the book (hosie)

light and dark

Josie saltzman walked through the darkened halls of the abandoned base, her breathing steady and hand caressing the hilt of her weapon. The Council had instructed her to investigate reports of strange behavior within.

And who better to send than a Jedi Knight?

Josie jumped when she heard a loud noise come from the room opposite her. Retrieving her lightsaber from her hip, Josie ignited it; the blue blade illuminated the dark space.

Slowly, Josie walked towards the door, jumping again when she heard another noise. She pressed the button and the door opened, blinding her with a bright light. Once her eyes refocused, she looked ahead into the room.

Standing on the other side was a figure wearing a black cloak with the hood up, obscuring Josie's view to see who it was. But Josie knew what it was; she could sense it.

"Sith! Stand down!" Josie exclaimed as she readied her lightsaber.

The Sith chuckled, and the laugh sounded like that of a woman. "I was wondering when we'd meet again, Josie."

Josie's brow furrowed. "How do you know my name?" she asked.

Another chuckle. "I sensed it. Your presence was familiar, and hearing your voice only confirmed it," the Sith replied.

"Show yourself!" Josie demanded.

The Sith turned around; the hood hid the Sith's face, but she reached up and pulled it down. Josie gasped when she saw who it was.

Hope O'Deorain, Josie's old Master, was standing right in front of her. However, she wasn't the woman she remembered. Her eyes were no longer just blue, but her right one had turned a violent shade of red. She shifted her cloak and revealed a heavily scarred right hand.

"Greetings, Josie," Hope said with a smirk. "My goodness, you have grown."

Josie was at a loss for words. "M-Master O'Deorain?" she stammered.

Hope's smirk grew. "Lovely that you still call me 'Master', even after being kicked out of the Jedi Order."

"Kicked out?" Josie questioned. She shook her head and added, "N-No. The Council told me that you were missing during a fight on-"

"Another lie from the Council, as usual," Hope drawled. She walked towards Josie, her lightsaber still ignited and ready.

"I was expelled from the Jedi Order for exposing them for the hypocrites they are. All of their preaching of learning the mysteries of the Force and yet they only focus on the matters of one side, rather than all.

Hope's hands clenched into fists as she continued. "I was forced to wander the galaxy as a drifter, with nowhere to go. And then, I was discovered by a man who showed me the true ways of the Force: Darth Reaper. He showed me how to tap into vast unimaginable power."

Josie couldn't believe her ears. "You became a Sith?!"

Hope shrugged. "Yes. Darth Reaper trained me in the ways of the Dark Side. I became powerful; too powerful for his liking. I could sense that his fear of how strong I had become. So for good measure, I killed him before he had the chance to do the same."

Hope began circling Josie like a predator observing its prey. "This leaves me in something of a predicament. Unlike the Jedi, the Sith are not bound by various principles and mandates. We live by one simple rule: there can only be two, a Master and an Apprentice."

Josie jumped as Hope's hand lightly grasped her shoulder. "You were always a great pupil, Josie. Join me, and you could become even greater and more powerful than you could ever imagine."