Revered and Reviled

Patience walked back into the library with an armful of scrolls and datapads. The Librarian, a middle-aged Human woman from Serroco, looked up at her wearily. Patience grinned sheepishly. "Yes, I finished them. I'd put them back for you if you would let me."
"I can't do that," said the Sith Librarian. "Do you have a new list?"
"Well," Patience grinned. "Sort of. I don't have anything else to do!"
"Why don't you ask Master Wynn for permission to explore the tombs?"
Patience started in surprise. "Oh, can I do that? That's a wonderful idea! I think I will do that. Here," she handed a datapad to the Librarian. "Just the first page, and I'll bring them back tomorrow."
The Librarian sighed. "There's no rush." She rose and went to get more books for Patience to devour. She returned with a smaller handful of scrolls and datapads, and Patience accepted them with a happy smile.
Patience left the library, and handed the scrolls to Carth to carry.
"You read a lot," grinned Carth. "You didn't read this much at the Enclave."
Patience frowned. "They wouldn't let me use the library there. I only had some history books to read, and a few boring philosophy books on how great the Jedi code is." She made a face. "No debates or anything."
"I think you just like to fight," Carth observed.
T3 chirped in agreement.
"Well, so… maybe I do," she pouted. "But how else can you learn if you don't question? And how can you question if you don't know the subject? Besides," she grinned, "Fighting is all I'm good at."
"I disagree," said Carth under his breath, and Patience blushed. Carth chuckled, and one of the scrolls fell from his hands.
A nearby student picked up the scroll before Patience could, and handed it back to Carth. He looked curiously at the man holding thousands of credits of irreplaceable scrolls from the restricted section of the library. "I don't recognize you," said the student warily.
"Oh, I'm the new student's love slave." Carth nodded towards Patience.
"What?" The man, a fallen Jedi who had clearly been drinking, stared at Carth, then at Patience.
Carth grinned, and Patience flushed again.
"Will you stop that," she hissed.
"You brought... a love slave? To the Sith Academy?"
"Well, where was I supposed to leave him?" asked Patience defensively. She took the scroll and put it back on the pile that Carth was carrying.
"Oh, you can trust me," said Carth sweetly to her, "I wouldn't run off or anything."
Patience hit him in the side, and Carth pretended to be wounded, while trying not to drop the scrolls that he was holding.
"Oh, but they let you? I mean, didn't anyone say anything?"
Patience shook her head. "No, no one really cared. Why? Are you going to go get one too?"
"Well, I ... I didn't think of it, but ..."
"Oh, you totally should!" Patience exclaimed. "I mean, if she's at least halfway willing, why not?"
"You shouldn't do it if she's unwilling," added Carth. "Someone else might run off with her. Or him. Whichever it is."
"Good point," said the fallen Jedi, and he staggered away, contemplating his future plans.
Patience turned and stared at Carth. "What is wrong with you! Are you out of your mind?"
Carth laughed slightly. "It was funny. Right, T3?"
T3 beeped in agreement.
"Why didn't you try to make him leave the Academy like you usually do?" Carth asked.
"What? Him? He's evil, and filled with hate. Once he stops drinking, he'll be ready to become a real Sith."
"So what about his love slave?"
Patience shrugged. "Well, he'll have to stop drinking before he can leave. I don't think he loves her enough. But, you never know."
Carth shook his head. "Okay, let's get back to disrupting the Academy so much that no one has time to notice that you're a Jedi in disguise."
Patience laughed, and they returned to the room so that she could read more of the ancient texts stored on Korriban. She had found a new stash of ancient Jedi manuals in the repository, and was avidly reading them all. She sat on the bed and read for hours, pausing only to eat the meal that Carth brought to her.
She set aside the last scroll and looked up. Carth had passed out on the bed, with his head in her lap. Patience looked down at him and smiled. This world was old, she could feel its age with every breath that she took. She could also feel a certain malevolence deep within the core of the Academy. Not the planet itself, but the shades of generations of Sith that had come here to hide from the watchful eyes of the Jedi. It seemed reluctant to call to her, but she could feel it. Patience closed her eyes, and tried to sense it, to listen to the power deep within Korriban. The echoes ran through her, whispering, shimmering, turning her senses inward. She breathed slowly, trying to understand, and instead caught a memory.
"Look, violets," she pointed to the garden, an unexpected discovery. "Who would have planted flowers here?" she laughed, and knelt down to examine them more closely. Behind her, the soft whisper of a heavy Jedi cloak. She turned to look at her companion. His face was handsome, his eyes dark grey like steel, his youth belied by his baldness, and his scalp decorated with blue tattoos. He was magnificently built, and not even his Jedi cloak could hide his physique. Her eyes ran hungrily over his body, and she saw an answering smile on his face.
"You'll crush the flowers," he said, as she lay back among the wildflowers, pulling him down to her.
"They'll grow back," she answered, selfish with lust and desire.
Patience opened her eyes and stared, unseeing, at the wall beyond. How many lovers had the beautiful wildflowers of Korriban seduced? And when had she been here before? Why didn't anyone recognize her? Patience looked down at Carth again. He still slept, dreamless and comforted by her presence. Patience frowned, and gently moved him so that she could stand up without waking him. She wrapped a cloak around herself and walked out to the rear of the Academy, where the secret garden was. She slipped under the fence and down the little hill to the garden.
She looked around, seeking something in the moonlight, but she wasn't sure what. She walked farther into the garden, trying not to crush the pretty flowers.
"You're back," said a soft, ghostly voice.
Patience turned, and saw the Force spirit of a male Human hovering just over a barely visible gravestone set in the ground, surrounded by the flowers and overgrown with leaves and grass.
"We've met?"
"We spoke when you first came to Korriban. Seeking the Sith that had created an Empire, and the power behind them."
Patience blinked in surprise. "I was what?"
"You're different now. I'm not sure if you're seeking the same things." The spirit smiled beneath his dark hood. "When you were here before, you knew all about it. What happened to you?"
"It's a really long, boring story, but the short version is, I got hit in the head and I don't remember a lot of things."
"That's odd," said the spirit.
"Is it?" said Patience. "Why?"
The spirit shrugged. "What are you seeking now?"
"I'm trying to make things right," Patience replied. "Why are you using this place to draw people to the Dark Side?"
"My master gave me a command. I obey it."
"That was thousands of years ago! Your master is dead and gone."
The spirit shook his head. "He is no more dead than I am. He commands me, and I obey," the spirit repeated.
Patience sighed in frustration. "That's not right! You should have gone to your rest long ago. And it isn't fair to the flowers."
The spirit laughed, but didn't say anything.
"Where is your master?"
"He lies in his tomb, as much at rest as I am."
"Fine, I'll go to the tombs tomorrow and see if I can convince him to let you go."
"And the flowers, of course," said the spirit, gently mocking.
Patience looked at the Sith spirit. "Yes, and the flowers. In the meantime, could you please stop luring people here? For a day or two, at least."
"If you command me, jen'ari, then I shall obey."
"Okay, I didn't understand the word in the middle. But fine, I command you to stop luring people to this garden and influencing them until I return from the Valley of the Dark Lords."
The spirit knelt in silent submission, and faded away.
Patience shook her head and returned to the Academy. Distracted by her emotions, she didn't notice the silent form of Master Wynn, concealed in the shadows by his long, black Sith cloak.
When she was out of sight, Master Wynn emerged from the shadows, frowning and confused. "The spirit spoke the language of the Sith Ancients," he said softly to himself. "And she understood every word as if it were her native tongue. Who is she?" Master Wynn walked down to the garden, and searched until he found the gravestone there. He read the writing on the stone, and looked at the path where Patience had walked to return to the Academy. "Who is she?" he whispered again.

Carth slowly opened his eyes. "This doesn't make me want to get out of bed, you know."
Patience smiled down at him. She was holding him in her arms, and kissing him gently every few seconds, while whispering to him that he needed to wake up.
Carth stretched, and ran his hands over her breasts, pretending it was accidental.
"Get up," she insisted.
"I am up," he grinned back, "unless you mean something different."
Patience blushed brightly, and Carth laughed.
"Get out of bed."
Carth sat up, and kissed her before he got out of bed to do the early morning things he was supposed to be doing. "Do you have something planned for today?"
"I'm going to go explore the tombs." Patience smiled brightly. "And you're coming with me."
Carth smiled. "Need someone to carry your halo?"
She stared at him, then giggled before she could stop herself. Carth snickered as well, then they both broke into laughter, and he kissed her again before they finally left the room.
Patience stopped by the library and returned the books that she had borrowed, and grinned at the Librarian's relief when she didn't ask for any more. "Of course, if I find anything in the tombs, I'll bring them back here," she said cheerfully, and the Librarian groaned.
They walked down the hallway, Carth joking about having nothing to carry, and Patience suddenly looked up as a tall Human man, not as broad and imposing as Canderous, was dragged down the far hallway, shouting and swearing at the guards holding him and the Sith Interrogator following them. Carth grinned, not at all surprised as she suddenly changed direction and walked into the Interrogation room.
The guards threw the prisoner into a cage, and the Interrogator forced a dispenser bracelet onto the man's arm, which would inject the prisoner with the truth-telling serum in appropriate doses as controlled by the nearby console.
Patience stood in front of the console, blocking the Interrogator's view. She waited to speak until the guards had left the room. The Interrogator had a black eye and a split lip, and didn't seem inclined to spare the prisoner any pain.
"What? Do you want to try getting this Mandalorian dog to talk?" The Interrogator wiped away the blood on his face.
"Sure," said Patience calmly. She turned to look at the prisoner in the cage.
"Sith whore," snarled the man, his face showing signs of traditional Sith persuasion.
"How did you get caught?" Patience asked, switching to Mandalorian.
The prisoner stood still, swaying slightly from the pain. "You… you speak my language."
"Answer my question," said Patience softly.
The man shook his head, trying to throw off the pain. "We were hiding a stash of weapons. I got hit in the leg," the Mandalorian warrior gestured to the blaster burn on his thigh, "so I stayed behind, covered everyone else."
The Interrogator looked curiously at Carth, then at Patience. Carth shrugged, indicating that he didn't understand either.
"Mandokarla," said Patience, so softly that Carth could barely hear her, but the Mandalorian in the cage flushed at the compliment. "I'm going to use this console to knock you out. You may say something while you're unconscious. You're sure they are gone by now?"
The Mandalorian nodded, and Patience turned to the computer console. She typed swiftly, changing the truth serum dosage slightly. The dispenser hissed, and the prisoner fell to the floor. Patience knelt, and listened as he whispered a set of coordinates, still under the influence of the last commands from the Interrogator.
"What did he say?" asked the Interrogator eagerly. "I only heard the first part."
Patience stood up, and brushed off her trousers without answering.
"Listen, wench," the Interrogator snarled, "I can't sleep with Wynn to gain prestige. So you tell me what he said, or I'll – "
"Or you'll what?" Patience demanded scornfully.
The Interrogator answered by throwing a bolt of dark energy at her, and Carth tackled him before he could follow up his attack. Patience was knocked from her feet by the unexpected attack, and fell over T3. The Interrogator turned his attention to Carth before she could stand, and began choking the life out of him with the Force.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Patience knew that students weren't supposed to use their lightsabers within the confines of the Academy, but her blades were already out, glowing a violent red. She charged the Interrogator, ruining his concentration, and Carth fell to the floor, gasping. The Interrogator drew his own lightsaber, and the blades clashed, shimmering like blood in the harsh light of the Interrogation room.
The door opened, and Master Wynn entered the room, curious to know who was violating the rules of lightsaber dueling. He took in the situation quickly, and helped Carth to his feet as Patience finished dealing with the Interrogator.
She stepped away from the body, and deactivated her lightsabers with a small noise of irritation at the Interrogator's remains.
Master Wynn smiled with amusement. "Well, he was trying to kill you. He did rather deserve it."
Patience turned in surprise. "Oh, Master Wynn! I had no idea you were there." She looked at Carth, who nodded to indicate that he was unharmed.
"A pity, really," said Master Wynn, looking at the cage. "I was hoping to find that weapons cache."
"Oh, he told me where it was," said Patience, and recited the coordinates.
Master Wynn looked at her in surprise, then at the dead Interrogator. "Ah, I see. The prisoner," smiled Master Wynn, "told you, and you didn't feel like sharing. No surprise, really." Master Wynn called to some guards in the hall, and commanded them to remove the bodies, indicating the dead Interrogator and the comatose Mandalorian.
Patience didn't correct him, and let the Mandalorian be carried away.
"Weren't you going to the tombs today?" asked Master Wynn.
"I got distracted," said Patience, blushing. "It's not too late to go, is it?"
"Not at all," Master Wynn assured her. "However, I was wondering if you would be interested in a short training exercise first."
"Oh?" She couldn't restrain her curiosity.
Master Wynn smiled again. "Follow me. Your slave is exceptionally well-trained," he observed as Carth silently followed her.
"Thank you," said Patience sweetly.
"It's a pity he isn't a Force user himself, don't you think?"
"He's strong enough with the Force to have Force-sensitive babies, which is really all that's important."
"True, true," mused Master Wynn. "You've already tested his capacity to pass on his Force sensitivity?"
Patience nodded cheerfully, and tried not to look at Carth so that she wouldn't start giggling.
"Very wise of you. I'm pleased to see that you refuse to let yourself be blinded by jealousy in such a matter."
"Jealousy has its place," Patience smiled. "But you can't let it control you, you'll go crazy. Although, it would be useful for generating power with the Dark Side, up to a point."
Master Wynn and Carth both looked at her; Master Wynn, curious and interested, while Carth was concerned and confused.
"So, what training did you have in mind, Master Wynn?" she asked brightly.
"A little lightsaber practice." They entered the sparring room, and Patience could see the exit to the Valley of the Dark Lords just beyond. Some students were gathered, and Master Wynn beckoned to one. "I was wondering if you could demonstrate some lightsaber forms for our students. Not everyone here has had your training with lightsaber combat."
"Oh, I'd be happy to," said Patience brightly. Without thinking, she fell easily into the role of instructor, showing the student the first four forms, the basis for all lightsaber combat. She corrected his stance, his grip, and showed him the proper stances for each form.
Carth didn't watch her, he watched Master Wynn. The Sith Master was watching her every move carefully, his brow wrinkled as if he was trying to remember something.
"You are very good at this," said Master Wynn. "Would you consider taking over some teaching duties for the students who need more attention?"
"Gladly," smiled Patience. She sent the student off to practice what she had taught him.
"Perhaps you would consider a demonstration?" asked Master Wynn.
Patience looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"
Master Wynn beckoned to two of the students in the room, both former Jedi. "Attack her."
With grins of evil pleasure, they charged, expecting that they would catch her off-guard.
Patience dodged so swiftly, one of her attackers fell off balance from his wild attack, and then she had her lightsabers out. She struck like lightning, driving them back across the practice area.
Master Wynn smiled, and sent three more students in to attack her.
There were enough of them to surround her now, and it should have been their advantage. It wasn't. She had complete control of the combat, driving them back and keeping them at bay with ease. She wasn't sure what Master Wynn was trying to do, so she toyed with the students, none of whom came even close to her level of skill.
Master Wynn's smile became dark and fascinated. He sent in the rest of the students in the practice area.
"Are we striking to kill, Master?" asked one of the students, his voice hungry for blood.
Patience frowned, waiting for the Master's answer.
"You are Sith," said Master Wynn patiently. "Strike as you will."
Carth started in shock, but Patience just smiled. At this point their numbers were working against them, and even with lightsabers, thirty unskilled combatants were no match for a blademaster of her caliber.
Master Wynn smiled to himself as he watched her.
She shifted between forms effortlessly, blocking wild blows, throwing crippling kicks that dropped her opponents to the floor and causing the other students to trip over the prone forms. She seemed to know where the blades of her attackers would be before they got there, she saw gaps in their defense instantly and never failed to take advantage of them.
Carth watched, the hair on the back of his neck standing up, as she drove her circling opponents back again and again. Each time the circle had fewer people in it, until finally the last four students standing drew back, too unnerved to charge her again.
"I think that's enough," laughed Master Wynn. "You may go to the tombs now." Master Wynn walked out of the practice area, chuckling to himself at the discomfiture of his students.
Patience waited for the last students to deactivate their lightsabers and leave before she put her lightsabers away. She beckoned to Carth and T3, and turned away, her cloak swirling graceful and dark around her as she walked out to the Valley of the Dark Lords.