KOTOR 1 - Betrayals: The Recruit

Atton Rand brought the Ebon Hawk out of hyperspace, and Telos IV came into view. Surik regarded the planet, feeling uncharacteristicly philosophical. It occured to Surik that he and this Outer Rim world had much in common. Both of them had been of great value to both the Jedi and the Republic: Surik, for his skills as a general under Revan in the Mandalorian Wars, and Telos, as a strategically located economic and military powerhouse, and home of the Jedi Agricultural Corps. Both had suffered crushing blows: Telos in its near-destruction by Malak during the Jedi Civil War, and Surik as the Force was ripped from him in the final battle of the Mandalorian Wars at Malachor V. During this battle, Surik had ordered the deployment of the Mass Shadow Generator, the superweapon created by Bao-Dur, the Iridonian who was even now on board the Ebon Hawk. Both Surik and Telos had endured long, slow recoveries, and for years had been shadows of their former selves. Then both had recently become resurgent: Surik had reconnected with the Force in a new, powerful way, and, thanks to Surik's intervention, Telos was being aggressively restored by Czerka Corporation. But both now faced a new shared challenge: the impending arrival of Darth Nihilus, most fearsome of the Sith Triumverate, a being with the potential to destroy all life in the galaxy.

And by Revan's own words, Surik was perhaps the only person who could stop Nihilus. Surik was not terribly concerned with his own life, or the lives of the innumerable but unremarkable beings that infected the galaxy at large. Surik was concerned with only one thing: his Master had ordered him to defeat Nihilus. So he would find a way.

First, though, there was other business to address. Two Masters must die, one Jedi and one Sith. Although Surik wasn't certain that either of those labels fit.

By official record, Atris' Jedi credentials were beyond question. She had been a member of the Jedi Council. In fact, she had been on the Council when Surik was exiled from the Jedi Order. When many Jedi Masters had died, Atris had survived, and collected the shared knowledge of the Jedi Order to ensure it was preserved. But did she truly remain a Jedi? From his most recent encounter with Atris, it seemed to Surik that she had fallen to the Dark Side of the Force. Not willingly, had not embraced it, did not command it or revel in its power as Surik did. Whether or not Atris remained a Jedi was ultimately an academic question, a distraction. She was a loose end, and Revan had ordered Surik to eliminate loose ends. So Atris' life was now measured in minutes.

The other Master was Kreia, one of Revan's old teachers, the Master who had taught Surik to reconnect with the Force. Kreia had confronted Surik on Dantooine, and expressed scathing disappointment in him as a failed pupil. However, for all her self-proclaimed insight, the old witch still never figured out why Surik had not followed her teachings. The reason was simple: Surik had never been working for her in the first place. Revan had told Surik that Kreia would seek Surik out and take him as her student, but only as part of using him for her own purposes. Revan had ordered Surik to learn all he could from Kreia, and then kill her, an order that Surik planned to soon follow with great satisfaction.

Not long ago, Kreia had abandoned Surik on Dantooine, defeated but still alive. Surik had recovered and, with a full understanding of the bitter crone's powers and no more need for the pretense of following her, Surik had pursued Kreia to Telos, where Kreia had gone to confront Atris, escorted there by Brianna, former Handmaiden of Atris, who Kreia had told that Surik was dead. With any luck, Kreia would still be here, and Surik could kill both of them before Nihilus arrived. Kreia had expected Surik to pursue, of course. The manipulations she thought so clever were plain to Surik. But he suspected she planned to be gone before Surik arrived. If that were true, he would still find and kill her, but he would prefer their final confrontation to be at a moment of his choosing rather than hers.

"Straight to the polar base?" Atton asked.

"Yes," Surik said.

"I'm only asking because the last time we tried to land there we got shot down," Atton said. "Not our best day."

Atton didn't miss much, Surik thought. Of all those who had followed him on this mission, Atton was the only one he thought he'd regret killing.

"We weren't in the Ebon Hawk last time," Surik said. "But your point is taken." He activated the intercom. "Bao-Dur, monitor for any threats during our approach."

"Acknowledged, General," came the Iridonian's reply. Dutiful as always, and ever-loyal. That would make what would soon need to happen much easier.

As the Hawk descended, Surik walked to the Hawk's central room, where Canderous Ordo, now known as Mandalore, stood along with the Wookiee bounty hunter Hanharr and the floating artifical intelligence GO-TO. They had been adequate soldiers. At one time, Canderous might have even been elite, but age was catching up with him. Still, they would be useful for a short while longer.

Surik stepped to the side as Bao-Dur emerged from the back of the ship on his way to the cockpit, T3-M4 rolling behind him, whistling and beeping. Bao-Dur had apparently recruited the small astromech droid to assist in his scans. Surik then stepped into the center of the room to address Mandalore, GO-TO, and Hanharr.

"While I'm in the base, I want the three of you to watch the perimeter. I don't think the Handmaidens will oppose us, but I don't want to take any chances. GO-TO, maintain continuous scans. Hanharr and Mandalore, investigate and eliminate any threats."

Canderous acknowledged Surik's order with a nod, Hanharr with a growl. Hanharr owed Surik a life debt, a Wookiee custom that Surik had fully exploited, so his obedience was ensured. The fact that Canderous complied without comment was notable. The old Mandalorian seemed to fancy himself as an independent agent. He generally acted as if he were doing Surik a favor by assisting, and he was possessed of an incredible will that made it almost impossible to discover his true intentions through the Force. His lack of objection at Surik's command probably meant that he had his own agenda in mind. He would die as soon as Surik had no more use for him. But now was not the time, and Surik thought that whatever Canderous was planning, it would not interfere with their immediate situation. Satisfied that his orders would be carried out, Surik returned to the cockpit, noticing that they were landing in the center hanger, the leftmost being occupied by a nondescript shuttle and the rightmost being empty. Had Kreia already departed on whatever ship had previously occupied one of the two empty hangers?

"Anything to report?" Surik asked.

"There are three HK-50s on the surface," Bao-Dur replied. "We were prepared to take evasive action, but they decided not to shoot us this time. Maybe they realized the Hawk is sturdier than that tin can we were flying in before."

"I'm not crazy about having them at our back, though," Atton said.

"Agreed," Surik said. "Let's do something about it. Atton, T3, keep the ship ready to leave if we have to make a quick exit. Bao-Dur, you're with me."

Surik turned without waiting, confident the Iridonian was following. Surik walked through the center of the ship to the starboard cargo hold, where a rust-colored droid stood. Its design might have suggested it was a protocol droid, had it not been for the massive blaster rifle it held. Surik was among the few who knew its actual origins. HK-47 was Revan's creation, his masterpiece, an assassin droid of unparalleled ability.

"Query: Is there someone that you need killed, master?" asked HK-47.

"Yes there is," Surik said. "There are three HK-50s on the surface."

"Objection: surely you recall that, to my great regret, my programming prohibits me from firing on these cheap copies of myself. Is there someone else I could kill for you?"

"Your job isn't to kill them," Surik said. "I've had enough of these things showing up wherever we go. Your previous interrogation of an HK-50 revealed they were being manufactured on Telos, but we don't have time to search the whole planet. I want to find out exactly where they're coming from." He turned to Bao-Dur. "Take Visas. Destroy two of the HK-50s and capture the third. Somewhere in its memory banks there must be knowledge of where it was created. Help HK-47 interrogate it. I don't care what you have to do, locate their precise origin before I return."

"With pleasure, General," Bao-Dur said. Surik left without another word. It was time to kill the schutta who had stolen his lightsaber.

Surik returned to the Ebon Hawk both pleased and disappointed. Beside him walked Brianna, Handmaiden of Atris. Atris had tortured Brianna for her disobedience, for following Surik. Brianna's hair was singed from the Force Lightning that Atris had almost killed Brianna with. Surik, however, had arrived just in time.

Atris was dead by Surik's hand, a killing he'd thoroughly enjoyed. In the end, he had toyed with her, mocked her, taunted her, put her weakness on display. And then finally, he'd taken back his own lightsaber from her and killed her with it, staring into her eyes as her life faded. It had been a good day.

Kreia, however, had already departed, leaving less-than-subtle clues that Surik could find her on Malachor V. He would enjoy her death too, although he wasn't certain it would be quite as satisfying.

He had mixed feelings about saving Brianna. She had been an effective combatant for Surik, and adequate in their single romantic liason. But she had always made Surik feel as if he were being evaluated, both during combat and in their much more personal encounter. He had seduced her only because he had reason to believe that Kreia might in fact be Brianna's mother, knew that Kreia would sense and disapprove of their pairing but would not be able to openly object lest she reveal more of her own past than she was willing to, and relished the idea of infuriating the shrew. It would soon be time for Brianna to die, and Surik had considered letting Atris finish the job, expending more of her strength in the process. Ultimately, though, he had decided he might have further need of Brianna in the coming battles. He could always kill her later.

Surik considered Kreia's words - or were they threats? - that he could be the death of the Force, or at least the death of all those who feel the Force, through an echo that would be magnified ... how? Like many of Kreia's assertions, this seemed to be a mix of truth, lies, and Kreia's own unsubstantiated beliefs. Surik was slightly uncomfortable confronting Kreia at a place where Kreia was expecting him. If there were truth to Kreia's ideas about this echo, if it somehow did cause the death of all Force-sensitive individuals, then that would include Revan. By killing Kreia, might Surik kill his own Master? And even if he chose not to believe that possibility, confronting Kreia on her own ground still put him at a tactical disadvantage. Finally, while he doubted Kreia's implication that the Force Bond connecting them was potentially lethal, that in killing her he would also kill himself, he couldn't completely discount the possibility.

But on reflection, he now believed that much of what Kreia had told him had been for the purpose of creating doubt and uncertainty. Kreia's knowledge of the Force was clearly extensive, even if her conclusions were misguided. She was well aware that wielding the Dark Side required the most intense committment of mind and emotion, required the strength and will to command the very Force itself. By attacking his confidence, Kreia was attempting to take this from him, to win the battle before it even began.

For all her physical limitations, the hag was clever.

Surik, though, had an advantage Kreia remained unaware of: Revan. Darth Revan had known of Surik's condition, known Kreia's ways, and had even correctly predicted Kreia would seek Surik out. And Revan had ordered Surik to kill Kreia. So Surik would do just that, putting aside all doubt and trusting his true Master. He would send Bao-Dur away first, in case the battle went poorly. Revan had told him to recruit Bao-Dur to Revan's cause, and Surik had spent considerable time doing just that, building on Bao-Dur's existing trust of Surik and their shared experience at the destruction of Malachor V, exploiting Bao-Dur's anger, and finally pulling the Iridonian firmly to the Dark Side of the Force. All that remained was to reveal Surik's true loyalty and send Bao-Dur to Revan. Surik had originally thought to deliver Bao-Dur himself, but Revan had said that Bao-Dur was essential to Revan's plans, and the risk of losing to Kreia was too great.

Before facing Kreia, though, there was urgent work to be done nearby. Nihilus was approaching Telos, and destroying Nihilus was another of Revan's priorities. Much as with Bao-Dur, Surik had built loyalty with Visas Marr, herald of Nihilus and sole survivor of the destroyed planet of Katarr, a planet consumed by Nihilus' immense hunger. Gaining Visas' initial trust had been straightforward, but that was insufficient for Surik's purposes: Surik needed absolute, unquestioning obedience. Surik had perceived that Nihilus and Visas shared a Force Bond, and Surik intended to exploit it. He would take Visas with him to confront Nihilus, and at the right moment would have her sacrifice her own life. While Surik did not expect this to kill Nihilus, he hoped it would at least weaken him enough for Surik, who as a Wound on the Force should be immune to Nihilus' most fearsome powers, to complete the victory. Surik felt no regret at the Miralukan's impending death. She had been an effective ally, and a pleasurable intimate partner, but Revan's orders were clear: Surik was to kill all who had joined him before returning to Revan. At least Visas' death would serve an advantageous purpose.

Ascending the loading ramp to the Ebon Hawk with his mind full of thoughts and plans, Surik did not notice the commotion on the ship until he was almost on top of it.

"RRRRRAAAARRRR!"

Hanharr's howl of rage broke Surik out of his reverie just as he reached the top of the loading ramp. Which was fortunate, because the next thing that happened was a silver appendage - had it been a leg? - flew down the hallway in front of Surik, narrowly missing him and clattering off the far wall. It was followed by what appeared to be a polished droid arm. Grunts and electronic screams flowed from Surik's right, where the center room of the Hawk was located. There were more clatters, these distant as if something had been thrown down the port hallway, more electronic screams, and then the noises subsided. Peeking down the hallway to make sure no more severed droid parts were inbound, Surik finished boarding and quickly walked to the Hawk's central area, Brianna following closely behind.

Mandalore and Atton lay on the floor, breathing heavily. GO-TO floated nearby, droid repulsor arm still sizzling. T3 lay on its side, legs flailing in an attempt to right itself. Hanharr stood near the center of the room, a sparking silver droid arm in his hand. In the very center of the room were Bao-Dur and HK-47, holding the dismembered chassis of an HK-50, wires and broken servos hanging from the openings where limbs had been attached moments ago.

"It was .. noncompliant," said Visas' voice to Surik's right. He looked down and saw the Miralukan crouched behind one of the seats, apparently trying to stay out of the path of flying debris, lightsaber ignited. Seeing the danger had passed, she stood and stepped to Surik's side. "I offered offered to dismember it with my lightsaber, but HK-47 thought this would do a better job of getting the point across."

"I can see how that would be effective" Surik said.

"Query: now do you believe we are serious?" said HK-47 to the HK-50.

"Resigned acknowledgement: I do indeed. It is quite embarrasing to be captured and disassembled by an obsolete unit."

"Encouragement: then tell us where you were created, and we will reassemble you."

"Skeptical assessment: I doubt you have the ability. And even if you did, my programming prohibits me from disclosing that information."

"One moment," said Bao-Dur. He opened a dented panel on the HK-50's chassis, an operation assisted by the fact that the panel was already hanging half-open.

"Concerned objection: it is inadvisable to access my internal circuits while I am fully powered on," said the HK-50. "There is increased risk of shorting out a-"

The droid's sentence ended in a squawking blast of sound from its vocabulator, followed by a burst of static as Bao-Dur adjusted something inside the droid that Surik could not see from his point of view. Bao-Dur continued his manipulations, and the droid's head began twitching wildly.

"Hold it still please," Bao-Dur said to HK-47, who tightened his grip on the HK-50.

"Try again," Bao-Dur finally said.

"Imperative: tell us where you were created," HK-47 said.

"Reluctant compliance: I was created at the droid factory hidden underneath the military base on the surface of Telos IV," the HK-50 said.

"Gratitude: that wasn't so hard, was it?" HK-47 placed a blaster to the HK-50's head and fired, sending fiery pieces of its cranium shooting about the room. Hanharr roared as one singed his fur, and Visas casually blocked another with her lightsaber. T3-M4, having righted himself, whistled at HK-47 in protest.

"Admission: of course I was lying about reassembling it. Have you forgotten that I'm an assassin droid?"

Having seen all he needed to, Surik stepped into the room.

"Good work," he said to Bao-Dur and HK-47. "You two, come with me. The rest of you, prepare to depart. We will be leaving momentarily." Surik turned and descended the loading ramp, HK-47 and Bao-Dur following.

"The Sith are attacking Citadel Station," Surik said, "and I have to proceed there. But given this droid factory's proximity and the possibility of it unleashing more HK-50s while we're engaged with the Sith, we need to deal with it as well. I can spare only the two of you for this mission. During our landing, I noticed a shuttle in the adjacent hanger bay. HK-47, go prepare it for launch. Bao-Dur will drop you off at the military base, then cover your exit. Proceed to the factory and deal with the HK-50s."

"Agreement: at last I can do something about these imposters! Thank you, Master." HK-47 clanked off in the direction of the shuttle. Bao-Dur started to follow, but Surik stopped him.

"There's more you need to know," Surik said, "and if I do not survive the coming battles, this may be my last chance to tell you."

"Yes, General?" Bao-Dur made no attempt to hide the concerned look on his face.

"You're an expert on droids. How would you evaluate HK-47's construction?"

Bao-Dur considered a moment, puzzled at the question, then replied. "He's like nothing I've ever seen, nothing I've ever even heard of. I'd like to think that there's not much about droids I don't know, but I can't even guess how his core directives are encoded, or even stored. Every time I think I understand his capabilities or behavior, I realize there's another layer underneath. My guess is that there's far more to him than we've seen so far, or that even he himself suspects. And he seems to have an intricate array of clever redundancies. To actually destroy him - I think you'd have to completely melt him down."

"And what might that tell you about his creator?"

"A true master of the art. Unbelievably creative, in an almost devious way. Unafraid to not only employ unorthodox techniques, but intelligent enough to invent them. I consider myself skilled, General, but never in my lifetime could I create something like HK-47. Whoever made him sees things that other don't. But to me, that's not even the most impressive part. I'm fascinated by what he can't do."

"What he can't do?" Surik hadn't expected that answer.

"He can't shoot the HK-50s."

"And that's impressive?" Surik asked. "I'd considered that one of his few failings. But he explained that it would be like shooting himself."

"You see how subtle it is, General?"

"I'm not following you," Surik said, growing slightly frustrated.

"He thinks that's why he can't shoot them, but does that make any sense? HK-47 would sacrifice himself without hesitation to complete his mission. Not out of nobility or honor, but because he's the most determined and focused droid I've ever encountered. Do you doubt that?"

"Now that you mention it, no I don't," Surik said.

"Then why wouldn't he be able to destroy an extension of himself if his mission demanded it?"

"I'd never considered that," Surik said, now intrigued. "You're right. But how is that impressive? What does it mean?"

"It means, General, that ensuring that the HK-50s survive is part of his mission. It means that whoever created him had the foresight to know that this situation might arise, and managed to program in a solution that even you didn't recognize, even when you saw it in action. It means that whoever created him managed to delicately weave this in such that even HK-47 doesn't understand what's really happening. I think there's a larger plan at play here, a much larger plan. HK-47 isn't just a droid of unparalleled sophistication. He's a walking extension of his creator, almost a piece of his creator's mind, operating independently for who knows what purpose. I don't have a lot of heroes these days, but if you were to ask me who in the galaxy I'd most like to meet, HK-47's creator would be near the top of that list."

And just like that, the hook was set, Surik thought.

"Now, General, why do you ask? You said you have something to tell me?"

"I do," Surik said. "Do you trust me?"

"You know I do," Bao-Dur said. "I destroyed a planet for you. I waited for years, hoping to see you again. You showed me that my anger is my strength, taught me a new path. I have dedicated not just my life, but my soul to you."

"And do you know who my Master is?" Surik asked.

"You have been following Kreia's teachings since your return to the Core," Bao-Dur said. "But I believe only reluctantly. From what I can see, you are the Master now. I know that I have considered you my Master since you showed me the ways of the Force, of the Dark Side. I know Atton and Handmaiden feel the same. And I believe Visas does as well, and though her loyalty is divided with another Master, I believe that in her heart she serves you. But as for your Master, do you mean whomever taught you originally? One of the Jedi, before the Mandalorian Wars?"

"I do not. I mean my true Master, whom I still serve. On whose orders I am even now having this conversation with you."

"I am at a loss, General."

"I was sent back to the Core for two purposes," Surik said. "I am to destroy Darth Nihilus, a challenge I will soon be facing. My other purpose, though was even greater. I am to arrange a meeting between you and my Master. He has need of you."

"This is a surprise, General. Whom do you serve?"

"I serve the man you desire so strongly to meet, HK-47's creator. I serve the man who acted when the Jedi faltered, the man who defeated the Mandalorians, the man who held the Republic by the throat, the man who has seen the greatest threat to the galaxy, a secret threat no other has identified, looked it in the eye, and even now plans its defeat."

Surik paused for effect, enjoying the Bao-Dur's anticipation, then completed his pitch.

"I serve Revan. And his most pressing priority is to meet you."

"Revan? Me? General, I don't understand. I'm a mechanic."

"Nor do I," Surik said, "at least not completely. You underestimate yourself, though. While you're an incredible mechanic, you're far more than just that. Your potential in the Force is immense, your abilities diverse. And I can tell you that Revan understands galactic events at a level that is beyond anyone else, including me. He sent me back to the Core with the primary mission of recruiting you to his cause. He wouldn't do that unless he saw a part that only you can play."

"I'm honored, General, but I serve you. If being in your service includes doing something for Revan, then I will do it. But as I said, I consider you my Master."

"Everything you said about HK-47's creator - you have no idea how accurate you were. I know that in the Mandalorian Wars you did not serve directly with Revan, but I assure you that you will find him a Master beyond compare. I would order you to go to him, and I know you would obey. But I want you to do this of your own accord. Not for Revan's sake, but for yours. If you respect me, then understand that I did not give my allegiance to Revan lightly. Choose to serve him, and you will find he is a Master like no other."

Bao-Dur hesitated. "I will meet with Revan, as you say. If he holds your loyalty, then that's good enough for me. But can we not meet with him together?"

"No," Surik said, "you must go now, alone. The coming battles will be the greatest I have faced, and I will not risk your safety in them. Too much depends on your survival."

"General, I stood by you at Malachor, and I would stand by you now. Let me face these foes with you."

"I wish I could, but I cannot. My Master's orders are paramount. If I am truly your Master, if you truly serve me, then you will do as I say."

"I don't like it, General, but I will do it."

"Excellent. Then proceed with the plan. Drop HK-47 off at the military base, then leave. If Revan has a greater purpose for the HK-50s as you suspect, I doubt he'll need your help anyway. That shuttle doesn't look like much, but it appears to be at least hyperdrive capable. I'll transmit coordinates for you to rendevous with Revan. Proceed there immediately. I hope to join you soon."

"Can you delay your departure a few minutes, General? I would like to at least send my remote with you, in case it can be of assistance. But I would like to make sure I don't need it for any repairs on the shuttle first. Let me inspect the shuttle, then I'll send it back to you."

"Agreed," Surik said, "but don't take long."

"I won't. Is there any message I should give Revan from you?" Bao-Dur asked.

Surik paused. This was a question he hadn't considered. "Tell Revan ... no, no message. Your arrival is all that needs to be said."

Surik watched as Bao-Dur followed HK-47 to the shuttle, then turned to board the Ebon Hawk. It was time to finish things.