#9947, Alishu
You have come under suspicion of traitorous acts against your fellow Inquisitors. Dissuade the Inquisitor sent to investigate you through whatever means you deem best.

PROLOGUE

Antei System, Lypsair; 34 ABY

The harsh rays of the star Antares scorched the ground of the Wasteland Moon, Lypsair.  What would be a deserted badlands if it weren't for its two oceans—and yet just about every member of the Dark Brotherhood had learned to call the moon their home. For standing on the top of a steep cliff, rising nearly a hundred meters above the raging, rushing water of the ocean it bordered, was the thrice rebuilt form of the Shadow Academy. Its blackened stonework, an amalgam of rock and durasteel, a figurative shadow that absorbed all light.

A breath of torrid air flared through the cavernous halls of the academy, passing through its many libraries and classrooms; reminding the scholars within of their days-long study, as the 48 hour night ended and the star Antares began to rise through the sky. Huddled around a computer console, located within a small alcove between a series of large bookshelves, was two such scholars. These were Journeymen, both Sith, wearing black and red robes in a traditional style; both were Apprentice Inquisitori. And like every Inquisitor, they were tasked with eliminating any threats or 'Undesirables' in the Brotherhood, and so they poured over the roster of new and returning members.

These Inquisitors were of an amphibious species, the first an Ongree, and the second a Mon Calamari. They shivered as the hot breeze touched their skin, uncomfortable in such a dry climate. Indeed, the reason for their search was not only to please the Dark Council and the Voice; the unofficial leader of the Inquisitorious, whose eyes shined favorably upon such initiative; but also for a chance to get off this horrible, Wasteland Moon. For the two Inquisitors were still students of the academy, and were forced to reside there until their training was complete.

Fortunately, their search wouldn't take more than an hour's time, the Inquisitors quickly finding a member who had returned from the Rogues ten days ago. A Rogue whose return baffled the apprentices. Somehow, a Jawa, clearly defined by Grand Master Pravus as Undesirable in the Dark Brotherhood, had been allowed to rejoin the ranks of Clan Plagueis. Worse still, the Rogue had a girl's name, 'Alishu', and was yet listed as Male; and even more bizarre was that 'he' was listed as a Sullustan despite his picture displaying that of a Jawa, with their trademark, orange-yellow eyes. The icing on the cake was that this Jawa was formerly a member of Obelisk, another Undesirable trait.

The Apprentice Inquisitors wasted no time in boarding the next shuttle to the nearby planet of Calabrex.

CHAPTER I

Antei System, Calabrex; 34 ABY

The Lightsaber, a more elegant weapon for a more civilized age. Energized by a power cell that, on activation of the weapon, powered a beam through a focusing crystal and into a matrix in the emitter, creating a strong plasma blade. The Lightsaber, a weapon of ancient history and of nearly a dozen specialized fighting forms. Forms such as the direct strikes of Shii-Cho, the precise bladework of Makashi, and the basket-weave defense of Soresu. And yet, all the history, all the technique, traded (though temporarily) for a blaster carbine, with which there existed nothing else but one absolute law: point and shoot.

Standing in the middle of a specialized training room, clutching an armory E-11 blaster carbine in his small hands, was Alishu. Around him on all sides were the images of battle droids and various, armed sentients, projected by special holoemitters designed for target practice. Turning in place, Alishu raised his weapon and engaged each target individually, hitting all of his marks. Just like he learned.

Many people throughout the galaxy could claim to be trained in the art of combat, but few were born into it; one of the perks of being raised as an Obelisk. Growing up, both his parents and elders had always told him to branch out before specializing. The lightsaber was an obvious choice for any Force user, but not always the correct one; sometimes a different weapon was just better suited for an individual, or a specific situation. For this reason, Alishu had come to Calabrex, and to the Brotherhood's Combat Training Center, which specialized in training Force users in non-Jedi weapons.

Hitting stationary targets while standing still, under zero pressure, was one thing, but it was an entirely different affair to hit them during battle. That's why the training rooms in the Center were equipped with a series of controls to modify its holoemitters and mechanics, allowing the trainee to simulate the experience of being shot at, taking cover, and shooting back. Lowering the blaster carbine and switching on the safety, Alishu moved towards the controls, but only to be interrupted. A sharp movement of air signaled the opening of the door; the room's sole exit; and in stepped two figures, an Ongree and a Mon Calamari.

They wore armory lightsabers on their belts, swaying in time with each confident step.

CHAPTER II

The three Journeymen (Alishu, the Ongree, and the Mon Calamari) hadn't spent much time talking. The Inquisitors had come to purge an Undesirable from the Brotherhood, and to be commended for it. They would not give pause to a suspect who was practically the definition of an Undesirable, even though Alishu removed his wrappings to prove his Sullust descent, and even though his Galactic Basic could not be mistaken for a Jawa or the deepness of his voice for a Female. Regardless of his attempts to prove the legitimacy of his membership and loyalty to the Brotherhood, they still had him down for being an Obelisk, and that was more than enough to justify their crusade.

Now, they were supposed to fight; all three had armory lightsabers, but each of them showed hesitation. The Inquisitors were nearly twice the height of Alishu, but not half as skilled; their Krath-like life of study making them unfit for combat, but not totally, as they held some proficiency in using a lightsaber, perhaps more than the Sullustan they faced. But just like Alishu, they were only taught in the most basic of all lightsaber forms, 'Form Zero' or 'Banlanth', and the idea of actually fighting with and trying to kill with a lightsaber, for the first time, was frightening. Still, Alishu had the experience, and the combat training, and so he was the first to move; but not the first to draw his blade. 

His facial wrappings and goggles discarded on the floor, and his hood pulled back, Alishu raised his armory carbine and switched it to autofire¹; the Inquisitors drawing and activating their lightsabers. They had all been trained in blaster deflection, but the idea was hard to put in practice; the fully automatic volley causing the Mon Calamari to dive out of the way and land in a crouch, but the Ongree, rooted and better trained, deflected the bolts aimed at him with two quick flicks of his blade. A soft pining in Alishu's heart made him greatly desire to drop the gun, and to move in to fight them with his lightsaber; what would be his first lightsaber duel; but a lack of confidence prevented him from doing so.

Any warrior, even a Force user with a lightsaber, would eventually fall while under a hail of blasterfire, and neither of the Journeymen were trained well enough to last for long; both Alishu and the Inquisitors knew this. Slashing his red lightsaber blade to the side, the Mon Calamari stretched out his off-hand and reached through the Force, smashing Alishu with a powerful wave of Force energy that sent him sprawling across the floor. It was hard to believe that such a simple motion, coupled by force of will, could cause so much pain. Taking advantage of their quarry being down, and the break in blasterfire, the Inquisitors advanced on Alishu's crumpled form.

¹Setting a blaster to autofire is the Star Wars version of setting a gun to fully automatic.

CHAPTER III

Firing a blaster certainly was an entirely different affair in battle, and not just when it came to hitting targets either. The oversized (for him) blaster carbine sent Alishu reeling with each shot, the recoil almost being more than he could stand and take. It was something that was so easy to miss during simple target practice, yet tremendously affecting the pace of a real battle. Now, this oversight was perhaps going to cost Alishu his life.

He could feel himself becoming more and more afraid as the Inquisitor's moved in, but fear was not enough to fuel the dark side and his Force abilities. With already failing confidence, Alishu found himself overwhelmed, paralyzed as the Ongree stood over him, raising his saber. But the attack never came, and it never came because a flash of thought passed through Alishu's mind, turning the overpowering fear into a moment of incredible anger; a moment of hate. With a focusing gesture motioned towards the Ongree, Alishu summoned a snare of dark side Force energy, holding him in place.

The Mon Calamari too, though not affected by the snare, stood frozen, in awe that the Force could be turned to such a feat. Unfortunately for his companion, this would give Alishu enough time to raise his blaster carbine, plugging the Ongree with a point-blank burst that killed him before he could hit the ground. His corpse fell backwards. Just as soon as the Ongree went down, Alishu turned the weapon on the Mon Calamari, and his next shot clipped the Inquisitor's shoulder. 

Afraid of death at the hands of his quarry, and relatively inexperienced in combat, the Mon Calamari turned and beat it, running with Force-enhanced speed. Rising to his feet, Alishu ambled out of the room, a little worse for wear after his hard fall, but otherwise undamaged. His thoughts turned to the Inquisitorious, but he knew better than to worry. The higher ups would know that he wasn't as 'Undesirable' as these Apprentice Inquisitors claimed, and even if more Apprentice's like these came, they would know that the former Obelisk was no small trifle to deal with.