Episode IX: The Truth
Location: Tython
39 Years before Tython’s Force Drought
“I love it! Oh my goodness, Rethalia… This is going to look adorable on them…” Malevolence holds up an infant’s onesie that seems to share the same white color that emanates off of Rethalia. The onesie has a hood that is designed to make the child look like a baby Togruta.
“That is the most adorable thing I have ever seen!” Caithe exclaims, giggling at the onesie happily. She walks over to sit between the Togruta and Malevolence before handing a glass of wine to Rethalia. The three are sitting in a small booth in the rec hall of the Jedi Temple on Tython. The booth is roped off and the rest of the rec hall is decorated in a purple theme that celebrates the coming birth of a child.
“I’m going to go and see if they need any help in the kitchen. You two let me know if you need anything at all.” Rethalia rises to her feet and leans over, planting a kiss on both of the women’s foreheads before lifting the red rope and crossing the recreation hall. There seems to be a small line waiting to meet with the women. As the Togruta leaves, Malevolence places the onesie back into its bag and she places it in the pile with the other gifts.
“Thalyssra!” Caithe says happily as she leaps up and wraps the queen in an embrace. The incredibly tall woman returns the hug and smiles down at the woman in her arms.
“Hello, loves! Congratulations!” She winks as Llane and an eleven year old little blonde girl joins her. The queen smiles down at Sarah Jeanne and points to Malevolence. “Go and say hi to auntie Mal, Sarah Jeanne.” She pats the little girl gently before the child hugs the queen’s leg and scurries off. The queen smirks at Sarah Jeanne as she hops onto the sofa beside Malevolence and undoubtedly starts asking questions about her stomach.
“I didn’t think you’d be able to make it. I thought you would have been handling things in Althyron. I’ve heard that things have been getting heated with the war.” Caithe says, offering a sympathetic frown before leaning over to Llane and kissing him on the cheek. The young king with blonde hair and blue eyes bows before Caithe and lifts her hand up to his lips.
“The war has headed into a direction that… worries us, yes. For the safety of our daughter, I made a decision that our family would relocate to Coruscant until things in Althyron calm down.” Llane explains, sitting both Caithe and Thalyssra onto the large sofa while he remains standing. Thalyssra holds a small ornate box in her hands roughly the size of a holocron. The box’s base is a white leather while the frame wrapped around the container is pure gold.
“Oh, don’t tell me that’s for us… You didn’t have to-'' Caithe begins to say before Llane waves a hand of dismissal.
“You have been friends of our family for a very long time. When we adopted our daughter, you were by our side the entire time. This is our thank you for that.” Llane smiles down at Caithe before reaching down and rubbing the queen’s back gently.
“Thank you… Truly.” Malevolence smiles up at the two as she wraps her arm around Sarah Jeanne. The little girl giggles and looks back over to Caithe.
“Can we open the box now?” Sarah Jeanne asks, scooching over to Caithe and looking at the box.
“She’s been so excited to see what’s inside all week long.” Thalyssra giggles softly, offering an admiring glance to her daughter.
“Let’s open it together!” Caithe hands the box to Sarah Jeanne and the two place their fingers onto the two latches that close the box. Flicking the latches open, Caithe opens the top of the box and a glass sphere the size of a cantaloupe sits inside. The sphere is filled with a pink, purple, and white mist that swirl around inside. The sphere almost looks like a piece of the galaxy was placed into the glass.
“What… is this?” Caithe asks, staring into the sphere. She slowly picks it up and lifts it up and everyone on the couch lets their attention fall onto the item.
“It is a Life Day Orb.” Thalyssra gestures to the sphere. The glowing purple and pink hue ebb vibrantly against the field of stars housed within the orb. “It is from Kashyyyk. The Wookies decorate their streets and homes with them and they symbolize both the afterlife…” The queen smiles, gesturing down to Malevolence’s belly. “And life to come.” She finishes as Caithe places the sphere back into the box.
“It’s so beautiful, Thalyssra… Thank you both so much for this.” Caithe says as she closes the box and places it aside. She gets up and wraps Llane in a hug while Malevolence and Thalyssra get up and do the same. After all hugs are exchanged between the party, the Kerringtons cross the rope.
“We’re going to go around and see if we can’t get into any trouble.” Llane smirks at the girls before waving and leading his wife to a group of other diplomats while Sarah Jeanne immediately runs to the dessert table.
As Caithe helps Malevolence to sit down, an old friend of the family crosses the rope. Caithe slowly turns around to see a tall man in white robes. He looks down at Malevolence before Caithe steps between the two and puts her hand on the hilt of her lightsaber.
“What are you doing here, Rethan?” Caithe asks, glaring at the 6’3 man. Nobody else in the hall seems to be caught off guard by the man and the last thing Caithe wants to do is cause a panic. She growls lowly as the man pulls his hands out of his large draped sleeves revealing a black dagger, the hilt made of two snakes wrapped around each other. He slowly wraps the dagger in a thick white cloth before holding it out to Caithe.
“Am I not allowed to bring a gift for my daughter?” The man asks with the dagger’s hilt facing Caithe. Malevolence slowly stands back up and takes her place by Caithe’s side.
“You are not welcome in this place… Get out, Rethan.” Caithe remarks angrily as the man nods.
“As you wish…” He nods slowly before vanishing completely only leaving behind two items. His white robes fall to the ground in addition to a loud clang as the dagger hits the floor. It doesn’t seem to draw the attention of anyone. The only person to have noticed is the last person waiting in line. A figure clothed in a brown robe crosses the rope but their face is not visible.
Without saying a single word, the figure sits on the sofa in silence. Caithe and Malevolence look down at the person and then look back to the party. Everyone in the room has come to a stop… Frozen in time.
“Who are you…? How are you doing this?” Caithe asks as she looks back to the sofa. When her eyes land on the couch, the figure is no longer there. Caithe looks back at everyone and time seems to have resumed. “Where did they go…?” Caithe asks, looking over to Malevolence.
“Who, Rethan?” Malevolence asks, gesturing to the white robe on the floor. The pregnant woman walks over to the gifts and begins to smile down at each of them.
“No… I-” Caithe begins but shakes the ominous feeling off as she walks over to her wife. “I think I’m just a little tired is all…” Caithe explains before taking Malevolence’s hand in her own.
“Well maybe we should start cleaning up so that we can-” Malevolence gasps loudly as her water breaks. The pregnant woman grabs onto Caithe’s arm and all of the attention in the room shifts to Mal. Rethalia rushes over and unlatches the rope before slipping under Mal’s arm and helping Caithe bring her to the Consulars. After laying her on the table, Rethalia takes Caithe’s hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze.
“Hurry, we need to get towels and hot water for the Consulars.” Rethalia gestures for Caithe to follow. The two sprint out of the large room and into the restroom down the hall. The mirrors in the bathroom shatter as Malevolence’s pain echoes through the halls of the Temple. “Go.” Rethalia nods, gathering the towels.
Screams fill the Jedi Temple as Jedi Master Malevolence shrieks out in pure agony. The woman is lying back on a table as her pain interferes with her use of the Force. Large pillars in the temple come crashing down as Malevolence screams out in torment. Caithe rushes into the main hall and lifts her hands, catching one of the pillars before it falls onto a group of padawans.
“Mal! You need to stop this! You’re destroying the temple!” Caithe shouts as parts of the ceiling begin to fall from above. Caithe catches the majority of the rubble, creating a pile in the corner. Rethalia rushes into the room with her hands full of towels and a bowl of water. She hands the items to the Consular and joins Caithe in holding the Temple together.
“Stay at her side. She needs you… I will handle this.” Rethalia nods as she uses the Force to keep the entire room from caving in. Caithe rushes over to Malevolence and takes her hand. Mal tightly grips Caithe’s fingers as she endures her suffering.
“It’s time…” Malevolence cries out as she begins to scream again. A Jedi Consular stands between Malevolence’s naked legs and offers Caithe a confident smile when she sees the head of the child emerge from Malevolence.
“One more big push, Mal… You’ve got this.” Caithe leans down and kisses Malevolence for a long few seconds before squeezing her hand back. “Push…” Caithe nods at the Jedi Master. Malevolence pushes as hard as she can and the room fills with the sound of a newborn child crying loudly. The consular clamps the umbilical cord and snips it with a pair of surgical scissors. The Consular slowly hands the child to Malevolence. “She’s so beautiful… She looks just like you.” Caithe smiles, delicately fixing Mal’s hair. The two look down at the child’s grey eyes and can’t help but explode with joy.
“What is her name?” The Jedi Consular asks, tilting her head downward at the child.
“Her name is Kira…” Malevolence smiles, looking up at Caithe admiringly. “Kira Valor.” Mal says before her gaze drifts back to the beautiful child.
“What a beautiful name that is…” The Consular smiles as she gets up. “If you two need anything, I’m right over here. I’ll give you a moment.” She says before walking to the other side of the room to check on the padawans.
“Would you like to hold your daughter?” Malevolence holds the child out to Caithe.
“I… would love nothing more…” Caithe accepts the child and raises her up to her face. “Hello there, little one… I’m your mommy…” Caithe giggles as the child begins to coo in her arms.
With a sudden sharp pain, Malevolence screams out in agony causing Kira to begin crying as well. “Consular! What’s happening?!” Caithe shouts, cradling the baby and holding onto Malevolence’s hand. As the Consular returns, she can see a second child protruding from Malevolence.
“A second child… It’s facing the wrong way…” The Consular says as she stares down at the infant’s arm. “I’m sorry… I don’t have the anesthetics or the tools to be able to deliver this child… I would need to-” The Consular is cut off as Malevolence hands her lightsaber to the woman.
“I know what you need to do… Just do it… Save my child…” Malevolence rips her belt off and puts it between her teeth. The Consular ignites the saber and carefully cuts across Malevolence’s abdomen horizontally. Malevolence’s cries finally stop as the Consular lifts the second child from her mother’s womb. The children both cry as the Consular hands the second child to Caithe. “Bring them to the other consulars… I will do what I can to save her.” The Consular says, her hands glowing over Mal’s belly.
“Please… Don’t lose her…” Caithe begs as tears roll down her face. She takes the infants to a large room filled with kyber crystals and a few beds. “Help!” Caithe shouts. Two Consulars rush over and take the children from her, beginning to heal and nourish them both. The infants are laid into small cribs beside a chair that Caithe rocks back and forth in considering the worst possible scenario.
After thirty eight hours of waiting in a pool of suspense, Caithe finally stands up and grabs the hands of the first Consular that approaches her. “Please tell me that she’s okay…” Caithe whispers as tears stream down her cheeks.
“Malevolence will survive… She will just need rest. Her body has suffered much trauma today. She will require time to recover. One of your friends has requested to see you.” The Consular gestures back to Rethalia who has a tray in her hands with two bowls of soup on it. The Togruta walks over and sits beside Caithe as the Consular takes her leave. Rethalia hands a bowl of soup to the woman and begins to eat her own.
“She’s going to be okay, Cay. She’s one of the strongest people I know.” Rethalia promises and offers a smile in Caithe’s direction. “So what made you decide on the name Kira?” Rethalia grins as she nudges Caithe’s arm with her elbow.
“Well… We had to choose a name that would mean something… Something important. We wanted to choose a name that would embody a person we admire more than anyone. The person who trained us… Who stood by me since I was a little girl. But you already knew that.” Caithe winks at Rethalia. “We wanted to go with your full surname but it was a tad too long.” Caithe grins before nudging the Togruta back.
“Rethalia Amanithalakira is hardly that long.” Rethalia cackles softly as she lifts the bowl of soup to her lips and begins drinking it like a beverage. “I love it though. Kira is a beautiful name.” The Togruta leans back against the bed sitting behind the two.
“And the second child?” Rethalia asks, looking over. “Thought of a name?” She asks, looking back towards the glass panel that the children are kept behind.
“I’ve actually already named her…” Caithe bites her lip, looking over to the Togruta with a smile on her face. “Her name is Thalyssra.” Caithe admits, crossing her arms as she leans over resting her head on Rethalia’s shoulder.
“Thalyssra? After the queen of Althyron?” The Togruta smirks at the woman, wrapping an arm around her. “I suspected that… I think Malevolence is going to be very happy with the name. Thalyssra is like a mother to her.” Rethalia remarks just before time stops within the room.
“Reth?” Caithe asks, waving a hand in front of her eyes. “Not again… What is happening…?” As the cloaked figure in brown robes passes in the hallway outside of the Consular hall, Caithe quickly gets up and sprints after them. “Hey! Stop! Who are you?!” Caithe shouts as she chases the person down the winding halls of the Temple. The figure seems to only be walking yet Caithe is unable to catch up even with her agile sprint. Every time she turns a corner, the figure is at the opposite end of the hall again.
The figure leads Caithe down to the lowest part of the Temple. The Catacombs. When she finally runs into a dead end, the figure is nowhere to be found. “Why would you lead me here…? There’s nothing in the catacombs…” Caithe whispers, lifting her lightsaber up to shed some light. The room is filled with the tombs of fallen Jedi and on the far wall there is a golden handprint plastered onto the wall with a large circular disk on the ground below it. Caithe slowly ascends the steps and steps onto the disk before placing her hand over the handprint.
“Why did you bring me here…?” Caithe asks as the disc below her begins to vibrate calmly. It slowly begins to descend while Caithe focuses on keeping her balance. The platform lowers through a large cave lit up by massive white crystals the size of boulders.
When the disc finally rests on the ground, Caithe steps off. She is standing on a platform in the center of a shallow pool of glimmering dark blue water. Across the cavern is a stone pedestal between two large marble pillars. Caithe slowly steps into the water, her movement causing the ripples of water to glow vibrantly with a light blue electric hue. After wading through the beautiful waters, she steps up to the pedestal and picks up the stone tablet upon it. As she picks up the stone, the words upon the tablet begin to glow with a deathly red hue. Tendrils of darkness slowly creep out from the tablet and wrap around Caithe’s arms as her body begins forcing her to read the words on the tablet aloud.
“Sovereign am I, by Light’s decree,
Entombed for all eternity,
Where joy and peace are never known,
Nor light of day is never thrown.” Caithe begins to chant loudly against her own will. The tendrils of darkness creep up her arms and towards her chest.
“My fallen tomb, burns with fire,
Will flame and burn when time is done,
When chaos and confusion reign—
Extinguished are the stars and sun…”
Caithe drops the tablet which shattered into dust on the ground. The tendrils begin to crawl into the woman’s mouth as her body is lifted off of the ground and suspended into the air. For a moment, Caithe is terrified as she is imprisoned in her own body before she slowly descends to the ground, her eyes no longer gold but instead black as night.
“We… are free…” Caithe whispers in an enthralled voice. The woman slowly walks to the circular disc and uses the Force to lift it back up into the catacombs. She follows the halls back to the Consular room where Rethalia rushes over. Before the woman reaches her, Caithe’s eyes shift back to their golden hue.
“Are you okay?? You just vanished into thin air. We’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Rethalia asks, tilting her head at Caithe curiously. “Caithe? You seem off…” The Togruta says, studying the woman’s abnormally still movements.
“Yes. I am feeling under the weather.” Caithe remarks, looking over to the children behind the glass wall. Rethalia looks back at the room and frowns sadly.
“I’m sorry, Caithe. We’re going to figure this out.” The Togruta offers a comforting smile before the world freezes once more. The figure in brown robes walks into the room and stands behind Caithe.
“Vexoss.” The figure says in a quiet and familiar tone. Removing their hood, a young woman with space buns and markings up to her neck takes a few steps forward and places her hand on Caithe’s cheek. The woman’s golden eyes shift to midnight black and she tilts her head, running her cheek along Kira’s hand.
“My queen…” Caithe whispers in the demon’s demented voice, dropping to one knee in both respect and fear of Kira. “What do you command of me?” Caithe asks with her head facing to the ground, avoiding eye contact with Kira. The girl with the markings lifts her hand up and points to the nursery. “Thank you.” Caithe says in a twisted voice before rising to her feet and reaching over to grab the hand of the Consular beside her. The tendrils of darkness leap out of Caithe’s body and into the Consular whose eyes then turn black. Caithe falls to the ground unconscious.
The possessed Consular walks into the nursery and stands between the twins. He reaches down and places his index and middle finger gently onto Thalyssra’s forehead. The tendrils creep into the child before the Consular falls to the ground losing consciousness. The infant’s eyes are glossy and black for a moment before they return to their blue color.
As Kira walks out of the room, time resumes and Rethalia cries out for help. A Consular rushes over and kneels before Caithe, waving a hand over her forehead. The Jedi Master slowly wakes up and stares at Rethalia, clearly confused. “What happened?” Caithe asks, grabbing the woman’s hands. “Why do I feel so weak…” Caithe mutters as Rethalia helps her up.
“I’m not entirely sure… Something strange is happening. You vanished into thin air a minute ago and… You were talking to me one second and then you were out cold. It all happened in the blink of an eye…” Rethalia says, offering a fearful glance to the Consular.
“I think I just need some sleep. Mal and I haven’t slept in days and I think it’s starting to take a toll.” Caithe explains as the Consular and Rethalia help her to a bed. As they lay the woman down, she falls into a deep slumber.
* * *
“Caithe.” A voice echoes in the depths of the Jedi’s mind. “Caithe. You must choose a path.” The voice says loudly as three bridges materialize in the darkness of her dream. An aged bridge made of rope and wood is strung up to the left. To her right is a bridge made of wood alone and is covered in overgrowth. In the center is a bridge of solid stone. “There is only one right path… Choose.” The voice says as she looks between the three curiously. “Only one right path…” Caithe tilts her head, looking up at the sky for the ominous higher power that she expected to be lingering around. “What is this? Who are you?” Caithe shouts loudly. She walks to the edge of the cliff and looks over the side to see a pit of lava. “Well that’s kind of cliché…” Caithe mutters softly.
“This is a test. I am you.” The voice says as a woman identical to Caithe but in white robes appears to her left. A moment later, a third Caithe appears in black robes. The two stare at Caithe curiously. “I am your potential if you choose to follow the path of the Light Side.” The Light Caithe in robes reveals, looking over to the woman in black robes.
“Dark Side.” The Caithe in black offers a nonchalant wave. The Light Caithe points to the three bridges and then looks back to Caithe.
“Use the Force. Feel each path before you step onto it. Everything is not as it seems.” She says before fading away. The Dark Side Caithe remains and observes closely. Caithe walks to the bridge on the left and closes her eyes.
I march forward, completely powerless to my actions. I am seeing out of someone’s eyes but I am unable to move. I can feel a great darkness within me. Glancing at a mirror as I stride through the hallways of this large building with two troopers by my side, I catch a glimpse of my corrupted face. My golden glow is red, the veins on my face have turned black.
I walk into a dark and dusty room and see queen Thalyssra kneeling on the floor in chains between two guardians in black armor with red saberstaffs. “Leave.” I demand loudly before the two guardians quickly leave. I walk up to the girl and kneel before her. “Do you remember it?” I ask, reaching out and placing my hand under the woman’s chin. The woman is covered in dried blood and sobs quietly as I stand back up. What have I done to her? I can feel a darkness growing inside of me…
“You told me that Althyron was safe… That my daughters would be safe there…” I hold my hand out as the woman’s skull begins to shatter and the shards slice at her brain. The woman screams in terror and agony for a moment before falling onto her side. “Bring in her husband.” I can feel my devilish grin creep up onto my face. “We’ll save the daughter for last. Nothing like an eye… for an eye.” I whisper as I forcibly rip myself from the nightmare.
Caithe crawls back from the bridge, absolutely terrified. She looks back to Dark Caithe and gets up, sprinting towards her. Jumping off of the ground, Caithe attempts to tackle her evil “twin” but goes flying right through her.
“I am an image buried within your mind. I am your potential. Your future. You cannot fight me.” The Dark one says before Light Caithe in her white robes appears behind Caithe, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“Come, dear. There is another path.” Light Caithe holds her hand out to the Jedi and offers a reassuring nod. Caithe cautiously takes her hand and is lifted from reality.
I am suddenly standing in the Jedi Temple with chains binding my hands. I attempt to use the Force to remove my shackles but quickly find that they are Force nullifying. I look up to see the four members of the Jedi Council of Tython. After trying to step forward, I soon find that I am once more not the one in control here.
“Caithe Valor. You have been found guilty by the Council of the murders of Liana Targessan, Andia Perthos, and Kauri Ketros.” Head Councilor Baethon says, rising to his feet.
“I didn’t murder anyone, Baethon! You’ve known me since I was a youngling! If anyone is guilty of anything it’s you! All of you…” I grip the metal handrail around the floating platform that lifts me up to the council. I turn around and look down at the crowd observing my sentencing. Hundreds of Jedi, padawans, and townsfolk have gathered to watch.
“The Council has failed the Jedi Order. The Council has failed the Republic. The Council has failed the galaxy! They have taught us a way of life where there is no fault in stealing infants from their parents. They have taught us that the Sith can only be redeemed through death and this is simply untrue! The Council would have us believe that there is no other way… But there is.” Caithe explains against her own will. As she hears the words leave her mouth, she isn’t quite in opposition. In fact, this is one of the reasons she left the Order outside of this dream. Caithe lifts her hand up and large white flags with black borders and a raven in the center with a dagger through its head drop down over where Jedi Order banners once hung.
“This is a desperate plea for attention that I will not tolerate, Ca-“ The Head Councilor shouts, standing up from his chair before getting cut off.
“You... are wrong. This is a coup. The treason that the Jedi Council has committed is being transmitted to every communication device on this planet. The massacres, the assassinations, the abducting. Today is the day that the Jedi Council falls!” I shout loudly, raising my lightsaber up and pointing it at the council. “Justice seeks you… The Retribution begins here!” Caithe’s voice bellows to the farthest observers.
A glisten shines in the far hills where the killer of Indomina pulls the trigger to their sniper rifle. The hyperlaser travels with incredible speed before smashing into the back of Caithe’s cranium shattering her skull and tearing the brain into bits inside.
Caithe gasps as she is brought back to the reality of her dream. Both Light and Dark versions of herself seem to have vanished. The Jedi walks up to the middle bridge and sits down, meditating in front of it. “Show me the way…” She whispers quietly.
“I cannot show you the way… For the way that is true is within you… Follow your heart, Caithe Valor… Forget your lessons and regrets…” A voice echoes from above as Caithe’s eyes shut, her body completely still.
I slowly open my eyes and my bony fingers crack and pop as I clench my fists. I’m standing in the cargo bay of a messy ship. Clothes clutter the floors and crates within. I take a step forward seeming to be in full control of my actions. A medical droid’s torn up body lies on the floor leading into the med bay of the ship. “Well what tore you to bits?” Caithe asks, looking down at the droid.
I can hear some chitter chatter to my right in the observation deck. I make my way over to see a man sitting on the ground with his hands over a bleeding wound on his abdomen. He looks up at me in what seems like sheer disbelief.
“How are you here? Am I dead?” He asks, tears streaming down his face. He reaches out and snarls in pain as he retracts his arm.
“None of this is real… But you’re not dead, I can tell you that much. Who are you?” I ask, walking forward and taking a knee before laying my hands over the wound and using the Force try to heal it.
“It’s me… Jake…” The man says, looking up to me as if he knows me. “Caithe… How are you here? She killed you… You were Blighted…” Jake sobs as the healing only succeeds in revealing the severity of his infection. The wound is a large singular gash with black infection creeping out of it. I stop the healing as soon as I notice my use of the Force is only strengthening the infection.
“I’m sorry… I don’t know you. I’m not entirely sure how you know me either… Who is she? What is Blighted?” I ask before Jake begins to breathe more heavily. I can feel his heartbeat speeding up before turning around and looking at the medbay.
“It’s coming… You need to run… It will get you too…” Jake pleads as he screams out in pain, grabbing onto my forearm. “RUN, CAITHE!” He shouts loudly. Just a few seconds later there is a scuttling sound in the ventilation system above followed by the guttural clicking of some type of beast.
I immediately turn around and run through the med bay and up the ladder into the cockpit, locking the door behind me. Looking forward, I can almost make out the shape of a head in the pilot’s seat. SJ slowly spins around and offers a nod to me.
“Captain.” I nod before the scuttling returns from behind. I ignite my lightsaber and spin around when I hear a loud growl. I face the door with my saber ready. I glance back and see that SJ has gone missing. “What is going on here…” I whisper quietly before turning my head back to the door. Directly in front of me, a large grey fleshy beast with yellow eyes impales me through my chest with a single clawed hand-spike. The beast slowly lifts me up into the air as the vivid dream fades.
“Long live the queen…” The demon hisses in a guttural and twisted voice that sends chills up the spine. Everything fades from view as the dream shifts back...
Caithe blinks her eyes open to look up at the three bridges. She takes a deep breath before stepping onto the bridge in the center. “Did I do it right?” She looks around curiously. “Great… So much help you both were…” She mutters, continuing across the bridge. When she finally reaches the end, Caithe is violently ripped from the dream and returned to reality.
Caithe leans up in her bed covered in sweat as she looks around at everyone sitting around her. Rethalia holding Thalyssra, Malevolence holding Kira, the entire Kerrington family, and a few other Jedi masters.
“There was never a doubt that you would pull through…” Malevolence smiles, scooching over beside Caithe and placing Kira into her arms. Caithe looks down at the child’s appearance in disbelief.
“Mal… How long have I been asleep?” Caithe asks, looking around at everyone who seems genuinely concerned for the woman’s well-being. Malevolence takes Caithe’s hand as Rethalia takes the other.
“It’s been seven months since you fell asleep. Do you remember anything from before?” Malevolence arches a brow, running a hand through the woman’s hair.
“I…” Caithe thinks back to before her dreams but can’t seem to recollect the memories. “I don’t remember…” She says nervously as she looks down to Kira, holding her close. A single tear drops down Caithe’s cheek. “You weren’t supposed to grow so much without me…” The woman tries to muster a laugh through her sobbing.
“Caithe… We don’t remember anything from the day the twins were born… None of us do… We’ve been trying to figure it out for months… Trying to figure out what happened to you and Sierra…” Malevolence explains, her eyes dropping to the ground.
“Sierra? Did something happen while I was asleep?” Caithe asks, looking around for the Consular.
“We found you both in the same state… Low vitals… Comatose… She didn’t make it. Her heart stopped two months ago… We feared for you but held onto hope…” Malevolence smiles through her own tears. “I knew you’d make it… You’re so strong, my love…”
“Can we go home now?” Caithe laughs nervously as the group begins to dissipate. Malevolence nods and smiles to Rethalia. “Care to join us for supper?” She offers to the woman.
“I think I will…” Rethalia smiles as the women depart into the moonlit landscape encapsulating Tython’s unmatched beauty. Tonight, peace would fill every home on the planet… for the very last time.
Location: Tython - Valor Residence
38 years before Tython’s Force Drought
“Kira, stop playing with your food!” Caithe shouts as she washes the dishes, looking back to the little girl who is using the Force to lift her broiled Bantha into the air. The meat drops and smushes against the plate as the youngling looks up and smiles innocently. “Eat up, girls. It’s almost bedtime. Auntie Thalyssra is coming over tomorrow morning. The girls clap excitedly before they both scarf down the rest of their food and trot off to their rooms.
“Caithe, I need you to run down to Kethyk’s and grab some Bantha milk for tomorrow morning.” Mal walks over to Caithe planting a kiss on her cheek before taking one of the dishes. “I’ll finish this while you’re out.” Mal says as Caithe walks over to the coat rack pulling a large fur pullover from it and wrapping it over herself.
“I’ll be back soon, my love. Please make sure the girls go to sleep.” Caithe smiles as she walks out and locks the door behind her. Carefully stepping onto the snowy ground below, Caithe begins making her way down to Kethyk’s Mart in Kalikori. The Valor Residence was only a three minute walk outside of the town so on an average day, this wasn’t a bad walk. On the day of a freak snowstorm however, the walk was very dangerous. Caithe uses the Force to control her body heat as snow is whipped against her cheeks. She finally sees the Mart and rushes in to see Kethyk restocking soup containers on one of the wooden shelves in his shop.
“Hey, Kethyk. Just grabbing some Bantha Milk. Mal is making some kind of chowder tomorrow.” Caithe chuckles as she walks to the back of the store and takes a container of milk, bringing it to the front counter. “Kethyk?” Caithe asks, looking to the man for a haunting moment.
“Oh! Sorry, Caithe! I just sort of drifted off for a moment.” The man laughs, walking over to the counter and charging the woman for the milk. “You have a safe walk home and a lovely night.” Kethyk smiles as the woman walks back to the Valor residence. When she finally arrives, Caithe kicks the snow off of her shoes and shakes off her pullover before walking inside and hanging her coat up.
“Mal, I’ve got the milk!” Caithe says, walking into the kitchen and placing the milk into the cooler. She quietly strides over to the twins’ bedroom, standing in the doorway and watching Mal finish telling the girls a story that puts them both fast asleep.
Mal tip-toes out of the room before closing the door and giving Caithe a hug. “Thank you for-” Mal is cut off by a knock on the door. “Are we expecting anyone? It’s a little late for company…” Mal arches a brow at Caithe before the two walk to the door.
“No… We’re not.” Caithe cautiously places her hand on the doorknob while unlocking the door with the other hand. As she opens the door, queen Thalyssra falls onto the ground, completely unconscious and covered in stab wounds and blaster burns. “Get her to the table…” Caithe says, picking the woman’s shoulders up. After Mal picks the queen’s legs up, the two bring her into the kitchen and place her onto the dining table. Caithe quickly begins waving her hands over queen Thalyssra as the Force begins to slowly heal the wounds.
Malevolence stands behind the woman with her hands beside the queen’s head, using the Force to ease her pain with illusions of bliss. The wounds slowly begin to close up and the queen’s breathing calms. After grabbing a bowl of warm water and some rags, Malevolence begins to wipe the woman’s body clean of blood and dirt.
After the Jedi finish healing the queen and cleaning her up, Malevolence waves a hand over her head causing her to wake up with an exasperated gasp. She grabs onto Mal’s collar, pulling her down. “Help… Me…” She screams up at the woman in a voice that reeks with agony. Malevolence falls back onto the ground looking up at Caithe in fear.
“Are you okay?” Caithe asks, walking over to help Malevolence up. Mal looks shaken as she stands to her feet, unsure of what she had seen.
“Did you…” Malevolence looks over to queen Thalyssra who is still asleep. “I saw something… She was screaming for help…” Mal takes a few steps closer and taps the queen’s left temple with her fingers waking the woman up. Queen Thalyssra slowly sits up and slides off the table.
“I…” She looks over to Malevolence, nearly dropping to her knees from the soreness aching in her body. “I’m so sorry… I brought it here… It’s coming for the twins…” The woman says, grabbing onto the table and shaking her head as Caithe goes to help her. “Get the kids… Get out of here…” Queen Thalyssra points to the door to the twins’ room.
The Jedi rush into the room to see Kira fast asleep and Thalyssra sitting up against the wall beside her bed, smiling at her mothers brightly. “Thal… Are you okay? We have to go on a fun walk, okay? We’re going to go on a big spaceship.” Malevolence smiles, walking over to the child as Caithe picks Kira up, who remains fast asleep.
“Momma, do you want to play a game with me?” Thalyssra asks, tilting her head at Malevolence curiously.
“Honey, we don’t have time to play a game, we have to go now.” Malevolence says reaching out for the child. Thalyssra raises a hand as the woman tries to pick her up and uses the Force to send Mal flying back against the wall of the bedroom. Caithe rushes out, handing Kira to queen Thalyssra.
“Get her out of here, Thalyssra… If you truly did bring something here… Then help me save my daughters… Get her off of this planet. We’ll find a way to get out of here.” Caithe says, looking back as Malevolence crawls out of the room with her hand over her broken ribs. The queen nods and rushes back out into the winter storm with the child swaddled in her hands.
Caithe picks Malevolence up, placing a healing hand over the woman’s wound as Thalyssra peeks out from her bedroom at the women. “Mommy… Momma… I want to play a game with you!” The child stands in the doorway hauntingly as the lights in the house flicker. Thalyssra vanishes in the darkness as the lights in the house shut off. “Let’s play hide and seek! You hide first…” Thalyssra’s voice echoes from all directions. The two mothers stand up in complete petrification as their daughter seems to be trying to kill them.
“I said HIDE!” Thalyssra screams as both women are dragged in opposite directions by the Force. Malevolence is dragged into the twins’ room kicking and screaming as she is locked in the closet, her hands bound in children’s sweaters. Caithe is dragged upstairs into the bathtub where her hands are bound in a shower curtain. “I love you mommy!” Thalyssra giggles in the bathroom doorway as the bathtub stopper clicks shut and the water begins to rush out of the faucet.
Thalyssra’s giggles fill the house as her pitter patter against the floors echoes in every room. Malevolence screams but her voice is muffled by the sweater around her mouth. The water in the tub rises up just below Caithe’s mouth when time stops within the house freezing everyone and everything except for Thalyssra. The child runs into the kitchen to see Kira in her brown robes and markings with her hands behind her back.
“Vexoss… You will not harm these people. This is not who you are… Please… Come home.” Kira furrows her brows sadly at the child.
“You have no power over me anymore… You betrayed me… You let them take me away and confine me in a prison…” The child replies, her eyes shifting to a black and glossy shade.
“Because you were a threat to every living creature in the galaxy, Vexoss! I’m starting to believe that you still are… That I made a mistake…” Kira sighs before Thalyssra giggles quietly. The child lifts her hand and lightning bursts from her palm. Kira raises her arm, her fingertips causing the lightning to return to its caster causing Thalyssra to vanish before the counterattack can land.
The child sits on the couch as dark tendrils seep out of her body. “Goodbye for now.” A twisted voice leaves the child as the tendrils quickly dash out of the front door and into Tython. Kira walks into the twins’ bedroom and places two fingers upon Malevolence’s forehead, using the Force to take the day’s memories from her mind. She then lifts Malevolence and places her into her bed upstairs.
Kira walks into the bathroom and takes the same memories from Caithe, placing her into the bed beside Malevolence. She waves a hand over the two causing them to fall fast asleep.
“Thirun.” Kira whispers, closing her eyes. When she opens her eyes, she is standing in queen Thalyssra’s ship. She freezes time in the vessel and takes Thalyssra’s memories before lifting the infant Kira from her lap and teleporting back to the Valor residence. Kira places the child version of herself into bed and walks back out into the living room. The woman picks Thalyssra up and feels for a heartbeat. “I’m so sorry…” Kira whispers before the two vanish from the room letting time resume.
Kira reappears in a tomb where she places Thalyssra down swaddled in pink blankets. “Rest now… She will never harm you again.” Kira’s hand waves over the tomb causing it to close.
* * *
One Year Later...
“Momma loves you so much.” Malevolence giggles, picking Kira up and spinning her around. “I love you, baby…” She smiles, bringing the girl close to kiss her cheek.
“I love you, momma!” Kira shouts excitedly, latching onto her mother tightly. Caithe hurries to the door after hearing a light knocking.
“Hello, padawan Iana. Thank you so much for watching Kira while we go to this briefing. The Council has been so frustrated with our attendance… You have no idea how much we appreciate this.” Caithe smiles at Iana before going to grab her large coat. “I love you, Kira! Momma and I will see you in a little bit, okay?” Caithe smiles at the little girl before Malevolence hands her off to Iana.
“Thank you again, Iana.” Mal smiles at the young padawan before following Caithe out the door. Malevolence gets onto the back of the speeder while Caithe sits up front. “I love you.” Malevolence wraps her arms tightly around Caithe as they hover through Yavin IV’s vast lush forestlands.
“I love you too…” Caithe smirks to herself and pulls into an underground garage. Parking the speeder in the farthest corner, the two women walk down many corridors to get to the meeting hall.
“Lovely of you to finally arrive.” Liana mutters as the two join the rest of the Jedi around a holographic table. “Alright… Let’s get down to business. The council has us here on a permanent mission. We aren’t going back until things are resolved or until we’re ordered otherwise.” Liana sighs heavily, pulling up a map of the planet. She zooms into the region they are stationed in. Another region about twenty clicks east is also lit up.
“A refugee group from Dathomir have settled here on Yavin IV. They haven’t disturbed anything on the planet and have come to peacefully coexist with the ecosystems. However… A radical group of Mandalorian raiders has been launching relentless attacks on the defenseless Dathomir refugees. Two weeks ago, the Mandalorians retreated to this region in the east.” Liana gestures to the region twenty clicks away.
“I want to know why and I want to prevent more of their attacks from coming. I need two groups. A group to stay at the Dathomir Refuge and another to travel east to the wastelands.” Liana explains, looking around the room.
“Malevolence, I want you spearheading the second group. You know more about Mandalorians than anyone else here does.” Liana looks from Mal to Caithe. “I understand that you have the child with you so I won’t be giving you an assignment, but I would like you to stay at the Refuge and be sure that nothing happens to those people.” Liana nods as the rest of the Jedi masters choose their tasks.
“I understand.” Malevolence bows her head before Liana. Caithe gives her an appreciative smile before walking over to the side with Malevolence.
“You’re okay with this?” Caithe asks, pushing the strands of brown hair out of Malevolence’s eyes. Mal nods and places her hands into Caithe’s.
“I know you’ll take care of Kira while I’m gone. Liana is right… I lived on Mandalore for years… If anyone can quell this situation, I think I can.” Malevolence chuckles softly.
“I know you will… I’m going to get back to Kira, my love… Be safe and come back to us.” Caithe kisses Mal on her forehead before exiting the bunker. Malevolence walks back to the planning table where Liana and two Jedi Masters remain. The Jedi Master to Liana’s left is a Togruta who’s skin is entirely white with no pattern at all. The Master to Liana’s right is a Pantoran woman who’s deep blue skin clashes beautifully with the yellow rings around her eyes.
“Master Rethalia.” Malevolence nods in respect to the Togruta. “Master Liana. Master Iridis.” She bows her head to the other women as well. “Is this our team?” Malevolence asks, smiling between the other masters.
“It is. You will be their leader once you pass into the wastes. Your objective is to clear out the Mandalorian threat and report back without casualties on our side. Understand?” Liana asks, glancing between all three of the Jedi masters.
“None, Master Liana.” Malevolence says followed by the other two women.
“Very well. You are dismissed.” Liana waves them off as the three travel up to the bunker’s garage. Malevolence takes the pilot’s seat in the first shuttle she sees. “Which of you is the better gunner?” Malevolence asks, turning back to look at the girls.
“I’ve got plenty of experience. I can take the turret. You can take the cockpit with Malevolence.” Iridis says, gesturing to Rethalia who proceeds to join Malevolence in the front of the shuttle. As the vessel lifts off of the ground and takes off to the east, Malevolence looks over to Rethalia and pats her on the back.
“You look paler than usual. Shaking a little too… You alright?” Malevolence tilts her head at the woman. She reaches into her bag beside her and pulls out a canteen of water, offering it to the Togruta.
“Yeah…” Rethalia says nervously, looking over to Malevolence. “Just a little scared of heights…” She admits, looking out of the window.
“Oh, I see…” Malevolence glances over at the woman before bringing the aircraft lower to the surface. “I hope that helps a little. Not much else I can do.” Malevolence musters a smirk at the woman.
“It does.” Rethalia chuckles softly and looks back at Iridis curiously. “You alright back there, love?” She attempts to shout over the sounds of the shuttle.
“I’m good!” Iridis shouts back loud enough for both of the women to hear. As Malevolence veers the shuttle to the left, a large temple becomes visible in the distance. Rethalia lifts a pair of binoculars and begins to assess the situation.
“This… Isn’t what we prepared for…” Rethalia’s gaze leaves the binoculars and shifts over to Malevolence. “There’s hundreds… So many Mandalorians…” She says, lifting the binoculars back up.
“Damnit… We’ll turn around and come back with more numbers… Not like we have much of a choice.” Mal sighs softly as she begins to turn the vessel around when a heatseeker is launched in the distance, a missile traveling straight for the shuttle. “Get out! Missile! Jump!” Mal says, running out of the cockpit and leaping out of the ship.
As Rethalia exits the cockpit she sees that Iridis is fully strapped in and is panicking while trying to unlatch the straps. “I’ve got you!” The Togruta exclaims, trying to unlatch the buckles for her. The shuttle collides alongside a stone wall knocking Rethalia out of the ship and into the crowd of Mandalorians.
Iridis closes her eyes as tears stream down her face. She grabs the pendant around her neck and looks down at Rethalia and Malevolence who are being dragged into the temple by the Mandalorians. “May the Force be-” Iridis begins to say but the missile collides with the shuttle before she can finish speaking.
As Malevolence and Rethalia enter the temple, they know that there is no hope in fighting back against the mass of Mandalorians. A large throne is risen in the center of the room and a very elderly woman sits upon it with a series of chains draping down her head. She taps her scepter on the ground and waves the women forward. Mal and Rethalia cautiously approach the woman before the elder stands to her feet.
“Why… Have you come to this place?” The Elder asks, stepping forward towards the pair.
“The acts of terrorism that your people have inflicted against the Dathomir refugees are intolerable. We have come to seek an end to your violence against them.” Malevolence glares up at the woman.
“Our violence…? You’ve come here to slaughter us with your advanced machines… You have the nerve to call us violent…” She turns in disgust. “WE ARE NOT THE PERPETRATORS! THOSE WITCHES KILLED THOUSANDS OF MY PEOPLE! THEY DETHRONED OUR PEACEFUL CIVILIZATION! ALL THAT YOU SEE HERE IS WHAT WE HAVE LEFT…” The woman shouts angrily as she gestures to her people. Malevolence looks back to the injured men and women in the Mandalorian ranks. Their armor is battered and many are covered in a corrosive red substance.
“They… The Dathomir…” Malevolence gets to her feet and charges towards the exit but several Mandalorians grab the Jedi Master, clamping a force nullifying bracelet to her wrist. After doing the same to Rethalia, Malevolence is brought back to the elder with tears streaming down her face. “You have to let us go! My wife and daughter are with the Dathomir!” Malevolence screams as she tries to break free.
As Mal and Rethalia are forced into cages that are hoisted up in the temple, the Dathomir refugees spot a Mandalorian supply team passing by. One of the witches uses the Force to rip the tires from the truck. Eight armed Mandalorians hop out from the vehicle and begin firing upon the Dathomir.
“What is that? Blaster fire… The Mandalorians…” Caithe picks Kira up and walks over to the window to see the Mandalorian troops battling with the Dathomir. Whistling at a Dathomir woman running by her hut, Caithe opens the door. The Dathomir looks frightened when she runs into Caithe’s residence.
“Please… Take care of my baby… I need to help your people fend off the attack.” Caithe says, carefully handing the baby to the Dathomir. “I love you…” She kisses the child on the forehead and runs out into the warzone. Caithe leaps up, igniting her saber and bringing it down into a Mandalorian’s chest.
“A Jedi?! Why are you fighting with the witches?!” One of the Mandalorians shouts loudly. Caithe looks back and notices that the witches are gleefully killing… Enjoying the deaths. Caithe uses the Force to throw two of the Dathomir into a stone wall before running back to her hut. When Caithe arrives outside of the hut, fire has already engulfed the home. Caithe uses the Force to pull the door off of its hinges and toss it across the village. She drops to her knees as inferno explodes from the house.
“Kira…” She whispers as a Dathomir walks up behind her. Caithe swings her saber upward severing the woman’s head. The woman stands in shock until one of the Mandalorians runs up to her.
“We did it! Thanks to you… We’ve been dealing with these witches for months…” He says happily.
“My wife… Take me to my wife… She is with your people.” Caithe says, unable to find the energy within herself to even muster a tear. The ride to the temple is silent and when Caithe enters alongside the other Mandalorians, the Elder looks pleased.
“You have brought a visitor… Do you bear news?” The Elder asks as Caithe drops to her knees.
“This Jedi helped us defeat the Dathomir. The threat is gone, Elder.” The Mandalorian beside Caithe says. The Elder waves her hand before Rethalia and Malevolence are lowered to the dirt. Mal sprints over to Caithe clinging onto her.
“Where is Kira?” She asks, placing her hands on Caithe’s face. Looking into her eyes, Malevolence gathers all she needs to know. The two hold each other tightly as they let out their heartache.
This would forever be marked as the day that Jedi Master Malevolence’s fall ultimately began.
* * *
Two Years After Kira’s Death
“For the last time, I do not want another child!” Caithe shouts at Malevolence.
“That isn’t fair, Caithe! When you and I met, we both wanted children!” Malevolence screams as sparks flicker between her fingertips.
“And then both of our children died, Mal! They’re dead! I never want to go through that heartache again! I blame myself for what happened to Kira! I cannot kill another one of my children!” She shouts, taking a step back from Malevolence.
“You… You killed her? What do you mean, Caithe… What have you not told me?” Mal grits her teeth as she uses the Force to push Caithe down onto the floor.
“Mal, you’re hurting me! Please!” Caithe shouts as Malevolence continues to push her down.
“Tell me what you did!” Malevolence screams as lightning explodes from her hands, striking a nearby potted plant.
“I… I left our daughter with the Dathomir… I thought I could trust them but… I was deceived…” Caithe cries out to Mal.
“You… Left my daughter with bloodthirsty savages… You weren’t deceived… YOU WERE FOOLISH!” Malevolence screams as lightning surges from her hands into Caithe’s stomach. Mal looks down at Caithe in disgust before she sprints out of their quarters leaving a trail of bodies as she escapes from the Jedi temple for the last time.
* * *
20 Years before Tython’s Force Drought…
Location: Kerrington Labs
“I’m sorry, Malevolence. There isn’t much that I can do here. We’ve found a total of four symbols over the last fifteen years and we still don’t even know what they mean.” Queen Thalyssra says from behind her desk as Malevolence paces in her office.
“I don’t care what you have to do, Thalyssra… I want my daughter back. We need to find a way to get more of these symbols. There has to be a source that we can draw from to power the machine…” Malevolence slams her fist on Thalyssra’s desk angrily.
“Please refrain from damaging any of my property…” Thalyssra waves a hand of dismissal at Malevolence. The two stare at each other for about five cold and intense seconds before Thalyssra rises from her seat and takes a deep breath. “Come with me. I have something to show you.” Thal walks over to the door of her office and opens it up to reveal that they are no longer in Kerrington Labs. Outside of the door is a large bridge leading to a platform where an elderly man meditates. A woman with massive green hair glowing vibrantly sits to his right. A man in dark robes and red markings on his ashy skin and bald head sits to the elderly man’s left. Thalyssra and Malevolence cautiously cross the bridge, peering at the three searchingly.
“Where… are we?” Malevolence asks quietly. The three look up from their meditation and the elderly man smiles as he stands up without using his hands to lift himself.
“That is irrelevant.” The man says, descending from the platform followed by the two.
“Who… are you?” Malevolence then asks as the man stands feet away. His eyes glow with a blueish silver hue as he peers into Malevolence’s mind.
“I am Father.” The elderly man reveals, then gesturing to the woman at his side.
“I am Daughter.” The woman says with an added curtsy before Father gestures to the man at his side.
“I am son.” The dark man nods as Thalyssra arches a brow, looking between them curiously.
“You are the Force-wielders… Lothal’s temples have depictions of you carved into gold…” Thalyssra says as she looks onto the three in awe of their presence. “But… Why have you brought us here?” She asks, tilting her head at them.
“Because you have the answer.” Father says as the wall behind him vibrantly begins to glow with ancient symbols. On the left side of the wall, golden-white elegant markings glow on the stone wall. On the right side of the wall, crude red markings ebb aggressively, cracking the wall itself under the weight of the Dark side.
“This is… Impossible… These are all runes…” Thalyssra whispers softly as she looks up at the glowing symbols. As they fade, Mal and Thalyssra look to Father in amazement.
“Your creation… The Titan… You wish to empower her so that she cannot suffer a similar fate to the one she originally fell to.” He lifts his hands upward. “A dark being has escaped its prison… A creature that matches our own power… We are not strong enough to defeat this creature. But your Titan…” Father looks back to the wall of symbols. “Let us give your creation a gift. The power of the runes… So that she may act as a shield and a sword to protect the galaxy…” Father says, lifting his hands up to the women.
“A shield and a sword? My daughter isn’t a weapon for you to use! I won’t…” Mal looks over to Father glaring at him before Thalyssra shakes her head, taking Mal’s hand in her own.
“Malevolence… Without these runes it will take centuries to create Kira… It has already been fifteen years and we’ve barely made any progress… This is our only option if you want her back… We’ll be dead before we’re even halfway done with the project…” Thalyssra sighs, squeezing her hand before looking back to Father.
“You must understand the threat that Vexoss poses to the galaxy…” Father places his fingers over Mal’s temple returning memories that were taken from the day of her daughter Thalyssra’s death. “If Vexoss is not stopped, she will destroy everything in the universe. She will tear the fabrics of space and time and nothing will be left…” Father explains as a tear falls down his cheek.
Malevolence drops to her knees as she remembers the dreadful day that she encountered Vexoss. The day her daughter died. Malevolence reaches up angrily and grabs Father’s hand while Thalyssra does the same. “Do it,” Malevolence hisses.
The five appear within the lab where time is stopped and all of the scientists are frozen. The Father, Son, and Daughter all stand around the cylinder in the center of the room with hands extended. Within the tube is a blue gel-like substance. The three Force-Wielders extend their arms to place their fingertips on the glass structure. Blue energy flows from Father’s hand as red aggressively thrums from Son’s. Golden-white wisps flow into the tank from Daughter’s hand as their combined use of the Force begins to materialize an infant’s body covered in markings. When the child is fully formed, it floats within the liquid idly. When they finish, the three return to Malevolence and Thalyssra.
“You said that Vexoss’ power matches your own… Is she a Force-Wielder?” Thalyssra asks curiously, still caught in the amazement of everything going on.
“She was… Long ago. Before the very first war, we lived in peace… There was balance. But with balance comes imbalance… She fell from us and her power became untameable. With our combined power and the help of the Jedi and Sith, we imprisoned Vexoss. She was freed the day you gave birth to your daughters.” Father says, looking to Malevolence. “And now she threatens everything in the universe. Everything we hold dear,” He explains.
“Why can’t you just imprison her again? If you’ve done it before, what’s stopping you from doing it this time?” Malevolence asks, peering between them searchingly.
“It took us years to bring the Jedi and Sith together for a similar cause. The ritual nearly killed Daughter and Son. Every moment that Vexoss has been freed from her prison, she has increased in power. We are powerless against her… but the Titan…” Father looks back to Kira and offers a nod of assurity. “One day… She will be powerful enough to defeat Vexoss. She will save the galaxy.” He explains before the three vanish into nothingness.
“Wait! I had more…” Thalyssra reaches out, sighing as the Force-Wielders vacate the labs. “Questions…” The queen sighs before walking up to the apparent Titan.
“Do you believe them? What they say about her?” Malevolence asks, looking over to Thalyssra curiously. Mal’s face pales as she studies the markings over the infant’s body.
“I do… I just hope that the Force-Wielders aren’t underestimating Vexoss. That… I believe,” Thalyssra glances over to Malevolence nervously. “Would be a fatal mistake.”
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