Venomous, Part 22: Darth Kashtu
Dantooine, nineteen years ago.
"Perfect! There's no flaw at all?" Kashtu said excitedly, amazed at what she had been told as she sat behind Darth Ptolemus' ornate cherrywood desk, going over the information dossier she had been provided on Valia Renn.
"It is a great success, Madame. This will be a day long remembered. It will see the rise of the Sith Philosophers, and it will see the end of those who have stood in our way for so long. Jolee is no longer around to hinder us, and Dimmak is not as strong as he used to be, given that Lady Thrasyllus was able to defeat him," Ptolemus reported.
"My son is still alive?" she asked, heart soaring at the thought he had survived this long with his genetic difficulties. It made her proud of him.
"Yes. Stubborn also. Unfortunately, Bron-Son is still with him, so you will probably have to kill him in order to isolate Dimmak fully."
"Gladly. Force knows he's had it coming. But getting back to Valia, you said she had military training?"
"I did. That is why she is so hard to get through to, she has an extra layer of discipline besides Jedi teaching to call upon."
"Hmmm. The Enclave?"
"We have captured most of the Jedi, but Masters Vandar, Vrook, and Zhar have evaded our patrols. A Padawan by the name of Mical has also evaded our searches."
"We must move quickly then. We need to be prepared to abandon the facility. We're taking the Jedi with us, see if we can turn some of them. For now, though, I wish to speak to the girl."
Ptolemus bowed and Kashtu sat back in the comfy leather chair, rubbing her eyes.
Twenty years. She had been dead for twenty years and only this girl seemed to hint to the original Kashtu's fate. She could question her about that, but more importantly, she had to try and convince the girl to come over to her side, where the Jedi would not be allowed to ruin the lives of Force Sensitives like her or her son any further.
She flexed in the white, tight fitting, specially treated leather armor that had been provided to her. She walked around in the boots, getting comfortable, and then threw on the white cloak that had been a family heirloom preserved by Ptolemus and preceeded down the wide, darkened corridors and made her way past the awestruck acolytes that gave her a wide berth.
Kashtu always looked forward to a challenge.
Remember, you must play along," Xahn told her.
"You sure 'bout this?" You could get killed this way."
"Don't worry about me. Hippocratus will not allow them to without throughly questioning me himself," Xahn reassured her. "Enough. I can say no more. The Dark Lord approaches."
Xahn took up his lightsaber lance and stood by Valia as Kashtu entered the room.
"Leave us," she told Xahn.
Xahn nodded and strode out quickly.
Kashtu and Valia looked at each other, predatory gazes reflecting back on one another. Two people getting ready for war. Kashtu's slightly bronzed skin matching Valia's. The features definitely were those Valia would no doubt be staring at in a mirror, given a few more years.
Kashtu held out her hand and with a flick of her fingers, undid the restraints, allowing Valia to go free.
"You won't need those," Kashtu spoke encouragingly. "I apologize for leaving you this way, but I needed a chance to speak with you personally, without hostilities."
Valia was on her, hands in a lethal pincer shape rushing for Kashtu's jugular.
The Sith Lord reacted instantly dodging to the side in a swift, almost liquid motion. Her right hand shot out, thumb and first two fingers positioned to resemble the claws of some raptor. She gripped an area just below Valia's wrist, clamping down with the strength of a bird of prey.
Valia almost went to her knees as her whole right arm surged with sharp, almost intolerable pain. A burst of adrenaline made her forget it momentarily as she swung her remaining elbow around to try and connect with Kashtu's face--
Another talon-shaped hand hit her elbow, causing Valia to gasp in pain as she finally dropped to her knees. Kashtu's power lifted Valia's arms and forced them together, a set of iron grey shackles from Kashtu's belt flying onto them and clicking shut with finality.
"Okaaayyy, maybe you WILL need those," Kashtu replied in an unworried though slightly irked manner.
She knealt down as Valia tried to fight off the still throbbing pain in her arms.
"Scorpion Pincers are no match for the Eagle's Talons," she added gently. "But I am impressed. Most people pass out right about now."
"I been through worse," Valia spat bitterly. "You're wrong if you think you can break me with pain."
"It is not my intent to break you. In truth, I would prefer not to use pain. Messy. There is also that troublesome revenge factor from your victim. Very unpredictable."
"Then you're not hurting the victim enough. My doctrine says if you're gonna hurt someone, hurt 'em bad enough that you never have to lay awake at night wondering whether they'll come after you. They'll be too scared to do so."
"The doctrine of fear. I prefer respect."
"The most respect Sith can earn is someone taking the trouble to stab them in the face rather than in the back."
"How you got into the Jedi with those views is puzzling. Perhaps Vandar thinks he can succeed with you where he failed with me."
Valia felt a chill crawl up her spine, the woman's voice sounded more and more like her stepmother's when she listened to it. And it seemed to crawl into her head, wash over her skin.
Again, Kashtu's mercurial movements caught Valia offguard, and she was suddenly beside Valia, her head next to her ear.
"Ah, you recognize this voice," Kashtu said in a silky manner, eyes closed. "A voice from your youth...encouraging you."
"You better be real damn careful what you say next, Sith."
"She's...listening to you read. She smiles at you, and you hug her...she's pushing you on a swing one day...and then the strange old men come for you. They smell of incense and mountain flowers. Their frames are thin and bony, their heads are shaved, and they are covered by only a simple brown toga. Their beards...nearly reach to the ground. These are the old men. The wise men. They live on the mountain top with their secret arts of murder--and they have come to make you one of their own. And then...your childhood ends in the first day of pain..."
Valia's hands were suddenly wrapped around Kashtu's throat, Valia herself gripped in an almost mindless rage. The Sith had made this personal.
"Your...mother...tries to get you back, but there is no helping it. You are a member of the clan, and you will learn the clan's blackest skills."
"Shut up!" Valia snarled, trying to wall off her emotions, desperately trying to get back control of the situation. Her grip around the Sith Lord's neck tightened, but pain made the grip weaker then killing strength. She was impotent. And the shackles she was in seemed to restrain her ability to lash out with the Force.
Kashtu's trance persisted. "And then the fires come, the killing, and your mother dies in the fighting, cut down by a hand you don't recognize...and then you flee."
"She wasn't my mother!" Valia screamed, shaking as the old wounds were reopened, the blood still pouring fresh. "I didn't...I didn't..."
Kashtu's eyes finally opened, realized Valia's hands were around her throat, and effortlessly pulled them away. She stood up.
"My apologies. I sometimes get lost in the past. Did you ever find out who killed the original me?"
"I wouldn't know," Valia replied, trying not to wince as the death of her mother--no, her stepmother--played out in Valia's head over and over.
"Your thoughts betray you...Jubei..." Kashtu, said, her eyes closing as she divined the information from the recesses of Valia's mind, who struggled to control her surprise. "You are in denial."
"You don't know me."
"True, I don't. A glimpse of your past, no matter how detailed, hardly tells me everything I want to know about you. Your background is a fascinating one--I would love to compare notes sometime--but I can tell we aren't exactly going to be having a true meeting of the minds anytime soon. I'm sorry I did that, but I have no time for the runaround you were giving poor Ptolemus. We have enough on our plate as it is, Jubei."
"Don't you dare call me that," Valia spat.
"Child, listen to me," Kashtu said, clasping Valia's chin and turning it upwards to her. "I'm telling you the truth when I say you are a creation of mine, and the finest of the bunch. If anyone has a right to call you your real name, it is me. If you don't believe me, I can bring you the medical reports myself. I can bring you holos of me at your age, I can even bring you Vandar, who will corroborate my evidence. I'm telling you the truth. If I was not, why did three masters supervise you your second day here. Why does Jedi Master Vrook fear you--yes, I know all about what you did to that poor girl Cariaga. Why is it they specifically wanted you kept away from me?"
Kashtu saw Valia's hard stare falter for just a second, she was getting through. There was still a great deal of anger, though. That was to be expected.
"I can feel your anger, it gives you focus. Makes you strong, but you are directing it at the wrong person. You must control yourself. I am not your enemy. I have told you the truth from the moment we started to talk. The Jedi, though...they love their secrets too much, Force or otherwise."
"I'm Jedi. You're a Sith back from the dead. You'll be dead within a week if I'm lucky, Necromancer."
"Trust me, girl, you are no Jedi. Not yet. I devoted my life to the Code. You couldn't be less a Jedi if you tried."
"At least I don't have to worry about all the science experiments you got locked up in here."
"You're one to talk. Manipulation is still not an exact science. There is some intrinsic quality missing. With you, the answer is within my reach. And if you think killing yourself will thwart me, just remember that I have this body to work with."
"All the more reason for me to give you a dirt nap."
"You really want to try this again? Okay. Fine. Take your best shot." Kashtu undid the shackles on Valia's arms with a flick of her hand. "Strike me down. If you can."
Valia stared for a moment, but made no move.
"Thought so. You're still young. You've been at this only professionally for what, two years? I have a good fifty on me studying the intricacies of the Force and the Lightsaber. And no matter how dirty your tricks are--and by all indication, the tricks are something fierce--you won't close the experience gap on me with brute force like you could with some two-bit darksider," Kashtu answered, pacing around the room a bit, her mercurial movements adding to a her presence as a shadow to Valia's Force perception.
"Your arrogance is your weakness," Valia said with a flash of insight.
"And your faith in brute strength is yours," Kashtu snapped, turning around. "Why should we be enemies? We're cut from the same cloth, we've both had our hard knocks, and your membership in the Jedi is so questionable it is almost not worth mentioning.
"Why would I want to join you?"
"I can offer you freedom. In the Jedi Order, you will never be allowed to love, never allowed the things ordinary civilians are, never allowed to explore your full potential. You don't want to use the Dark Side? Fine! Don't! How many of your Jedi teachers would encourage that when it came to the light side of the Force? You'll hobble yourself if you stay with men like Vandar, who don't have the ability to quell arguements against only one way of thinking. You won't have to serve an Order that snatches children from parents and brainwashes them." At this statement, Valia's keen ears detected a subtle edge of bitterness in that last statement. Kashtu had obviously had a poor experience.
"I have no desire for affection. Power holds nothing for me. And you think too little of loyalty, considering how incredibly loyal these jokers you call Sith were in ressurecting you."
"They are not jokes. They have stood by me when all others drifted away. They do not deserve to be insulted like that."
"Well, thats a new one, a boss who actually likes the employees. I'm touched. Hit a real sensitive spot there," Valia grumbled, dripping sarcasm from her words.
Kashtu merely stared at her, and then shook her head.
"They must see something in you, if they hold onto someone who so blatently displays their emotions on their sleeve. I wonder--did they intend for you to be a weapon against me, like they did with my son, Dimmak?"
"That thing is your SON?" Valia asked, things snapping into place for her instantly over the emotion Kashtu had.
"And your brother, from my estimate. Created from my own blood. He...did not turn out as well as I had hoped."
"You can say that again," Valia said under her breath.
For the first time, Valia actually saw Kashtu become angered, and felt a spike of all too familiar pain from the Sith.
"I wasn't able to raise him the way I wanted. It is one of many failings I would take back if possible. But don't ever insult him like that ever again," Kashtu warned, her hawk stare actually causing Valia to back away slightly, if only an inch.
"I still won't turn. I will rescue my friends, and I WILL send you back to Jigoku, Necromancer."
"I doubt it. I have an offer to make you. You can mull it over. But don't say no until you've truly had time to consider it."
Valia folded her arms. "This'll be rich."
"Join me, and we can end this destructive conflict. I will personally see to the safety of your friends. You will be my new apprentice. I will teach you everything I know, without restraints on yourself. Perhaps in time we will become closer...in a familial sense. I have no wish to be your enemy, but I will do what must be done to ensure my survival and victory over the Jedi Order and the reformation of the Republic."
"I got a better offer," Valia replied.
"Let's hear it."
"How about you kneel before me so I can cut your head off and show it to Vandar when I escape from this rotten hellhole."
Kashtu pursed her lips in dismay.
"I see that you will be a difficult one. But I am a patient woman, and will not be provoked so easily. I bid you farewell, for now." Kashtu headed for the exit, but as she was about to leave, she turned around.
"You walk the path of a Dark Jedi, Jubei."
"Only my stepmother is allowed to call me Jubei, and she's dead. You don't get to call me that. You are not family."
"Really? Why do I see recognition in your eyes? Why does my voice cause such pain to you?"
"You sound familiar, I'll admit. But that is about it."
"Denial is unhealthy. It has destroyed many a Jedi before you. Please, consider what I have said. Goodbye for now, Wandering Sting," Kashtu said before she finally exited the room, knowing Valia had gone pale. Valia heard the door click.
She stood there, the memories playing across her mind as she went to the cot and started crying.
How had this woman gotten under her skin so quickly? She had gotten past her defences, cut through them like they weren't even there.
It was the voice. Had to be. It sounded too much like her stepmother's not to be.
Valia began to wonder how well she had really known the blind woman that had raised her.
"Orders, Madame?" Ptolemus asked, waiting just outside, in the corridor.
"She is more fragile than she appears, Ptolemus. I think that you may have overestimated her resolute nature. She's in denial about her relationship to me."
"I disagree. Milady didn't crack when we threatened her Echani friend. Most Jedi would. You should be cautious," Ptolemus warned her as they began heading for the labs.
"Oh, I am, old friend. She has clearly been through much. Did you see all those lightsaber scars on her?"
"Indeed I have. She defeated my first attempt to bring her here."
"What I'm curious about is why you simply didn't bring her to us first when you learned of her existance."
"Other Jedi were present. Trying to take her would have been unwise."
"I'm amazed you've managed to maintain your cover this long."
"It has become almost a game to me at this point," Ptolemus chuckled. "By the way, I have something you might want to look at..."
Ptolemus produced a lightsaber from his belt. Kashtu immediately took it.
"Whose is this? Looks like mine, but there should be an activation buttuon near the top..."
"It's Valia's weapon. I was unable to secure your old one."
"Hmm...seems like I need to plan a little trip to the Enclave. First, however, we will go to the lab. I want to see the advances you have made..."
Orlock, Present Day.
Valia snapped awake in the cot, covered in sweat. She was naked, heat having made it too hot to sleep comfortably.
She got up from the bed, rubbing the bridge of her nose, and then grabbed the loose red robe nearby and threw it on, tying it off for some semblance of modesty.
Leaving the bedroom, she ventured down the polished wood hallway to the lavish kitchen.
As she walked she tried to shake herself from the vivid dream-memory by admiring the paintings of the local scenery hanging on the walls.
She scowled as she reached the kitchen, finding Kreia already there, her hood down, sipping from a delicate looking teacup.
"I can feel your glare from here, Exile," Kreia spoke blandly as she got a another cup down from the wood cupboard. "Shall I fix you something?"
"I always make my own, thanks," Valia replied gruffly. "You're up late."
"Insomnia. Besides, how can I sleep when I hear you moaning from down the hall?"
"Bad dreams," Valia replied with a crabby undertone, pulling an old wood chair out from a table as she took dried tea leaves in a wood canister specially made to preserve them and put some into a small orb-like strainer.
She caught a whiff of Kreia's tea.
"You should not have it with so much sugar. It ruins the taste. Stuff's supposed to clear your mind."
"Forgive me if I prefer to taste my tea rather than think about it clearing my mind. I meditate enough without needing a simple drink to add to it."
"Tea isn't simple. It communicates something every time you drink it. That is why great care should be take when preparing it. It could communicate the wrong thing if it is prepared carelessly."
"And what, exactly does tea communicate?"
"Many things. Depends on the person preparing them. With you, I can tell you are interested only in the big picture, but are capable of missing the finer points. Here, try this," Valia said, offering her a cup of what she had made.
Kreia tasted it, scowling. "It's bitter. No sugar."
"What does that tell you about me?"
"You have no time for niceties. You are focused on the goal...but sometimes to the detriment of everything else."
"And?" Valia pressed.
"You don't think you have earned any niceties. That is why you chose an especially bitter tea." Kreia was beginning to catch on to what her erstwhile student was trying to communicate.
"It isn't really about the tea, is it, Exile?" Kreia asked. "It is about the effort to the task at hand."
At this, Valia offered no confirmation. She simply shrugged. "Could be. If that is what you find when you make tea."
Valia walked away, leaving Kreia to try and figure out just what had been said.
Another two weeks passed of brutal hand to hand drills, breaching procedures, and exercise.
And then one day, Valia gathered the crew in the dining room.
"You can be taught no further. Our time on Orlock is over. We'll be leaving soon. You have learned--or relearned--the first small steps. The rest must be learned in the field. If it were up to me, you'd be here another six months. But we don't have that kind of time, or that kind of luxury."
"Where are we headed next, Fearless Leader?" Atton asked. Besides the Rookie, Atton demonstrated the most pronounced change. He was now leaner, and the training had brought out something in his eyes that most people didn't like to stare into for too long. There was no mistaking the military precision in his movements.
The Rookie had rapidly improved in her abilities since coming to Orlock. The Echani now always seemed to know when someone was behind her, thanks to the ambush training Valia had put her through. And while it wasn't foolproof, it was considerably harder to sneak up on her than it had been before.
Visas had kept to herself, rarely speaking unless spoken to, but she too now had a greater endurance and swifter reflexes. The crew had also discovered she excelled at ambushes. During the drills, she would regularly turn invisible with the Force and hit Valia from any angle she could, and as the days progressed, had begun to succeed with the tactic more than she should have.
Bao-Dur looked stronger, but he was still just as insane as he was when he had come here, and the crew had long since learned to try and ignore his mutterings. For the last few weeks he had been complaining about "Wanting to get to the next chapter."
Bastila now looked healthy again, her muscles now showing in the blue outfit she wore, an article of wear remarkably similar to the tan one she had sported during the civil war. A brand new double bladed lightsaber was now slung diagonally across her back.
"You have all done very well here, and you have given me some optimism that the mission can succeed. But remember, all the training in the world isn't going to matter if you don't have the decipline and, most importantly, the WILL to win. From here on out we operate as a team, but don't be afraid to make judgement calls if the situation is left to your discretion. Above all, when it comes to the enemy, do not hesitate or show any mercy, for they will show you neither on their end. This thing...it is winner take all. And we must not allow our enemy to win. Am I clear?"
The crew nodded. Valia returned the nod and left the crew to their meals.
On the way out, she ran into Shishida.
"So I hear you're leaving," Shishida said glumly.
"You can always come with us. I always got room for one more."
"Nah. I'm more use to you on my own than annoying you endlessly on a small, cramped ship-though mind you, annoying you endlessly is one of my favorite activities."
"No arguement there," Valia said with a wry smile.
Shishida smirked. "Always happy to know I've done my job."
Valia chuckled a bit. "Catch you later, Shishida. Tell Syatoris I said goodbye."
The pair hugged. Valia then left for the exit to the mansion.
"Hey Valia!" Shishida called out.
Valia turned.
"May the Force be with you."
"With the Force as a friend, who needs foes?" Valia joked, before turning back to her destination.