I wasn't sure where I was going or what I was going to do when I got there, but all I knew was that I had to get away.

I stared blankly out the front of the ship, allowing the autopilot to guide me through the wide expanse of the emptiness of space. The comm crackled to life again, the seventh time in the past two hours.

I thumbed the button to patch the call through and listened in stony silence as Cody's voice filled the cockpit.

"Please Skylar, come back. You aren't too far gone. We can fix this together if you just come back." His voice was thick with unshed tears. Numbly I shut off the comm and gritted my teeth, choking back a sob. The coppery tang of blood filled my mouth as my teeth sank into my lower lip, the comm flashing once again. I jabbed my thumb into the comm.

"I can't come back Cody. Nothing will make me come back. It's time to let me go. Goodbye."

"Wait, Sky I lo-" I disconnected the call and sliced through the wires, rendering the comm useless. I then stood to my feet, blue sparks from the wires dancing across the controls as I stalked from the cockpit. I reached into my pocket and withdrew the private commlink Vader had presented me with before I had left for Tatooine. I thumbed in the private code he had given me and waited for the call to go through.

"Darth Tytär. It has been two weeks since your last report. Where have you been?" His voice was thick with something I couldn't quite place my finger on. It sounded almost like- concern.

"I have been tempted by the light, my Lord. I fell prey to its promises but I was able to see through the veil of deception. I must realign myself with the Dark Side. Where must I go?"

"Search your feelings my young one. You know where you must go." He disconnected, his presence lingering in the room, wrapping around my shoulders like a cloak. I close my eyes and searched, reaching across the galaxy. A name and an image floated across my closed lids. My eyes snapped open as I returned to the cockpit and settled back into the chair.

My hands danced over the controls, slender fingers craftily avoiding the sparks that still darted across the panel. I then leaned back into the chair as the ship jumped to hyperspace. It was time to meet the Sith Lord on D'Qar.

*********************
D'Qar

I guided Cody's ship into the atmosphere, images from my last visit swimming across my vision. It seemed fitting that my journey revolved around this place. I had arrived a Jedi, blinded by the light and now I returned a Sith, my eyes opened by the shadows that had welcomed me home.

I squinted as I opened myself to the Force and latched onto a dark tendril of the Force that ran throughout the entire planet. I mentally gave it a tug and whispered, "I am here to complete my training." I then set the ship down in a clearing and closed my eyes, settling in to wait.

The subtle shift of the Force shook me awake. I resisted the urge to fly from the seat and attack as I steadied my breath and kept my eyes closed as if I was still asleep. Fabric rustled as the figure stepped closer towards where I was seated.

"You are good I must admit, young Skywalker. You were able to trick my senses into believing you were still asleep. The Force however is not as easily fooled." A grin curled the corner of my mouth as I stood to acknowledge his compliment. The Sith stepped into the moonlight that drifted from the windows, his cloak wrapping around his tall, slender frame. The light illuminated his ghostly pale blue skin and his obsidian coloured eyes glittered as he sized me up. I barley even topped his chest as he beckoned me to follow him outside.

"Lesson one. Never let your guard down." Without even a stir in the Force he leapt at me, shedding his cloak and igniting his lightsaber in one fluid motion. He swung for my head and would have succeed if years of training had not kicked in. I dropped to my knees and ignited my saber as his momentum pushed him off balance. I then swung for his unguarded left side, a weakness I had noted from our last duel.

"Watch it," I called triumphantly as I swung, "you leave your left flank unguar-" My triumphant moment was cut off as he used the momentum I thought had thrown him off to swing around towards my unguarded right side. He stopped just as the saber sliced through my cloak and left a burn on my side. I hissed and clamped my hand over the raw wound, deactivating my saber.

"You fell for my trap, my eager apprentice." He withdraws his saber and sweeps his discarded cloak back over his narrow shoulders. "Come. You have much to learn about the Force." His form melts into the shadows as I climb unsteadily to my feet, side groaning.

I slowly lope after him, gritting my teeth as the pain slithers up my side and I find him waiting for me at the edge of the tree line. He nods towards my side.

"Come with me. I have a bacta tank that will heal that within half an hour." I nod slowly.

"I still do not know your name my master." I removed my hand from my side and stared at the sticky blood coating my hand.

"I am Darth On'Kayak, young Skywalker." He holds out his large hand with long, slender fingers.

"And I am Darth Tytar my lord." I take his hand in my smaller one, smearing my blood across his fingers.

"A pleasure. Now let us hurry so your wound does not become infected. These jungles are infested with many dangerous parasites." He walks off and I have to jog to keep up with him.

We walk in silence for another ten minutes and with each step my wound burns more. Finally, I spotted lights glowing through the trees and Darth On'Kayak walks up to the gate guarded by two clone troopers. I avoid their gazes; they look far too much like Cody. They nod in synch as we walk by and On'Kayak nods in return. He then places a hand on my lower back and ushers my through, guiding me towards a low squat building just beyond the chain link fence.

"My personal quarters my dear. For as long as you are here, they are yours as well." I nod slowly, hand still presses to my throbbing side. His gaze moves from my face to the blood seeping from between my fingers. "Now, let us get you into the tank."

Half an hour later, Darth On'Kayak knocked on the door as I toweled the leftover gel from my damp hair.

"How are you feeling?"

"Much better. Thank you my lord. I sense I will be needing this tank plenty during our training." He nods a smile curling his pencil thin mouth.

"Indeed. If you are anything like my last my apprentice you will be needing it at least once a day." I raised an eyebrow as I hung up the towel.

"Were they that bad?"

"No. They were that good." I chuckled under my breath and took in my surroundings. The room was decorated simply, with a desk in one corner and a bed and nightstand the only pieces of furniture in the room. A set of solid doors stood beside the desk and I opened it to reveal some clothing I assumed would fit me nicely. I then turned my attention to the only other decoration in the room.

A painting hung above the desk and I stepped closer to examine it. My breath hitched and my eyes misted as I pressed the pad of my finger to the figure's painted face.

"This is my mother," I breathed in awe. She was dressed in a loose flowing gown, her face glowing with a bright smile. The painter had captured her beauty and the pose gave her a carefree air about her. Her long brown hair flowed in the breeze and her brown eyes crinkled with laughter.

"She was beautiful. You remind me a lot of her actually."

"How so?"

"You have your father's stubbornness and steely blue eyes, but your determination, spirit, drive and even the way you hold yourself is all your mother's. You are most definitely you mother's daughter in nearly every way." I swallowed and turned to face him.

"Thank you for showing me her. I never knew any of that." He smiles and dips his head.

"Now, your training will begin tomorrow at dawn's first light. Before you go to sleep, I have something to show you." He leaves the room as I wrap my cloak around my shoulders.

We cross the compound, the buildings all blurring together until all I saw was the same pale cream coloured, low squat buildings.

"These are all barracks for the troops I am supplying the Empire with. I discovered the technology from the Clone Wars on cloning. All one needs is any sample of DNA from one host and you will be able to clone them in exact likeness." I nod as we come across a fenced in area set up as an outdoor training facility. A figure was practicing at the far end of the area and I watched their fluid motion as they sparred with a droid. Suddenly, the figure raised a hand and the droid flew across the arena.

"Did he just use the Force?" I asked in disbelief. A smile curls his lips.

"Not he. She." He takes a step towards her. "Come here girl," he barks. She turns towards us and I gasp. It's me, right down to the miniscule scar above her left eye.

"How is this possible?"

"As I said, all we need is a sample of one's DNA and the last time you were here you left behind-"

"My hair," I breathed, fingering the strands that now fell to the middle of my back.

"Yes. Quite the look-a-like, huh my dear?" I nod, examining her. I watched in fascination as her eyes shift between blue and yellow, representing the time I battled between the Light and the Dark, before they eventually settled on yellow.

"What was your purpose in creating her?" I asked as she turned back to the droid that was clambering back to its feet. He shrugs as we turn back towards our quarters.

"You never know when you will need a double." As we walk away, my clone turns to look our retreating backs, her eyes clearing back to blue.