"Focus, Yerbol. Focus."

Yerbol shifted uneasily in his chair, staring at the stone wall in front of him with growing impatience. A young Jedi Knight was supposed to conform to his Master's teachings, to cling to their every word so that wisdom can seep into their very being. Not that it was a dictatorial relationship, but a Padawan knew little to nothing about their expansive potential and a Master needed to ensure that the potential each Padawan carried with them. Of course, Yerbol wasn't a Padawan any longer; he had been made an official Jedi Knight by Grand Master Skywalker and the Council a couple of years ago at the raw age of twenty two. Now at twenty four, Yerbol had seen a few things in the galaxy that would allow him to not be classified as a novice any longer, but he knew he still had much to learn, which was exactly why he had consulted his old Master, an older Twi'lek by the name of Mansuto, on the issue of impulsiveness. Yerbol had always struggled with his ability to temper his feelings and thought he had been getting better, but a few weeks ago he had been sent to Tattoine to neutralize a squadron of raiders that was mercilessly torturing the moisture farmers in the area. When he had seen the vile corruption the raider scum had been enacting, the slavery, the brutality...well, instead of capturing them like the Council had instructed, he had slaughtered every last one of them. He pleaded that he had done this only to defend the farmers, but he knew that deep down there was something lurking inside of him, something dark and hulking, ominous, seeking to devour him when it had the chance. Now, he sat in a chair, staring at a wall. Mansuto told him that he was to meditate, to seek peace within himself and purge the darkness within. Yerbol had gone through these long periods of meditation for two days now, but to little effect.
"I can still feel it, Master. Seething. Burning."
"Good. Keep it isolated. Now search your inner feelings, analyze them."
"I...I'm still not..." He gritted his teeth, flashes of the innocent being impaled on vibroswords bolting through his mind, the Jedi Order collapsing because of inaction, the...

That might have been it.
Inaction.

"Master, I think...I think might be onto something."
"Good. You have taxed yourself enough for one day. Take your ruminations, place them in the recesses of your mind and carry on with the rest of your day. Do meet me in the council chambers at six this evening. I and another council member wish to discuss your progress."
"Of course." Yerbol turned to say goodbye, but Mansuto had disappeared.
"Boy he's good at that." He mumbled, rising from his chair and stretched upwards as he approached the doorway leading to the quiet Temple hallway. The Jedi Temple on Coruscant was rather silent today, but most were employed on other worlds attempting to stem the tide of increasing crime on multiple core worlds. Most of the Knights felt something was in the works, something drastic, but they were stonewalled by anyone who could have given them a straight answer.

His ears picked up on footsteps coming down the hall...

The halls were quiet that afternoon. Of course, that was not altogether uncommon, given that the temple was a place of peace and meditation; those who roamed there, even on the busiest days, kept to hushed, whispered tones. Yet that afternoon, Leoria sensed an emptiness more complete than she was used to. The group bound for Corulag must have already left, the young woman thought briefly, her pale pink lips turning down at the corners. That meant even fewer individuals for her to interact with.

It was true that Leoria, now a two-year Jedi Knight, was perfectly capable of entertaining herself. There was no way that she could have passed her training without such a skill. But while the girl was perfectly content with her own company, she far preferred that of others. She was a social creature, a trait which her former Master both admired and detested. Arianth, the middle-aged woman who had served as her mentor and friend for years, had struggled to help Leoria rein in her naturally bubbly tendencies. To simply squash the girl's light would completely kill her spirit, and besides, much of the business attended to by Knights required a good natured personality. The doe-eyed blonde, Arianth had finally decided, would be a vital communicator.

But that did not mean that she did not require hardening. The bulk of Leoria's training had consisted of drills to strengthen her resolve, and bridle her kindness, as blind generosity had no place among Jedi Knights. It had been difficult for the girl, but Arianth had been persistent. And she constantly reminded the Padawan that, in her own way, she would be helping people every day as a Knight. No matter what atrocities she witnessed while in the field, or what terrible choices she was forced to make, she was making a difference. That fact stirred her from her bed every morning, and helped her fall asleep when she returned every night.

No, the hall was far too quiet for her taste. The only sounds she heard amongst the emptiness were her own footfalls, and the swishing of her cloak as it swirled about her ankles. They seemed all too loud, echoing eerily due to the hall's high, vaulted ceilings. It was just the motivation she needed to find some conversation, and fast. Besides, she had the day off, as she had woken early to tend to her duties. Assuming Yerbol was also free, perhaps she could talk with him. The two had belonged to the same clan, and over the years, grown to be friends. He was her favorite person to harass.

She found him as he turned into the hallway, his features hard with frustration. He had worn that expression more often the not the past few weeks, and that bothered her. What was it that had him so upset? Though her blue eyes flashed with concern, a warm smile lit her face. "Just who I was looking for."

When Yerbol spotted the glowing Leoria coming towards him, he couldn't help but relax. It was always a welcome sight to see a friend, but even more so after the grueling forty eight hours he had been put through. When she was within about a foot, she smiled at him and spoke, the young Jedi chuckling at the sentiment before telling her:
"I hope that's a good thing." His dark green eyes gazed into her bright blue ones and he couldn't help but feel a bit more energy surge through him. Leoria had been such a help during their respective times as Padawans and even more so as a Knight. They had run several successful operations together and Yerbol consulted her quite frequently when he had some down time, which would probably make Leoria one of, no maybe his ONLY, close friend in the Order. It was hard creating relationships due to the intensity of their studies and the frequent mention of "not having attachments" because they only "led to distraction". However, Masters Mansuto and Arianth didn't seem to have a problem with their Padawan's friendship. Maybe they knew that they helped each other grow and allowed the relationship to flourish due to the beneficial nature of it. In any case, Yerbol was happy to see her.

He brushed aside some of the rebel strands of jet black hair that had fallen on his forehead before telling her:
"Master Mansuto has had me meditating almost non stop the past two days, which would explain why I haven't gotten back to you. After Tattoine, I was basically sectioned off and unofficially told that I couldn't communicate with anyone until I got this-" He pointed at his temple.
"Sorted out. Hasn't been very successful, but here's hoping things clear up in the next few days." He hadn't told Leoria about what had happened and he didn't know if he would...not now, anyway. Master Mansuto was right in telling him to shove aside his thoughts for later. He needed the break and good company was a way to ensure that.
"So you noticed the quiet, too, right? I didn't think that almost everyone would be out on assignment...hey, wait, I thought you volunteered to go with an expedition out to Corulag to explore some ancient ruin or whatnot. What gives? You didn't stay behind to talk to me, did you?" He gave her a playful nudge as he motioned for her to follow him.

The woman nodded sagely. "I see now," came the rejoinder, "you've been in time-out." Her smile grew, the light, and the humor, masking the worry that lingered behind her eyes. Leoria had been concerned about her friend's absence, but considering that his old master was equally absent, she had assumed they were together. Where her presence often cooled situations, Yerbol had a fire about him that often did the opposite. She had seen this phenomenon first-hand, and often found her compassion extending to whoever was on the other end of his anger. She also found herself remembering to stay on his good side.

But when it came to the incident on Tattoine, she knew very little. She had not accompanied him on that trip, as she had been shipped off elsewhere. There were whispers, of course, hushed and toxic in nature. Rumors benefited no one, she would scold if she came close enough to someone. But her own interest was piqued, and she wondered if her friend would open up to her. Was the reality as gruesome as the images that rumors had conjured up for her? She would not ask him, not then anyway. If he had wanted to share, he would have done so in that moment. His silence revealed far more than the words he spoke.

Now, her attention returned to those words, and her smile faltered just slightly. "Yeah, this place feels completely lifeless. I don't like it. And no, they told me last night that they no longer needed me. Apparently Lirike is going in my place." The kind-hearted girl would not reveal her frustration with being replaced by someone who barely passed Knight training, but she did feel it. "No excuse, just pulled me. I'm wondering if they have something else planned for me. Hoping, really." Then, she returned his nudge. "Your company is an added bonus."

"Aw, see, you being around me is already boosting my self confidence...or my ego. I'm hoping it's the former." He laughed as they rounded the corner, the duo walking to the end of the short hallway which terminated at one of the three courtyards located within the Temple. Three was a bit excessive, but when the Temple was rebuild, the Masters thought it would be conducive to ensure that there would be more space for any incoming Jedi. At the time, it sounded like a prudent plan, but with the galaxy producing less and less Force users by the year, one could only wonder if the lush plant life and ornate decor would be left to rot in a few years.

"I'm sure they do have something planned for you." To their right was a miniature waterfall which cascaded gracefully into a small pond enclosed by a stone barrier. Next to the barrier were a few benches, Yerbol planting himself on the bench farthest from the waterfall as he continued:
"Sometimes the Masters do things in a seeming random manner, but from I've learned from following Master Mansuto, there's some grand scheme at work...maybe scheme isn't exactly the right term, but you know what I mean." His large frame shifted on the bench, glancing at the glistening water before leaning his head back, eyes closing. After a few moments of silence, Yerbol asked:
"How do you think the rest of the galaxy sees us now?" He looked over at his companion with an apologetic smile as he added:
"Let me be clearer: without an Empire to chase down and make us look like the good guys all the time, how do you think the rest of the galaxy, the Republic even, will see us down the line? I've heard a lot of chatter from some of the locals on other planets and they...they see us as a force that needs to be controlled, not a force for good like the Masters tell us we are. I mean, think about it from their perspective: instead of restoring Corulag into a habitable planet, we're sending scholars and Knights to go investigate a ruin the Sith may or may not have built. Where's the practicality in that? I guess...maybe I'm totally off, but I think that without the Sith or the Empire or some menace threatening the rest of the galaxy, we're kind of a wildcard." He shifted again, then continued:
"I suppose I shouldn't doubt what the Masters are doing, or at least not voice my concern yet. Master Mansuto wants me to meet him and another Council member later this evening to 'discuss my progress'." He snorted a chuckle.
"I don't know what that means, but it sounds ominous."

The Knight shifted beside him on the bench, long, lithe fingers plucking at a stray fiber on her brown robes. The conversation had turned serious, as it had a tendency to do when Yerbol was involved. He was a force of nature when he had to be, that fire and passion as wild as the horses that thundered across Dathomir. Yet on a dime, he could grow as philosophical as they came. Despite her discomfort at the subject change, Leoria smiled inwardly. Capable, but contemplative. Responsive, but reflective. No wonder the powers that be pegged him as a good Jedi Knight.

"I can't say for sure how they see us." The sound of her own voice over the soft babble of the waterfall brought her back to the present. "I think it varies, depending on where you are. There are some people who are going to dislike us, no matter what we do." And you cannot lose yourself to please those people. The teaching of her master echoed in her ears. It had been a hard lesson for Leoria to learn. Secretly, she wondered how others would have reacted had they known just how hard. Arianth had been patient, warm, and accommodating. Another mentor may not have been so understanding. Yerbol believed that there was a grand scheme, and so did she. Most days. Believe that, or you'll go crazy. There was no room for doubt, as Arianth had also ingrained within her. She would drive herself crazy questioning whether or not she was an effective Knight. I wouldn't be here if I weren't.

Suddenly putting voice to her thoughts, she said, "I think we'll drive ourselves mad trying to figure out the Masters. If we do what we determine is the right thing, every time, we'll remain a force for good. And that's something. But maybe it is best that we don't worry about how we're viewed." Her words an octave softer now, she added, "but easier said than done."

Another smile, this one slightly more forced than the others. "In the spirit of not worrying, let's not stress this meeting you have with the Council member. I'm sure it is good news anyway."

She made some good points, as she normally did when she entertained his more philosophic tangents, before redirecting the conversation to something more positive.
"Yes...yes I'm hoping it is as well." It was then that the holo communicator in the pocket of his robe began to chirp, Yerbol glancing down, brow arched in surprise. He withdrew the device and activated it to find his old Master staring grimly up at him.
"Yerbol, is Leoria with you at the moment?"
"Yes, Master, she is...why do you ask?"
"Please ensure that she comes with you to our meeting. We have moved our time to convene to four in the afternoon."
"Master is ever-"

Mansuto had already severed the connection, Yerbol looking over at Leoria, mystified.
"Well then, I suppose you'll be finding out what I will in a few hours. Fun." He pressed a button on the side of the communicator, a chronometer appearing to reveal that the time was two.
"He's never asked to see the both of us together...has Master Arianth contacted you at all? I wasn't told of any communication between her and Mansuto, but of course they must talk...or at least, they talked plenty when we were Padawans." A smile crossed his face.
"Hey, remember when we were told that we needed to be careful about 'forming attachments' because we wanted to go out to a Cantina? I thought Master Mansuto was going to have a heart attack when I told him about the outing, let alone it being with a good friend that was-" He gasped for effect.
"A young woman! How could two Padawans be trusted to control themselves? Wouldn't they descend into barbarous behavior that would set a terrible precedent for the Order?" He chuckled a bit as he leaned his head back once more and closed his eyes.
"Hey, at least if it's bad news, we'll get it together."

________________

The duo stood within the council chambers, the rays of the afternoon sun filtering in through the full panel windows that surrounded the northern portion of the gilded room. There were six chairs in a semi circle formation, but none were occupied. It was four o clock and the chamber doors were open, but no Master Mansuto. Odd.

As if on cue, the old Twi'lek burst into the chambers, breathing out a heavy sigh as he sat in the chair closest to the center of the circle, his blue skin looked a tad darker than normal.
"Forgive our tardiness, but we were ensuring that some last minute data we were given was accurate. The other Master will join us in a moment, but first, I must ask..." His gaze fell on Yerbol.
"You have received no communication in the past twenty four hours, correct?"
"No, Master, not that I'm aware."
"Good, good. And you, Leoria, no one has reached out to you?"

With Mansuto's words, Leoria felt dread grip her. Its cold fingers sunk into her skin, and despite the warmth of hall, she shuttered slightly. He wanted her there? But why? And what excuse did he have for ending the transmission so abruptly? Of course, his demeanor was not so warm as Arianth's, but he had never struck Leoria as an exceptionally rude or hurried individual. What matter was so pressing? The rosy pink color drained from her cheeks. Was someone hurt? Was someone dead? "No," she replied in a voice that did not sound like her own. "She hasn't contacted me." Hadn't she said only moments before that worrying would do no good? Damn hypocrite.

But when her wide gaze swung to Yerbol's, she found only good-naturedness dancing within his emerald eyes. And as he recounted their first trip together, she felt the negative emotions ebbing. Her smile, and her blush, returned. "Your master nearly passed out at the thought! I don't think I've ever seen that little vein in his forehead pop out so far before. And I don't think Arianth has ever laughed so hard either. Do you remember how she added a comment about feminine wiles, just to fan the flames?" Now, finally, her smile extended to her eyes.

---

Closely flanking her taller companion, Leoria entered the chamber. Her blue eyes narrowed, first to adjust to the bright light, and later due to suspicion. Why were they alone? As if on cue, Mansuto burst onto the scene. He looked a bit flustered, and his words tumbled from his lips far too quickly. That sinking feeling returned to the pit of the girl's stomach.

"N-no," she replied, forcing a quick cough to mask her stutter. "No one has reached out to me. At least, nothing out of the usual. I did receive word that I was not meant to travel to Corulag today, as originally planned."

"Yes, that message came from me." There was Arianth, who had entered the room with the same soft grace she spoke with. But upon closer inspection, Leoria noted tell-tale traces of dishevelment. Stray stands of her graying blonde hair had slipped from their normally tight bonds, and her deep-set eyes were red around the edges. She gave a slight nod to her young charge, and the girl's friend. With an easy flick of her wrist, she invited the pair to sit, while doing so herself. Mansuto already occupied the seat beside her. "Thank you both for joining us," the Master continued. "No point in beating around the bush." An old idiom, Leoria noted briefly. Arianth was known for sprinkling them in wherever she could. When she spoke again, her tone was grave. "We need your help."

"Our help, Master? Really?"
"Master Arianth is correct. We are in dire need of help and we..." Mansuto looked to Arianth with a steely gaze, examining his fellow master's eyes before nodding, looking back at the duo who were now seated across from them.
"We could only think of you two for this perilous assignment, although I still have my reservations." Arianth shook her head at the sentiment, glancing at Mansuto as she told him quietly:
"Come now...there is no need to express doubts before we tell them what we are asking, which we both know is much." Mansuto sat back, agreeing:
"Of course, my apologies. Just, with the level of danger this operation carries..." He shook his head, his lekku twitching violently for a few seconds before he explained:
"You are both familiar with Korriban, the former home world of the Sith, correct?"
"Yes...I studied Korriban's history quite intently with Leoria's help, of course."
"So you are both aware that the planet has not been inhabited for some time now."
"Last I heard, the planet was being scouted by the Republic for reforestization efforts."
"Yes, that is the case. The Republic forces managed to find their way to the planet and land a few weeks ago. Their communications with the Republic have ceased as of last week and we have felt a strange emptiness coursing towards us. It feels dark, hollow, cold. Things that I have not felt since the fall of the reborn Empire a few years ago. We must ensure that the Republic forces are secured and returned home in order to understand what has caused the radio silence. But, of course, we do have a second objective. I will allow Master Arianth to inform you of the relic we need returned to us." Before Master Arianth could speak, Yerbol raised his hand, a habit that wasn't easily broken even after his ordination as a Knight.
"Masters, will we be the only ones who go on this operation? Why can't the Republic send its own troops?"
"Because the Republic cannot be trusted with such a valuable operation."
"Valuable? Not trusted? Master, I-"
"Yerbol, enough." His icy cold tone halted Yerbol's sentence in his tracks. The young Knight knew that he needed to allow Master Arianth to tell them more.

Yerbol was concerned, that much Arianth could see. And no doubt her young charge was equally so. The older woman expelled the air in her lungs in a half-sigh, and lifted one hand to kneed her right temple. "We cannot tell you much," she began gently, "because we do not know much ourselves. If you're curious why you have not heard much about this expedition, it is because the Council wanted it that way. They have gone to great lengths to keep the main purpose hidden, and believe me, it is not reforestation."

A dark weight settled on Leoria's chest. Never before had she seen that look in her master's eyes, or heard that edge in her tone. Something was very wrong. This was so unlike the previous missions she had played a part in, because the initial meetings had never been this heavy. The air had never been this thin. "What was the purpose then?" she whispered.

"Excavation," came Arianth's reply. "The excavation of the previously mentioned relic. Yes, there are individuals working on reforestation, but the planet was selected for the relic alone."

Now, Leoria's blue eyes narrowed slightly, her mind whirring as it processed this new information. "Master, is this relic dangerous?" That certainly would explain the strange behavior of the older Knights.

First, Arianth nodded. Then, with a half shrug, she corrected herself. "We believe so, based on previous interactions with similar relics."

"There are others?"

"Yes. They all emit similar energy, which is what led us here. And they've all been small, spherical objects, with a circumference of about twelve inches. Smooth, with no noticeable indentations or markings. That, unfortunately, is where the similarities end. Each relic has possessed its own..." her voice trailed, "unique attributes. It is unpredictable. That is why it is dangerous."

"We need you to visit the planet." Now Mansuto re-entered the conversation. "Return the forces to safety, and the relic too, if you find it. Reports had indicated that the troops were growing very near, and that is when communications ended."

Arianth nodded, adding, "two birds with one stone."

"Make any preparations you need now. I suggest, Yerbol, that you bring along the texts you were reading on Korriban. They may help refresh your memory as to why the Order has been so hesitant to approach the planet."
"Of course, Master."
"And I expect the both of you to return intact." Yerbol smiled slightly.
"We'll do our best."
"Report when you're nearing the surface, then we will not communicate again. We cannot afford for any to intercept our communications."
"So wait...we'll be on our own?" Mansuto nodded.
"We believe that you both can handle this."

He hoped that belief wasn't misplaced.

__________________________

The orange hue of the deserted planet below seemed to project an ominous aura from the porthole of the shuttle that had been used to take the two Knights to Korriban. It was about a two day journey from what the nav computer had informed them, the jump to hyperspace giving them a way to meditate for the coming operation. Mainly seated in the co-pilots chair(he deferred to Leoria for space travel...she was much better when it came to piloting), the young Knight studied as much as he could on the planet, reminded once more of the malicious history that Korriban had. He had read a few sections to Leoria aloud for emphasis, but for the most part, he kept quiet, studying as much as he could or meditating in the rear of the shuttle so he could stay as centered as possible. He knew that the...burning he felt inside of him needed to be dealt with as soon as possible, but it seemed as if the flames were subsiding, confirming his suspicion that inaction was something he continued to struggle with. Ironically, he thought about this through meditation, which was physically the peak of inactivity.

He had been dwelling on his thoughts at the rear of the shuttle when they entered Korriban's atmosphere, the once smooth ride turning bumpy in a hurry.
"Are we flying right into a windstorm?" He slid into the co-pilot's chair to be greeted by the sight of debris and sediment flinging itself at the viewport. Yerbol looked down at the nav computer, noting that there wasn't a map showing up to guide their landing.

Well, crap.

He flicked a few of the stabilizer switches, their speed reduced, which in turn ensured that the turbulence they were experiencing was not as violent. Still, it was difficult to see anything...until they got past the whipping and turning of the atmospheric storm to get a clear view of the planets surface. He stood up, mouth slightly agape.
"We're actually...here..." Ruined temples and monoliths lay beneath them, crumbling into the sandy dunes. Here and there existed the remnants of an excavation post, as indicated by the modern, spiral shaped lights that were visible even from their altitude, but the camps were deserted. Korriban was indeed a husk.
"How are the readings? The coordinates that the Masters gave us should already be on the map by now."

Her partner had been so quiet, and Leoria recognized that there was a reason for that. Whatever demons lurked beneath his cheerful surface were tightening their hold, and to counter it, he withdrew into himself. Yerbol buried himself in the task of researching the planet, and aside from sharing a few facts, they spoke very little. He also spent much of his time meditating, an exercise that the girl would not dare disturb. So, instead, she was once again left to entertain herself. It was easier now, as she had the controls of a spacecraft in her hand. But that did not tether her mind, and keep it from roaming.

Often, she found herself worrying. How could she possibly proceed without worry, given the state of distress that the two Masters were in prior to their departure? That twisting knot in her stomach never disappeared completely, though it did loosen slightly with a glance toward Yerbol. They were smart. They were capable. They would not be on this mission if that were not all true. And she trusted him. Yes, they would be alright. That was what she told herself when she grew a bit nauseous.

Sudden turbulence drew her attention once more. And when the man dropped into the seat beside her, she did not turn her gaze to face him. "Feels like it," was her answer, her blue eyes narrowing to see through the mess. He began toggling a series of buttons and switches, aiding her in regaining control of the craft. She was the superior pilot, that much they agree on. But it was always nice to have some help. "Thanks," she murmured, just before their unit broke free of the atmosphere's hold.

Leoria sucked in a breath. The planet, though broken, was incredibly beautiful. The hushed red and orange hues painted the air, as if the sky was stuck in eternal sunrise. She felt Yerbol stir beside her, and she knew that he was affected in the same way. Perhaps it wouldn't all be bad. "Readings are fine," she assured her co-pilot. "Must have just been a hiccup entering the atmosphere. And yes, there's the location now." A small dot pinged on their map. Easily, unceremoniously, the Knight landed the craft at the coordinates provided. There would be no one there to greet her, she realized as she slipped from her chair and strode toward the door, as they may very well be the only individuals on the entire planet.

"I remember you saying something about Pelko bugs," she mused aloud, resting a hand on the door's main latch. Good-naturedly, she added, "they're your responsibility. I can't stand that creepy-crawly nonsense." With a small, crooked smile, she opened the ship's hatch, and after waiting for Yerbol to join her, took her first steps onto the crimson planet.

"I hope, for the both our sakes, that they were wiped out a long time ago with the rest of the Sith." A shudder shot down his spine as the hatch door swung open, Yerbol breathing out sharply.
"Here we go." He muttered, taking a couple of steps onto the surface of the planet and almost instantly felt his blood turn to ice in his veins. He rubbed his eyes, attempting to adjust to the glare of the fierce orange orb hanging in the sky. The storm that they had passed through must have only been in the highest layers of atmosphere or some kind of anomaly, seeing as the sun seared into the surface of the planet with no obstruction. He grimaced as he took another few steps forward, the bitter heat not doing anything to alleviate the chill that had infected his entire body.

Yerbol caught sight of a distress beacon jutting out of the sand a hundred yards off, a flashing green light mounted at the top of a skinny metallic pole that guided them towards the actual machination. After trudging forward to the beacon, Yerbol reaching down to the base of the beacon and pressing a large orange button that projected the content of the distress call onto their holo communicators, which buzzed to life. Yerbol withdrew his to find a holographic projection of a man clad in the typical white and blue Republic trooper armor, helmet off to reveal wide eyes and fidgety movements.
"Private Malcom Juno requesting immediate evac from Korriban. Breaking radio silence due to the severity of the emergency...my squad is..." He paused, looking to his right.
"Gone, most of them gone. Just me and a couple of others that I lost in the tomb. Please, send he-" The transmission ended, causing Yerbol to look in the direction that Private Juno had.

That was when he first laid eyes on the gaping entrance to the tomb.

There were two ornately carved stone doors, one of which was already cracked open with the body of a trooper wedged in the doorway. Two more troopers were face down a couple of feet away from the entrance, their arms outstretched. Yerbol approached one of the bodies slowly, turning it over to find a female, her eyes open, the corneas tinted with a dark shade of crimson, dried spots of blood on the edges of her eyelids and cheeks. There was also dried blood on her forehead and caused her hair to mat to her head in a crumpled heap. He turned the other body over.
"Same exact wounds." There were no other distinguishable wounds on the bodies.
"Odd."

Though her partner had moved toward the tomb, Leoria remained stationary. Her gaze was glued to the beacon, its flashing green light strangely mesmerizing, as she reflected on the hologram's words. He had said that he was breaking radio silence. Forgetting the emergency he spoke of, the girl noticed the importance of that phrase alone. Why had the team kept radio silence at all? Her Master had explained that they had been unable to reach the expedition, but had that been prior to the radio silence? Or after? And who had requested such secrecy to begin with? Arianth had alluded to immense security, yet Leoria wondered if such sneakiness had ultimately worked against them.

"Wonder who requested the radio silence," she finally muttered, but Yerbol had already left her side. With the whisper of sand underfoot, the Knight jogged toward him. Each step, she realized suddenly, was increasingly difficult. She had hardly noticed the heat before, but now it demanded her full attention. Each breath she drew was hot, steamy, and seemed to stick in her throat before reaching her lungs. She coughed, but only once, as she did not wish to demonstrate how much the weather affected her. Leoria had always preferred the cold.

Her lips parted, and she moved to continue speaking on the matter of radio silence. But all that escaped at the sight of the bodies was a soft, strangled groan. It was not as if the woman was a stranger to death. On the contrary, she had witnessed her fair share of dead and dying. But that did not make the reality that lay before her any easier to swallow. Though she knew that she should help Yerbol examine the body, the lifeless eyes kept her at bay. She's not much older than I am. Clenching her jaw tightly, she opted to simply cross her arms protectively across her chest.

"What kind of marks do you think those are then? Because I agree with you, I think whatever it was got to all of these people." She paused, mentally recalling the information that he had shared with her over the past few days. "Tuk'ata, maybe? Rumor is there are still some around here. And they have massive claws and teeth." But as soon as the words left her mouth, she shook her head. "No, never mind. If that were the case, I think that there would be more blood." She frowned, lines of worry deepening across her brow. "There really isn't much blood actually. Hardly any. Just mostly around the face." Now, she knelt. Though her fingertips never kiss the deceased's skin, she traced the marks for her companion. "Very odd."

"You're right, a Tuk'ata would've eviscerated the bodies and probably dragged a couple into it's lair for food. This seems almost like a disease of some kind. See how there are no signs of battle?" He pointed at the blasters that were still in their holsters, then to the trooper wedged in the doorway, his blaster rifle slung on his back.
"Whatever had happened, they weren't expecting it nor was it a foe they could have seen. Poison in the tomb, maybe?" He cursed at himself silently for not bringing rebreathers for the both of them, but all the research he had done indicated that Korriban's atmosphere would be safe. He hadn't even thought of the tombs potential traps.

Yerbol walked to the doorway, dragging the Republic soldier's body out a few feet away from the door so that the entrance would be clear. The heavy stone door stayed open, as if to challenge the young Knights to conquer it. He could hear nothing but strained silence, but he could see some fluorescent light coming from within the tomb.
"They were able to set up shop at least." He pointed at the lights, then looked to Leoria, apprehension flashing across his eyes.
"This is..." Breath.
"This isn't going to be easy, is it?" A nervous smile.
"But that's why we were sent, right? We're the clean up crew."

____

They were able to snake their way through the open doorway and through the initial passages, all of which sloped downward. There were portable lamps stationed every fifty feet or so, but no other gear was visible. After reaching a level hallway, Yerbol spotted several paths that branched out from where they were, the hallway directly ahead dotted with lamps, albeit fewer and far between. About to take another step, Yerbol's foot froze in mid stride as a tortured shriek echoed off the walls, assailing their ears. His lightsaber instantly crackled to life, the silvery blue casting the chamber they were in with a surreal glow. The scream came again, coming straight at them. He backed away, both hands clutching the hilt of his saber tightly.
"NO MOOOORREEEE PAIIIINNNNNNNN!!!" Two troopers rushed into the room the Jedi occupied, their eyelids coated in blood, rivulets running down their cheeks as one sunk to their knees, the other extending his arms in the air.
"ALL FALL! ALL FALL BEFORE THE COMING!" The one on his knees began to seize violently, convulsions taking over his body as he chattered:
"N...O...M...O....REEEE....PAIININN....."
"THE COMING! THE COMING OF THE TRUE!" Yerbol opened his mouth to speak, but the standing trooper then pointed at both Jedi.
"YOU! YOU! YOU WILL NOT WITNESS THE COMING!" Sparks of electricity flew from his fingertips, Yerbol deflecting as much of the energy as he could, his body being driven backward as he tried to block.
"RIA! DO SOMETHING!"

Beside the boy, Leoria shifted uncomfortably. "No," came her simple, honest answer. "I don't think it will be." His response bordered optimistic, as if their presence would somehow improve the situation. It can't save these people, whispered the darker depths of her mind, but she immediately shoved it away. If Yerbol attempted to be positive, the least she could do was follow suit. So she nodded. "Clean up crew." Her smile was forced, but it was there. "Things can't get any worse at least."

---

It has been a foolish, foolish thing to say. Of course things could worse. And they did, shortly after. The scream froze the blood in her veins, and as her fingertips brushed the hilt of her lightsaber, she moved closer to Yerbol's side. "What was that?" she asked on a whisper, though she knew full-well that her companion would not have the answer. It was just slightly comforting to hear her own voice fill the cavern, and not the screams. But the wail came again, and this time, the sound was accompanied by an approaching figure.

While they had known not what to expect, a pair of crazed troopers had not been high on the list of possibilities. As such, the pair had responded a bit more slowly than usual, shock and confusion rooting them where they stood. It was Yerbol who moved first, and it was fortunate that he did. The duo would most likely have been killed had he not.

"RIA, DO SOMETHING."

But what was she supposed to do? The situation was so unlike anything that she had seen before. These men were clearly theirs, based on their attire. But there were rubies where their eyes should be. No, not rubies. Blood. And the lightning that danced from their fingertips was impossible, as only a limited number of dark uses were capable of such power. The scene she watched unfold before her was so wrong, in so many ways. Yet he called for her, and she knew she had to act.

The young woman lunged, her actions sure and practiced now that she had finally made a move. Her lightsaber was in hand, and the blue light that lit the cavern was suddenly joined by a more purple hue. She wasted no time, creating a tight arc around the two troops, and positioning herself directly behind them. They were so occupied with Yerbol that they could not react in time. With an electric whirr that seemed impossibly loud in the small space, she raked her lightsaber across the two men's backs.

Instantly, the tomb fell silent, save for the soft noise cast by the Jedi's weapons. Leoria turned hers off with a tap of her thumb. But in the light cast by Yerbol's, it was easy to see the paleness of her cheeks, and the haunted look in her eyes. "They were in pain," she announced robotically. "They were in pain. They said they were in pain, and so I had to do it."

"Yes you did. If it wasn't for you, we both would've wound up dead." The blade of the lightsaber withdrew back into the hilt, the young Knight clipping the weapon back to his belt before taking a knee to examine their former attackers. It was the same pattern that they found on the bodies outside in terms of the blood on their faces. That didn't necessarily trouble Yerbol as much as the whole "a Republic trooper could shoot lightning out of his hands" bit.
"You know, I've studied how the different tombs on Korriban caused differing effects on those who explored them." He ran his hand over one of the Trooper's eyes, closing them to avoid the dead stare of madness.
"I've read about madness, fear, people being mentally scarred forever, but force powers? That's a new one." Yerbol resumed standing, walking to Leoria and putting both hands on her shoulders.
"Ria, they're at peace now. What they were enduring was worse than probably any kind of anguish we could imagine. Now they can rest." A half smile crossed his face in an attempt to comfort her, squeezing her shoulders gently before turning around to face the hallway where the crazed troopers had emerged from.
"The one that was screaming about 'The Coming of the True'...that sounds familiar-" He wanted to continue his line of reasoning, but was cut off by a flash of bright red light further down the hallway. He motioned for Leoria to follow him, Yerbol slowly proceeding until they reached a large, cavernous room with six pillars arranged in a hexagonal manner. In the center stood a pedestal with a triangular object levitating above it, red light glowing from the edges. As he approached, he could feel something stirring in his chest, a burning, heated anger. An inferno of desire, of passion swept through him, his knees buckling underneath him. He could feel the tendrils of emotion take hold of his entire body, the young Jedi managing to let out:
"Take...the...thing...off that...pedes-" It was then that a sweet, bitter pain gripped his body and mind, a kind of pain that engendered an agonized shout, collapsing to the ground as-

The lightning struck the tombs, dancing across the surface. The Masters stood, clad in the garb of their fathers, cackling in delight as the lightning infused them with the powers of the ancients, they-

Yerbol's eyes opened, slowly.
"What...had...where..." He managed to get to his knees.
"Ria?"