Ebon Hawk

Chapter 3: Three for the price of one

As it turned out, the ex-Republic soldier, Carth Onasi, has been given to the Ordo clan as a gift for the bravery they had shown during the war.

Mandalore the Ultimate had greeted Revan warmly, and upon hearing her request immediately sent word to the planet Ordo that he was to be brought at once. “But you must tell me, what is your sudden interest in the slave? Had you wanted him for yourself would you not have claimed him five years ago when the treaty between us was signed?”

Revan nodded slightly, understanding the old warrior’s curiosity. “Until very recently I had no desire or need for him. But I have recently acquired a freighter and wanted a worthy pilot for it.”

“Ah, that might not be advisable Lord Revan. I seem to recall a few problems the leaders of the Ordo clan had with the slave. It seems he is an excellent pilot, but no matter how broken he seemed, he always attempted escape once he had access to a ship.”

“So he still has a bit of spirit. All the better really. Any insurgence he may attempt will give me something to do while passing the hours in hyperspace.” The Dark Lord said with a shrug. Though part of her wanted to see the fire in the man’s light brown eyes for a completely different reason then basic torture.

The hours it took for the clan to bring her Carth Onasi were spent pleasantly enough. She always enjoyed swapping war storied with the old Mandalorian. But finally, just as he was retelling the particulars of the fourth battle of Suurja there was a knock at the door, and three people were admitted.

Only one was a Mandalorian, his strong body incased in thick grey armor, the helmet that usually hid his features tucked under his arm. He was older then Revan by about ten years. His once dark hair graying at the temple, the lines of his face not quite defined, but still visible.

He was accompanied by a woman with brilliant red hair and startling green eyes who could not have been older then 20, and the man from her visions.

Carth Onasi stood between the Mandalorian and the red haired woman, binders wrapped around his wrists as if he were a prisoner rather then a slave.

“I hope you have good reason for wanting him brought here Lord Revan.” The Mandalorian stated gruffly. “Bastard tried to hijack the shuttle.”

The Dark Lord raised an eyebrow as she examined the trio in front of her. Her heart fluttering with delight at the look of pure hatred that shone clearly across the sun-kissed, hard features of Carth’s face.

“Canderous.” Mandalore snapped at the Mandalorian. “That is no way to speak to our guest.”

“I’m sorry, Mandalore.” Canderous stated evenly.

Revan moved closer to the trio, her head tilting slightly as she watched Carth. To her amusement, he growled at her like an animal.

The sound caused an immediate response from the woman standing next to him. Raising her hand, she brought it sharply against the back of his head. “Knock it off, idiot.” She hissed at him.

“So the great Republic soldier. One of the best pilots in all of known space, reduced to a growling dog at his master’s feet?” Revan scoffed, hoping the insult would bring words to the man’s lips.

“The best pilot in known space.” He corrected her, his voice gruff and strained.

Revan realized that he had probably been severely punished for his attempt to escape, and that his throat was more then likely hoarse from screaming. “We shall see.”

Canderous looked stunned, his gaze yo-yoing between Revan and Carth. “You can’t be serious. You’re actually going to let him get into the cockpit of a ship?”

Carth’s eyes narrowed, his eyes never leaving the mask that covered Revan’s face.

“Oh, I do. A very special ship. Come Mandalorian, I will show you and your slaves my newest acquisition.” Revan stated as she walked past them toward the door, her robes billowing around her as she did so.

Revan walked with purpose and it took no time to reach the hanger where the Ebon Hawk sat waiting for her.

“A freighter?” Canderous questioned, but his eyes seemed to be glued to the white and orange hull.

Revan noticed with amusement that all three of them seemed to be mesmerized by the craft in much the same way she, herself, had been.

Carth moved toward the ship slowly, fully expecting the Mandalorian at his side to grab him by the neck to keep him in place. The attack never happened, however, and soon he stood at Revan’s side, his hands reaching toward the orange painted durasteel.

“Yes…” Revan practically hissed as she watched him bring his hands toward the ship. However her voice seemed to have broken the trance he was in and he pulled his hands away suddenly as if he had been burned.

“What do you want with me, Revan?” He demanded, then swallowed hard to wet his dry throat.

“I want you to touch the ship.” She stated simply. “For this thing, shall become your world.”

“No.” Carth ground out.

The conversation had broken the spell on the other two as well, and with a startling over use of force Canderous had yanked Carth’s hands up by the binders and forced them against the hull.

Carth’s eyes instantly emptied, the Force taking his mind to another place, but to Revan’s amazement Canderous also had an empty look in his grey blue eyes.

So the ship wants him as well does it? Revan mused, absently wondering where they had gone.

“Lord Revan,” Came an insecure voice, invading her thoughts like needles against her skin.

“What?”

“May, may I touch the ship as well?” Came the mouse-like reply, and Revan realized that it was the red haired girl.

Nodding once she watched as the girl reached out and touched the vessel, only slightly amused that she too became devoid of thought and emotion.

Patience was something Revan knew well. It was something all Jedi were taught, and something that she could employ when it suited her. Sitting on the entrance ramp to the ship, she watched their blank faces, glad for the mask that hid her own features. It would not do for anyone to think that the Lord of the Sith was spacing out and would make an easy target. She would have to make sure that she always had HK by her side. An ever vigilant watchdog that would keep those she did not trust at bay.

Canderous was the first to pull his hand from the orange painted durasteel, his eyes slowly focusing on the world around him.

“What did you see through the Force?” Revan inquired with an air of boredom that hid her true curiosity.

Canderous shook his head and then leveled his gaze at Revan. “You knew that was going to happen.”

“No, not to you. I knew it would happen to Carth, or at least I suspected it would. Where ever he is, it seems to have a stronger hold on him then it had on you. So, what did you see?”

“I was on Taris, working as an enforcer to a crime-lord. This ship, it belonged to my employer.”

“Davik Kang,” Revan supplied. Canderous nodded.

“We’d lost the war. You’d destroyed our fleets and then turned on the Republic and started a new war of your own. The Mandalorians were scattered. I was roaming the lower city of Taris, Davik’s kath hound. I had planned to leave the planet and find a different, more rewarding job. Then the Sith showed up and put the entire planet on lock down. It felt real.”

“The Force is an amazing thing Canderous. It calls to even those who are unable to hear it. The ship wants you, and you should heed its call.”

“And if I don’t?”

“There is a good chance you will go mad.”

Before Candorous could respond Revan’s attention was drawn to Carth, who had lowered his hands and was staring at the ship dumbfounded.

“What did you see, slave?” Revan asked calmly.

Carth turned to look at her, his body becoming ridged. “Nothing.”

The Dark Lord knew the man’s stance well. He was preparing to be struck, to be beaten into submission. She mused, absently, that he must not have received his own warning about the terrible things Sith could do. Raising one gloved hand Revan twisted the Force to her will, wrapping it around Carth’s organs tightly.

A cry of pain left his lips, his walnut eyes going wide with the suddenness of it.

“Tell me what you saw.”

Carth ground his teeth against the pain, his jaw set in an attempt to remain silent.

Revan let out a sigh of boredom, despite the pleasure she felt at tormenting the man, and increased the strangle hold the Force had on him.

Carth screamed, his legs giving out and sending him to a crumpled heap.

“Make no mistake, slave. I have no intention of killing you at this juncture in time. But I will take great pleasure in twisting the remainder of your life into one long, agonizing moment that never ends.” Revan warned dryly.

All Carth could do was scream, tears of pain running down his cheeks. Then his breath caught in a single choking cough and blood spilled from his lips to join his screams.

Revan released her hold over him and waited patiently for him to regain some control over himself before she spoke. “Tell me.”

“I was on a Republic cruiser.” He whispered, his throat ached from screaming. “We were fighting against the Sith but they overpowered us. I escaped in the last escape pod and landed on Taris. I, I had to find the Jedi that was on the ship with us. I had to find her and escape with her.”

Revan raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? There are no other details?”

He shook his head, and she knew he was lying. There was one other detail, one big detail that he was leaving out. But she didn’t press.

“I heard that the Sith could rip information from a person’s mind.” Canderous stated conversationally. “Wouldn’t that have been easier?”

“Easier yes.” Revan answered with a slight shrug. “But less amusing.”

Carth made no attempt to stand, his body ached in a way that the years of torture by the Mandalorians had never managed to attain. He had hoped that by giving the Sith Lord what he wanted that he would no longer have a use for him and finally grant him death. But he hadn’t really given Revan anything. He had neglected to tell him about the girl he was with in the vision, and had left out the name of the Jedi he was searching for.

“Is that the end of your questioning?” Canderous asked skeptically.

“For the time being. I have elected to give him time to process his current position before continuing our little talk.” The Dark Lord stated evenly, her eyes never leaving the huddled mass on the floor. “Though I am tiring of this place and wish to move on. I just need to know who I am collecting next.”

Carth looked up at her slowly, their eyes meeting as they stared each other down.

“Bastila Shan.” He muttered in defeat. He couldn’t take another round of torture, and Canderous had reminded him that the Dark Lord could pull the information from his mind. Giving the Jedi’s name had been a simple choice. She at least had a chance to fight against Revan. Aurora was just a Republic soldier, and would have no defense against the twisted Lord of the Sith.

An evil smirk spread across Revan’s lips. He continued to purposely leave out the existence of the other person in his vision. He was playing the hero, the protector. I’m so honored by your sacrifice Carth. The thought was meant to be sarcastic, but somehow she was also touched by the idea that he was trying to protect her, even if it was a vain and useless gesture.

“Well, now it seems we are getting somewhere.” Standing, she turned and headed up the ramp into the ship. “One of you, grab him and bring him aboard. I doubt he has the strength to stand on his own at the moment.”

Canderous motioned toward the ramp with his head, signaling the redhead to follow Revan while he moved to Carth and pulled him roughly to his feet by his arm. “You heard the Sith.”

Carth stumbled, the jerking on his arm was almost enough to pull the shoulder from its socket, as he was led up the ramp and into the ship.

“What do you want me to do with him now? This thing doesn’t look like it has a force cage equipped.”

“Take him to the medical bay. He’ll need a an injection of Kolto if he’s going to be in any shape to pilot us to Korriban.” Revan stated with dismissive wave.

Canderous frowned but followed her orders, dragging the stumbling slave toward the medical bay before removing the binders that held his wrists.

Carth’s entire body ached by the time he was thrown on to the lone bed that sat in the center of the small room.

“Move before I come to get you, and I’ll hurt you.” Canderous hissed before leaving the room.

Carth closed his eyes, images and memories floating before him. He had watched as Aurora tossed and turned in her sleep, never truly waking.

He had pulled up her records while he waited for her to make it to the escape pods, and was amazed at her record. He had never served with her before, but he had no doubt that she was a highly capable soldier and hated seeing her so weak.

He’d left the apartment to get supplied and make a few inquiries, but for the most part he had stayed by her side, passing the length of the room and casting her worried glances. Then finally, as he was beginning to give up all hope, she opened her eyes.

He was staring into her deep brown eyes, lost in their questioning depths when a sharp pain splintered his memories and brought him back to where he lay in the medical bay of the strange freighter.

“Don’t scream.” Came a voice he’d come to know well over the years.

His eyes opened slowly and he regarded the redhead with something between hatred and pity. “Mira, don’t do this.” He pleaded in a harsh whisper.

She ignored him, pulling a long needle from one of the many pouches she wore at her hips. Slowly and methodically, she pressed the tip into the flesh of his exposed member, slowly driving it through the flaccid length.

Carth clenched his jaw, his fingers digging into the sides of the bed as he choked down any sound that might escape him. He knew this game, she played it any time she thought she could get away with it. He knew it would continue for as long as she thought she could get away with it.

Another needle had been withdrawn from the bag, this one pressing into his right jewel. Again Carth choked back a cry of pain as the needle slowly made it’s way through his body to exit the other side.

“I don’t think we’re going to break any records today.” She said in a conversational tone. “Revan probably wont want to stick around here that long.” Even as she spoke she pulled another needle and began the slow and torturous process of inserting in into his left jewel.

Carth closed his eyes, attempting think of anything that wasn’t the pain. But his mind was devoid over everything but the distant sound of heavy booted footfalls. “Canderous is coming.” He whispered.

Mira looked toward the open door to the medical bay as she quickly pulled the needles from Carth’s flesh and dropped them back in her bag. “You better not tell him what I was doing.” She hissed as she grabbed a medpack and injected Carth with the syringe of Kolto from inside.

Heat rushed through his body as the liquid began to fix the damage done by Revan’s Force attack. Buttoning his pants, he cast Mira a hate-filled look before turning his attention toward the door to the medical bay.

Canderous appeared around the corner a moment later, a scowl upon his lips. “We all told her this was insane. Revan wants you in the cockpit now, slave.”

Carth said nothing as he stood and walked past the Mandalorian, out into the hall, and began the short walk toward the front of the freighter.

Revan was waiting for him in the cockpit and looked him over as he entered. Making note of the simple baggy black pants and grey shirt, she frowned. “This will not do.” She stated.

“Sorry I disappoint.” He muttered as he sat in the pilot’s seat. “Where are we going?”

“Korriban. I need to pick up a Jedi hunter or two. But I am unsure if I can allow you to fly this ship in your current state.” She stated, still looking him over disapprovingly.

“The Kolto is doing what it’s supposed to. I’m fine to fly.”

“It’s not your state of health. It’s your state of dress. And now I am sure it will not do.”

“Don’t tell me you want me to fly this thing naked.” He growled, slamming his hands on the console. “Because I’ll tell you right now, no amount of Sith torture is going to get me to do that.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Revan stated before sweeping out of the cockpit and heading toward the dormitories.

Carth sighed and ran his hand across the console in front of him. It was oddly familiar and strangely comforting. It was hard for him to believe that after five years as a Mandalorian slave, he was once again piloting a ship.

Revan wasted no time reaching the dormitories and was not surprised to find Carth’s things tucked away in one of the footlockers that lined the back wall. She gathered everything except his blasters, feeling that if he had them too soon in their travels, he might feel the need to try and use them against her. While punishing him was fun, she wasn’t sure she wanted to risk getting shot at in order to do it. Closing and locking the container, she headed back to the cockpit, ignoring the odd look she received from Canderous.

Carth had to remind himself that Jedi, even Dark Jedi, were capable of moving far faster then a normal person as a handful of clothes were dumped unceremoniously onto his lap.

“You will wear these while you are in my service. Unless I decide that better armor should be warn, in which case I shall give it to you.” She stated flatly. “Change.”

Carth wasn’t going to complain about the change of clothes but, as he went through the pile, he pulled out a deep orange jacket with four clasps up the front. He hadn’t seen that jacket in years and had no idea how Revan had acquired it or even how she knew it was his. But he didn’t dare ask, on the off chance that the Dark Lord was unaware of the significance of the clothes. Standing he discovered that a pair of combat grade boots with shin guards were sitting beside his chair. No longer caring that Revan was still watching him, he pulled the slave clothes from his hard, well packed muscles and began to pull on the new ones that had been given to him.

“Korriban.” Revan stated simply, once Carth had changed.

Carth gave a brief nod. The thought crossed his mind to set the course for Telos instead, but he decided that pressing his luck with the Sith Lord so early might be a bad idea.

“Good Boy.” Revan practically purred as she ran a gloved hand through his hair.