Chapter 29: Illusion

I feel like the Emperor. No jokes. I imagine this is exactly how he’s escorted.

Four Crimson Guards and two Purge Troopers are on my ship. Another five ships are in the convoy—latest model combat frigates, no less. Has war been declared? Has someone decided to wipe out every Force-sensitive in the galaxy? What the Hutt is going on?!

Adding to the strangeness of the situation was the fact that the section of the ship I was placed in could, if necessary, detach and jump into hyperspace on its own. A regular nesting doll of a starship.

But what was the point of all these precautions?

Oh, how I wanted to ask. But I was escorted with all due honor to a cabin and securely... locked in! Seriously? No explanations, no instructions, no means of communication. If their goal was to leave me baffled and nervous, they succeeded.

Well, I’ll play it by ear.

Five hours of meditation helped pass the time. Nothing became clearer, except for the fact that I was starving. Which was to be expected. The last time I’d managed a snack was about seventeen hours ago. Not critical, but unpleasant, so I decided to solve the problem.

Sticking my head out of the cabin, I ran into the crossed pikes of the Emperor’s Royal Guard. The black visors of their helmets made it impossible to see their eyes. And reading these guys through the Force was impossible, at least for me. I tried for an entire hour but felt absolutely nothing from them. It was as if a droid had been turned into a man.

"Return to your quarters. By order of the Emperor."

"Fine, but only if someone brings me something to eat. Otherwise, you’ll have an acolyte dying in the throes of hunger."

"Wait."

"And one more thing, what exactly is happening?"

"Return to your quarters."

Well, I hadn't really counted on a different outcome.

Still, it was better not to provoke these guys. Rumor had it they could best even trained Force-sensitives in single combat. Some of the captured Jedi were brought to them specifically for that purpose—for practice, so to speak. Though it would be foolish to expect anything less from the Emperor's personal guard.

And today, I wasn't in the mood for experiments. I'd sit, wait, sleep, and eat. What a wonderful life. But if this flight lasted more than three days, I’d hijack this karking ship and become a pirate.

Unlike the previous time, I didn't need recovery time; Master had successfully vanished a few days before the end, and I had managed to get my body back in order.

The cabin offered little in the way of entertainment. It was a fairly spacious room, maybe five by six meters or so. But aside from a relatively comfortable interior and a soft bed, there was nothing. Absolutely nothing. Just a bed, a nightstand, and a whole lot of empty space.

I had to sink back into meditation just to kill the time.

But soon, I grew tired of examining myself through the Force. The only conclusion I reached was that the internal gloom was slowly but surely claiming more and more of my worldview, or my perception of the Force; I don't know what else to call it.

I noticed changes in my own behavior. More communication, less detachment; it was as if I were becoming more like the ordinary person I had been a long time ago.

Yet, at the same time, a greater sense of cunning and deviousness seemed to be waking up within me. Or perhaps it only seemed that way; it's impossible to judge such things objectively without an outside perspective. And my only available advisor was currently dozing in his holocron, showing no signs of life.

There was definitely nothing to do. Even my gauntlet had no unread information left, unless you counted a mountain of useless documentation describing the technical parameters of various trifles.

Exactly ten hours separated the starship's crew from the unpleasant fate of being slaughtered. Seriously, who planned this? I’m not a Jedi to sit patiently on a rug and do nothing. I need an active lifestyle!

But thank the Force, I was eventually offloaded in a familiar hangar. The flight could have lasted a week or more. I don't know what I would have done then.

Glancing around the familiar hangar, I smirked to myself. Was I finally a full-fledged acolyte again?

Sure enough, here came the familiar red robes and the motionless white masks. In total silence, I was handed over to the care of the Priestesses. It was amusing to feel the Priestesses seemingly flinch in the Force at the presence of the Royal Guards. Were they worried about wearing the same color, or did these organizations have some internal conflict?

I was asked to place all my personal belongings, except for my saber, into a special container. I was a bit apprehensive about handing over the holocron. Of course, if the Grand Inquisitor had given it to me, they were unlikely to take it away, but still. But what could I do? I couldn't exactly tell them where to go, could I?

To my surprise, we didn't head for the familiar turbolift, but toward... I don't even know where. For twenty minutes, our group, accompanied by the rustle of long robes, walked through corridors. The familiar, sterile lines of Imperial order gave way to dark stone slabs etched with unfamiliar runes glowing red. Even without the Force, I could feel that something unpleasant awaited me.

The further we went, the more the lighting faded. At one point, only the runes on the walls illuminated our path. They flickered out and reappeared, creating an illusion of infinite space surrounding us. Turning back for a second, I couldn't see the light of the exit in the distance. Darkness ahead, darkness behind.

Suddenly, I felt like I was alone in the corridor. The silhouettes whose outlines had been lit by the runes vanished from my sight. They could no longer be felt in the Force.

As if from the surrounding walls, the quiet whisper of many female voices drifted to me.

"You must choose your path..."

"...Your future destiny depends on it..."

"Listen to the Force..."

"The Darkness will guide you; hear it."

I wondered if they practiced finishing each other’s sentences, or if this was just another Force technique.

Despite the fact that this was far from the first time I’d been in a karking situation like this, goosebumps ran down my spine. And then there was that unpleasant agitation in the Force, which was only gaining momentum with every passing second.

Fine, they said listen to the Dark Side, well, I’ll try to listen. Maybe something will come of it.

Concentrating, I put myself into a light trance. The Force immediately pulled me toward a dark opening that gaped with absolute blackness. Though it was like that everywhere here.

Pitch blackness surrounded me. Trying to bring my hand to my face, I couldn't see it. Because of the lack of sight, I moved slightly wrong and startled myself when my hand touched my ear. Cursing, I decided to stop the experiments. The Force shows the way, so I’ll follow it.

The sound of footsteps echoed off the walls. Some indistinct noise echoed in the distance. And then the surrounding darkness became less dense. I could make out the blurred outlines of a corridor, again unlike the one I’d been walking in. It ended in a wooden door that seemed familiar. Pushing the light barrier, through which some light was breaking, I was blinded for a second.

Shielding my eyes with my hand from the mercilessly blinding lamps, I tried to figure out where I had ended up. My nose was pleasantly tickled by the familiar smell of food. The bass hum of voices was punctuated by bursts of female laughter. I could hear glasses clinking and thumping against tables to cheers of delight.

"There you are, Set!"

Someone slapped me hard on the shoulder.

By reflex, I caught the arm and threw someone over my shoulder. Boss’s stunned face looked up at me.

"And don't you sneak up on my apprentice."

Turning my head, I saw the Old Man. But... they shouldn't be here.

"Sweetie, you can't train for so long, you'll miss all the fun."

My heart clenched in an icy grip. I was surrounded by a brothel I knew like the back of my hand. Various scum sat around, so dear, so familiar. And coming down from the second floor was... Mother. Alive and well.

Tears welled up in my eyes of their own accord.

"What's wrong? Are you in pain?"

Kindness and tenderness pooled in her eyes. A soft palm rested on my forehead.

"You don't seem to have a fever."

"Mom..."

The words got stuck; the world blurred before my eyes. I felt tears streaming down my cheeks, leaving wet trails behind. Tender, familiar arms wrapped around my neck.

"It's okay, I'm her—"

A blaster bolt shattered the steady hum.

I felt something warm spreading across my lower abdomen. Raising my palms to my eyes, I saw they were covered in red. And the hands that had been around my neck just a second ago were slowly loosening.

A figure wrapped in a cloak stood in the doorway. A silver lightsaber gleamed at its hip, and a black barrel pointed straight at me. The mask that had come to me in nightmares more than once seemed to twist into a mocking grimace.

Rage swirled within me, exploding in all directions. I don't remember how I ended up in the street. But there was no one there anymore. The tip of a cloak disappeared into one of the alleys of the Lower City.

‘You won't get away, you freak. I'll kill you!’

The hated figure climbed the wall with unexpected agility.

Jumping up several meters, I nearly caught him. But I took a kick to the chest and hit the wall hard with my back. Falling, I managed to twist and hang from a pipe protruding from the wall. Blood trickled down my temple, and my heart hammered like a war drum in my head.

But the pain tearing at me from the inside was far stronger.

In two bounds, I was on the roof. The victim was trying to escape, jumping from one building to another. Oh no, you karking sleemo, you're not getting away from me, not this time!

The chase wasn't long. The distance between us closed rapidly. During another jump, the Force caught his body. As if pulled by a magnet, he flew toward me, only for my fist to break his rib. Kneeling, he tried to get up. Thin red rivulets flowed through the mask.

"You're not just going to die; I'm going to beat the kark out of you slowly."

"We'll see," the voice, distorted by the mask, sounded strange. As if it wasn't the person I was thinking of. "Maybe you'll die first."

A thin steel blade shot out of his sleeve. A brief struggle ensued. A flurry of quick, sweeping strikes left small scratches on my body, but I stubbornly reached for his throat. A Force Shield protected all my vital parts.

My sleeve caught on his mask; an awkward movement, and it flew aside.

Looking at me, with gold reflecting in his eyes... was I?!

"Hasn't it sunk in yet, moron?" The raspy, cracked voice sent a chill to my bones, but it was definitely my voice. "You never were particularly bright."

Taking advantage of my confusion, the double broke free and jumped back.

"Because of your weakness, she died. It's all your fault! But what's even worse, you forgot our goal... Revenge. You're turning away from the Emperor, the one who can help us gain Power!"

"No, you're wrong. I haven't forgotten anything; only for the sake of revenge am I still here."

We circled the roof like two wild beasts ready to tear each other apart at any moment. Now I wasn't as confident as before. His words resonated with the thoughts I had tried to bury as deep as possible.

An unexpected shot broke our carousel. My double, continuing to fire, began to rapidly close the distance. Dodging once more, I ran into a powerful kick. But long practice had paid off. Grabbing his shin, I yanked him toward me.

We fell, and the struggle began again.

"You're pathetic!" My own face, disfigured by a snarl, stared back at me. "If I were in your place, we would have found the killer long ago and settled this once and for all. But you always suppressed me! Tried to act reasonably. You stupid bastard, you're just a coward hiding behind your cheap excuses!"

My arm was caught in a lock and began to be slowly, almost gleefully, twisted.

"Why suppress it? Why try to control the Darkness? It can give you the Power to surpass everyone! Why try to subdue it, control it, guide it?! Give yourself to it completely. Then you will—"

The tirade cut off as my opponent desperately clutched his throat.

I stood up slowly, stretching my arm; the freak had nearly broken it. Force Choke was proving to be a very effective technique.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his hand fly up, and I was thrown into a wall. Now we were both rising slowly, trying to recover as quickly as possible.

"It's time to end this. I'll get rid of you and have my revenge!"

A blue blade ignited from the silver hilt, answered by my own black one.

With a loud screech, two metal beams tore away from the neighboring building and flew at me. Deflecting them, I easily blocked the strike of the blue blade.

We were equal. I parried every attack thanks to my skills and tried to counter. He, on the other hand, dealt haphazard blows; they held only the seeds of technique, but his intuition helped him evade critical lunges. It seemed he was used to fighting in conditions where a strike could be expected from anywhere.

Slowly but surely, I was being pushed back. My reserve of anger and pain was exhausted. He, however, seemed to have a bottomless pit of wild rage. Darkness swirled around him, permeating his entire being.

Another strike swept away my block, forcing me open, and I had to retreat to avoid being cut down.

"This is true Power! Only one will leave this place. For the glory of the Emperor!"

Taking a stance, I prepared for a new round of this duel. My heart was pounding wildly, my breath came in raspy gasps, and cold sweat ran down my back.

But the worst part wasn't that; it was the realization that maybe, in some way, this freak was right. That thought alone weighed on me like a massive slab of duracrete, as if binding my movements.

Maybe it really was worth acting more decisively, not compromising, but simply sweeping away everyone who stood in my way?

The blue blade crashed down on me.

With every strike, it became harder and harder for me to fend off the endless torrent descending upon me. I couldn't concentrate enough to read his next attack. Because of that, I had to block at the very last second.

I managed to deflect a strike aimed at my heart, but my side exploded in pain to the accompaniment of mocking laughter.

"That's it; now I can have my revenge! A pathetic coward like you will no longer stand in my way. You will no longer hold me back and suppress me."

I felt the life draining out of my body through that wound. One twist of his saber, and my story would end.

Lifting my gaze to look at the night sky one last time, I saw a small figure standing on the neighboring building. A blue dress fluttered in the wind. I couldn't see her face from that distance, but her voice reached my ears clearly...

"I love you, son. Live..."

The rest of the sentence was drowned out by my opponent's demonic laughter, and pain shot through my stomach.

My double, slowly and clearly enjoying the process, twisted the blade, cutting deeper and deeper into my body.

"You're weak, you're pathetic, only I have the right to occupy this body!"

My hands gripped the hilt of the blade, not allowing it to move even a millimeter.

We stared at each other in a silent contest. No one moved, no one said a word; the struggle was happening on a completely different level of perception that I can't even explain. But I was definitely managing to suppress him.

At one point, I felt the time had come. Now!

"Go to hell, you son of a kark!"

His yellow eyes widened in surprise. From his chest, hidden by the black cloak, my blade protruded, emitting a high-pitched hum so uncharacteristic of most sabers.

"Like you said, it's time to end this."

The black blade moved according to my will. In a second, every emotion flickered across his face: fear, anger, disbelief, resentment, and maybe something else. The halved body fell, turning into black mist almost before my eyes, which was carried away by the first gust of wind.

Closing my eyes, I stood there and simply thought of nothing. I was just calm and at peace. A light, warm palm rested on my cheek. I didn't even need to look to know who it was. Gently covering her hand with my own, I spoke only a few words I hadn't had time to say then.

"I love you, Mom."

"I know."

The world around me blurred and fell apart. All my senses and sensations returned. I was back in the corridor. My side burned with phantom pain. And the warmth of her hand could still be felt on my cheek.

I don't know how long I stood there, pressing my hand to my face and afraid to lower it. Tears filled with both joy and sorrow streamed down my cheeks.

Only when my thoughts began to move sluggishly and pass in small chains through my head did I open my eyes.

The corridor led into the darkness. My ignited saber barely allowed me to see the stone vaults of the tunnel. After standing for a while, I headed forward. If this wasn't all, then I don't know what lay ahead.

I’d been walking for over an hour in total darkness, not knowing where. Now I simply trusted the Force; wherever it led, it led. It seemed to me the corridor was taking me lower and lower. I hoped I wouldn't end up at the planet’s core.

And as if echoing my thoughts, a wave of heat wafted from around the corner. Orange reflections danced on the walls, creating bizarre and terrifying images.

The floor of the small room was covered in molten magma. A narrow stone path led to a tiny island. In its center was a small elevation.

Only now did I notice how strong the Dark Side was here. It had gradually increased throughout the journey, which is why I only realized it once I reached its center.

Its power literally enveloped the entire room. It seemed that with a little more, it would turn into something physical, crystallizing into the form of something dangerous and powerful.

Well, it seemed I had a chance to meditate in a Force nexus. I wouldn't turn down such a gift of fate.

I don't know how long I spent motionless in this strange room. The Force flowed through me; we were one. Vague visions of the future, or perhaps the past, rose before my consciousness.

A red blade approaching my face.

A Separatist droid aiming a blaster.

Dark, greenish-lit corridors and strange statues decorating them.

A great flash covering everything in my field of vision.

And millions of indistinct images that I couldn't even make out.

I came to, sitting at the entrance of the corridor; one of the Priestesses was watching me intently. There was no room, no black corridor, only the familiar, gray Imperial order and geometry. But I was already too tired to be surprised today, so I decided to accept everything as it was.

"Follow me."

We were walking again, toward who knows where. This base is karking huge. How much money was poured into this? Thoughts came lazily and left just as lazily, leaving nothing behind.

Elevator, corridor, elevator again—over and over. In twenty minutes, I managed to come to my senses a little. But I finally woke up when we stopped before a large door.

"This is your room now. You may leave and attend general training sessions if you wish. Your current rank is First. Also, a message from the Grand Inquisitor awaits you."

Without a goodbye, the woman left for her own business. I understood that I understood nothing. Still, I wondered where I had been housed this time.

An ascetic room, a long hard bed, a table, a chair, my holocron, and that was it. Only there was more space and a couple of new containers had appeared. What was the fundamental difference?

I had a strong sense of déjà vu. A transmitter lay on the bed. What did Master want to tell me?

The familiar figure appeared, blinking steadily. I’d actually missed him. We hadn't seen each other in so long. A giant crocodile tear almost fell onto the bed.

"Listen to me carefully. Destroy this message immediately afterward. This room is secure; my trusted agent has swept it. Plans have changed abruptly. Several transports carrying Jedi and your former friends were attacked. The attackers are unknown. But as intelligence has discovered, someone besides the Emperor has begun collecting gifted children across the galaxy. So you will remain here until the problem is resolved. Or until the Emperor deems you strong enough..."

Great, Big Brother is watching you. Though, for the most part, everything was unfolding exactly as I wanted.

"...Do not disappoint me, apprentice. I have great hopes for you."

The hologram flickered out. Crushed into a small ball by the Force, the transmitter was tossed into the far corner. Well, I’d be sitting here for a long time; might as well go look around. Maybe I’ll see some familiar faces. There’s one specific blue-faced person I really want to meet and give a few solid hits to.

But despite my wandering through this part of the base, it felt like I was absolutely alone. If not for a slight disturbance in the Force, I wouldn't have noticed anything.

Looking up, I locked eyes with an unexpected character. Kamma was watching me from the ceiling. He had hooked his legs over a beam and was sitting as if glued to the ceiling.

"Not the most obvious place I expected to see you..."

Realizing he’d been spotted, he dropped lightly to the floor. Dramatic changes had come over him. A long scar covered part of his face, and he looked haggard. Sharp cheekbones stood out on a face that had once been a bit plump.

And something told me this had happened back during our meeting near the Temple; I’d probably just not paid it enough attention then. The atmosphere, so to speak, hadn't been conducive to it.

"I was sure you’d kicked the bucket." His eyes watched me with suspicion. "You're not a ghost, right?"

"I can fix the other side of your face too, for symmetry. Since you only have one jagged one."

"Not here." He looked around furtively. "I’m not supposed to be here. Follow me."

I listened to the Force for a second but felt nothing from him except a deep sense of guilt and a slight agitation. No malice, or even a hint of it.

We ran. Turns, corridors, up and down. Until Kamma braked at one of the walls.

"In here."

Yanking out a small ventilation grate with the Force, he moved aside to let me through.

"Crawl straight and take the first right."

Well, since I was being asked so nicely, why not? The shaft widened gradually. At first, I could only move by crawling, then on all fours, and then almost at full height. I just had to tilt my head to the side. Kamma walked beside me, thinking intensely about something.

Finally, we stopped at a fork.

"So now what?"

"Now we can talk. By the way, congratulations; you're the first to find out how I gather information and move between floors. No whiskey, so I can only give you a round of applause. Want it?"

"Nah."

"Well then, I think we both have things to share. You first."

Without going into detail, I told him about my adventures. Despite the calm in the Force, it was hard to trust him completely. Even though he had, in essence, revealed his main ace.

"And now I’m sitting here with you, practically burning with impatience. How did you survive? What happened to you?"

"Oh, you know." Kamma rubbed the scar. "After we parted ways, I hung around the Temple for a day. I kept hoping to pull out that cursed artifact. When I backed off a bit, I decided to try to find Lana, but unfortunately, no luck. Kark! If only I..."

Without finishing the sentence, he slid down the wall and stared blankly ahead. An oppressive silence fell. I could genuinely feel him mourning her loss and his own breakdown.

"Once we find some good alcohol, we’ll toast to her. Where I grew up, it's a tradition."

"A good custom, a right one. Then I was on my own, escaping pursuit, that’s where I earned this decoration." He ran a finger along the line that divided part of his face almost in half, seemingly a habit by now. "If my calculation had been wrong, they wouldn't have been caught in the bombardment. But as it was, I managed to lure them into the right grid." A bitter smile touched his lips.

"And I think you can imagine the rest. Guilt was eating me from the inside, and I decided to at least go and take a few of those bastards with me. And then I ran into you."

"Not the wisest decision."

"I know, but I couldn't do it any other way then. And apparently, such was the will of the Force."

"And then what?"

"Nothing special, except that some of the ships the acolytes were returning on from the trial were hijacked to parts unknown. I didn't see it, but I heard the sounds of battle clearly. Who had the guts to go against the Empire?"

"I don't know. But they’re hunting for Force-sensitives. Not just acolytes have gone missing, but captured Jedi too."

"In any case, it doesn't concern us, at least not now. Our main goal is to become stronger."

His eyes flashed like steel; apparently, the death of his friend and the way that thought had enslaved him had left a deep mark.

"You're right; we can't just waste time. I'll see you at the general training, if I find the way, of course."

"If anything, meet me right here in three days."

"Deal."

Nodding goodbye to each other, we went our separate ways.

******

Coruscant, the city-planet, the capital world, the most beautiful and simultaneously the most horrific place in the galaxy. It was here that the fates of billions were decided; it was here that the beings who determined the galaxy's path were concentrated.

In one of the buildings, several figures knelt before a man encased in black armor. The low voice coming from beneath the helmet was punctuated by heavy breathing. It was clearly audible how machinery assisted the being in breathing.

Darkness enveloped him completely; one didn't need to feel the Force to understand that. Even ordinary beings felt fear before the Emperor's loyal enforcer.

"You have failed me, Inquisitors," the heavy, metallic voice rolled through the room. "Lord Sidious is displeased with your results. The threat seems to have vanished, and you can only offer excuses. Acolytes were taken right out from under your noses, and you were powerless to stop it."

The breath was knocked out of everyone standing on one knee. Heavy gasps came from all sides. Some clutched their throats, while others had already resigned themselves to a possible death and simply waited. They could have tried to attack him. But it would have had no effect.

The first time they had encountered this monster, he had tossed them all around like whelps single-handedly, and now he was even stronger. Everyone present felt it plainly. There wasn't the slightest chance they could even cause him significant trouble.

"Lord Vader, we are doing everything possible. We will provide results," rasped one of the beings. "No one dares attack the Empire."

"Do not test my patience."

Several bodies fell; convulsive gasps and coughing filled the room.

"I trust you will not permit any further mistakes. Otherwise, the Emperor will be very displeased."

"No, Lord Vader, there will be no mistakes."

"I truly hope so."

Dull footsteps echoed in the main Inquisitorial training hall. The man encased in black armor left the room, leaving these unworthies alone with their weakness.

******

"Emperor, I ask you to direct your attention to these specimens. They are well-preserved. I believe you are already familiar with this model of droid."

In a closed room, several figures leaned over a large table. Among the living beings stood a life-sized hologram. A cloak concealed the being's form; only a face covered in many scars looked out from beneath the hood.

"A Separatist droid. And yet, I was certain they had all been deactivated and sent for recycling. Is it possible some factories survived?"

"According to our audit, all known production facilities have been deactivated. However, an unknown party has been purchasing mining equipment in vast quantities. We only recently managed to establish a link between these orders. Agents are already in the field, attempting to trace the entire logistics route. Thus far, however, no discernible pattern has been discovered."

"All Separatist leaders have been eliminated, along with their primary lieutenants. Have you vetted their protégés and the former commanders of the Droid Army?"

"Affirmative, my Emperor. The majority have returned to their homeworlds. Several officers perished in unfortunate accidents; their deaths were officially recorded in local medical facilities."

"Check everything once more. Neither the droid factories nor the Separatists must be allowed to resurface. Employ any measures necessary. Keep me apprised of this matter; from this moment forward, you will report directly to me."

"As you command."

"Uncover every detail of this affair. I shall dispatch Lieutenant Thrawn to assist you; the officer has distinguished himself well. He is now at your full disposal."

"As you wish, my Emperor."