Adult-FanFiction.org : Television / Streaming

Knight of the Old Republic Episode II: Redemption	By : hatochiisai Category: 1 through F > Criminal Minds Views: 2738 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds, nor do I make any financial profit off of writing and posting this work.

Chapter List
- 21
- 22
- 23
Knights of the Old Republic: Episode II

Ahmose Inarus

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Criminal Minds, and I most certainly do NOT own Star Wars.

SLASH WARNING!!! H/R

Chapter 22

PLANET: CORUSCANT

LOCATION: JEDI TEMPLE

TIME: MID DAY

Reid stood staring out a window of the Jedi Temple, observing the busy traffic of the massive city-planet of Coruscant. In the back of his mind, he could feel Hotch trying to reach him, but he kept the Bond tightly shut, refusing to let the man in. He was still upset, and he didn’t want to talk to him. All he wanted was to be left alone.

He was tired. He told himself that it was because of his session that morning with Master Syr and Kitata Ree, learning how to control his darkness… but he knew that wasn’t the whole reason…

He winced, bowing his head and coughing into an already blood spattered cloth that he had begun to carry around. He winced as the pain made his chest spasm, and when he opened his eyes, he stared at the fresh blood soaking into the cloth. He wiped his mouth and swallowed down the blood that had gathered in his mouth. If he were honest with himself, he would look at the cloth and say, “That’s why I’m tired”. But he couldn’t be honest with himself. He was afraid to…

He turned and walked down the hall. Lunch was about to end. He was supposed to meet with Masters Virr, Gideon and Kao after lunch, but he just didn’t have it in him. He knew that they would track him down within the confines of the Temple, and so he did as he had several days past… he pulled up his hood and slipped out amongst several Jedi heading to the Senate. And once they had arrived, he slipped away, changed clothes, and headed for the dingy cantinas and dark Pazaak Dens… where he felt more at home… And where he could forget his pain, both physical, and emotional.

He played Pazaak, once again moving from Den to Den, making sure he left before he made people too angry or suspicious of his uncanny ability to win. Though not many would have actually confronted him on it. He didn’t realize it, but he made a frightening sight in his black and red Sith clothing, his pasty skin mottled black, blue, red, green and purple with his extensive bruising that he hadn’t realized now covered over half of his body… His hair hung in limp, stringy tangles, and his efforts that morning had caused blood vessels to burst in his eyes, leaving the whites of his eyes blood red.

What he also didn’t know was that Kitata Ree and Raahn Syr had noticed his eyes, and had gone to confront him on it. But he had never showed up to meet Gideon, Virr and Kao… he didn’t know that the entirety of the Jedi Temple was being searched at that very moment, or that the BAU had just set down and his team was frantically making its way back… All he knew was his own pain, and his need for the Nectar. He swallowed down his last two vials, and hoped that he would be able to obtain his fresh supply in time to feed his craving again…

PLANET: CORUSCANT

LOCATION: JEDI TEMPLE

TIME: AFTERNOON

The team hit the ground running. As soon as their shuttle arrived to the Temple, they dashed up the stairs and into the place, immediately searching for Reid, or any of the Masters on the Council. They ran into Master Sam Cooper, who informed them that the Council was actually searching for Reid already. Hotch immediately tracked down the first High Councilmember he could find, Bre Mong, and she called all the others back to the Council Spire. Once they were there (minus Sa’Eeya’Da, who was off planet on a mission) Hotch immediately started speaking, not even bothering with formalities.

“Darth Sassin and Darth Nocturn are here.” He said. “On Coruscant. They stopped at Denon on their way in to pick up a supply of Vi’Tani Nectar. They’ve come for Reid, and they’re laying a trap for him.”

“With Vi’Tani Nectar?” Strauss asked skeptically. “Why on earth would they need that?”

“… He’s using.” Master Virr murmured. Hotch looked at the Miraluka, and nodded.

“Yes. That’s what’s wrong with him. The Sith started giving it to him.” Hotch said. “After he betrayed them and let Master Virr go, they began giving it to him to get him addicted so that they could have more leverage over him.”

“… They used his addiction to control him.” Morgan added.

“And when he came here, he couldn’t stop.” Hotch said. “He… He’s been sneaking out of the Temple.”

“What?!” Demanded Max Ryan. “He’s on probation! Confined to the Temple!!!”

“He’s snuck out twice that I know of.” Hotch admitted. “But… probably more than that. I’m sorry. I should have told you.”

“You bear no blame here, Aaron.” Gideon said, shaking his head. He sighed. “Master Virr and myself were with Hotch when he confronted Spencer when he returned to the Temple one time. We didn’t reveal that either.”

“No.” Master Virr confessed. “We didn’t.”

“Your love for this Padawan has clouded your judgment!” Snapped Raahn Syr, glaring at his fellow Councilmen.

“This conversation can wait until later.” Kitata Ree interrupted, and the Council, who had looked ready to explode into a very un-Jedi-like argument, settled. They all turned to the Grand Master. “Right now, our priority is to find the Padawan before the Sith Lords do.”

“I agree.” Master Virr said, his voice tense. “His future is clouded… but my feelings tell me that if we do not find him quickly, he WILL die.” Eyes turned as Hotch sucked in a breath, almost as if in pain.

“Then find him we shall.” Noria Cereni said. “Aaron? Your Bond?”

“… He and I argued. He’s shut me out.” The man said. “I’ve been trying to warn him ever since I received this information. He has not once let his shields down. I can’t reach him.”

“Then we do this the old fashioned way.” Bre Mong stated.

“Keep trying to reach him.” Ralko told Hotch.

“Some of us should co-ordinate with informants.” Kitata Ree said, hopping from his seat. “The rest of us need to get out there and start searching. Jason, Raahn, Bre, Tarash. I want you to come out into the field with me and Aaron’s team. Would anyone else wish to come along?” Eesa K’Tal and Amna Kao stood.

“Very well. Noria, Ralko, Max and Erin. Co-ordinate with the Temple. Find informants and gather information to relay to us. We must find him as soon as possible. Once we have him back safely, we can address his… transgressions. Now move.” And the Jedi flooded out of the Council Chamber and split up.

Within moments, the entire Temple knew that SOMETHING was going on. Many Jedi and their support staff watched as Hotch and his team hurried out of the Temple with the seven members of the High Council.

“He can’t have gone far, and there aren’t many places near here where he could have found the type of character that would deal in the Nectar.” Garcia was saying as she worked on a small palm computer, tapping away at the holographic display floating six inches above the device.

“Good. Then there’re not a lot of options.” Master Syr growled.

“There’s one large sector in the Under City near here… That’s probably our best bet.” Garcia said.

“The nearest red light district just to the southwest?” Gideon asked.

“Yessir.” Garcia nodded.

“That’s still a lot of ground to cover.” Emily pointed out.

“We will split up. Aaron will come with me.” Kitata Ree said as they reached the Jedi’s fleet of Speeders.

“I’ll take the Padawan with me.” Master Kao said, beckoning to Seaver, and the rest of the group split up silently. Bre Mong climbed into a speeder and Morgan leapt in to accompany the Battlemaster, Garcia went with Eesa K’Tal, Emily with Master Syr, JJ with Master Virr and Rossi and Gideon paired up as well. In moments, the fleet of speeders were on their way.

“… Aaron.” Master Kitata Ree said, and Hotch glanced at the tiny Master beside him. “Raahn accused Jason and Tarash of allowing their judgment to be clouded by their love for the Padawan… but the same can be said for you, can it not?”

“… I… Master, I…”

“It can.” The Chadra-Fan announced. “You hid it very well, but I am not blind, Aaron. You love him.”

“… I do.” Hotch murmured, defeat filling him.

“For how long?”

“… It is how we developed our Bond, Master.”

“I see. How exactly?”

“… It… It first appeared after we…” Hotch trailed off, trying to figure out how to say it.

“You mated.” Kitata Ree said, simply.

“… Yes.”

“I see.”

Both were silent for a very long time, and then Kitata Ree said, “We shall speak of it later. I feel that I must meditate on the issue.”

“As you wish, Master.”

They both turned at an insistent beeping. Kitata Ree punched a button, and a small hologram of Strauss appeared.

“We have received information that an individual whose description resembles Darth Livion has been in several Pazaak Dens this afternoon.” She said. “And he’s been winning.”

“That’s him.” Hotch said, confidently. Kitata Ree looked at him, and Hotch smirked. “Have YOU ever played him at Pazaak?”

“I haven’t.” Kitata Ree said, sounding amused.

“… Whatever you do, play by the Republic rules… or he’ll take you for all you’re worth.” Hotch said with a wry smile. Kitata Ree chuckled.

“Really now? I am intrigued… We Charda-Fan are known for our Pazaak skills… When this is all over, I believe I will challenge him.” And he sat back in his seat looking pleasantly amused at this prospect. The tension evaporated and Hotch smiled, focusing on the traffic.

The Grand Master and Head of the Jedi Order now knew of his relationship with Spencer… a relationship forbidden by the Jedi…

He would worry on it later…

PLANET: CORUSCANT

LOCATION: PAZAAK DEN

TIME: EVENING

Reid had obtained nearly eight times the Credits he needed to pay for the Nectar he was about to pick up. And he was enjoying himself playing, so he was planning to keep playing. That is, until a Gran ran into the Den.

“Jedi!” He shouted. “They’re searching the Dens! And they’re heading our way!” And chaos exploded. Reid’s heart was pounding. He knew that they were looking for him… He quickly stood, tossing back the rest of his drink and heading for the back door. As he slipped out, he grew light headed. He stumbled and leaned against the wall, wincing slightly. He waited for the dizziness to pass, but he was quickly doubled over by a cough, which left his head spinning again. When it did pass, he shook himself and headed for the small warehouse where he was to meet with Guelan and his Rhodian supplier. He stumbled slightly as he approached the building. He was shaking… he needed his next fix.

He slipped inside and saw the Quarren and the Rhodian, who were muttering softly with their heads together. But they both stopped when Reid appeared, walking across the room towards them.

“You have them?” Reid asked. The pair nodded, and a crate was set down by one of the Trandoshan enforcers, who lifted off the lid. Inside, nestled in dried grasses, were three bottles of Vi’Tani Nectar. Reid didn’t notice how his eyes glowed in desire and his body trembled. “Excellent.” Reid said. “How often can you get in a shipment like this?” He asked, fumbling with the Credit pouch on his belt, then tossing it to them.

“We have found a reliable supplier. So anytime it is needed.” The Rhodian said.

“I’m pleased to hear it. Consider this an advance on the next shipment.” And he tossed another small pouch over.

“Your generosity is recognized and appreciated.” The Quarren said, bowing.

“I will see you in… two weeks then?”

“As you wish. Pleasure doing business with you, Lord Livion.”

Reid, who had knelt to take the crate, froze. Slowly, he lifted his head and turned to look at the pair.

“… What did you just call me?” He asked, his voice low. The pair stared at him, and then began to slowly back away. But not in fear… their eyes were hard, and glittered with malice. The Trandoshan and Weequay enforcers had their blaster rifles aimed at him… and then there was a swell of darkness from behind him, and he heard footsteps.

“This was too easy.” Drawled a frighteningly familiar voice. Slowly, shaking, Reid turned, standing. He was too afraid to feel the approach of over a dozen Jedi outside…

“… Elle.” He breathed. But then, another figure stepped out of the shadows. And his stomach twisted… he felt sick… It was Darth Nocturn. And the man was wearing a cruel smirk of sick delight. And with the pair were a dozen Dark Jedi… and then Darth Livion appeared from the shadows, though no one else saw him…

“You never should have left.” Elle said, eyes gleaming. “Look at you. You’re a mess.” Reid didn’t answer, and the Jedi that had come searching for him were now creeping along the walkway up on the third level of the warehouse, looking down upon the scene before them. “You’re covered in bruises, aren’t you?” Elle asked. Slowly, Reid wrapped his arms across his abdomen, hunching over slightly and lowering his eyes while chewing his lower lip. Almost immediately, it began to bleed, making Reid wince slightly. And then came the cough. It nearly brought him to its knees with the force of them and the pain that they brought on. He pressed the back of his hand to his mouth, refusing to allow the Sith Lords and Dark Jedi to see the blood… to see that he was weak… but they didn’t have to. They already knew.

“You’re dying, Spencer.” Elle said, slowly approaching him. “While you were with us, Trion could use the Force to keep the Nectar from affecting you much. They can slow down the damage. The moment you left, though, they couldn’t reach you to do that anymore. The moment you left, the Nectar started breaking your body down.” She took his hand and lifted it. Reid stared, watching as she looked down at the pale skin of the back of his hand. “And now…” She pressed a finger firmly to the back of his hand for a moment before removing it. And as they watched, a fresh bruise began to blossom. Reid felt his stomach twist. And then, slowly, he looked up at her.

“… I… I don’t want…” He managed to get out, before choking.

“You don’t want to die.” She said for him. Reid stared at her, tears rolling down his face. “But you ARE dying.” And she brushed his tears away, then held up her hand. He looked. His tears were wet on her fingers… and they were tinged with blood. “We can save you. Come with us. And we can take you to Trion. And HE will save you.” She gently took hold of his arm. “Come on. It’s time to go home.”

“No.” Reid gasped. “I… I can’t, I…”

“Why not?” Elle asked.

“… Darth Reaper… He… He’ll hurt me…” Reid whimpered pathetically.

“It’s okay.” Elle told him. “If you help us get Dualath and come back willingly, he will forgive you.”

Reid froze.

“Dualath?” He asked, looking stunned.

“She’s being held in the Temple, right?” Elle asked. Reid just stared at her, then slowly backed away.

“You… didn’t know?” He asked.

“Know what?” Elle asked.

“… Dualath is… Adam… Amanda… He… she… they…” Reid swallowed the lump in his throat. “Elle, Dualath is dead.”

“… What?” Nocturn asked, finally speaking.

“She was wounded when we fled. Not even the Jedi could save her… AH!” Reid yelped as he was slapped harshly across the face. Elle was glaring at him.

“WE could have! The Dark Side could have saved her! But you took her AWAY!!!”

“You killed her.” Nocturn sneered, slowly approaching.

“What?” Reid gasped. “No… I… I didn’t.”

“Yes you did! It’s your fault she was hurt, your fault she wasn’t where she could have been saved, YOUR fault that she DIED!!!” Elle shouted.

“You let the Master’s heir die.” Nocturn chuckled. “He will not forgive you for that.” And then he and Elle each took hold of Reid’s biceps.

“N-No…” Reid begged as they began to drag him across the room. “Please… where are you taking me?!”

“To Korriban.” Elle said, her voice low and harsh.

“No!” Reid cried, and began to struggle. “No! I don’t want to go!” And with a blast of the Force, he threw them off of him. The pair landed nimbly, and immediately the room was filled with the light of over a dozen red Lightsabers. “I’m not going!” Reid cried.

“You will come with us now, or you will die where you stand.” Darth Sassin spat. “So Lord Reaper has commanded.”

“Then I will die fighting.” Reid breathed, his voice ragged as he drew his own weapons, the purple blades humming eagerly. “And I will die a Jedi.”

“That is good to hear.” Reid jumped at the voice behind him. Kitata Ree calmly shuffled into the light, his clawed paw clutching his Lightsaber hilt. “Padawan… you are not well.”

Reid knelt before the Grand Master, eyes wide.

“Master… what… what are you…” He trailed off with the tiny Chadra-Fan placed his empty paw on his head.

“Looking for you.” Kitata Ree said in a casual tone.

“Master Kitata Ree…” Nocturn drawled, smirking.

“Hello. Billy Flynn, correct?” Kitata Ree greeted, wiping the smirk off of Darth Nocturn’s face. “I remember you. The Order rejected you for training, because even at age three, you were strong with the Dark Side.” The Sith Lord just snarled.

“You are here to protect Darth Livion?” Darth Sassin asked with a sneer.

“I am here to protect Spencer Reid.” Kitata Ree said. “Elle… your Fall saddens me.”

“You have only yourself to blame. If the Council weren’t so blind and quick to condemn. All because I used some techniques that you didn’t like.”

“It was not your use of the Force Scream that upset us.” Kitata Ree explained. “It was your obvious pleasure at seeing the effect of it on your victim. The pain… their grimace. You liked to watch them writhe. That is what we condemn. Not the Scream itself.”

“You just keep telling yourself that.” Elle snapped. “And when will the rest of you stop hiding in the shadows?!” Reid jumped, looking around as Lightsabers blazed up all around them. Yellow, green, blue, two orange and even a silver.

“Leave now, and you may go in peace.” Kitata Ree said, and his Lightsaber flared up, a clear viridian in color.

“We can’t do that.” Elle said, lifting her blade. “Either Livion leaves with us, or he leaves a corpse.”

“I will lay myself down on my own pyre before I go with you.” Reid hissed.

“… So be it.” Elle said in a cold tone, and then a box flew across the room and slammed into Reid’s stomach. He immediately collapsed to his knees with a pained cry, wrapping his arms around his stomach… something within him had burst…

“… HRRUHK!!!”

A disgusting, frothy cocktail of rancid blood, bile, abrax and Nectar poured from his mouth, splashing onto the floor. He grit his teeth and squeezed his eyes closed at the pain. He rocked himself, moaning and sobbing weakly as he fought to hold down the next bout of vomiting, and failed. A sickening odor surrounded him as he brought up a second round of blood and bile… So overwhelmed by the smell, the taste, the pain and nausea was he, that he didn’t even notice the battle that had broken out around him.

He was surrounded by Masters Tarash Virr, Eesa K’Tal and Jason Gideon, who kept blaster fire from striking the helpless young man. Around them, the Force Users engaged in fierce combat. Elle and Hotch dueled with speed and intensity, the former with a sneer on her lips and the latter fighting back his anger and lust for revenge on this woman who had done so much… betrayed him and his team, leaving both Hotch and Reid to the Vi’Tani, taking part in their capture by the Sith and helping to convert Spencer Reid into Darth Livion… And now, trying to take him back again… and trying to kill him…

Hotch wanted to kill Elle… And in that moment, if he won the fight and had her at his mercy, he didn’t know if he would be able to stay his hand. But even that fear wasn’t enough to get him to back down and allow someone with a more level head to engage her. No… she had tried to kill his Spencer… and he could not allow that to slide. But then, there was a challenging roar and Hotch whirled, raising his two yellow blades to block the red one coming for his neck. Darth Cenar stood there, grinning.

“Vincent…” Hotch growled, glaring at the man who had been a friend of his back when they were young initiates. And a moment later, the pair were engaged in a ferocious dance of Kill or Be Killed. Elle backed away, smirking to herself, then turned and fled, having no intention of being captured there…

Amna Kao, JJ, Rossi and Seaver were fighting back the Weequay and Trandoshan thugs, while Bre Mong and Raahn Syr battled three Dark Jedi each. Emily had engaged a seventh, and Kitata Ree was overwhelming the remaining Dark Jedi. Garcia sat right outside of the building, using her Battle Meditation.

Derek Morgan was dueling with Darth Nocturn. The Sith Lord was grinning, his rotten teeth on full display. “Tell me, Derek…” He drawled. “Are you still blaming yourself for the death of the Onderon Watchman?”

“I didn’t kill him.” Morgan hissed, spinning his blade and forcing Nocturn back a step. “You murdered him you son of a bitch.”

“And it was so much fun. Especially seeing the queen so hysterical. I’ll be you don’t know WHY she was so hysterical…”

“You killed her planet’s Watchman. After taking her hostage.” Morgan spat.

“Oh, it was so much more than that. He wasn’t just the Watchman… you see… he really meant something to her. Not many know it, but… Spicer was her father.”

“… What?” Morgan gasped, eyes wide.

“Why do you think he was so desperate for you to make that promise to save her? Why do you think I had… so much fun?” Morgan stared at the man, and then lashed out. He flung Nocturn back with a blast of the Force, and then propelled himself after the man, leaping into the air, spinning his blade and bringing it down to cleave the Sith Lord in two. But Nocturn blocked the attack, laughing maniacally, and then Lightning crackled through the room. The Dark Jedi bolted, done with the fight. The three Masters surrounding Reid left him and ran to cut off the escape of the fleeing cowards. Bre Mong, Raahn Syr, and Eesa K’Tal chased them.

Reid slowly looked up, unable to take the horrible gnawing in his stomach. And his eyes fell upon the crate of Nectar, and a horrified cry fell from his lips. The box had been hit by blaster fire, and the bottles had broken… Darth Livion walked over and looked down.

“Oh… what a mess…” He sighed, and then looked at Reid with a grin. “What are you going to do now?” Reid didn’t answer… He began to drag himself across the floor towards the liquid that was slowly spreading as it drained from the broken bottles. He managed to reach it, his hands falling into the stuff and becoming coated in it. With a sob of desperation, he lifted his shaking hand and began to lick the Nectar from his fingers. But then he was overcome by another bout of coughing, and blood flew from his lips. And slowly, he lowered his head to rest on the floor in the puddle, where blood and Nectar now met… He closed his eyes… he was so tired…

“I told you…” Livion hissed, kneeling. “You can’t live without me…”

All eyes were on two pairs still fighting it out; Hotch and Darth Cenar, and Morgan and Darth Nocturn. Their blades made a lightshow around them, Morgan with his blue Double Bladed Lightsaber, Hotch with his two yellow Single Blades, and the two Sith Lords with their red blades.

And then, it happened. Morgan ducked a slash from Nocturn, spun and rose, then lunged. Nocturn gasped, and his weapon fell from his hand and clattered onto the floor.

“… Well now…” He gasped, and Morgan stepped back, jerking his blade out of the man’s chest. Nocturn collapsed to the floor with a thud. Morgan stared at him, then turned and looked at Hotch.

“You didn’t have to follow your Master to the Dark Side, Vincent.” The Jedi Knight was saying.

“I know, I know.” Darth Cenar sighed, sounding amused. “I could have stayed and become an uptight anal good guy like you. But the Dark Side gives you power. With the Dark Side, you can live life for yourself. With that being offered to me, why the hell would I elect to live a life of servitude with the Jedi Order?”

“Because.” Hotch said. “We submit ourselves to this servitude willingly. Instead of living in denial of the fact that we live in servitude, like you are with Darth Reaper. You’re blind, Vincent.”

“You don’t know anything, Hotchner.”

“I know who I am.” Hotch snarled. “I know what I believe, I know who I care about, and I know what I live for. And it’s something much better than just POWER. You? You’ve lived for nothing.” And Hotch whirled, his blades slicing neatly through the air, and then neatly through Darth Cenar’s throat. The man choked, eyes wide, and he dropped his weapon and gripped his own neck, falling to his knees. “And now you’ll die for nothing.” And he watched as Cenar slumped to the ground. The man shuddered, and then was still.

And the Jedi felt him pass.

“Well done, Aaron.” Kitata Ree said with a nod. Hotch looked at the Grand Master, and nodded. Then, slowly, he turned.

“… Spencer?” He called. Then, he eyes widened. “Spencer!” And as one, the Jedi ran across to room to the body lying on the floor in a large pool of blood and Nectar.

Raahn Syr reached Reid first, having leapt across the room on all fours. He padded over to the boy and reached out with a great paw, rolling him over, then grasping his shoulders and lifting him into a sitting position.

“Padawan?” He rumbled, looking worriedly at the boy. Reid blinked his red eyes open and stared up at the Jedi Shadow.

“Master…” He wheezed, then looked to the side. “Aaron.” Hotch took Reid into his arms, holding him close. The others surrounded them. Reid looked at all of the faces staring down at him, then closed his eyes in shame, blood filled tears falling from his eyes again. “… I… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”

“His heart.” Kitata Ree suddenly said, sounding worried. “Listen to his heart.” Hotch looked at the Grand Master, then laid a hand on Reid’s chest and focused. After a moment, he could sense it. Reid had developed an advanced heart murmur. The vessels had grown weak, and were leaking blood with every beat of his heart.

“We need to get him to the Healers.” Amna Kao said. Reid whimpered softly.

“I’m sorry…” He said, again. “I’m so sorry…” Then he grimaced and coughed, and blood bubbled out of his mouth again.

“Let’s get moving.” Rossi said, and Raahn Syr took Reid from Hotch, and the man got to his feet. The Jedi headed for the door, ready to leave the place. But on their way out, Morgan, Emily and Battlemaster Bre Mong approached Darth Nocturn, who was gasping on the floor. The man looked up at them, and gave them a twisted grin.

“A war… is coming.” He gasped, looking delighted. “And you have brought it upon the Galaxy…”

“What war? Are the Sith declaring war on the Republic?” Bre Mong demanded. Nocturn chuckled, wincing slightly.

“Oh no… this is a battle between two Sith Lords. Darth Reaper has been in charge of the Galaxy… but another has been waiting beyond the Outer Rim, longing to overthrow him and take his place. And now he will try.”

“Why?” Morgan asked.

“Because of you.”

“How?”

“… You have weakened the Reaper. You have killed Darth Dualath, Darth Cenar, and now me… this leaves him with only Darth Sassin, Darth Trion and Darth Rashio.” Nocturn said, chuckling. “Now this man will move in to take over with his servants… Darth Cadra… Darth Narcessa… Darth Alegro…” Nocturn coughed violently. Then he looked at Emily. “He will be pleased to see you…”

“Darth Alegro?” Emily asked, wondering who the hell that was…

“No… Darth Valha.” Morgan watched Emily’s eyes widen, and she paled.

“Regardless of what happens… you will not be around to see it.” Bre Mong said. “… Go in peace. And find peace in yourself. Even after death, one can be redeemed.”

“The Dark Side is who I am, Battlemaster.” Nocturn choked. “And it is who I will remain.”

The three Jedi stood and watched him draw his last breath, and then his body shuddered and went still.

“Come.” Master Bre Mong said. “We must return to the Temple, and see if your friend can be saved.” And she and Morgan headed for the door.

Emily lingered, thinking on what Darth Nocturn had said. Perhaps he had been bluffing… but no. For him to even know that name, there had to be some truth to his words. Emily shook her head, pushed her thoughts away and turned, hurrying after the others, her mind on Reid. As she left, she paused and looked back, staring at the large puddle of blood and Nectar.

Her mind went back to two years ago… Reid had barely survived coming off of the Vi’Tani Nectar then… would he be able to do it again?

“Emily!”

She turned and followed after Morgan, hoping with all she had that tonight would not be Spencer’s last battle…
- 21
- 22
- 23
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Knight of the Old Republic Episode II: Redemption