+aybe$ (aybe not, !f you stay here$ the ORO authorities are sure to fin you, 0his wasn't a co"%b"ooe (urer, 0he :uiciary probab"y won't "et you /et off by p"eain/ se"f%efense$ but they'""hae to a(it there were e8tenuatin/ circu(stances, -ou'"" sere ti(e on one of the pena" co"onies%fie$ (aybe si8 years%an then you're a free (an,7

7Or ! :oin the Sith,7

Groshik noe, 7Or you :oin the Sith, But if !'( /oin/ to he"p you o this$ ! want to be sure youknow what you're /ettin/ into,7

Des thou/ht about it$ but not for "on/, 7!'e spent (y entire "ife tryin/ to /et off this hunk of rock$7he sai s"ow"y, 7!f ! /o to a prison wor"$ !'( train/ one barren$ b"aste p"anet for another, ;oifferent than stayin/ ri/ht here,

7!f ! :oin the Sith$ at "east !'( out fro( uner ORO's thu(b, .n you hear what that Repub"icco((aner sai about the(, 0he Sith respect stren/th, ! think !'"" be ab"e to ho" (y own,7

7! on't oubt that$7 Groshik concee, 7But on't is(iss eerythin/ e"se that co((aner sai, 2ewas ri/ht about the Brotherhoo of Darkness, 0hey can be ruth"ess an crue", 0hey brin/ out theworst in so(e peop"e, ! on't want you to fa"" into that trap,7

7&irst you te"" (e to :oin the Sith$7 Des sai$ 7now you're warnin/ (e a/ainst :oinin/ the(, What's/oin/ on97

0he ;ei(oiian /ae a "on/$ /ur/"in/ si/h, 7-ou're ri/ht$ Des, 0he ecision is (ae, Gri( fate ani"" fortune hae conspire a/ainst you, !t's not "ike sabacc3 you can't fo" a ba han, !n "ife you :ust

p"ay the cars you're ea"t,7 2e turne away$ heain/ for the s(a"" stairs at the back of the cantina,7


31/202

Des reache out across the bar an /rabbe Groshik's shou"er, Groshik turne to face hi($ an Desc"aspe the ;ei(oiian's "on/$ s"ener forear(,

70hank you$ o" frien, ! won't for/et this,7

7! know you won't$ Des,7 0hou/h the wors were kin$ there was an un(istakab"e sorrow in the

/rae""y oice,

Des re"ease his /rip$ fee"in/ awkwar$ asha(e$ scare$ /ratefu"$ an e8cite a"" at the sa(e ti(e,2e fe"t "ike he neee to say so(ethin/ e"se$ so he ae$ 7!'"" (ake this up to you so(ehow, 0hene8t ti(e we (eet%7

7-our "ife here is oer$ Des$7 Groshik sai$ cuttin/ hi( off, 70here won't be a ne8t ti(e, ;ot for us,7

0he ;ei(oiian shook his hea, 7! on't know what's ahea of you$ but ! /et the fee"in/ it isn't/oin/ to be easy, Don't count on others for he"p, !n the en each of us is in this a"one, 0he suriorsare those who know how to "ook out for the(se"es,7

With that he turne away$ his feet shuff"in/ brisk"y across the cantina's f"oor as he heae to theback e8it, Des hesitate a (o(ent$ Groshik's wors burnin/ into his (in$ then rushe off tofo""ow,

2u"e in the ho" of the ship$ Des trie to /et co(fortab"e, 2e' been cra((e into the s(a""s(u//"er's hatch for near"y an hour, !t was a ti/ht fit for a (an of his si4e,

0wenty (inutes ear"ier he ha hear an ORO patro" co(e to inspect the ship, 0hey ha (ae acursory search3 not finin/ the fu/itie they were seekin/$ they ha "eft, . few secons "ater thecaptain$ a Roian pi"ot$ ha rappe har on the pane" keepin/ Des hien,

7-ou stay unti" en/ines /o$7 he ha ca""e in passab"e /a"actic Basic, 7We take off$ you co(e out,;ot before,7

Des han't reco/ni4e hi( when he' c"i(be aboar3 he ha "ooke "ike any other Roian he'eer seen, )ust another inepenent frei/hter captain pickin/ up a "oa of cortosis$ hopin/ to se"" iton so(e other wor" for enou/h profit to keep his ship f"yin/ another few (onths,

!f ORO ha offere a rewar for Des's capture$ the captain probab"y wou" hae so" hi( out, 0hat(eant the ORO (ana/ers han't put a price on his hea, 0hey were (ore worrie about payin/ out

a bounty than "ettin/ a fu/itie escape Repub"ic :ustice, !t wasn't i(portant that they foun hi($ as"on/ as they cou" show the Repub"ic they ha trie, Groshik (ust hae rea"i4e a"" this when he(ae the arran/e(ents to s(u//"e Des aboar,

0he hi/h%pitche whine of the en/ines powerin/ up cause Des to brace hi(se"f a/ainst the wa""s ofhis c"ose 6uarters, . few secons "ater the whine beca(e a eafenin/ roar$ an the ship "urche

beneath hi(, 0he repu"sors fire$ counterba"ancin/ the esse"$ an Des fe"t the press of the /'s as theship took to the sky,

2e kicke at the pane" once$ knockin/ it free$ an untan/"e hi(se"f fro( the hiey%ho"e, 0hecaptain an crew weren't aroun3 they wou" a"" be at their stations for "iftoff,

Des in't know their estination, ."" he knew was that at the en of the trip a hu(an wo(an waswaitin/ to si/n hi( up for the Sith ar(y, .s before$ the thou/ht fi""e hi( with a (i8 of e(otions,


32/202

&ear an e8cite(ent o(inate a"" the others,

0here was a s"i/ht :ost"in/ of the ship as it broke at(osphere an be/an to spee away fro( the tiny(inin/ wor", . few secons "ater Des fe"t an unfa(i"iar but un(istakab"e sur/e as they :u(pe tohyperspace,

. suen sense of "iberation fi""e his spirit, 2e was free, &or the first ti(e in his "ife$ he wasbeyon the /raspin/ reach of ORO an its cortosis (ines, Groshik ha sai that /ri( fate an i""fortune were conspirin/ a/ainst hi($ but Des wasn't so sure now, 0hin/s han't worke out 6uitethe way he' p"anne%he was a fu/itie with the b"oo of a Repub"ic so"ier on his hans%but he hafina""y escape .patros,

+aybe the cars he' been ea"t weren't so ba$ after a"", !n the en he' /otten the one thin/ hewante (ost, .n when you ca(e ri/ht own to it$ wasn't that the on"y thin/ that rea""y (attere9

1D* the finest isruptor pisto" (anufacture by Ga"acticSo"utions !nustries, Opti(u( ran/e was on"y twenty (eters$ but within that istance it wascapab"e of isinte/ratin/ ar(or$ f"esh$ an roi p"atin/ with e6ua" efficiency, 0he >1D was i""e/a"in (ost Repub"ic%contro""e sectors of the /a"a8y$ a testa(ent to its aweso(e estructie potentia",0he isruptor's power pack carrie on"y enou/h char/e for a o4en shots$ but when he was eye%to%eye with an opponent it rare"y took (ore than one,

2e s"i the pisto" into the ho"ster c"ippe to his be"t3 checke the ibrob"ae in his boot$ an turnehis attention to his troops, ."" aroun hi( the (en an wo(en of his unit were fo""owin/ his "ea$(akin/ si(i"ar inspections of their own e6uip(ent as they waite for the orers, 2e cou"n't he"p


33/202

but s(i"e3 he' traine the( we"",

2e' :oine the Sith ar(ies as a way to escape both prison an .patros itse"f, But it han't takenhi( "on/ to actua""y /row fon of the so"ier's "ife, 0here was a ca(araerie a(on/ the (en anwo(en who fou/ht at his sie$ a bon that 6uick"y e8tene to inc"ue Des hi(se"f, 2e' neer fe"tany connection to the (iners on .patros an inee ha a"ways consiere hi(se"f so(ethin/ of a

"oner, But in the (i"itary he' foun his true p"ace, 2e be"on/e here with the troops, 2is troops,

Senior 0rooper .anar notice his /a4e an respone by thu(pin/ a c"ose fist "i/ht"y a/ainst hischest twice$ :ust oer his heart, !t was a /esture known on"y to (e(bers of the unit* a priate si/nfor "oya"ty an fie"ity$ a sy(bo" of the bon they a"" share,

Des returne the /esture, 2e an .anar ha been in the sa(e unit since ay one of their (i"itarycareers, 0he recruiter ha si/ne the( up to/ether an assi/ne the( both to the G"oo( Wa"kers$Lieutenant U"abore's unit,

.anar picke up his rif"e an sauntere oer to where his frien was sittin/, 7-ou fi/ure we're

/oin/ to nee that isruptor pisto" of yours anyti(e soon$ Sar/e97

7;o har( in bein/ prepare$7 Des rep"ie$ whippin/ out the isruptor an /iin/ it a spinnin/f"ourish before returnin/ it to its ho"ster,

7! wish they' /ie us the /o%ahea a"reay$7 .anar /ru(b"e, 7We'e been in position for twoays now, 2ow "on/ are they /oin/ to wait97

Des shru//e, 7We can't /o unti" they're reay to (oe in with the (ain force, We /o too ear"y anthe p"an fa""s apart,7

0he G"oo( Wa"kers ha earne 6uite a reputation oer the past year, 0hey' been in scores ofbatt"es on ha"f a o4en wor"s$ an they' taste far (ore than their share of ictories, 0hey' /onefro( bein/ one of a thousan e8penab"e front%"ine units to e"ite troops resere for critica"(issions, Ri/ht now they were the key to capturin/ the (anufacturin/ wor" of Phaseera%ifso(eone wou" :ust /ie the( the orer to /o, Unti" then they were stuck in this :un/"e ca(p anhour's (arch away fro( their ob:ectie, 0hey' been here on"y a coup"e of ays$ but it was a"reay

be/innin/ to take its to"",

.anar be/an to pace, Des sat ca"("y in the shae$ watchin/ hi( (arch back an forth,

7Don't wear yourse"f out$7 he sai after a (inute, 7We're not /oin/ anywhere unti" ni/htfa"" at theear"iest, -ou (i/ht as we"" /et co(fortab"e,7

.anar stoppe pacin/$ but he in't sit own, 7Lieutenant says this is /oin/ to be easy as aspicerun$7 he sai$ tryin/ to keep his oice casua", 7-ou fi/ure he's ri/ht97

Lieutenant U"abore ha receie (any acco"aes for the success of his troops$ but eeryone in theunit knew who was rea""y in char/e when the b"aster bo"ts starte f"yin/,

0hat fact ha beco(e painfu""y c"ear near"y a year before back on Kashyyyk$ where Des an.anar ha seen their first action, 0he Brotherhoo of Darkness ha trie to secure a footho" in the

+i Ri( by inain/ the syste($ senin/ in wae after wae of troops to capture the resource%richho(ewor" of the Wookiees, But the p"anet was a Repub"ic stron/ho" an they weren't about toretreat$ no (atter how ba"y outnu(bere,


34/202

When the Sith f"eet first "ane$ their ene(ies si(p"y anishe into the forest, 0he inasion turneinto a war of attrition$ a "on/$ rawn%out ca(pai/n fou/ht a(on/ the branches of the wroshyr treeshi/h aboe the p"anet's surface, 0he Sith troopers weren't use to fi/htin/ in the treetops$ an thethick fo"ia/e an kshyy ines of the forest canopy proie perfect coer for the Repub"ic so"iersan their Wookiee /uies to "aunch a(bushes an /uerri""a rais, 0housans upon thousans of the

inaers were wipe out$ (ost yin/ without een seein/ the opponent who ha fire the fata"shot ,,, but the Sith +asters :ust kept senin/ (ore troops in,

0he G"oo( Wa"kers were part of the secon wae of reinforce(ents, Durin/ their first batt"e theywere separate fro( the (ain "ines$ cut off fro( the rest of the ar(y, ."one an surroune byene(ies$ Lieutenant U"abore panicke, Without irect orers$ he ha no iea what to o to keep hisunit a"ie, &ortunate"y$ Des was there to step in an sae their hies,

&or starters$ he cou" sense the ene(y een when he cou"n't see the(, So(ehow he :ust knewwhere they were, 2e cou"n't e8p"ain it$ but he' stoppe tryin/ to e8p"ain his uni6ue ta"ents "on/a/o, ;ow he :ust trie to use the( to his best aanta/e, With Des as their /uie$ the G"oo(

Wa"kers were ab"e to aoi the traps an a(bushes as they s"ow"y worke their way back to re:ointhe (ain force, !t took three ays an ni/hts$ count"ess brief but ea"y batt"es$ an a see(in/"yen"ess (arch throu/h ene(y territory$ but they (ae it, 0hrou/h a"" the fi/htin/$ the unit "ost on"ya hanfu" of so"iers$ an the troops who (ae it back knew they owe their "ies to Des,

0he story of the G"oo( Wa"kers beca(e a ra""yin/ point for the rest of the Sith ar(y$ raisin/ (ora"ethat ha beco(e an/erous"y "ow, !f a sin/"e unit cou" surie for three ays on its own$ theyreasone$ then sure"y a thousan units cou" win the war, !n the en it took a"(ost two thousanunits$ but Kashyyyk fina""y fe"",

.s "eaer of the heroic G"oo( Wa"kers$ Lieutenant U"abore was /ien a specia" co((enation, 2eneer bothere to (ention that Des was rea""y the one responsib"e, Sti""$ he' been s(art enou/h to

pro(ote Des to ser/eant, .n he knew enou/h to stay out of the way when thin/s /ot hot,

7So97 .anar repeate, 7What's the wor$ Des9 When they fina""y /ie us the /o$ is this (ission/oin/ to be a spicerun97

70he "ieutenant's :ust sayin/ what he thinks we a"" want to hear,7

7! know that$ Des, 0hat's why !'( ta"kin/ to you, ! want to know what we're rea""y in for,7

Des thou/ht about it for a few (o(ents, 0hey were ho"e up in the :un/"e on the e/e of a narrowa""ey%the on"y route into Phaseera's capita" city$ where the Repub"ic ar(y ha set up its base ca(p,On a nearby hi"" oer"ookin/ the a""ey was a Repub"ic outpost, !f the Sith trie to (oe troopsthrou/h the a""ey$ een at ni/ht$ the outpost was sure to spot the(, 0hey' si/na" ahea to the baseca(p so their efenses wou" be up an fu""y operationa" "on/ before the ene(y eer reache the(,

0he G"oo( Wa"kers' (ission was si(p"e* e"i(inate the outpost so the rest of the ar(y cou" "auncha surprise attack on the Repub"ic base ca(p, 0hey ha interference bo8es%short%ran/e :a((in/e6uip(ent they cou" use to keep the outpost fro( trans(ittin/ a si/na" to warn the (ain ca(p%butthey' hae to hit the( fast, 0he outpost reporte each ay at awn$ an if the G"oo( Wa"kersstruck too soon$ the Repub"ic wou" rea"i4e so(ethin/ was wron/ when the ai"y report in't co(e

in,

0he ti(in/ was critica", 0hey' hae to take the( out :ust before the (ain force entere the area,


35/202

0hat wou" "eae a few hours to cross the a""ey an catch the base ca(p unprepare, !t was oab"e$but on"y if eerythin/ was coorinate perfect"y, 0he G"oo( Wa"kers were in p"ace$ but the (ainforce wasn't reay to (ake its (oe yet ,,, an so they waite,

7!'( worrie$7 Des fina""y concee, 70akin/ that outpost won't be easy, Once we /et the /o%aheathere's no (ar/in for error, We hae to be perfect, !f they'e /ot any surprises waitin/ for us$ we

cou" be in troub"e,7

.anar spit on the /roun, 7! knew it= -ou'e /ot a ba fee"in/$ on't you9 0his is 2sskhor a"" oera/ain=7

2sskhor ha been a isaster, .fter Kashyyyk fe""$ the suriin/ Repub"ic so"iers f"e to thenei/hborin/ wor" of 0ranosha, 0wenty units of Sith troopers$ inc"uin/ the G"oo( Wa"kers$ weresent in pursuit, 0hey cau/ht up to the Repub"ic suriors on the esert p"ains outsie the city of2sskhor,

. ay of saa/e fi/htin/ "eft (any ea on both sies$ but no efinitie ictor, Des ha been uneasy

throu/hout the batt"e$ thou/h at the ti(e he han't been ab"e to say why, 2is unease ha /rown asni/ht fe"" an both sies retreate to opposite ens of the batt"efie" to re/roup, 0he 0ranoshansha struck a few hours "ater,

0he pitch%b"ack ni/ht wasn't a prob"e( for the repti"ian 0ranoshans* they cou" see into theinfrare spectru(, 0hey see(e to co(e out of nowhere$ (ateria"i4in/ fro( the arkness "ike ani/ht(are /ien substance,

Un"ike the Wookiees$ the 0ranoshans weren't a""ie with either sie in the /a"actic cii" war, 0hebounty hunters an (ercenaries of 2sskhor cut a swath of estruction throu/h the ranks of Repub"ican Sith a"ike$ not carin/ who( they fou/ht :ust as "on/ as they ca(e away with trophies fro( theirki""s,

Detai"s of the (assacre were neer officia""y re"ease, Des ha been at the ery center of thecarna/e$ an een he cou" bare"y piece to/ether what ha happene, 0he attack cau/ht the G"oo(Wa"kers$ "ike eery other unit$ co(p"ete"y off /uar, By the ti(e the sun rose near"y ha"f the Sithtroops ha been cut own, Des "ost a "ot of friens in the s"au/hter ,,, friens he (i/ht hae sae ifhe ha pai (ore attention to the ark pre(onition he' fe"t when he first set foot on that forsakenesert wor", .n he owe he' neer "et the G"oo( Wa"kers /et cau/ht in a s"au/hter "ike thata/ain,

!n the en 2sskhor pai a heay price for the a(bush, Reinforce(ents were sent in fro( Kashyyykto oerwhe"( both the Repub"ic forces an the 0ranoshans, !t took "ess than a week for the Sith toc"ai( ictory$ an the once prou city was sacke an ra4e to the /roun, +any of the0ranoshans si(p"y /ae up the fi/ht to efen their ho(es an offere their serices to theircon6uerors, 0hey were bounty hunters an (ercenaries by trae$ an hunters by nature, 0hey in'tcare who( they were workin/ for$ as "on/ as there was a chance to o so(e (ore ki""in/, ;ee"essto say$ the Sith ha we"co(e the( with open ar(s,

70his isn't /oin/ to be a repeat of 2sskhor$7 Des assure his nerous co(panion, !t was true he haan uneasy fee"in/ once a/ain, But this ti(e it was ifferent, So(ethin/ bi/ was /oin/ to happen$ butDes cou"n't say for sure whether it wou" be /oo or ba,

7


36/202

7.n te"" hi( what97

.anar threw his hans up in e8asperation, 7! on't know= 0e"" hi( about your ba fee"in/, +akehi( /et on the co(( to 25 an te"" the( to pu"" us back, Or conince the( to sen us in= )ust on't"eae us sittin/ out here "ike a bunch of ea wo(p rats rottin/ in the sun=7

Before Des cou" answer$ one of the :unior troopers$ a youn/ wo(an na(e Lucia$ ran up ansnappe off a crisp sa"ute, 7Ser/eant= Lieutenant U"abore wants you to asse(b"e the troops by histent, 2e'"" aress the( in thirty (inutes$7 she sai$ her oice earnest an e8cite,

Des f"ashe a s(i"e at his frien, 7! think we'e fina""y /ot our orers,7

0he so"iers stoo at attention as the "ieutenant an Des reiewe the troops, .s it a"ways i$ theinspection consiste of U"abore (oin/ up an own the ranks$ noin/ an /iin/ ha"f%(uttereapproa"s, !t was (ost"y for show$ a chance for U"abore to fee" as if he ha so(ethin/ to o with thesuccess of a (ission,

Once they were one$ the "ieutenant (arche to the front of the co"u(n an turne to face thetroops, Des stoo a"one in front of the unit$ his back to the( so he cou" be face%to%face with hissuperior officer,

7eryone here is fa(i"iar with our (ission ob:ectie$7 U"abore be/an$ his oice unusua""y hi/h%pitche an "ou, Des /uesse he was tryin/ to soun authoritatie$ but it ca(e across as shri"",

7!'"" "eae the specifics of the (ission to the ser/eant here$7 he continue, 7Our task is not an easyone$ but the ays of the G"oo( Wa"kers /ettin/ easy :obs are "on/ /one,

7! on't hae (uch e"se to say3 ! know you're a"" as ea/er as ! a( to en this point"ess waitin/,0hat's why !'( happy to infor( you that we'e been /ien the orer to (oe out, We hit theRepub"ic outpost in one hour=7

2orrifie /asps an "ou whispers of isbe"ief rose up fro( the ranks, U"abore steppe back as ifhe' been s"appe, 2e' obious"y been e8pectin/ cheers an e8u"tation$ an was ratt"e by thesuen an/er an "ack of iscip"ine,

7G"oo( Wa"kers$ ho"=7 Des barke, 2e steppe up to the "ieutenant an "owere his oice, 7Sir$ areyou certain those were the orers9 +oe in one hour9 .re you certain they in't (ean one hourafter ni/htfa""97

7.re you 6uestionin/ (e$ Ser/eant97 U"abore snappe$ (akin/ no atte(pt to keep his own oiceown,

7;o$ sir, !t's :ust that if we "eae in one hour it'"" sti"" be "i/ht out, 0hey'"" see us co(in/,7

7By the ti(e they see us we'"" a"reay be c"ose enou/h to :a( their trans(itters$7 the "ieutenantcountere, 70hey won't be ab"e to si/na" back to the base ca(p,7

7!t's not that$ sir, !t's the /unships, 0hey'e /ot three repu"sorcraft e6uippe with heay%repeatin/f"ash cannons, !f we try to take the outpost urin/ the ay$ those thin/s wi"" (ow us own fro( the

sky,7

7!t's a suicie (ission=7 so(eone shoute out fro( the ranks,


37/202

U"abore's eyes beca(e narrow s"its$ an his face turne re, 70he (ain ar(y is (oin/ out at usk$Ser/eant$7 he sai throu/h ti/ht"y c"enche teeth, 70hey want to cross the a""ey in arkness an hitthe Repub"ic base ca(p at first "i/ht,7

70hen there's no reason for us to (oe so soon$7 Des rep"ie$ stru//"in/ to re(ain ca"(, 7!f they

start at usk$ it's /oin/ to take at "east three hours before they reach the a""ey fro( their currentposition, 0hat /ies us p"enty of ti(e to take the outpost own before they /et here$ een if we waitunti" after ark*'

7!t's obious you on't unerstan what's rea""y /oin/ on$ Ser/eant,7 U"abore spoke as if ar/uin/with a stubborn chi", 70he (ain force isn't /oin/ to start (oin/ unti" after we report our (issionis co(p"ete, 0hat's why we hae to (oe now,7

!t (ae sense* the /enera"s wou"n't want to risk the (ain force unti" they knew for certain thea""ey was secure, But senin/ the( in urin/ the "i/ht of ay /uarantee that the G"oo( Wa"kers'casua"ty rate wou" increase fiefo",

7-ou hae to co(( back to 25 an e8p"ain the situation to the($7 Des sai, 7We can't take onthose /unships in the air, We hae to wait ti"" they /roun the( for the ni/ht, -ou hae to (akethe( unerstan what we're up a/ainst,7

0he "ieutenant acte as if he han't een hear hi(, 70he /enera"s /ie the orers to (e$ an ! /iethe( to you$7 he snappe, 7;ot the other way aroun= 0he ar(y is (oin/ out at usk$ an that'snot /oin/ to chan/e to fit your scheu"e$ Ser/eant=7

70hey won't hae to chan/e their p"ans$7 Des insiste, 7!f we "eae as soon as it /ets ark$ we'"" sti""hae that outpost own by the ti(e they reach the a""ey, But senin/ us in now is :ust%7

7nou/h=7 the "ieutenant snappe, 75uit brayin/ "ike a bantha cut off fro( its her= -ou hae yourorers$ now fo""ow the(= Or o you want to see what happens to so"iers who efy their superiorofficers97

Suen"y it was c"ear to Des what was rea""y /oin/ on, U"abore knew the orer was a (istake$ buthe was too scare to o anythin/ about it, 0he orer (ust hae co(e irect"y fro( one of the DarkLors, U"abore wou" rather "ea his troops into a s"au/hter than face the wrath of a Sith +aster,But Des wasn't about to "et hi( rie the G"oo( Wa"kers to their oo(, 0his wasn't /oin/ to

beco(e a repeat of 2sskhor, 2e hesitate for on"y a secon before s"a((in/ his fist into his

"ieutenant's chin$ knockin/ hi( co",

0here was stunne si"ence fro( the rest of the troops as U"abore s"u(pe to the /roun, Des6uick"y took away the fa""en officer's weapons$ then turne an pointe at a pair of the newestrecruits,

7-ou two$ keep an eye on the "ieutenant, +ake sure he's co(fortab"e if he wakes up$ but on't "ethi( anywhere near the co((,7

0o the co((unications officer he sai$ 7)ust before usk sen a (essa/e back to 25 te""in/ the(our (ission is co(p"ete so they can start (oin/ the (ain force into the a""ey, 0hat wi"" /ie us

two hours to achiee our ob:ectie before they /et here,7

0urnin/ to aress the rest of the troops$ he pause to "et the /raity of his ne8t wors sink in,


38/202

7What !'e one here is (utiny$7 he sai s"ow"y, 70here's a chance anyone who fo""ows (e fro(here on in wi"" face a court%(artia" when this is oer, !f any of you fee" you can't fo""ow (y orersafter what !'e one here toay$ speak up now an !'"" surrener co((an to Senior 0rooper .anarfor the rest of the (ission,7

2e /a4e out across the so"iers, &or a secon noboy spoke3 then as one they a"" raise their fists

an /ae two "i/ht raps on their chest$ :ust aboe the heart,

Oerwhe"(e with prie$ Des ha to swa""ow har before he cou" /ie his fina" orer to the troops, , , his troops, 7G"oo( Wa"kers$ is(isse=7

0he ranks isperse in /roups of twos an threes$ the so"iers whisperin/ 6uiet"y to one another,.anar broke away fro( the rest an ca(e up to Des,

7U"abore's not /oin/ to for/et this$7 he sai 6uiet"y, 7What are you /oin/ to o about hi(97

7.fter we take that outpost they'"" want to pin a (ea" on our co((anin/ officer$7 Des rep"ie,

7!'( bettin/ he' rather shut up an accept it than "et anyone know what rea""y happene,7

.anar /runte, 7Guess you /ot it a"" worke out,7

7;ot 6uite$7 Des a(itte, 7!'( sti"" not sure how we're /oin/ to take own that outpost,7


39/202

they' char/e the outpost, 0he G"oo( Wa"kers were outnu(bere near"y two to one3 they' nee theaanta/e of surprise to een out the os, But those /unships were a prob"e( Des han'tanticipate,

0he c"earin/ was surroune by bri/ht "i/hts that i""u(inate eerythin/ within a hunre (eters ofthe outpost itse"f, .n een thou/h the repu"sorcraft were /roune$ there was a so"ier statione in

the open f"atbe at the rear of each ehic"e$ operatin/ the turrets, 0he ar(ore wa""s of the f"atberose to waist hei/ht to /ie the /unner so(e coer$ an the turret itse"f was heai"y shie"e to

protect it fro( ene(y fire,

&ro( the "anin/ pa on the roof$ the /unners ha a c"ear iew of the surrounin/ area, !f he firethat first shot$ the other units wou" char/e out into the c"earin/ an ri/ht into a stor( of heay%repeatin/ b"asterfire, 0hey' be torn apart "ike 4ucca tosse into a rancor pit,

7What's the (atter$ Sar/e97 one of the so"iers in his s6ua aske, !t was Lucia$ the :unior trooperwho' e"iere U"abore's orers to hi( ear"ier, 7What are we waitin/ for97

!t was too "ate to ca"" off the (ission, 0he (ain ar(y was a"reay on the (oe3 by the ti(e Des /otback to ca(p to warn the($ they' be ha"fway throu/h the a""ey,

2e /"ance own at the youn/ recruit an notice the scope on her weapon, Lucia was carryin/ a0


40/202

he cou" so(ehow /et a (essa/e to the sniper in each s6ua an hae the( fire at e8act"y the sa(eti(e$ they (i/ht be ab"e to take out the unsuspectin/ /unners ,,, thou/h they' sti"" hae to stop theother si8 so"iers fro( rep"acin/ the(,

2e cut off his own "ine of thou/ht with a si"ent curse, !t wou" neer work, Because of the i%bo8esthere was no way to /et a (essa/e to the other s6uas in ti(e,

0akin/ the sniper rif"e fro( Lucia's hans$ he brou/ht the weapon up an set his eye to the scope to/et a better "ook at the situation, 2e scanne the roof 6uick"y fro( sie to sie$ notin/ the positionof eery Repub"ic so"ier, With the (a/nification of the scope he cou" (ake out their featuresc"ear enou/h to see their "ips (oin/ as they spoke,

0he situation was practica""y hope"ess, 0he outpost was the key to takin/ Phaseera$ an the turretson the roof were the key to takin/ the outpost, But Des was out of options an a"(ost out of ti(e,

2e fe"t the fear stron/er than eer an took a eep breath to focus his(in, .rena"ine be/an topu(p throu/h his eins as he reirecte the fear to /ie hi( stren/th an power, 2e "ine the

b"aster's scope up on one of the /unners$ an a re ei" fe"" across his ision, .n then he fire,

2e acte on instinct$ (oin/ too 6uick"y to "et his conscious thou/hts /et in the way, 2e in't eensee the first so"ier rop3 the scope was a"reay (oin/ to his ne8t tar/et, 0he secon /unner ha

:ust enou/h ti(e to open his eyes wie in surprise before Des fire an (oe on to the thir, Butshe' seen the first /unner /o own an ha a"reay roppe own behin the ar(ore wa""s of the/unship's f"atbe for coer,

Des resiste the i(pu"se to fire wi""y an (oe the scope in a ti/ht circ"e$ "ookin/ in ain for ac"ean shot, 0he soun of b"asterfire e8p"oe in the ni/ht$ a"on/ with shouts an pounin/ feet asthe G"oo( Wa"kers burst fro( their coer an rushe the outpost, 0hey' fo""owe their orers tothe "etter$ char/in/ out at the soun of the first shot, Des knew he ha on"y a few secons before theturrets opene up on the( an turne the c"earin/ into a ki""in/ fie"$ but he cou"n't see the shot totake out the thir /unner,

2e whippe the rif"e aroun in esperation$ "ookin/ for a new tar/et on the roof, 2e set his si/htson a so"ier crouche own "ow besie a s(a"" canister, 0he so"ier wasn't (oin/$ an he'coere his face with his hans as if shie"in/ his ision, 0he b"ast fro( Des's weapon hit hi(s6uare in the chest :ust as the eice at the so"ier's feet etonate,

7&"ash canister=7 Lucia screa(e$ but her warnin/ ca(e too "ate, 0he iew throu/h the scope

anishe in a bri""iant white f"are$ te(porari"y b"inin/ Des,

But with his ision /one$ he cou" suen"y see eerythin/ c"ear"y, 2e knew the position of eeryso"ier een as they a"" scra(b"e for coer3 he cou" track e8act"y where they were an where theywere /oin/,

0he so"ier in the thir turret was trainin/ the cannons on the inco(in/ wae of troopers, !n thee8cite(ent she' poppe her hea up :ust s"i/ht"y aboe the wa""s of the f"atbe$ "eain/ thes(a""est of tar/ets e8pose, Des took her with a sin/"e shot$ the bo"t /oin/ in c"ean"y throu/h oneear ho"e on her he"(et an out the other,

!t was as if ti(e ha s"owe own, +oin/ with a ca"( an ea"y precision$ he traine his rif"e onthe ne8t tar/et$ takin/ her throu/h the heart3 bare"y a (o(ent "ater he /ot the so"ier besie herri/ht between his co" b"ue eyes, Des took one (an in the back as he ran for the nearest /unship,


41/202

.nother was ha"fway up one of the f"atbe's "aers when a bo"t s"ice throu/h his thi/h$ knockin/hi( off ba"ance, 2e fe"" fro( the "aer$ an Des put another shot throu/h his chest before he hitthe /roun,

!t ha taken "ess than three secons to wipe out ei/ht of the nine so"iers, 0he "ast one (ae a runfor the e/e$ hopin/ to escape by iin/ off the roof on the far sie of the bui"in/, Des "et hi( run,

2e cou" fee" the terror co(in/ in waes off his oo(e prey3 he saore it for as "on/ as he cou",0he so"ier "eapt fro( the rooftop an see(e to han/ in (iair for a secon3 Des fire his "astthree shots into his boy$ rainin/ the weapon's power ce"",

2e hane the weapon back to Lucia$ b"inkin/ rapi"y at the tears we""in/ up as his eyes trie tosoothe their a(a/e retinas, 0he effects of the f"ash canister were on"y te(porary3 his ision wasa"reay be/innin/ to return, .n the (iracu"ous secon si/ht he' e8perience was s"ippin/ away,

Rubbin/ his eyes$ he knew now was not the ti(e to think about what ha :ust happene, 2e'e"i(inate the /unners$ but his troops were sti"" outnu(bere, 0hey neee hi( own in the hot4one$ not here on the e/es of the batt"e,

7Keep an eye on that roof$7 he orere Lucia, 7!f any of those Repub"ic (ucrutches appear on top$take the( out before they /et to the /unships,7

She in't rep"y3 her (outh was han/in/ open in a(a4e(ent at what she' :ust witnesse,

Des /rabbe her by the shou"er an /ae her a rou/h shake, 7Snap out of it$ trooper= -ou'e /ot a:ob to o=7

She shook her hea to /ather her senses an noe$ then "oae another ener/y ce"" into herweapon, Satisfie$ Des pu""e out the >1D an char/e across the c"earin/$ ea/er to :oin in the

batt"e,

0hree hours "ater it was a"" oer, 0he (ission ha been a co(p"ete success* the outpost was theirs$an the Repub"ic ha no iea that thousans of Sith troopers were (archin/ throu/h the a""ey toattack the( at first "i/ht, 0he batt"e itse"f ha been short but b"ooy* forty%si8 Repub"ic so"iersea$ an nine of Des's own, ery ti(e a G"oo( Wa"ker went own$ part of Des fe"t he' fai"eso(ehow$ but /ien the nature of their (ission$ keepin/ the casua"ties uner oub"e i/its was (orethan he cou" hae reasonab"y hope for,

Once their ob:ectie was secure he' "eft .anar an a s(a"" contin/ent to ho" the outpost, With

Des in the "ea$ the rest of the unit (arche back to its base ca(p,

."on/ the way he trie to i/nore the hushe whispers an furtie "ooks the rest of the co(pany was/iin/ hi(, Lucia ha sprea the wor of his a(a4in/ shootin/$ an it was the ta"k of the unit, ;oneof the( was brae enou/h to say anythin/ to his face$ but he cou" hear snippets of conersationfro( the ranks behin hi(,

2onest"y$ he cou"n't b"a(e the(, Lookin/ back$ een he wasn't sure what ha happene, Des wasa /oo (arks(an$ but he was no sniper, -et so(ehow he' (ana/e to pu"" off a o4en i(possib"eshots with a weapon he' neer fire before ,,, (ost of the( after bein/ b"ine by a f"ash canister,!t was beyon unbe"ieab"e, !t was as if$ when he' "ost his ision$ so(e (ysterious power ha

taken oer an /uie his actions, !t was e8hi"aratin/$ but at the sa(e ti(e it was terrifyin/, Whereha this power co(e fro(9 .n why cou"n't he contro" it9


42/202

2e was so wrappe up in his thou/hts that at first he in't een notice the stran/ers waitin/ at theirbase ca(p, !t was on"y after they steppe up an s"appe the stun cuffs on his wrists that he rea"i4ewhat was /oin/ on,

7We"co(e back$ Ser/eant,7 U"abore's oice was fi""e with bi"e,

Des /"ance aroun, . o4en enforcers%the (i"itary security of the Sith ar(y%were stanin/ withweapons rawn, U"abore stoo behin the($ a eep bruise on his face where Des ha struck hi(, !nthe back/roun Des cou" see the two :unior recruits he' "eft in char/e of U"abore, 0hey werestarin/ own at the /roun$ e(barrasse an asha(e,

7Di you rea""y think those raw recruits wou" keep their co((anin/ officer trusse up "ike so(ekin of prisoner97 U"abore taunte hi( fro( behin the protectie wa"" of ar(e /uars, 7Di yourea""y be"iee they wou" fo""ow you in your (aness97

70hat (aness sae our "ies=7 Lucia shoute, Des he" up his shack"e hans to si"ence her* thissituation cou" /et out of han far too easi"y,

When nothin/ e"se happene$ the "ieutenant see(e to /ain so(e coura/e, 2e steppe out fro(behin the protectie wa"" of enforcers an oer to Des,

7! warne you about isobeyin/ orers$7 he sneere, 7;ow you /et to see firsthan how theBrotherhoo of Darkness ea"s with (utinous so"iers=7

. few of the G"oo( Wa"kers be/an to reach s"ow"y for their weapons$ but Des shook his hea anthey fro4e, 0he enforcers a"reay ha their b"asters rawn an weren't afrai to use the(, 0hetroopers wou"n't (ana/e to /et off een a sin/"e shot,

7What's the (atter$ Ser/eant97 U"abore presse$ rawin/ c"oser to his efeate ene(y, 0oo c"ose,7;othin/ to say97

Des knew he cou" ki"" the "ieutenant with one 6uick (oe, 0he enforcers wou" take hi( out$ butat "east U"abore wou" /o with hi(, ery fiber of his bein/ wante to "ash out an en both their"ies in an or/y of b"oo an b"asterfire, But he (ana/e to fi/ht the i(pu"se, 0here was no point inthrowin/ his "ife away, . court%(artia" wou" "ike"y en in a eath sentence$ but at "east if he wentto tria" he' hae a chance,

U"abore steppe up an s"appe hi( once across the face$ then spit on his boots an steppe back,

70ake hi( away$7 he sai to the enforcers$ turnin/ his back on Des,

.s Des was taken away he cou"n't he"p but see the "ook in the eyes of Lucia an the trooperswhose "ies he' sae on"y hours a/o, 2e ha a fee"in/ the ne8t ti(e the unit went into co(bat$U"abore wou" suffer an unfortunate%an fata"%accient,

0hat rea"i4ation brou/ht the hint of a s(i"e to his "ips,

0he enforcers (arche hi( throu/h the :un/"e for hours$ weapons rawn an traine on hi( theentire ti(e, 0hey on"y "owere the( when they reache the sentries on the peri(eter of the (ainSith ca(p,

7Prisoner for a court%(artia"$7 one of the enforcers sai f"at"y, 7Go te"" Lor Kopec4,7 One of thesentries sa"ute an ran off,


43/202

0hey (arche Des throu/h the ca(p towar the bri/, 2e saw reco/nition in the eyes of (any of theso"iers, With his hei/ht an ba" hea he was an i(posin/ fi/ure$ an (any of the troops hahear of his e8p"oits, Seein/ a for(er"y iea" so"ier bein/ brou/ht before a court%(artia" was sureto "eae an i(pression,

0hey reache the ca(p's (akeshift prison$ a s(a"" contain(ent fie" oer a three%by%three%by%three%(eter pit that sere as a ho"in/ area for capture spies an POWs, 0he enforcers ha re"iee hi(of his weapons when they first took hi( into custoy3 now they i a (ore thorou/h search anstrippe hi( of a"" other persona" effects, 0hen they shut own the contain(ent fie" an rou/h"ytosse hi( in$ not een botherin/ to re"ease his cuffs, 2e "ane awkwar"y on the har /roun atthe botto( of the ho"e, .s he stru//"e to his feet he hear an un(istakab"e hu( as the fie" wasactiate once a/ain$ sea"in/ hi( in,

0he pit was e(pty$ other than Des hi(se"f, 0he Sith in't ten to keep prisoners aroun for "on/,2e be/an to woner if he' (ae a serious (istake, 2e' hope his past serice (i/ht buy hi(so(e "eniency at his tria"$ but now he rea"i4e his reputation (i/ht actua""y work a/ainst hi(, 0he

Sith +asters weren't known for their to"erance or their (ercy, 2e' efie a irect orer* there was a/oo chance they' ecie to (ake a harsh e8a(p"e of hi(,

2e cou"n't say how "on/ they' "eft hi( at the botto( of the pit, .fter a whi"e he fe"" as"eep$e8hauste by the batt"e an the force (arch, 2e s"ippe in an out of consciousness3 at one point itwas "i/ht outsie his prison an he knew ay (ust hae co(e, 0he ne8t ti(e he ca(e to it was arka/ain,

0hey han't fe hi( yet3 his sto(ach was /row"in/ in protest as it /nawe away at itse"f, 2is throatwas parche an ry3 his ton/ue fe"t as if it ha swo""en up "ar/e enou/h to choke hi(, Despite this$there was a s"ow"y increasin/ pressure on his b"aer$ but he in't want to re"iee hi(se"f, 0he pitstank enou/h a"reay,

+aybe they were :ust /oin/ to "eae hi( here to ie a s"ow an "one"y eath, Gien the ru(ors he'hear of Sith torture$ he a"(ost hope that was the case, But he han't /ien up, ;ot yet,

When he hear the soun of approachin/ footsteps he scra(b"e to his feet an stoo strai/ht anta""$ een thou/h his hans were sti"" cuffe in front of hi(, 0hrou/h the contain(ent fie" he cou"

:ust (ake out the b"urre for(s of seera" /uars stanin/ on the e/e of the pit$ a"on/ with anotherfi/ure wearin/ a heay$ ark c"oak,

70ake hi( to (y ship$7 the c"oake fi/ure sai in a eep$ raspin/ oice, 7! wi"" ea" with this one onKorriban,7


44/202

city on the ark an forbiin/ wor", !nstea the ship "ane at a starport bui"t atop an ancientte(p"e oer"ookin/ a eso"ate a""ey, . chi"" win b"ew across the "anin/ pa as he ise(barke$

but it in't bother Des, .fter the sta"e air of the pit$ any bree4e fe"t /oo, 2e fe"t a shier /o ownhis spine as his foot touche Korriban's surface, 2e' hear that this ha once been a p"ace of /reat

power$ thou/h now on"y the (erest shaows re(aine, 0here was an unercurrent of (a"ice here3he' fe"t it as soon as the transport ha entere the b"eak p"anet's at(osphere,

&ro( this anta/e point he cou" (ake out other te(p"es scattere across the wor"'s esert surface,en at this istance he cou" perceie the eroe rock an cru(b"in/ stone of the once /ranentrances, Beyon the a""ey$ the city of Dreshae was a (ere speck on the hori4on,

2e was (et on the "anin/ pa by a hooe fi/ure, 2e cou" te"" ri/ht away this wasn't the sa(eone who ha co(e to hi( in the pit, 0his person ha neither the si4e nor the i(pressie bearin/ ofhis "iberator3 een throu/h the contain(ent fie" Des ha been ab"e to sense his co((anin/

presence,

0his fi/ure$ which Des now thou/ht to be fe(a"e$ (otione for hi( to fo""ow, Si"ent"y she "e hi(

own a f"i/ht of stone steps an into the te(p"e itse"f, 0hey crosse a "anin/ an esceneanother set of stairs$ then repeate the pattern$ workin/ their way "ee" by "ee" own fro( thete(p"e's ape8 to the /roun be"ow, 0here were oors an passa/es "eain/ off fro( each "anin/$an Des cou" hear snippets of soun an conersation echoin/ fro( the($ thou/h he cou" neer6uite te"" what was bein/ sai,

She in't speak$ an Des knew better than to break the si"ence hi(se"f, 0echnica""y$ he was sti"" aprisoner, &or a"" he knew$ she was "eain/ hi( to his court%(artia", 2e wasn't about to (ake thin/sworse by askin/ foo"ish 6uestions,

When they reache the botto( of the bui"in/$ she "e hi( to a stone archway with yet anotherf"i/ht of stairs, 0hese were ifferent$ howeer* they were narrow an ark$ an woun their wayown unti" they anishe fro( si/ht eep in the bowe"s of the /roun, Without a wor his /uiehane hi( a torch she ha taken fro( a bracket on the wa"" an then steppe asie,

Wonerin/ what was /oin/ on$ Des (ae his way carefu""y own the steep staircase, 2e cou"n'tsay how (uch eeper he went3 it was ifficu"t to (aintain any perspectie in the narrow confines ofthe stairwe"", .fter seera" (inutes he reache the botto($ on"y to fin a "on/ ha""way stretchin/ out

before hi(, .t the en of the ha""way he encountere a sin/"e roo(,

0he roo( was ark an fi""e with shaow, On"y a few torches sputtere on the stone wa""$ their

yin/ f"a(es bare"y ab"e to pierce the /"oo(,

Des pause at the thresho"$ "ettin/ his eyes a:ust, 2e cou" :ust (ake out a i( fi/ure insie, !tbeckone to hi(,

7


45/202

, thou/h not 6uite as "ar/e as Des hi(se"f,

2is "ekku woun own his broa chest an wrappe back up aroun his (uscu"ar neck anshou"ers3 his eyes /"owe oran/e beneath his brow$ (irrorin/ the f"ickerin/ torches, 2e s(i"e$reea"in/ the sharp$ pointe teeth co((on to his species,

7! a( Lor Kopec4 of the Sith$7 he sai, .t that (o(ent$ Des knew without a oubt this was thec"oake one who ha co(e to hi( in the pit$ an he /ae a s"i/ht bow of his hea inacknow"e/(ent,

7! a( to be your in6uisitor$7 Lor Kopec4 e8p"aine$ his oice showin/ no e(otion, 7! a"one wi""eter(ine your fate, Rest assure (y :u/(ent wi"" be fina",7

Des noe a/ain,

0he 0wi'"ek fi8e his burnin/ oran/e eyes on Des, 7-ou are no frien of the )ei or their Repub"ic,7

!t wasn't a 6uestion$ but Des fe"t co(pe""e to answer anyway, 7What hae they eer one for (e97

78act"y$7 Kopec4 sai with a crue" s(i"e, 7! unerstan you hae fou/ht (any batt"es a/ainst theRepub"ic forces, -our fe""ow troopers speak hi/h"y of you, 0he Sith hae nee of (en "ike you ifwe are to win this war,7 2e pause, 7-ou were a (oe" so"ier ,,, unti" you isobeye a irectorer,7

70he orer was a (istake$7 Des sai, 2is throat ha /rown so ry an ti/ht that he ha troub"e/ettin/ the wors out,

7Why i you refuse to attack the outpost urin/ the ay9 .re you a cowar97

7. cowar wou"n't hae co(p"ete the (ission$7 Des rep"ie sharp"y$ stun/ by the accusation,

Kopec4 ti"te his hea to the sie an waite,

7.ttackin/ in the ay"i/ht was a tactica" (istake$7 Des continue$ tryin/ to press his point, 7U"aboreshou" hae re"aye that infor(ation back to co((an$ but he was too scare, U"abore was thecowar$ not (e, 2e wou" rather risk eath at the hans of the Repub"ic than face the Brotherhooof Darkness, ! prefer not to throw (y "ife away nee"ess"y,7

7! can see that fro( your serice recor$7 Kopec4 sai, 7Kashyyyk$ 0ranosha$ Phaseera ,,, if thesereports are accurate$ you hae perfor(e increib"e feats urin/ your ti(e with the G"oo( Wa"kers,&eats so(e wou" c"ai( to be i(possib"e,7

Des brist"e at the i(p"ication, 70he reports are accurate$7 he rep"ie,

7! hae no oubt that they are,7 Kopec4 either han't notice or in't care about the tone of Des'srep"y, 7Do you know why ! brou/ht you to Korriban97

Des was be/innin/ to rea"i4e that this wasn't rea""y a court%(artia" after a"", !t was so(e kin of test$

thou/h for what he sti"" wasn't sure, 7! fee" !'e been chosen for so(ethin/,7

Kopec4 /ae hi( another sinister s(i"e, 7Goo, -our (in works 6uick"y, What o you know of


46/202

the &orce97

7;ot (uch$7 Des a(itte with a shru/, 7!t's so(ethin/ the )ei be"iee in* so(e /reat power that'ssuppose to be :ust f"oatin/ out there in the unierse so(ewhere,7

7.n what o you know of the )ei97

7! know they be"iee the(se"es to be /uarians of the Repub"ic$7 Des rep"ie$ (akin/ no atte(ptto hie his conte(pt, 7! know they wie" /reat inf"uence in the Senate, ! know (any be"iee theyhae (ystica" powers,7

7.n the Brotherhoo of Darkness97

Des consiere his wors (ore carefu""y this ti(e, 7-ou are the "eaers of our ar(y an the swornene(y of the )ei, +any be"iee that you$ "ike the($ hae unnatura" abi"ities='

7But you o not97

Des hesitate$ stru//"in/ to co(e up with the answer he thou/ht Kopec4 wante to hear, !n the enhe cou"n't fi/ure out what his in6uisitor was "ookin/ for$ s

darth bane - path of destruction (drew karpyshyn)

Documents