Five Months Ago
Sandra steps out of a ship into a muddy wasteland. Instead of noticing the mud, the rain, and ruins around her, she feels like she may pass out from the horrible and corrupt place. Skeletons litter the area and a rainstorm quickly brewing. Artemis speaks…
“Do you know where we are?”
“G-Goodness gracious, um…I do not. This looks like utter destruction.”
Sandra holds her stomach
“Serroco. It was the site of a horrible battle in the Mandalorian War. They used nuclear bombs to destroy everything.”
“W-What? Oh my…”
Sandra lets the scene sink in
“What remains now is shadow. The Dark Side. Only pain…as if the force had left the place. it is no nexus, but listen closely. The dark grows where light does not shine.”
“H-How do we c-change …this?”
“You don’t. This will be like this forever. This is the death of life and therefore, the Force. I want you to stop and think about this feeling. Look around. Each of these bodies, were people, with families that wanted nothing to do with Mandalore or the Republic. How does it feel…the pervading shadow, Padawan? When the Force abandons a place…This…is what happens.”
“Um…t-this is more intense than anything I have ever imagined or feel…”
Sandra chirps
“Stop resisting it, Sandra. Let it in. You need to learn what it is. What it’s like! Otherwise you can’t fight it.”
Artemis squeezes Sandra’s hand and uses the other hand to remove her hood. Her face is pale and she has dark circles under her eyes, but there is a warmth and care to her gaze. A unique expression she clearly only grants her Padawan. Sandra lets a shaky breath and lets her defenses down one by one, allowing the energy to breach her small body.
Sandra feels the Dark Side inside herself. At first, it’s horrifying, the light fading as darkness engulfs it. Her whole body tenses and then…it relaxes. Her feelings open up and she begins to accept her faults and she feels GOOD. She feels INCREDIBLE! She feels…Powerful.
A piercing scream erupts from Sandra and Artemis comes from behind and places her hands on Sandra’s shoulders
“Let it all go. Let me help you let it go.”
They bond and Sandra feels a surge rip through her body. She looks in desperation to several rocks and massive boulders. They are flung away like plastic toys. Rocks flung all about in her fit of power. She screams and rages!
“I am not a baby! I am not some prissy redhead to be used as a beckoning for romance and lust! I am a JEDI!! I AM NOT A FOOL!”
Boulders erupt and skeletons fling about. Yet despite the utter destruction and quick moment of adrenaline calming, she feels as if she can do this a thousand times over.
“W-Why does it feel like…I am invincible? Why…?”
Artemis walks behind Sandra and places her hands on her shoulders, leaning in to whisper.
“Because you are, when you wield it. I told you a long time ago, that you are a Shadow. You don’t exist. Your purpose, is to destroy the Dark. There will always be Dark, but behind the light. So why wouldn’t we use it to destroy those who misuse it?”
“How…d-do I use it properly…?”
“You just used it. You just…let go and let it in. It’s everywhere for it is the Force. Here, it is stronger. We can use death, horrors and destruction to our advantage…when destroying those who would cause it. It is always there…you just don’t see it.”
“So um…it is okay to use it as if it was a blaster or such…?”
“Exactly, The Force is a tool. The Jedi use it to keep peace, but The Shadows…more accurately, The Covenant, use the Dark to destroy the Dark. Imagine, confronting Rathi…with THIS power. What incredible change and peace could you bring?”
Artemis leans against Sandra’s ear and whispers
“I’m going to make you the greatest Shadow to ever live. You and I…are going to kill Darth Revan.”
Current Day
Sandra sits in her ship, laying on the cold floor and looking up at nothing. She smiles and spreads her arms and legs out as if to make a snow angel.
“Yes, Artemis. I did as you asked.
I used everyone I could to my advantage.
I lied, cheated, tricked, flirted, played, and persuaded my way into everyone’s hearts so that our plans could work, and they did.
No one is capable of suspecting what I am despite their knowing a little. I smile and play and then I am their best friend!
They said they loved me and adored me.
Hahahahahahah! The best part?
The absolute best part?
…I am still here.”
Sandra raises a hand in the air.
“My love is so strong. My passions are great. My goals are durasteel. My training is transcending. My life will change the universe. I will be the blade of light to rend darkness as it springs up. I may have had some softness lately, but I will not waver. I will keep becoming more powerful, not for power’s sake, but because it is my right and my destiny. The Dark will never sleep proper while I lurk the universe!!!”
Her hand stretches out a slight further and she pictures the power she unleashed when boosted by Artemis, replaying her storm of justice from those months ago…
Five Months Ago
Sandra can feel Artemis enter her mind and the feeling of the Dark Side only amplifies. Her energy surgs and she feels the urge to extend the power out through her hands. An overwhelming force builds inside her like a bottle being filled with liquid, about to overflow…
“Let it out.” Artemis commands.
“I feel so…s-so…full. So full! I need…I…I need! I NEED TO…EYAAAAAAA!!!”
Lighting shoots out of Sandra’s hand, but not just a bolt. It’s a storm, enough to engulf entire ships around. But instead it his rubble and sends pieces flying all over as Sandra sends all flying. Artemis raises a hand to stop rubble from hitting their own ship.
“Have you ever felt so powerful? I know you haven’t. I brought you to Soraco to show you what I truly am. We are monsters, my dear. But we are monsters that will bring the galaxy to heel. We are monsters that destroy monsters. And I promise you, if you follow in my footsteps, you will bring balance.”
“A…M-Monster…”
“You are WRATH. You’re a monster. That’s why I chose you, Sandra. That’s why i’ve done all i’ve done for you. I made sure you were Knighted far too early. I gave you the power to see within, and use the shadows. I gave you everything and it’s all because… … …”
Current Day
“… Because I am like you, Artemis. Our love for the universe is what drives us. To remove the stains from the worlds! I do not fear it anymore. I do not doubt myself. I am in control. Nobody else is. I am in control.”
Sandra closes her eyes and lets a soft breath out with a slow smile that encroaches upon her light skin and sweet face.
“For months I have been training and learning. Practicing to become like you. I am never lonely now because I have the Force in its entirety! I maneuver pawns, hearts, and ideals so that I can make the universe smite out the Sith, ravage dark artifacts, and pull Darkness from ROOT AND STEM. And…I love it. I can see their weaknesses as they open up to me.”
Sandra looks on an old holovid she recorded with her first master on Corscuant’s Grand Temple. Did she even recognize that sweet and stubborn little girl? Look at that 13 year old girl…so dear and gentle. Now at the spark of her 19th year of life, her eyes are open. Her mind is open. Her existence using the Force to its extent, but she was still learning…still learning…still learning.
“Their fickle emotions are disgusting to me, but I will love their lives and do as I will. I can do anything I want. I Am Shadow. But Sandra Mana is legally dead? What should I be? Artemis and Diana…?
Hmm…an idea.”
Finally her hands fall to her side and she begins to feel the cold of the ship on her thighs and arms. Her flowy dress is random and waved upon the ground like a fan. Her emerald eyes look into eternity and a hand slowly moves over her heart. She recalls the last thing Artemis said after that long day…
Welcome to the Shadows, my dearest sister. You’re ready.
