-- Two Years before the Fall of the Jedi Temple in Coruscant….

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MARKUS: >

CALEB: >

MARKUS: >

CALEB: >

MARKUS: >

CALEB: >

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-- Hutta, Gardurrga the Hutt's Palace…six months after the Exodus from Korriban….

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Fire shot from the jet adjacent to the large elevated wooden pole burning the top of it. Mrysti had only a moment before planting a hand on the same spot, somersaulting off into a flip and landing on the next pole squarely on her feet. She glanced behind; the fire was following as Mrysti quickly jumped three more times finally turning back to face the flame jet. With a sneer on her face she leapt toward the jet pushing off with her legs to leap high over the top landing back on the scorched pole. The test of agility was well underway by the time both Gardurrga and Darth Malvox took their positions in the darkness high above the test Arena. Gardurrga watched impassively as he signaled for both the flame jets to increase speed and something else, something Malvox could already sense, but did not bother to turn around for. Malvox closed her eyes, a sneer crossing her face as she let out a resigned sigh.

“I didn’t know you had invited an additional guest, Gardurrga?” Malvox turned her head slightly over her shoulder as Gardurrga watched the door open behind him. Master Caleb Goss walked in rubbing his wrist. The silhouette of two Cartel guards shoving him into the private overlook before the door slid shut in front of them. No longer in his smuggler’s outfit, Master Goss looked around curiously, now dressed in his formal Jedi Robes at Gardurrga’s behest. His own Force sense feeling Darth Malvox’s presence, Caleb looked up. His face looked disappointed as he took a position opposite Malvox at the edge of the viewing box. He glanced over slightly, but said nothing. Gardurrga laughed slightly, speaking in basic for them both.

“It was time you two met. Your pupil, Darth Malvox is about to best the second challenge and I thought Master Goss would like a view of what he’s up against.” Malvox also nonchalantly looked over, her interest suddenly piqued. Goss continued to rub his wrist.

“Luring me here under false pretense gains you nothing Gardurrga. I will participate in nothing especially if it involves the Sith.” Goss spoke softly as he voiced his protest. That did make Darth Malvox look at the Jedi fully, smiling wickedly; all of the parts starting to fall into place for her. Mrysti continued to jump and leap in the foreground as both Force users in the box turned to look at Gardurrga curiously. Gardurrga gestured at Master Goss.

“No one told you to come to Hutta, Master Goss. You came of your own accord. The fact that it was not genuine ‘Republic’ business is not my concern, you should have your intelligence agencies verify the veracity of its information…” Goss raised an eyebrow at Gardurrga.

“Then why am I a prisoner?” Goss continued to flex his wrist as he questioned, he once again eyeing the individual he knew only as a Sith standing to his side. Gardurrga gestured to Darth Malvox.

“You are not a prisoner. In fact, I accord you the same privilege as I do my Sith guest. Master Caleb Goss…this is Darth Malvox. No doubt you surmised that as you walked in.” Goss’ face twisted in disdain as he nodded slightly.

“I know of Darth Malvox by reputation alone. I have never met her…why am I here then, Gardurrga?” Darth Malvox turned back to watching Mrysti, still saying nothing. Though she had no idea of Gardurrga’s plan, she had begun to put what the Hutt had in mind together. Gardurrga laughed heartily as he pointed to the jumping and spinning Mrysti out in the quad.

“Look at her. Magnificent, isn’t she? You are here for a…test, Master Goss. Consider it a respite from the War. Jedi facing Sith, what better way to represent your Republic.” Goss turned slowly finally taking a full look at the jumping and spinning Mrysti. At first it was an impassive glance. Mrysti propelled herself off the wall flying almost vertically through the air as the fire hit her previous position. Landing on the center pole of the Arena, she took a second to look at the three individuals above her. The glance was a hungry predatory gaze and for the briefest of moments Mrysti locked eyes with Caleb. His face grew slack as the memories flooded back. He seemed to pale slightly as he leaned forward gazing at the wicked smile. He could sense the change in her immediately, the scars that now decorated her entire body changed her appearance, but it was her. Caleb’s mouth fell open as he let the words rollout.

“No…it..can’t be. She’s…Mrysti?!?!?”

--

Jedi Temple, Coruscant. One Month prior to Hamner and Mrysti’s escape….

--

Trying her best to look like she was in a meditative pose, Mrysti folded her hands inside her robe, her head bowed slightly. As she walked behind Karolin, Mrysti could sense her sister’s excitement. Though she had no idea where they were going. Karolin sped up slightly as Mrysti continued her pace walking behind her.

“Why don’t you just run to him, Karolin? If you are still trying to keep it a secret, you are doing a poor job of it.” Karolin cast a disdainful glance at Mrysti. For the most part Karolin often used her smaller charge, Porchia, as a cover when she went to meet Markus. Since Porchia was indisposed with her studies, she had no choice but to ask her Sister to come along. She waved dismissively at Mrysti.

“Oh stop. Markus brought a friend too. It wouldn’t be prudent to bring our Niece along on this particular day.” They rounded the hall exiting the Meditation chamber, Markus coming into view standing next to another, both seeming to be in a deep discussion. As they entered the garden, Markus and the other Jedi turned around. The smile on Markus’ face infectious as Karolin nearly leapt into his arms. Mrysti stood off to the side smiling with her head down. Markus pushed Karolin away playfully gesturing to his companion, laughing.

“Mrysti…this is Caleb. One of my many protégés. Caleb…Mrysti Alpha, Karolin’s sister.” Caleb Goss smiled warmly at the rather shy larger woman dipping his head down to look up into her hood.

“Hi” Caleb extended his hand as Mrysti raised her head brushing a stray lock of red hair out of an eye. She seemed to turn greener in embarrassment. Mrysti took the hand and seemed to instantly get an electrical charge with the touch. Caleb felt it too. She said nothing just shaking the hand as Karolin and Markus wandered away to be alone in another part of the garden. The two stood together for an awkward few moments before Caleb stated the obvious. “You are tall, Mrysti…” She looked up instantly, the shy smile melting away from her face as she looked at Caleb. He continued to smile warmly at her as he finished. Words she never expected to hear from another.

“…but even more beautiful than your Sister.”

--

Gardurrga’s Test Arena.

--

Mrysti did not react to the instantaneous exchange of looks between herself and Caleb. Jumping up and into the air with a flip, her foot coming down on the top of the flame jet mechanism. Angling her foot perfectly the boot met the exit port crimping the point where the flame exited. Hands landed on the adjacent wall as she pushed herself off spinning backwards to land back at the center pole, just as the flame jet mechanism exploded, safely out of distance from her. Breathing heavily, she gazed up at the viewing box and angrily thumped her chest before seemingly falling off the elevated poles to land on solid ground. As she walked away, Caleb’s gaze never left her, his mind lost in thought and disbelief. He turned angrily to Gardurrga.

“What treachery is this?!?! You have a reportedly dead Jedi in captivity for your personal amusement?!?!” Before Master Goss could continue, Darth Malvox spoke up for the first time. The look on her face was pure amusement as she looked between Gardurrga and Master Goss.

“So. You know her then, Jedi…how very interesting.” Master Goss’ head snapped toward the Sith. Malvox could see a fire light behind the eyes, unlike a normal Jedi. Emotion, something the Jedi worked very hard to suppress. Malvox reveled in it. More since the sudden rush of emotion was coming from a Jedi. Malvox would have to thank Gardurrga for that little bit of fun later on.

“Not that it is any business of yours, Sith. But yes…I do know her.” Malvox continued the wicked smile as she bowed deeply toward Gardurrga before withdrawing from the box.

“Well played Gardurrga. You have my admiration; I did not foresee this coming…”

--

The Force binders clanked noisily as Mrysti rubbed the Kolto salve on her skin. Not being completely unscathed by the fire, the large burn marks on her legs were being covered by the Kolto solution as Malvox walked silently into the foyer. It was everything Malvox could do to contain her excitement at the newest revelation. Not wanting to broach the subject with Mrysti too quickly she bent down to look at the burns, she clasped her hands firmly behind her back.

“You did well Mrysti. Only one challenge remains and I foresee no difficulty in completing it just as easily.” Mrysti looked up. A curious expression on her face, behind the gaze her rage smoldered. Still breathing slightly heavy, Mrysti stood, walking to the cabinet to put the Kolto away while speaking over her shoulder. It seemed that Malvox would not have to broach the topic with her at all.

“Who was the man in the box next to you?” Malvox nearly laughed out loud, but held her composure from the question.

“Why? Did you recognize him?” Malvox questioned in return, circling in an almost predatory nature. Mrysti turned, her face still a mask of rage. The bloodlust not entirely drained from her.

“No. Should I have?” Malvox again was surprised into curiousness. Though she had been working with Mrysti to regain some of her memories, Malvox knew it could take years to regain what was lost. Still it was a unique play by Gardurrga to find someone that Mrysti was acquainted with to face her in the final challenge. How the Hutt discovered the connection was a mystery. The Hutt’s had a very robust intelligence apparatus. In some ways, it rivaled the Empire and the Republic. Calling on resources both great superpowers did not have access to. At some point Malvox had resolved to find out just how vast and extensive the Hutt intelligence base was, if they both didn’t kill Gardurrga first. She gave Mrysti a wicked smile.

“The ‘man’ was a Jedi master. And no…I don’t suppose you would know him. Your contact with Jedi has been limited up to this point, has it not?” The question was not meant as a point to be made to Mrysti as much as it was to try and spur some memory in her. Malvox had resources of her own. DNA matching and identification put Mrysti at the Jedi Temple at some point. Malvox knew a lot more about Mrysti than she let on. Knowing she was there and that she was a ‘syudent’ at some point, but very little else. Mrysti was not the ‘usual’ Jedi. There were portions of her history missing, much like her memory. Hidden on purpose within the highest levels of the Republic. It created an even deeper mystery. Something that Malvox could get to the bottom of if she was still a fully within the Empire’s infrastructure. But, being on the ‘outs’ with them, limited her ability. Mrysti was her way back in. And once she was back in, Malvox had already resolved to find out why a lowly Jedi would have their backgrounds so well hidden by the Republic. She was special, in more ways than one. Mrysti didn’t bite at the follow-on question, merely twisting her face in anger. It appeared she too had already begun trying to put the pieces together.

“Gardurrga means to have me face him in the final challenge?” Malvox nodded, saying nothing. It was another tactic to try and get Mrysti thinking and speaking about long lost memory. Again, Mrysti didn’t bite moving to an adjacent wardrobe to begin moving her clothing. Malvox watched her curiously as Mrysti began to disrobe. Malvox had seen most of the scars, looking at her completely naked was a new experience. The tracks of scars left the small of her back and began traversing themselves down the back of her legs ending just above the back of her knee. Massive repair work had been done at some point. Her body crushed in some kind of terrible accident, Malvox surmised. Reaching out, Malvox could feel the artificial portions within the Mirialan. There were far too many to take note of. Bits and pieces of the synthetic woven into the biological portions of Mrysti’s person. Malvox eyed the raised skin of the Sith rune warily that marked the small of Mrysti’s back, its meaning was not lost on her, but why someone would burn the symbol for 'LOVE' into Mrysti was beyond her. Mrysti was anything but love, full of hate and bile.

Malvox sucked in a breath of air quickly. Not out of sympathy, but out of astonishment. Such pain, such torment inflicted on one so powerful both physically and in the Force. From the accident to the scars which clearly came after. The rune, the marks from severe beatings and torture. Burn marks, cuts which were never stitched and left open to fester. Closing on their own. The pain the woman had been through would have driven others mad. Mrysti weathered it. More, she trived on it. Mrysti wasn’t born, she was created to be what she was. All of it was sweet to reach out and taste, Malvox sucking in the aura around her. The muscles rippled down her entire body, sweat still staining the skin as Mrysti turned to look at Malvox over her shoulder. Mrysti was anything but modest, even catching Malvox staring and admiring her in her nakedness. Malvox’s eyes came back up almost instantly, but it was too late; Mrysti smiled reading the Dark Lord’s thoughts.

“Patience Darth Malvox, I will be yours in time…but first we’ve a Jedi to kill…”

--

Caleb walked the small latticework bridge which stretched over the Hutt garden. Now free to walk the grounds he leaned over the side looking out among the various exotic plants and waterways. He, like those stolen plants were a prisoner to the Hutt. It was quite expensive to maintain. Caleb surmised, as he lowered his head clasping his hands together over the side. All of his attempts to meditate had gone for naught, Caleb was troubled by what he’d seen. Not a prisoner, he could have very easily escaped, but things had changed. Something the Hutt counted on.

Mrysti Alpha, alive and in captivity; although she didn’t seem to be in any duress. The brief moment he gazed at her, Caleb’s attempt to reach out to her met with a darkness he could not fathom. It was like putting his hand in a fire and quickly he retreated from that darkness as soon as he touched it. What had happened to her? Why was she there? At any rate he had to decide what he was going to do. His mind was a pool of confusion about it. As he stood looking down in the water Caleb felt her presence come around the corner of the hall and stop in the doorway looking over at him. He looked up almost immediately, directly at her as Mrysti quickly turned with a glare at him to walk the opposite direction. He quickly pushed himself off the bridge extending a hand out to her.

“No! Wait!”

Caleb moved quickly toward her as she stopped, turning slowly toward him. Her face a mess of anger and confusion. Mrysti placed her hands on her hips and continued to glare. What Caleb felt as he approached was raw Dark Power and a confidence, he had never felt from her. Caleb slowed his approach stopping several paces away from her. It was Mrysti who raised a hand to stop his approach.

“Stop there Jedi! I have no wish to consort with you before our final confrontation in the Arena.” Caleb stopped and looked down. Deciding to play it cool, smiling as he looked up.

“No wish to know your prey before you destroy it? Is that it?” It was his attempt to try and bring some levity to the situation. Mrysti saw it as yet another challenge. After all it was Darth Malvox who had summoned her to the garden for what was most likely another lesson. Perhaps that WAS the lesson. To be ambushed by her opponent instead of meeting her Master. Mrysti took a step forward, looking at Caleb. Mrysti didn’t fail. Not at anything.

“Fine, Jedi. Have it your way. Know this, no matter what you say, it will not alter my plans to annihilate you.” She walked past him to the bridge, her hands on her hips looking out over the garden. Her chest heaved as she breathed heavily. Always, Mrysti seemed to be on fire and that fire burned her to the point of near exhaustion in almost every waking moment. That was not lost on Caleb as he turned to join her on the bridge. He looked the large woman up and down. Not entirely sure what to say, he decided to probe around the question he really wanted to ask. Finally, Caleb gestured toward the plants.

“Exotic. Beautiful in their simplicity…I have always found a garden as an excellent place to reflect on things.” Mrysti scoffed, not bothering to look at Caleb.

“Flowers are useless. An organism that serves no purpose…air can be manufactured. They now have no reason for existence at all.” Caleb leaned on the bridge railing folding his arms, smiling as he looked at Mrysti.

“Oh, I don’t know. There is something to be said for an organism that instills calm in those around them.” He reached down plucking one of the non-invasive flowers from a bush nearby holding it up and looking at it, “Take this one for example. I once knew someone who had a penchant for Alderannian wildflowers. This one in particular.” Mrysti hazarded a glance over, but kept her hands on her hips. She looked at the violet and red petals as Caleb twisted the stem in his hand, “This one was her favorite. And there are many similar plants in the gardens at the Jedi Temple. I often go there to reflect and…to think of her.” Mrysti took a second look, this time staring at the flower.

--

Alderaan, One week prior to Hamner and Mrysti’s escape

--

It had been a whirlwind since their first meeting, the shy girl was no longer shy in his presence and he reveled in her change at their every meeting. Lying on her back in the field, Mrysti looked up at the clear sky as Caleb’s face came into view to overlay her own. She squinted in the sun as his head began to block out some of the sunlight, raising a hand to shield her eyes from the rest. Caleb smiled broadly at Mrysti, his arms propped beside her to hold himself over the top of her view. She smiled.

“I was looking at the sky, what makes you think your face is better?” Caleb gave a fake, hurt expression as he allowed himself to fall down next to her. Turning his head, he looked over at her.

“Fine. You want to wound me, you’ve done it. And here I thought that my face was just as pleasing as this field and that clear blue sky…” Mrysti elbowed him harshly as she rolled over to her side to look at him.

“I didn’t say it ‘wasn’t’ better, I just asked what makes YOU think it’s better?” Caleb rolled onto his side as well reaching up to touch her face.

“This does…every time I see you and you get that look on your face when our eyes meet. That says everything.” He leaned in to kiss her, but Mrysti turned away quickly, sitting up. Something was bothering her and it wasn’t their diplomatic mission they had both been sent on. Caleb sat up next to Mrysti watching her intently. Carefully, Mrysti plucked a violet and red wildflower from the field putting it to her nose. She seemed to hold it there for an eternity before Caleb asked.

“Ok, what's going on? You have been distant since we left the Temple. I thought maybe it was the mission. Dealing with Nobles is always stressful.” Caleb paused and looked down at his lap. Embarrassed to ask. “Is it what happened the other night? I mean….I have thought about that and nothing else. I know it’s wrong, you know it’s wrong, but if it’s so wrong I have no idea why this feels so right! Mrysti, I want nothing more than—“ She cut him off by putting a finger to his lips with a sad smile.

“It wasn’t the other night. I have been thinking about that a lot and I have no regrets. It wasn’t just you, I wanted it to happen as much as you did, if not more. This is….something else.” Mrysti lowered her head slightly as Caleb closed his mouth. There was so much he wanted to say, but the moment was truly important. Something big was about to happen and Caleb could feel the tension that surrounded Mrysti. He waited patiently for her to continue, “Caleb…I don’t know how to say this, so I am just going to and please just let me finish. I…have to go, I am leaving the Temple…” Caleb let his jaw fall open as she spoke in disbelief. Speaking quickly as panic set in, he wanted to know more. Caleb wanted to talk her out of it. His greed taking over, he wanted nothing more than to keep what had just begun between them.

“Go?!?! Go where?!?! You can’t go…you can’t leave, what about us? You can’t just up and charge off, what will you do? Where? Where are you going?” Caleb’s questions were fast and furious as every thought he had seemed to come spilling out of his mouth. Mrysti dipped her head lower between her legs, she spoke softly not knowing what question to answer first.

“I can’t tell you that. I can’t tell you anything…just know it has nothing to do with us. This has been the greatest month…it’s just something I have to do. In fact, the only reason I would even consider staying…” She reached up to touch his confused face, “…is because of you.” Caleb jerked from her touch standing up to pace around. He was not prone to rash decision. Caleb Goss was a calculated tactician, nothing the man ever did was rash or not well thought out. Finally coming to a stop he glared down at Mrysti as she slowly met his gaze. For the first time in his life, Caleb was about to make the rashest decision he had ever made.

“Then I’m coming with you! You are not leaving me! Not here, not ever! You have no idea where this will go and neither do I, but I am not about to let this just slip away between us.” Mrysti stood up slowly, her towering form overshadowing the smaller man. She gave him a sweet smile again touching his face.

“And that…is what makes this so hard. The fact that you would give everything up for me, but I can’t let you. I must walk my own path and Caleb…you are not in it.” Releasing the flower in her hand. It drifted down to the field, laying among it’s still planted brethren. Mrysti slowly turned to walk back up the hill, Caleb watching her. She was already gone in some way. He knew he couldn’t change her mind, just in the way she spoke. Reaching down he picked up the flower she dropped putting it to his nose briefly before watching her crest the hill. Caleb methodically began to crush the wildflower in his hand, his eyes never leaving her.

--

Gardurrga’s Garden

--

Taking the flower from Master Goss’ hand Mrysti gazed at it for a long moment and Caleb almost thought he saw a pang of recognition in her as she looked at it. All at once she crushed it in her hand discarding the parts on the bridge at her feet with a flick of her hand. She turned her head back forward looking back over the garden and away from Caleb, the evil placative look still on her face. Caleb pushed himself off the railing to stand up next to her. She seemed taller than he remembered. Mrysti was definitely broader than he remembered. Images of a hammer and anvil came to mind. It was almost as if Mrysti had almost been reforged into something that made Caleb think of a Republic main battle tank. Hard, broad and almost indestructible. He let his head fall slightly as Mrysti turned abruptly to walk away, her time in the presence of the Jedi at an end. Whatever lesson Darth Malvox had in mind, Mrysti believed she had given enough of her time to it. As she walked away, Caleb watched her. Finally calling out to her as she reached the opposite archway from wince she came.

“Mrysti! What happened to you?!?!” Caleb wanted to say more, wanted to ask every question that had been rolling around his head for the past twenty-four hours, but those were the only words that came out. Her response left him even more confused as she answered. He was unsure if she remembered him or was merely answering in a way to throw him off for their final confrontation. Mrysti turned, looking at him with a half-annoyed expression and one of bemusement.

“Strength and Power happened to me…it is only through pain and sacrifice that we truly know who we are. And through that pain we discover our true potential. Soon…you will see it too, at the edge of my sword.” She turned leaving abruptly as Malvox watched the entire confrontation from a hidden corner. Mrysti’s ominous answer also left her wondering if she did indeed remember this Jedi. What made those particular words come out? It was something Malvox would have to find out before Caleb and Mrysti were to meet.