CHAPTER TWO
THE NEXT TRIAL

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Lirealla spent a month at the Sith Academy, working hard and learning all she could so she could become the best Sith she could and earn her place as Lord Zash's apprentice. The academy was ruthless. Every apprentice that made their way through their trials was out for everyone else at all times. As soon as the overseer's eyes were averted, it might as well have been open season. While Lirealla had steered clear of making any attempts on anyone else's life, too wary of being seen while within the academy walls, there had been more than one attempt on her own life.

As the only girl remaining in the group vying for the position of Lord Zash's apprentice, it put an easy target on her back. Twice she had woken in the middle of the night to intruders in her room, stalking past the other, empty beds towards her. The first time had only been a few nights after arriving on Korriban and when she had sprung up out of bed, ready to defend herself, it had scared off her would-be attackers.

The second time, she hadn't been able to scare them off, but she had been able to fight them off. They'd brought a few of the bunks on the opposite side of the room crashing down and the noise had brought many witnesses to the room. The overseer who had come running with the others had demanded to know what was going on. While her attacker had floundered for an answer, Lirealla had calmly and gently explained that they were simply sparring. They hadn't meant to wake everyone.

This confession, false as it may have been, had saved her attacker from expulsion from the academy or, worse yet, death by the overseer's hands for breaking the rules. He owed her one now that she had saved his life. He wouldn't try and kill her again.

It was at the beginning of the fifth week that Lirealla was at the Sith Academy that her and the other apprentices were called in one by one to Overseer Harkun's office for their next trial. Lirealla, as always, was called in last.

Over a month there and she still couldn't figure out why he hated her so much more than everyone else.

"Now, for your second trial: Lord Zash has requested a special trial for you, which you will no doubt fail," Harkun told her.

Normally, she would have bristled at the insult and assumption she would fail but she couldn't be angry when she felt pride. She was doing so well that her prospective master was already taking notice of how well she was doing and requesting special trials for her.

"Go to Inquisitor Zyn in the jails," Harkun continued. "He will fill you in on the details— and most likely, hasten your demise."

"I'll be there in but a moment," she said.

"I don't want to see you again until you're back from the jail. That's all."

Pushing away the anger, Lirealla simply nodded her head in understanding and turned, leaving Harkun's office and heading in the direction she knew the jails to be. She hadn't had much need to be there in her time at the academy so far, only going through to deliver messages or items because Harkun decided it was a good use of her time.

Inquisitor Zyn was waiting for her when she arrived. He was a large man, taller than Harkun but also bigger around than the overseer. He had an imposing presence befitting of the man who ran the jails and oversaw all the torture carried out on any prisoners they had. Lirealla had made a point of taking a moment here and there whenever she passed through to introduce herself to him and talk a little more, knowing he was someone who would be useful to know.

"Acolyte!" Zyn said when he saw her, his voice light and amused as it always was. "You've arrived and not a moment too soon. Harkun has given me very specific instructions. You were raised as a slave but must discard those traits and learn to control others."

Lirealla held back her scoff. She didn't know why Harkun seemed to think she couldn't control others when she'd more than demonstrated her ability to do so already.

"And I have just the task for that end," Zyn continued, gesturing towards a boy around her age, strapped down to one of the torture tables. "Meet this drivelling excuse for an acolyte. He will be your victim."

"Victim, huh? This sounds like it could be fun," Lirealla said.

"This is not an idle diversion, acolyte," Zyn said, his tone suddenly more serious. "A short while ago, there was what we call an 'unauthorized murder' here in the academy. A rivalry among apprentices resulted in death."

Unauthorized murder? Was that what they called it here? Lirealla could almost laugh. The entirety of the Sith Empire was built upon what one might call unauthorized murder. Though, she had to admit, an equal part was built on denial of these murders and claiming them to things like unauthorized.

"Interrogate him. Make him tell you who committed the crime, at any cost," Zyn instructed her.

"I can absolutely do that," Lirealla confirmed.

"Excellent! Get to it then, I look forward to watching you work."

With a devious smile growing on her face, Lirealla turned towards where the other acolyte and approached the table, pressing the control on the side to tilt the table upwards so it would be less awkward to talk to him but not far enough up that she wasn't still taller.

The acolyte looked terrible, clearly having been through at least one round of interrogation already if not other beatings. There was a large and dark bruise that had formed around his right eye, dried blood under his nose and a cut along his left cheek that looked like it pulled and hurt whenever he spoke.

Despite all of this, the acolyte had still managed not to break and tell Zyn what he wanted to know. Lirealla couldn't help the feeling that Harkun was once more setting her up for failure. Which only meant it would feel that much sweeter when she succeeded.

"Please... don't hurt me," the acolyte begged her. "I don't know anything."

"Scream, weakling! I want to hear your suffering!"

She let loose lightning from her fingertips, a skill that she had become quickly proficient in. The acolyte screamed in pain, just as she'd wanted him to, as the lightning coursed through his body. After only a moment, she stopped and the acolyte caught his breath.

"Please... don't do that again. I'll do anything..."

"Anything?" she questioned him. "Then tell me what I want to know."

He held his tongue and Lirealla sighed.

"What was it that you didn't want me to do again? This?"

More lightning raced from her fingertips until it made contact with him, making him seize and cry out in pain once again. She held it longer than the last time, but only by a little. Just enough that he could feel it.

"Stop! Please!" he begged. "All right. All right, I'll talk. He'll kill me, but I'll talk. The murderer is an apprentice named Esorr Kayin. You have to protect me or he'll kill me."

"I doubt that," Lirealla said with a scoff. "He'll be too busy being punished for murder."

"Kayin's master is a Dark Council member— you might as well try fighting the Emperor himself," the acolyte continued. "Kayin won't get so much as a reprimand. But when Kayin finds out, he'll come after me."

"What exactly does this have to do with me?" Lirealla asked him.

"Of course... it's not your problem. Why should you care? Maybe if I'm lucky, Kayin will put me out quickly..."

She rolled her eyes as she turned away. It was unsurprising to her that this acolyte would be failing his trials. He had given in so easily and now was pitifully wishing for a quick end. Lirealla would never have done such a thing, in the unlikely scenario that she ever found herself in the same situation.

Inquisitor Zyn was waiting just a few paces away and Lirealla approached him to receive her assessment on her second trial. It was far easier than the first, at any rate. And much more fun.

"You don't have to tell me— I heard the name loud and clear, though I sorely wish I hadn't. Esorr Kayin." Zyn shook his head. "Kayin's master is a Dark Council member... I'd be a fool to oppose him."

"So his deed goes unpunished?" Lirealla questioned.

"That is for me to figure out, your trial here is done. I will send my commendation to Overseer Harkun. You may return to him now."

"No more torture? But I was just getting started."

"I know, I know, it's so hard to stop once you've started," Zyn said with a light chuckle. "Perhaps later, if you survive your trials. It has been most pleasant watching your work, acolyte. Truly, I wish you the best of luck in your remaining trials."

With a smile and a nod, Lirealla turned away from the inquisitor, beginning the walk back towards Harkun's office. She was disappointed that this trial had wrapped up so quickly. Her brief foray into interrogation had been quite enjoyable and she'd been hoping it would last longer. Perhaps she would get lucky and have a reason to return soon.

She was not the last to arrive in Harkun's office this time and was instructed to wait just in front of Harkun's desk for everyone. It was Ffon who was the last to join them, receiving not a word about being late from Harkun just as she had suspected. He could do no wrong in Harkun's eyes. Perhaps that was why she was so determined to beat him.

"Well, well, well, I had been looking forward to cutting another one of you down," Harkun said once five of them were standing in front of him once again. "But it looks like I'll be spared the trouble. Unsurprisingly, Niloc has gone missing."

'Gone missing', huh? Lirealla suspected that was another one of those terms like unauthorized murder that the Sith so favoured.

"Also unsurprisingly, Ffon has passed his first trials. It's only a matter of time before he tramples you all underfoot," Harkun said.

"I'll tear you apart where you stand, slave!" Ffon exclaimed.

"Patience, Ffon," Harkun advised. "An accident in the tombs is much more convincing."

For once, the overseer was right. But if Lirealla had her way, it wouldn't be Ffon who took advantage of that fact.

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The week after her second trial was completed passed by with little to upset what had become the norm. She attended her classes alongside her fellow acolytes, learned more about what it was to become Sith and put up with both Harkun and Ffon's bullshit.

At the beginning of her sixth week at the academy, she was given an assignment to assist another inquisitor, this one an older woman, Inquisitor Urinth. She wasn't given any details on what it was she would be assisting her with, but she hadn't entirely expected to. This had happened once before and it was simply a matter of an inquisitor requesting the help of an acolyte from Harkun and him assigning one. He didn't ask any questions himself, so could give no answers to whichever acolyte he chose.

Lirealla found Urinth waiting for her in the main hall of the academy and approached her.

"I have need of you, young one," Urinth told her. "I am Inquisitor Urinth, and I represent the Intelligence Operations of the Sith. We are currently holding an important Jedi prisoner. A spy who attempted to reach this academy. We have plans for him."

"What kind of plans?" Lirealla asked.

"Upon capture, we found the Jedi's mind simple to manipulate. We fed him false memories through a combination of drugs and sorcery," Urinth explained. "Soon, he will return to his Jedi commanders and report the lies we fed him. He will know nothing of what we've done. All that remains is to stage his escape."

"And once he's free, what will he tell the Jedi? What did you plant on him?" she asked.

"Information that should encourage certain Outer Rim colonies to reduce their defenses. Once that happens, we can arrange the destruction of those colonies and their Jedi defenders."

Lirealla saw the wisdom in this plan and was impressed by how well conceived the plan was. It wasn't just about giving the Jedi false information, it went further than that. One thing that Lirealla was learning is that being Sith was about playing the long game.

"You are young enough, new enough, to be a plausible traitor," Urinth continued. "You will go to the Jedi. Talk to him. Do as he asks. Earn his trust. When that is done, set him free. Do whatever is necessary to get him out of prison. We will ensure that he reaches his ship and returns safely to his Jedi friends."

"How do I know you won't accuse me of treason?" she asked.

That was something else she'd learned. Even if she was simply doing as she was told, that didn't mean she wouldn't be made to take the blame — and punishment — for her actions.

"Prove your strength — prove that you are truly Sith — and all the accusations in the world will mean nothing," Urinth told her. It wasn't the most reassuring. "You will find the Jedi Quorian Dorjis in the jail cells. He is still confused and should not be overly difficult to convince."

With that, Lirealla was sent on her way by the Inquisitor. Though she was hesitant, apprehensive about accusations this might cause to be thrown her way, she knew better than to disobey a direct order from an Inquisitor. Lirealla turned and made her way towards the jail, where she was easily able to spot the Jedi.

He was of a species that, although Lirealla was familiar with, she'd never learned the name of. They were distinct by the small horns that protruded from the tops of their heads and the markings on their faces. He was knelt down, muttering something to himself, his eyes squeezed shut.

As she got closer, she was able to make out what he was saying.

"There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. The Jedi Code will guide me..."

"I take it you're the Jedi who was captured?" Lirealla asked as she approached the cell.

"I am Quorian Dorjis," he affirmed. "I am a Jedi— even here. Even on Korriban."

Obviously, Lirealla thought to herself. Otherwise, I wouldn't have addressed you as one.

"Why do you care? Why are you here?" Quorian asked her.

"No one should have to suffer like that," she said, doing her best to make her voice and expression softer.

"You mean that. A Sith with a conscience. You're here to help me." Quorian shook his head. "Why am I talking in circles? What's wrong with me?"

"You need to calm down," she told him gently.

"You're right," Quorian said. "I apologize."

Huh. That was easier than expected.

"There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. The Jedi Code will guide me. I can focus. If you want to help me escape, I'll need my belongings. My lightsaber, my comlink."

"Where are they?" Lirealla asked.

"Before I was captured, the Sith chased me into the tomb of Tulak Hord. I hid my belongings inside an urn to lighten my load. That is where you'll need to go."

"I'll return soon," she promised him.

As soon as her back was to him, Lirealla let her expression drop and rolled her eyes. This just proved everything that her teachers had told her while she'd been on Korriban, the Jedi were weak. Quorian had been tricked easily, simply, and was none the wiser. How had the Empire not gotten the upper hand on the Republic if it was Jedi which protected them?

Pondering that didn't matter now, though. Lirealla had a mission to complete, as tedious as it was.

It was a fairly simple journey to the tomb where Quorian had indicated he'd left his belongings. Though the area the urn was in had become overrun with escaped slaves and Renegades, troopers and engineers and the like who had abandoned their duties, she had been practicing her combat skills as well as just learning about the Sith in her time on Korriban and the few who dared to face her were no match for her. She found the urn in no time at all.

First complication? While she found the comlink still within the urn, the rest of Quorian's equipment had vanished, likely looted by the locals, the escaped slaves or the Renegades. She would have to ask around to see where these things had gotten to.

Well, she didn't really think there would be much talking.

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Lirealla returned to the academy victorious, all of Quorian's belongings in his pack once again and ready to be handed over. She paused before entering the cells once again, shifting her expression again, once more making it softer, easier for him to trust when he looked at her. When she felt she was ready, she entered, spotting Quorian once more kneeling in his cell and muttering to himself. As soon as he spotted her, he stood up.

"I know you," he said. "We talked before. My head's cleared now, Sith."

"I found your things," she told him softly.

He didn't respond, just stared at her quizically as she cast a look around and then deactivated the cell so he'd be able to exit. As soon as it was down, she passed him the bag and he took it, opening it up to inspect the contents as she reactivated the cell to avoid arousing suspicion.

"It's all here— the comlink, my lightsaber... everything I hid," he said, looking up at her in surprise. "You're really going through with it."

"I meant what I said before, you shouldn't have to suffer like this."

"With all this... once the guards change shifts, I think I can slip out of the academy," he told her and she forced herself to smile. "But what about you, will you be okay?"

Lirealla had to hold back her scoff. His concern about others was what led him to this situation. If he'd only cared about himself, he may have been able to avoid capture. But though she wanted to roll her eyes at him, she held back and plastered on her best reassuring face.

"Me? I'll be fine. I'm more worried about you."

"That's... very kind of you, Sith," Quorian said. "I still don't understand why you're doing this, but I thank you."

She nodded. "If everything's settled, I'll be leaving."

"As you say, Sith. Thank you again." She went to turn away, but when Quorian spoke again, she turned back. "I'm... I'm sorry the Empire took you in, instead of the Jedi. If things had been different, maybe you could've been a part of the Order."

Without answering, Lirealla turned away, letting her expression fall once again as the Jedi's words settled like molten metal in her core. Be a Jedi? She almost wanted to be sick at the very suggestion. Why would he wish such a thing on her? Why would anyone wish weakness and vulnerability on someone? Even if they believed the Sith Academy was a bad place to be, a dangerous one, surely simply wishing them a life away from the Sith and their influence was better than wishing for them to be a Jedi.

She couldn't get the words out of her head as she made her way back to Inquisitor Urinth. Was it a threat? Was the Jedi threatening her after everything she'd done for him? Did he know about what they were doing, her own role in setting him up? No, he couldn't know. She had played her part masterfully. Perhaps he really was just that weak. Yes, she thought, that had to be it. There was no other explanation.

Lirealla found Urinth where she'd met her and filled her in on everything she had done since giving her the assignment. The Inquisitor seemed thrilled at everything that happened.

"So, the Jedi is preparing his escape. You did well. Not perfectly, but I have confidence the operation will succeed," Urinth said. "Our business is concluded. I will make use of your assistance in my report and send my commendations along to Harkun."

"My duty is my life," Lirealla told her.

"As it should be. Know that no Jedi can threaten Korriban. Now, go."