Knight of the Old Republic Episode II: Redemption

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

 

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Chapter 9

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PLANET: BAKURA

 

LOCATION:  SALIS D’AAR

 

TIME:  PRE DAWN

 

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The team prepared to disembark as the ship moved into the atmosphere of Bakura, heading for Salis D’aar’s Star Port.  As they did, Hotch slowly moved into the room, looking tired and worn.  He was buckling his belt around his waist.

 

“Hey, Hotch.”  Morgan greeted as the others tried not to stare at their exhausted looking leader.  “Sleep okay?”

 

“Not sure if that classified as resting, but…  yes.  I feel better.”  Hotch nodded.  Rossi frowned.  Hotch’s voice was quiet, and his eyes rimmed in red.

 

Any further conversation was postponed as the ship set down and they quickly made their way into the city, the frightened Starport security letting them pass immediately.  They headed for the local center of government to meet up with the Bakura Jedi Watchman, but to their shock, the man wasn’t alone.

 

“…  Master Virr!!!”  Seaver gasped, eyes wide.  The Jedi Master Seer turned, and smiled at the team.

 

“Well hello there.”  He greeted.  “Would you be my rescue party?”

 

“That we are.”  Emily chuckled, amused.  “Not that you need it.”

 

“Oh, I did.”  Master Virr grinned.  “I most certainly did not escape on my own.” 

 

“Spencer helped you, didn’t he?”  Hotch asked.

 

“…  He did.”  Master Virr said, now very grim.  “Come.  We have much to discuss.  And the Council is waiting.”  The team followed the Miraluka and the Bakura Watchman into a large, secure room.  Within a few minutes, they were surrounded by the lifesize holograms of the Masters in their seats in the Council, though some were still present only via holograms themselves.  They were told that they were waiting for Amna Kao, who appeared a few minutes later.

 

“Tarash!  You’re okay!”  She announced happily.  Master Virr smiled and nodded.

 

“Master Virr…”  Kitata Ree greeted.  “It brings us joy to see you safe.  What happened?”

 

“Something you should all know about.”  Master Virr said, then turned.  “Show them my capture.”  The Bakura Watchman nodded.  Soon, the team stood around a low platform, watching a holovid with the Jedi Council.

 

They watched Master Virr approach Darth Livion, and watched the other Sith move in to surround the Master.  They watched the battle that took place, and watched in concerned amazement as the six Sith conjured up the Force Storm and brought Master Virr down with a frighteningly powerful bolt of Force Lightning.

 

Then they watched Darth Livion run to the man’s side, the keep the others away.  Then he lifted the Miraluka into his arms, and the Sith fled.

 

The next holovid was of the Sith Lords boarding their ships, Livion still bearing the unconscious Jedi Master.

 

“This is disturbing to see…”  Master Syr rumbled, frowning and interlocking his fingers, resting his furry chin on them.  “They can summon up a Force Storm…  And they did it so quickly.”

 

“Obviously they have practiced this together before…”  Kitata Ree announced. 

 

“Master Virr…”  Strauss said.  “What happened after?”

 

“I came to when we were docking with a larger vessel.”  Master Virr told them.  “Spencer was with me.  One of the three men, they had a VERY powerful Force Bond, by the way…  I think they’re brothers--”

 

“Darth Trion.”  Hotch said. 

 

“…  What?”  Master Syr asked.

 

“They’re triplets.  Charles, Raphael, and Tobias.”  Hotch explained.  “Collectively, they are known as Darth Trion.  They are considered one entity in three bodies.  One is their violence and rage, one is their indifference, their control, and the last…  he is their conscience.”

 

“I could see that one of them had the Light Side hidden within him…”  Master Virr confirmed.

 

“That would be Tobias.”  Hotch nodded.

 

“Well, the calm, collected one,”

 

“Raphael.”  Hotch supplied.

 

“Had Spencer put a Sith torture Mask on me.  Spencer was NOT happy.  He argued with them for a bit, but not for long…  The angry one,”

 

“Charles.”

 

“Used the Force to choke him until he agreed.  I could sense that he fears them, greatly.”  Master Virr continued. 

 

“He has good reason to.  They are the ones who tortured him when we were captured two years ago.”  Hotch frowned, as did several of the Council.  “And it was they who severed our Bond.”

 

“I see…”  Master Virr nodded.  “He put the Mask on me and they told him to take me to the detention level.  And he started to, but…  He changed his mind.  Next thing I know, he takes the Mask off of me and we’re running through the corridors and end up at the escape pods.  He told me that he was getting me out of there.  He put me in one of the pods.  I tried to talk him into coming with me… but he refused.”

 

“What?”  JJ gasped, and Gideon sat back in his seat, looking upset.

 

“He said that he wouldn’t leave Adam or Tobias.  That they needed him.  And then he told me that he could never come back to the Order after what he had done.  And then he confessed to the murder of Aliki Naas.”

 

The Council looked grim, the team sad and worried.

 

“I told him that if he stayed, they would kill him for letting me go.  He said that they wouldn’t…  because…”  Master Virr sighed.  “He created a Force Storm all by himself.  Right in front of Darth Reaper.  He claims that after that, he’s too valuable to the Sith for them to just kill him.”

 

The Council looked incredibly disturbed at this news…  the team looked stunned.

 

“A Force Storm?”  Master Syr demanded.  “By himself?”

 

“That’s what he said.  And I did not feel that he was lying.”  Master Virr told the Master Shadow.  “I tried to tell him that he is not beyond redemption.  I tried to get him to come home…  But then Darth Sassin caught up with us.  He jettisoned my escape pod and went to fight her off while I had time to get away.  I…  watched with the Force.”

 

“I could feel it.”  Hotch said, suddenly.  “Through our Bond.  I could feel Spencer’s emotions.”

 

“The other Sith came and he attacked them with Force Lightning.”  Master Virr recited.  “Darth Dualath and…  Tobias stood back but the other three attacked him.  They fought, and then they used the Lightning on him.  He fell…  And when Sassin approached, he caught her off guard and began to Drain her.”

 

“I felt it.”  Hotch interrupted.  “I felt the pain of the Lightning, and the rush of the energy he was taking when he drained her...”

 

“They all went after him at that point.”  Master Virr nodded.  “Darth Trion, all three, attacked with the Force Lightning again.  Spencer fell…”  He sighed.  “This time, he didn’t get up.”

 

“I lost consciousness.”  Hotch confessed.  “I woke up in bed.  I was only awake for a few minutes before I passed out again.”

 

“…  Did you dream again?”  Rossi suddenly asked his former apprentice.

 

“What?”

 

“You told Master Kao and the Council that you’ve been dreaming more and more of Reid these past few months.”

 

“…  I have been.”  Hotch nodded.

 

“Did you dream of him this time?”

 

“Yes.”  Hotch answered looking confused.  Masters Noria and Ralko Cereni exchanged looks.  The entire Council noticed.

 

“What is it?”  Master Eesa K’Tal asked the Twi’lek twins.

 

“Did it feel…”  Ralko began, and Noria finished,  “More real than your dreams usually do?”

 

“…  Yes.”  Hotch confirmed.  “How did you know?”

 

“And do you usually get these dreams…”  Noria continued, and her brother finished for her this time, “Around the time you have experienced his emotions through your Bond?”

 

“…  Actually…  Yes.  If not right after, usually within a day or so before or after…  incident.”  Hotch confessed.  The twins looked at each other again, silently communicating.

 

“So the rest of us can hear, please?”  Max Ryan drawled, annoyed.

 

“These aren’t dreams.”  Noria said.

 

“Explain.”  Strauss stated.

 

Ralko nodded and did so.  “During these…  brief flare ups of their Bond strength, he is connecting with Darth Livion in his sleep.  My guess, is when they’re BOTH asleep.  Their mental shields are down, their minds are more open and vulnerable to each other.  These are actual communications they are sharing.”

 

“You mean when I was talking with him in my dream…”  Hotch frowned, “I was actually talking TO HIM?!”

 

“Exactly.”  Noria said.  “You met on a higher plane of consciousness.  That wasn’t him as your mind conjured.  That was him being projected into your mind by he, himself.” 

 

“The Darth Livion you spoke with really was him.”  Ralko said with a firm nod.

 

“…  What did he say to you, Aaron?”  Kitata Ree asked.

 

“I…  I was in a hallway.  And there was a door.  He was inside.  He was hiding in the corner of a cell…  naked…  When I walked in, he…  told me that if he hadn’t done this, we would both be dead.  I told him that I knew he only did it to protect me.  He said that in protecting me, he had killed himself.  I told him it wasn’t true.  I told him that his regret over what he had done showed that he is not too far gone.”  Hotch sighed. 

 

“He…  he said that he still trusts me to find him and bring him home…  but that I’m running out of time to save him.  And then…  he asked me to forgive him for all he had done.  And he asked me to promise that no matter what happens, I will remember him for who he was… not who he has become.”

 

There was a long silence after that.  It was Garcia who broke it.

 

“This…  this proves it.”  She gasped, and everyone looked at her.  “This proves that he can still be saved.  He WANTS to be saved!!!”

 

“And taking into account the vision that Master Kao told us that Aliki had, about a beacon shining to bring back a lost soul from the Dark Side…”  Eesa K’Tal said, slowly.

 

“Wait… what, now?”  Master Virr asked, looking around.

 

“Oh.  You weren’t here for that.”  Master Kao said, smiling slightly.  “Aliki had a vision about her death a long time ago.  She foresaw that her death would allow a lost soul to be saved from the Dark Side.  And that soul would bring others back with it.  But he needed a beacon of light to follow to get there.”

 

“We believe that this Lost Soul is Darth Livion.”  Noria Cereni said.

 

“And the beacon is Aaron Hotchner.”  Ralko Cereni nodded.

 

“…  And the lights that the soul brings with it could be Dualath and Tobias…”  Master Virr murmured.

 

“Or Elle…”  JJ offered, hopefully.

 

“Master Virr…”  Raahn Syr said, frowning.  “What do you see in Darth Livion’s future now...?”

 

Master Virrr lowered his head and concentrated.  He stood still and silent for a long time before he sighed and shook his head. 

 

“His future is clouded.  One thing that I see in his immediate future though…”

 

“Yes?”  Kitata Ree encouraged.

 

“…  Pain.”  Master Virr reluctantly admitted.  “Fear.  Suffering.”  He lifted his head.  “…  Torture.”  Garcia clung to Morgan and JJ lifted a hand to her lips, fighting back worried tears.  “The Sith will make him pay for letting me go…”  Master Virr finished.  “What he told Aaron in his dream was true.”  He took a deep breath.

 

“If we are to save him, we must do so quickly.  We’re running out of time…”

 

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PLANET:  EN ROUTE TO KORRIBAN

 

LOCATION:  STARSHIP REVELATIONS

 

TIME:  EARLY MORNING

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Reid was brought back to his senses by several sharp slaps to his face.  He whimpered as he became aware of the aching that filled his entire body.  He knew that ache…  Force Lightning…  Then, it all came back to him, and a cold fear overcame him…  He was in a LOT of trouble…

 

He forced his eyes open.  He was in the large Holo chamber, hanging limp between Charles and Raphael, who were holding his elbows.  It had been Elle who had slapped him.  He looked at her, and she glared back.

 

“You’re going to regret betraying us.”  She said, then turned.  Reid followed her gaze.  Amanda was standing in the large, lit circle that was projecting a hologram of her to Darth Reaper.  And Darth Reaper’s face appeared before her, hanging over her…  massive, dark, intimidating.

 

“Was your mission a success?”  He asked.

 

“…  Yes and no, Master.”  Amanda said, carefully.

 

“What is that supposed to mean?”  The Reaper asked, his tone taking on a dangerous edge.

 

“We captured Master Virr.”  Amanda said.  “The operation went smoothly.  We took him down without a hitch.”

 

“So?”

 

“…  We no longer have him.  He escaped.”  Amanda said.

 

“…  Excuse me?” 

 

Reid shuddered at how cold and deadly the Reaper’s voice had suddenly become.

 

“We were betrayed, Master.”  Amanda said. 

 

“Betrayed?”

 

Taking that as their cue, Raphael and Charles moved into the glowing circle, dragging Reid between them.  The Reaper narrowed his eyes as they came into his view and hurled the boy to the floor before him.

 

Reid lay there, fighting to contain the fearful tremors that ran through his entire body.

 

“Livion…”  He flinched when he heard the Reaper say his name.  Reid kept his head down, facing the floor.

 

“He put Master Virr into an escape pod.”  Elle supplied, stepping into the circle with Tobias.  Now the five surrounded the sixth.  Charles and Raphael were to Reid’s right and left, Tobias was directly behind him.  Elle and Amanda stood before him and to the right and left.  “And he sent him back to Bakura.”  Elle continued.  “And he covered for Master Virr’s escape by attacking us.”

 

The Reaper’s eyes narrowed and they held a sinister gleam.

 

“What is your current trajectory?”

 

“We are heading to Korriban, as instructed, Master.”  Amanda said.

 

“Change course.”  The Reaper commanded.  “I am still on Carosi.  Bring him here.  I will deal with him personally…”  Reid swallowed thickly at that.  “Livion…”  Reid winced, but slowly forced himself to lift his head and look up at the man who owned him…

 

“Care to explain your actions…?”

 

Reid swallowed again…  that tone in Darth Reaper’s voice frightened him to his very core…

 

“I…  I won’t let you hurt my friends…”  Reid gasped.

 

“Your FRIENDS are not a part of our deal, boy…”  The Reaper snapped.  “Our deal was for the life of Aaron Hotchner.”

 

“I don’t care!  Tarash is like my brother!”  Reid cried.  “I…  I could never let anything happen to him!”

 

“No one ever said anything would.”  The Reaper snarled.

 

“And what were you going to do?!  Invite him to tea?!”

 

“Wouldn’t you like to fight by his side?”  the Reaper asked.

 

“Not as a Sith.”  Reid growled, then yelped when Charles kicked him harshly in the ribs.  “Nnh…  Master Virr is a great Jedi.  And I will not do anything that may help change that!”

 

“We shall see…”  The Reaper said, cryptically.  “Tobias…”  The quiet brother looked up.  “I entrusted you with a task, should the need ever arise.  It has now.  And now you will fulfill that task.”

 

Tobias’ eyes widened, before they dropped.  The man shifted from foot to foot, gasping softly to himself as though he were crying.

 

“But…  but why?”  He asked, sounding very upset and nervous.

 

“Because it has now become necessary.”

 

“But…  But we don’t have to do it.”

 

“But you will…”  The Reaper growled, and Raphael and Charles turned and stared at their younger brother.  Tobias whimpered, but then nodded and shuffled forward, pulling something out of his robes.  Charles and Raphael reached out and seized Reid’s arms, jerking him up onto his knees.  Then, Elle moved behind him and seized his hair in her fist and wrenched his head back.

 

“AHHN!”  Reid cried, wincing.  Then, his eyes fell on what was in Tobias’ hands.  A small bottle of a light blue substance.  Reid paled dramatically.  “No…  Oh no…  NO!”

 

“I take it you recognize it?” The Reaper asked, smirking.  “It’s been two years since it almost killed you…  But you know that secretly, deep down, you want it.  So open up, and drink…”

 

“NO!”  Reid cried, thrashing in the grips of the Sith Lords.  Elle gripped his jaw and forced his mouth open.

 

“… I’m sorry.”  Tobias whimpered, and poured the Vi’Tani Nectar into Reid’s mouth.

 

 Thick and sweet, the highly addictive substance filled Reid’s mouth.  When it was full, Elle slapped a hand over his mouth, while pressing it up to cover his nostrils.  Reid jerked; he couldn’t breathe.  He closed his eyes and focused on the Force, utilizing his Breath Control technique to slow down his bodily functions to prolong his ability to hold his breath…  But then Tobias began to massage his throat, and a moment later his natural reflexes gave in and he swallowed.  Three gulps and his mouth was empty.  At least until they filled it again.  And after another mouthful, Reid didn’t have it in him to fight…  his body wanted the Nectar badly…  Tears flooded down Reid’s face as the Nectar flooded into his gullet.

 

When the bottle was empty, Reid was released.  He collapsed to the floor with a gasp and a sob, and he slowly curled into a tight ball, crying as he could feel his body tingling with warmth and delight as the Nectar began to take affect…

 

“Lock him up.”  The Reaper sneered.  “And Livion…  perhaps you should think long and hard on how you are going to convince me not to throw you to the fresh Vi’Tani coming in…  If you don’t throw yourself to them first…”  And the hologram of Darth Reaper disappeared…

 

“You heard him.”  Raphael said calmly, and he and Charles seized Reid’s arms in a bruising grip and jerked him to his feet.  His eyes widened when Elle pulled the Sith Torture Mask from her belt.  Reid didn’t say a word when she put it on him.  He just silently cried and stumbled along between Charles and Raphael as they dragged him from the room, Elle behind them.  Tobias and Amanda stayed where they were, watching Reid being taken away.  And silently, hidden in the folds of their robes, they clasped one another’s hand, tightly.

 

“What will Lord Reaper do to him?”  Tobias asked, softly.

 

“…  I don’t know…” Adam answered, and sighed.  “And Amanda isn’t talking…”