Star Wars_ Darth Bane 03_ Dynasty of Evil - Drew Karpyshyn [87]
Set hesitated, uncertain what he should do. Did Zannah need his help? If she did, would he bother?
If you want to bail, this is your best chance. Just jump into that shuttle and fly on out of here.
If he left and Zannah died, it was unlikely anyone else would ever know he had been here. He wouldn’t have to worry about her Master coming after him; he could pretend none of this had ever happened. If Zannah survived, however, he had no doubt that she’d come looking for revenge. And since he wouldn’t be around to see the final outcome of her confrontation with Bane, he’d have to spend the rest of his days looking over his shoulder just in case.
Not much different from what you do now. You’ve managed to stay one step ahead of the Jedi all these years; how much harder can it be to stay one step ahead of the Sith at the same time?
But there were other considerations. If he left, he was throwing away the chance to learn from Zannah. She was stronger than he was, much stronger. She could teach him things he’d never learn from anyone else. It wasn’t easy to turn his back on that kind of power.
Torn between the two options, Set tried to extend his awareness out even farther in the hope of learning more. He was already approaching the limits of his abilities, but he knew this was the most important decision of his life. He couldn’t afford to get it wrong.
A sharp pain was building in his forehead; it felt like someone was sticking a long needle into his skull right between his eyes. He wasn’t used to this kind of prolonged effort; when he called on the Force it was for quick bursts of action. But he ignored the pain, gritted his teeth, and made one final push.
And then he felt it. Living creatures were not the only things with an affinity for the Force. Most of Set’s adult life had been spent seeking out objects imbued with its power: initially on behalf of the Council of First Knowledge, then later on his own. He had become highly adept at recognizing the unique energy signatures projected by the talismans of the dark side; they called out to him more strongly than they did to most others.
That was why, despite the fact it was on the very fringes of his awareness, he was able to sense it. It was like nothing he had ever felt before; something so strong and powerful it caused him to gasp with yearning.
Andeddu’s Holocron. It has to be.
Zannah had said her Master had gone to Prakith to find it. Whoever had captured Bane must have taken the Holocron for themselves.
Set opened his eyes and shook his head, collapsing his awareness back to his immediate surroundings. His looming headache was gone, replaced by an aching desire to claim the Holocron for himself.
He had only a vague idea of where to find it. Once he was inside the Stone Prison, though, he was confident he’d be able to zero in on it quickly. For him, tracking a Holocron was much easier than locating a person.
Zannah had commanded him to guard the ship, but he wasn’t worried about anyone accidentally discovering it. He hadn’t sensed anyone even remotely close to the landing bay.
The question is, can you get the Holocron and get back here before Zannah finishes with Bane?
It was risky. If she returned to discover he was gone, she might decide to end his apprenticeship … and his life. Even if she didn’t, she might just take the Holocron for herself, and Set knew he wouldn’t be strong enough to stop her.
But if you find the Holocron, who says you have to bring it back here?
Whoever had brought Bane to the Stone Prison had to be using one of the other landing bays for their own vessels. How hard could it be to steal one of those instead?
The secret of eternal life versus the undying hatred of a Sith Lord. Is it worth it?
That was one question Set had no trouble answering. Taking a glow lamp, he entered the Stone Prison through