A/N: Sorry for the delay, guys. The chapter ended up being too long, and I had my birthday in the middle, so it took some time to finish.
Doc - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aSIru5ShiiMdi-B9BJydOADwL3-ZcbxQIYZaS06-jzg/edit?usp=sharing
The true mark of a Sith Lord was patience in planning, infiltration, corruption, and cunning.
It mattered not how hard the lightsaber struck, but how deep it sank. A scheme, even with the right intentions, required time, guidance, and invisible nudging to succeed. All in preparation for that one final strike to end it all.
And in a realm of chaos like the underworld of Coruscant, it only became easier.
"Why is the Jedi here?"
"Boss! H-He killed thirty of us like nothing! He's coming this way!"
"Why? What did we do—Oh! The new cargo!"
"But we kept it secret, boss. Only you and me kno—"
Pew!
Thud!
"And that makes you the traitor."
####
A while ago,
Arenval left the building where he met Komari and walked all the way to the other side of the district. From there, he hailed a taxi speeder and travelled aimlessly, covering his tracks and changing taxis time and time again.
He made sure it looked like he was investigating something. His large, black cloak covered his Jedi robes and Padawan braid, keeping him from being noticed. He knew the final destination, however, and slowly made his way towards it.
Finally, as he deboarded the last taxi, the holotab in his pocket let out a long vibration. He took it out and read T7's message.
"T7 = Urgent Message // Master Shaak Ti = Searching for Aren."
Ugh! Should've stopped Komari.
Arenval hurriedly placed the holotab in his pocket and walked into the dark, dirty, grease-covered alley with dim lights here and there. It was so rundown and away from inhabited areas that the place felt like an abandoned industrial section of the level. But it wasn't abandoned; it was filled with the scum of Coruscant.
In particular, where he stood was the home of the Dark Claw gang, a puny, unimportant subsidiary of the Black Sun. The gang ran Black Sun's operations in that area, and amongst them, one was called 'sentient trafficking,' a better word for slavery.
It may be Coruscant, the center of the Galactic Republic, but the laws don't reach that far down below the surface, just like the sunlight.
Deep breaths. There is no joy in killing.
Arenval took deep breaths while walking further and further into the dark alleyway. He kept his senses sharp, aware of the fact that he was being watched. He had sensed more than ten people through the Force already, and more were coming.
The Dark Side was ecstatic there, like it had found a home. The filth, vileness, dark desires, and actions accumulated there had compounded. The entire 1313 level was like that, but this specific place was worse. It had the residue left by slavery and the torment of sentient creatures.
This is justice.
At last, he took a sharp turn between two tall buildings. The alley was only wide enough for him to spread his arms, and it was long, pitch-black, and dark. The only light he could see was far ahead, where the alley ended at a wall with a single door on it.
Twenty?
Arenval sensed the people around him through the Force. A few were behind him, a few were above on both sides, staring down at him through broken windows or holes in the building's walls.
No cover either.
A single, large, square-shaped red light was above the door's frame, bright enough to blind you if you looked directly into it.
There were walls on his three sides, each hundreds of floors high and crumbling. They were all covered in industrial grease and looked dark. The place was perfect to lay a trap or to set an entry into a secret base.
I do not enjoy this.
Confident in his abilities, and this being his first time engaging in deadly combat, he took in a deep breath. He was confident; his training had reached a point where only a few could defeat him. But training could never match real combat.
Bam! Bam!
Arenval knocked on the durasteel door. He could feel its absurd thickness from mere touch.
In a moment, a rectangular window on the door opened, and a pair of eyes peeked out. Arenval recognised them as Trandoshan.
"What do you want? There's no delivery scheduled today."
"Give me the child," Arenval replied.
"Who sent you?" the Trandoshan asked.
Arenval finally removed his hood and gently waved his right hand in front of the Trandoshan's eyes. "You should come outside and find out."
"I will come out and find out."
Click!
Creak!
A series of mechanical sounds followed, locks certainly, physical ones. Then, slowly, with a loud creak, the metal door opened out. The Trandoshan was tall, a full head above Arenval, but that didn't matter.
"Who sent y—"
Arenval's relaxed right arm jerked downward, and his lightsaber slid into his grip. It instantly ignited with a loud hum and a blinding amber glow.
Woosh!
He swept the scorching blade upwards at breakneck speed. A long, scorched mark traced the floor, and then connected right between the Trandoshan’s legs, cutting him instantly, all the way through the middle until the blade came out on top of their head, and further, hit the bright red light above the door, and a part of the door itself.
Just as quickly, he put out his lightsaber.
The entire alley fell into absolute darkness.
Thud!
The Trandoshan's body fell, split in half. Only the sound was heard.
"Sseff!"
"It's a Jedi!"
"He killed Sseff!"
"Get him!"
In an instant, dozens of voices, shouts, and curses filled the entire alley.
"Turn the lights on! He went inside!"
Every outlaw hiding in that alley moved, coming out and jumping into the open. They used glowrods to rush towards the dead Trandoshan's body, and one by one, they ran inside, chasing Arenval.
It took a minute before the lights were turned on. This time, the entire alley, all the way from the door to its exit, lit up in white light. It turned out that the side walls along the entire alley had illuminators hidden.
Do none of them have night vision?
Arenval pondered and finally relaxed his body and let himself fall. That entire time, he had been chimneying, wedging his body between the two high buildings, his hands and his feet only, while sensing all the outlaws running inside.
Thud!
As soon as his feet landed, he took a deep breath, ignited the lightsaber, and walked through the door. He had effectively made sure his back was secure, with the enemies all inside. No matter how confident he was in his Force senses and lightsaber skills, he didn't want to return to the Temple with a blaster wound in his back.
After crossing a short, narrow path, the area opened up into a large hall. Cargo crates and other goods were everywhere, even statues that were likely stolen and held value to some planet out there. There was sufficient light, and outlaws were searching for him, opening every crate, removing every fabric cover.
He crouched before entering and suppressed his steps.
Woosh!
Arenval crept up behind the first vic… criminal, and sliced the man in half at the waist. Flesh was nothing against a blade burning hotter than the surface of a sun. But there was no blood as the heat instantly cauterized everything.
"Shoot him!"
Instantly, the entire hall became aware of him.
Arenval, most proficient in Form V, swung the lightsaber and deflected blaster bolts back at the enemy. He tried not to get surrounded, but his senses told him one was trying to walk around him, hiding behind a large metal crate on his right.
"Never fought a Jedi, have you?"
Arenval muttered and changed his sword hand to the left, continuing to deflect the blaster bolts. With his right hand, he punched his palm towards the metal crate.
Creak!
The metal crate got violently pushed away and smashed into the wall, crushing the Rodian behind and killing him.
However, something subtly shifted then. Arenval didn't realise it, but his fighting became faster, as if his body grew used to it. His calmness vanished, and his lips went from pursed to a smile.
"Easier than I expected."
Arenval jumped, mixing Form IV, all the while using Shien of Form V to deflect the blaster bolts. Even if he wasn't accurate in sending it back at the enemy, he eventually did land near them. He was fast, acrobatic, and inhumanly so in every aspect. The Force itself made him stronger.
Swoosh!
Each time his lightsaber hummed near an enemy, a body was cut in half, or a head rolled away. There were a few humans, but most were Rodians, Trandoshans, and Weequays.
Bam!
Not just slicing them, he used Force Push to crush them behind cargo crates and other goods in the hall. The ten outlaws were soon reduced to one, who started running away through a sliding door.
Arenval didn't chase; he walked menacingly. His smile had gone from just lips to a full grin.
"Shoot him!"
Arenval heard someone shout ahead. He crossed the doorway and entered a small lobby, which led him into an even larger hall.
Tzew! Tzew! Tzew!
Right as Arenval entered, a single rotary blaster cannon on the other side of the room concentrated fire on him. The blue bolts of energy pushed him back as he still tried to use his lightsaber to deflect them.
Inconvenienced for a moment, Arenval jumped sideways and hid behind a storage crate. He closed his eyes and felt his surroundings, the four trying to close in on him, and the blaster continuously shooting towards him.
That one.
He patiently waited a few seconds, and once one of the outlaws was close enough, he peeked and extended his arm, Force grabbing the Rodian like a rag doll and then throwing him away towards the rotary blaster.
Woosh!
Using that short moment, he jumped out of the cover, dashing straight towards the closing outlaws. He didn't stop for them, deflected their blasters back to them, and those he missed, he sliced them himself.
The rotary blaster wasn't destroyed, but the Rodian's dead body, riddled with blaster holes, had fallen on top of it. Arenval used that chance and leaped high, rolling his body upside down until his feet pressed on the ceiling, bending as he used the momentum, and launched himself towards the rotary blaster at an even greater speed.
Bzzzz!
He streaked down like a falling meteor, diving headfirst with his lightsaber extended in front of him. As soon as he was in range, he slashed sideways, cutting the rotary blaster and the shooter as well.
"Hah!"
A small chuckle left his mouth before he even realised. His body didn't stop there and reached for the next door. More outlaws were inside, and this time he jumped as soon as he entered, destroying all the lights on the ceiling, leaving the hall in darkness.
His lightsaber also turned off.
Bzzz!
"Aaaaaah!"
"No!"
Every single time the lightsaber's amber hue shone, a loud cry echoed, followed by a thud.
"Shoot him—aah!"
"No!"
Panic spread everywhere. It was all dark; some of them tried to run and died, and some stumbled in fear.
"Hah!"
And in the midst, faint chuckles repeated now and then, which made the entire gang's skin crawl. They started to mindlessly shoot, only for a lightsaber to glow in the distance and send back that blaster bolt at them, killing them.
"Heh!"
And then came the chuckle.
"What are you!"
The members of Dark Claw couldn’t make sense of it. Jedi were noble, at least tried to be, and it was a fact the galaxy knew. But this fight seemed far from noble; it was closer to a nightmare.
"Spare me! I surrender!"
"Justice is blind, hehe."
A voice replied, ending with a laugh.
Thud!
With that, the last man also died, sliced in half.
At last, Arenval stood in front of the final door, behind which he sensed two… no, just one person. Since the door was locked, he sliced it with the lightsaber and burned a large hole. He made fast work and then kicked, diving inside alongside the metal piece, using it as cover.
"Don't come closer!"
The room was bright, and Arenval stood up quickly, always keeping the lightsaber in front of him. But he didn't step forward to strike; he couldn't.
"Even a single step and I'll shoot the boy!"
The leader of the gang, a tall, long-horned Devaronian, was at the other end of the room, holding a one-year-old baby in his arm, and the other aimed the blaster at the baby's head.
"Roll the kriffing lightsaber my way!"
Arenval's face was unrecognisable, gone was the smile, the brows were creased together, his yellow eyes burning. Yet, his hand moved, turned the lightsaber off, and he rolled it towards the man.
He didn't realise, but a wave of fear swept through that room. The Devaronian's legs started to shake.
"Good! Now turn around and… ugh-k… ungh!"
Mid-speech, the Devaronian's eyes rapidly bulged out, jaw fell agape, tongue falling. The blaster fell from his hand, as he reached for his own throat as if trying to remove a chokehold. But there was nothing physical touching him.
"Ugh—No… aaaagh!"
Gurgles and choking noises filled the room. Devaronian's eyes froze on Arenval's form, his right arm raised towards him. And then, the man lost his grip on the baby as well.
However, Arenval's other hand moved, caught the baby midair, and levitated him closer. Meanwhile, it didn't take long for the Devaronian to lose the last puff of air in his chest and finally go limp.
Crack!
But before the Devaronian's body fell, his neck snapped as well.
Thud!
Finally, Arenval's right arm relaxed, and his left hand levitated the baby all the way until he held him in his arms, against his chest.
Yet, Arenval stood there frozen, moving not a single inch. His frowning gaze stayed focused on the Devaronian's dead body.
"Uh… Uwaaaaa!"
And then, with a snap, his blurry, flaming yellow eyes regained focus. His glare softened, turned into worry. The sound of the baby crying near his face woke him up completely.
"No, no, no! What have I done! I… I enjoyed it!"
Killing all of them out there didn't worry him. But the way he killed this Devaronian. He used the Dark Side to do it. And there was no way to hide since he snapped the neck.
He stared at his right hand, shaking. The feeling, he remembered it so vividly. Every moment of that one-sided massacre, every jump, every slash, and the joy it brought him. His body and mind felt happy, rejuvenated, like this was his true purpose. To fight, to kill, and enjoy it at the same time.
The thrill of it all. It grew in his mind like an addiction. This was how he was supposed to use the Force; this was what his body craved. The Dark Side seduced.
"No!"
He fought it, shaking his head.
I lost my control! Why?
And yet, he realised he wasn't tired at all. If anything, he felt alive, as if he could keep doing this forever. And he knew precisely that what he'd done wasn’t common for an everyday Jedi. Most Jedi weren't even powerful enough to lift a small droid with the Force. Most couldn't even fight two enemies with a blaster.
Only truly powerful Knights and Masters could do it. And he knew he'd done more than even them, something reserved for the upper echelon of Force sensitives. He'd killed over thirty enemies each with a blaster and a rotary blaster.
There was no doubt left that he was very strong in the Force.
But… It's the Dark Side.
Most of what he'd done was with the Dark Side. While what he did was basic, the intensity of it was extreme. The force push, the grabs, the throws, they were all beyond even most of the Jedi Masters.
I should head back. No…
For a moment, he looked back at the Devaronian's body. He pulled the lightsaber into his grip again and ignited it. Then, he walked over to the body and aimed it at the neck.
He felt it, for a moment, the Dark Side influenced him. If he got rid of this body, there would be no proof. If he severed the head from the body, it would be hard to see the use of a Force Choke.
"Uwaaa…"
As if reacting to his darkness, the baby wailed again despite being half asleep. The baby was Force-sensitive; he knew that much.
No… it won't fool Master Vos. What's done is done.
At last, he stepped away from the dead body and exhaled. He walked out of the room, through the dark hall littered with dead bodies, then another hall with the ruins of a rotary blaster, then another hall with sliced and crushed bodies.
At last, he arrived back at the hideout's sliced gate, the alley still lit with illuminators. He did meditation the entire short walk, as learned from Aayla. It helped him calm his mind, which he had to do before contacting the Temple.
Changes nothing. Komari did well plotting all this.
After a few minutes of meditating and calming the child in his arms, he took out the holotab and contacted the Jedi Temple. Right away, he was answered by one of the Jedi on communications duty. It was an entire branch that handled communications for Masters and Padawans.
"This is Padawan Arenval Tython. I'm in Level One-Three-One-Three, requesting assistance and extraction. I've uncovered a criminal ring responsible for kidnapping a one-year-old Force-sensitive child. The child is safe. The criminals have been dealt with. Transmitting my location now."
After that straightforward message, he leaned against the alley wall and looked at the brown-haired baby's face with an unapologetic look.
Had to, little one. I'll square it with you when you're grown.
####
Jedi Temple,
"Teeseven, I sense that you know where Padawan Tython may be," Shaak Ti said gently, questioning the ancient droid of unknown origin. "I must find him. He may be in danger."
"T7 = …Oblivious."
"I noticed your energy spike. You formed a lie just now, did you not?"
"T7 = …No lie."
"Then why do you require such long pauses in your speech?"
"Master Shaak Ti = Very wise."
"You cannot divert the matter, Teeseven. Now, tell me where Padawan Tython is."
"T7 = …Know nothing // T7 = Need charging."
"Why? Because you calculated too many lies?"
"Beep… boop," T7 made unintelligent robotic noises as if powering down.
At that, Shaak Ti's gaze turned towards the protocol droid, who stood nearby stiffly as if scared of being asked any questions.
"I assure you, Master Ti, Master Tython is a brilliant Jedi and he…"
Before Shaak Ti even asked anything, Alfred the Protocol droid started rambling nonsense.
She sighed and walked closer to the protocol droid, ready to start the questions. However, right then, a Jedi walked in.
"Master Ti. Padawan Tython has contacted the Temple. He's in the underworld and claims to have uncovered a gang that kidnapped a Force-sensitive child."
Shaak Ti didn’t show emotions; she rarely ever did. But the swiftness of her movement reflected the sense of urgency she felt. "We must reach him quickly."
It must be a place of great distress for him.
Shaak Ti wasn’t as involved in Arenval's training as the likes of Master Windu, Master Yoda, or Master Qui-Gon Jin. However, she felt she still shared a bond with him. After all, it was he who helped her overcome the violent loss of her Padawan.
And despite the Dark Side, she respected him and was inspired by the never-ending mental fight Arenval fought. She had meditated with him, taught him the basics of battle meditation as well, and further abilities related to using one's senses.
By now, to a few Jedi Knights and Masters, Arenval was akin to an unofficial Padawan. So many of them had taught him, and at the same time, so many of them had learned from him. And as a member of the High Council now, with the highest level of access, she knew about all the studies done on Arenval through observation and through biological means.
The underworld was akin to fuel to a flame on Arenval's Dark Side attuned body.
"Faster. Use the emergency protocols," Shaak Ti ordered as she sat in the Jedi shuttle. With her were two Jedi Knights and their Padawans, while emergency response units were dispatched from the underworld levels themselves.
Even when moved using emergency protocols; halting the traffic of an entire underworld portal, it took time. And by the time she arrived at the ruined part of level 1313, the entire place was filled with flashing emergency lights, security droids, and armored officers.
The shuttle landed at the mouth of a narrow alley. She got off and walked with rushed steps. The alley was narrow, so she walked on one side while on the other side, droids were transporting dead bodies. On that level, they didn't even bother covering them.
One, two, three, four…
Shaak Ti stopped counting once the number reached twenty. Each body was either crushed or sliced with a lightsaber. And… the Dark Side was everywhere. Subtle, but noticeable to her. Of course, there was also Arenval, whom she sensed. Clearly, he wasn't masking his presence.
Right when she saw Arenval ahead, leaning against a wall, she noticed a body being carried away. It was a Devaronian, and she saw the signs. Bulging eyes, crushed neck. Yet she steeled herself.
"Padawan," she voiced, earning his look. Arenval looked tired to her, or troubled. She knew why. "This is the child?"
She chose not to ask him questions related to what transpired inside. Nor did she try to reprimand him. She simply focused on the baby in Arenval's arms, awake and merrily flapping his arms.
"Master Ti. Glad you're here, yes, this is the baby. They were going to sell him off-world. I let the Force guide me, and this happened."
"What matters is that both of you are safe. Come, let us go. This place is not right for either of you." Shaak Ti placed a reassuring hand on Arenval's shoulder, gently encouraging him to move. "They will finish the investigation."
The entire way, she watched Arenval walk in front of her, his shoulders seeming tired and stiff. She had seen him like that before, years ago, whenever he mistakenly used the Dark Side. The guilt of using it often troubled him.
The Council will not be lenient this time.
Despite her concern for Arenval, she knew she couldn't do anything other than speak when the matter reached the Council.
Moments later, she was seated beside Arenval in the same shuttle. She noticed how firmly he held the baby in his arms, as if protecting him.
"Do you know his name?" she asked.
"Caleb Dume, born here on Coruscant. Master Ti... I lost control. He held the child hostage and put a blaster to his head. I... I used Force Choke on him."
Shaak Ti gently put a hand on his shoulder. "Be at peace, Arenval. The darkest moment has passed. Meditate and gather your thoughts. Your intentions were noble, I know, yet the rules were not fully honored. The Council will seek answers. Conceal nothing from them. That is all I may advise."
Seeing him simply nod and close his eyes, she felt the need to do more to support him. But she was a Jedi Master, member of the High Council, and there could be no biases.
At best, she could only hope that the investigation would reveal the truth in a positive light.
####
Jedi Temple,
Arenval was half acting and half genuine. He wasn’t afraid of using the Dark Side, but rather falling to it. If there was a way to use it without the backlash, he hoped to find that way one day. For now, he was glad it was Master Shaak Ti who came.
He liked her, cherished her. Her compassionate and patient personality had helped him in the past to meditate. In return, he had helped her understand how to train a Padawan better. He had made her realise that training Fe Sun on Shili was the wrong path.
In doing that, they had developed a silent, respectful bond of understanding. But he knew even that wasn't going to help him right now. In the end, she remained but one member of the otherwise blind High Council.
After returning to the Temple that day, he handed the boy over to the acquisition division, who were responsible for taking Force-sensitive children. They would find the boy's family on Coruscant.
He bid Master Shaak Ti farewell after that, who informed him that he should expect a summons from the High Council soon. So, he went to his quarters, talked to T7 and Alfred a bit, then sat down to meditate properly and reflect on what had happened. Why had he lost control so easily in the actual fight?
It started after I used Force Push.
He replayed the entire fight in his head and evaluated himself. Other than being impressed, he tried to find the exact trigger that led him to lose his mind.
Do all my Force abilities end up using the Dark Side?
Seated in his quarters, hours passed. Then finally, as the night arrived, he heard a chime on his holotab and stopped meditating. Just as he had expected, a summons from the High Council had arrived.
"Wish me luck, Teeseven. Let's hope we can get out of here fast," Arenval muttered and wore his Jedi cloak.
"Aren = Good luck!"
Patting the beeping droid, he left the room and walked while staring at everything as if it were his last time. Growing in the Jedi Order had been peaceful, yet internally chaotic. Leaving the place was somewhat frightening, as he would be truly on his own. But it was needed.
Eventually, he took the turbolift and went up the High Council's spire. Without waiting, he was allowed inside by the temple guards, who opened the council chamber's doors for him.
All members were present, a few through holoprojectors. But the main ones were there physically: Yoda, Mace Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, and Shaak Ti. Already, Mace Windu sat with his hands pressed together, fingers pointing up while staring at him with narrow eyes.
"Without permission, left the temple you did, Padawan," Yoda spoke first.
Arenval stopped in the center of the chamber and folded his arms like Qui-Gon Jinn used to; it was comfortable and hid the movements of his hands.
"I did, Master," he replied, lowering his head in greeting. "I couldn't bring myself to wait. We'd have lost the child to slavers if I had."
"Recount to us what happened down there, Padawan Tython," Mace Windu demanded sternly.
Arenval nodded and started narrating everything. How he'd sensed the child's presence through the Force a few days ago. How he only recently became aware that the child was in distress. Then he told them how he went down, moved around, using the Force to guide him, and eventually fought the gang.
Just as Shaak Ti had advised him, he revealed almost everything. And it actually was everything. How he trapped them all inside, how he fought them, and eventually, how he used the Force Choke.
A few Jedi Masters looked unsettled by it. It was laughable to Arenval how they acted this way and yet hoped to catch Sidious, who sat in plain sight. The Jedi Order was doomed as it was right now. And sadly, he didn't carry enough weight in his voice to change it.
"...I meditated in my room until I was summoned here."
"What you have done stands in violation of every tenet of the Jedi Order, Padawan Tython. You left the Temple without permission, used Force persuasion on a security officer, confronted a criminal gang and killed them without trial, and drew upon the Dark Side. Such conduct constitutes a grave violation." Ki-Adi-Mundi remarked.
Of course, you'd say that, bighead.
Arenval didn't even bother listening to Ki-Adi-Mundi and just nodded, giving no response.
I got blown by a gorgeous Dark Sider, too, Master Mundi, how about that? Ugh… I should calm myself.
It was just Ki-Adi-Mundi who got on his nerves too easily. The walking heap of exceptions and preferential treatments somehow enjoyed lecturing others.
"But you have not told us the whole truth," Mace Windu said, drawing out a larger holotab, now common throughout the Core Worlds. "The records show that six days ago, you accessed Coruscant's citizen registry and searched for the name 'Caleb Dume.' That suggests you knew about the Force-sensitive child longer than you have admitted. You were tracking him."
"I was," Arenval replied, but refused to expand.
"Yet you did not inform the temple. Why?" Plo Koon asked.
Arenval deliberately wore a troubled expression. "The last time I informed, I was ignored. We failed to save a Master. How could I entrust a child to the Temple?"
"..."
Silence fell in the High Council chamber. A few faces wore unease, a few revealed a frown, and others were neutral. This was it, Arenval's final exchange with them in that chamber. The Jedi Temple wasn't going to throw him out on their own. The last option was to leave himself. But he didn't want to break all ties. He wanted to leave with an achievement, though it was now ruined because of how he killed the gang leader.
Still, it didn't change many things. He had purposefully left behind traces of himself searching for Caleb. He wanted them to see it, so he could use it to counter. It wasn't a pleasurable experience, however. Especially seeing Yoda's tired face. The old man had lived long, yet the worst time was approaching in his final days.
Feels like I'm rebelling against my family.
He eyed Shaak Ti, whom he liked a lot. Then Plo Koon, whom he truly respected. The long-necked Yarael Poof had made him laugh on many occasions. Being Master Yoda's Padawan meant he often interacted with Jedi Masters. There were so many he truly liked.
Yet, many he disliked, not because of hatred, but because of their voluntary ignorance and blind arrogance in their own ideas. Too many in that Council Chamber were like that, sadly.
"You blame us?" Mace Windu asked.
"Should I not?" Arenval countered. "Master Jinn warned you. I warned you. Yet this Council chose slumber. The fact that you ask me that, tells me this Council believes it has done nothing wrong. Choosing blindness when the truth stands before you is a crime in itself."
"Calm down, Padawan Tython."
Arenval felt irked by Mace Windu's response. "I am calm, Master. Perhaps it is this Council that should be unsettled. If you fail to move with urgency now, you will never find the Sith. We don't even know how long they have been out there, planning and plotting."
"You are still a Padawan. Matters concerning the Sith are not yours to concern yourself with," Ki-Adi-Mundi said, leisurely seated cross-legged. "You should meditate, look inward, and attend to your training."
"Training to be a pet? Only one with an invisible leash?" Arenval asked back. "May ask this Council, am I a prisoner here? In this Jedi Temple?"
"No…" Yoda shook his head, visibly shaken. "No... A prisoner you are not. My Padawan, a Jedi of this Order, you are."
Arenval calmed himself and softly denied. "Master, I'm grateful for all you've taught me and for the patience you've shown. I'm glad you're my Master. But I'm eighteen, and I'm still forbidden from leaving this temple. Padawans younger than me are trusted with parts of the archives I cannot access. Every choice in my life still requires this Council's approval. You cover my eyes, then ask why I cannot see. How can that be, Master?"
"Free you, I shall. Your freedom, you will know, my Padawan," Yoda said. "Missions, we will assign you."
"We have not reached that consensus yet, Master Yoda," Mace Windu said firmly. "Padawan Tython lost control today. With a Sith Lord at large, we cannot allow—"
"A prisoner it is." Arenval cut in, interrupting.
"We are protecting you." Adi Gallia voiced.
"And that protection has the shape of a cage?"
"From yourself." Even Piell firmly added.
"By blinding me?"
"Enough." Mace Windu raised his voice. "I sense an intent behind this rebellious attitude, Padawan. What is it?"
"Calm down, Master Windu."
"I am calm, Padaw—"
"..."
Arenval let the moment settle with the silence. Then, eventually, he exhaled deeply, his face revealing a genuine look of dejection.
"I had hoped saving that child would earn me a little trust. I agree, losing control was my failing, even if I did it to save the child. But it changes nothing about how I feel living here. Suffocated. I'm a fish in a pond with walls too high. If I want to see beyond them, I have to leap. So, I formally ask the Council's permission to leave the Jedi Order." He met Yoda's gaze without wavering. "I will not fall. I know my destiny. I've seen it. The path ahead is thorny, but it's the only one that leads to my field of flowers."
"It is too dangerous," Ki-Adi-Mundi responded.
"We should consider it," said Oppo Rancisis, earning everyone's attention. "The Force is Dark around him, but not turbulent."
Mace Windu was quick to counter. "I believe Master Ki-Adi-Mundi was talking about the galaxy. We cannot allow a Dark Lord to capture Padawan Tython."
Arenval had not looked away from Yoda that entire time. But he still responded.
"So you will hold me here against my will? Is that not against the Jedi Code?"
"We will discuss this in the Council." Mace Windu surveyed each member, receiving their nods. "Wait outside, Padawan."
Arenval nodded, but only towards Yoda, and turned around, walking out.
####
"What are the thoughts of this Council?" Mace Windu asked. "I’m not in favor of letting Padawan Tython leave. At least not until we have found this Sith Lord."
"How long will that be?" Oppo Rancisis asked back. "We must not bend the Jedi Code to torment a sentient being."
"This temple is all he has known for every breath of his life," Shaak Ti said. "I hope he remains, but if it is his wish to leave, then it is our obligation to let him go."
"But he is a creature of the dark side," Ki-Adi-Mundi said sharply. "We would be delivering this Sith Lord an ideal apprentice. If Arenval chooses to leave, and we let him go, then he can no longer be regarded as a Jedi, but as a civilian exhibiting Dark Side inclinations. We may then hold him until the Dark Lord has been captured."
"As a Prisoner?" Yarael Poof asked. "There is no law in the Galactic Republic that makes it a crime to be a Dark Sider or a Sith Lord."
"No, no… In pain he is," Yoda spoke suddenly, and everyone else turned silent. "Great inner turmoil, my Padawan faces. Failed, I have. Gifted he is, but a Jedi he cannot be. But evil, he is not."
Mace Windu shook his head. "And I believe you, Master Yoda. Padawan Tython always had an exceptional sense of justice. But to let him leave…"
"Send him, we must. A friend of Arenval Tython, the Jedi Order shall be. Welcome him, we will."
"But Master—"
"Hmm, respect his wish, we must." Yoda cut Windu off. "Bring him in."
Quickly, the doors opened. This time, only Yoda spoke as Arenval was his Padawan and he was the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order.
"Agree the Council does. Free to leave you are," Yoda said, not blind to the faintly emotional glint in Arenval's eyes. "One thing only, I ask. Banished you are not, by leaving the Order. Free to visit, you are. A friend of the Jedi Order you will be. Like Dooku."
For a long moment, there was only silence. Yoda stared at Arevan, who stared back. Yoda remembered that day vividly when he had found Arenval in the underworld. Since then, he had watched the boy grow and battle against the Dark Side alone, internally.
All Yoda wanted now was for Arenval to grow stronger and become even better at fighting the darkness. And he had faith that his Padawan would eventually reach that envisioned flowerbed.
"Thank you for everything, Masters."
Yoda responded to Arenval's deep bow by dipping his own head. He did respect his Padawan, and he did cherish the bond they had.
"May the Force be with you, my Padawan."
"And with you, Master."
Yoda silently watched him turn and leave. For unknown reasons, he felt heavy inside, as if the Jedi Order had just lost something precious.
In the end, Yoda closed his eyes.
"Meditate, I will."
####
Arenval returned to his quarters and locked himself inside.
He was excited to finally be free, but also nervous because he would truly be on his own now. Until now, Palpatine hadn't come after him, as it would reveal his interest in a Dark Sider. But things would change now.
"Pack the bags, Teeseven. I'm a Jedi no more."
"Aren = Jedi in actions // T7 = Help Aren."
"Thank you, my friend," Arenval said, turning to Alfred. "You finished moving all my accounts out, I trust? I'd rather not leave anything behind on Coruscant."
"It is done, Master Tython. I have scattered the Credits across multiple banks outside the purview of the Banking Clans."
"Good. Head to Master Yoda's quarters and collect my things. We leave in the morning," Arenval said, then crossed to the room's shuttered window. In that state, it served well enough as a mirror.
Silently, he grabbed a knife from the table and held his Padawan braid straight, tracing it all the way to the root.
"A new chapter begins."
With a smooth slide, he cut the braid and looked at it in his hand. Instead of throwing it away, he decided to store it as a reminder of his time as a Jedi.
"Teeseven, how long until you finish copying the Archives?"
"T7 = Nearly done // T7 + Aren = Make best Jedi Temple."
"That's far in the future, my friend. Don't touch files I can't access. I'd rather not get caught right now."
Suddenly, T7 let out excited beeps. "Grandmaster Satele Shan + T7 = Friends // Access Code = Working! // Archives = Accessible!"
"..."
"What do you mean by accessible? You can access the Holocron vault, too?"
T7 whistled.
"No Access = Secured restricted vault and holocron vault! // Access = Data not requiring High Council access code."
"Ugh..." Arenval sighed, easing back. "Almost had me excited for a moment there. Still, that's more access than I've ever had. Copy everything to the private database. We'll need a large ship to move it, so it stays on Coruscant for now."
"Tython Tech = Very Secure! // T7 = Watch over."
"Do that. I should go talk to the old man. Force knows when I'll see him again." Arenval rose and opened his table drawer, pulling out five small disk-like gadgets. They were palm-sized, made of metal, and gave off barely any energy on a scan.
Leaving his quarters, he walked to the left and tapped Yoda's room's code and entered. Alfred was busy there, gathering all the tools and spare parts Arenval used to make things.
"Leave the large holotab. I'd like Master Yoda to have it," Arenval said, taking the holotab. Yoda wasn't there, so he crossed to the meditation pad Yoda always used and settled beside it on the floor. "When he arrives, please go. I'd rather you not store what I discuss in your memory."
"Perfectly understandable, Master Tython. I would not want to risk your secrets since you never memory wipe us."
Quickly, Arenval accessed the application that came preinstalled in every general-use holotab sold in the Core Worlds and the Colonies. It was called Vidflix, not very original, but it did the job. One only had to subscribe to it and bookmark the Holodramas and Holovids they are interested in. Then, over time, they would be automatically downloaded through the nearest HoloNet transceiver.
Because of the app's intelligent queuing capabilities, the users never had to wait once they started watching something. Still, it wasn't good enough for Arenval, who wanted something like the internet. He had the designs for a better Holonet Transreceiver from Erso, but he didn't have the resources to deploy them yet.
Ah, it's up.
Right away, he found the latest episode of Detective Munn, a galaxy-spanning drama where a private detective of the Munn species investigated crimes or whatever the client wanted. It reminded Arenval of Sherlock Holmes from his past life's memories.
Hiss!
Right then, the door opened, and Yoda entered. No words were spoken, Alfred left, and Yoda walked over to Arenval and sat down beside him on the meditation pad. The only sound in the room came from the holotab as the episode played out.
Detective Munn was on vacation on a resort planet where a murder had happened, and the entire resort was placed under lockdown.
Using intuition and observation, Detective Munn solved the crime. The murderer turned out to be the competitor of the resort's owner. There was also a small gunfight between Detective Munn and a few mercenaries.
"Wise, this Munn is," Yoda said.
Arenval just nodded. Moments like this were regular in their time as Master and Padawan. As Arenval was always interested in the rest of the galaxy, the Holodramas were his best bet to get a look. At first, Yoda called it a distraction, but eventually the old man started joining him for an episode or two.
An hour later, the episode ended with a preview of what was next. Arenval turned the screen off and shifted to face Yoda.
"I leave in the morning, Master."
"Hmm, go where you will?"
"No destination planned yet, Master. I’ll let the Force guide me," Arenval replied, measuring Yoda's frame. Somehow, he looked as if he'd aged years in just a day. "I'm taking an old light frighter from Tython Tech."
"Great things from you, I expect, Aren."
"I’ll try, Master. It won't be easy, but I will give it my all. Everything you taught me, Master Dooku, Master Jinn, even Master Windu, I'm grateful for all of it. But may I ask something? Do you truly not know who my parents are?"
Arenval intently stared at Yoda's face, hoping for any clues. But the Grandmaster was too experienced to show anything.
"Tried, we have. For years, sought the answer, I have. A disturbance in the Force, I felt when found you, I did, alone in the underworld. Of your parents, nothing we know."
"Then, am I even a human?"
"In body, you are. But in the Force, different you remain. None like you has there been before. Sith Experiments ancient archives speak of. But your strength in the Force, by birth it is, not by experiment."
I know more than them at this point.
"Do you have any advice, Master? How I should contain the Dark Side?"
"Clouds everything, the Dark Side does, Aren. Find the answer yourself, you must. Trust in the Force."
Arenval just nodded. There wasn't anything left to say or advise. As he was now, a mere Padawan, the Order was never going to listen to him. Even Yoda, no matter their rapport. After all, he was just another Padawan in Yoda's long, long life, albeit with special circumstances.
Maybe that long lifespan is the issue. One man running the Order for centuries, how can there be change?
"Master, take this." Arenval took out the disk-like gadget he'd made. "Keep it with you at all times, please. It's an emergency beacon I made. Activate it, and it'll do everything it can to reach me. Even if you're somewhere without a Holonet transceiver, it’ll latch onto a passing ship and reach the Holonet eventually."
Yoda took the thing from him and stared at it, turning it a few times. "Always good at building such things, you have been."
Arenval nodded. He agreed, he'd warmed up a little over the years, going from extremely introverted to somewhat open now. But he wasn't done and took out two more emergency beacons.
"Since Aayla and Orbe aren't here, I was hoping you could give these two to them and tell them what they are."
Yoda took the two as well, pocketing them in his little robes.
Finally, Arenval stood up to leave. One last time, he bowed his head.
"Master Yoda, this... project was never meant to succeed. Yet you took the chance, brought me in, and kept me safe. I'm alive and unfallen. That's victory enough for me. As for what comes next, I suspect the darkest days for this galaxy and the Order are approaching, but I won't let them change who I am. And I hope the Order stands strong, too."
"Know something, do you?"
"I know plenty, Master. But as the Order stands, my visions are of little use. All I can say is that perhaps it's time the Jedi looked inward and asked a few questions. Who are we? What have we truly accomplished? And who do we follow? The Force... or the Senate?"
"We serve the Republic."
Arenval shook his head. "And who governs the Republic?"
The answer was easy. It was the Senate. It was no secret how corrupt the Senate was, and how many failures it held.
"Master, every failure of the Senate is the failure of the Order. Every failure is a debt owed, and eventually it compounds, and there is always a price to pay in the end."
Done, he walked away and grabbed the final few boxes Alfred had packed. He then stepped out of the door and looked behind again.
"May the Force be with you, Master."
The door slid closed.
Arenval entered his own quarters, now filled to the brim with boxes and bags. While he didn't have much in terms of clothing, there were too many things related to his tinkering.
But instead of sleeping, he left the room again. He walked over to Master Shaak Ti's quarters and knocked. It was late, but he could feel her presence inside, likely in meditation. He didn't talk for long, simply thanked her for being kind to him, and gave her an emergency beacon as well. Next, he found Master Plo Koon, not in the quarters but in the archives instead. He thanked him as well and handed a beacon.
Finally, he returned to his room, removed his Jedi robes, and prepared a simple set of all-black robes in the same style as the Jedi attire.
"Alfred, bring the ship to the temple's docking bay in the morning."
"Understood, Master Tython."
At last, Arenval closed his eyes. Sleep came quickly that night, too tired after his adventure in the underworld. Komari had orchestrated everything perfectly, but it was he who had failed. Yet, it was also a success. He learned how strong he was, and the fact that he wasn't as good at fighting the Dark Side as he thought he was.
####
The next morning,
It felt strange waking up that morning.
As he donned his new attire, he felt no rush to follow a schedule. He was no longer a Padawan; there were no mandatory meditation sessions, or training sessions planned.
Fixing his hair, he watched the outside through the little window of his quarters.
Wish Orbe and Aayla were here.
He missed his two friends, and leaving without meeting them felt wrong. Especially Aayla, with whom he shared intimacy that didn’t suit a Jedi.
I'll be back in a few days.
Beep!
"Alfred = Arrived!"
At T7's chime, Arenval tucked his lightsaber on the belt and donned his large, dark cloak. All the luggage had already been transported to the docking bay, so all he had to do was walk.
"Let's go, Teeseven."
He stepped out and turned to take one last glance at the room he'd used for the last five years.
Hiss!
He finally tapped the button and closed it, beginning his walk towards the hangar bay while T7 rolled right beside him, occasionally making beeps and whistles.
Moving through a turbolift and then a long walk later, he finally approached the docking bay area.
"So you're leaving?"
"Obi-Wan." Arenval nodded at the clean-shaven man. "Stalking me? Ah, it's Master Kenobi these days, isn't it? Congratulations on the knighthood."
Obi-Wan strolled beside him. "I would have preferred it under different circumstances. But your leaving does not surprise me. Master Jinn once told me that this day would come."
Arenval eyed him, maintaining his plastic expressions, stopping as he had arrived in front of his ship. "Master Jinn did? Did he say why?"
"It had to happen, he told me. I did not understand it at the time, but I do now," Obi-Wan said, "He believed the Order had become a shackle. That the Council would never raise you beyond Padawan, for doing so would mean entrusting you with a Padawan of your own. And with your talent, he believed you would one day seek a place on the Council, which they would deny you as well."
It didn’t shock Arenval in the slightest. "I'm not surprised, Obi-Wan. I barely managed to get my release from the Order. Master Windu and Master Ki-Adi-Mundi didn't seem too keen on letting me walk away."
"Where will you go now?"
"Probably the Outer Rim. There's much darkness there, and only by facing it and fighting it can I grow stronger. I have never been there, but I have read that slavery runs rampant there, as does crime."
"It is, and quite dangerous as well. But if what I've heard of your adventure is true, I imagine you'll fare quite well there. And do visit from time to time. I could use some sparring."
Arenval let a smile show on his face and shook the Knight's hand. "I will hold you to that offer. And... good luck with Anakin's training. He won’t be easy, but I think you can manage him. Find me if what Master Jinn feared comes to pass. By the time he’s grown, I hope I will know enough to answer his questions about the Dark Side."
"Master Jinn informed me about it."
He was about to leave, but then he fetched the disk-shaped gadget from his robes. "Here, take this. It's an emergency beacon. Wherever you are, it'll reach me."
Obi-Wan took it and flipped it just like the others before, checking it. Eventually, the Jedi Knight did take it.
Arenval turned and walked towards the boarding ramp of the dusty YT-1000 light freighter. It was old and it looked old.
"May the Force be with you, Aren."
Arenval waved without looking. "And with you, Obi-Wan."
His hands tucked in his sleeves, he calmly walked onto the ramp while checking the ship. It was for temporary use, bought for just 20,000 credits through Tython Tech. It was used, and slow, with a Class 3 main hyperdrive and a Class 16 backup.
At least it's clean inside.
"Teeseven, have Alfred set a course for Tatooine. I feel like buying myself a slave today."
“Weeeep?”
T7 let out a very long, low-pitched whistle, like it was disappointed.
"Ah, it is to free her, my friend. I despise slavery, but I can't simply kill the Master. I still need to deactivate that transmitter chip, after all."
T7 happily whistled again, rotating himself excitedly.
"T7 + Aren = Save all slaves!"
Arenval chuckled and nodded. He doubted he could do that, but he said nothing and tapped on T7 to urge him ahead. While the droid left, he pressed the button nearby to close the boarding ramp.
"Wait for me!"
As the ramp closed, he heard a distant voice.
"Wait!"
The voice grew closer and then, like a shadow, someone jumped inside through the narrow gap left between the ramp and the ship frame. It was a single, athletic, blue-skinned Twi'lek with a bag slung on her back, and a big smile on her lips.
"..."
Arenval stood there for a moment, just staring at his best friend and secretly more. She was panting, dressed in her usual attire. The gem he'd gifted her was now a modest locket around her neck.
"Thought you could leave without me, huh?" she said, her accent curling around the words. "Not a chance."
He frowned, not used to hiding his expressions when it was just the two of them. "Aayla, I'm not going on a mission. I’ve left the Order."
"So have I."
"What?" he exclaimed. "I'm quite sure you're still a bit short of the majority age to do that."
"I know, but I asked, and the Council let me go. Thank the Force I made it back in time."
Arenval fell silent for a moment, then folded his arms. "Let me guess. They sent you to keep an eye on me and report back on everything I do?"
Aayla grinned and moved in closer, looking up at him as he stood a head taller. She gently patted his head. "I knew you'd figure it out right away. That's right, I have only left the Order unofficially. They said it's part of my journey mission."
"And would you?" he asked, stepping closer, settling both hands at the curves of her naked waist. "Report everything back... to the Council?"
"It depends," Aayla smirked and rose on her toes, snaking her arms around his neck.
"On what?"
"How good a Master you are," she whispered, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. "You're supposed to teach me now, after all."
With that, she pulled herself out of his arms and walked into the ship.
Arenval just stood there, wondering what he could even teach her.
Wait, Teeseven copied the accessible archives. That should do.
Not for a second did Arenval dislike having Aayla aboard. If anything, he was extremely pleased. The Council likely believed that he and Aayla were close friends, not knowing how intimate that friendship had become.
But Master Vos likely knows.
Shaking the doubts out of his head, he walked through the engineering section and entered the cockpit. Already, Aayla had taken the co-pilot seat and was greeting T7.
He took the pilot seat and started flicking switches for take-off. Then, right before he moved the ship, he looked at Aayla.
"Thank you for coming with me, Aayla. Not being alone… will make this easier."
"Can't run from me, Aren. You should know that by now." Aayla flashed him a warm smile as she tapped the controls. "Now then, where to, Captain?"
"Tatooine."
"Aye, aye! Teeseven, calculate the route."
With that, the ship lifted off and headed towards the sky. Just as entering Coruscant, leaving required following strict guidelines because there was simply too much traffic.
Arenval no longer felt gloomy. After all, the brightest part of his life in that temple was sitting beside him now.
If only Orbe could join as well.
####
At the same time, back on the docking bay, Obi-Wan watched the ship vanish into the sky and join the other millions of ships entering and leaving. Even then, he stood there with arms crossed, aware of the maverick Jedi Master standing beside him.
"Was it truly wise to allow her to accompany him? We both understand the true nature of their friendship," Obi-Wan asked.
Quinlan Vos shrugged. "I tried to stop her, man, but she was ready to run away from the Order to follow him."
"More of a reason to stop her."
"No. It would've only done more damage. She'll keep him from falling. How she pulls that off, that's her true mission. I trust her," Quinlan said, turning away. "Come on. The Council wants us to investigate what our own dear dark Jedi did yesterday in the Underground."
Obi-Wan sighed and followed.
####
Mos Espa, Tatooine,
Ugh, I get it, Anakin. Damn this sand.
Tatooine was hot and dry, and annoyingly dusty. From the moment he left his ship in the docking bay, he had seen his dark robes turn dusty black instead. Beside him, Aayla had worn a dark cloak as well, covering her body so as not to gain needless attention.
Bounty hunters, mercenaries, and slavers, the place was a heaven for all of them. The sandy streets were filled with them, and he could feel each time someone looked his way. But perhaps it was the Dark Side; nobody looked at him for too long.
Leaving Alfred on the ship, he brought T7 along. Through a speeder taxi, they eventually reached Watto's shop. Though it didn't seem the junk dealer was doing well, as the shop looked almost empty. A junk shop without junk.
"So it's the Chosen One's mother?" Aayla asked curiously. "I was here not long ago. Strange. I never sensed Anakin through the Force."
"Not your fault. This city is steeped in darkness," Arenval said as he stepped into the shop. "Leave the talking to me."
The reception desk was also empty. Arenval was half worried that Watto might have gambled it all away, and the ship might not even belong to him anymore.
"Who's there?"
But soon enough, he heard the sound of wings flapping. Then the ugly Toydarian appeared, flying slowly, looking dirty and unkempt with a patchy beard. Filthier than what Arenval was expecting.
Seems like Anakin was the golden goose.
"Eh! What you want, huh? Don't you see the place is empty? Out, out! I'm selling the shop!"
Arenval calmly waited for the creature to come closer before speaking. "I know that, Watto. I'm looking for a household slave with mechanical skills. I was told you have one."
"First Ani and now her, too? Out, get out—"
Arenval showed a displeased look and stopped masking the Dark Side completely, hoping it would have some effect, even if subtle. At the same time, he extended his hand towards Aayla.
"Here, Master." Aayla handed him a pouch filled with peggat.
He took out a thousand peggats from it and laid them on the counter. "Name your price."
"Rich, are you? Hah! Should've told me before! But not rich enough! She's my only slave, she is, and worth plenty! Fixes the motivators, cleans the vaporizers. A real prize, I tell you!"
Arenval crossed his arms, flaming yellow eyes glaring. "Then name the price."
"Fifteen thousand peggats! You give me that, eh, and she's yours."
Greedy bastard!
1 peggat was worth 40 credits. Watto was asking for 600,000 Credits, which was enough to buy a massive ship with custom fittings inside. And while Arenval had far more than that, it was Tython Tech's money.
"Do you take me for a fool?" Arenval frowned, gesturing toward Aayla. "She can handle a blaster, fly a ship, fix a hyperdrive, and she only cost me two thousand. No, I'll shop elsewhere."
Arenval turned around to leave.
"Wait! Two thousand! Yes, yes, that's the price! I'll sell her for that!" Watto shouted, clearly desperate.
But Arenval didn't stop.
"Save it. The one you're selling isn't even worth a thousand, but I was willing to pay that much."
"Stop!" Watto zipped ahead and blocked his path. "Eh, we let fate decide, yes? What d'you say? We play a game. Simple dice, clean. I win, you give me two thousand, and take Shmi. You win, I sell her for only one thousand."
Learned nothing from Qui-Gon, did you, Watto?
Arenval didn't answer at once. He made certain Watto had time to grow properly uneasy. Then a faint smile touched his lips. "Who doesn't enjoy a good wager? Though I can't say I'm fond of those terms. If you win, I'll pay five thousand and keep the slave. If I win, I’ll take the slave for free."
"Ten thousand!" Watto blurted, eyes filled with greed.
Arenval looked towards Aayla.
"We have that much, Master," she replied.
"Good, good! Twi'lek's right. Let's do it! Simple dice. Red means I win, blue means you. We roll it three times, understand?"
He can't be that dumb. How can he not see the others already know it's rigged?
Arenval just nodded.
Quickly, Watto fetched the dice from a pocket and threw it onto the ground. It rolled a few times and eventually ended with red facing up.
"Hah! I win!" Watto cheered.
"I will throw this time." Arenval extended his arm.
"No! It's my dice, only I touch it," Watto barked angrily. "Here, I roll it again."
Restlessly, before Arenval even agreed, Watto threw the dice. It rolled a few times and eventually stopped. Blue side won.
"What? That's imposs—"
Arenval glared at Watto. The Toydarian quickly swallowed his words and prepared to throw again.
"Ah, you got lucky. But this time, I win. Just wait."
Tap!
The dice fell again, rolling more intensely than the last time. Watto wasn't even flying anymore, staring at the dice like his life depended on it.
"Noo!"
Blue side won.
"This is impossible! How could this happen, huh? Roll it again, let's play! Five thousand, just five thousand, eh, how about it?"
Arenval shook his head. "Why would I? I've already won. Now hand me the transmitter chip remote."
"No!" Watto backed away.
Arenval frowned. "You know what happens to those who don't honor a bet on Tatooine. Hand me the damn remote. The droid recorded it all, and I'll bring it to the Hutts if that's really your choice."
"Wait! Wait, take it, take it! I'm giving it, eh? She's worth nothing to me anyway!" Watto grumbled, then finally slapped the remote down on the table.
Aayla quickly snatched it and…
Ting!
Hmm?
All of a sudden, Arenval heard a strange chime. He looked left and right for the source. It was close enough that he heard it in both ears at the same time.
Ting!
[Quest Completed - The Mother's Savior!]
Ting!
What? What…
Confused, Arenval heard words in his ears but saw nothing around him.
Just then, T7 whistled very loudly.
"T7 = Updated!"
He looked down at T7, and for some reason, the droid was projecting a red string of words. It was exactly what he'd heard in his ears. But that wasn't the end of it.
[Initialising…]
[Initialisation Complete!]
[Welcome to SSS-Assistant. You own Slave Savior Sith Assistant!]
Ting!
[Syncronizing with Sith Host…]
[Synchronization Complete!]
Ting!
[Talents Found - Mechu-deru(S+), Dark Side(?), Summon Fear(S+)]
What the hell is all this?
Arenval looked up at Aayla, who seemed unaware of all those sounds and the things T7 was projecting. She was busy looking at the remote.
Then he looked back at the hologram as it changed.
[Major Quest Completed - The Mother's Savior!Description - Slavery is a plague. And the first step to cure it begins with liberation. Goal - Free the Chosen One's mother. Reward - Dark Side Inhibitor, 100 Slavecoins]
Ting!
[Dark Side Inhibitor - 1% Efficiency]
"..."
Arenval scratched his head.
Is this a prank?
Ting!
There’s more?