Destiny's Path

Chapter 4

7 BBY

Looking up to the Imperial throne, Kaidar's now pale-yellow eyes shone in the bright. "I pledge my elegance to you, Darth Sidious." Giving a calculated smile now the inquisitor showed her sharpened teeth.

"Lord Vader, the force is strong with this one. Be mindful she does not prove to be a rival."

"Of course, Master." The unmistaken deep yet mechanical voice of Darth Vader.

The Second Sister, behind closed doors, cared for Kaidar. Absorbing everything Trilla knew, Kaidar had become strong over the last ten years. However, just as she had learnt from her previous master, there was no place for attachment among the Inquisitors. In many ways, Kaidar hated what she had become, a ruthless huntress, a slave for the Empire. She channelled this hate and anger, giving her strength. What had angered her more than anything was that she had given the Empire all her knowledge of Kheb, and somehow, everything was wrong. She had never been trusted, even as the padawan of the High Priestess.

While her brothers and sisters fought to replace the Grand Inquisitor, she set her eyes on a higher prize. Kaidar knew her strength and knew that she could kill Darth Vader and replace him as Darth Sidious's apprentice. What was her motivation? Simply to get back home to Kheb, to see her mother, to see Maja. Thinking of home also stirred anger in Kaidar. She had let her master run, for that she had been tortured, even more, electrocuted, her lekku whipped. There were times when locked in the small room where she could not sleep or stand; she had contemplated taking her life. But after ten years of learning how to hate, thinking about revenge, the best being to live, possibly even sabotage from within. However, the further she went down the dark path, the stronger she felt, the harder it was not to let her heart be taken.

~~~

Her face was etched into my memory, could the recording be wrong. In the quiet of the temple, I opened my mind to the cosmic force. I searched for her, reaching out to find my friend, but there was nothing. Her fenra, the part of her soul that had once been contacted to Kheb, was gone.

The loud ring of the bell rang in the village. Standing, my long temple robes fell into place. Time had once again flown as it did most of the time as I meditated, a puddle of wax had replaced the lit candle.

"Something on your mind?" Scarre asked as he leaned on the pillared marble stairs. "I was almost considering heading to dinner without you."

"It was nothing," I quickly replied. "How was school, are those younglings teasing you about your top knot again?" I couldn't help it; he was such an easy tease.

Putting his around me, Scarre pulled me tight. "Of course."

"Hey, Maja... Scarre." Hearing our names, we turned to see one of the coms officers running toward us. "We have new intel from Coruscant." 

"Okay."

"The Atå-Kæren are meeting," the young officer added as he met us, still huffing from the run.

"Shall we get the Master's?" Scarre asked as he looked the officer eye to eye.

"Yes, please."

"Why can't they just say what they want?" I asked as we walked to the cottage that Brauta and Rena shared.

Getting ready to leave their cottage, Zahava and Brauta were wearing their Khebian Temple robes instead of their Jedi ones. With staff in hand, Zahava had made a lot of improvement over the last ten years. However, the pain would be a constant reminder of the even now known as The Jedi Purge.

After the events that stole Kaidar, they gave themselves to training any force-sensitive child in hope or rebuilding. Kheb was a safe place. The Empire knew that Kheb was real but couldn't find us. The Nebular seemed to be alive, a protector, it would literally tear a ship apart that tried to enter. However, there was no time to ponder the deep space phenomenon, now was time to have dinner.