Chapter 6: Tomb raiders
Djaeric and Korey journeyed further into the Tomb of Ajunta Pall, following the map that Cormun had given them to find their way around the giant tomb of various tunnels.
" This place is bigger than it looks. I mean this is insane, we've already ventured into so many different paths. How much longer do we need to go?"
Korey complained about the distance they had to travel, but Djaeric ignored her, instead he continued to keep his focus on the map.
" Okay, the silent treatment, I get it." Korey muttered. " But could you at least tell me how much more we have left?"
Djaeric hung his head and sighed.
" We have a whole other chamber filled with different pathways, at least five. Not to mention the fact there are still Kor'Slugs kicking around, so we still have a way to go. Does that answer your question?" Djaeric asked the woman.
Korey sighed and hung her head.
" Keep your head up and pay attention. There could be other acolytes here. Who knows. We need to be ready to fight at any moment."
" I'm sorry. I'm just so tired." Korey told the man.
Djaeric huffed a breath of frustration.
" We can stop. For a moment if you need." Djaeric told the woman.
" Thank you, I really needed a moment to rest my feet." Korey dropped the sword and walked over to a nearby wall to sit down.
" I get it. Go ahead, take a seat and rest, but we can't stay long, we have to keep moving as soon as possible." Djaeric told the woman.
Korey nodded and happily started to sit down, when the banging sound of a can rattled in front of them.
Djaeric's head snapped towards the small device that was thrown at them.
" Grenade!" Djaeric shouted.
The tiny can exploded and blinding flash hit both Djaeric and Korey, briefly stunning them, and blurring their vision considerably.
Korey felt a strong pair of hands grab her from behind and she screamed.
Djaeric heard Korey screaming and tried to find the girl, but his vision was still heavily impaired. He couldn't see very far.
What he did see however, was a single blaster bolt coming towards him. He quickly raised his saber and blocked the blast, sending it crashing into the ground. He then took a couple steps backwards and was grabbed from behind.
Djaeric quickly threw his head back and turned on his heel, with his vision returning, he stabbed the man behind him through his stomach with his training saber and quickly turned towards the direction, where another raider was firing at him with a blaster rifle. He ran towards the man, who tried retreating back and quickly cut him down, striking him across his back and cutting him open.
Korey, however, was still dealing with the man who had grabbed her.
" Heh, how you doing pretty lady?"
" Let! Go of me!" Korey struggled to break free. But the man was just stronger than her. He easily restrained her and started choking her from behind with his strong arms.
Korey struggled as much as she could, but without the help of Djaeric she felt she wasn't gonna make it much longer. She choked on the last bit of air, escaping her lungs, and in a desperate act, she closed her eyes and threw her saber back and heard the man grunt, followed by a wet and warm sensation on her neck.
The strong arms that were wrapped around her neck suddenly dropped.
" Korey!" Djaeric came running around the corner, searching for Korey, and when he saw her, she dropped to her knees in shock.
She had blood on the right side of her face and neck, and lying next to her was one of the raiders, dead on the ground.
Korey was staring at her hands, shaking.
In that moment, Djaeric didn't sigh, he didn't speak. He put his saber away and slowly approached Korey.
She looked up at Djaeric, standing over her, and started to sniffle. Her eyes were red and had tears forming in the corner of them.
This was her first time killing someone, Djaeric just knew it had to be. She seemed to innocent and kind to be a killer.
What had originally started as just a rest break turned into a nightmare for Korey.
Djaeric knelt down and used his sleeve to wipe away the blood. He then wrapped his arms around Korey's body and hugged her.
" It was you or him, Korey. You did what you needed to do. You're gonna be okay. It's gonna be okay."
Djaeric sat there and held Korey in his arms. He didn't care how long, he would sit there until she was ready.
He would.
........
Some time later Korey finally started to settle down.
She pulled away from Djaeric's grasp and started wiping her face.
" I'm... Sorry." Korey told the man.
" Don't be." Djaeric told the woman.
" No... I know that I'm supposed to get used to this. I mean... That's what Sith do right? Kill people. And it's not like I have a choice. If I don't do it, then I'll end up dead, right? Succeed or die? Right? Right?!"
Djaeric grabbed Korey by her shoulder and turned her around to face him. She hid her face from him, to avoid having to look him in the eyes, but he refused to be ignored.
He used his hand to lift her chin up, so he could look her directly in the eyes.
" You listen to me. You are not a killer. You do not need to apologize for being who you are. You are a kind person, innocent and genuine. You are good, and it is that goodness that makes you so special. Never! And I mean never apologize for being who you are! And certainly, don't change for anyone. Not a single person. Being strong doesn't make you a killer, and being a killer doesn't make you strong. True strength isn't being able to kill without care. That's heartless. You aren't heartless. There is nothing, however, wrong with taking a life to protect yourself or another person." Djaeric told the woman. He pulled her into another hug. " No higher power sits in judgement of us. No one watches over us to punish us for our sins. We alone are left to guard against our obsessions. Only we can decide whether or not the road we walk carries to high a toll. We are, who we choose to be, Korey. No one else decides that."
Korey nodded and wiped her eyes again.
" Thank you, Djaeric. You know. You try to act like a hard ass... But you're actually very nice."
" I don't know what you're talking about."
Korey scoffed a little. A small smile showing on her face.
" Come on, let's go. We've waited long enough." Korey told the man.
Djaeric grabbed Korey's hand and pulled her back down.
" No, sit. We got plenty of time. We need rest." Djaeric told the girl.
" Thanks."
" Don't mention it."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone