26

please make sure to check trigger warnings at the beginning of this book before reading the next few chapters!

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Saedii didn't sleep.

Hunger and cold kept her awake even long after her body had begged for sleep. The stone beneath her was too hard and unforgiving to be comfortable. The cold too sharp against her exposed skin. She shivered and curled in on herself as she fought for a semblance of warmth but found nothing.

But even if she had been warm and comfortable, she doubted she would have slept anyways.

The shadowy press of the Force whispered terrible things in her ear. Promises and threats and secrets.

You will die here.

You can survive.

Trust in me and I will set you free.

Embrace the darkness.

She squeezed her eyes forcefully shut and held the rock tighter in her grasp. Fighting to ignore the voice that whispered in her ear.

Down in the tombs, there was no way to count the time passing. No windows, no watch rotation, no light – the dungeon was never-changing. For all Saedii knew, days could have passed between Krell's last visit and this moment and she would never know.

Across from her, Cere was silent. Her eyes were closed but Saedii had the sense that she was not sleeping. Even so, Saedii envied the small moment of peace that the Jedi master found surrounded as they were by darkness and death.

Saedii tried very hard to keep poisonous thoughts of Kalth and Omega from her mind, but she couldn't help it. She wondered and worried whether her friends were alive. Whether Omega had made it to Hunter and the others. Whether Kalth had survived the terrible wound to his back.

Endure, Plo's voice bade in the back of her mind. Survive.

After what felt a small eternity, a door opened from somewhere far away.

Cere's eyes shot open and she ordered, "Hide your necklace."

Unwillingly, Saedii tucked her necklace back into the dark corner by the door. When it was no longer in her hand, she felt it's absence like a weight against her skin.

Several pairs of footsteps trickled down the hall. Saedii watched anxiously as the Second Sister stepped before her cell, face a serene mask of indifference. Behind her, standing uneasily, were several stormtroopers.

"Today is the first step on your journey to rejoining us, Sister. Soon, you will wear Inquisitor black once again." The Second Sister's voice was like canon fire in the silence.

She held up a hand towards Saedii. Darkness drew her into unconsciousness.

When she woke, she was no longer in her cell.

It was very cold. That was the first thing Saedii noticed as she glanced at the darkened room around her. The air around her felt glacial, bringing goosebumps to the exposed skin along her neck. Even colder than her cell had been. Behind her, something solid and terribly cold bit at her exposed skin. A block of ice. Or perhaps wet cold stone.

A long windowless room slowly came into focus around her. The walls were an eerie shade of black – a shade so deep and dark it seemed to swallow the light. Faint red light glowed along the floor and from the ceiling. Only just enough for her to see the inside of the room and to know it was empty.

No instruments of torture. No weapons. Nothing except for the stone table at its center, which rubbed comfortably against the wound at Saedii's back.

As she tried to sit up, something firm across her chest held her still. She glanced down, finding a solid binder of red light tight across her chest, keeping her in place. Others held at her right wrist, her waist, both ankles. When she gave an experimental pull, they didn't budge.

Saedii's quick, anxious breaths misted the air before her.

"You're finally awake."

From the shadows behind her, a tall looming figure emerged. Saedii didn't have to look to know it was Krell.

He strode forward so that she could see him in the limited light. He was terrifyingly calm, hands clasped behind his back. His scarred eye was like molten silver in the darkness. Burning with excitement.

"Good. It's time for us to get started."

Saedii said nothing. In her chest, her heart was starting to beat faster.

From the shadows, Krell pulled a small hovertable. A sterile sheet of paper covered the top. And resting on that paper was a single silver syringe.

Her imagination began to show her all the terrible things that could be in that syringe. A truth serum that would force her to reveal all the Rebellion's secrets. A shot of something that would make her one hundred percent obedient. Acid that would burn her from the inside.

Krell picked it up. Twisted it so that the red light gilded along its side. "Have you ever heard of the anxynth plant?"

It felt like her voice had died in her throat. She couldn't speak.

"It's a terrifying little plant that grows on Lokud 7," Krell continued, as if she were contributing to the conversation. "It produces a very powerful hallucinogen – so powerful that it was outlawed by the Republic. Even the Pike Syndicate won't sell it."

Realization dawned and she stiffened.

This was how he'd altered Kalth's memories. How he bent and molded prisoners' minds, like Cere had said. It was a hallucinogen.

Krell noticed her reaction and smiled. "Its nickname is the nightmare plant."

He stepped closer, drawing the limp curtain of her hair back from her neck. Saedii flinched away from him, but with the binders holding her down, was powerless as he pressed the needle into the meat of her neck.

Warm, gentle heat flooded her neck, like the sun on Pabu. It was deceptively nice – a welcome reprieve from the icy cold air in the room around her.

"You are in need of a bit of recalibration before we can resume your training," Krell said. His voice was steadily growing fainter, like he was moving far away. "This will help you to see things my way."

Saedii's body gave a violent jolt as the heat spread up into her face. Up the back of her head like warm water.

The room began to shimmer and spin around her. She sucked in a breath, muscles going taunt.

Resist. She had to resist.

From far away, she felt as Krell's hand landed along her brow. As his fingers wound over her head, like he was holding her in place. She felt his presence reach out into the Force around her before she felt nothing at all.

The room around her vanished, replaced with a swirl of colors. The stone table was gone too. She was alone, standing amid undefined fields of green.

Slowly, the colors sharpened. Shapes emerged from the mess – tall, thick trees and wide green ferns. Massive jungle flowers that were soft against her skin. The air here was humid and warm, smelling faintly of tilled earth and decaying leaves.

Saedii recognized it at once.

She was on Corilynth.

When she reached out to touch a nearby plant, the waxy feel of it beneath her skin was exactly like it had been over two years ago. Slightly warmed from the sun. A little red beetle scuttled up the leaf, avoiding her hand as she stroked down the leaf's smooth face.

The metal vambrace on her arm caught the sun. With surprise, Saedii looked down, finding the Jedi robes she'd used to wear on missions back when she served as a Padawan. The familiar feel of the soft wool and cotton was a comfort against her skin.

Was this a memory?

No, she realized. Flashes of something made her head burn. A dark room. A silver syringe. Something about this forest around her was not right.

Do you remember? A dark voice echoed in her head.

She spun, looking for the source. But she was alone here in the forest. Nothing but the trees to keep her company.

Remember how the Jedi betrayed you, that voice bade.

Betrayed her? But the Jedi had never –

Through the trees stepped the indomitable figure of Master Koon.

"I have been waiting for you, Padawan," Plo's voice said. It was a hard tone – angry and repulsed.

"Master," Saedii said in relief. If her Master was there, then everything would be alright. He would protect her.

That relief died as Plo drew his lightsaber.

"Master?" Saedii's voice was sharp with alarm. She took a step back, brushing against the ferns at her back. "Plo, what's wrong?"

"You, little Saedii. You have disappointed me for the last time."

This voice sounded nothing like Plo's. There was no warmth. No joy. Just cold, hard anger and rage.

Saedii tried to remember what she'd done. What mistake she'd made. But she couldn't remember. Couldn't think as Plo's lightsaber engaged, throwing bright green light across the trees.

"No!" Saedii cried as Plo shot forward.

Saedii avoided his first swing, but screamed as his second caught her across the back. Along the spine. Terrible burning pain echoed along her torso, sending her straight onto her knees.

He betrayed you, Saedii, that voice hissed in her mind. Your Master. You trusted him. You loved him. And he tried to kill you.

"Plo, please!" Saedii cried as Plo's lightsaber flashed towards her face once again.

She only just missed his strike, but cried as he landed a solid hit to her cheek, sending her back onto the ground. The trees spun around her. Somewhere nearby, birds called to one another, oblivious to the battle that raged just beneath their roosts.

"Master," Saedii sobbed. He'd never hurt her before.

Yes, he has.

And suddenly, there were memories – of other times just like this. Memories of fists catching her unawares. Of a hand smacking her off a chair. Fingers curling around her throat. A lightsaber pressed against her cheek, burning the delicate skin there.

He had hurt her. Many times before.

He's evil.

The voice was right. Plo was a monster.

His eyes narrowed above his oxygen converter. They were merciless. Unforgiving. "You will disappoint me no longer."

"Please, don't," Saedii begged.

Plo's lightsaber came down.

But another flashed to stop it.

Above her, the figure of Pong Krell stood defensively. His red lightsaber blocking Plo's on its way to Saedii's throat.

The Inquisitors saved your life, when the Jedi tried to take it, the voice whispered in her mind as Krell shoved Plo away. From the trees behind them, the Second Sister and Third Brother emerged, kneeling at Saedii's side.

A sense of relief filled her again. They were here to save her. To protect her.

Your true family kept you safe.

No! a new voice shouted – faint and distant. It sounded eerily like her own. That's not how it happened. Plo never –

Plo Koon tried to kill you. The Jedi are traitors, the dark voice boomed, louder. It echoed in Saedii's head until even the sounds of the birds and the leaves faded away.

The voice was right. The Jedi were traitors.

Plo and Krell came together. It was a terrible duel, too evenly matched. In the heat of the battle, Plo's blade caught Krell unawares, slicing across his right eye.

The injury should have slowed him, but it didn't. Powerful and determined, Krell roared his defiance and sprung, launching himself high over Plo. Landing behind him with a quick flash of his red blades.

Blood pooled along Plo's neck. His head shifted and fell from his shoulders.

Horror filled her, but then her head felt heavy and dizzy and she closed her eyes. When next she opened them, the sight of Plo's dead body filled her with relief instead. With security.

She was safe.

Plo was a murderer. A traitor, that voice called as Krell stood triumphantly above Plo's dead body. All the Jedi are.

The jungle shifted to another – one that was darker and shrouded in silver moonlight. The trees here were far taller than the ones on Corilynth, towering hundreds of feet into the air.

Saedii was uninjured now. Older. Stronger. Black leather covered her from the neck down and a metal helmet painted her vision into shades of red.

It was not the last time they tried to kill you, the voice reminded her as she looked at the scene before her.

In the small clearing of trees, the darkened figures of Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka Tano faced her with lightsabers drawn. At their feet, the body of the Third Brother leaked blood into the bracken.

Skywalker, Tano, and Kenobi killed your favorite brother, the voice said as Saedii stared on the prone figure of the Third Brother and stumbled backwards a step. Grief crushed against her chest. And they tried to kill you, too.

Anakin lunged for her. Saedii, faster than he was, slipped out from his reach and turned to run into the trees. Behind her, Ahsoka was only steps behind as she gave chase.

You ran from them. Don't you remember? The voice asked.

Yes, she did. She'd run all night. Hidden among the roots of a massive tree.

Saedii slipped between the roots now. Exhausted and afraid, she cowered into her knees, trying to still her breathing as the intimidating shadows of Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka hunted for her just out of reach.

You were afraid they would catch you.

Terror filled her chest, making it hard to breathe. She forced her body to be still. Silent.

Just outside of her cage of roots, Obi-Wan paused, searching. His expression was grimly determined. Fierce and unforgiving.

They'd dueled before. Saedii had brief glimpses of the three of them engaged in duels. One against three, deep in a warm green forest. Training. Laughing.

No, not training. Fighting.

The visions flickered – going from one of relaxed sparring to intense battle. The three surviving Jedi had not trained her; they'd hunted her. They were not her teachers but her executioners, and Saedii had nearly been caught dozens of times.

It was Krell who had taught her. Krell who had given her the skills to escape. To survive.

The Jedi are the enemy. Your enemy.

Yes, they were. They were evil. They'd betrayed the Republic. The Empire.

No, they aren't the enemy!

It was her voice again, more feeble than the last time. More distant.

The dark voice crushed it into dust as it asserted, The Jedi are evil and must be eradicated. That is our holy mission.

The forest shifted around her from night to day. The imposing figures of Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka were gone. Saedii was alone again.

As she crawled out from her hiding place, she suddenly stepped into the smoldering remains of a prison. Of an empty field scattered with bodies and blood. Around her, the black-clad figures all bowed their heads in grief as they stared at the corpse at their feet.

"Brother," Saedii said, voice choked with emotion. Tears sprung to her eyes as she looked on the face of the Third Brother and remembered how much she'd cared for him. He had been her friend.

Something flickered at the edge of her consciousness. A glimpse of a different memory – of pain and dirt beneath her fingers. Of begging.

The pressure swelled in her head once again and the vision was gone.

This is your past, the voice whispered in her ear as she knelt at the side of the Third Brother. This is what drives you to a righteous future.

Yes, she whispered back.

The voice was right. The Jedi were her enemy.

And she would stop at nothing to rid the galaxy of their evil.