CHAPTER EIGHT
Jaden and Dax had landed their ships on Crseih Station and, once they had each donned an enviro-suit to survive the transition from their oxygen-filled ships to the asteroid which lacked it, set off to enter the station.
"I'm not seeing an entrance," Dax said after they had explored the surface for a while. "Then again, I don't normally visit asteroid-based space stations."
"I suppose we're gonna have to make an entrance then," Jaden said, activating his lightsaber. He plunged its emerald blade into a metal panel, which was embedded into the asteroid's surface, and began to carve out a circle into it, making it large enough for both him and Dax to fit through it.
When he kicked the slab of metal down, he was expected a blast of air to come out. But instead, the entrance he had carved out led to an empty airlock. He and Dax dropped down into it and Jaden then pressed a panel to seal off the hole he had created and to pressurize the room. Once the airlock had been refilled with oxygen, Jaden and Dax began to remove their space suits.
"So, what's the plan from here?" Dax asked as he finished setting aside the enviro-suit.
"We start exploring this station and find out its purpose," Jaden said.
"And if we run into trouble?"
"We deal with it in whatever way we can."
"Wow. What a great plan."
"I am open to any suggestions," Jaden muttered, not staying long enough to find out if Dax had any in mind.
* * *
"We have visitors."
Waru's scales shifted at the sound of this news, delivered by the being who had captured Baran and the Revanchist.
"No doubt here to save you," Waru said to the Grand Master. "I wouldn't expect any other situation."
"You knew they would come?" Baran asked.
"Of course," Waru replied. "I summoned them here. Well, indirectly. And not without subtlety."
The entity let out what sounded like a sight. "Alas, I am uncomfortable with them reaching this chamber and seeing me like... this. I hardly have the time to explain myself and, in spite of my great power, I am quite modest."
Laying beside him, Baran heard the Revanchist groan, no doubt coming back to consciousness.
Waru seemed to notice this, for he said, "Ah, and so the clone awakes. Agent Eclipse, I would like to see his face."
Before the Revanchist could come to terms with his surroundings, his and Baran's captor strode up and removed the mask of Revan from his face, revealing the visage of Toah Jarsan, though much older and tired looking.
"You truly are an enigma, even to me," Waru said. "I understand that you wear your armor in honor of your ancestor, but I am curious as to why exactly you founded the Dark Jedi Order."
The Revanchist's voice came as an hoarse whisper. "Because of you."
"I beg your pardon? I don't recall having ever met you."
"Hethrir," the Revanchist said. "He told me."
"Who is Hethrir?" Baran asked.
"Ah, yes, dear old Hethrir," Waru lamented. "You see, Jedi, it is not easy for me to travel between worlds. In fact, I desired a location so remote and isolated from the galaxy so that no one would think to find me there.
"More than three decades ago, one of my agents- Eclipse, here- discovered this station, which was run by the Galactic Empire's Procurator of Justice, Lord Hethrir. Hethrir took a liking to torturing his prisoners. The disturbance in the Force which it created was enough to transport me here. I then made a deal with Hethrir, promising him great power in exchange for his hospitality."
"The Empire Reborn," Baran said, suddenly recalling the Procurator's name. "An Imperial splinter faction that was active ten years following Palpatine's death."
"Indeed," Waru said. "After your Jedi defeated Hethrir's lieutenant, Desann, and prevented Marka Ragnos' resurrection, the poor old Procurator broke down and fled from the station."
"Later," the Revanchist cut in, "I met him on Belderone, where he told me all about Waru and the Glorian Empire. It was then that I was convinced to establish the Dark Jedi Order, in the hopes of bringing factions tainted by the dark side together with those by the light."
"I was hoping for a better reason than that, but no matter." Waru moved his shapeless body closer to Agent Eclipse. "The guests are coming. What should I wear?"
Apparently, Eclipse did not find the question to be as bizarre as Baran thought it was. The agent titled his head, indicating the Grand Master.
"Do you think so?" Waru murmured. "Yes, I do believe that would fit me."
Before Baran could ask what was going on, a set of scales parted from Waru's flesh and a large, yet thin tentacle extended out, moving like a snake towards Baran's face. Using suction cups not unlike an octopus', the tendril attached itself to the Jedi Master's face and Baran instantly felt his life force being drained.
So this is the end, he thought. Being suffocated by a mutant scaled octopus. I put all past Grand Masters to shame....
However, just as he thought he had breathed his last, he suddenly felt rejuvenated, as if he had been born again in a new world.
Is this what it's like, he wondered, to become one with the Force?
He opened his eyes... only to realize that he didn't have any. Instead, he used the Force to see, much like the blind Miraluka species did.
What he saw horrified him.
Standing before him was himself, his own eyes glowing with a golden tint. When he spoke, he did so with Waru's voice.
"Does this make me look fat?"
"You look marvelous," Eclipse said sardonically. "Can't say the same for him."
Waru-Baran grinned. "Well, nobody's perfect."
As he turned to leave, he said to Eclipse, "Keep an eye on them while I go greet our guests."
As he watched himself leave, Baran screamed, only to realize that his cry would only fall on dead ears. Waru had done more than simply switched bodies with him; Waru had merely trapped Baran's spirit in his body, leaving it impossible for him to control it.
Baran screamed again, not in the least comforted by the fact that no one would be disturbed by him.
Even in the void, no one can hear you scream
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