Youth Wars Part III: A New Age

Chapter 5

"Ephraim!" Aang and Jo recoiled, dropping their lightsabers. Viran didn't say anything, just gave Ephraim and Exar both a look of shock and anger.

"We've gone a long way, and if you let me discuss things, we can stay on our current track and secure the galaxy before you know it."

Aang just looked between Ephraim and Exar. He clenched two of his fists, then used the force to pick up two of his lightsabers, ignited them, and pointed them straight at Exar.

Exar looked at the blades, then at Aang. "I know you better than that." He said simply.

        "You're with them." He said through gritted teeth. Aang felt so betrayed. They had been on a mission to defeat the sith for weeks, but the sith was also a friend of his. Under the hood, Ephraim was like a completely different person. A murderer. He had no idea he had known the galaxy's most powerful and wanted man... but Exar did. Exar not only knew the sith were alive the whole time, but he knew the sith, and was apparently close friends with him. Aang didn't even notice the tear fall from his cheek to the ground.

"Aang... What are you doing?" Exar asked, getting scared. 'He would've backed down by now.'

"Don't do anything you'll regret." Viran advised.

Aang's hands only tightened on his hilts.

"H-h-hey, hey. Buddy. Calm down." Exar said, stepping back slightly, defensively lifting his arms ahead. Erk carefully moved his thumb towards the trigger on his lightsaber.

"Probably should've done this long ago." Aang said, lifting the sabers above his head.

"Hey! Woah!"

As Aang swung down a couple inches, Naktam threw a couple daggars and knocked the lightsabers out of Aang's hands.

Aang just fell to his knees in despair.

"Aang... what was that?" Viran simply asked, nearly speechless.

"He doesn't need to be here." Aang said.

"Being the guy he is, I'm sure there's a very, reasonable explanation for all this." Viran said, looking at Exar

"There can't be. I was a little too acceptant when Exar came along. I should've known a Zabrak on the team would've been too much trouble. They always are." He said, glaring up at Exar, who looked away.

Erk and Sabby each put a hand on one of his shoulders and guided him elsewhere. "Now I realize we may have gone a little far, but we need to plan ahead so we can... you know."

"Yeah. Destroy all evil." Exar said, a little down, he looked over to Aang, still on his knees. "Maybe you should've let him kill me."

"Hey now. Even I sorta understand where his thoughts are coming from, but I know you're not evil. You had no bad intention with all this. Take time, and it'll boil over." Sabby said.

"I'll have a heck of a lot to explain, though."

"Maybe so." Erk said as they went along.

---

"Where are they going?" Jo asked as he saw the three go off.

Aang looked up, anger still written on his face, and was about to go after him; Viran put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Don't. It's my responsibility." He commed Exar and said, "Exar. Wherever you go, just make sure it's not far."

"Okay. We'll just be outside the port." Exar replied quietly.

"This is gonna be a fun adventure." Viran said quietly, with fake exhaustion.