Join With Capula
Corik pulled out his lightsaber and reached forward. He handed it to Deneg, and as he did his heart began to change. He no longer cared for the good of the few, it was all about him. Justice was a shadow of authority; peace the reflection of order. And he planned to master the realm of authority and order in his new position as second ruler of Capula.
“Good, good.” Deneg spoke slowly and softly, his human tone becoming more and more satanic. “You finally understand my reasoning. Fighting and conflict only doubles itself exponentially, it creates more and more of what it tries to end. Only when the weaker concedes and admits defeat can both sides truly partake in all the pleasure and power this universe has to offer.”
Corik watched as Deneg’s eyes slowly turned red as they filled with passion. He started to feel the fire in himself begin to burn with that same desire he before had rejected and despised. It felt good, very good.
He turned to see Master Edem standing up, recovering from his recent injury. “I won’t concede to this. I won’t give in to this tyranny anymore. Corik, stop and wake up. We can fight this!”
Corik shook his head. “No, no we can’t. It is better for us all to give in, to stop the conflict, to end the hopeless fight and fill ourselves with the spoils of what we’ve earned.” He was not surprised at what he said, though it seemed to come from some other source than himself.
“Can’t you hear yourself? You’re fighting for the evils you hated so much not moments ago!”
“No, it was you who went along with them for so long, and without telling me. And now you wish to change, when your very life is at stake, when I have found out the truth? You will pay for this.” Corik’s anger was surging now, all of it transforming into hatred. This hate added fuel to the fire, which begged to be set free.
“Kill him! Kill him now as payment for what he kept from you, and his opposition to our cause!” Deneg said, extending the saber back to him.
Corik did not hesitate. He leapt forward, grabbing his sword and slashing ferociously at Master Edem. Edem quickly drew his sword, and the battle began. Both were trained in the art of defensive combat, however Corik not only knew his Master’s style, but with his new passion unearthed new power and might he had not before been able to use. When the opportunity presented itself, Corik swung his yellow blade unpredictably hard, sending Master Edem’s blade backward, exposing a weak point. Corik changed direction, his blade cutting into the unguarded area and thereby slicing his old friend through the center. He fell quickly to the ground, motionless.
Corik did not look at his new master. What he had done left him with more guilt than he could have thought possible before and during the fight. Deneg said it would pass in time, and it did. As he helped in trial to convict Master Edem and the rest of Jedi Council of being in the act of treachery against Capula, he began to be more and more enveloped in the pleasures of his work, forgetting about his old joys and old friends; even Jethra whom his very master had killed.
Capula went on to become the center rule of the Republic, which it kept for centuries. A long line of Sith Lords in secret remained rulers of the empire through apprenticeships. The life Corik lived after that day was a hard one, filled with endless hatred and anger in his own mind and heart, despite the gain of personal pleasure, power, and so called freedom. His hate never died until he did, for on his deathbed he realized the error of his ways, committing himself to a new way despite his choices. The chaos within died with him, as he became one with the Force.