We are the Truth

[Lady Frygt]

grains of dust and dirt slipped between her fingers.

"V-3," She said to a tarnished silver humanoid droid standing nearby, analyzing the ground they stood on. "I need spectrum scanning on this soil right here."

"At once mistress."

Rikke Frygt walked to an arched stone doorway, a mound of dirt had accumulated in the doorway. She sifted through the uppermost layer of soil and found nothing. Whatever happened here, the destruction was total. I just need to know how and why. so I can get paid and get out of here, this place gives me the creeps. She thought to herself.

"Mistress Frygt!"

"What is it?" She said with irritation.

"The analysis you asked for. I'm reading low levels of radiation and what appears to be organic material."

"What kind of organic material?" She replied and lit a cigarette.

"I'm not sure entirely, an accurate reading is beyond my capabilities, however, on the ship I can get a completely accurate reading. It looks like clone cells with some type of mutation."

"Radioactive clone mutants?" she said incredulously dangling the cigarette from her lips.

"The radiation is likely a remnant from an accelerated growth process." V3 explained, "I doubt they continued emitting radiation after reaching their mature stage. However, I may be mistaken, my sensors are in need of a servicing and for some reason this area of Corellia is quite mysterious."

M3 rambled on, Rikke, having lost interest, scanned a nearby hill probably related to the stone arch she stood by.

As she glanced back at V3, a glimmer caught her eye from the dirt heap under the archway. She knelt and retrived it, it was an inscribed metal medaliion, half it covered in hardened soil. She debated inside to tell V3 about it, but really, V3 was her best chance at figuring out what the medallion meant. "What do you make of this medallion?" she asked and handed the medallion to him.

"It's not quite a medallion. " He began s he turned it over in front of his visual receptors. "It appears to be a medal of sorts, perhaps an award, notice the clasps here and here that attached to a ribbon of some sort."

" I didn't recognize the language, but it must say something about what it is."

"It's an old language, Sith ritual language, I believe."

"what ritual language?"

"Sith."

"Never heard of it."

"It's not commonly used, especially now. The last known Sith organization died out shortly before Tarkin's first term as Emperor.""

"What is a Sith?"

"I can only best describe it as a religious type of order, similar to the Jedi. But they tended to be a bit more aggressive and destructive. The first Emperor and Darth Vader were both Sith lords from the Old Empire."

"Ok then... what does the medal say?"

"I don't know what the ritual language says, but there's a subscript of Basic that is tough to make out but,.. ah ha."

Rikke was sifting through more dirt as V3 spoke, placing the burning cigarette between her lips she dug faster with both hands. If there was one thing here, surely there could be much more.

"It commemorates the ascension of apprentice Jorshal Vuntana to the rank of Knight." V3 said, "that name seems familiar to me, when we return to the Splinter, I'll continue research. Have you found anything else of interest?

"No." Rikke said between a drag and exhale. "bits of glass at best. Nothing worth- hey!"

Rikke flicked her cigarette stub away and from the dirt removed a hollow metal tube. At one end it was sealed with a domed cap, the other end appeared to be cut with something fairly hot, plasma possibly. " I don't suppose, " her encendador clicked as she lit another cigarette, speaking with it dangling in her mouth. "that those Sith guys used lightsabers?"

"I believe they did. This one is obviously dysfunctional."

"Oi! You two! That is the property of the Sith Order!" a young male voice called from the nearby hill that Rikke had been surveying earlier. "You'll leave it where it is and leave now if you know what's good for you!"

Who the hell is this idiot? Rikke thought as she debated shooting him in the face or just grazing an ear. Killing an unarmed man, even an idiotic one might bring the authorities down on her, even out in the ruins, far from Coronet or any other city. An ear it would be.

"Rikke... I advise caution and discretion." V3 said calmly.

then, with a snap-hiss Rikke could see the young idiot had somehow obtained a lightsaber, not blue or green, like the Jedi, but a deep dark red. Frig this, I'm killing this moron and taking that lightsaber."

With uncanny speed, Rikke had her blaster in hand and firing a shot off at the lightsaber wielding man. Before he knew it, the man was off his feet and on his back a circle of red turning black in his forehead.

"Very unecessary,."

"I want that lightsaber."

"You've made a big mistake lady," a new man said as he came over the top of the hill, staring at the body of the one that preceeded him.

"Have I? Who the hell are you people?"

"We are the New Sith Order."

"Are you now?"

"Yes and unless you want to feel my lightsaber slice through your gut, you will drop the relic and -"

Like the one before him, this pretender fell with a blaster mark glowing in his forehead.

"Mistress Frygt!" V3 exclaimed "You can't keep shooting everyone who comes by!"

"You can try!" shouted a young woman from behind.

[i]How many of these idiots are there Rikke wondered to herself.

With the same speed, Rikke foired a shot at the woman, like she'd killed the two men with. This time, the blaster bolt was deflected by her lightsaber, it soared vertically into the sky.

"you people aren't the real Sith. who are you?" Rikke yelled.

Before she knew it, the human woman was crushing down on her with her feet, the woman's twisted face glaring in hers.

"Real enough for you?"

By now Rikke could see the woman had pointed teeth that extended far beyond the width of a normal human's, most her features were very human, but the jaw was massive, albeit partially hidden behind the skin of the face.

"When I eat you, you'll still be very alive. I'll be sure of it, such is the punishment for those that murder my pupils."

In the moment all Rikke could feel was an intense fear beyond all she had ever felt before in her life. This psychopath is going to eat me! Without warning and very fluidly, her fear became anger at the toothy woman. Eat me? I swear I'll cut you into thin pieces of Corellian salami before I let you hurt me!

Like before, her anger fluidly changed to hatred. Whatever this person was Rikke hasted her and wanted to kill her, slowly, painfully. Steadily the words I hate you. repeated over in her head.

Lastly a new sensation overtook Rikke. All at once she felt omniscient and omnipotent, she felt raw power within herself, accompanied by a burning hate for the freak pinning her down to the ground. She was physically helpless, but she felt so powerful inside and instead of facing the woman, she spiraled into this new feeling.

Rikke no longer had to think, everything just seemed to happen on its own, though she was partaking in what was happening, it felt more like she was watching it from somewhere else. She could see everything through her eyes, but strangely, she could also see through the woman's eyes, who she learned called herself Darth Rive. Rikke's first move was to grab the lightsaber hilt of the first fallen man, Rikke couldn't remember actually picking it up, but only recalled feeling its power in her hand. Rikke had little training in combat beyond blasters, but with the lightsaber in her hand and the power flowing inside her, she duelled with Rive easily. To say it was instinctive was to misunderstood what she felt. For most of the time she felt as if she didn't even exist in that body, she was there, yes, but something else besides her mind operated the body now.

Slowly at first, but increasing in pace, Rikke found herself becoming more in control of her body, though everything still moved as it did before, but she was gaining more sensation with each movement until finally she was standing over Darth Rive hacking in rapid strokes, while screaming "I hate you! I hate you! Ill kill you! I'll kill you!" only Rive's lightsaber prevented her toothy head from being split like a big fruit.

Rive was saying something but Rikke couldn't hear it over her own furious screams. Finally, like a loud voice inside her head Rikke heard, "I submit!"

Rikke paused in her hacking movements. "I swear to you, if you lie to me, woman, I will do such unspeakable horrors to your body."

"I can not lie to you." Rive said " search your feelings, you already know what I think or do."

"Don't forget it, witch"

"You are strong with the Darkside, Rikke. In payment for my life, I will serve you as long as I live."

"Very well."

[Lady Frygt]

"Mistress Frygt, a word please." V3 said as Rikke entered the Raven with Darth Rive in trail.

"One moment, V3. Rive, you're coming with me back here."

As Rikke entered the rear of the holding cells in the rear of the ship she lit a fresh cigarette. "You'll be staying here until I know what to do with you."

"As you wish, my mistress." Darth Rive replied.

"Give me your lightsaber."

Rive handed the silver hilt to Rikke. a moment passed as Rikke turned the weapon over in her hand before she said, "Both of them."

"Strong with the Force indeed..." Rive muttered and handed her the second lightsaber she carried.

"I suggest you get comfortable, it may be a while." Rikke said as she clipped the two lightsabers to her belt next to the two she had stolen from Rive's now dead apprentices.

As Rikke left the room, after locking Rive in the cell, she felt the white hot heat of Rive's anger directed at her. Time would tell where Rive would take her, Rikke was intrigued, she'd never felt such power like when she had fought with Rive in the ruins on Corellia. However, Rikke knew, could feel, that Rive hated her with all her heart. If Rikke's hate could empower her so much, what could Rive's hatred do for her?

-----

"Is it wise, mistress, to bring that woman on board our ship?" V3 asked in the forward cabin of the ship.

Rikke turned her head towards the half human-half droid, still smoking her cigarette, "Probably not. but I want top pick her brain a bit, This Tåge case is worth a lot of money and I've got a feeling that those ruins are a bit more than they seem. That woman has been lingering in those ruins for a long time, she's got what I need to know. Besides, after you ran away, I bested her in combat with a lightsaber, I can do it again."

V3 made the glitchy chuckle noise he made when he did what passed for a laugh, "Hzzta! Lightsaber combat? You know nothing of the sort. How, I pray tell, did you manage to weild a lightsaber? The non-Jedi that I've seen have only ever managed to sever their own limbs.

"I don't know how or why it happened, but it did. I kind of just got into the zone and before I knew what was really going on, I had the woman on her back with my lightsaber hacking inches from her face. I did it once, I can do it again."

"Hmm... Interesting. If you don't mind, mistress, I believe an episode is imminent, excuse me."

From time to time, V3 had what he termed 'episodes' where his organic brain would remember an event from it's previous life and V3 would be ineffective for the duration of the returning memory. V3 had managed some manasgement of the problem, it no longer happened during blaster fights or other important business. Rikke suspected that V3 simply switched management over to his computer processors when an episode happened in the field and disconnected from his organic brain while it relived a memory. V3 hadn't said so, but she'd noticed that his episodes had become much more frequent since the Tåge case had begun. Rikke didn't say, but part of the reason she was so interested in the case was because of how it related to V3 and the memories of his human life. When she had purc hased the droid, she was told it was the latest in droid technology, the oprecision and logic of a droid processor combined with the independence and intuition of an intelligent organism. V3 had proven himself many times as a useful assistant, but his periodic episodes were troubling, to say the least.

In front of her, the monitor flashed Incoming Call probably the Lady Tåge. Rikke lit another cigarette and answered the call. Sure enough, a holo of Lady Tåge appeared before her.

"Rikke Frygt..."

"My lady."

"How goes your investigation of the ruins?"

"Very well, my lady. The ruins are in bad shape and any obvious entrance to underground rooms is not present."

"But that wouldn't deter a woman like you.."

"Of course not. I only need the knowledge of someone familiar with the ruins."

"You've taken a hostage?"

"Yes, some sort of Sith pretender. Foolish, but he has the knowledge I need."

"I do not wish to know the details of how you will extract this information, your reputation precedes you."

Rikke just smile and then changed the subject, "This holocron... Does it belong to the Sith?"

"It did."

"Do you have any idea what is on it?"

"As far as I know, historical information in regards to the last days of the Sith Order, possibly some new information."

Rikke had a feeling the Lady Tåge was lying in some respect. But then, most her clients were lying about something. It hardly made a difference to her, she always got paid in the end. But this case was provong to be much more interesting to her than past cases. The woman, Darth Rive, the lightsabers, that incredible feeling of power. Upon remembering she felt a powerful longing to the power again. Perhaps the woman was the key. Judst one more time... She longed in her thoughts.

"Ms. Frygt?" Lady Tåge said as Rikke went quiet and lingered in her thoughts.

"Yes. I'm sorry. I got lost in a thought."

"Hmm, yes well... You are busy, I'll leave you to it then."

"Thank you my Lady." Rikke said and ended the call.

She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, the power was calling to her, she wanted it.I'd give anything to feel it again. In her mind she replayed the events that lead to the power filling her body to the brim. First the fear then later the hatred, the power increasing with each second. I want it so bad, I need it.But how do I reach it again? What had Rive said? ...that I was strong with the... something. She couldn't remember for the life of her what it was that she was strong with? Probably whatever Darth Rive called the power... It didn't matter really, what did matter was feeling it again.

Rikke opened her eyes as a new plan began to form in her mind. Rive knew what the power was and that Rikke could feel it. That Darth Rive knows what I need to know, she has the answers I need V3 would be recording his episode for the next few hours, the ship was on autopilot, she had plenty of time to learn what she needed to.

---

"My Mistress, how can I help you?"

"What is the power?" Rikke cut straight to the point. At her innermost sense of being she craved the power.

"I'm not sure I understand, mistress."

"The power." Rikke fe;t frustrated and was already getting desperate to know. "When we fought, I was filled with some sort of power unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. It made my every move, guided my thoughts..."

"Do you really not know?"

"Please, I want it, please tell me."

"Ha! You really don't! This is far better than I expected." Darth Rive grinned and clasped her hasnds together.

"Damn you, tell me."

"Have you ever heard of The Force?"

"I don't know much about it, but I believe it is the source of the Jedi's powers."

"Yes, but the Jedi only use some of the Force, what is historically termed the light side. As a Sith, I use the whole, full spectrum of the Force, traditionally called the Darkside."

" If you do not know this then you have no training, rejoice Lady Frygt, the Force has chosen you."

"Chosen me? How?" Rikke was confused, but at last she knew what the power was. How could a power choose her?

"When we fought, I expect your fear of imminent death, triggered a calling for the Darkside and it answered with all its power."

"How do I call it again? I need it."

"Only a Sith can call on the Darkside."

"How do I become a Sith?"

"The traditional method is to become an apprentice to a Master."

Rikke paused for a moment, "Darth Rive, if you take me as your apprentice, I will erase any debt you have to me for sparing your life."

"It is not an easy thing to take on an apprentice... Masters tend to die at the hands of their former apprentice."

"I beg you, I need the power, I will guarantee your life as long as I live."

"Very well."

Rikke began to open the prisoner cell.

Rive continued, "kneel before your mistress."

Rikke did as commanded and knelt, presenting her new mistress with her lightsabers. "Yes mistress."

Rive ignighted both weapons and let the blades hover over Rikke's shoulders. "Henceforth you shall be my apprentice of the Darkside and known as Darth Rädsla.

"Thank you, my mistress."

[Lady Frygt]

"How do you know that lady?" Rive asked her apprentice Rikke Frygt also known as Darth Rädsla.

"The Lady Tåge, hired me to find an item for her historical research.. a holocron. Why, master, do you know her?"

"No."

Rikke suspected her master did know the Lady Tåge, Tåge was her current employer, hiring her to locate a historical artifact for her research. Or at least that was the pretense, Rikke knew when someone was lying, but for 50 thou credits, she was willing to ignore it. But what was most curious was that apparently her new Sith Master, Darth Rive, knew the Lady Tåge as well. Rikke had an ominous feeling inside. She glanced at her master and found the woman staring right through her, her master was well attuned to Rikke's feelings.

"May I ask, master, what are we going to the Corporate Sector for?"

"Your training as a Sith has begun, my apprentice, but we have yet to politically condition you. Power is a wonderful thing to have, but it is only as good as you use it for gain."

"Mistress Rikke," V3 said, having returned to the pilot's cabin. "Do you intend to finish your contract with the Lady Tåge?"

Rikke looked to her master, "With your permission, my master, I would like to complete the case I was commissioned for."

"I will allow it." Now leave me some time, I have my own affairs on Corellia to attend to.

"I as well have a few details to clear up in regards to my most recent episode, mistress Rikke." said V3, "may I?"

"Go ahead V3." Rikke said and lit a cigarette, her master had taught her the basics of meditation and communing with the Force. Rikke would do that as the need to feel the power had yet surfaced in her mind again.

----

Darth Rive entered the holding cell in the lower rear of the ship. Initially she was held prisoner there but she had manipulated her captor into changing from owner to owned. Her new apprentice, Rikke, Darth Rådsla, was hardly aware of her connection to the Darkside when they met, but apparently the darkside had chosen her, Rive hardly understood how or why the Darkside chose it's agents, she had always sought out the darkside, was never chosen.

Carefully she turned the holo communicator right side up and activated it. The image of Lady Tåge appeared in the blue hue of a holo and glared directly into Rive's soul.

"Darth Rive." The Lady said the gravity of her words weighing in the air.

"My master." Rive said and bowed deeply. "What is your bidding?"

"I desire for your apprentice to complete her prior engagement with her client."

"Of course, my master."

"How fares her training?"

"Rikke, is very strong with the Darkside, alarmingly so."

"Why do you find her strength to be alarming?"

"I admit, I'm jealous of her. The Darkside chose her, I served the darkside unwaveringly, I expanded our meager numbers and the Force decided to take them away from me. Jeks and Sanx, both dead, by Rikke's hand. Does the Darkside not see how faithful I've been?"

"Darth Rive... the Darkside follows its own path it is not for us to understand. Or..."

"Yes master. I just wish I could understand."

"You fear your apprentice?"

"Yes, master. I fear she will kill me once her training is complete."

"As is the way of the darkside."

"I do not wish to die, master. How can I serve if dead?"

"Must I remind you that the Darkside is rarely understood by it's servents. Know your place, servent!" Lady Tåge was visibly irritated now.

"Forgive me, master. My fear is great."

"Use your fear, my apprentice, master it. Lastly, I want your apprentice to complete her contract within the next week."

"Yes, my master."

As Rive endedthe communication she felt a deep sadness welling up inside her. She trusted the Darkside and it was casting her out in favor of her apprentice. She was going to die soon and the Darkside cared nothing about it. In complete despair, she sat on the floor and wept.

---

"My master, we will arrive in the Corperate Sector within the hour." Rikke said with but a short glance at Darth Rive.

Rive's face was red from increased blood flow, and tears. Her eyes matched her cheeks in crimson tone. During her meditation in the Force she felt her master's anguish as if it were her own. Rive feared death and felt only abandonment. Naturally, Rikke felt some sort of compassion towards her master, but did not know yet how to help Rive.

"Very well, apprentice." The way she said 'apprentice' struck Rikke as having a strong degree of disdain. Fear, anger, hate. Rikke thought, she had discovered there was a progression to power within the darkside. First a person felt fear and soon the power of the darkside was at their command. If Rive feared Rikke, then soon she would have the power to kill Rikke. The common reaction was to fear Rive herself and then gain the power to overcome her with the Darkside. But perhaps, if there was another way

"Master, may I ask a question about you?" Rikke asked.

"What is it, apprentice?" Rive was still agitated, but Rikke hoped to alleviate it through friendly conversation.

"Your teeth are very striking, is it a racial trait?" Rive had a row of razor teeth spanning the width of her lower jaw. Rikke had wondered about this since she had first encountered her new master.

"Hmmph." Rive sighed and growled at once. "As you know, fear is a powerful tool for the Sith, yes? I've discovered a sure and quick route to invoke fear in your opponent is through vicious imagery. Many past Sith have employed masks and paint to this end. I found altering my body for the invocation of fear to be a far more effective method in their pursuit. I did this to myself through genetic enhancements."

"I see, master. You are very wise."

Rive nodded as a plan formed in her mind, it was apparent that Rikke needed her, at least for now, this would buy her time. Her murder at Rikke's hand was inevitable, but with time, Rive could develop a plan to outlive her new apprentice.

"If it pleases you," Rikke continued, "Might I follow your example and adopt your appearance as a way of showing my honor?"

"You seek to become your master?" Rive asked feeling that Rikke's plan for murder had taken a disturbing turn.

"No, my master, only to honor you." Rikke could feel her master's fear and unease through the Force. "Master, if you'll forgive my emotion, I feel as if I have learned so much from you to the extent that I will never be the same. Through you and the Darkside, I have been reborn. In adopting your appearance, I mean to honor you and ensure your legacy, in a similar way that a daughter honors her mother in her very appearance."

"Hmm..." Rive growled aloud. "The Force has opened your mind in unpredicted ways, my apprentice."

Rikke felt her master's apprehension dissipate, at least for the moment. Since they met, Rikke had felt a sort of envy of her master's genetic modifications. Rive was positively terrifying and now that Rikke was coming to understand the power of fear, she desired similar or more excessive modifications.

"If similar genetic enhancements are your desire, apprentice, they can be done here in the Corporate Sector for a fee."

"I have the credits required."

"Then it shall be done."

[Lady Frygt]

"Is that the Lady Rive?" the Geneticist asked as the two Sith women entered the clinic.

"It is, Dr. Khar." Darth Rive replied.

"What brings you into Vexar, my Lady? Nothing to do with your modifications, I pray."

"No, no, Doctor. My apprentice wishes to be like me."

"Ah ha! Very good, my lady. Ms.- uh..."

"Frygt." Rikke interjected. "Darth Frygt."

"Hmm." The doctor looked uneasy. "Mistress Frygt, come with me."

---

"Planet of birth and species?" the doctor asked.

"Corellia, human." Rikke responded and found herself in a thought As far as I know. She never knew her birth mother and was orphaned early on in life. She always hated her mother for this, now fuelled with the Darkside, she found her hate rising like a storm inside her. To prevent an outburst of fury, she reminded herself that she had a new mother now, Darth Rive. By means of these new genetic enhancements, she would be as much like her mother as possible.

"I need a quick DNA sample." The doctor said as he plucked a dark hair from her head. "One moment, please."

"Rikke..."

"Huh?" Rikke said outloud.

"Oh, nothing, mistress, I just need a minute to investigate your DNA sample." The doctor said.

"Oh." Rikke looked around " I thought I heard my name."

"Your feelings, Rikke. I speak to you here."

"Master?" Rikke thought inside her mind.

"Mother." Rive replied "You are screaming through the Force. You hate your birth mother?"

"I do, she abandoned me as a child at her soonest convenience. She was unable to understand me or take care of me. So she dumped me."

"When we finish in CorSec, I will aide you in revenge."

"You truly are the mother of my heart."

"And you my daughter."

---

"Doctor," Rive said. "Might I have a word with you about the operation?"

"Yes, yes." the doctor said.

"Darth Frygt and I have thoroughly discussed her becoming my genetic offspring. I wish to surprise her, might you do this for me, I will cover all additional costs."

"For that kind of secrecy, Mistress Rive, it will cost quite a bit extra."

"Money is no matter to me. See to it." Rive said definitively.

----

"Mistress Frygt, the operation requires the activation of the Gene MK2 in humans, this will have two primary effects. The first being, ther modification of the jaw and dental structures as you see in Lady Rive. A secondary effect of this is that, muscle control in the Bruccinator, Levetor and Masseter. will be expanded and enhanced. The entended length of the teeth will be able to be partially hidden by modification of the described muscles and skin. Would you demonstrate Lady Rive,please?"

Rive exposed all her teeth for a moment, the grin emcompassing most of her lower face. Then Rive closed her mouth, the skin forming neatly around her teeth to ive her an almost normal human appearance, though with deep scars indenting where the skin would separate to show her teeth.

"Thank you, My lady. Now the second effect will be an alteration in the radius and ulna, the bones divide into seven separate structures. Two of which replace the shape and function of the forearm bones, the remaining five create a type of retractable bone claw that can unshealth through various parts of the forearm and hand."

Without being asked Rive demonstrated this ability and held her hand up for Rikke to see as six inch bone claws sprang from her fingertips. Rive's brow furrowed in pain, blood flowed freely from her fingers. "It hurts like hell, but can decide the outcome of a fight."

"And I'm sure cause the type of fear I hope to inspire." Rikke responded.

"Such a good apprentice you are... daughter." Rive said and showed all her pointed teeth in a smile of approval.

"And, Lady Frygt, I need to to sign your consent here, initial here, sign one last time. Let's begin." Said the doctor as Rikke followed each instruction with eagerness.

----

Darth Rive stood before her new daughter in the Genetic operations chamber. In a trasparent tube her daughter Darth Frygt floated in the middle. The genetic modification had gone smoothly, not only did Rikke resemble her but now also shared her own DNA. Rive had become acutely aware that the nature of taking on an apprentice often resulted in the death of the master at the apprentice's hand. Naturally, Rive was in no hurry to be murdered, in fact she downright feared it. But she developed a plan when Rikke compared their relationship to that of mother and child. If Rikke could be made to be her legitimate genetic offspring she might feel some sort of attachment to Rive as her actual mother. Ideally this would ensure Rive's survival as Rikke matured as a Sith.

Lost in thought, Rive hardly noticed when Rikke's eyes fluttered open for a second. Rive raised her eyes to look at her daughter again.

"While I hope our shared DNA might preserve my life, I do hope I can be an excellent mother to you, my dear." Rive said softly.

Within the tank the six inch bone and keratin claws in Rikke's body extended rapidly from her fingertips. Rive couldn't decide if it was her newly altered jaw but it seemed that Rikke was smiling devilishly at her.

"She's waking up." the Doctor said as Rikke pushed her new claws agauinst the glass of the tube. "She'll break the glass! Stop her!"

Rive watched her daughter test the class with her newfound weapons. In response, Rive extended her own claws, blood dripping to the floor just before where the tube met the floor. Rikke lowered the pressure she put on the glass and held her hand and claws in a reaching gesture. Rive raised her own clawed hand and the two women met claw to claw, finger to finger. Finally, Rikke pushed against the glass, only second passed as Rikke was reaching through the broken glass, liquid pouring out of the tube around her wrist and hand. Their hands clasped, eyes locked. In the silence of the moment, they spoke to each other through the Force.

Mother.
Daughter

----

For Rikke, it was a totally new feeling that overcame her. In the past week, she had become intimiately familiar with the Darkside but now, she found herself experiencing a new aspect of the Force. She felt a happiness, s peace unlike anything she'd ever sensed before. The joy swelled in her until it became turmulteous like a still ocean feeling the swells of a typhoon. Soon, the peace became a violent peace raging inside her. The walls of the glass tube shattered into millions of tempered grains.

Rikke stepped out and embraced her mother. As she did, she noticed a single tear drip down her mother's cheek. Then Rikke felt a new experience. It stemmed from her earlier experience of peace. She felt an intuition into her mother's self, her soul. From there sge saw the truth about her master and mother. Rive was under the command of a figure Rikke could not identify. Rikke could read her mother's mind like poetry, so plain it was to her now in this state of awareness.

Kill her!?I would never. She thoughtto herself. Even if her master, who is likely far more powerful than I demanded that I do it.I would not.

----

On her ship, Rikke sat next to her master smoking a cigarette and licking her new teeth, V3 was piloting the ship towards Corellia where Rive would help Rikke find the Sith Holocron so that she might close her last contract and begin her training as a Sith knight. Rikke planned to leave the agency to V3 who was more than capable of hasndling the contracts himself and had earned his freedom by far.

"Mother, might I speak with you?"

"Of course."

"Who is your master? I saw him or her in your mind yesterday."

Rive sighed, "It was inevitable that you'd ask. The Sith lordI report to is in fact the very person that contracted your investigastion of the Sith ruins on Corellia."

"If Lady Tåge is a Sith, why not just retrieve the holocron herself?"

"I don't know much, but I believe it had something to do with you."

"Me?"

"You are strong with the Darkside, I believe that she intends to take you from me when it pleases her."

"I would never leave you, my master... mother."

"In time you must, to pursue your own destiny."

"Lady Tåge wants me to murder you, I would never" Rikke sobbed, "I could never even imagine harming you!"

"Of course. I know you love me, Rikke."

In her grief at the thought of hurting her mother, Rikke touched the darkside and used to to discover and investigate a darkened space in Rive's mind.

"You seek to learn my secrets, Rikke?"

"I didn't mean to intrude, mother, I did not know the blackness in your mind were your secrets. I won't do it again."

"In time, all will be revealed."

"Patience is not the way of the Darkside."

"Very wise, apprentice."

"But if you wish it, I will wait."

"I sense that you shall become more powerful than I or Lady Tåge. So wise are you."

"Thank you, my master."

---

" I never went any deeper than this. " Rive said as they entered an arched circular room Both women and V3 were very aware that the dirt and rubbl of the former Sith stronghold were pressing down on the underground structures. "Any deeper and if it hasn't collapsed already, it may very well collapse on us."

"I need to complete this contract, master, I will go on alone if necessary. V3, come with me."

"Of course my mistress."

In the subsequent stairway, Rikke stepped cautiously.

Rive spoke to her through the Force, [i] I should have led into the tunnels... if something were to happen to you...

Think nothing of it, you've trained me well enough to handle a simple collapse of dirt and stone.

You're right, Rikke, I just can't stand the thought of losing you.

If you fear this, then...

My own daughter and apprentice has become the teacher...

I have much to learn yet, mother.

Rikke pointed to her left and nodded at V3. They turned to the left at the intersection.

As thery descended the stairs, Rikke felt a strong preasence inthe force grow nearby.

Rive spoke in her mind, I feel it too, I'm not far behind you.

As the crumbling stairway ended Rikke entered a room supported by thick columns, arches and domes. Rikke knew it was structurally sound, but Rikke had no indication of how much weight was on top of the room. But what concerned her the most was the foreign preasence thast she felt in the room with her.

As Rive entered behind V3 and Rikke, she spoke to her daughter through the Force.

Careful, apprentice, we are not alone.

I think your daughter is well aware of this fact.

Rikke felt the powerful voice in her head she had hope it was her imagination, but they were definitely not alone.

Who are you? Rikke asked.

Does this help? The voice changed in tone and resonance

Lady Tåge? Rikke was genuinely surprised, if Lady Tåge could get to this room herself, why did she contract the job out at all?

Not exactly Tåge said Neither named Tåge nor a lady. But rather a Sith Master and Southstar.

Rikke glanced at her mother momentarily before looking to find wher Southstar might be. Rive appeared stricken. She must know who this Southstar was and it concerned her gravely.

Well, what do you want with us Rikke asked.

Firstly, I want the holocron.

If you're here, get it yourself! Rikke responded

Which brings me to my second point, I want you.

Rikke was confused What for?

Do not question your master's instructions! Activate the holocron, right there, by your droid.

Rikke looked to see V3 standing by a ornate sarcophogus, the holocron sat on top of the lid. She walked near it and felt the holocron invoking her power. It began to float over the lid, it then began to blossom and divide Rikke hardly nedded to do anything. The information in the holocron flowed freely to her mind.

What am I seeking to learn, great master?

Consciousness transfer.

You have no body... yet you can still speak through the Force...

As if Southstar had anticipated this, men began to march into the room, all identical with tattoos on their chins. Each held a bladterin one hand asnd a lightsaber in the other. Rikke calculated that they would be as skilled and powerful with the Force as the original, despite being clones. But none of the clones was the person she was speaking with.

You want your consciousness transferred from where you are to one of these clones.

Yesss.... so close. I want my body back!

Where is you consciousness now so that I might mopve it?

You really haven't figured it out? I'm in this damned droid you fool! I have no idea what Rive sees in you.


"I figured it out long ago." Rive said as her blade pierced the container for V3's organic brain.

"Oh, thank the universe..."