Managing the Shadow

Chapter __: Lady of the Shadows

The Lady of Shadows

Finally it clicked. The holocron opened.

Darkness enveloped Traya. She seemed lost in a void, as though her mind was trapped in a cold, dark memory. Then a voice spoke.

“Ah… I have been waiting for you, young one.”

Traya turned around looking for the person that the voice belonged to. But there was nothing there, just darkness and smoke, awash around her.

“You have nothing to be afraid of, child.”

Traya lit her blade and raised it. “Show yourself.”

“It seems I have forgotten the impatience of youth. All secrets will be revealed in due time. Besides, you have come to me. What is it you seek? Perhaps I can help you, no?”

Traya continued turning, hoping to see a physical form.

Suddenly a wisp of smoke crept towards her. It rose into the shape of a hooded figure about a meter away. “Here. Do you feel more comfortable with a form you can strike with that blade of yours? You won’t be able to kill me, but I don’t think you wish to anyway.”

Traya lowered her blade somewhat. “Where is Cade?”

“Ah, Cade? I have heard much of this one. Is he the one who helped you to reach me, Jedi?”

“I’m not a Jedi."

“True, true, and neither are you Sith.”

“No.”

“And of this Cade, what is he? Jedi or Sith…” The last word came out of the shadow like a hiss.

“He is…” She paused, realizing she was not sure. She knew Cade was not Sith, but, although he called himself a Jedi, Traya was not sure she agreed with that either. The Jedi Council would certainly disagree.

“I am not sure.”

The hooded figure did not laugh, but Traya swore she could see the hidden smoky face grinning.

“Well that sounds like a wonderful place to begin!” Although the hooded creature did not laugh, the void seemed to echo with glee.

“What do you know about me, Traya?” the hooded figure of smoke asked.

Traya paused. The truth was she didn’t know much… “I know that you are Sith.”

“Lies!” The shadow erupted, but soon settled back into itself. “Much like the Jedi to hide the murky past of their corruption and sin. Always arrogant, always rejecting the murky underside of the Force which frightens them. Fearful of what it might mean, fearful what the murky waters might reflect back at them.

“Tell me Traya, what is your story? What is your truth?”

Traya thought. She had spent so much time running, fighting, hating, but so rarely had she pondered herself…

“I- I was born on Korriban.”

“Ah Korriban, a dark, dark place. I have never visited that world, but the tales that unravel from such a world, seem never-ending. The fate of the Galaxy has never been more intertwined with a single planet, than it has with the tales of Korriban…

What is your relationship to this world?”

“It’s where I was born… it's where my siblings were born.” The words came out of her before she knew what she was saying.

“Siblings, my dear? Where are they now?”

“They are, they are- they are no longer with us.”

“Ah my condolences, young child. Death is a fate that awaits us all, but when bonds are broken too soon- Well, the consequences shake the fabric of the Galaxy…”

Traya did not know why, but the holocron shadow’s words evoked a sort of calm within her. She then asked, “You say you are neither Jedi, nor Sith, yet here you are, inside a holocron you need both to open. What are you really?”

“I am what the world needs me to be. I use the Force in the hopes to one day extinguish it. I am neither light, nor dark, neither master, nor slave. I am the paradox that must exist, for the Force compels it.”

Traya was left frustrated. The women seemed to speak truth, but in such riddles that it seemed incomprehensible… “We came here seeking a way to defeat Krayt. Where is he?”

“Ah yes, that fool? He has been here for ages.” Traya perked up at this, “but he is simply a shell of his former self.”

“What do you mean?”

The shadowy figure wisped away back into the smoke circling the void Traya found herself in. The smoke that surrounded Traya became a storm. It was so intense she could not even see the blade only feet from her eyes.

As the torrent swelled Traya began to hear voices. Hate filled voices.

Murder!

Kill!

Hate!

In the hell storm without Cade or the dark voice, Traya’s mind became a cacophony of shouts and cries of anger and anguish. She fell to her knees, hands over her ears.

She shouted into the darkness. “Please! Make it stop!”

And as soon as the storm had begun, it stopped.

A robed woman now stood in front of Traya. She had a pale, old, wrinkled face and two braids fell to either side of it. Her eyes were covered by a hood. She knelt before Traya, offering a hand.

“Who are you?” Traya asked, taking her hand, and standing up again.

“I am a guide.”

“A guide for what?”

“A guide to stop your voices.”

“How- how do you know about the voice?” Traya took the old lady’s hand.

“You might call me an expert in Force Bonds.”

“Force Bonds?”

“They have had many names over the years, but in the era in which I walked the world, the Path of the Galaxy was forged because of Force Bonds. Have you ever heard of Malachor V?”

Traya shook her head.

“No matter, that is a lesson for another day. What you must understand though is that the Force is nothing, if not for the Bonds it creates.

“It is why Bane and all his predecessors were fools. To forge a world order based on a single bond? Preposterous!”

“What about Krayt?”

The old lady grinned, “he is a special type of fool.”

“If you knew his strength, you wouldn’t mock him so!” Traya protested.

At this the old woman chuckled. “Oh child, fools come in all shades and strengths, with all levels of power, but power cannot free them from themselves.”

At this Traya paused. Once again the old lady’s riddles left her confused.

“So you can stop me from hearing his voice?”

“That and more, my child.”

Traya's heart raced. Finally someone who could help her with Krayt’s voice. She was overjoyed.

“However, I have one request.”

“Yes, whatever you need.”

“You must not let Cade know that you have met me here.”

“Why not?”

“Do you dare to question my judgement?”

Traya drew back. “No, no, of course not.” Traya dare not anger the one who brought her so close to the thing she desired- peace.

Besides, Cade would understand. In fact, this was the reason they came, to silence Krayt forever. If they could do that here then it would all be worth it.

“No, I won’t tell him.”

“Good, good.” The shadows began to envelop the old lady. As they did she threw a black stone towards Traya. “Through this you shall receive my instructions.”

Traya caught the rock in two hands. She held it up, examining it. Yet as she did, the smoke fully consumed the old lady. The torrent of smoke grew larger, encompassing them both. It grew so thick that Traya could not see a thing. Traya had to close her eyes as they began to water.

Her eyes adjusted as she opened them and the sun shone bright through the forest canopy. She saw something blocking her view of the sun. “Traya. Traya! TRAYA!”

Traya launched up almost bumping heads with Cade who was leaning over her. “Cade, what are you doing?”

Cade sat knelt beside her with a look of relief on his face. Realizing that she was back, he gave the girl a giant hug.

“What happened?” Traya asked again.

After we opened the holocron, it let out a burst of energy. The explosion was so powerful, it was even heard at the Psadan camp. Rathu came with a hunting party to find us. He managed to wake me up, but you were out cold.”

Traya started to look around. Rathu was off to the side with a number of Psadan behind him. He was staring at her, a look of deep concern on his face.

“Yeah, I’m good, Cade. I’m good.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

Cade thought for a moment, “did you notice anything when we opened the holocron?”

Traya thought back to the old lady’s warning. “No, I don’t remember anything at all.”

“Well, at least you are okay. That’s all that matters.”

Cade picked up the holocron that lay on the floor, and put it in a satchel that sat around his waist. “Let’s head back to camp. Blue will be there. I’m sure she’s getting worried by now.”

Cade began heading back in the direction of camp, Rathu and his gang began to follow him. Traya looked up and saw the sun setting. She wondered how long she had really been out for.

She sat up and stretched her arms. What a strange vision. She began to wonder if it was even real, and then, she reached her hand into her pocket and felt a smooth object. She lifted it up to see a beautiful, black rock in her hand.

“Traya, are you coming?” Cade had doubled back to check on her.

Traya shoved the rock back into her pocket before Cade could see it.

“Coming Cade!”

And with that the group headed back to camp.

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