Far Far Away (Malereader)

Tharnis

"Hey, is Tharnis another freaking desert planet!?" Y/n slammed his hands against the console in frustration. "I'm sick of heat and sand!" He complained looking at the orange-looking planet through the ship's window.

Zara glanced over at Y/n, raising an eyebrow as she flicked a switch on the console to scan the planet below. "Welcome to the Outer Rim. It's either desert, ice, or a swamp planet out here. If you wanted a tropical vacation, you should've went into the Core Worlds."

Y/n groaned, throwing his hands in the air. "I didn't exactly have a choice! And of course, it had to be a warlord-controlled desert planet this time."

Zara smirked, setting the ship's coordinates for the nearest settlement. "Trust me, no one's thrilled about the heat. But Tharnis is where we'll find our lead, or at least someone who knew him. So, we land, ask around quietly, and get out before the local warlord takes notice. It's better they don't notice us."

"Hey, Zara?" He hadn't told Zara about the strange vision with Darth Kaylus or his agreement to become the Sith Lord's apprentice, even if it had been in a dream-like state. A part of him was still trying to process the experience, not entirely sure if it had been real or just a vivid hallucination. But the lingering feeling of power, and the way the Force had felt so palpable in that moment, told him it was more than just a dream.

He stared down at his hands, flexing his fingers as if expecting to feel the Force course through them at any moment. "You ever wonder if... I dunno, if we're on the right path? Like, maybe the Jedi aren't the only ones who know what's going on."

Zara raised an eyebrow but didn't look away from the controls. "What are you getting at?"

Y/n hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I mean... the Sith. They had power too, right? I'm not saying they're good or anything, but what if the Force is about being more than just light and dark?"

Zara's expression tightened, and for a moment, she didn't respond. When she finally spoke, her voice was low, almost wary. "The Sith believe in using power for personal gain. They're corrupt, and they thrive on fear and anger. That's what the Dark Side is destruction, chaos. It might give you strength, but it'll destroy everything else in the process."

Y/n frowned, leaning forward slightly. "But isn't that like, kinda just assumption? What if there's more to it? Like... balance or something?"

Zara glanced at him sharply, her violet eyes narrowing beneath her helmet. "Where is this coming from?"

Y/n quickly waved his hand, trying to play it off. "Nowhere, just something I heard once. Forget it."

She stared at him for a long moment before turning her attention back to the ship's controls. "You need to be careful, Y/n. The Dark Side can be seductive, especially to someone like you. The fact that you're even asking these questions means you're curious. And curiosity can be dangerous."

Y/n huffed, crossing his arms again as he stared out at the planet ahead of them. "Whatever you say, I guess."

As the ship descended through the thin atmosphere of Tharnis, the heat began to seep into the cockpit, making the controls and seats uncomfortably warm. Zara piloted the ship with practiced precision, navigating through the swirling sandstorms that obscured much of the planet's surface.

Y/n glanced around the cockpit, noting the advanced tech and controls that Zara used with ease. "So, what's the settlement we're heading to called?"

Zara adjusted her focus on the navigation display. "It's called Black Sand Town. It's a rough place, mostly a hub for traders, scavengers, and less reputable characters. It's not the friendliest of spots, but it's where we'll start our search. And don't forget to throw that stupid cloak out."