Star Wars: Shadowbound Chapter 6 - Business Demand, Komari’s Submission & The Holocron

Doc - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n0iNQBzUWQXZgTq2acXyjxJwYgVf7N0eRO1boIA5FM4/edit?usp=sharing

Before the twin suns of Tatooine could illuminate the entire sky, Arenval gathered Shmi's belongings and arrived at the spaceport. Right there, his YT-1000 stood, but looked different. It was repainted in a fresh grey-silver. 

Basic maintenance was done. Interiors were slightly modified to suit living space. The crew quarters were changed from a single large space with bunk beds to two rooms with bunk beds. The captain's quarters were the largest living space, complete with a common bed, lounge, and communications table that doubled as a work desk. 

The aft cargo hold was fitted with all the tools and machines Arenval needed to do his tinkering and make things. It would also be where Shmi would work most of the time as the ship's engineer.  

"Welcome back, Master Tython. I have finished all the repairs and modifications as per your needs. It was quite the challenge to find parts on this backward planet." Alfred, the protocol droid, welcomed them near the ramp. 

"Thanks, Alfred." Arenval patted the droid's shoulder and walked in. "Get us ready for takeoff. We're leaving. I'll be in the pilot's seat in a moment." 

"Of course, Master." 

Arenval led them through engineering to the modified living quarters. "Two rooms, both with bunk beds. You can each take one, or share if you prefer. Your choice. I know this ship's a bit cramped. I'll find something bigger and better soon." 

"This is more than enough, Jed... Aren," Shmi said, still getting used to calling him by his name. "I have seen living quarters less than half this size, shared by more than four residents."

"Well, I care about my crew," Arenval said, helping her carry her luggage inside. "Store your things and meet me on the bridge. I'll go set the destination."

"Where are we going?" Aayla asked as she helped Shmi. 

"Hoth. Don't ask why." 

Arenval just left the two women. 

####

Hoth, Hoth System,

Hoth was a desolate world covered with ice and snow, in the part of the Outer Rim scarcely traveled by anyone. And the erratic asteroid field around the planet made it difficult to approach. Those same asteroids would also break off often and bombard the planet as meteors, making the surface dangerous as well. 

But combined, all that made Hoth a fantastic system to hide oneself, or to hide something. Yet by no means was the planet safe. It was home to a few predator species. But for a competent Force user, especially one in touch with the Dark Side, they weren't difficult to defeat. 

That was Komari Vosa's life on Hoth for over a week now. She had successfully stolen the Scimitar from Naboo, and that was the easy part. Removing the transponder and any instrument that could help it get tracked took a while. But eventually, using the ship's cloaking, she left Naboo easily and arrived at Hoth. 

She had found herself a large cave and landed the ship on a solid, sturdy surface. She had no desire to go outside, but she still did and set up a perimeter using motion sensors that would alert her. Inside the ship, she had brought enough foodstuffs to last weeks. 

The days of waiting for her master to arrive were the real challenge to her. She hadn't heard from him ever since that meeting on Coruscant. She could only wonder how her master's presence must feel now with the Jedi no longer watching him. 

This is merely the beginning. My Master will soon rule the galaxy. 

Komari Vosa didn't have many aspirations of her own. Her desire to battle and to be yearned for were both being taken care of by her new master. Now all she wanted was to serve him to the best of her abilities and make him proud. 

As days passed, she tried to meditate and often fell into a trance of deep recollections of her life. From her days as a Jedi youngling to the betrayal by Master Dooku. Her torture, and then her fated meeting with Arenval Tython. 

Like a dark sun in a void of paleness.

Komari recalled that anonymous tip she had received. She had been searching for an apprentice for herself. The information about Arenval Tython had immediately intrigued her. Enough that she travelled to Brentaal to take him. 

However, from the second she had exited hyperspace over Brentaal, her mind had faltered. From that far high, she could feel the presence of a being so drenched in the Dark Side that it rivaled the strongest of Dark Side nexus she had experienced. 

She landed her ship in the wilderness and followed that dark presence, attracted to it like she was trapped in the pull of a black hole. She didn't have to hide her own presence as the other one simply drowned hers. 

Eventually, she found herself near a rocky cave entrance. The entrance was guarded by a Jedi Knight she didn’t recognise. The Jedi was seated, meditating, for the reason she knew well. 

By then, she had forgotten her true goal. So mesmerised by this dark being, she had wanted to see him. Hours went by, and then that Dark Side presence reduced, then eventually contained itself in a small area. 

When she saw the man come out, she knew who the source of that dark presence was. Arenval Tython, the man she had come to abduct, was a master of the dark side. And from there, it turned into her obsession. 

She hid in the forests and waited every day for Arenval Tython to appear in that cave and release that dark presence. She realised he was training to control that darkness, and with a Jedi there, it meant the Order had agreed. 

As days went by, she could feel the improvement itself. Arenval Tython was getting better at controlling the flow of the Dark Side. At times, she felt him as the source of the Dark Side, then at times he seemed like a magnet for it. A constant pull and push of dark presence coated that cave and the lands around it. 

She felt captivated and drawn by it as well. 

A week later, she finally decided to meet him. The Jedi Knight was easy to deal with, as the man was distracted by meditation. She moved like a component of that darkness and entered the cave. 

"I was beginning to wonder when you would come inside."

At that echoing voice, Komari felt like falling to her knees. The entire cave had felt like walking through a dust storm, only this one was the invisible Dark Side that passed through every cell in her body. It was thick and perceptible. 

Her hands had gone for her lightsabers, but she never ignited them, as she reached the end of the cave and stood before the sight that truly left her on her knees. Arenval Tython was seated cross-legged, his eyes were closed, and his body floated many feet above the ground.  

Force was not something one sees, but feels. Yet, she saw a dark fog surrounding the man, a mist swirling through that chamber, and from them rose shadow tendrils. Her lips went dry, and she knelt there for hours, just staring at the entity before her that couldn't be human. 

"Have you come to kill me?" 

"I…" She had no words. 

She had hesitated to reveal her true intentions. Dooku had once told her that, in rare cases, a being does not need to learn the ways of the Force. The Force itself wills it to flow through them. And one should avoid such beings if they cannot be befriended. 

Komari had wanted more. Having been rejected once, she wanted to know what it would feel like to be desired by a being like this. 

So her lips had moved on their own. 

"Teach me… Master."

She had submitted herself. On her knees, lowering all her guards in the hopes of showing her true intentions. She hadn’t received a reply immediately, but her will was strong, and her obsession only grew stronger.

Shhh!

Komari's eyes shot open at the sudden dark sensation she felt. She stopped meditating and reminiscing, and quickly looked at the scanner. A single ship had entered the atmosphere and was approaching her.

"Master!"

Komari felt him through the Force. Contained and controlled, yet the same void of darkness she had once felt. She wasted no time hailing the incoming ship and sending her coordinates. 

Moments later, an old light freighter entered the large cave she was in; the length of the new ship was slightly more than the Scimitar, but the cave had enough space, albeit slightly tight on the sides. 

When the freighter touched the ground, she finally lowered her ship's ramp and exited. She watched from a distance, having sensed three more people on the ship, one of them a Force user. 

Eventually, the freighter's ramp also lowered. She waited, her hands ready at her sides to react in case her master was in any danger. However, the first figure who came out was her master himself. 

Black robes, golden hair, flaming eyes. Komari felt a sudden euphoria and smiled like a zealot witnessing her god. Her hands relaxed, but then tightened again as she saw two women follow behind her master. One Twi'lek and one human. 

"Settle down, Komari. Aayla Secura has been at my side since we were children. And Shmi will be my ship's engineer from now on." 

Ah! My Master's devotees. 

Komari relaxed and walked forward eagerly. Once before him, she immediately got down on one knee and lowered her head. 

"The ship is yours, my Master."

"Rise, Komari. I told you before, there's no need for kneeling." 

Komari confusedly moved as she felt her master's hands gripping her shoulders and pulling her up. 

"My Master, have I displeased you?"

"Displeased? Not at all. You did well bringing this ship to me."

She still stared at her master's face, unable to see why her kneeling displeased him. It often did. 

"Aren, who is she? I can feel the Dark Side around her." 

Komari frowned at the way the lowly Twi'lek dared speak of her master's name. Her fingers twitched to take her lightsabers at the sheer disrespect. But she swallowed the rage and stepped forward to introduce herself.

"I am Komari Vosa, apprentice to my Master, Lord Tython." 

####

Arenval had expected this to happen. He had already informed Aayla that he had an apprentice. However, the speed at which things were unfolding, he didn't like that. His plan was to sit together and tell Aayla and Shmi the story of Komari Vosa. 

But the way Aayla reacted to a darksider clearly irked Komari, and to a degree him, as he was the same. But he held onto the patience he'd mastered for over a decade. Aayla's Jedi indoctrination was different from his. He was self-aware.

"It's a long story, Aayla. I will tell you once we're not standing out in the cold. What matters is she's not a Sith, but a Dark Jedi. She trained at the Temple just as we did, but they cast her aside when she proved difficult. You'll understand her once you've come to know her."

He reckoned Aayla would sympathise since the reason why they both left the Order was similar. Komari left because of her perceived betrayal by her master. Aayla left because of her desire to be with him. 

But the elephant in the room…

Arenval felt Komari's dark desires overflowing. Darksiders don't hide their emotions, and he could feel hers. A passionate thirst was oozing out of her. 

"Komari, move your things to the freighter. It will be our main transport for now. We'll remain on Hoth a few days while I modify the Scimitar enough that no one recognizes it."

"Where did you get this ship?" Aayla asked as she slipped past them. "I can feel the Dark Side on it too." 

"Of course you do. It passed through three generations of Sith Lords. The last one was the Sith Lord who killed Master Jinn," he explained, his voice quieter for those last words. "It uses a stygium crystal for its cloaking device. Perfect for covert missions and the like. A little cramped for all of us, but it can carry six." 

"It looks aggressive," Aayla muttered, walking around the ship. 

Arenval turned to Komari with a plastic smile and squeezed her shoulder. "Take it easy, Komari. They are not our enemies. There's another aboard, a Ghostling child. I brought her away from Tatooine. Poor thing was sold into slavery. Go see if she's alright. Be gentle, her species is fragile."

"Understood, Master."

Finally, Komari left. 

As he stood alone, he sensed Shmi walking closer to his side. 

"She seems very reserved, Aren." 

"She was tortured by an evil cult, Shmi. Treat her like a broken slave learning how to live again. Pay no mind to her Force alignment. She may seem threatening, but I'll make sure her blade is turned only against evil." 

Arenval took a deep breath, then used the walking meditation Aayla had taught him. Keeping his own dark urges and emotions required concentration, but with another darksider nearby who didn't hide anything, it required more work. 

"Let's see my new tactical ship now. Interested, Shmi?" 

"It is… a unique design," Shmi murmured, sounding emotional.

"Come along now, and don't touch anything." 

Arenval entered the ship through the ramp lowered from the rear of the spherical part of the ship's habitable body. The lights inside were red. Nothing he was against, but it was too red for his taste. 

He looked around at the various storage bays and found the DRK-1 Dark Eye probe droids, interrogation droids, and security droids, as well as torture devices, bombs, and mines. There was also a speeder bike. 

Then he checked the ship's weapon systems. Six hidden solar ionization cannons. However, the most interesting part, and the biggest reason why he wanted this ship, was the hyperdrive. He didn't know which version of Scimitar this was initially. But he was glad this was the best one. 

"A Class 1.5 hyperdrive, modified," Arenval murmured, running a hand over the equipment. "I'll study it and see if I can push a little more speed from it." 

By now, he believed the numbers and words T7 had shown him. Only he could see them, and they were real since the holocron was right there. And through that, he knew about his S+ talent in Mechu-deru. It didn't shock him, and actually made sense. He finally knew why he always found tinkering so easy and exciting. The Force was guiding him. 

However, he had never truly used Mechu-deru to the fullest, as he had always tried to suppress the Dark Side. But he had a plan now. 

"Faster than this? Isn't 1.5 already one of the fastest?" Aayla muttered, slipping up beside him from some corner of the ship, her hand lazily settling on his shoulder. 

"Naboo's star skiff has a Class 0.5 hyperdrive. Give me a chance to study it, and I'll be able to build my own. I'm fairly confident of that. So after this, let's head to Naboo. I have some business with Queen Amidala anyway." 

Arenval moved to the lift in the small ship. Right away, his first instinct was to gut that lift out and put a steep stairway instead. The lift took too much space and also ate the ship's power. It had no place on a ship that small. 

Finally, reaching the cockpit, he eyed the six passenger seats. They were simple and a bit cramped, so he planned to make them five instead. Since it needed just one person to fly, the pilot seat was nestled before the control panel. The theme was still all red. 

"I don't know much about ships, but I can tell this is a highly advanced one," Shmi murmured as she walked around the passenger seats. "There isn't any wasted space. Every part has been put to good use." 

"Happens when a legendary starship designer who also happens to be a Dark Lord makes it. It's mine now, though. I'll push it to its limits. Aayla, change your clothes; you're on paint duty. I want it black. Shmi, start by removing the cockpit seats, then change the lights to a subtle red and white. I'll handle the new transponder and navicomputer. The new log data has to be airtight." 

Right away, the three got to work. 

Working inside the ship was easier as the temperature was kept warm. However, painting was hard due to the cold. Arenval didn't let Aayla do it all and kept changing places often. Midway, Komari also joined them to help, though she maintained distance from the two women. 

As night approached on the planet, the temperature started reaching negative sixty. Arenval stopped all work and retreated to the YT-1000 ship to rest, eat, and relax. Shmi was the one who took on the cooking duty, as she had only worked inside Scimitar and wasn't cold or tired. 

YT-1000 had ample space in its lounge area, with a curved seating area and a table, then more seats around. The ship was slightly smaller than the newer YT-1300, but much of the interior was the same. 

Arenval sat on the curved lounge in the middle, his toolbox sprawled open on the table as his hands fidgeted with a probe droid from Scimitar, his personal advanced holotab connected to it with a network cable. 

He wasn't alone, however. It felt as if he'd adopted a cat, who in return was just the Ghostling child he had saved. The seven-year-old, shining girl was standing beside him on the seat, her hand on his shoulder, her face near his as she stared at his tinkering. 

Little Arawynne had become attached to him since he had saved her from captivity. And because he had promised to take her home, she didn't want to leave his sight. To make it easy for her, he had even changed the ship's gravity settings, reducing it slightly so she could walk easily. 

"What is this?" she asked curiously.

"A probe droid. You use it to spy." 

"Spy? Can we spy on the Hutt with this? My friends are still there."

"I’ll save them soon, Arawynne. I can't defeat Gardulla yet. But don't worry, they see your people as precious jewels. Your friends won't be harmed. As long as they hold on, you'll see them again one day." 

Arawynne silently calmed down and sat down beside him, knees folded. She was tiny compared to all the adults in the space. 

"Here, eat something." 

Soon enough, Shmi brought some food for them. Arenval put everything aside and began eating. Right beside him, the Ghostling child used a small spoon to eat as well. But he noticed the way Komari, not far away, hesitated to take the plate. 

I can't force it. 

He gave Komari a silent nod, which seemed to calm the darksider woman. 

"It's good, Shmi," he murmured from his seat. "Now I understand why Anakin misses home. The Temple's food was always painfully bland." 

The mature woman warmly smiled and sat down beside him at the table. "I often made this at home." 

"Thank you, Shmi," Aayla said from the seat beside Komari. "I was starting to think we'd be stuck eating ration packs. Aren was always so reserved and stern at the Temple. He's different now." 

"Because there is no master watching over me anymore. I get to be myself and do what I want. I don't have to keep acting like I'm always in control," Aren said, taking another spoonful of what he considered rice and meatballs. Rice and wheat were common throughout the galaxy and lasted a long time, so he kept plenty in storage, along with various frozen meats, vegetables, and flavorings. 

"The temple was filled with arrogant fools," Komari grumbled. "How dare they doubt my Master?"

"..."

All eyes shifted to Komari. 

"It's behind us now." Arenval shifted the conversation. "We'll need a place to establish a base soon. Somewhere safe, beyond the Senate's reach. Check Holonet and see if you can find somewhere that fits." 

Finished with his food, he got up. 

"Have some rest, all of you."

Arenval left the lounge area and entered the captain's quarters in one of the two protruding parts of the ship on each side of the cockpit area. His room was spacious, and he had removed the couch. Instead, he had put a meditation pad there.  

Not far away was a charging station for T7. Alfred's charging station was outside in the lounge itself. 

However, as Arenval entered and removed his loose dark cloak, he heard the door open and Alfred walk inside. The tall, humanoid droid waited for him to turn. 

"What is it, Alfred?"

“Master, the first CEO of Tython Tech, has completed his term and departed. The new CEO was selected on the basis of performance and has requested your opinion. He states that Tython Tech’s lineup of products is limited. Holotabs sell independently, and conducting research and development for future models requires little to no time, manpower, or money.”

Arenval nodded and walked over to the meditation pad and sat down cross-legged. He didn't involve himself much with Tython Tech; it was mostly run by Alfred, and plenty of other protocol droids down in the organisation who gathered data. The company did employ three dozen sentient employees, however. And CEO's were picked for a three-year term. The first one had just retired, and he had never even met the man. 

"He's asking for more work?" he asked. "Then let's move to the next phase. I'll start redesigning the Holonet transceiver I bought from Erso. It's time we built the infrastructure and offered more services through our Holotabs. Subscriptions, user data, and advertisements should bring in serious credits." 

"But Master, this undertaking will demand immense investment. Not only transceivers, but large datacenters across sectors must also be built. More than a billion credits will be needed. Given the substantial risk, I recommend seeking investors. There are wealthy, respected families from Alderaan, Chandrila, and comparable planets who would be interested."

"No. I won't risk losing control of Tython Tech, however small the chance. Inform the new CEO I'm working on something new. Tell him to wait. I'll see if I can make the transceiver better and cheaper to produce." 

Alfred didn't argue; it wasn't his job to do that. "Understood, Master Tython. I will convey your orders."

Arenval waited for Alfred to leave before whistling to the resting T7 nearby. 

"Come here, buddy. Bring up that little magical menu."

"T7 = Ready!"

T7 chirped, and without the droid even leaving the charging station, a red screen hovered in front of Arenval's face. He noticed the light; it really was T7 projecting it from a distance. 

Quickly, Arenval pressed the shop menu and went into the Miscellaneous section. It was the largest section where most random things existed. Though some were absurdly expensive. 

"There it is."

[Rakata Terraformer - 20,000 SP]

The shop had everything Arenval could ever need, but it cost Slave Points, which were earned by saving slaves. Right now, he only has 200 Slave Points. But that didn't deter him. Rakatan were not as widely known anymore in the galaxy. But he knew how good they were at terraforming. Far more advanced than the current galaxy. 

He couldn't afford to buy the terraformer itself. However, most things in the shop came in two forms. As it is, or the blueprints. The latter was always cheaper. 

[Rakata Terraformer Blueprint - 2000 SP]

It was still expensive, but 2000 Slave Points was a goal he could imagine reaching. Even defeating Gardulla would allow him to save enough slaves to earn that much. But there was no point in going for the Hutt right away. Doing that would mean no going back on his war on the Hutts, and that needed immense preparation first. 

"Once I have the design, I can build miniature terraformers that only reshape a localized part of a planet and keep it stable. Then we can place our data centers on any forgotten world without paying anyone," he muttered, already thinking ahead. "And we can pick a lesser-known one to terraform completely for our base. But first, Teeseven, hand me the holocron, then raise the shield. I want to use Mechu-deru to modify Erso's transceiver." 

This was it; his cheat. As long as he had the holocron, he could use the Dark Side without worrying about harming those around him. 

Right away, the holocron appeared in his hand. But instead of activating it, he just put it down and took out his holotab to work on the design. 

####

Coruscant, 

After weeks away from the Temple, Orbe Tokasta finally returned home with his master, Depa Billaba. However, against his expectations, he didn't find either Aren or Aayla there at the landing pad. He guessed Aayla was on a mission, but Aren was always in the Temple. 

"Padawan, follow me."

"Yes, Master"

Confused, Orbe followed his master silently, not thinking too much. However, he soon found himself entering Grandmaster Yoda's personal quarters with his master. Inside, the ancient Jedi was seated on the meditation pad. 

Orbe wondered if he had done something wrong. He tried to mentally replay the entire mission. It had been dangerous, but he couldn't see any mistake in his actions. Master Billaba had even praised him.

"Punishment, this is not. A simple talk this is. How fare you, Padawan, hm?"

"Thank you for asking, Master. I am well." 

"Good. Many praises from Master Billaba, heard I have. Strong and wise Jedi, become you have," Grandmaster Yoda said, and gestured towards the other meditation pad. "Sit with me."

This had never happened before. Orbe had never spoken with Master Yoda personally like this. Other than a few greetings when meeting Aren, there was nothing. All he knew about the man was from Aren as well. 

Confusing him more, Master Billaba left them alone. He couldn't handle it anymore. 

"Master Yoda, are Aren and Aayla alright?" He quickly asked, as that made sense if this wasn't for his own mistake. 

"Hm, quick intuition you have. Fine, they both are. But with the Jedi Order, no longer are they. Left us, Arenval has. Left with him, Aayla Secura did."

Orbe frowned at first, his back straight. It really stung, of course it did. He had more friends, but Aayla and Aaren were his closest, as close as family. But he didn't let it linger; he recalled all the times Aren had told him that he would leave the Order one day. 

"Why so suddenly, Master?" Orbe asked. 

"An incident…"

Orbe listened to the mess Arenval had created in the underworld. And compounded with the death of Master Jinn, the matter had grown too big for Arenval to ignore. At least, Orbe felt at ease that Aren and the Order were still on good terms. 

"I understand why Aren left. But Master, why did you let Aayla go?" 

“Asked for it, she did. Keep an eye on him, she would, and report to us. Too dangerous, leaving Aren alone in the galaxy is.”

"..."

Orbe's lips curved slightly, but he quickly controlled it. 

"I… understand, Master. I hope they will come visit soon. It stings to not be there to say goodbye." He confessed the truth. 

"Visit they will. Often to come, Arenval promised. Still my Padawan he remains, though not officially."

He nodded, taken aback by this side of Master Yoda. The old man before him reminded him of the Yoda from his youngling days. The funny old man. 

"You go now, rest well."

"Yes, Master." Orbe got up, bowed, and left the room. 

However, as soon as he came out, he couldn't hold it. A chuckle left his mouth. 

Spy on Aren? Hah! Like that will ever happen. Well played, Aayla.

####

Hoth, Hoth System

"That's it!" 

Arenval finally stopped designing the transceiver. It was based around what Erso had given him, but now it was smaller and stronger. 

"Easy to build and deploy. Fast response, durable, and excellent range. This is it. With enough of these, we could blanket sectors like a mesh."

It was still not the internet. And Arenval had no delusions that he could make it reach that scale someday. The galaxy was too big for something like that. However, what he could do was ensure a constant exchange of data between his data centers. Each sector would be supported by one or two datacenters, which would utilise the transceiver to constantly download and upload data, keeping the Holonet updated with media and information. 

It would still not allow instant flow of data from core to rim, but it would allow constantly updating content, even if not the latest. Meaning fewer chances of a holotab user getting bored, more chances of them spending many more hours just consuming content from across the galaxy. 

"It's a gamble. We can start from the core and expand gradually as we earn credits. What do you think, Teeseven?"

T7 whistled happily. "T7 + Aren = Infinite Credits!"

"Not infinite, but it's a pleasant dream. Let's build a sample transceiver tomorrow. That'll be the real test of Mechu-deru," Arenval said, putting the Sith Holocron away, too tired to train with it. He stretched his arms and stood. 

However, his head turned towards the door of the room snappily. He sensed someone in the Force outside. They weren't at his door, but rather seated alone in the lounge area. And from the Force, he knew who it was. 

Arenval sighed to himself. 

"I suppose a promise is a promise. Teeseven, go to sleep."

He left his quarters and entered the lounge area. Just as expected, he found Komari alone, elbows folded on the table, her yellow eyes drowsy. He didn't go to her; he first filled a cup of water from the pantry. 

"Can't sleep?" he asked, finally sliding beside her on the curved seats. 

"My Master, I was simply…"

"I understand, my apprentice." He rested a hand gently on her pale thigh, letting the warmth of his skin reach her. "I knew sharing space with them would be difficult for you. After the life you've lived, that’s only natural."

Komari Vosa's body gave a faint shudder as her eyes fell to his hand. "Forgive me... I have disappointed you, my Master." 

"No, you haven't. It wasn't a test." Arenval lifted his hand, gently brushing over her covered belly, then her chest and covered neck, before letting his fingers graze her cheek, his thumb resting across her soft lips. "I don't believe in testing my apprentice without reason. If I mean to, I'll simply call it a challenge." 

The fact was, Arenval was saying nonsense. All he wanted was to calm this woman's heart and mind. And by telling her that she was desired, needed, and that he cared for her, he hoped to accomplish that. Komari Vosa, more than anything, longed for a place and a person to be with. 

Deep inside, he kept telling himself that this was fine. That a Jedi could be physically involved as long as it didn't turn into infatuation. However, he knew Komari was already infatuated. 

"Master…" Komari whispered. 

Arenval nodded and offered her his other hand to hold. 

"I made you a promise back then, didn't I?"

Komari nodded and held his hand.

Arenval got up and pulled her by that hand. He walked slowly in front of her and entered his captain's quarters. He didn't go much further, however, and once she was in, he let the door behind her close and…

Thud!

He pushed Komari against the door and stepped into her, his chest pressed into hers, his thigh pushing between her legs. His one hand rested on her curvy waist, the other on the side of her face. 

This was all unnatural to Arenval. He felt nothing while doing this. A lifelong habit of forcing emotions into a corner had done that. But he still did it, hoping Komari would feel his desire to have her. 

"Komari…" He whispered close to her lips, his flaming eyes staring holes into hers. "Do you want me to own you?" 

"My Master! You already do," Komari whimpered, melting into his touch. 

Arenval rewarded her. 

He leaned down and kissed her hot lips. She burned like the Dark Side itself. So insatiable, her desire crashing against him like a storm. As soon as their mouths locked, he felt her tongue push forward. Demanding, trying to claim his mouth with her ferocity.

Arenval felt her arms snake around his neck, pulling him deeper into the kiss as her slippery tongue thrust inside his mouth with hunger. She rolled it against his own. She pressed on, trying to dominate the kiss with greedy need.

He fought back, coiling his tongue against even as his hands stayed busy. He unhooked the large, leathery piece she wore around her neck and shoulder, the one that always hid her scars. The material came loose with a soft rustle, baring more of her pale skin to his touch.

He wasn’t lost to the kiss; only her obsessiveness was clearly on display. Every desperate press of her body, every eager slide of her tongue screamed how badly she needed to possess him. 

Click!

"Master!"

Komari exclaimed in alarm when Arenval pulled the neck piece fully away. Cool air kissed her old scars, and her eyes widened with worry.

Arenval’s eyes traced the scars. Too many to count; long, brutal slashes and smaller, cruel cuts running from below her jaw all the way down across her shoulder blades, permanent marks of her past.

"These marks of triumph…" Arenval whispered, lowering his face to her neck. He pressed slow, meaningful kisses along the ruined flesh, tasting her skin. "Never hide them from me."

"Mmm…"

For the first time, he heard a moan from Komari’s lips. Her neck shrank instinctively, but her body melted against him, the tension in her shoulders easing as his mouth worshiped every scar. He wanted her to feel at home with him where there was no need to hide anything, where she could be herself without any guard raised. 

As he continued kissing down her neck, his hands moved. He pushed the tube-like top down her chest, freeing her pale breasts. They spilled out into the cool air, tipped with stiff cherry nipples each adorned with a piercing. His fingers then dropped lower, unclasping her wide belt so it fell heavily to the floor. 

In moments she stood before him nearly naked, wearing only her high-heeled boots and elbow-length dark gloves, her body fully exposed and trembling with need.

This is normal. This is only physical. 

He reminded himself, forcing his emotions back into their familiar cage. He kept kissing her heated skin. One large hand claimed her breast, squeezing the soft flesh while his other hand curved boldly between her thighs. 

His fingers met slick, scorching heat. She was soaked, her leaking nectar coating his digit instantly.

He decided not to wait any longer. While still kissing her, he trailed his mouth up to her jaw and then captured her burning lips once more in a deep kiss. 

"Walk with me, my apprentice," he murmured against her mouth.

Arenval stepped back, pulling her with him as he untied his robes one layer at a time and let them drop behind him. By the time he reached the bed, he had kicked off his boots and shoved his pants down, revealing his tall, hard body and thick, throbbing member. 

He felt no embarrassment; he didn't know he could. He just fell backward onto the bed and crawled until his back rested against the pillows.

“My Master… I… I am so honored… Only death… will… tear me from your side. I vow it… Mmm…” Komari crawled onto the bed on her hands and knees, her eyes glowing with dark devotion as she nestled her face against his thick, pulsing length. Her breath ghosted over his skin.

Her tongue made a long, wet trail from base to tip, savoring him with shameless hunger. The tip of her boneless, pink flesh traced every vein like a delicacy, savoring every detail. She had wanted this for so long.

"Shh... There's no point repeating what's already done," Arenval said, sliding a hand into her hair and pulling her face back from his shaft before she could swallow him down. He kept his grip just tight enough to remind her who was in control. "You know what you want. I'm offering you exactly that." 

"Yes... Oh, my Master... I have dreamed of this. Of you... I am yours. Always yours," she breathed, thick with fixation.

Komari shifted quickly and squatted over his hips, her face flushed deep with raw lust. She stared down between their bodies, gripped his thick cock in her gloved hand, and aimed the swollen cockhead right against her dripping entrance.

Arenval stared down as well, his yellow eyes fixed on the sight of her bright, pale pussy lips. Slightly pink and puffy with arousal, framed by a faint, soft patch of blonde hair. The contrast against her scarred, but otherwise flawless skin made his cock twitch in her grip.

This is… common. 

He felt nothing romantic for Komari, yet her infatuation was painfully clear. He was taking ruthless advantage of her devotion, yet without him she would have died this year. Nurturing this infatuation was the only way to keep her leashed, safe, and useful. 

Was this a good deed? He didn’t know. 

"Oooh!"

Arenval watched as Komari sank lower. His thick cockhead pressed against her gleaming petals and gently slid inside her, the tip vanishing into her scorching heat. His jaw clenched hard. This was his first time in this second life, and it felt like the very first time all over again.

The tightness was like a warm, wet fist gripping every inch of him. Her inner walls fluttered and squeezed like a virgin as she took his thick shaft deeper.

“Aaaaaah! M-Master!” Komari Vosa cooed in needy whimpers as she gently sank further down onto him.

Arenval felt every inch of her moist, warm pussy swallowing him. It was incredibly tight, hot, and pulsing around his cock. The ridges of her walls dragged along his shaft with every breath she took. The rhythmic squeeze of her breathing made her cunt flutter and milk him instinctively, pulling him deeper into liquid silk.

His face and body burned with heat. Back then, when she used her mouth, he had controlled his urges well, but now… it was much harder. 

At first he tried not to touch her, keeping his hands fisted at his sides, but instinct won. His hands shot behind her and clenched hard onto her round, doughy ass. His fingers dug into the soft flesh as he pulled her down the final inches until her pussy lips kissed his base. His flesh saber was fully sheathed inside her.

"Komari… I'm afraid this is my first time. So I won't last too long," he warned. 

Komari blushed furiously; the most shockingly innocent expression he had ever seen on a darksider like her. 

She leaned down over him, pressing her moldable breasts flat against his naked chest. “So is mine, my Master.”

With clear devotion, Komari cradled his head in her arms, wrapping them tightly around his skull. Her lips crashed down onto his while her powerful thighs flexed. She started rocking her hips on him. Slow and deep at first, savoring every thick inch stretching her open.

She felt like the luckiest apprentice in the galaxy. At last her master had rewarded her with the one thing she had craved most. Love and affection of the most intimate, carnal form. This was what she had always longed for, even back when she was still a Jedi. 

She had forgotten this burning desire after Bando Gora’s tortures had ripped it out of her. Now her beloved Master had rekindled that flame, filling the hollow place inside her body.

"Mmmm…"

She crushed her lips harder against his, eyes tearing up with overwhelming emotion as she felt his thick flesh buried deep inside her. It didn’t feel invasive; it felt like it belonged there, perfectly pulsing against her most sensitive walls.

She moaned into his mouth, the stretch breaking her in the most blissful way. The sting of taking something so thick for the first time left her shuddering on the edge already. Her hips started swaying back and forth, then up and down with growing urge, chasing that high.

Plap! Squelch! Plap!

The lewd sloshing sounds of her soaked pussy working over his cock maddened her with ecstasy. Every downward thrust made filthy, wet noises echo through the quarters as her juices coated his cock.

"Mmmm…"

She pushed her tongue deep into his mouth, desperately seeking more. The moment his tongue coiled back against hers, dominating the kiss even as she rode him, Komari lost control completely. 

A feral moan tore from her throat as her hips slammed down harder, hunting the blinding pleasure. "Owhhhh–--Aaaaah!" 

Komari felt herself teetering right on the edge. She couldn’t last long either. She felt so full, his thick cockhead battering against her core with every wild drop of her hips. Yet she wanted him to break her more, to wound her womb, to ruin her so thoroughly she couldn’t walk straight, as if it was the ultimate sign of her devotion.

Panting for breath, she broke the kiss and started lavishing his face with worshipful kisses. His forehead, his cheeks, his eyes, his neck, anything she could reach while still grinding desperately on his cock.

Plap! Plap!

All the while, she plowed herself down onto him with reckless abandon, wanting to feel her master thoroughly, desperately needing him deeper inside.

"Aaaaaah! Oh… Thank you… my Master… Ah–I will… never forget this! Aaaaaah!'

At last her body turned jittery, her lower half shaking as her insides convulsed and clamped down hard. This was a first-of-its-kind feeling, overwhelming as she relished it like the purest surge of the Dark Side itself. She could feel his power too, his dark, chaotic energy spilling into her.

It was forging something deeper than flesh, a bond born of utter submission.

"Aaa-mmmmm…."

Her chest heaved, pale breasts shimmering, arms planted straight beside his face as she ground herself flush to his base and finally shattered. 

A feral, broken cry tore from her throat as she came hard. Clear nectar leaking into her core like flowing lava. She kept wailing at the ceiling while her pussy gushed and spasmed wildly around him, milking his cock with powerful contractions, drowning his throbbing hardness in warm juices.

Close to bursting, Arenval’s body moved on pure instinct, control slipping away as the Dark Side surged. His yellow eyes burned brighter than ever, chaos crackling through his veins. His hands clawed greedily at her plush ass, fingers sinking deep into the soft flesh as he started thrusting up into her with merciless force.

His face lifted and latched onto her piercing-clad nipple, twirling his tongue around it like a hungry breast. 

"Ooooh! Yes, Master! I can feel you… make me whole! Yes, yes!" Komari kept moaning wildly on top of him, each word dripping with bliss. 

Plap! Plap!

Arenval closed his eyes, his mind going blissfully empty, breath hitching in his chest. He rolled his tongue over her breasts, sucking hard on one pierced nipple while his cock, buried in liquid fire, felt almost too good to register. Drenched in her slick juices, her walls fluttered and squeezed around every vein and ridge, suckling and pulling on his flesh.

And then, with a deep, guttural grunt, he rammed all the way up inside her. His palms grabbed her ass greedily, pulling her down hard onto his painfully throbbing length.

He felt deep inside her and spilled. A wave of thick, hot batter erupted from him in pulsing jets. The very first one of this new body, this second life. The sensation was far more intense than anything he remembered. 

A blinding rush of pure bliss tore through every nerve. Pleasure exploded up his spine as he flooded her tight cunt, painting her walls white and filling her womb. It felt filthy and dangerously satisfying. The sheer volume surprised even him, leaking out around his cock with every twitch as her greedy pussy kept suckling him for more.

He kept pumping into her with slow, shallow thrusts, savoring the wet, messy squelch of his cream being churned deep inside her.

He felt his balls tighten and twitch with every spurt, felt her insides squeeze and flutter around him. 

Slowly, his ragged breathing calmed as the high started to settle.

He stared at Komari's face for some time as she did the same. Then, he pulled her face down, not forgetting the real goal behind all this. 

"You belonged to me, Komari Vosa."

"Umm…" Komari squeezed herself against him and fell flat down, her face onto his neck. "Forever… my Master."

He said nothing afterwards, too tired and… he needed the silence to gather his mind. 

####

Arenval couldn’t sleep that night. 

He felt Komari's bare body snugly hugging him, her soft chest molded into shapes. Her one creamy thigh was atop his flaccid length, and his arm under her head. 

It was pleasant. He couldn't lie to himself; he enjoyed it. Did he want more? Once again, he couldn't lie to himself. Yet the saving grace was the fact that he felt nothing beyond physical attraction.  

However, no one had told him about the aftereffects of intercourse. He felt so fresh and clearheaded for no clear reason. His past life's experiences were foreign to him, as distant as a dream. All he remembered were memories, not emotions and feelings. 

He glanced sideways at her face. She was beautiful; those scars didn't matter to him. He truly hoped to heal her mind one day and reverse the damage torture had left. 

I have to grow powerful for that. 

He slowly eased himself away from Komari and wore his clothes again. Then, he sat down on the meditation pad and gestured for T7 to come over. He summoned the Crush Obsession holocron and prepared to train. 

Once T7 had erected the dome around him, he raised the holocron in front of him. He didn't know where it came from, or who it belonged to. But he dared to open it.

He used force, and the only kind he knew was the Dark Side. The holocron reacted to it right away and clicked; its edges moved, and it began to open. Soon, it was hovering in front of him. 

Arenval concentrated, waiting for its gatekeeper to talk, or maybe attack him. Slowly, he tried to probe the holocron through the Force to access knowledge. But no matter how slowly he did it, expecting an attack, nothing hit him. 

"That makes me the lucky one—"

Before he could finish, he felt it. In the Force, he felt something dark and light at the same time. He quickly stopped trying to access the holocron and waited. 

"Who…" A three-dimensional hologram started to form around the holocron. It was just the face, old and wrinkly with a long beard. "...are you?"

Arenval stared at the face, feeling as if he'd seen it before. 

"I am Aren." He gave his short name. "And you?"

The face looked left and right, as if confused about its own existence. 

"A Sith holocron? I do not remember making this. Nor passing this knowledge." 

Arenval eyed T7, who, in response, extended two little utility arms and shrugged. 

Even the gatekeeper doesn’t know. How is that even possible? 

"Who are you?" Arenval asked. 

"I am the balance between the light and the dark. I am the Father."

Arenval rubbed his face at that name. Clearheaded a while ago, he now felt tired. 

Isn't it too early for this?

Poll Question - I had this idea of Arenval introducing a TikTok-style social media application on his Holotabs since they're mainstream now. Of course, it's impossible to use it like modern TikTok. Instead, it'll work as each sector being a hub of social media content internally, then from each sector the top content will get shared to other sectors via transceivers and datacenters, and so on. That way, eventually, the entire galactic network gets filled with the best content from all sectors.

One of the creators will be Arenal himself, teaching about what Sith are, how they're different from Jedi, and also showing himself doing badass things. I won't make it a super big part of the fic, but just as a fun side thing.

Also, revealing Sith also means messing with Palpatine's plans.